22 March 19831 5
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
[Tuesday, 22 March 19831 5 MR HARMAN (Maylands) [10.41 am.]: I Pagr$atur AosIpilyJ submit myself to the will of the House. Tuesday, 22 March 1983 [There being no other nomination, Mr Harman was conducted to the Chair by the mover and sec- onder of the motion.] MEETING OF TI-E ASSEMBLY TI-I SPEAKER (Mr Harman): I thank The Legislative Assembly met at 10.00 a.m. honourable members for the signal honour they have bestowed upon me, and I now assume the PROCLAMATION Chair as Speaker of the House. The Clerk of the Assembly (Mr B. L. Okely) MR BRIAN BURKE (Balga-Premiier) [10.42 read the Proclamation of His Excellency the a.m.]: Mr Speaker. I take this opportunity, on be- Governor (Rear-Admiral Sir Richard John half of the newly-eleecd Government, to wish you well in Trowbridge, K.C.V.O, K.St.J.) summoni.ng the your new role in this Chamber. It is a very important first session of the Thirty-first Parliament. role, one we feel you will discharge with dignity. The impartiality we on this side of the House expect will be one of the primary as- OPENING PROCEEDINGS pects of your role. On behalf of the members sit- Message from the Governor's Commi.ssi .oner ting with me on the Government benches let me A Message from His Excellency's Com- pledge at all times our respect for your office. The missioner (His Honour Mr Justice Wallace) re- ability you have shown in this Chamber, your quested the attendance of members of the Legis- ministerial experience, and the experience you lative Assembly in the Legislative Council have had in the proper way to deal with members Chamber. Members accordingly proceeded to in this place is such that members on both sides of that Chamber; and, having heard the Commission the House will, in due course, respect your chair- to do all things necessary for the opening of Par- manship. liament, returned to the Legislative Assembly I join with mnembers in wishing you well during Chamber. the time you occupy the Chair of the Chamber: you will have our assistance at all times. SWEARING-IN OF MEMBERS MR O'CONNOR (Mt. Lawley-Leader of the His Honour Mr Justice Wallace,' Second Opposition) 110.43 a.m.]: Mr Speaker. I join with Puisne Judge of the Supreme Court of Western the Premier in wishing you well in the office of Australia, having been commissioned by His Ex- Speaker of this House. As one of the members who have known you the longest-going back to cellency the Governor, entered the Chamber to our sporting days-I knowv you have been fair in administer to members the Oath of Allegiance to the dealings that I have had with you. I know you Her Majesty, or the affirmation required by law, will treat members of the Opposition with impar- and was conducted to the Chair. The Commission tiality, and you have a very big job ahead of you to swear-an members having been read, the Clerk as Speaker of this House. The position of Speaker produced the writs for the general election, held is a difficult one and we have all seen the diffi- on 19 February 1983, showing the names of the culties and complications that occur in regard to members returned. These members-with the ex- it. I wish you well in your handling of the role of ception of Mr A. D. Taylor, Mr Carr, and Mr Speaker. P. V. Jones-took and subscribed the Oath, or made and subscribed the affirmation required by MR THOMPSON (Kalamunda) [10.44 am.]: law, and signed the Roll. Having vacated the office of Speaker, I wish to congratulate you, Mr Speaker, and wish you well The Commissioner then retired from the in the position. Having served in that capacity for Chamber. six years I know the difficulties that will beset ELECTION OF SPEAKER you, bait I have confidence in you and know that you will do the job fairly. I wish you success in MR BRIAN BURKE (Balga-Premier) [10.40 your new job. am.]: The House being duly constituted, I move- THE SPEAKER (Mr Harman): I thank the Premier, the Leader of the Opposition and the That Mr John Joseph Harman do take the member for Kalamunda [or their congratulatory Chair of this House as Speaker. remarks and the expression of their good wishes MR BRYCE (Ascot-Deputy Premier) [10.40 for the future. For the record I would like to am.]: I second the motion. thank the former Speaker. the member for 6 6[ASSEM BLYJ Kalarnunda, for the assistance and advice he has ante), returned to the Legislative Assembly rendered to me in recent days. I thank also the Chamber. Clerk of the Assembly for his assistance. I have served in this Parliament under five pre- HEALTH vious Speakers