houses in motion

Despite the last post's claim that "we're back", we've been a bit quiet recently. Of course, the state governmental happenings haven't been; the likes of Brian Burke have done their part to make this quite an interesting time. However, we do now have 'exciting' news...

We've moved House(s) to wordpress, hosted over at hansardblog.wordpress.com. All your favourite posts available at this domain have been migrated across, so you'll still get a slice of Budget Pie, five million exchanges involving daylight savings, and that disturbing thing about the mud cake... At the moment everything is organised only by speaker - considering the unwieldy mess that is the categories to the right of this post, we're still deliberating whether further categorisation is a good thing or not...

So, we're still active, just not here. Any questions, queries or comments, send us an email, and we'll hopefully see you in the other place for more of the odd goings-on in the state that we are in...

and we're back

MR G. WOODHAMS (Greenough) [3.07 pm]: I will not spend a long time on my feet. The member for Vasse reminds me of the Muppets and Sesame Street. Today could well and truly be sponsored by the letter D - it is a disgraceful day, a doubtful day, a detritus day and a disappointing day. The disappointment I have is with members opposite. Most of us on this side of the house have at one time or another had conversations with members on the other side of the house on a range of issues. There are members on this side of the house who would consider those on the other side of the house amongst their friends and associates, with whom they can discuss a range of issues. I presume that most of us have respect for most members of this house. However, it disappoints me that those on the other side of the house do not have the respect of their own colleagues, and they certainly do not have the respect of this side of the house today because they are not defending - another letter D - their Premier in this case, and his cause of rooting out the influence of Burke and Grill in this house. [...] I invite members opposite to explain why they are not supporting their Premier and defending the case of rooting out Burke and Grill from influence in the ALP. This is a very doubtful day.

Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan: We all support it.

Mr G. WOODHAMS: I invite the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure to rise to her feet and build a case.

Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan: I can do that sitting down.

The ACTING SPEAKER: Order, minister!

Several members interjected.

The ACTING SPEAKER: Order! The member for Greenough has the floor. There is no call for conversations across the chamber. I would like to hear what the member for Greenough has to say, and I would like to hear it in relative silence.

Mr G. WOODHAMS: Perhaps I caused that disruption to proceedings by inviting interjections. If I did so, I apologise, Mr Acting Speaker.

I come from a farming background, for which I make no apology. This government reminds me of an old ewe that has secondary fly strike and is riddled with maggots, and even though it has the ability to cure itself, it is taking absolutely no opportunity to do that. Mr Acting Speaker (Mr A.P. O’Gorman), I have read your comment in the paper that you would prefer that the circumstances with regard to Hon Shelley Archer were resolved by having her removed from the Australian Labor Party. Some other members opposite would do well to have the same amount of courage.

Mr R.F. Johnson: The member for Kimberley might want to say something about Hon Shelley Archer, because, as the member knows, she wants the member for Kimberley’s seat!

Mrs C.A. Martin: That is really nasty! I like my seat!

Mr G. WOODHAMS: It is wonderful to chart the progress of the good ship ALP as it staggers from rock to rock and begins to sink. It would seem, though, that the crew of the good ship ALP are about to jump off the ship and leave the rat on board! Hon Shelley Archer is currently still in a position to take her seat in the upper house when it resumes. I advised the Premier earlier that he might like to use Ratsac on that honourable member. If the Premier does not want to take that advice, perhaps he will send the honourable member to “Burketown” in the “Gulf of Carpenteria” -

Several members interjected.

Mr G. WOODHAMS: I am glad members finally got it - Carpenteria!

Subject: Premier - Censure for Failure to Condemn Hon Shelley Archer [Legislative Assembly - Motion]

Date: 1 March 2007

Hansard reference: pp. 234c - 241a [online (pdf)]

Tags: parliament, state government, brian burke, wa, perth

Previously, in the Legislative Assembly...

Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO: [...] Some of the people who are opposed to daylight saving have been quite vicious in their e-mails. Some people have threatened that I will have my legs broken. Some people have made some nasty comments about my parentage.

Mr T.R. Sprigg: You have broken a few legs in your time! You are the “Godfather”, are you not?

Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO: I will get to that in a moment!

[...]

Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO: [...] I do not support everything in this bill. I do not support the referendum. However, I will be supporting the compromise bill that has been introduced by the member for Kalgoorlie and co-sponsored by me, because I believe it will unify the “yes” position and provide the best opportunity to put daylight saving in place at least for three years. At the end of that period, there will be a referendum, and the community -

Mr J.E. McGrath: Why only three years? Why not five years?

Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO: I would prefer to have no referendum at all.

Mr J.E. McGrath: If 95 per cent of people support it, why do we need a referendum? Why not just do it?

Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO: Because that is the position that the majority of members in this Parliament seem to support. In the end, this is a democracy, and the majority opinion will prevail.

I also thank the member for Kalgoorlie for giving me his support when I approached him to take a joint position with the government on this matter. His support was fantastic. However, I have a beef with the member for Kalgoorlie. He referred to himself as the father of daylight saving and to me as the godfather of daylight saving. I like to think of both myself and the member for Kalgoorlie as the parents of daylight saving. The only problem is that I am not sure who is the mother and who is the father! We can have that debate on another day.

Mr M.J. Birney: You might have spoken a bit too soon in any case! You should just retract those words for a couple of weeks!

Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO: Is that right? Is the member suggesting that we should wait until it happens? I actually think the term “godfather” should be given to the member for Hillarys - sorry, the member for Mindarie -

Mr R.F. Johnson: Whaddya say; whaddya say?

Mr J.B. D’ORAZIO: The member has always said he wants to be an Italian!

Mr R.F. Johnson: I am an honorary Italian!

Subject: Daylight Saving Bill (no. 2) 2006 [Legislative Assembly - Standing Orders -- Suspension]

Date: 31 October 2006

Hansard reference: pp. 7886b - 7952a [online (pdf)]

Tags: parliament, state government, perth, wa, dst, daylight savings

Obviously leading to the straw poll that...

1087. Hon ROBIN CHAPPLE to the minister representing the Minister for the Environment:

I refer to the occurrence of stock from pastoral stations straying into nature reserves and national parks in Western Australia.

[...]

(3) What penalties exist for pastoralists who allow stock to enter a nature reserve?
[...]

Hon TOM STEPHENS replied:

[...]

(3) Under section 106(a) of the Conservation and Land Management Act 1984, the penalty for depasturing cattle on Department of Conservation and Land Management land - including nature reserves - is $4 000 and imprisonment for six months.


Under regulation 15(b) of the Conservation and Land Management Regulations 2002, the penalty for allowing an animal to enter or remain on CALM land - including a nature reserve - is $500, or if dealt with by way of an infringement notice, a modified penalty of $50.

I do not know who would be fined for the herd of about 50 camels I saw in the middle of the Rudall River National Park over the weekend, but I suppose the authorities can work out to whom to send the bill.


Hon Peter Foss: They are probably yours.

Hon John Fischer: Are you claiming ownership.

Hon TOM STEPHENS: I am not.

Hon SIMON O’BRIEN: Are they all enrolled?

Hon Kim Chance: They are now!

Subject: Conservation Estate, Grazing Impacts [Legislative Council - Questions Without Notice]

Date: 13 August 2003

Hansard reference: pp. 9845b - 9845b [online (pdf)]

Tags: parliament, camels, wa, perth, state government

The crackle of the radio, a message in the evening sky

710. Mr S.R. HILL to the Minister for Science and Innovation:

Can the minister inform the house of the progress of Australia’s bid to host the square-kilometre array, the biggest radio telescope ever built, and its importance in the mid-west?

Mr F.M. LOGAN replied:

I thank the member for Geraldton for the question. I put on the record my thanks to the member for Geraldton for the role he plays as the chair of the coordinating committee for the Mileura station radio astronomy park and for all the effort he puts into coordinating the number of departments and scientists involved in that project. I thank him very much.

