end times
This exchange was also featured in Inside Cover in today’s West Australian:
Mr C.C. PORTER replied:
[...] Over the past three days I have heard four separate figures as to what the cost overrun, or blow-out if you like, is. There is a blow-out; there is no question about that. Let me describe the four figures that I have heard over the past several days. Today the Leader of the Opposition said that the cost blow-out was $400 million. When that question was asked of me in November last year, the Leader of the Opposition said it was $500 million.Mr M. McGowan: I asked you a question.
Mr C.C. PORTER: We have had $400 million and we have had $500 million.
Mr M. McGowan: You are very slippery.
Mr C.C. PORTER: The Leader of the Opposition is as slippery as a bucket of eels in oil, which is very slippery.
Mr P. Papalia: Did you reverse that in the budget?
Mr C.C. PORTER: No, I just came up with that then.
Mr D.A. Templeman interjected.
The SPEAKER: Surrender, member for Mandurah. I formally call you to order for the second time today. I think you have all had your fun.
[...]
Mr C.C. PORTER: [...] The 150-megawatt cap gave us the ability to estimate the scheme would cost $300 million over 10 years because that was the upper limit on the scheme. Yes, that upper limit was breached to the tune of $15 million a year. When we put in the cap, which gave us the figure of $300 million, what was the response of the Labor Party? It was “Feed-in Tariff Armageddon on its way”. Well, “I’mageddon” tired of overstatements in press releases! That was better than the eels.
Subject: Residential Feed-in Tariff Scheme – Cost Overruns [Legislative Assembly - Questions Without Notice]
Date: 15 May 2012
Hansard reference: p. 2491 [online (pdf)]
an unpopular assignment
MR P. ABETZ (Southern River) [12.01 pm]: I have a petition from 193 petitioners regarding the Prostitution Bill 2011, which states —
To the Honourable the Speaker and Members of the Legislative Assembly of Western Australia in Parliament assembled.
We, the undersigned, all being residents of Western Australia, do not support legal brothels as it legitimises and encourages the exploitation of women. Premier Colin Barnett committed to an investigation of the Swedish law that prohibits the purchase of sexual services prior to the last election at the Australian Christian Lobby’s Make It Count event.
We therefore ask that the Legislative Assembly:
• Fully investigate the Swedish law by sending a Minister to Sweden to report back to Parliament
• Commit to a time frame of phasing out all brothelsSeveral members interjected.
Mr P. ABETZ: I have been already. The petition continues —
• Commit to making it illegal to purchase a woman for the purposes of prostitution, pimping and operating a brothel.
We ask that the Legislative Assembly amend the Prostitution Bill 2011 to reflect these changes
[See petition 589.]
The SPEAKER: Member for Cockburn, I think you have a petition.
Mr F.M. LOGAN: I do. Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mrs M.H. Roberts: He was just a bit distracted.
Mr F.M. LOGAN: I am very easily distracted when it comes to the member for Vasse and Viking helmets.
Subject: Prostitution Bill 2011 [Legislative Assembly - Petition]
Date: 16 May 2012
Hansard reference: p. 2634 [online (pdf)]
wham!
Continuing the theme… [see also: Mr. Manager; wake us up before you go-go]
196. Mr J.M. FRANCIS to the Minister for Emergency Services:
As a volunteer firefighter, I have been unlucky enough to have had water dumped on me by helicopters a number of times over the summer season; one has to listen for the alarm before they dump the water, and that is the cue to duck! Can the minister share with the house details of the state’s helicopter fleet activity over the summer fire season?Ms M.M. Quirk interjected.
Mr T.R. BUSWELL replied:
I did not see the member for Girrawheen ask the question, although I notice she is dressed in half her SES outfit today!Ms M.M. Quirk interjected.
Mr T.R. BUSWELL: Knocked back? What does that mean?
Ms M.M. Quirk: Refused!
Mr T.R. BUSWELL: It has been a very, very busy fire season. The advice I have in relation to bushfires is that our firefighters attended 4 250 bushfires this fire season. At times our resources were stretched from Carnarvon right through to Walpole and further east towards Albany. I take this opportunity—on behalf of everyone in this house, I am sure, member for Girrawheen—to acknowledge and thank for their efforts all those firefighters, the people who support them and their families who stay at home while they are out in harm’s way.
[...]
I am sorry that the member for Jandakot had water dumped on him; we might need one of those on standby to help the member for Mandurah when he leaves the George Michael concert! I do not want him going up in flames; it seems like he is going to get very excited!
