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