Although all eyes will be on the Australian Football League grand final in Melbourne on Saturday, another one looms on the horizon, but it is a slightly different one. In under six hours we will learn whether the world’s astronomy community has short-listed Australia to host the square-kilometre array, the world’s largest radio telescope. [...] Believe it or not, the world in which we live - I can see it in the wireless network in this place - is bombarded with radio frequencies from wireless networks, radio telephones, radios, televisions, cars and trucks. The whole world is bombarded with various radio frequencies, and to listen in to deep space, and to research the big bang theory and how the universe was created, a radio telescope is required that is not interfered with by radio frequencies.

Mr T. Buswell: Will it pick up the black hole between your ears?

Mr F.M. LOGAN: It is funny that the member for Vasse should say that, because I was just about to say exactly the same thing. I even have it written in my notes. The member beat me to it; well done! We have to get up early to catch him!

On a serious note, for the development of the science industry in Western Australia and for the world to take Western Australia and, more importantly, Australia seriously in the world of science, this project is phenomenal. [...] All the information will be processed by a computer that is so big that it has not even been invented yet! It is enormous.

Several members interjected.

Mr F.M. LOGAN: I have been told - not that I am aware of this level of computing power - that it is about 13 teraflops, which is pretty big - apparently. The possibility is that Geraldton could be the home of this supercomputer. It would put Western Australia on the map, not only in industrial development but also in the science industry, the information and communications technology industry and the computer industry. In particular, it will put Geraldton on the map. As we watch those stars in Melbourne over the weekend, Treasurer - Judd, Cousins and the rest of them - we should remember that we could be looking at other stars in deep space in a few years and we could find out the meaning of life and whether that black hole in the head of the member for Vasse will be resolved.

The SPEAKER: I am not sure whether the word “teraflops” is unparliamentary, but I will check and get back to the minister!

Subject: Square-Kilometre Array - Progress of Bid [Legislative Assembly]

Date: 28 September 2006

Hansard reference: pp. 6931c - 6932a [online (pdf)]

Tags: state government, parliament, perth, wa

Once upon a tie in the West

HON JOHN FISCHER (Mining and Pastoral) [5.55 pm]: I will make one or two precursory remarks before I thank some people. Yesterday, the Minister for Racing and Gaming commented by way of interjection on the tie I was wearing.

Hon Nick Griffiths: You have really dished it up to me today!

Hon JOHN FISCHER: The minister certainly deserves to be complimented on the tie he is wearing today. I am sure that anyone from the racing industry would be extremely proud that the minister is wearing a tie that is extremely befitting of the position he holds. While I am talking about neckties, it would be remiss of me not to mention the ties worn by Hon Peter Foss on occasion, and certainly Hon Robin Chapple runs a very close second to him. I mention this today because my nine-year-old daughter presented me with a musical tie that is certainly fitting for this occasion. It brings out the Christmas feeling!

Hon Kim Chance: I think the honourable member’s tie is out of order!

Hon Ken Travers: I told them not to push your button!

Hon JOHN FISCHER: I think I have a flat battery already, but I am sure I will play it again at a later stage.

Subject: Adjournment of the House [Legislative Council - Special]

Date: 19 December 2002

Hansard reference: pp. 4538b - 4544a [online (pdf)]

Tags: state government, parliament, perth, wa

Email intuition

Mr T.G. STEPHENS: Leaving aside the 3 000-odd e-mails I have received - I could not find in the e-mail river any from people within my electorate. I have been scanning through them as best I can. By and large, I believe they are not people from my electorate who are involved in this electronic campaign.

Mr M.W. Trenorden: What average of those people would e-mail you and me?

Mr T.G. STEPHENS: I do not mind people doing it.

Mr M.W. Trenorden: It collapses my whole office.

Mr T.G. STEPHENS: I do not mind.

Mr M.W. Trenorden: I’ve got one electorate to look after.

The ACTING SPEAKER: Order, members!

Mr T.G. STEPHENS: It is a historic thing; it is unprecedented campaigning in my experience of this place. In 25 years in Parliament I have never seen us experiencing this type of electronic campaign which -

Mr G. Woodhams: Intimidation.

Mr T.G. STEPHENS: No, no, it is not intimidation.

Mr G. Woodhams: Soft-headed modernism!

Mr T.G. STEPHENS: Welcome to the modern world, member! Expect more of it and in big numbers. If anything, those people who are organising our Internet system will need to devise methods for us to conduct electronic business while simultaneously having the opportunity, off to the side, to receive this type of lobbying. I expect we will get more of it.

Mr M.W. Trenorden: Just dump it. Hit the dump button.

Mr T.G. STEPHENS: That is 3 000 hit buttons to get that dump button. There is another way of doing it and most members have worked out how to do it. One puts it across into a discrete area of one’s e-mail. One can see it there growing and every now and then when one wants to have a look, one can do so.

Mr M.J. Birney: You can also do something crazy like read them! How do you know if they are from your electorate if you do not read them?

Several members interjected.

The ACTING SPEAKER: Order, members!

Mr T.G. STEPHENS: I think I have been digressed!

Subject: Daylight Saving Bill (no. 2) 2006 [Legislative Assembly - Standing Orders -- Suspension]

Date: 31 October 2006

Hansard reference: pp. 7886b - 7952a [online (pdf)]

Tags: parliament, state government, perth, wa, dst, daylight savings

Here's one I prepared earlier

MR M.J. COWPER (Murray) [10.24 pm]: [...] Some people like to get up early in the morning. They like to exercise in the morning and get going and be on their way. Various members have spoken about their experiences and what they like to do first thing in the morning. I am a morning person. When I was younger, I was a late-night person. As one gets older, the general trend is that one prefers to get up early and go to bed early. I do not know about other members, but I have difficulty staying awake after about 9.30 in the evening, given that I am up at about quarter to five most mornings. The fact is that when the sun comes up, I get up and when the sun goes down, I go home, have my dinner and go to bed.

Mr A.D. McRae: You’re like a chook!

Mr M.J. COWPER: I am exactly like a chook. I am a bit like that member. The only difference between the member and Fat Cat is that Fat Cat has friends.

Mr A.D. McRae: You’ve had that one lined up for a while, haven’t you?

Mr M.J. COWPER: The minister left me no option; I had to lob that one back over the fence.

Subject: Daylight Saving Bill (no. 2) 2006 [Legislative Assembly - Standing Orders -- Suspension]

Date: 31 October 2006

Hansard reference: pp. 7886b - 7952a [online (pdf)]

Tags: parliament, state government, perth, wa, dst, daylight savings

Slightly disturbing

Hon FRANK HOUGH: This is an attractive business and I am sure the Government has looked at this issue. To build a large corporation and to put up an investment such as this requires guarantees; a return is needed on the investment. These things are very important. I do not believe that we should have a fragmented industry of half a dozen small timber industries feeding off the forest. The member of the Greens (WA) who holds a building licence - I do not think she is any relation of Bob the Builder -

A government member interjected.

Hon FRANK HOUGH: The member does not watch television.

Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich: That is about your level.

Hon FRANK HOUGH: I do not watch The Wiggles.

The DEPUTY PRESIDENT (Hon Jon Ford): Order, members!

Hon Ken Travers: Can we fix it; yes we can!

The DEPUTY PRESIDENT: Order, members! Do not get excited at the end of the night.

Hon FRANK HOUGH: Thank you, Mr Deputy President. We will probably hit ’em high, hit ’em low and hit ’em with the old Pea Beu!

Subject: Wood Processing (Wesbeam) Agreement Bill 2002 [Legislative Council - Second Reading]

Date: 25 September 2002

Hansard reference: pp. 1543b - 1553a [online (pdf)]

Tags: state government, parliament, wa, perth, bob the builder

Dessert aisles

Hon BRUCE DONALDSON: [...] I know the supermarkets used milk as a loss leader marketing arrangement, because the milk is always down the bottom end of the store. They are not interested in how much milk they really sell; it is more a case of getting people to walk down those aisles. Suckers like me see something new on the shelf and decide to try it, so I am sent to purchase half a dozen items and I come back with 12.

Hon Barbara Scott: Spending the housekeeping?

