Matt O'Sullivan (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The WA state government is not addressing the real issues affecting Western Australians. The Cook Labor government should be working on ensuring Western Australia is ready for AUKUS and preparing the defence resources we need to develop our nuclear submarine capability. They should be working on delivering their election commitment to the police force so they have the officers they need to manage rampant crime levels, especially after 1,000 officers have handed in their badges over the last two years. Yet the Cook government is putting all their energy into overhauling WA's firearm legislation and targeting the state's law-abiding firearm owners that use firearms for their sport and control of feral animals which heavily damage agriculture and the native ecosystem.

WA is a vast state. If we were our own country, we would still be the 10th largest on landmass in the world, and already we have some of the strictest gun laws in any country. Don't get me wrong; it is imperative that we have effective firearm management measures in place. But we already have. So it begs the question: why is the state government making up issues? The Cook government is trying to distract from the real issues that the Cook Labor government are failing to fix. So far, this political exercise is costing WA taxpayers $64 million, and that's before they have implemented any of the reform processes, which will further cost taxpayers tens of millions of dollars. Meanwhile, families in WA are struggling with the rising costs of living, the hospital system is struggling and power prices are rising. When will the Cook Labor government wake up and address the real issues for Western Australia?