Skip to main content
Home
  • The Legislative Assembly meets on 16/04/2024 (01:00 PM)
    Assembly sit 16/04/2024
  • The Legislative Council meets on 16/04/2024 (01:00 PM)
    Council sit 16/04/2024
  • The Public Administration meets on 08/04/2024 (10:00 AM)
    Committee meet 08/04/2024

Parliamentary Questions


Question Without Notice No. 407 asked in the Legislative Assembly on 16 June 2020 by Mr Z.R.F. Kirkup

Parliament: 40 Session: 1

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.