The Australian Christian Lobby (ACL) forum at Mount Pleasant Baptist Community Centre on February 26 witnessed several important statements from the State’s political leaders.
Neither Premier Barnett nor Opposition Leader Mark McGowan would commit to sending a future WA Parliamentary delegation to Scandinavia to examine evidence of the success of the renowned ‘Swedish model’ in reducing prostitution.
Mr McGowan said there were other means of doing the necessary research.
“What you can often find is huge amounts of evidence just by going online about what is available and what the situation is there; proper academic studies that have examined these issues,” he said.
Mr McGowan reminded the audience that prostitution is illegal in WA under section 190 of the Criminal Code.
“There are laws currently there that are able to be enforced, if people want to,” he said.
Mr Barnett used the opportunity to advocate his containment policy.
“We did introduce legislation essentially to contain prostitution to limited areas, basically nightclub entertainment areas,” he said.
“I’d prefer to have none at all, but that was the way of trying to limit and control the problem and to ensure the safety of people was protected.”
In just the second head-to-head debate of the election campaign, the two leaders presented very different views on other important issues.
Mr McGowan said he would vote in favour of same-sex marriage, describing it as “not one of those core issues”. In contrast, Mr Barnett said he did not support same-sex marriage, but that he was in favour of civil unions and permitting same-sex couples to adopt children.
“My view is still a fundamental view that marriage is between a man and a woman and that is one of the basic fabrics and structures of our society,” he said.
The leaders also expressed differing views on legalising euthanasia.
“I do not support euthanasia, I do not support having a legal structure for finishing a life,” the Premier said.
Mr McGowan said he believed in individuals making their own choices provided they were in a mentally stable state of mind.
The forum facilitated questions from representatives of various church groups in Perth, including Bishop Donald Sproxton, who sought a commitment from the two leaders to resolve the excessive cost and shortage of housing in Perth.
Mr McGowan admitted “something dramatic” was required to address the cost of living in Perth.
He reiterated his plan to scrap the 7 per cent fee that all electricity users are paying, known as the tariff equalisation contribution.
In response, Mr Barnett said the mismanagement of the previous government had forced the introduction of the surcharge.
ACL chief-of-staff Lyle Shelton said the event was a great success.
“Our presence shows politics that there is a large group of people in the community who are passionate about justice and righteousness and who wish to see this reflected in public policy,” he said.