A parliamentary question regarding farmer dissatisfaction with CALM (now DBCA) and potential withdrawal of fire services. The Minister's response avoids a direct answer, leading to interjections and political point-scoring.

AnsweredQoN 1360Legislative Assembly
Asked
2 December 2003
Portfolio
Environment

QuestionView source ↗

I have a supplementary question. Will the minister concede that the threats by farmers to withdraw fire services is indicative of a long and deep-seated concern about other actions of CALM, and that the situation has now reached the point at which people have no option other than to react in a way that would be detrimental to CALM’s future operations? Dr J.M. EDWARDS

AnswerView source ↗

I think I am being asked an opinion, and I do not know that in question time we have the luxury of opinion. Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: The Leader of the Opposition has lots of opinions. Mr C.J. Barnett: Too right. Have a say and just try to answer it. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: Does he have an opinion on the leadership? Mr C.J. Barnett: Answer the question; it would be a first for a Labor Government. The SPEAKER: Members! Mr E.S. Ripper: Ask him what he thinks of his deputy. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: They are interesting numbers - 13 and 15. That is one either way; it would be a fine ballot. As I have indicated, I am concerned when people raise these issues. I am very keen for CALM to work as effectively as it possibly can in the regions. For that reason I have instituted the review of the prosecutions policy. I want to make sure that all prosecutions are carried out in a uniform way. I will continue to discuss with whomever wants to raise it the issue of people threatening to withdraw their services. However, I urge them to think carefully about that because it might have some disastrous outcomes.
Dr J.M. EDWARDS replied: I think I am being asked an opinion, and I do not know that in question time we have the luxury of opinion. Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: The Leader of the Opposition has lots of opinions. Mr C.J. Barnett: Too right. Have a say and just try to answer it. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: Does he have an opinion on the leadership? Mr C.J. Barnett: Answer the question; it would be a first for a Labor Government. The SPEAKER: Members! Mr E.S. Ripper: Ask him what he thinks of his deputy. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: They are interesting numbers - 13 and 15. That is one either way; it would be a fine ballot. As I have indicated, I am concerned when people raise these issues. I am very keen for CALM to work as effectively as it possibly can in the regions. For that reason I have instituted the review of the prosecutions policy. I want to make sure that all prosecutions are carried out in a uniform way. I will continue to discuss with whomever wants to raise it the issue of people threatening to withdraw their services. However, I urge them to think carefully about that because it might have some disastrous outcomes.
I think I am being asked an opinion, and I do not know that in question time we have the luxury of opinion. Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: The Leader of the Opposition has lots of opinions. Mr C.J. Barnett: Too right. Have a say and just try to answer it. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: Does he have an opinion on the leadership? Mr C.J. Barnett: Answer the question; it would be a first for a Labor Government. The SPEAKER: Members! Mr E.S. Ripper: Ask him what he thinks of his deputy. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: They are interesting numbers - 13 and 15. That is one either way; it would be a fine ballot. As I have indicated, I am concerned when people raise these issues. I am very keen for CALM to work as effectively as it possibly can in the regions. For that reason I have instituted the review of the prosecutions policy. I want to make sure that all prosecutions are carried out in a uniform way. I will continue to discuss with whomever wants to raise it the issue of people threatening to withdraw their services. However, I urge them to think carefully about that because it might have some disastrous outcomes.
Mr C.J. Barnett interjected. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: The Leader of the Opposition has lots of opinions. Mr C.J. Barnett: Too right. Have a say and just try to answer it. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: Does he have an opinion on the leadership? Mr C.J. Barnett: Answer the question; it would be a first for a Labor Government. The SPEAKER: Members! Mr E.S. Ripper: Ask him what he thinks of his deputy. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: They are interesting numbers - 13 and 15. That is one either way; it would be a fine ballot. As I have indicated, I am concerned when people raise these issues. I am very keen for CALM to work as effectively as it possibly can in the regions. For that reason I have instituted the review of the prosecutions policy. I want to make sure that all prosecutions are carried out in a uniform way. I will continue to discuss with whomever wants to raise it the issue of people threatening to withdraw their services. However, I urge them to think carefully about that because it might have some disastrous outcomes.
