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Parliamentary Questions


Question Without Notice No. 730 asked in the Legislative Assembly on 17 November 2022 by Ms M. Beard

Parliament: 41 Session: 1

YOUTH CRIME — REGIONS

730. Ms M. BEARD to the Premier:

I have a supplementary question. The Shire of Derby–West Kimberley seemingly has not been contacted by the Premier or any minister since the airing of Monday's Four Corners program. Is the Premier's government really taking this issue seriously?

Mr M. McGOWAN replied:

I just outlined to the member a whole range of initiatives that we have taken. I note that the program on Monday night —

Several members interjected.

The SPEAKER: Order, please!

Mr M. McGOWAN: I note that the program on Monday night did not identify that the president of the Shire of Derby–West Kimberley was the Liberal candidate in the last state election. I would have thought that the ABC, of all organisations, in the interests of balance, would have —

Ms M.J. Davies interjected.

Mr M. McGOWAN: Can I please answer the question.

Several members interjected.

The SPEAKER: Order, please, members!

Mr M. McGOWAN: I just outlined to the member about eight initiatives that we have taken to support regional —

Ms M.J. Davies interjected.

Mr M. McGOWAN: Oh my goodness! I think the Minister for Transport correctly identified the problem with the opposition.

I would have thought that in the interests of balance that the ABC and Four Corners, of all organisations, would actually have identified that one of the principal complainants was a Liberal candidate in the last election and was defeated. That is a relevant factor, I would have thought.

Several members interjected.

Mr M. McGOWAN: Yes, he was a Liberal candidate in the last election and was defeated. It is a fact, and he criticises the state government.

Several members interjected.

The SPEAKER: Order, please! There was one member who asked this question, and now I have members of both opposition parties just continuing to interject. It is not acceptable.

Mr M. McGOWAN: I would have thought that that is a relevant consideration and is something in the interests of balance that should have been part of the story. Unfortunately, it was not, but there were a lot of inaccuracies in the story. The story began with the journalist saying that there should not be any detention! Okay; that is just a recipe for there being no consequences for anything, and I just do not agree with that. I do not agree with the fundamental premise, but we do an enormous number of things to try to divert young people and to try to give them structure in their lives and provide them with opportunities for the future, and I just outlined to the member six or eight of them across regional WA.

The SPEAKER: Members, that concludes question time.