National Rugby League—Western Australian licence
90. Mr Peter Rundle to the Premier:
I refer to the rumoured National Rugby League team that may be established in Perth and the Premier's refusal to release the economic analysis underpinning his secretive negotiations with Peter V'landys.
(1) Why do east coast rugby league clubs get to know the details of the Premier's offer before Western Australians?
(2) Given the government's commitment to gold-standard transparency, will the Premier commit to releasing the details of his secret economic analysis to the Western Australian public?
Mr Roger Cook replied:
I thank the member for the question. He might have gathered that I kind of like talking about NRL!
(1)–(2) As the member knows, over the past few weeks the state has engaged in further negotiations with the Australian Rugby League Commission about establishing an NRL club here in WA. While we have taken a strong negotiating position, these discussions have proved positive and respectful. As part of these negotiations, we have put a revised and final position to the ARLC. Should that approval be provided by the ARLC, the state will be transparent about the terms of any agreement reached. Should we not reach agreement, this will obviously be a massive loss of opportunity to Western Australia. We will not make any further comment until these discussions are concluded. We know that bringing an NRL franchise to Western Australia would obviously be a highly important opportunity for WA. There is a huge amount of economic activity that takes place as part of these national sporting codes and, of course, there will be extra opportunities for tourists to come to Western Australia as part of the home-and-away fixtures, like we experience with AFL. Obviously, West Aussies love their sport, and that is why they—
Mr Basil Zempilas: They love AFL!
Mr Roger Cook: West Aussies love their sport, Mr Speaker. We do love AFL, but we also love basketball; we love football; we love baseball; we love netball, and we love NRL as well. I am not the only person who is passionate about bringing a WA NRL franchise to this state. For instance, the Leader of the Liberal Party actually said this in supporting letters to the ARLC. He said on 6PR that he would enjoy our National Rugby League team. He said that he would go from time to time, and that he would enjoy having it.
Several members interjected.
Mr Roger Cook: He actually said, when he was Lord Mayor of the City of Perth, that a WA NRL entity would be a win–win for the new club, the WA government, the City of Perth, broadcasters and the NRL. He said that he encouraged favourable consideration of the case put forward.
The Leader of the Opposition is not alone. The Leader of the Nationals is also an effusive supporter of the NRL. At this point he was the Leader of the Opposition. He stated:
… I write to leave my support to Western Australia to be awarded the 18th National Rugby League (NRL) licence, scheduled to commence in 2027.
Mr Speaker, even the member for Roe supported it. He loves it. I know the member for Roe. He got behind it as well. There is another person who is well known to those opposite: a chap by the name of Peter Dutton. He said:
We are writing to express our full support for the WA bid for the 18th NRL license,
WA has the necessary resources, talent, and support base to become a valuable addition to the NRL.
Mr Speaker, we have a breakthrough. At last, there is something me and Peter Dutton agree on! My notes also say that the member for Roe, who was the shadow Minister for Sport and Recreation, also wrote a letter of support. But, of course, there is so much effusive support from the other members that my notes do not extend that far. We know that bringing an NRL team to Western Australia will be a great opportunity. It will create extra jobs, extra visitors—
Several members interjected.
The Speaker: Leader of the Opposition. Members! Leader of the Opposition. The member for Roe may still get to ask his supplementary question if the Premier wraps it up.
Mr Roger Cook: Most of all, Mr Speaker, Western Australians love their sport and it would be a great opportunity for another WA team to whip the eastern states on the sporting field.
91. Mr Peter Rundle to the Premier:
I have a supplementary question.
The Speaker: Really, you want to go there again?
Mr Peter Rundle: Very simply, Premier, why is it that east coast rugby clubs and the east coast media know about this and the details of this deal prior to WA taxpayers?
Several members interjected.
The Speaker: Members! He has not even started the response yet.
Mr Roger Cook replied:
Mr Speaker, I do not know what details the sporting clubs or other stakeholders on the east coast are privy to. The fact of the matter is that those conversations continue. As I have said, both here, in the media and to anyone else who will listen, we will be completely transparent about the nature of this agreement.
Several members interjected.
Point of order
Mr David Michael: I have a point of order.
Mr Basil Zempilas interjected.
The Speaker: Leader of the Opposition, there is a point of order.
Mr David Michael: I cannot hear the Premier speak from what is happening over there. I know they are having a bad week because of what is happening in Canberra and the pitiful performance of their leaders in Canberra: Dutton, Angus and Littleproud. I am sick of the noise coming across the chamber.
The Speaker: Members, you may be enjoying yourselves, but we do have some protocols in here. One of them is that points of order will be heard in silence. As I have said before, it is my response, not yours. Minister, I will not uphold that point of order. The Premier can finish his response.
Questions without notice resumed
Mr Roger Cook: As I have said time and time again, we will be completely transparent in relation to these conversations, if the conversations are positive and if they conclude. As I said, this is a massive opportunity for Western Australia. It is a great economic, sporting and jobs opportunity. As the Leader of the Opposition says, it is a win–win for Western Australia. But unfortunately, Mr Speaker—
Mr Basil Zempilas interjected.
The Speaker: Leader of the Opposition, this is going to be your final warning. If you keep interjecting the way you are, I will start to call you.
Mr Roger Cook: Mr Speaker, as I said, I completely agree with the Leader of the Opposition that this will be a win–win and on this one, he will lose–lose.
The Speaker: Members, that concludes question time.
