❓ Hon. Norman Moore questions Hon. Tom Stephens about providing a lift to Aboriginal people to a polling booth in Carnarvon. Stephens explains the circumstances, denies providing voting advice, and defends his actions.
AnsweredQoN 1408Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
MINISTER FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT, CARNARVON VISIT
Earlier the minister advised, in answer to a question, that a number of Aboriginal people requested that he provide them with a lift to a Carnarvon polling booth in his ministerial car, or hire car, on the day of the last federal election. (1) Will the minister explain the circumstances which led to the request? (2) Did the minister provide any of the passengers with advice on how they should vote? Hon TOM STEPHENS
Earlier the minister advised, in answer to a question, that a number of Aboriginal people requested that he provide them with a lift to a Carnarvon polling booth in his ministerial car, or hire car, on the day of the last federal election. (1) Will the minister explain the circumstances which led to the request? (2) Did the minister provide any of the passengers with advice on how they should vote? Hon TOM STEPHENS
AnswerView source ↗
(2) No. Hon Norman Moore: It would be the first time you have ever done that. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I like the company of Aboriginal people. I seek out and enjoy their company, and I have always done so, throughout my life. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Order members! I do not know that this is relevant to the answering of the question. Hon TOM STEPHENS: (1) I will explain the circumstances. I was in Carnarvon, as I previously described to the House, for a range of functions on 9 and 10 November last year, including representing the Premier. As I have previously detailed to the House, that required me to attend a function in the evening, a breakfast meeting with the shire president, and the opening of the HMAS Sydney entry to Carnarvon. I also met with a community group, and then inspected a land site over which there is a dispute about its future use. I then visited the proposed site for the Piyarli Yardi Aboriginal cultural centre, which is to be built with a $4.5 million contribution from the State Government. It is a proposal developed through the Gascoyne Development Commission, for which I am responsible. Hon Norman Moore: When will you get around to answering the question? Hon TOM STEPHENS: I am describing the circumstances, as the member requested. Following the inspection of the site on that day, I called on Acacia Way to speak with some of the Aboriginal people who have an interest in that cultural centre project. When I pulled into the village, I was recognised by the group of people standing close to the roadway, who - Hon Norman Moore interjected. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Hon Norman Moore has a prurient interest in this subject. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Order. There will be no subsequent questions here. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I will complete the exercise. I was asked for the circumstances. I pulled into the Mungullah village and a group of the leadership of the community said to me that they were concerned that there was no polling booth in that community at that time. There had been polling booths at previous elections. I also expressed my surprise that the polling booth was not there, and they asked if I would mind giving them a lift. Several members interjected. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I must confess to this House that, at the last federal election, on polling day, I was not as focused on the election as I might normally have been. I was asked for a lift, and offered the lift in response to that request. A $20 fine applies to people who do not vote. Depriving people of a vote might suit the Leader of the Opposition. He has had 25 years of trying to stop Aboriginal people from voting. I have never hesitated in assisting anyone who wants to get to a polling booth on polling day. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Hon Derrick Tomlinson is concerned that his question is banking up, so I ask members for silence, and hopefully Hon Simon O’Brien will not want to ask two questions at the same time, in which case Hon Derrick Tomlinson might get his question in.
(1) Will the minister explain the circumstances which led to the request? (2) Did the minister provide any of the passengers with advice on how they should vote? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: (2) No. Hon Norman Moore: It would be the first time you have ever done that. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I like the company of Aboriginal people. I seek out and enjoy their company, and I have always done so, throughout my life. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Order members! I do not know that this is relevant to the answering of the question. Hon TOM STEPHENS: (1) I will explain the circumstances. I was in Carnarvon, as I previously described to the House, for a range of functions on 9 and 10 November last year, including representing the Premier. As I have previously detailed to the House, that required me to attend a function in the evening, a breakfast meeting with the shire president, and the opening of the HMAS Sydney entry to Carnarvon. I also met with a community group, and then inspected a land site over which there is a dispute about its future use. I then visited the proposed site for the Piyarli Yardi Aboriginal cultural centre, which is to be built with a $4.5 million contribution from the State Government. It is a proposal developed through the Gascoyne Development Commission, for which I am responsible. Hon Norman Moore: When will you get around to answering the question? Hon TOM STEPHENS: I am describing the circumstances, as the member requested. Following the inspection of the site on that day, I called on Acacia Way to speak with some of the Aboriginal people who have an interest in that cultural centre project. When I pulled into the village, I was recognised by the group of people standing close to the roadway, who - Hon Norman Moore interjected. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Hon Norman Moore has a prurient interest in this subject. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Order. There will be no subsequent questions here. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I will complete the exercise. I was asked for the circumstances. I pulled into the Mungullah village and a group of the leadership of the community said to me that they were concerned that there was no polling booth in that community at that time. There had been polling booths at previous elections. I also expressed my surprise that the polling booth was not there, and they asked if I would mind giving them a lift. Several members interjected. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I must confess to this House that, at the last federal election, on polling day, I was not as focused on the election as I might normally have been. I was asked for a lift, and offered the lift in response to that request. A $20 fine applies to people who do not vote. Depriving people of a vote might suit the Leader of the Opposition. He has had 25 years of trying to stop Aboriginal people from voting. I have never hesitated in assisting anyone who wants to get to a polling booth on polling day. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Hon Derrick Tomlinson is concerned that his question is banking up, so I ask members for silence, and hopefully Hon Simon O’Brien will not want to ask two questions at the same time, in which case Hon Derrick Tomlinson might get his question in.
