❓ A parliamentary question regarding police operations dealing with protesters opposing the Browse LNG precinct in Broome. The Minister's answer highlights government support for the project, acknowledges protest rights but condemns illegal activities, and details police actions.
AnsweredQoN 437Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
POLICE OPERATIONS
— BROOME PROTESTERS
437. Mr J.J.M. BOWLER to the Minister for Police:
My one and only
question will be to the Minister for Police.
Can the minister
advise the house on the outcome of police operations in Broome to overcome the
behaviour of protesters, such as we saw in the house on Tuesday, who are
opposing the establishment of the Indigenous job–creating Browse LNG
precinct?
— BROOME PROTESTERS
437. Mr J.J.M. BOWLER to the Minister for Police:
My one and only
question will be to the Minister for Police.
Can the minister
advise the house on the outcome of police operations in Broome to overcome the
behaviour of protesters, such as we saw in the house on Tuesday, who are
opposing the establishment of the Indigenous job–creating Browse LNG
precinct?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for the question. Before I answer the question, I acknowledge the staff and students
from Dwellingup Primary School who are here from the member for Murray–Wellington's
electorate.
This government has
made no secret of the fact that we believe the establishment of the Browse LNG
precinct is a priority for the state. It is a priority because the project will
benefit the Kimberley economy and the Kimberley traditional owners. It does
have the support of the majority of the traditional owners in the Kimberley.
Clearly the project is not supported by everybody. While I support the
democratic right of people to object and to protest, I do not support those
objections being expressed through illegal activities and through those
protesters impeding people going about their lawful business. Yesterday there
was a prime example of the irresponsible behaviour of anti-development
protesters. Their actions have placed considerable pressure on the police
resources in the Kimberley region. To go through what occurred yesterday, the
police provided an escort to a Woodside convoy based on safety concerns
surrounding vehicle movements to their worksite near James Price Point. The
protesters locked themselves together, lying across the road.
Ms M.M. Quirk interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen!
Ms M.M. Quirk interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, you are not asking a question and you are not
answering a question. I formally call you to order for the first time today.
Point of Order
Mr
T.G. STEPHENS : I got the
impression from the interjection of the member on our side of the house that
this is a sub judice matter and should not be discussed and dealt with in this
way by the minister in her answer. These are matters that are apparently before
the courts and the minister is reflecting on people who apparently have been
charged in this circumstance.
The
SPEAKER : I take your advice;
I am cognisant of what you say. If there are circumstances that I believe put
the particular case in front of this place in danger, I will act.
Questions without Notice Resumed
Mrs L.M. HARVEY : Protesters are engaging in quite unique
activities at these sites. They are lying across the road and blocking access
by vehicles. One of the strategies they employ, for the information of members,
is that they fill up 44-gallon drums —
Mr T.G. Stephens : Is this the case that is before the courts?
Are there any charges laid? Aren't these people charged? The Speaker is
about to put you down, I am sure.
Mrs L.M. HARVEY : Member, I am well acquainted with standing
order 91 —
Several members
interjected.
The SPEAKER : I will give the Minister for Police the opportunity to continue with
her answer. Member for Girrawheen, I formally call you to order for the second
time today. The Minister for Police is the only person I want to hear from. If
I believe there is something that the Minister for Police is doing in this
place that she should not be doing, I will certainly let her know; you can rest
assured.
Mrs L.M. HARVEY : If I could table this picture for the
remainder of today's sitting —
Mr T.G. Stephens : Where did you get it from?
The SPEAKER : Member for Pilbara, I formally call you to order for the first time
today. Member for North West, I do not need your assistance; I formally call
you to order for the first time today. Yes, you can table that document,
Minister for Police.
[See paper 5127.]
Mrs L.M. HARVEY : The reason for my pointing out this
ridiculous strategy is to acquaint members of the house with what the
protesters are doing with these lock-on devices. Basically, they are impeding
access to emergency vehicles, and to the Woodside convoy that is going about
its business trying to get equipment through to its site. In taking these
actions, these protesters —
Several members
interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, I formally call you to order for the third
time today.
Mrs L.M. HARVEY : In taking these actions, the protesters are
putting at risk members of their own contingent who are further up the road
engaging in other illegal activity. While the police resources are deployed
with those who have locked themselves onto these devices, the protesters
further up the road have strung ropes across the road and are using a variety
of different techniques that are putting them physically at risk. Should
emergency vehicles need to access those people because they have managed to
injure themselves, they could not get through because the lock-on devices
impede their access. They are impeding access to the Woodside convoy, and also
access to tourist activities, such as Willie Creek Pearls. These irresponsible
actions have required the deployment of 25 police officers and four mounted
police, as well as resources. If members care to acquaint themselves with the
very detailed answer to question on notice 8123 —
Ms M.M. Quirk interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen!