Hon BRUCE DONALDSON: That is what my wife keeps saying to me. She says that I spend her money quickly.

Hon Kim Chance: It is a bloke thing. They should never send us shopping.

Hon BRUCE DONALDSON: That is quite true.

Subject: Marketings of Eggs Amendment Bill 2004 [Legislative Council - Second Reading]

Date: 19 August 2004

Hansard reference: pp. 5231b - 5249a [online (pdf)]

Tags: wa, perth, state government, parliament

An independent?

MR B.S. WYATT (Victoria Park) [4.35 pm]: I do not propose to speak for a great length of time. I will make a few points simply because of the public feedback that I, like all members of Parliament, have received. What surprised me initially about the Daylight Saving (No. 2) Bill 2006 is the response that I have received from members of my electorate and from people all over the state. It is quite clear from the many e-mails that we have all received that this bill has a personal impact on everybody. Every time I have spoken to somebody, I have been given different views. I note that the member for Mindarie referred to different family members who have different views. I have been quite heavily pressured by my mother to vote against this bill.

Mr G. Woodhams: Your mother cares for you.

Mr B.S. WYATT: She does care for me.

Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan: I hope she lives in the electorate.

Mr B.S. WYATT: She does live in the electorate and, like 2 000 other people who live in the electorate, will not be voting for me again if I support this bill. However, I do not think she voted for me the first time. That is perhaps not a loss. However, I will be voting in support of this bill.

Ms K. Hodson-Thomas: Shall we send her a copy of your speech?

Mr B.S. WYATT: She will be reading it. This bill does have some significance for the people of Victoria Park. The last three referendums on daylight saving have been relatively close.

Dr K.D. Hames: What does your dad think?

Mr B.S. WYATT: He supports me whatever I do.

Subject: Daylight Saving Bill (no. 2) 2006 [Legislative Assembly - Standing Orders -- Suspension]

Date: 31 October 2006

Hansard reference: pp. 7886b - 7952a [online (pdf)]

Tags: parliament, state government, perth, wa, dst, daylight savings

Hoard of state

Dr S.C. THOMAS: [...] The numbers do not add up. I believe this is something that we on this side of the house will find with this government time and again. If we look closely enough, the budget figures just do not add up. There is no doubt that this will be the blow-out era for budget expenditure. There is no doubt that every six months we will have to come into this place and say this is one more project that this government has managed to blow out. We are dealing with appropriation bills for things that were not expected and for which we did not put aside enough money.

Mr D.A. Templeman: Balloons are expensive this year!

Dr S.C. THOMAS: Balloons are expensive. They will be more expensive next year, most likely, because there is a two-year waiting list to do anything. Of course, the government now has more money than it has ever had. It could build nearly anything it wanted. If it wanted to build a space station, it could probably damn near build that.

Mr R.F. Johnson: They are like a load of kids let loose in a sweetshop with a load of pocket money!

Dr S.C. THOMAS: Absolutely. They have this enormous amount of pocket money that they can spend on just about anything.

Mr R.F. Johnson: But not in Hillarys!

Mr D.A. Templeman: Willy Wonka lives in Hillarys!

Mr R.F. Johnson: I get nothing in Hillarys.

Dr G.G. Jacobs: I get nothing in Roe.

Dr S.C. THOMAS: They get nothing in Roe, nothing in Dawesville and nothing in South Perth! The government is probably going to take bits out of it!

Mr M.P. Murray: They will put uranium there!

Dr S.C. THOMAS: That is going to Merredin, member for Collie-Wellington!

Mr M.P. Murray: We will share it around!

Subject: Appropriation (Consolidated Fund) Bill (no. 3) 2005 / Appropriation (Consolidated Fund) Bill (no. 4) 2005 [Legislative Assembly - Second Reading]

Date: 23 November 2005

Hansard reference: pp. 7684b - 7699a [online (pdf)]

Tags: wa, state government, perth, parliament

In another time

Hon PETER FOSS: In speaking to the amendment, I would like to put to bed the concept that, if the house sits earlier, members will get more sleep. That rationale is very much like the daylight saving argument. The amount of sleep we get is determined by the amount of time available between the house’s rising and the time it commences. It is fallacious to say that we will get more sleep if the house starts earlier and rises earlier. It is almost as good an argument as that which claims the curtains will fade because of daylight saving.

Hon Kim Chance: I think I said it would get us home a little earlier.

Hon PETER FOSS: It will get us home a little earlier, but it will get us out of bed a little earlier, so we will come back to Parliament half asleep; we will have the potential for an accident on the way to work rather than on the way home. That is wonderful.

Hon Derrick Tomlinson interjected.

Hon PETER FOSS: Yes, then we would not have to go to bed at all. The government’s reasoning is fallacious in two ways. When I was in practice many years ago, and as the state would not have daylight saving, I started my own daylight saving by coming into the office an hour earlier.

Hon Derrick Tomlinson: And your curtains faded.

Hon PETER FOSS: The funny thing was that I went home at exactly the same time as I did without the daylight saving. I just worked an extra hour every day because the signal to go home was when it went dark.

Hon Kim Chance: Did you find your milk went sour?

Hon PETER FOSS: The milk went terribly sour and the curtains in my car were totally faded, but -

The DEPUTY PRESIDENT (Hon George Cash): Hon Peter Foss is speaking to the issue of the deletion of “2.30 pm” and the substitution of “3.30 pm”. I cannot understand where the milk comes into it, but I will allow a little leeway. In the end, members, Hon Peter Foss is entitled to speak to the amendment, and only that.

Hon PETER FOSS: I was referring not to milk, but to the hour. The change from 2.30 to 3.30 pm will be sensible. The entire concept of starting earlier in order not to sit later is fallacious. The amendment not only has the advantage of enabling a party room meeting of upper house members, which is highly desirable in trying to deal with things, but it gets away from the fallacious argument that starting earlier will provide more sleep. It will not. In fact, I expect the opposite to be the case.

Hon Kim Chance: We are going to agree to the amendment.

Subject: Standing Order 61(a), Sitting Times [Legislative Council - Motion]

Date: 27 April 2005

Hansard reference: pp. 721c - 731a [online (pdf)]

Tags: state government, wa, perth, parliament, daylight savings, dst

A Federal interjection

For the past three months, this site has concerned itself with the wonder of the WA Legislative Council and Legislative Assembly, found through searching Hansard. However, today there's a slight change as we bring a Federal Government related post - and not something quoted in Hansard...

FOR six years, former Cabinet minister Amanda Vanstone has been working on a secret project to write a song of gravitas to make Australians feel proud of their country.

Senator Vanstone told The Sunday Telegraph she penned the lyrics to the tune of Land Of Hope And Glory, from Pomp And Circumstance, after she became aware of the need for more national songs.

The song - which she stresses is not intended to replace or rival Advance Australia Fair - is designed to be played alongside Waltzing Matilda and True Blue as Australian classics.

"The drafting began something like six years ago at either a Boxing Day or Australia Day lunch with a whole lot of mates," Senator Vanstone said.

"We all decided ... that we needed another song of gravitas because at school functions and things, once you've sung Advance Australia Fair, there isn't another gravitas song.

"Some ceremonies that people go to - State funerals, school break-ups, etcetera - have more than one important moment."

Senator Vanstone had her lyrics recorded by an Opera Australia singer and submitted a demo tape to Sony BMG, Australia's largest record company.

[...]

Senator Vanstone said she was yet to receive any feedback on her tape from Sony BMG.

"They didn't tell me what they thought. What did they think about it?"

[...]

The song is separated into five verses, signifying different aspects of Australia as a nation.

The first verse sums up the entire song, with the subsequent verses going into more detail.

"Indigenous Australians were here first, we are an immigration country, freedom is what we've enjoyed all our lives, and we are under southern stars - everyone knows the Southern Cross," Senator Vanstone said.

The lyrics to Under Southern Stars:

Home to first Australians,
Joined from near and far,
Shining light for freedom,
Under Southern Stars.

Nation made of many,
Bound in hope as one,
Building for the future,
Under Southern Sun.

