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.