❓ Opposition Leader Barnett questions Premier Gallop about the removal of "God" from oaths, accusing the Labor Party of political correctness. Gallop defends the legislation, citing the Chief Justice's recommendation and accusing Barnett of divisive politics.
AnsweredQoN 56Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer the Premier to the Oaths, Affidavits and Statutory Declarations Bill 2003, which his Government says provides for a religiously neutral form of oath. (1) Does the Premier support the removal of all references to “God” in oaths made in Western Australian courts, given that our society is far from “religiously neutral” and, in fact, according to the 2001 census, almost 70 per cent of Australians consider themselves Christian? (2) Will the Premier admit that this is simply another example of the Labor Party’s obsession with political correctness at the expense of governing for the majority of Western Australians? Dr G.I. GALLOP
AnswerView source ↗
(1)-(2) I support the legislation that came into the Parliament. These legislative changes were also recommended by the Chief Justice of Western Australia to make sure that our system operates on the right basis. The people of Western Australia will see that question for what it was. The question was not designed to provide relevant information and sophisticated argument about issues facing Western Australia today. It was an attempt by a very, very pathetic Leader of the Opposition to drive a wedge between the Australian Labor Party and the Labor Government and some sections of the community. That is how it will be seen. Everyone knows what the Leader of the Opposition is doing. He thinks he is being smart, but he is not. It is obvious that he is imitating a style of politics that has been used in other jurisdictions. Included amongst that 70 per cent would be members of the Australian Labor Party. What is the Leader of the Opposition on about? Some people in our society have different points of view on religion. Some people are atheists, some are agnostic, and some are Christians, but what unites us as Australians is our commitment to democracy and a fair go for every Australian.
(1) Does the Premier support the removal of all references to “God” in oaths made in Western Australian courts, given that our society is far from “religiously neutral” and, in fact, according to the 2001 census, almost 70 per cent of Australians consider themselves Christian? (2) Will the Premier admit that this is simply another example of the Labor Party’s obsession with political correctness at the expense of governing for the majority of Western Australians? Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: (1)-(2) I support the legislation that came into the Parliament. These legislative changes were also recommended by the Chief Justice of Western Australia to make sure that our system operates on the right basis. The people of Western Australia will see that question for what it was. The question was not designed to provide relevant information and sophisticated argument about issues facing Western Australia today. It was an attempt by a very, very pathetic Leader of the Opposition to drive a wedge between the Australian Labor Party and the Labor Government and some sections of the community. That is how it will be seen. Everyone knows what the Leader of the Opposition is doing. He thinks he is being smart, but he is not. It is obvious that he is imitating a style of politics that has been used in other jurisdictions. Included amongst that 70 per cent would be members of the Australian Labor Party. What is the Leader of the Opposition on about? Some people in our society have different points of view on religion. Some people are atheists, some are agnostic, and some are Christians, but what unites us as Australians is our commitment to democracy and a fair go for every Australian.
(2) Will the Premier admit that this is simply another example of the Labor Party’s obsession with political correctness at the expense of governing for the majority of Western Australians? Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: (1)-(2) I support the legislation that came into the Parliament. These legislative changes were also recommended by the Chief Justice of Western Australia to make sure that our system operates on the right basis. The people of Western Australia will see that question for what it was. The question was not designed to provide relevant information and sophisticated argument about issues facing Western Australia today. It was an attempt by a very, very pathetic Leader of the Opposition to drive a wedge between the Australian Labor Party and the Labor Government and some sections of the community. That is how it will be seen. Everyone knows what the Leader of the Opposition is doing. He thinks he is being smart, but he is not. It is obvious that he is imitating a style of politics that has been used in other jurisdictions. Included amongst that 70 per cent would be members of the Australian Labor Party. What is the Leader of the Opposition on about? Some people in our society have different points of view on religion. Some people are atheists, some are agnostic, and some are Christians, but what unites us as Australians is our commitment to democracy and a fair go for every Australian.
Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: (1)-(2) I support the legislation that came into the Parliament. These legislative changes were also recommended by the Chief Justice of Western Australia to make sure that our system operates on the right basis. The people of Western Australia will see that question for what it was. The question was not designed to provide relevant information and sophisticated argument about issues facing Western Australia today. It was an attempt by a very, very pathetic Leader of the Opposition to drive a wedge between the Australian Labor Party and the Labor Government and some sections of the community. That is how it will be seen. Everyone knows what the Leader of the Opposition is doing. He thinks he is being smart, but he is not. It is obvious that he is imitating a style of politics that has been used in other jurisdictions. Included amongst that 70 per cent would be members of the Australian Labor Party. What is the Leader of the Opposition on about? Some people in our society have different points of view on religion. Some people are atheists, some are agnostic, and some are Christians, but what unites us as Australians is our commitment to democracy and a fair go for every Australian.