Free and Friendly Nation,
Born of our own hand,
Peace our greatest virtue,
Mighty Southern Land.

Valiant into Battle,
Courage to the end,
Standing firm for freedom,
Loyal southern friend.

Nature's earthly heaven,
Glory for our eyes,
Ours alone those treasures,
Under Southern Skies.

Shining light for Freedom

Under Southern Stars.

With the likes of Vanstone and Houses & Motions' muse Woodhams [see: 'Budget Pie', 'I Love A Sunburn Daily' and 'Advance Australia Equal'] present in Australian politics, there is a danger of some kind of Poll Idol - but who wants to see Alexander Downer singing again?

Subject: Vanstone penned ode to Australia over six years

Date: 4 February 2007

Reference: news.com.au, with AFP

[Thanks to Dave for the story]

Tags: parliament, parody, vanstone

Not on the Orange Stage...

MR RIPPER (Belmont - Treasurer) [9.39 am]: I thank the member for raising this issue. Members are not likely to find me at the Big Day Out concert, but it is an event that my sons have been to on occasions and I would be very disappointed on their behalf if the Big Day Out was affected by this insurance issue.

Mr Birney: You would make a good bouncer there.

Mr RIPPER: Does the member for Kalgoorlie think I would be okay in the mosh pit? My sons would advise him otherwise. The issue raised by the member for Rockingham -

Mr McGowan: They do not play Perry Como there.

Mr RIPPER: Is it possible to be in a mosh pit with Perry Como?

Subject: Crowd Control Insurance [Legislative Assembly - Grievance]

Date: 27 June 2002

Hansard reference: pp. 12252 [online (pdf)]

Tags: wa, state government, perth, parliament

It starts with love for foliage

MR HYDE (Perth) [5.57 pm]: [...] One of the most interesting issues to arise out of this debate was that raised by the opening speaker for the Opposition, the member for Greenough, in his important cultural heritage acknowledgment concerning the people of the western suburbs. He mentioned the cubbyhouses in the area and the activities that they have undertaken there. I draw members’ attention to the exceptionally rare bronzed Banksia menziesii. The name of this banksia gives some indication that it has blue-blood tendencies. It is the only one left in this area. As we all know, the red areas of Perth are slowly extending to the western suburbs. However, there is a bastion of blue-blooded Menzies-era hardwood left in this area. We need to find this bastion because I would be concerned if the Young Liberals in this Bushplan area were to put up the cubbyhouses that the member for Greenough referred to; I would be concerned if there is a Young Liberal’s cubbyhouse in this Banksia menziesii. There are no other known examples of this particular banksia between Kings Park and Bold Park. It is the Government’s priority to find out if there is a cubbyhouse in this area and what we will do about it. This is clearly one of the most important issues of this debate. The minister has already stated that the issues are underhand and completion will be forthcoming.

Sitting suspended from 6.00 to 7.00 pm

Mr HYDE: During the dinner break some other Labor members and I went out in search of this very important Banksia menziesii tree - the lone tree in the western suburbs containing a potential cubbyhouse used by the Young Liberals. We failed to find the tree, but you, Mr Acting Speaker (Mr Andrews), pointed out a Carnaby’s cockatoo on this important block of land. It is very rare, but it is on this site. Another of my colleagues on that search, the member for Albany, discovered a Gould’s goanna, and straightaway he said, “Look under there! That is a Varanus gouldii!” Another of my colleagues on that search, the member for Riverton, was a bit more adventurous. He went out on the left wing, and he said, “Hello! Under that eucalypt there is a collared sparrowhawk!” I was very impressed with my colleagues and their attachment to the flora and fauna. The coup de grâce was when the member for Eyre, with his binoculars and, being a journalist like me, his old peaked cap to aid in vision at sunset, identified the white-cheeked honeyeater. I was impressed with the performance of my Labor colleagues on this environmental stretch of land.

[...]

Mr HYDE: [...]The member for Churchlands referred to the wonderful public meetings held in nearby Hackett Hall. I have spent many an evening on the stage at Hackett Hall in a variety of Thespian pursuits, as well as in the audience, and that area certainly has an odour issue. The minister alluded to her earlier days playing soccer. I can also inform the House that the member for Albany - that wonderful spotter of Varanus gouldii - trained on that same patch of turf, McGillivray Oval. We have established that he needed to take a big breath at a certain turn with a northerly wind, but we do not know whether taking that big breath then enhanced his lung capacity and enabled him to make the Olympic team, or whether it detracted him from winning two gold medals instead of almost one.

Mr McGowan: The problem was that he always stopped in the home straight to keep an eye out for birds!

Mr HYDE: That is a very good analogy.

[...]

MR EDWARDS (Greenough) [7.14 pm]: I hope the House will allow me a little levity. The member for Perth raised a few issues about Latin pronunciation. I commend him for that, and I hope he understands my Latin. I did not quite catch the name of -

Mr Hyde: Banksia menziesii.

Mr EDWARDS: Until the member for Perth brought it to my attention, I was not aware that there was such a plant. I respect his knowledge -

Mr Hyde: It is in the EPA report.

Mr EDWARDS: I understand that, and with levity I suggest that the member find a “hydeafloria”, which is slightly pink with red overtones. It is found in various parks of Perth. We would need a bird “hyde” to see a “hydeafloria”. That is my level of humour.

Subject: Underwood Avenue Bushland [Legislative Assembly - Motion]

Date: 27 March 2002

Hansard reference: pp. 9073 - 9075 [online (pdf): p. 9073 / 9074 / 9075]

Tags: wa, state government, perth, parliament

The sound of silencers

Mr R.F. JOHNSON: [...] I concur with the comments of my colleague the shadow Minister for Police, the member for Kalgoorlie, about paintball. I have never played it, but it sounds like fun. I do not see that there is a problem with it, provided it is done with instruction and the proper protective clothing is worn. The game is fine as long as the necessary constraints are in place. We have had this debate many times over many years. I remember that when we were in government we were lobbied by people who wanted to be able to play paintball. Why should they not be able to play? I suppose a bit of commonsense is prevailing with the inclusion of these provisions. I suggest that mainly younger people like to play paintball. There should be some sort of age limit for young people who want to play this game. I would not want to see 10-year-olds -

Mr N.R. Marlborough: It is very physical. It should be restricted to people under 60 years of age. Never mind the young ones - keep the old ones out of it. They die without being hit.

Mr R.F. JOHNSON: The old ones are more dangerous. The member for Peel would know that. The Opposition supports paintball not being illegal. We do not think it is reasonable to make it illegal.

Let us look at other parts of the Bill. I concur with the comments of my colleague the shadow Minister for Police, the member for Kalgoorlie, about silencers. He speaks a lot of sense in this place.

Ms J.A. Radisich interjected.

Mr R.F. JOHNSON: What was that? The member for Swan Hills wants to interject on me. Do not raise your eyebrows at me, young lady - you cheeky thing. Mr Acting Speaker, she is raising her eyebrows at me.

Ms J.A. Radisich: Don’t call me that. You are lucky I let you get away with that.

Mr R.F. JOHNSON: My friend the Minister for Small Business is returning to his seat. I feel an interjection coming on.

Ms A.J. MacTiernan: Sit down and get your composure back.

Mr R.F. JOHNSON: The minister’s colleague the Leader of the House wants us to keep going until 11 o’clock. I am trying to help him. I am doing my bit for the Leader of the House.

Mr R.C. Kucera interjected.

Mr R.F. JOHNSON: Is the Minister for Small Business trying to coax the Acting Speaker?

Mr R.C. Kucera: I am making sure that you withdraw that disgusting comment about this lady here.

Mr R.F. JOHNSON: What disgusting comment? I do not make disgusting comments about young ladies.

Mr P.D. Omodei: Why don’t you call a point of order?

Mr R.F. JOHNSON: If the minister thinks I made that comment, he should stand and call a point of order. I would never dream of making a disgusting comment. Gracious me! The minister should not try to verbal me. He will not get anywhere verballing me.

As I was saying about silencers -

Mrs M.H. Roberts: Silence is golden.

