❓ Opposition Leader questions the government's priorities, suggesting a shift from 'fantasy projects' to essential services like healthcare and crime reduction. The Premier defends the government's comprehensive plan endorsed by the WA people.
AnsweredQoN 1Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Cook government—Priorities
1 . Mr Basil Zempilas to the Premier :
I knew we liked you,
Mr Speaker; thank you. We have already congratulated you and, with your
indulgence, I would like to congratulate the member for Kwinana, Premier of
Western Australia, on his election victory on 8 March and take this opportunity
to congratulate all members on both sides of the house on their election
victories. In that spirit, I direct my question to the Premier.
As we just heard
from the Governor in his outline of the agenda for the 42nd Parliament of
Western Australia, we are in a period of global uncertainty and, as he said, it
has never been more important for WA to be economically resilient.
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members!
Point of order
Dr Tony Buti: Point of order.
The Speaker: We have a point of order that will be
heard in silence.
Dr Tony Buti: Thank you, Mr Speaker. I refer you to standing
order 77 that talks about preambles, opinions, statements et cetera to not be
too long.
The Speaker: Thank you, member, I will not be upholding
that point of order. Carry on, Leader of the Opposition.
Questions without
notice resumed
Mr Basil Zempilas: Accordingly, will the government
shift its focus away from fantasy projects, like rugby teams and racetracks, to
things that matter to Western Australians, like fixing our hospitals and
addressing crime in our suburbs and our towns?
1 . Mr Basil Zempilas to the Premier :
I knew we liked you,
Mr Speaker; thank you. We have already congratulated you and, with your
indulgence, I would like to congratulate the member for Kwinana, Premier of
Western Australia, on his election victory on 8 March and take this opportunity
to congratulate all members on both sides of the house on their election
victories. In that spirit, I direct my question to the Premier.
As we just heard
from the Governor in his outline of the agenda for the 42nd Parliament of
Western Australia, we are in a period of global uncertainty and, as he said, it
has never been more important for WA to be economically resilient.
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members!
Point of order
Dr Tony Buti: Point of order.
The Speaker: We have a point of order that will be
heard in silence.
Dr Tony Buti: Thank you, Mr Speaker. I refer you to standing
order 77 that talks about preambles, opinions, statements et cetera to not be
too long.
The Speaker: Thank you, member, I will not be upholding
that point of order. Carry on, Leader of the Opposition.
Questions without
notice resumed
Mr Basil Zempilas: Accordingly, will the government
shift its focus away from fantasy projects, like rugby teams and racetracks, to
things that matter to Western Australians, like fixing our hospitals and
addressing crime in our suburbs and our towns?
AnswerView source ↗
Can I take the
opportunity to congratulate the member for Churchlands on his election as Leader
of the Opposition and congratulate the member for Moore on his election as the
Leader of the National Party. I also take the opportunity to acknowledge the
former member for Butler and former Attorney General, John Quigley, who is in
the chamber today. I congratulate the member for Butler for her outstanding
inaugural speech that we heard just now.
It is important that
when parties present themselves to the people of Western Australia, they
present the policies that they seek to gain a mandate for in relation to a
whole range of policies. We know that in this election we put a very
comprehensive plan to the people of Western Australia for how we are going to
keep this state the strongest in the nation; how we are going to continue to make
sure that we build more things here through our Made in WA plan; how we are
going to continue to invest in our healthcare system, making sure everyone has
a home, building more homes faster, more affordably; and continuing to make
sure that people, no matter where they live—in the suburbs, in remote
communities, in our regional centres—have all the services and
infrastructure they need. Mr Speaker, didn't the people of Western Australia respond
to our mandate? Didn't the people of Western Australia endorse that great plan
that the WA Labor Party put to the people of Western Australia? That is the
reason our friends opposite have not progressed past the aisle.
It is the reason the
people of Western Australia are looking to a government that will diversify the
economy; make sure that we build more things here by backing our resource
industry and backing ourselves; create quality Western Australian jobs; make
sure that we have the skills we need through our free TAFE program; and make
sure that we have jobs for not only our children, but
also our children's children. That is the mandate that the people of Western
Australia gave us.
Of course, it is not
all about the hard infrastructure. It is not always about the hard resource and
manufacturing industries. Sometimes it is about our softer industries, such as
our amazing tourism and hospitality industries. I had the honour last night of
attending the Australian Hotels Association awards, at which we saw outstanding
Western Australians providing excellence in the sorts of industries that we are
looking to to continue to propel the Western Australian economy. Over 100,000
people across Western Australia are employed in tourism and hospitality
industries. That includes sport and tourism, as I have said. It includes
entertainment—pubs, clubs, live entertainment and creative industries. That
is also a central part of making sure that we create jobs for Western
Australians, and that is what the people of Western Australia endorsed. The people
of Western Australia decided, "We want that, and we want a WA Labor
government."
opportunity to congratulate the member for Churchlands on his election as Leader
of the Opposition and congratulate the member for Moore on his election as the
Leader of the National Party. I also take the opportunity to acknowledge the
former member for Butler and former Attorney General, John Quigley, who is in
the chamber today. I congratulate the member for Butler for her outstanding
inaugural speech that we heard just now.
It is important that
when parties present themselves to the people of Western Australia, they
present the policies that they seek to gain a mandate for in relation to a
whole range of policies. We know that in this election we put a very
comprehensive plan to the people of Western Australia for how we are going to
keep this state the strongest in the nation; how we are going to continue to make
sure that we build more things here through our Made in WA plan; how we are
going to continue to invest in our healthcare system, making sure everyone has
a home, building more homes faster, more affordably; and continuing to make
sure that people, no matter where they live—in the suburbs, in remote
communities, in our regional centres—have all the services and
infrastructure they need. Mr Speaker, didn't the people of Western Australia respond
to our mandate? Didn't the people of Western Australia endorse that great plan
that the WA Labor Party put to the people of Western Australia? That is the
reason our friends opposite have not progressed past the aisle.
It is the reason the
people of Western Australia are looking to a government that will diversify the
economy; make sure that we build more things here by backing our resource
industry and backing ourselves; create quality Western Australian jobs; make
sure that we have the skills we need through our free TAFE program; and make
sure that we have jobs for not only our children, but
also our children's children. That is the mandate that the people of Western
Australia gave us.
Of course, it is not
all about the hard infrastructure. It is not always about the hard resource and
manufacturing industries. Sometimes it is about our softer industries, such as
our amazing tourism and hospitality industries. I had the honour last night of
attending the Australian Hotels Association awards, at which we saw outstanding
Western Australians providing excellence in the sorts of industries that we are
looking to to continue to propel the Western Australian economy. Over 100,000
people across Western Australia are employed in tourism and hospitality
industries. That includes sport and tourism, as I have said. It includes
entertainment—pubs, clubs, live entertainment and creative industries. That
is also a central part of making sure that we create jobs for Western
Australians, and that is what the people of Western Australia endorsed. The people
of Western Australia decided, "We want that, and we want a WA Labor
government."
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