Mrs L.M. HARVEY : — in which I have provided a
summary detailing the line-by-line item cost of the deployment of police
resources in May, earlier this year, they will see that the cost to the
taxpayers as a result of this irresponsible activity is already to the tune of
$910 000. I would like to commend Superintendent Mick Sutherland and his team
in the Kimberley. Superintendent Mick Sutherland has done a tremendous job in
engaging professionally in going about his duty to try to allow the Woodside
convoy to get through and conduct its lawful activity. Neither the state
government nor WA Police will tolerate illegal activity at this site, and any
alleged activity on the part of protesters will be prosecuted. The government
will do whatever is necessary to prevent further impediment to the Woodside
convoy going about the establishment of the Woodside LNG precinct.
from Dwellingup Primary School who are here from the member for Murray–Wellington's
electorate.
This government has
made no secret of the fact that we believe the establishment of the Browse LNG
precinct is a priority for the state. It is a priority because the project will
benefit the Kimberley economy and the Kimberley traditional owners. It does
have the support of the majority of the traditional owners in the Kimberley.
Clearly the project is not supported by everybody. While I support the
democratic right of people to object and to protest, I do not support those
objections being expressed through illegal activities and through those
protesters impeding people going about their lawful business. Yesterday there
was a prime example of the irresponsible behaviour of anti-development
protesters. Their actions have placed considerable pressure on the police
resources in the Kimberley region. To go through what occurred yesterday, the
police provided an escort to a Woodside convoy based on safety concerns
surrounding vehicle movements to their worksite near James Price Point. The
protesters locked themselves together, lying across the road.
Ms M.M. Quirk interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen!
Ms M.M. Quirk interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, you are not asking a question and you are not
answering a question. I formally call you to order for the first time today.
Point of Order
Mr
T.G. STEPHENS : I got the
impression from the interjection of the member on our side of the house that
this is a sub judice matter and should not be discussed and dealt with in this
way by the minister in her answer. These are matters that are apparently before
the courts and the minister is reflecting on people who apparently have been
charged in this circumstance.
The
SPEAKER : I take your advice;
I am cognisant of what you say. If there are circumstances that I believe put
the particular case in front of this place in danger, I will act.
Questions without Notice Resumed
Mrs L.M. HARVEY : Protesters are engaging in quite unique
activities at these sites. They are lying across the road and blocking access
by vehicles. One of the strategies they employ, for the information of members,
is that they fill up 44-gallon drums —
Mr T.G. Stephens : Is this the case that is before the courts?
Are there any charges laid? Aren't these people charged? The Speaker is
about to put you down, I am sure.
Mrs L.M. HARVEY : Member, I am well acquainted with standing
order 91 —
Several members
interjected.
The SPEAKER : I will give the Minister for Police the opportunity to continue with
her answer. Member for Girrawheen, I formally call you to order for the second
time today. The Minister for Police is the only person I want to hear from. If
I believe there is something that the Minister for Police is doing in this
place that she should not be doing, I will certainly let her know; you can rest
assured.
Mrs L.M. HARVEY : If I could table this picture for the
remainder of today's sitting —
Mr T.G. Stephens : Where did you get it from?
The SPEAKER : Member for Pilbara, I formally call you to order for the first time
today. Member for North West, I do not need your assistance; I formally call
you to order for the first time today. Yes, you can table that document,
Minister for Police.
[See paper 5127.]
Mrs L.M. HARVEY : The reason for my pointing out this
ridiculous strategy is to acquaint members of the house with what the
protesters are doing with these lock-on devices. Basically, they are impeding
access to emergency vehicles, and to the Woodside convoy that is going about
its business trying to get equipment through to its site. In taking these
actions, these protesters —
Several members
interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, I formally call you to order for the third
time today.
Mrs L.M. HARVEY : In taking these actions, the protesters are
putting at risk members of their own contingent who are further up the road
engaging in other illegal activity. While the police resources are deployed
with those who have locked themselves onto these devices, the protesters
further up the road have strung ropes across the road and are using a variety
of different techniques that are putting them physically at risk. Should
emergency vehicles need to access those people because they have managed to
injure themselves, they could not get through because the lock-on devices
impede their access. They are impeding access to the Woodside convoy, and also
access to tourist activities, such as Willie Creek Pearls. These irresponsible
actions have required the deployment of 25 police officers and four mounted
police, as well as resources. If members care to acquaint themselves with the
very detailed answer to question on notice 8123 —
Ms M.M. Quirk interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen!
Mrs L.M. HARVEY : — in which I have provided a
summary detailing the line-by-line item cost of the deployment of police
resources in May, earlier this year, they will see that the cost to the
taxpayers as a result of this irresponsible activity is already to the tune of
$910 000. I would like to commend Superintendent Mick Sutherland and his team
in the Kimberley. Superintendent Mick Sutherland has done a tremendous job in
engaging professionally in going about his duty to try to allow the Woodside
convoy to get through and conduct its lawful activity. Neither the state
government nor WA Police will tolerate illegal activity at this site, and any
alleged activity on the part of protesters will be prosecuted. The government
will do whatever is necessary to prevent further impediment to the Woodside
convoy going about the establishment of the Woodside LNG precinct.
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