Mr R.F. JOHNSON: Silence would be golden. We would all like a bit of solitude and silence now. That was certainly on my mind half an hour ago. It would be rather nice to have some silence.

I am talking about silencers on firearms. I want to get back to the Bill before the House. I get sick and tired of distractions from members opposite, who are trying to prevent me saying the words which I want to say and which I firmly believe.

Ms A.J. MacTiernan: You are the most wanton seeker of interjections who has ever spoken.

Mr R.F. JOHNSON: I do not know whether to take that as a compliment or an insult.

The ACTING SPEAKER (Mr A.P. O’Gorman): Members! The member for Hillarys is trying to return to the Bill. The numerous interjections from this side are preventing him doing that. I want to hear the end of his speech.

Subject: Firearms Amendment Bill 2003 [Legislative Assembly - Second Reading]

Date: 2 March 2004

Hansard reference: pp. 121b - 134a [online (pdf)]

Tags: wa, state government, perth, parliament

Eggciting times

HON BRUCE DONALDSON (Agricultural) [2.00 pm]: This Bill amends the Marketing of Eggs Act 1945 and provides for the expiry of the Act and the dissolution of the Western Australian Egg Marketing Board before 31 December 2005. The expiry of the Act will fulfil the State’s national competition policy obligations on egg marketing. I guess we, as legislators in this place, have always been cautious about deregulating any industry. We want to ensure that the decision we make is the right one. We do not want to finish up with egg on our face!

Several members interjected.

The DEPUTY PRESIDENT: Order, members!

[...]

Hon BRUCE DONALDSON: [...] Reading page after page of the bureaucratic letter, one must unscramble the fiction and the bureaucratic speak to get to the conclusions.

Hon Kim Chance: One should also not count chickens before they hatch.

Hon BRUCE DONALDSON: Most certainly not. They probably poached this from another document, and just changed the wording. That is very important to understand.

Hon Simon O’Brien: Is the wording scrambled?

Hon BRUCE DONALDSON: I had to unscramble it to find the facts in this piece of bureaucratic information.

Subject: Marketing of Eggs Amendment Bill 2004 [Legislative Council - Second Reading]

Date: 19 August 2004

Hansard reference: pp. 5231b - 5249a [online (pdf)]

Tags: wa, state government, perth, parliament

Working on the sequel

A year after this...

Mr N.R. MARLBOROUGH: [...] The parliamentary secretary may not be aware - I was not aware of this matter until it was raised with me - of the problems many our wethers and steers experience with their pizzle. Thankfully, I have not caught it! I have not been out in the paddock long enough. However, I understand it is a major problem. Pizzle rot is occurring everywhere. It is increasing rapidly and causing all sorts of problems for farmers. Is the parliamentary secretary aware of the incidence of pizzle rot in wethers and steers? Is the restricted access to the steroid testosterone impacting on producers?

Mr A.D. McRAE: I might have to defer that question!

The CHAIRMAN: The last parliamentary secretary had to phone a friend; perhaps the parliamentary secretary would like 50-50!

Mr A.D. McRAE: I polished up on my knowledge of carnal bunt and bovine spongiform encephalopathy, but I did not deal with pizzle rot! I might ask some scientists to give us that information by way of supplementary information, because at the moment we are struggling to understand the extent of the problem.

Subject: Division 11: Agriculture, $148 576 000 - [Legislative Assembly - Estimates Committee]

Date: 9 June 2005

Hansard reference: pp. 374b - 387a [online (pdf)]

Tags: wa, state government, perth, parliament

They started it...

Hon PETER FOSS: [...] The reason I am asking these questions is obvious. The minister knows exactly why; he just does not want to say it. He almost gags on admitting that this Bill is inconsistent with and amends the Electoral Distribution Act. The minister will not say it, because if he does not say it, it will not happen. However, he looks a bit like Basil Fawlty. Do not mention the law! It is very hard sometimes not to mention the law.

Hon Kim Chance: Especially when you goosestep!

Hon PETER FOSS: I am glad I am providing amusement -

Hon N.D. Griffiths: You are.

Hon PETER FOSS: The minister is too. I pose this question -

Hon N.D. Griffiths: You are good at posing.

Subject: Electoral Amendment Bill 2001 [Legislative Council - Committee]

Date: 6 December 2001

Hansard reference: pp. 6557 [online (pdf)]

Tags: wa, state government, perth, parliament

Just Greenough

Mr G. WOODHAMS: [...] Beyondblue, the national depression initiative, strongly supports this suggestion that I make. I will quote from beyondblue -

While the rate at which mental disorders occur does not differ greatly between metropolitan, rural and remote populations, the likelihood of professional help being sought is lowest among men living away from big cities.

I apologise for my ringing mobile phone, Mr Speaker.

Mr M.P. Murray: Twenty bucks.

Ms M.M. Quirk: It’s your mum again!

Mr G. WOODHAMS: I think it is Mr Kennett.

A member: I think it’s a point of order.

Mr G. WOODHAMS: It was Mr Kennett, Mr Speaker. The reference to beyondblue was an instant line to him!

Subject: Mental Health Services - Rural and Regional Areas [Legislative Assembly - Grievance]

Date: 31 May 2006

Hansard reference: pp. 3314b - 3317a [online (pdf)]

Tags: wa, state government, perth, parliament

Why do we always come here?

MR T. BUSWELL (Vasse - Deputy Leader of the Opposition) [7.08 pm]: I will be leading the opposition’s contribution to the debate on the Stamp Amendment Bill 2006, which I am sure the Treasurer is happy about. It is the opposition’s intention to support this bill. I am sure the Treasurer has noted that I am always very happy to be supportive of legislation that I think is in the public interest for a variety of reasons. I do believe that this is a case in point.

Mr P.B. Watson: Put your notes together in the car, did you?

Mr T. BUSWELL: I put my notes together in a hurry. The one difference between members on this side of the house and the member for Albany luxuriating on the government back benches is that we make a contribution to debates in this place. Every time I look over at the two members sitting opposite, it reminds me of something. I will ask my colleagues to take a step back in time to The Muppet Show, from which they may remember the two characters, Statler and Waldorf, who sat in a balcony. If they were not modelled on the two members opposite, I will take a long walk and a long leap into a very hot place! I hear them make inane comments that provide an interesting insight into their cranial activity. Every time they open their mouths we understand fully that their cranium represents the perfect definition of a vacuum; nonetheless, they are two nice gents.

The ACTING SPEAKER (Mrs J. Hughes): Can we get back to matters at hand please.

Mr T. BUSWELL: I am frantically searching for my notes but I can continue without them.

[...]

Mr E.S. Ripper: I get the feeling that you and I could do a deal on retail trading hours. Is that possible?

Mr T. BUSWELL: My portfolio responsibilities merely extend to taxation and government expenditure. Competition reform is not in my portfolio area of responsibilities. Unfortunately, I am precluded from discussing it with the Treasurer.

Mr E.S. Ripper: Who is responsible?

Mr T. BUSWELL: I will find out and let the Treasurer know.

Mr P.B. Watson: Talking about numbers, you’d be Miss Piggy.

Mr T. BUSWELL: It is lovely to see Statler again. Look at Statler and Waldorf!

Subject: Stamp Amendment Bill 2006 [Legislative Assembly - Second Reading]

Date: 21 November 2006

Hansard reference: pp. 8485d - 8497a [online (pdf)]

Tags: wa, state government, perth, parliament

Intensive care

Mr J.L. BRADSHAW: England is the last place to go to get health service advice.

The minister managed to weasel his way onto an English breakfast television program similar to our Today show. The commentator told him to nick off because the English did not want him pinching their nurses. They have the same problem - a nurse shortage. I saw the program while I was in England recently. I got a hell of a surprise when our Minister for Health popped up.

Mr R.F. Johnson: Did he have make-up on?

Mr J.L. BRADSHAW: Probably.

Mr J.N. Hyde: How many nurses did you see in the United Kingdom?

Mr J.L. BRADSHAW: None; I had my wife with me.

Several members interjected.

Mr J.L. BRADSHAW: I am too old for that sort of thing.