(1)-(2) I support the legislation that came into the Parliament. These legislative changes were also recommended by the Chief Justice of Western Australia to make sure that our system operates on the right basis. The people of Western Australia will see that question for what it was. The question was not designed to provide relevant information and sophisticated argument about issues facing Western Australia today. It was an attempt by a very, very pathetic Leader of the Opposition to drive a wedge between the Australian Labor Party and the Labor Government and some sections of the community. That is how it will be seen. Everyone knows what the Leader of the Opposition is doing. He thinks he is being smart, but he is not. It is obvious that he is imitating a style of politics that has been used in other jurisdictions. Included amongst that 70 per cent would be members of the Australian Labor Party. What is the Leader of the Opposition on about? Some people in our society have different points of view on religion. Some people are atheists, some are agnostic, and some are Christians, but what unites us as Australians is our commitment to democracy and a fair go for every Australian.
(1) Does the Premier support the removal of all references to “God” in oaths made in Western Australian courts, given that our society is far from “religiously neutral” and, in fact, according to the 2001 census, almost 70 per cent of Australians consider themselves Christian? (2) Will the Premier admit that this is simply another example of the Labor Party’s obsession with political correctness at the expense of governing for the majority of Western Australians? Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: (1)-(2) I support the legislation that came into the Parliament. These legislative changes were also recommended by the Chief Justice of Western Australia to make sure that our system operates on the right basis. The people of Western Australia will see that question for what it was. The question was not designed to provide relevant information and sophisticated argument about issues facing Western Australia today. It was an attempt by a very, very pathetic Leader of the Opposition to drive a wedge between the Australian Labor Party and the Labor Government and some sections of the community. That is how it will be seen. Everyone knows what the Leader of the Opposition is doing. He thinks he is being smart, but he is not. It is obvious that he is imitating a style of politics that has been used in other jurisdictions. Included amongst that 70 per cent would be members of the Australian Labor Party. What is the Leader of the Opposition on about? Some people in our society have different points of view on religion. Some people are atheists, some are agnostic, and some are Christians, but what unites us as Australians is our commitment to democracy and a fair go for every Australian.
(2) Will the Premier admit that this is simply another example of the Labor Party’s obsession with political correctness at the expense of governing for the majority of Western Australians? Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: (1)-(2) I support the legislation that came into the Parliament. These legislative changes were also recommended by the Chief Justice of Western Australia to make sure that our system operates on the right basis. The people of Western Australia will see that question for what it was. The question was not designed to provide relevant information and sophisticated argument about issues facing Western Australia today. It was an attempt by a very, very pathetic Leader of the Opposition to drive a wedge between the Australian Labor Party and the Labor Government and some sections of the community. That is how it will be seen. Everyone knows what the Leader of the Opposition is doing. He thinks he is being smart, but he is not. It is obvious that he is imitating a style of politics that has been used in other jurisdictions. Included amongst that 70 per cent would be members of the Australian Labor Party. What is the Leader of the Opposition on about? Some people in our society have different points of view on religion. Some people are atheists, some are agnostic, and some are Christians, but what unites us as Australians is our commitment to democracy and a fair go for every Australian.
Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: (1)-(2) I support the legislation that came into the Parliament. These legislative changes were also recommended by the Chief Justice of Western Australia to make sure that our system operates on the right basis. The people of Western Australia will see that question for what it was. The question was not designed to provide relevant information and sophisticated argument about issues facing Western Australia today. It was an attempt by a very, very pathetic Leader of the Opposition to drive a wedge between the Australian Labor Party and the Labor Government and some sections of the community. That is how it will be seen. Everyone knows what the Leader of the Opposition is doing. He thinks he is being smart, but he is not. It is obvious that he is imitating a style of politics that has been used in other jurisdictions. Included amongst that 70 per cent would be members of the Australian Labor Party. What is the Leader of the Opposition on about? Some people in our society have different points of view on religion. Some people are atheists, some are agnostic, and some are Christians, but what unites us as Australians is our commitment to democracy and a fair go for every Australian.
(1)-(2) I support the legislation that came into the Parliament. These legislative changes were also recommended by the Chief Justice of Western Australia to make sure that our system operates on the right basis. The people of Western Australia will see that question for what it was. The question was not designed to provide relevant information and sophisticated argument about issues facing Western Australia today. It was an attempt by a very, very pathetic Leader of the Opposition to drive a wedge between the Australian Labor Party and the Labor Government and some sections of the community. That is how it will be seen. Everyone knows what the Leader of the Opposition is doing. He thinks he is being smart, but he is not. It is obvious that he is imitating a style of politics that has been used in other jurisdictions. Included amongst that 70 per cent would be members of the Australian Labor Party. What is the Leader of the Opposition on about? Some people in our society have different points of view on religion. Some people are atheists, some are agnostic, and some are Christians, but what unites us as Australians is our commitment to democracy and a fair go for every Australian.
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