Dr J.M. EDWARDS: The Leader of the Opposition has lots of opinions. Mr C.J. Barnett: Too right. Have a say and just try to answer it. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: Does he have an opinion on the leadership? Mr C.J. Barnett: Answer the question; it would be a first for a Labor Government. The SPEAKER: Members! Mr E.S. Ripper: Ask him what he thinks of his deputy. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: They are interesting numbers - 13 and 15. That is one either way; it would be a fine ballot. As I have indicated, I am concerned when people raise these issues. I am very keen for CALM to work as effectively as it possibly can in the regions. For that reason I have instituted the review of the prosecutions policy. I want to make sure that all prosecutions are carried out in a uniform way. I will continue to discuss with whomever wants to raise it the issue of people threatening to withdraw their services. However, I urge them to think carefully about that because it might have some disastrous outcomes.
Mr C.J. Barnett: Too right. Have a say and just try to answer it. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: Does he have an opinion on the leadership? Mr C.J. Barnett: Answer the question; it would be a first for a Labor Government. The SPEAKER: Members! Mr E.S. Ripper: Ask him what he thinks of his deputy. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: They are interesting numbers - 13 and 15. That is one either way; it would be a fine ballot. As I have indicated, I am concerned when people raise these issues. I am very keen for CALM to work as effectively as it possibly can in the regions. For that reason I have instituted the review of the prosecutions policy. I want to make sure that all prosecutions are carried out in a uniform way. I will continue to discuss with whomever wants to raise it the issue of people threatening to withdraw their services. However, I urge them to think carefully about that because it might have some disastrous outcomes.
Dr J.M. EDWARDS: Does he have an opinion on the leadership? Mr C.J. Barnett: Answer the question; it would be a first for a Labor Government. The SPEAKER: Members! Mr E.S. Ripper: Ask him what he thinks of his deputy. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: They are interesting numbers - 13 and 15. That is one either way; it would be a fine ballot. As I have indicated, I am concerned when people raise these issues. I am very keen for CALM to work as effectively as it possibly can in the regions. For that reason I have instituted the review of the prosecutions policy. I want to make sure that all prosecutions are carried out in a uniform way. I will continue to discuss with whomever wants to raise it the issue of people threatening to withdraw their services. However, I urge them to think carefully about that because it might have some disastrous outcomes.
Mr C.J. Barnett: Answer the question; it would be a first for a Labor Government. The SPEAKER: Members! Mr E.S. Ripper: Ask him what he thinks of his deputy. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: They are interesting numbers - 13 and 15. That is one either way; it would be a fine ballot. As I have indicated, I am concerned when people raise these issues. I am very keen for CALM to work as effectively as it possibly can in the regions. For that reason I have instituted the review of the prosecutions policy. I want to make sure that all prosecutions are carried out in a uniform way. I will continue to discuss with whomever wants to raise it the issue of people threatening to withdraw their services. However, I urge them to think carefully about that because it might have some disastrous outcomes.
The SPEAKER: Members! Mr E.S. Ripper: Ask him what he thinks of his deputy. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: They are interesting numbers - 13 and 15. That is one either way; it would be a fine ballot. As I have indicated, I am concerned when people raise these issues. I am very keen for CALM to work as effectively as it possibly can in the regions. For that reason I have instituted the review of the prosecutions policy. I want to make sure that all prosecutions are carried out in a uniform way. I will continue to discuss with whomever wants to raise it the issue of people threatening to withdraw their services. However, I urge them to think carefully about that because it might have some disastrous outcomes.
Mr E.S. Ripper: Ask him what he thinks of his deputy. Dr J.M. EDWARDS: They are interesting numbers - 13 and 15. That is one either way; it would be a fine ballot. As I have indicated, I am concerned when people raise these issues. I am very keen for CALM to work as effectively as it possibly can in the regions. For that reason I have instituted the review of the prosecutions policy. I want to make sure that all prosecutions are carried out in a uniform way. I will continue to discuss with whomever wants to raise it the issue of people threatening to withdraw their services. However, I urge them to think carefully about that because it might have some disastrous outcomes.
Dr J.M. EDWARDS: They are interesting numbers - 13 and 15. That is one either way; it would be a fine ballot. As I have indicated, I am concerned when people raise these issues. I am very keen for CALM to work as effectively as it possibly can in the regions. For that reason I have instituted the review of the prosecutions policy. I want to make sure that all prosecutions are carried out in a uniform way. I will continue to discuss with whomever wants to raise it the issue of people threatening to withdraw their services. However, I urge them to think carefully about that because it might have some disastrous outcomes.
As I have indicated, I am concerned when people raise these issues. I am very keen for CALM to work as effectively as it possibly can in the regions. For that reason I have instituted the review of the prosecutions policy. I want to make sure that all prosecutions are carried out in a uniform way. I will continue to discuss with whomever wants to raise it the issue of people threatening to withdraw their services. However, I urge them to think carefully about that because it might have some disastrous outcomes.

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