(2) Did the minister provide any of the passengers with advice on how they should vote? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: (2) No. Hon Norman Moore: It would be the first time you have ever done that. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I like the company of Aboriginal people. I seek out and enjoy their company, and I have always done so, throughout my life. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Order members! I do not know that this is relevant to the answering of the question. Hon TOM STEPHENS: (1) I will explain the circumstances. I was in Carnarvon, as I previously described to the House, for a range of functions on 9 and 10 November last year, including representing the Premier. As I have previously detailed to the House, that required me to attend a function in the evening, a breakfast meeting with the shire president, and the opening of the HMAS Sydney entry to Carnarvon. I also met with a community group, and then inspected a land site over which there is a dispute about its future use. I then visited the proposed site for the Piyarli Yardi Aboriginal cultural centre, which is to be built with a $4.5 million contribution from the State Government. It is a proposal developed through the Gascoyne Development Commission, for which I am responsible. Hon Norman Moore: When will you get around to answering the question? Hon TOM STEPHENS: I am describing the circumstances, as the member requested. Following the inspection of the site on that day, I called on Acacia Way to speak with some of the Aboriginal people who have an interest in that cultural centre project. When I pulled into the village, I was recognised by the group of people standing close to the roadway, who - Hon Norman Moore interjected. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Hon Norman Moore has a prurient interest in this subject. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Order. There will be no subsequent questions here. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I will complete the exercise. I was asked for the circumstances. I pulled into the Mungullah village and a group of the leadership of the community said to me that they were concerned that there was no polling booth in that community at that time. There had been polling booths at previous elections. I also expressed my surprise that the polling booth was not there, and they asked if I would mind giving them a lift. Several members interjected. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I must confess to this House that, at the last federal election, on polling day, I was not as focused on the election as I might normally have been. I was asked for a lift, and offered the lift in response to that request. A $20 fine applies to people who do not vote. Depriving people of a vote might suit the Leader of the Opposition. He has had 25 years of trying to stop Aboriginal people from voting. I have never hesitated in assisting anyone who wants to get to a polling booth on polling day. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Hon Derrick Tomlinson is concerned that his question is banking up, so I ask members for silence, and hopefully Hon Simon O’Brien will not want to ask two questions at the same time, in which case Hon Derrick Tomlinson might get his question in.
Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: (2) No. Hon Norman Moore: It would be the first time you have ever done that. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I like the company of Aboriginal people. I seek out and enjoy their company, and I have always done so, throughout my life. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Order members! I do not know that this is relevant to the answering of the question. Hon TOM STEPHENS: (1) I will explain the circumstances. I was in Carnarvon, as I previously described to the House, for a range of functions on 9 and 10 November last year, including representing the Premier. As I have previously detailed to the House, that required me to attend a function in the evening, a breakfast meeting with the shire president, and the opening of the HMAS Sydney entry to Carnarvon. I also met with a community group, and then inspected a land site over which there is a dispute about its future use. I then visited the proposed site for the Piyarli Yardi Aboriginal cultural centre, which is to be built with a $4.5 million contribution from the State Government. It is a proposal developed through the Gascoyne Development Commission, for which I am responsible. Hon Norman Moore: When will you get around to answering the question? Hon TOM STEPHENS: I am describing the circumstances, as the member requested. Following the inspection of the site on that day, I called on Acacia Way to speak with some of the Aboriginal people who have an interest in that cultural centre project. When I pulled into the village, I was recognised by the group of people standing close to the roadway, who - Hon Norman Moore interjected. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Hon Norman Moore has a prurient interest in this subject. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Order. There will be no subsequent questions here. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I will complete the exercise. I was asked for the circumstances. I pulled into the Mungullah village and a group of the leadership of the community said to me that they were concerned that there was no polling booth in that community at that time. There had been polling booths at previous elections. I also expressed my surprise that the polling booth was not there, and they asked if I would mind giving them a lift. Several members interjected. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I must confess to this House that, at the last federal election, on polling day, I was not as focused on the election as I might normally have been. I was asked for a lift, and offered the lift in response to that request. A $20 fine applies to people who do not vote. Depriving people of a vote might suit the Leader of the Opposition. He has had 25 years of trying to stop Aboriginal people from voting. I have never hesitated in assisting anyone who wants to get to a polling booth on polling day. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Hon Derrick Tomlinson is concerned that his question is banking up, so I ask members for silence, and hopefully Hon Simon O’Brien will not want to ask two questions at the same time, in which case Hon Derrick Tomlinson might get his question in.