Several members interjected.

Subject: Address-in-Reply [Legislative Assembly - Motion]

Date: 14 August 2002

Hansard reference: pp. 102z - 130z [online (pdf)]

Tags: wa, state government, perth, parliament

That's talking themselves down a little

Ms K. HODSON-THOMAS: [...] I take this opportunity to commend the minister’s advisers. We are approaching the end of the parliamentary sitting and we have had some long hours. It is highly commendable that they have been available to provide advice to the minister and to members in this chamber. That should be acknowledged by members in this place.

Mr J.A. McGinty: Thank you for that.

Ms K. HODSON-THOMAS: They deserve acknowledgment for being prepared to be available in this place.

Mr J.A. McGinty: One of them missed out on a Jacki Weaver play tonight to be here to watch this instead!

Ms K. HODSON-THOMAS: How very unfortunate that she should have to come here and watch us instead! I know where I would rather be!

Subject: Acts Amendment (Advance Health Care Planning) Bill 2006 [Legislative Assembly - Consideration in Detail]

Date: 29 November 2006

Hansard reference: pp. 8998b - 9016a [online (pdf)]

Tags: wa, state government, perth, parliament

The other Potter

Hon BARBARA SCOTT: [...] I could not help but reflect when Hon Chrissy Sharp spoke this morning and said that marijuana is not harmful and should be more available. We should reflect more on the Flopsy Bunnies of Beatrix Potter. Members opposite should reconsider that story. They recommend drinking chamomile tea for stress.

Hon Christine Sharp: Lettuces.

Hon BARBARA SCOTT: The lettuces are soporific; they make people sleep. Take notice of Beatrix Potter and the Flopsy Bunnies; they provide good advice. It is much better than promoting cannabis and marijuana.

Subject: Cannabis Control Bill 2003 [Legislative Council - Second Reading]

Date: 14 August 2003

Hansard reference: pp. 9930b - 9946a [online (pdf)]

Tags: wa, state government, perth, parliament

Behind bars

Mr BIRNEY: [...] I would like to address a couple of other issues but, as I have run out of time, I am sure the Deputy Premier wants to say a few words.

Mr Ripper: I could sit quietly and see if you are given a further opportunity to speak.

Mr JOHNSON: I would like to hear more from the member for Kalgoorlie. He has a great interest in this Bill and the upper House’s amendments.

Mr McGowan interjected.

Mr JOHNSON: I am absolutely passionate. The member for Kalgoorlie has a lot of knowledge, because Kalgoorlie is very famous for its public drinking houses.

Ms MacTiernan: I thought you were going to say he has a lot of knowledge because he has been thrown out of a lot of pubs!

Mr JOHNSON: Not at all. The member for Kalgoorlie is an extremely competent businessman and has run a very good business in Kalgoorlie.

Ms MacTiernan: It must be only meetings he gets thrown out of.

Mr JOHNSON: The member is concerned for the people in Kalgoorlie, because it has a pub on every corner. I have been to Kalgoorlie only half a dozen times, and I have been in only a couple of the pubs. I am not a big drinker, and I have never been thrown out of a pub. It is important that we hear from the member for Kalgoorlie, if only for the benefit of the member for Armadale. I am not sure that she understands this Bill. I want her to understand this Bill, because it relates to heavy drinking. It is important that every member of the House know about that.

Ms MacTiernan: Absolutely. It is good that your side of the House recognises that it might have some issues in that area.

Mr JOHNSON: I think the issues are on the minister’s side of the House.

Ms MacTiernan: We are seeking to understand some of the behaviour on your side of the House.

Mr JOHNSON: The minister can drink me under the table any day. I am not a heavy drinker.

Mr Marshall: Can you hold your drink?

Mr JOHNSON: I can certainly hold my drink.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! Members, I bring your attention back to the debate.

Mr JOHNSON: The member for Kalgoorlie is making a fantastic contribution to the debate on this Bill because he has a wide knowledge about not only this area but also many other areas.

Mr McGowan: Are you saying he is also knowledgeable about prostitution?

Mr JOHNSON: He is very knowledgeable about many things. He is a jewel in our crown.

Mr Ripper: You have convinced me; I really want to hear from the member for Kalgoorlie!

Mr JOHNSON: I have achieved something today. I am absolutely passionate. I hope that the member for Kalgoorlie continues his remarks and enlightens not only members on this side of the House but also certain members on the other side of the House.

Mr BIRNEY: I thank the member for Hillarys. I was not intending to continue, but the member has inspired me to once more bring some issues to the Deputy Premier’s attention.

Subject: Liquor Licensing Amendment Bill 2001 [Legislative Assembly - Council's Amendments]

Date: 28 November 2001

Hansard reference: pp. 6021 - 6022 [online (pdf)]

Tags: wa, state government, perth, parliament, kalgoorlie

Case study

Hon TOM STEPHENS: [...] I do not want to go back to the charcoal and scroll days. I hope there are no Luddites among us who are opposed to new technology. I have been inspired by the leadership of our Presiding Officer, who has made a computer available to himself. I would be concerned if the House were denying the rest of us access to that technology. I have heard that a member who was recently looking for a bookcase in the Parliament was told that there were no funds for bookcases and that if he wanted one he would have to bring in his own. He did.

Hon Derrick Tomlinson: Why would he want a bookcase when there are no books?

Hon TOM STEPHENS: He might want to read a book! We cannot have members reading books! Books are dangerous! They have been responsible for ideas creeping through society! I have heard that someone responsible for these funds for computers has said that funds cannot be allocated to members of Parliament for computers because the members who know how to use them will have an advantage over those who do not.

Hon Graham Edwards: On that basis, I think we should get rid of all our foot heaters!

Subject: Adjournment Debate - Members of Parliament Computers [Legislative Council - Adjournment Debate]

Date: 20 March 1997

Hansard reference: pp. 692 [online (pdf)]

Tags: wa, state government, perth, parliament

Lock it in

Mr P.D. OMODEI: Does the member know what karnal bunt is?

Ms M.M. QUIRK: I certainly do, member for Warren-Blackwood. I have a copy of the wheat industry biosecurity plan of July 2002, which notes that there has been a low level of surveillance for karnal bunt in the sampling of grain receivals. In July 2002 the risk was assessed as being relatively low. Given the observations in the budget papers, has the parliamentary secretary reassessed the threat of karnal bunt?

Mr F.M. LOGAN: At this point is it possible for me to phone a friend?

The CHAIRMAN: You may have a lifeline!

Mr F.M. LOGAN: Maybe I can go for a 50-50! I will be able to answer this question because I know the member for Girrawheen has a particular fascination with karnal bunt. I am glad that she did not get the first letters of this particular disease around the wrong way!

The CHAIRMAN: No spoonerisms around here!

Subject: Division 11: Agriculture, $120 243 00 - [Legislative Assembly - Estimates Committee]

Date: 19 May 2004

Hansard reference: pp. 288b - 303a [online (pdf)]

Tags: wa, state government, perth, parliament

The need for direction

Hon DERRICK TOMLINSON: [...] Is this a question of the manner of teaching? Is it a question of content? For example, would it be a contravention of the subclause if a music teacher taught maths, when the person was employed on condition that music only be taught because the person was competent to teach music only? I do not think that would relate to the way a person practises. If the person taught in a way that was too didactic in his or her presentation, as I would have -

Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich: I was just going to say that.

Hon DERRICK TOMLINSON: That is why I used it. I gave Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich a chance to wake up, did I not, sweetheart?

Withdrawal of Remark

The DEPUTY CHAIRMAN (Hon Simon O’Brien): Order! That exchange might have been between the honourable member and Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich, in which case it was unruly. However, if I am being unfair and the honourable member was addressing the Chair, he should not do so using the term “sweetheart”!

Hon DERRICK TOMLINSON: I withdraw my unparliamentary language, Mr Deputy Chairman.

Subject: Western Australian College of Teaching Bill 2003 [Legislative Council - Committee]

Date: 7 May 2004

Hansard reference: pp. 2519b - 2535a [online (pdf)]

Tags: wa, state government, perth, parliament

He's losing it

MR E.S. RIPPER: [...] I want to go back to a point I was making before the opposition distracted me with an interjection.

