The Conviction Debates
A True Conservative
In the context of setting out what a true conservative is (in response to a journalist’s bizarre suggestion that the right wing of politics is hijacking the term conservative), I outlined many of the major areas of policy I have sought to influence during my term in Parliament.
“It might surprise members that it has become apparent that one must define what it means to be a conservative… I take this opportunity to scrutinise this year’s budget and, by extension, our statutes, policies and practices through the lens of true conservatism, which ought never to be confused with the fluid views of wannabe conservatives.”
“I am quite happy to have my name on the public record as a person who says that a person's biological sex is a fact.”
Hon Nick Goiran MLC, 20 March 2024
Sex Self ID Bill
The passing of Western Australia’s Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration Amendment (Sex or Gender Changes) Act in September 2024 was an absolute lawmaking farce that cannot go unchecked.
World Suicide Prevention Day
“Today is World Suicide Prevention Day and my heart goes out to those who have been affected by suicide and the searing pain of loss and unanswered questions they are forced to endure. In May this year, I attended a conference in Adelaide and heard firsthand the pain, confusion and turmoil in the voices of three family members whose loved ones had tragically ended their own lives. Their pain was palpable as they described the shock, the grief and the almost groundhog day–like revisiting of the pre-death conversations and events in their minds. The ripple effect of suicide—the effect on parents, siblings, co-workers and friends—is immeasurable. As one of the speakers at the conference said, every happy event or event worth celebrating in their family is always touched by the sadness of suicide.”
Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide
“If we are intellectually honest and reason through the theory of a euthanasia regime, we should conclude that it is inherently unsafe. The insufficiency of the criminal justice safeguards informs us of this. The prevalence of medical negligence informs us of this. The ease of doctor shopping informs us of this. The existence of elder abuse informs us of this, and the reality of doctor bias informs us of this.
There is a safe approach to end-of-life choices; however, it will require all of us to persistently insist that quality palliative care is made available to every Western Australian and until we, the 36 of us, have exhausted ourselves in fulfilling this duty, we should not contemplate a euthanasia regime, let alone this bill, which is more dangerous than the Victorian legislation and more dangerous than the now inoperative Northern Territory legislation.”
International Men’s Day
We need to appreciate that in order to be pro-women and pro-children, one needs to also be pro-men. We undeniably live in an interdependent society. 0The day after International Men’s Day 2014, I rose in the Legislative Council to discuss how vital it is for our society to get alongside men, teens and boys, to encourage integrity, commitment, and courage when they are struggling or just do not know how to choose the right path.
“On 22 May last year, in my Address-in-Reply speech, I outlined the reasons why we need a minister for men’s interests. Today I take the opportunity to look at the “how”: on what pillars would a portfolio of men’s interests need to be structured and what might be its key objectives? I am of the view that the six key elements to a successful men’s interests portfolio are: firstly, reaching unreached men; secondly, strengthening families; thirdly, helping men grow; fourthly, developing mentors, fifthly, developing leaders; and, lastly, involving men in serving the community, their workplace, their families and each other. Only by working alongside and establishing men to maturity will we see the fruits of strengthening the foundations of lives, families and workplaces.”
Maiden Speech 2009
During my Maiden Speech on 3 June 2009, which coincided with the consideration of the State Budget Papers, I outlined some of the reasons I decided to become a Member of Parliament such as witnessing the flaws in the Criminal Injuries Compensations Act 2003 during my career in the legal profession.