(2) No. Hon Norman Moore: It would be the first time you have ever done that. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I like the company of Aboriginal people. I seek out and enjoy their company, and I have always done so, throughout my life. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Order members! I do not know that this is relevant to the answering of the question. Hon TOM STEPHENS: (1) I will explain the circumstances. I was in Carnarvon, as I previously described to the House, for a range of functions on 9 and 10 November last year, including representing the Premier. As I have previously detailed to the House, that required me to attend a function in the evening, a breakfast meeting with the shire president, and the opening of the HMAS Sydney entry to Carnarvon. I also met with a community group, and then inspected a land site over which there is a dispute about its future use. I then visited the proposed site for the Piyarli Yardi Aboriginal cultural centre, which is to be built with a $4.5 million contribution from the State Government. It is a proposal developed through the Gascoyne Development Commission, for which I am responsible. Hon Norman Moore: When will you get around to answering the question? Hon TOM STEPHENS: I am describing the circumstances, as the member requested. Following the inspection of the site on that day, I called on Acacia Way to speak with some of the Aboriginal people who have an interest in that cultural centre project. When I pulled into the village, I was recognised by the group of people standing close to the roadway, who - Hon Norman Moore interjected. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Hon Norman Moore has a prurient interest in this subject. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Order. There will be no subsequent questions here. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I will complete the exercise. I was asked for the circumstances. I pulled into the Mungullah village and a group of the leadership of the community said to me that they were concerned that there was no polling booth in that community at that time. There had been polling booths at previous elections. I also expressed my surprise that the polling booth was not there, and they asked if I would mind giving them a lift. Several members interjected. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I must confess to this House that, at the last federal election, on polling day, I was not as focused on the election as I might normally have been. I was asked for a lift, and offered the lift in response to that request. A $20 fine applies to people who do not vote. Depriving people of a vote might suit the Leader of the Opposition. He has had 25 years of trying to stop Aboriginal people from voting. I have never hesitated in assisting anyone who wants to get to a polling booth on polling day. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Hon Derrick Tomlinson is concerned that his question is banking up, so I ask members for silence, and hopefully Hon Simon O’Brien will not want to ask two questions at the same time, in which case Hon Derrick Tomlinson might get his question in.
Hon Norman Moore: It would be the first time you have ever done that. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I like the company of Aboriginal people. I seek out and enjoy their company, and I have always done so, throughout my life. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Order members! I do not know that this is relevant to the answering of the question. Hon TOM STEPHENS: (1) I will explain the circumstances. I was in Carnarvon, as I previously described to the House, for a range of functions on 9 and 10 November last year, including representing the Premier. As I have previously detailed to the House, that required me to attend a function in the evening, a breakfast meeting with the shire president, and the opening of the HMAS Sydney entry to Carnarvon. I also met with a community group, and then inspected a land site over which there is a dispute about its future use. I then visited the proposed site for the Piyarli Yardi Aboriginal cultural centre, which is to be built with a $4.5 million contribution from the State Government. It is a proposal developed through the Gascoyne Development Commission, for which I am responsible. Hon Norman Moore: When will you get around to answering the question? Hon TOM STEPHENS: I am describing the circumstances, as the member requested. Following the inspection of the site on that day, I called on Acacia Way to speak with some of the Aboriginal people who have an interest in that cultural centre project. When I pulled into the village, I was recognised by the group of people standing close to the roadway, who - Hon Norman Moore interjected. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Hon Norman Moore has a prurient interest in this subject. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Order. There will be no subsequent questions here. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I will complete the exercise. I was asked for the circumstances. I pulled into the Mungullah village and a group of the leadership of the community said to me that they were concerned that there was no polling booth in that community at that time. There had been polling booths at previous elections. I also expressed my surprise that the polling booth was not there, and they asked if I would mind giving them a lift. Several members interjected. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I must confess to this House that, at the last federal election, on polling day, I was not as focused on the election as I might normally have been. I was asked for a lift, and offered the lift in response to that request. A $20 fine applies to people who do not vote. Depriving people of a vote might suit the Leader of the Opposition. He has had 25 years of trying to stop Aboriginal people from voting. I have never hesitated in assisting anyone who wants to get to a polling booth on polling day. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Hon Derrick Tomlinson is concerned that his question is banking up, so I ask members for silence, and hopefully Hon Simon O’Brien will not want to ask two questions at the same time, in which case Hon Derrick Tomlinson might get his question in.