Ms K. Hodson-Thomas: Did I distract you, Treasurer?

Mr E.S. RIPPER: The member for Carine is capable of that, but not on this occasion. The point that I was trying to make before -

Mr P.D. Omodei: You’re blushing!

Mr E.S. RIPPER: Not at all. The point that I was making before the opposition distracted me was -

Dr K.D. Hames: Get Ljiljanna in.

Mr E.S. RIPPER: That would not be a good idea!

Subject: Tax Relief [Legislative Assembly - Motion]

Date: 12 April 2006

Hansard reference: pp. 1619b - 1641a [online (pdf)]

Tags: wa, state government, perth, parliament

Below the thunders of the upper deep

Mr KUCERA: [...] Members should look at the crest of the House. Yesterday, the member for Nedlands quoted the law, which she is very fond of doing. I ask the member for Moore what honi soit qui mal y pense means.

Mr McNee: What are you asking me for?

Mr KUCERA: How many years has the member sat in this place under that crest?

Mr McNee: What sort of rubbish are you trying to drive home now?

Mr KUCERA: Honi soit qui mal y pense - evil be to him who evil thinks.

Mr McNee: It only happens when good people do nothing.

Mr KUCERA: Evil be to him who evil thinks. I love waking up the member for Moore. Mr Speaker, did you ever read that wonderful book by John Wyndham, The Kraken Awakes? We have a kraken in the House. We have moved on in this world since 1592.

Mr Logan: Some of us have.

Mr KUCERA: Yes. In fact, some of us were here then.

Subject: Acts Amendment (Lesbian and Gay Law Reform) Bill 2001 [Legislative Assembly - Second Reading]

Date: 6 December 2001

Hansard reference: pp. 6646 [online (pdf)]

Tags: wa, state government, perth, parliament

Q and not A

289. Hon NORMAN MOORE to the minister representing the Minister for the Environment:

Obviously, this is question time and not answer time.

Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich: That is why it is called question time; otherwise it would be answer time.

Hon NORMAN MOORE: I know. I would like to give notice that at the next sitting of the house we will change it to question and answer time.

Hon Kim Chance: No, I blush when I get a bad answer, and I didn’t do so then.

Hon NORMAN MOORE: The Leader of the House is blushing now, and I can understand why. I know how he feels, because I used to have a minister who did the same thing to me.

The DEPUTY PRESIDENT: Order, members! Let us move on.

Subject: Conservation Commission, Aboriginal Heritage [Legislative Council - Questions Without Notice]

Date: 19 May 2005

Hansard reference: pp. 1956b - 1956b [online (pdf)]

Tags: wa, state government, perth, parliament

King of the impossible

MR McGOWAN (Rockingham) [3.35 pm]: [...] I was intrigued by the comments of the member for Geraldton, who seemed to think that, on the one hand, people who did not pay their fines should go to jail, while, on the one hand, people who were speeding and were caught by Multanovas should be allowed to get off.

Mr Bloffwitch: I had a photograph in which no detective could ever recognise me, and I paid the fine. Get that clear.

Mr McGOWAN: I find it difficult to believe that no-one could recognise the member for Geraldton in a photograph, because he is a very distinctive looking fellow. I would recognise him anywhere.

Mr Omodei: Not if the flash went off the top of his head. It would have blinded the camera!

Subject: Acts Amendment (Fines Enforcement) Bill 1999 [Legislative Assembly - Second Reading]

Date: 11 May 2000

Hansard reference: pp. 6921 [online (pdf)]

Tags: wa, state government, perth, parliament

I see red...

Dr K.D. HAMES: [...] Are you waving to me, Mr Speaker?

The SPEAKER: No, I was not waving to anyone.

Mr J.A. McGinty: Hello sailor!

Dr K.D. HAMES: Sweetheart! Do not put that in Hansard!

Mr J.A. McGinty: It would be the end of your career!

Mr R.C. Kucera: Are you blushing?

Dr K.D. HAMES: I am blushing.

Subject: Acts Amendment (Advance Health Care Planning) Bill 2006 [Legislative Assembly - Consideration in Detail]

Date: 29 November 2006

Hansard reference: pp. 8998b - 9016a [online (pdf)]

Tags: wa, state government, perth, parliament

Twice shy

Hon BRUCE DONALDSON: [...] Anyway, the odontologist showed us the most grotesque bite marks on the anatomies of some people. He said that the Bill had failed to state that the examination of a bite mark on a body must be made within the first 24 hours. He gave us an example of a person who had robbed a bakery overnight and had eaten a piece of chocolate cake. He was able to match the bite mark on the piece of cake to the mouth of the person from whom they had taken the - what do they call it?

Hon Nick Griffiths: Swab?

Hon BRUCE DONALDSON: No, not a swab, it was the bite mark.

Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich: What does it start with?

Hon Derrick Tomlinson: Somebody’s teeth sinking into your skin!

Subject: Committee Reports and Ministerial Statements - Consideration [Legislative Council - Committee]

Date: 5 March 2004

Hansard reference: pp. 525d - 539a [online (pdf)]

Tags: wa, state government, perth, parliament

ACME Insurance Brokers

MR M. McGOWAN (Rockingham - Parliamentary Secretary) [1.07 pm]: [...] On the impact that this legislation will have, the member for Merredin commented upon a hypothetical case in which someone who wanted insurance for a horse had the phone hung up on him.

Mr B.J. Grylls: It was not a hypothetical case; it was me.

Mr M. McGOWAN: Was the phone hung up on the member?

Mr B.J. Grylls: No, the insurance broker said to me that he was not interested. As soon as I mentioned a horse and property, the insurance broker told me to ring somebody else.

Mr M. McGOWAN: What was the beep, beep, beeping? You said there was beep, beep, beeping.

Mr B.J. Grylls: I said that that may as well have been what happened.

Mr T.K. Waldron: And the roadrunner was going past at the same time!

Subject: Civil Liability Amendment Bill 2004 [Legislative Assembly - Consideration in Detail]

Date: 16 June 2004

Hansard reference: pp. 3769c - 3774a [online (pdf)]

Tags: wa, state government, perth, parliament, roadrunner

Gets in your eyes

Ms S.E. Walker: Have you ever been a smoker?

Mr J.A. McGINTY: In my youth.

Ms S.E. Walker: You look as though you have been.

Mr J.A. McGINTY: I will not lead with my chin and ask how the member for Nedlands can tell that. We are targeting all these things. I was delighted when, a month ago -

Mr R.F. Johnson: I reckon you smoked when you were pictured doing that.

Mr J.A. McGinty: Luckily I cannot see the picture the member for Hillarys is holding up.

Mr R.F. Johnson: Two of your colleagues are with you. You look like a real free-swinging hippy.

Mr J.A. McGINTY: Did the member for Hillarys ever have hair below his ears?

Mr R.F. Johnson: No; never. I was a good boy. The chap in the picture with the megaphone looking like Osama bin Laden in the other photograph is your good friend the Treasurer. You will recognise the one in the middle probably.

Ms S.E. Walker: Did he say between or below?

Mr J.A. McGINTY: Hopefully, below.

Subject: Smoking in Cars - Education Campaign [Legislative Assembly - Motion]

Date: 28 June 2006

Hansard reference: pp. 4468b - 4486a [online (pdf)]

Derailed

Ms K. HODSON-THOMAS: [...] I thank the Leader of the House for affording me the opportunity to make this speech on my return from parliamentary business. This issue has been of great interest to me over the past 14 months. I dream railcars and rail tracks.

Mr A.P. O’Gorman interjected.

Ms K. HODSON-THOMAS: No, I do not want a Thomas the Tank engine or the Fat Controller for Christmas.

Subject: Railway (Jandakot to Perth) Bill 2002 [Legislative Assembly - Second Reading]

Date: 17 September 2002

Hansard reference: pp. 1054b - 1069a [online (pdf)]

Tags: wa, state government, perth, parliament

In need of a lift

Mr M.W. TRENORDEN: [...] There is no plan to expand health services in the country, or to meet the health needs of the hundreds of thousands of Western Australians who live, work and invest in regional Western Australia.

