CORONAVIRUS —
INTERSTATE BORDER RESTRICTIONS
407. Mr Z.R.F. KIRKUP to the Premier:
I have a supplementary question.
Given the low rates of infection—if not zero spread, to quote the
Premier—when will the Premier set a date so that the people of Western Australia
can have certainty about when we can expect our borders to reopen?
Mr M.
McGOWAN replied:
When we get health advice that it
is safe to do so. I know members opposite seem unhappy. I do not think they
have listened to all the advice that is out there. I do not think they have
listened to the people of Western Australia, and I do not think they listen to
the answers I give them.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER: Members!
Mr M. McGOWAN: Clive Palmer
is launching a High Court challenge and the federal government has intervened
in that. I think all of that—Mr Palmer's challenge and the
federal government intervening—is unfortunate, unnecessary and
disappointing. I am supported in that. Yesterday, the Prime Minister endorsed
our planning reforms and Colin Barnett endorsed our approach to the hard border
closure. Member for Vasse, I will read out what Colin Barnett had to say —
Well, I'm obviously just
watching from a distance, this debate about the borders. My view is that State
Government have done a very good job, in terms of taking a hard line and have
succeeded in protecting the health of West Australians.
He stated further —
� I would be very, very disappointed
if the federal government backs Clive Palmer in the High Court. I don't think that's appropriate
and it would certainly� further damage Australia's relationship with
China if the federal government was to do that. So I'm
disappointed if that's going to be the approach that the Federal
Government�
� I would be disappointed if Federal
Government tries to use its power to overrule what I regard are the sovereign
rights of Western Australia �
He
said words to that effect the whole way through. Mr Barnett and, indeed, the
Prime Minister, have endorsed this government's approach to a range of
matters that we are pursuing in Western Australia. Politics does not always
have to be one side disagreeing with the other. It does not always have to be
that way. Opposition is not always about opposing everything. I have been the
opposition leader. I did it for five long years; actually, I enjoyed the role
of opposition leader for five long years and three months. It was a long
period. Sometimes, the opposition has to be constructive. I urge the Liberal
Party in Western Australia to be constructive with the state government on this
issue.