Subject: Bushfire Season – Helicopter Fleet [Legislative Assembly - Questions Without Notice]
Date: 3 May 2012
Hansard reference: p. 2355 [online (pdf)]
Mr. Manager
A topical continuation of yesterday’s post. The Speaker’s instructions here are perhaps a suggestion that his musical tastes are from a decade earlier (see: ‘Budget Pie‘; ‘The Budget Path to Heaven‘)
193. Mr M.W. SUTHERLAND to the Minister for Sport and Recreation: [...] The Premier announced earlier this year that the gala opening of the new Perth Arena would be on 10 November 2012. Can the minister provide the house with details about events leading up to that date and, more importantly, what the people of Western Australia can get expect to see on 10 November 2012?
Mr T.K. WALDRON replied:
I thank the member for Mount Lawley for the question.
I have some exciting information that I am sure all my parliamentary colleagues will be keen to hear. As I think we already heard in this place today, the Premier very early this morning announced that the first act to play at the new world-class Perth Arena will be international pop legend George Michael, who I am sure members all know!Several members interjected.
Mr T.K. WALDRON: You’ve got to have faith!
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER: Member for Mandurah, if I read my formal calls to order list and get to the point at which it says “Mandurah”, I see that there are three calls. Members, I would like to be able to hear the answer from the Minister for Sport and Recreation at this stage. I do not want to hear anybody else. I particularly do not want to hear anything that resembles Wham!—or George Michael.
Mr T.K. WALDRON: It is interesting to note that George Michael was also the first act who appeared at the new Wembley Stadium in June 2007. WA is going to feature prominently on the national stage, because in November George Michael’s Symphonica Australian tour will commence in Perth and the arena will hold top billing in a series of concerts right across the country. Obviously, the state-of-the-art Perth Arena is the perfect backdrop for —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER: Thank you, members!
Mr T.K. WALDRON: — one of the most influential pop artists in recent history. Like many music lovers—I am sure there are many in this place—I look forward to hearing some of those Wham! songs from the 80s and some of his more contemporary music. I was going to regale the Parliament with a couple of his numbers and I know the member for Central Wheatbelt is also a big fan and has done that before —
Several members interjected.
Mr T.K. WALDRON: I have heard Careless Whisper! But I will not do that, Mr Speaker.
Subject: Perth Arena – Gala Opening [Legislative Assembly - Questions Without Notice]
Date: 3 May 2012
Hansard reference: pp. 2352-2353 [online (pdf)]
wake us up before you go-go
Mr C.C. PORTER: [...] The first point that I want to make is with respect to the very heavy criticism of the Premier for being on leave from Parliament on a pair.
Ms M.M. Quirk: What is he doing?
Mr C.C. PORTER: The point is that members opposite know what he is doing, because they approved the pair!
Mr M. McGowan: If we had known that it was to go and see George Michael, we might have said no!
Subject: Government Consultancies – Reports [Legislative Assembly - Motion]
Date: 3 May 2012
Hansard reference: p. 2333 [online (pdf)]
dish of the day
Mr F.M. LOGAN: [...] As the minister knows, the Department of Health is proposing to charge $7 a day to park at Fiona Stanley Hospital, which is $35 a week. On a 48-week year—a full year with four weeks’ holiday—workers will have to pay $1 650 a year. Some of those workers, such as ward orderlies or gardeners or cleaners in a privatised hospital—particularly if they are working for Serco—will be on low incomes.
Mr J.M. Francis: You get more money working for Serco!
Mr F.M. LOGAN: If they get more working for Serco, I will eat my socks.
Mr J.M. Francis: I hope you wash them every day!
Several members interjected.
Subject: Shopping Centres – Paid Parking [Legislative Assembly - Motion]
Date: 2 May 2012
Hansard reference: p. 2187 [online (pdf)]
no holding back
Ms R. SAFFIOTI: What is the member for Swan Hills going to do? The Liberal Party has been in government for three and a half years —
Mr F.A. Alban: It’s your electorate now, member; you‘re going to have to speak up!
Several members interjected.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI: How about the people of Aveley? Does the member for Swan Hills not worry about them?
Mr F.A. Alban: No more forums!
Ms R. SAFFIOTI: How about the people of Aveley? Does the member for Swan Hills not worry about them? Does the member worry about the people of Aveley? They are still in his new electorate.
Mr F.A. Alban: I have been out there 10 times more than you ever have, member —
Ms R. SAFFIOTI: Have they ever raised the rail line with the member?