Hon TOM STEPHENS: I like the company of Aboriginal people. I seek out and enjoy their company, and I have always done so, throughout my life. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Order members! I do not know that this is relevant to the answering of the question. Hon TOM STEPHENS: (1) I will explain the circumstances. I was in Carnarvon, as I previously described to the House, for a range of functions on 9 and 10 November last year, including representing the Premier. As I have previously detailed to the House, that required me to attend a function in the evening, a breakfast meeting with the shire president, and the opening of the HMAS Sydney entry to Carnarvon. I also met with a community group, and then inspected a land site over which there is a dispute about its future use. I then visited the proposed site for the Piyarli Yardi Aboriginal cultural centre, which is to be built with a $4.5 million contribution from the State Government. It is a proposal developed through the Gascoyne Development Commission, for which I am responsible. Hon Norman Moore: When will you get around to answering the question? Hon TOM STEPHENS: I am describing the circumstances, as the member requested. Following the inspection of the site on that day, I called on Acacia Way to speak with some of the Aboriginal people who have an interest in that cultural centre project. When I pulled into the village, I was recognised by the group of people standing close to the roadway, who - Hon Norman Moore interjected. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Hon Norman Moore has a prurient interest in this subject. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Order. There will be no subsequent questions here. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I will complete the exercise. I was asked for the circumstances. I pulled into the Mungullah village and a group of the leadership of the community said to me that they were concerned that there was no polling booth in that community at that time. There had been polling booths at previous elections. I also expressed my surprise that the polling booth was not there, and they asked if I would mind giving them a lift. Several members interjected. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I must confess to this House that, at the last federal election, on polling day, I was not as focused on the election as I might normally have been. I was asked for a lift, and offered the lift in response to that request. A $20 fine applies to people who do not vote. Depriving people of a vote might suit the Leader of the Opposition. He has had 25 years of trying to stop Aboriginal people from voting. I have never hesitated in assisting anyone who wants to get to a polling booth on polling day. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Hon Derrick Tomlinson is concerned that his question is banking up, so I ask members for silence, and hopefully Hon Simon O’Brien will not want to ask two questions at the same time, in which case Hon Derrick Tomlinson might get his question in.
Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Order members! I do not know that this is relevant to the answering of the question. Hon TOM STEPHENS: (1) I will explain the circumstances. I was in Carnarvon, as I previously described to the House, for a range of functions on 9 and 10 November last year, including representing the Premier. As I have previously detailed to the House, that required me to attend a function in the evening, a breakfast meeting with the shire president, and the opening of the HMAS Sydney entry to Carnarvon. I also met with a community group, and then inspected a land site over which there is a dispute about its future use. I then visited the proposed site for the Piyarli Yardi Aboriginal cultural centre, which is to be built with a $4.5 million contribution from the State Government. It is a proposal developed through the Gascoyne Development Commission, for which I am responsible. Hon Norman Moore: When will you get around to answering the question? Hon TOM STEPHENS: I am describing the circumstances, as the member requested. Following the inspection of the site on that day, I called on Acacia Way to speak with some of the Aboriginal people who have an interest in that cultural centre project. When I pulled into the village, I was recognised by the group of people standing close to the roadway, who - Hon Norman Moore interjected. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Hon Norman Moore has a prurient interest in this subject. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Order. There will be no subsequent questions here. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I will complete the exercise. I was asked for the circumstances. I pulled into the Mungullah village and a group of the leadership of the community said to me that they were concerned that there was no polling booth in that community at that time. There had been polling booths at previous elections. I also expressed my surprise that the polling booth was not there, and they asked if I would mind giving them a lift. Several members interjected. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I must confess to this House that, at the last federal election, on polling day, I was not as focused on the election as I might normally have been. I was asked for a lift, and offered the lift in response to that request. A $20 fine applies to people who do not vote. Depriving people of a vote might suit the Leader of the Opposition. He has had 25 years of trying to stop Aboriginal people from voting. I have never hesitated in assisting anyone who wants to get to a polling booth on polling day. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Hon Derrick Tomlinson is concerned that his question is banking up, so I ask members for silence, and hopefully Hon Simon O’Brien will not want to ask two questions at the same time, in which case Hon Derrick Tomlinson might get his question in.
The PRESIDENT: Order members! I do not know that this is relevant to the answering of the question. Hon TOM STEPHENS: (1) I will explain the circumstances. I was in Carnarvon, as I previously described to the House, for a range of functions on 9 and 10 November last year, including representing the Premier. As I have previously detailed to the House, that required me to attend a function in the evening, a breakfast meeting with the shire president, and the opening of the HMAS Sydney entry to Carnarvon. I also met with a community group, and then inspected a land site over which there is a dispute about its future use. I then visited the proposed site for the Piyarli Yardi Aboriginal cultural centre, which is to be built with a $4.5 million contribution from the State Government. It is a proposal developed through the Gascoyne Development Commission, for which I am responsible. Hon Norman Moore: When will you get around to answering the question? Hon TOM STEPHENS: I am describing the circumstances, as the member requested. Following the inspection of the site on that day, I called on Acacia Way to speak with some of the Aboriginal people who have an interest in that cultural centre project. When I pulled into the village, I was recognised by the group of people standing close to the roadway, who - Hon Norman Moore interjected. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Hon Norman Moore has a prurient interest in this subject. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Order. There will be no subsequent questions here. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I will complete the exercise. I was asked for the circumstances. I pulled into the Mungullah village and a group of the leadership of the community said to me that they were concerned that there was no polling booth in that community at that time. There had been polling booths at previous elections. I also expressed my surprise that the polling booth was not there, and they asked if I would mind giving them a lift. Several members interjected. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I must confess to this House that, at the last federal election, on polling day, I was not as focused on the election as I might normally have been. I was asked for a lift, and offered the lift in response to that request. A $20 fine applies to people who do not vote. Depriving people of a vote might suit the Leader of the Opposition. He has had 25 years of trying to stop Aboriginal people from voting. I have never hesitated in assisting anyone who wants to get to a polling booth on polling day. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Hon Derrick Tomlinson is concerned that his question is banking up, so I ask members for silence, and hopefully Hon Simon O’Brien will not want to ask two questions at the same time, in which case Hon Derrick Tomlinson might get his question in.
