ATTORNEY GENERAL — PERFORMANCE
268. Dr D.J. HONEY to the Premier:
I refer to the Premier's
Attorney General's multiple gaffes, including his failure to report a luxury
helicopter ride with a casino bigwig; the violation of his own government's
mask mandate, for which he was fined; and his recent blunder in the Federal
Court, which led to the Premier's own lawyer ridiculing the Attorney
General as bordering on silly. Does the Attorney General still retain the
Premier's confidence, given his numerous improprieties and trip ups;
and, if so, why?
Mr M.
McGOWAN replied:
I am not at all averse to saying
that he is the finest Attorney General I have seen in my time in Parliament. I think
that people with a lot longer memories than
me will say exactly the same thing. In terms of his record of achievement,
it is as long as your arm. This Attorney General has brought in laws for
increased penalties for meth traffickers. He brought in the no body, no parole
legislation. He has strengthened the powers of the Corruption and Crime
Commission to investigate unexplained wealth; toughened the laws against
dangerous sex offenders; removed the statute of limitations for the victims of
child sexual abuse; passed legislation for the expungement of convictions for
historical LGBTI homosexual sex offences; introduced a custody notification
scheme for Indigenous people; joined the National Redress Scheme; criminalised
revenge porn; brought in tougher legislation for persons linked to terrorism;
passed legislation implementing new offences and tougher penalties for family
and domestic violence; reformed the outdated fines enforcement regime, ending
imprisonment for fine default; increased the capacity of Magistrates Courts in
the regions; reappointed John McKechnie, QC, as the Corruption and Crime
Commissioner; commissioned Western Australia's first strategy to
address sexual violence in Western Australia; and passed historic legislation
bringing equality to Western Australia's Legislative Council. He has
introduced legislation to enhance Western Australia's
anti-consorting laws against bikies; established elder rights in WA; allowed de
facto couples to fairly split their superannuation; put in place the most
comprehensive charitable trust laws in the nation; and also had a major role in
this house and more broadly in the voluntary assisted dying laws. In my memory,
there is not an Attorney General in the country who has such a record of achievement—not
one. No-one else can point to something
of that magnitude, and that is only a snapshot of the sorts of things this
Attorney General has achieved in his time as Attorney General—five years—and
obviously he has some years to go with some more achievements to come.
Contrast that: isn't the
shadow Attorney General Hon Nick Goiran? Hon Nick Goiran is someone who brings
the Liberal Party into disrepute, amongst others, I might add, in the
parliamentary Liberal Party. He is a member of ''The Clan''
grouping, out there attacking women and making sexist and derogatory comments
and destroying the brand of the Liberal Party all over the place.
Member, I realise in your
parliamentary career you have not achieved anything and I realise you have not
passed a single bill, but that does not mean that your envy should be so great
as to come up with these ridiculous questions against someone who has an
extensive record of outstanding achievement serving the people of Western Australia.