and I am conscious of the high standard that those Speakers have set in the con- Medical Practitioner: Petition duct of business in this House. I hope I can main- MR COYNE (Murchison -Eyre) 112.20 p.m.]: I tain that standard in the years ahead. I give you present a petition signed by 223 citizens of West- my assurance that I will be fair, impartial and ern Australia, which reads as follows- just and that I will treat this position with the dig- To The Honourable the Speaker and nity and respect it commands. I will do the job to Members of the Legislative Assembly as- the best of rmy ability. sembled. PRESENTATION OF SPEAKER The Humble Petition of the undersigned citizens of Australia, respectfully MR BRIAN BURKE (Balga-Premier) [10.45 a.m.j: I desire to announce that His Excellency showeth:-That the Mt. Magnet Region re- the Governor will be pleased to receive the quires the services of a full time Medical Speaker-elect and such members as desire to ac- Practitioner to be based in the township of company him at 11. 15 this morning. Mt. Magnet. Sitting suspended from 10.46 to 12 noon. Your petitioners therefore humbly pray that the State Government will grant this re- PRESENTATION OF SPEAKER quest. THE SPEAKER (Mr Harman): I desire to re- And your petitioners as in duty bound will port that this morning, accompanied by the mem- ever pray. bers for Gosnells and Mt. Marshall, 1 submitted I certify that the petition conforms with the myself to His Excellency the Governor, and on Standing Orders of the Legislative Assembly. behalf of the House laid claim to its undoubted rights and privileges, and prayed that the most The SPEAKER: I direct that the petition be favourable construct ion be placed upon its pro- brought to the Table of the House. ceedings. His Excellency has been pleased to ex- (See pet ition No. 1) press his satisfaction at the choice of the As- sembly in the following terms- QUESTIONS Mr Spea ker, Questions without notice were taken at this It is with much pleasure that I learn that stage. you have been elected by the Members of the Legislative Assembly to the high and honour- ACTS AMENDMENT (ELECTrORAL) BILL able office of' Speaker of that House. Leave to Introduce I have every confidence that you will fill MR BRIAN BURKE (Balga-Premier) [ 12.37 the office in a worthy and dignified manner. p.m.]: In order to assert and maintain thc un- Richard Trowbridge, doubted rights and privileges of the House to in- Governor itiate legislation, I move- That leave be given to introduce a Bill for SPEAKER'S COMMISSION "An Act to introduce electoral justice to THE SPEAKER (Mr Harman): I wish to re- Western Australia thereby enhancing the port also that I have received from His Excellency honour of our State Parliament by guaran- I a1Commission to swear in members and this teeing Western Australians the same equality hand to the Clerk to read to the House. of influence in electing their State represen- The Commission was read. tatives. as they already enjoy in electing their Federal representatives." SUMMONS FROM THE GOVERNOR Question put and passed; leave granted. The Speaker and members, in response to sum- Introduction and First Reading mons, proceeded to the Legislative Council Chamber and, having heard His Excellency de- Bill introduced, on motion by Mr Brian Burke liver the opening Speech (vide Council report (Premier), and read a first time. [Tuesday, 22 March 1983]1 7 GOVERNOR'S SPEECH the electorate at being treated as second-class citi- Distribution of Copies zens. It cannot be denied that a very bad case of THE SPEAKER (Mr Harman): Accompanied malapportionment exists between electorates for by members of this Chamber, I attended His Ex- cellency the Governor in the Legislative Council the election of this Assembly. My electorate of Chamber to hear the speech which His Excellency 17 400 electors has more than five times the was pleased to deliver to members of both Houses number of voters in Murchison-Eyre. It has on of Parliament. For the sake of greater accuracy, I average twice as many voters as does the average have caused printed copies of the Speech to be country electorate. I agree that there is certainly distributed among members of this Chamber. some justification in the argument for giving somec weighting to country voters to give them sufficient ADDRESS-IN-REPLY: FIRST DAY representation in Parliament. However, I hasten to add that under the present electoral system, Motion particularly in reference to the Legislative Coun- MRS BEGGS (Whitford) [12.38 p.m.]: I cil, democracy is no more than just a word.