Hon TOM STEPHENS: (1) I will explain the circumstances. I was in Carnarvon, as I previously described to the House, for a range of functions on 9 and 10 November last year, including representing the Premier. As I have previously detailed to the House, that required me to attend a function in the evening, a breakfast meeting with the shire president, and the opening of the HMAS Sydney entry to Carnarvon. I also met with a community group, and then inspected a land site over which there is a dispute about its future use. I then visited the proposed site for the Piyarli Yardi Aboriginal cultural centre, which is to be built with a $4.5 million contribution from the State Government. It is a proposal developed through the Gascoyne Development Commission, for which I am responsible. Hon Norman Moore: When will you get around to answering the question? Hon TOM STEPHENS: I am describing the circumstances, as the member requested. Following the inspection of the site on that day, I called on Acacia Way to speak with some of the Aboriginal people who have an interest in that cultural centre project. When I pulled into the village, I was recognised by the group of people standing close to the roadway, who - Hon Norman Moore interjected. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Hon Norman Moore has a prurient interest in this subject. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Order. There will be no subsequent questions here. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I will complete the exercise. I was asked for the circumstances. I pulled into the Mungullah village and a group of the leadership of the community said to me that they were concerned that there was no polling booth in that community at that time. There had been polling booths at previous elections. I also expressed my surprise that the polling booth was not there, and they asked if I would mind giving them a lift. Several members interjected. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I must confess to this House that, at the last federal election, on polling day, I was not as focused on the election as I might normally have been. I was asked for a lift, and offered the lift in response to that request. A $20 fine applies to people who do not vote. Depriving people of a vote might suit the Leader of the Opposition. He has had 25 years of trying to stop Aboriginal people from voting. I have never hesitated in assisting anyone who wants to get to a polling booth on polling day. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Hon Derrick Tomlinson is concerned that his question is banking up, so I ask members for silence, and hopefully Hon Simon O’Brien will not want to ask two questions at the same time, in which case Hon Derrick Tomlinson might get his question in.
(1) I will explain the circumstances. I was in Carnarvon, as I previously described to the House, for a range of functions on 9 and 10 November last year, including representing the Premier. As I have previously detailed to the House, that required me to attend a function in the evening, a breakfast meeting with the shire president, and the opening of the HMAS Sydney entry to Carnarvon. I also met with a community group, and then inspected a land site over which there is a dispute about its future use. I then visited the proposed site for the Piyarli Yardi Aboriginal cultural centre, which is to be built with a $4.5 million contribution from the State Government. It is a proposal developed through the Gascoyne Development Commission, for which I am responsible. Hon Norman Moore: When will you get around to answering the question? Hon TOM STEPHENS: I am describing the circumstances, as the member requested. Following the inspection of the site on that day, I called on Acacia Way to speak with some of the Aboriginal people who have an interest in that cultural centre project. When I pulled into the village, I was recognised by the group of people standing close to the roadway, who - Hon Norman Moore interjected. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Hon Norman Moore has a prurient interest in this subject. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Order. There will be no subsequent questions here. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I will complete the exercise. I was asked for the circumstances. I pulled into the Mungullah village and a group of the leadership of the community said to me that they were concerned that there was no polling booth in that community at that time. There had been polling booths at previous elections. I also expressed my surprise that the polling booth was not there, and they asked if I would mind giving them a lift. Several members interjected. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I must confess to this House that, at the last federal election, on polling day, I was not as focused on the election as I might normally have been. I was asked for a lift, and offered the lift in response to that request. A $20 fine applies to people who do not vote. Depriving people of a vote might suit the Leader of the Opposition. He has had 25 years of trying to stop Aboriginal people from voting. I have never hesitated in assisting anyone who wants to get to a polling booth on polling day. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Hon Derrick Tomlinson is concerned that his question is banking up, so I ask members for silence, and hopefully Hon Simon O’Brien will not want to ask two questions at the same time, in which case Hon Derrick Tomlinson might get his question in.
Hon Norman Moore: When will you get around to answering the question? Hon TOM STEPHENS: I am describing the circumstances, as the member requested. Following the inspection of the site on that day, I called on Acacia Way to speak with some of the Aboriginal people who have an interest in that cultural centre project. When I pulled into the village, I was recognised by the group of people standing close to the roadway, who - Hon Norman Moore interjected. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Hon Norman Moore has a prurient interest in this subject. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Order. There will be no subsequent questions here. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I will complete the exercise. I was asked for the circumstances. I pulled into the Mungullah village and a group of the leadership of the community said to me that they were concerned that there was no polling booth in that community at that time. There had been polling booths at previous elections. I also expressed my surprise that the polling booth was not there, and they asked if I would mind giving them a lift. Several members interjected. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I must confess to this House that, at the last federal election, on polling day, I was not as focused on the election as I might normally have been. I was asked for a lift, and offered the lift in response to that request. A $20 fine applies to people who do not vote. Depriving people of a vote might suit the Leader of the Opposition. He has had 25 years of trying to stop Aboriginal people from voting. I have never hesitated in assisting anyone who wants to get to a polling booth on polling day. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Hon Derrick Tomlinson is concerned that his question is banking up, so I ask members for silence, and hopefully Hon Simon O’Brien will not want to ask two questions at the same time, in which case Hon Derrick Tomlinson might get his question in.
