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Parliamentary Questions


Question Without Notice No. 737 asked in the Legislative Assembly on 10 November 2021 by Mr R.S. Love

Parliament: 41 Session: 1

CORONAVIRUS — INTERSTATE BORDER RESTRICTIONS — TRANSITION PLAN

737. Mr R.S. LOVE to the Premier:

I refer to the Premier's safe transition plan for WA and predictions from the president of the Principals' Federation of Western Australia, Bevan Ripp, who said on 18 October that Western Australian schools already had a problem with teacher supply, which the move was likely to exacerbate.

(1) What modelling was done to evaluate the likely effect of the plan on teacher numbers?

(2) What plan does the Premier have to attract and retain teachers needed to fill the likely gaps, noting this is a problem that is further exacerbated in regional and remote Western Australia?

Ms S. Winton interjected.

The SPEAKER: I call the Premier, not the member for Wanneroo.

Mr M. McGOWAN replied:

(1)–(2) The government did something very tough but necessary. I know there are a lot of critics and a lot of people undermining the government, but it is time for political parties to show some responsibility. The Liberal Party and the Nationals WA should be responsible and support us in what we are trying to do here. We are trying to get Western Australians vaccinated so we can keep the community safe, so we can keep children safe at school and so we can keep staff safe in schools. That is what we are trying to do. The reason the education workforce is part of it is because schools are critical; they need to continue to operate. That is why it is important. We want to make sure that students are kept safe. All we have had over the last two years is the Liberals and Nationals undermining us at every single opportunity. Here they are again: support Clive Palmer, undermine everything we try to do. That is all they try to do.

Ms L. Mettam interjected.

The SPEAKER: Member for Vasse, you have not asked this question. Your interjections are repetitive. I ask you to desist.

Mr M. McGOWAN: If we do not do this and teachers get sick, what happens then? We will see teachers go off for weeks on end and children and parents will potentially get sick. That is the alternative we face. There are no easy options here. We are doing what is required to be done because tough times call for tough measures and serious people to do them. That is what this government is doing.

Now, you continue to undermine; that is what you do. You continue to ask questions that have the main aim of undermining what we are trying to do. You support those who undermine all the time because you think there are some political points in it for you. That is the only reason you do it. This is the time, like the South Australian opposition is and has been doing, to stand up and support the government when it is doing difficult things.

Over the next three months, we are going to persist. We are not going to give in to the anti-vaxxers. We are not going to give in to the people who threaten and intimidate—those people who do outrageous things towards me, my family and my staff. We are not giving in to that! All I would say to the Liberals and Nationals is: how about you show a bit of responsibility and support us?

Several members interjected.

The SPEAKER: Order, please!