Mr F.A. Alban: — maybe 100 times more than you have.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI: Have they ever raised the rail line with the member?
Point of Order
Mr J.M. FRANCIS: I am actually honestly interested in the debate about the paid parking issue, and this is going nowhere.
Mr P.C. Tinley: Tell him to shut up! Give him one in the ribs!
The ACTING SPEAKER (Mr A.P. O’Gorman): Members, can I just remind you that it is unparliamentary to interject. Member for Jandakot, he is your colleague; I think you can restrain him; you are right beside him.
Mr P.C. Tinley: If you want a hand, I’ll come over!
Subject: Shopping Centres – Paid Parking [Legislative Assembly - Motion]
Date: 2 May 2012
Hansard reference: p. 2174 [online (pdf)]
problem solvers
Ms R. SAFFIOTI: [...] As I said, the current Premier was a big advocate for the canal. I remember the then opposition was going to establish the office of canal development!
Mr W.J. Johnston: I think you’ve got a T-shirt about that!
Ms R. SAFFIOTI: I have a T-shirt that says, “Office of Canal Development” actually! That is one thing I have kept in that drawer, the office of canal development T-shirt. At the time when all these questions were being asked about the cost of water, health issues and the impact a canal would have in the north, they were all going to be answered by the office of canal development. It was going to be a centre of expertise that was going to solve all the problems and issues raised about the canal.
Mr W.J. Johnston: I know who could have headed us up!
Ms R. SAFFIOTI: The member for Nedlands was possibly going to be the inaugural head of the office of canal development!
Ms L.L. Baker: The minister for canals!
Mr F.M. Logan: A famous civil engineer!
Ms R. SAFFIOTI: My only regret is that we will never see the creation of the office of canal development, because that office of canal development was going to address all the problems. It will be a long way, but it does not matter because the office of canal development will work it out! What are the health implications? It does not matter; the office of canal development will work it out! How about the fact that it will cost $11 billion and not the $2 billion promised? It does not matter; the office of canal development can work it out! It is a pity that the office of canal development never came to fruition.
Subject: Water Services Bill 2011 / Water Services Legislation Amendment and Repeal Bill 2011 [Legislative Assembly - Second Reading -- Cognate Debate]
Date: 2 May 2012
Hansard reference: pp. 2138-2139 [online (pdf)]
it’s only natural
Having missed a few days recently, here’s a bonus exchange from the consideration in detail for the Teacher Registration Bill 2011 from last week:
Clause 19: Only natural persons may be registered as teachers —
Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN: I do not wish to be too flippant, but I am very intrigued by this clause. I can understand that this clause discounts a horse being registered as a teacher, but I am intrigued, honestly, by the definition of a natural person and why this is necessary at all.
Dr E. Constable: The member knows the answer.
Mr D.A. TEMPLEMAN: When I read this clause, the phrase jumped out at me! I have obviously been living under a mushroom because I have never seen it before. I am interested in the minister’s reaction because she is champing at the bit to give me an answer.
Dr E. CONSTABLE: When I was looking at my notes this morning, I felt that someone would get up and ask a question on this. I have an answer for the member. I will read the answer, which states that this is a standard provision, although the subject of some derision in “Inside Cover”. You never know—it might be in “Inside Cover” tomorrow, the member having raised it again. It is a standard provision, and we need to establish and make sure in the bill that a trust or a corporation cannot register as a teacher.
Clause put and passed.
Subject: Teacher Registration Bill 2011 [Legislative Assembly - Consideration in Detail]
Date: 1 May 2012
Hansard reference: p. 1849 [online (pdf)]
through being cool
Mr P. PAPALIA: [...] I accept that the minister’s advisers gave her a bit of advice, but it is not true because this part of the legislation does not say anything about a “registered teacher”; it says “teacher”. When we talk about registered teachers elsewhere in the legislation, we talk about registered teachers. When we talk about practising teachers, we talk about the nature of their registration.
Dr E. Constable: Subclause (3) states —
At least —
…
(b) 3 members are to be registered teachers.
That is not what you just said.Mr P. PAPALIA: The minister got me there.
Mr D.A. Templeman: It is only a flesh wound.
Mr P. PAPALIA: Yes; it is a flesh wound.
Dr E. Constable: So, we are cool.
Mr P. PAPALIA: No, we are not.
Subject: Teacher Registration Bill 2011 [Legislative Assembly - Consideration in Detail]
Date: 1 May 2012
Hansard reference: p. 1870 [online (pdf)]