Hon TOM STEPHENS: I am describing the circumstances, as the member requested. Following the inspection of the site on that day, I called on Acacia Way to speak with some of the Aboriginal people who have an interest in that cultural centre project. When I pulled into the village, I was recognised by the group of people standing close to the roadway, who - Hon Norman Moore interjected. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Hon Norman Moore has a prurient interest in this subject. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Order. There will be no subsequent questions here. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I will complete the exercise. I was asked for the circumstances. I pulled into the Mungullah village and a group of the leadership of the community said to me that they were concerned that there was no polling booth in that community at that time. There had been polling booths at previous elections. I also expressed my surprise that the polling booth was not there, and they asked if I would mind giving them a lift. Several members interjected. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I must confess to this House that, at the last federal election, on polling day, I was not as focused on the election as I might normally have been. I was asked for a lift, and offered the lift in response to that request. A $20 fine applies to people who do not vote. Depriving people of a vote might suit the Leader of the Opposition. He has had 25 years of trying to stop Aboriginal people from voting. I have never hesitated in assisting anyone who wants to get to a polling booth on polling day. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Hon Derrick Tomlinson is concerned that his question is banking up, so I ask members for silence, and hopefully Hon Simon O’Brien will not want to ask two questions at the same time, in which case Hon Derrick Tomlinson might get his question in.
Following the inspection of the site on that day, I called on Acacia Way to speak with some of the Aboriginal people who have an interest in that cultural centre project. When I pulled into the village, I was recognised by the group of people standing close to the roadway, who - Hon Norman Moore interjected. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Hon Norman Moore has a prurient interest in this subject. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Order. There will be no subsequent questions here. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I will complete the exercise. I was asked for the circumstances. I pulled into the Mungullah village and a group of the leadership of the community said to me that they were concerned that there was no polling booth in that community at that time. There had been polling booths at previous elections. I also expressed my surprise that the polling booth was not there, and they asked if I would mind giving them a lift. Several members interjected. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I must confess to this House that, at the last federal election, on polling day, I was not as focused on the election as I might normally have been. I was asked for a lift, and offered the lift in response to that request. A $20 fine applies to people who do not vote. Depriving people of a vote might suit the Leader of the Opposition. He has had 25 years of trying to stop Aboriginal people from voting. I have never hesitated in assisting anyone who wants to get to a polling booth on polling day. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Hon Derrick Tomlinson is concerned that his question is banking up, so I ask members for silence, and hopefully Hon Simon O’Brien will not want to ask two questions at the same time, in which case Hon Derrick Tomlinson might get his question in.
Hon Norman Moore interjected. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Hon Norman Moore has a prurient interest in this subject. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Order. There will be no subsequent questions here. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I will complete the exercise. I was asked for the circumstances. I pulled into the Mungullah village and a group of the leadership of the community said to me that they were concerned that there was no polling booth in that community at that time. There had been polling booths at previous elections. I also expressed my surprise that the polling booth was not there, and they asked if I would mind giving them a lift. Several members interjected. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I must confess to this House that, at the last federal election, on polling day, I was not as focused on the election as I might normally have been. I was asked for a lift, and offered the lift in response to that request. A $20 fine applies to people who do not vote. Depriving people of a vote might suit the Leader of the Opposition. He has had 25 years of trying to stop Aboriginal people from voting. I have never hesitated in assisting anyone who wants to get to a polling booth on polling day. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Hon Derrick Tomlinson is concerned that his question is banking up, so I ask members for silence, and hopefully Hon Simon O’Brien will not want to ask two questions at the same time, in which case Hon Derrick Tomlinson might get his question in.
Hon TOM STEPHENS: Hon Norman Moore has a prurient interest in this subject. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Order. There will be no subsequent questions here. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I will complete the exercise. I was asked for the circumstances. I pulled into the Mungullah village and a group of the leadership of the community said to me that they were concerned that there was no polling booth in that community at that time. There had been polling booths at previous elections. I also expressed my surprise that the polling booth was not there, and they asked if I would mind giving them a lift. Several members interjected. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I must confess to this House that, at the last federal election, on polling day, I was not as focused on the election as I might normally have been. I was asked for a lift, and offered the lift in response to that request. A $20 fine applies to people who do not vote. Depriving people of a vote might suit the Leader of the Opposition. He has had 25 years of trying to stop Aboriginal people from voting. I have never hesitated in assisting anyone who wants to get to a polling booth on polling day. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Hon Derrick Tomlinson is concerned that his question is banking up, so I ask members for silence, and hopefully Hon Simon O’Brien will not want to ask two questions at the same time, in which case Hon Derrick Tomlinson might get his question in.
Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Order. There will be no subsequent questions here. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I will complete the exercise. I was asked for the circumstances. I pulled into the Mungullah village and a group of the leadership of the community said to me that they were concerned that there was no polling booth in that community at that time. There had been polling booths at previous elections. I also expressed my surprise that the polling booth was not there, and they asked if I would mind giving them a lift. Several members interjected. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I must confess to this House that, at the last federal election, on polling day, I was not as focused on the election as I might normally have been. I was asked for a lift, and offered the lift in response to that request. A $20 fine applies to people who do not vote. Depriving people of a vote might suit the Leader of the Opposition. He has had 25 years of trying to stop Aboriginal people from voting. I have never hesitated in assisting anyone who wants to get to a polling booth on polling day. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Hon Derrick Tomlinson is concerned that his question is banking up, so I ask members for silence, and hopefully Hon Simon O’Brien will not want to ask two questions at the same time, in which case Hon Derrick Tomlinson might get his question in.
The PRESIDENT: Order. There will be no subsequent questions here. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I will complete the exercise. I was asked for the circumstances. I pulled into the Mungullah village and a group of the leadership of the community said to me that they were concerned that there was no polling booth in that community at that time. There had been polling booths at previous elections. I also expressed my surprise that the polling booth was not there, and they asked if I would mind giving them a lift. Several members interjected. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I must confess to this House that, at the last federal election, on polling day, I was not as focused on the election as I might normally have been. I was asked for a lift, and offered the lift in response to that request. A $20 fine applies to people who do not vote. Depriving people of a vote might suit the Leader of the Opposition. He has had 25 years of trying to stop Aboriginal people from voting. I have never hesitated in assisting anyone who wants to get to a polling booth on polling day. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Hon Derrick Tomlinson is concerned that his question is banking up, so I ask members for silence, and hopefully Hon Simon O’Brien will not want to ask two questions at the same time, in which case Hon Derrick Tomlinson might get his question in.
Hon TOM STEPHENS: I will complete the exercise. I was asked for the circumstances. I pulled into the Mungullah village and a group of the leadership of the community said to me that they were concerned that there was no polling booth in that community at that time. There had been polling booths at previous elections. I also expressed my surprise that the polling booth was not there, and they asked if I would mind giving them a lift. Several members interjected. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I must confess to this House that, at the last federal election, on polling day, I was not as focused on the election as I might normally have been. I was asked for a lift, and offered the lift in response to that request. A $20 fine applies to people who do not vote. Depriving people of a vote might suit the Leader of the Opposition. He has had 25 years of trying to stop Aboriginal people from voting. I have never hesitated in assisting anyone who wants to get to a polling booth on polling day. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Hon Derrick Tomlinson is concerned that his question is banking up, so I ask members for silence, and hopefully Hon Simon O’Brien will not want to ask two questions at the same time, in which case Hon Derrick Tomlinson might get his question in.
Several members interjected. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I must confess to this House that, at the last federal election, on polling day, I was not as focused on the election as I might normally have been. I was asked for a lift, and offered the lift in response to that request. A $20 fine applies to people who do not vote. Depriving people of a vote might suit the Leader of the Opposition. He has had 25 years of trying to stop Aboriginal people from voting. I have never hesitated in assisting anyone who wants to get to a polling booth on polling day. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Hon Derrick Tomlinson is concerned that his question is banking up, so I ask members for silence, and hopefully Hon Simon O’Brien will not want to ask two questions at the same time, in which case Hon Derrick Tomlinson might get his question in.
Hon TOM STEPHENS: I must confess to this House that, at the last federal election, on polling day, I was not as focused on the election as I might normally have been. I was asked for a lift, and offered the lift in response to that request. A $20 fine applies to people who do not vote. Depriving people of a vote might suit the Leader of the Opposition. He has had 25 years of trying to stop Aboriginal people from voting. I have never hesitated in assisting anyone who wants to get to a polling booth on polling day. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Hon Derrick Tomlinson is concerned that his question is banking up, so I ask members for silence, and hopefully Hon Simon O’Brien will not want to ask two questions at the same time, in which case Hon Derrick Tomlinson might get his question in.
I was asked for a lift, and offered the lift in response to that request. A $20 fine applies to people who do not vote. Depriving people of a vote might suit the Leader of the Opposition. He has had 25 years of trying to stop Aboriginal people from voting. I have never hesitated in assisting anyone who wants to get to a polling booth on polling day. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Hon Derrick Tomlinson is concerned that his question is banking up, so I ask members for silence, and hopefully Hon Simon O’Brien will not want to ask two questions at the same time, in which case Hon Derrick Tomlinson might get his question in.
Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Hon Derrick Tomlinson is concerned that his question is banking up, so I ask members for silence, and hopefully Hon Simon O’Brien will not want to ask two questions at the same time, in which case Hon Derrick Tomlinson might get his question in.
The PRESIDENT: Hon Derrick Tomlinson is concerned that his question is banking up, so I ask members for silence, and hopefully Hon Simon O’Brien will not want to ask two questions at the same time, in which case Hon Derrick Tomlinson might get his question in.
