Tuesday 16 June 2026: Legislative Assembly Question Time
12 questions · 5 Dorothy Dixers removed · 25m
Summary
Zempilas questioned the Premier on why the government supports union action in the Pilbara while DFES pursues litigation against career firefighters; the Premier affirmed workers' rights broadly without addressing the inconsistency. Hort asked the Police Minister whether WA Police aircraft are transporting accused persons from remote areas due to regional court closures and at what cost; the minister confirmed transport operations but did not address aircraft use or provide figures. Love asked the Attorney General to guarantee regional courts would reopen on 28 August; the Attorney General said reopening decisions rest with heads of jurisdiction, not the minister. Lai asked the Premier about government health care investment; the Premier outlined broad priorities including health access but was interrupted by interjections before providing specific detail. Pastorelli asked the Treasurer about economic performance; Treasurer Saffioti cited national accounts data showing 3.2 per cent economic growth, with 93 per cent from the private sector.
Questions
Asked of the Premier
United Firefighters Union of Australia
Member Basil Zempilas questioned why the Premier supports workers' rights to pursue better conditions in the Pilbara but is pursuing litigation against career firefighters at the Industrial Relations Commission. The Premier responded by broadly affirming that all workers should strive for the best wages and conditions through their unions, without directly addressing the specific inconsistency raised regarding the firefighters dispute.
United Firefighters Union of Australia
# Question Time Summary Mr Basil Zempilas asked the Premier why he was encouraging union members on BHP projects to stand up for their rights while the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) was allegedly taking a different approach. The exchange touched on consistency in the government's position regarding workers' rights and union representation across different sectors.
Asked of the Minister for Police
Court closures—Regions—Police air wing
Mr Adam Hort asked the Minister for Police to confirm whether WA Police were using aircraft to transport accused criminals from remote communities due to regional court closures, and to provide costs and comment on whether this represented a waste of resources. The minister confirmed police transport operations across the state but did not directly address the specific claims about aircraft use or provide cost figures, instead emphasising police cooperation with the justice system and highlighting increased funding for police auxiliary officers in courts.
Asked of the Minister for Police
Court closures—Regions—Police air wing
Minister for Police Reece Whitby deflected the question about whether expensive logistical arrangements represent effective budget use, instead deferring to police operational decisions and noting the practical challenges of covering Western Australia's vast jurisdiction. The minister did not directly address whether the arrangements constitute good use of the police budget.
Asked of the Attorney General
Court security services
Attorney General Dr Tony Buti deflected the question by noting he was not in the role when the December 2024 police letter was received, and stated the government is working with police on a long-term solution to reopen regional courts that have closed, without providing guarantees or addressing the financial burden on regional citizens.
Asked of the Attorney General
Court security services
Mr Shane Love pressed the Attorney General for a guarantee that courts would reopen on 28 August following security service disruptions. The Attorney General deflected responsibility, stating that decisions about court operations rest with the heads of jurisdiction rather than with him as Attorney General.
Asked of the Minister for Health
Kalgoorlie Health Campus—Radiology billing
Mr Zempilas asked the Minister for Health to correct the parliamentary record regarding Medicare billing concerns at Kalgoorlie Health Campus and questioned why the minister's chief of staff had responded to the matter rather than the minister herself. The minister acknowledged receiving correspondence from Spartan First Imaging but did not directly address either question, instead noting that copies had been sent to various parties.
Asked of the Minister for Health
Kalgoorlie Health Campus—Radiology billing
Mr Zempilas asked whether the Minister for Health still stands by her chief of staff's response letter regarding Kalgoorlie Health Campus radiology billing, given that Spartan First has contradicted it. The Minister responded by asserting that her estimates answers were correct but did not directly address whether she stands by the chief of staff's letter, instead deflecting to point out that Spartan First's correspondence did not specifically address the estimates exchange.
Kalgoorlie Health Campus—Radiology billing
Ms Mettam questioned the Minister for Health about apparent contradictions in her statements regarding allegations of improper billing at Kalgoorlie Health Campus, citing evidence that billing concerns had been raised with the minister in January, contradicting her earlier claims of being unaware of such allegations. The exchange was interrupted by a point of order before the minister could respond.
Asked of the Minister for Health
Kalgoorlie Health Campus—Radiology billing
Ms Libby Mettam asked a supplementary question to the Minister for Health regarding billing practices at Kalgoorlie Health Campus radiology services. The Minister responded by restating the nature of the original allegation rather than directly addressing the supplementary question, appearing to deflect from the specific issue raised.
Asked of the Minister for Water
Water Corporation—Property damage
Mr Rundle raised concerns about a family whose home was flooded by a burst Water Corporation pipe, questioning why households should bear the financial burden of infrastructure failures when they lack insurance. Minister Punch deflected from the direct question by attributing the Fremantle Markets sewage spill to fatbergs caused by improper disposal in the drainage system, and did not address Rundle's specific query about compensation policy.
Asked of the Minister for Water
Water Corporation—Property damage
Mr Rundle asked whether Western Australians should review their insurance policies to protect themselves from property damage caused by Water Corporation's failure to maintain its network. The minister deflected the question, criticising the Nationals' policies instead and arguing that the government is investing significantly in water assets, rather than directly addressing the question about insurance coverage for residents.