Dr J.M. Woollard interjected.

Mr R.C. Kucera: Member for Avon, your voice has changed.

Mr M.W. TRENORDEN: I fell down the stairs.

Subject: Appropriation (Consolidated Fund) Bill (no. 1) 2003 / Appropriation (Consolidated Fund) Bill (no. 2) 2003 [Legislative Assembly - Second Reading - Cognate Debate]

Date: 14 May 2003

Hansard reference: pp. 7706c - 7749a [online (pdf)]

Tags: wa, state government, perth, parliament

Housekeeping

Greetings!

I'm just interrupting the flow for a few notices. First, hello to all new and returning visitors - publicity, mainly it appears from one source, is gradually increasing, and although this site at the moment is just a lot of random quotes from Western Australia's State Government between 1997 and 2006, we still hope it's somewhat entertaining.

With that in mind, at some point in February this site may change - certainly I'm looking at migrating it over to Wordpress and thus the domain and the general look of the page will change from being a standard Blogger thing. Nothing against Blogger, it's worked well (despite the two 2006s in the archives), just time to move on.

Before then, we'll try to keep the quotes coming, although there are a few obstacles that may limit them - personally I have some sort of thesis due in the next month and more importantly have steadily reduced my backlog, and similarly fun things like conferences, travel and work are also likely to keep the number of new posts down.

Still, we'll be updating whenever possible, and hopefully all the changes will be in place in time for the first sittings for 2007 of the State Government.

Anthemic Greenough for you?

MR G.A. WOODHAMS (Greenough) [10.13 pm]: I notice in this house that there is often some licence to use certain language to express points of view. I choose to take licence to express a particular point of view about the Australian anthem, Advance Australian Fair. Perhaps our learned friends on the other side of the house would like to rewrite the national anthem to become Advance Australia Equal! It could be rendered: “Australians, let us all rejoice, for 57 seats have we; golden soil and wealth for toil, our home is girt by sea.” Members should feel free to sing along if they know the words. “Our land abounds in nature’s gifts of beauty rich and rare, and history’s page at every stage, Advance Australia Equal. In joyful strains then let us sing Advance Australia Equal. When gallant Gallop from Geraldton sailed to trace wide oceans over, false courage bore him on, till he landed back on our shore. Then here he raised old Labor’s flag, the standard of the red, with all his faults we love Jim still, one vote, one value rules the wave! In joyful strains then let us sing Advance Australia Equal. Beneath our radiant Parliament House, we’ll toil with hearts and hands, to make this city-state of ours, renowned of all the lands. For those who’ve come across the seas, we’ve boundless electorates to share, with courage let them all be combined, to advance Australia equal. In joyful strains then let us sing Advance Australia Equal.”

Subject: One Vote One Value Bill 2005 [Legislative Assembly - Second Reading]

Date: 5 April 2005

Hansard reference: pp. 266b - 345b [online (pdf)]

Tags: wa, state government, perth, parliament, greenough

A novel approach

Hon FRANK HOUGH: [...] These are issues for which we have professionals and the public service to advise us on. The issue I am talking about is a civil issue. Another issue is water. The Water Corporation is doing a crappy job. I do not know whether I am allowed to say that in Parliament. “Crappy” is not a dirty word. It means something is not quite fixed.

Hon Nick Griffiths: It’s not very parliamentary.

Hon FRANK HOUGH: It might not be parliamentary to you, minister, but it is to me. If you are that pathetic, why not leave the Chamber?

Why do we not get proper water from the Water Corporation? Why do we have restrictions? Why not ask the people how to fix these problems? We can ask people for their views in these areas. A broader community input can be sought with CIR in several areas. When the community tells us what to do, they cannot criticise us. If 85 per cent of the community state to the Government that they want capital and corporal punishment, then so be it. That would mean that the usual 15 per cent - or is it five to 10 per cent? - would be opposed to it, but we cannot please everyone. When this motion I have moved is put, support will go hiding. At the end of day, it will be like the hounds of the Baskervilles. It will be the Scarlet Pimpernel in this Chamber. We seek him here. We seek him there. We seek him everywhere. Where can he be, that damned elusive Pimpernel? Will members vote with Frank Hough? No. “I’m indisposed.” Will the minister become the Scarlet Pimpernel?

Hon Nick Griffiths: I’d rather you did not seek me. I’ll stay here, thank you very much

Subject: Capital Punishment for Offenders of Heinous Crimes [Legislative Council - Motion]

Date: 12 November 2003

Hansard reference: pp. 12986c - 13003a [online (pdf)]

Tags: wa, state government, perth, parliament, scarlet pimpernel

Commercial break

MS K. HODSON-THOMAS (Carine) [10.47 pm]: [...] In my electorate I have some seven independent shopping centres. Carine Glades Shopping Centre is a hive of activity. It is one of the best shopping centres in Perth. If members are looking to go shopping and need to find something special, they can find it at Carine Glades Shopping Centre. I notice that the Hansard staff are smiling. I have seen many of them shopping in my electorate and at the Carine Glades Shopping Centre. It is a great place to shop. It is highly competitive and has fresh produce. If I were to compare the vegetable produce available there with what I could get at, say, Coles or Woolworths, I would have to say that in this case it is second to none. In fact, the centre was recently presented with an award in recognition of its great produce. It is a great business entity.

Mr D.A. Templeman: What is the stone fruit like?

Ms K. HODSON-THOMAS: The stone fruit is absolutely beautiful.

Mr D.A. Templeman: Firm peaches?

Ms K. HODSON-THOMAS: It has firm peaches. The member for Mandurah must travel.

Mr D.A. Templeman: Once the train is running I will be able to go up and sample the firm peaches at Carine Glades Shopping Centre.

Ms K. HODSON-THOMAS: It would not be a speech of mine if we did not talk about the railway! All members should go to the Carine Glades Shopping Centre. I am sure that people at the centre do not expect me to talk about it in such -

Mr D.A. Templeman: This is not a personal, paid advertisement, is it?

Subject: Retail Shops and Fair Trading Legislation Amendment Bill 2003 [Legislative Assembly - Second Reading]

Date: 26 November 2003

Hansard reference: pp. 13739b - 13764a [online (pdf)]

Tags: wa, state government, perth, parliament

Impish

Mr M.J. COWPER: [...] I feel sorry for the people at the Fines Enforcement Registry. They must have an absolute sea of paperwork or a fantastic computer system. We have already heard from the member for Roe about how there are glitches and gremlins in the system. A classic example is sitting opposite - I had almost forgotten about the member for Ballajura!

Mr J.B. D’Orazio: You have a short memory!

Mr M.J. COWPER: I am a forgiving person!

Mr R.F. Johnson: I can’t believe he’s supporting this legislation!

Mr J.B. D’Orazio: Wait till I finish!

Subject: Fines Legislation Amendment Bill 2006 [Legislative Assembly - Second Reading]

Date: 28 November 2006

Hansard reference: pp. 8857c - 8875a [online (pdf)]

Tags: wa, state government, perth, parliament

It's a start

HON FRANK HOUGH (Agricultural) [5.47 pm]: I have a tremendous dilemma regarding this Bill. Although I have been in Parliament for three years this month and have been in business for 30 years, this is probably one of the most difficult issues with which I have had to deal. Like Ian Thorpe on the starting blocks, I was about to enter into the race but, unfortunately, I have fallen into the swimming pool and I do not know whether to further contribute to the race. It is most difficult.

Hon Simon O’Brien: That is where the similarity ends.

Hon FRANK HOUGH: I probably cannot swim as well as Ian Thorpe, but I have a paddle pool at home.

Subject: Human Reproductive Technology Amendment Bill 2003 [Legislative Council - Second Reading]

Date: 4 May 2004

Hansard reference: pp. 2102e - 2111a [online (pdf)]

Tags: wa, state government, perth, parliament, ian thorpe