(1) Will the minister explain the circumstances which led to the request? (2) Did the minister provide any of the passengers with advice on how they should vote? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: (2) No. Hon Norman Moore: It would be the first time you have ever done that. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I like the company of Aboriginal people. I seek out and enjoy their company, and I have always done so, throughout my life. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Order members! I do not know that this is relevant to the answering of the question. Hon TOM STEPHENS: (1) I will explain the circumstances. I was in Carnarvon, as I previously described to the House, for a range of functions on 9 and 10 November last year, including representing the Premier. As I have previously detailed to the House, that required me to attend a function in the evening, a breakfast meeting with the shire president, and the opening of the HMAS Sydney entry to Carnarvon. I also met with a community group, and then inspected a land site over which there is a dispute about its future use. I then visited the proposed site for the Piyarli Yardi Aboriginal cultural centre, which is to be built with a $4.5 million contribution from the State Government. It is a proposal developed through the Gascoyne Development Commission, for which I am responsible. Hon Norman Moore: When will you get around to answering the question? Hon TOM STEPHENS: I am describing the circumstances, as the member requested. Following the inspection of the site on that day, I called on Acacia Way to speak with some of the Aboriginal people who have an interest in that cultural centre project. When I pulled into the village, I was recognised by the group of people standing close to the roadway, who - Hon Norman Moore interjected. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Hon Norman Moore has a prurient interest in this subject. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Order. There will be no subsequent questions here. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I will complete the exercise. I was asked for the circumstances. I pulled into the Mungullah village and a group of the leadership of the community said to me that they were concerned that there was no polling booth in that community at that time. There had been polling booths at previous elections. I also expressed my surprise that the polling booth was not there, and they asked if I would mind giving them a lift. Several members interjected. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I must confess to this House that, at the last federal election, on polling day, I was not as focused on the election as I might normally have been. I was asked for a lift, and offered the lift in response to that request. A $20 fine applies to people who do not vote. Depriving people of a vote might suit the Leader of the Opposition. He has had 25 years of trying to stop Aboriginal people from voting. I have never hesitated in assisting anyone who wants to get to a polling booth on polling day. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Hon Derrick Tomlinson is concerned that his question is banking up, so I ask members for silence, and hopefully Hon Simon O’Brien will not want to ask two questions at the same time, in which case Hon Derrick Tomlinson might get his question in.
(2) Did the minister provide any of the passengers with advice on how they should vote? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: (2) No. Hon Norman Moore: It would be the first time you have ever done that. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I like the company of Aboriginal people. I seek out and enjoy their company, and I have always done so, throughout my life. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Order members! I do not know that this is relevant to the answering of the question. Hon TOM STEPHENS: (1) I will explain the circumstances. I was in Carnarvon, as I previously described to the House, for a range of functions on 9 and 10 November last year, including representing the Premier. As I have previously detailed to the House, that required me to attend a function in the evening, a breakfast meeting with the shire president, and the opening of the HMAS Sydney entry to Carnarvon. I also met with a community group, and then inspected a land site over which there is a dispute about its future use. I then visited the proposed site for the Piyarli Yardi Aboriginal cultural centre, which is to be built with a $4.5 million contribution from the State Government. It is a proposal developed through the Gascoyne Development Commission, for which I am responsible. Hon Norman Moore: When will you get around to answering the question? Hon TOM STEPHENS: I am describing the circumstances, as the member requested. Following the inspection of the site on that day, I called on Acacia Way to speak with some of the Aboriginal people who have an interest in that cultural centre project. When I pulled into the village, I was recognised by the group of people standing close to the roadway, who - Hon Norman Moore interjected. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Hon Norman Moore has a prurient interest in this subject. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Order. There will be no subsequent questions here. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I will complete the exercise. I was asked for the circumstances. I pulled into the Mungullah village and a group of the leadership of the community said to me that they were concerned that there was no polling booth in that community at that time. There had been polling booths at previous elections. I also expressed my surprise that the polling booth was not there, and they asked if I would mind giving them a lift. Several members interjected. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I must confess to this House that, at the last federal election, on polling day, I was not as focused on the election as I might normally have been. I was asked for a lift, and offered the lift in response to that request. A $20 fine applies to people who do not vote. Depriving people of a vote might suit the Leader of the Opposition. He has had 25 years of trying to stop Aboriginal people from voting. I have never hesitated in assisting anyone who wants to get to a polling booth on polling day. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Hon Derrick Tomlinson is concerned that his question is banking up, so I ask members for silence, and hopefully Hon Simon O’Brien will not want to ask two questions at the same time, in which case Hon Derrick Tomlinson might get his question in.
Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: (2) No. Hon Norman Moore: It would be the first time you have ever done that. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I like the company of Aboriginal people. I seek out and enjoy their company, and I have always done so, throughout my life. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Order members! I do not know that this is relevant to the answering of the question. Hon TOM STEPHENS: (1) I will explain the circumstances. I was in Carnarvon, as I previously described to the House, for a range of functions on 9 and 10 November last year, including representing the Premier. As I have previously detailed to the House, that required me to attend a function in the evening, a breakfast meeting with the shire president, and the opening of the HMAS Sydney entry to Carnarvon. I also met with a community group, and then inspected a land site over which there is a dispute about its future use. I then visited the proposed site for the Piyarli Yardi Aboriginal cultural centre, which is to be built with a $4.5 million contribution from the State Government. It is a proposal developed through the Gascoyne Development Commission, for which I am responsible. Hon Norman Moore: When will you get around to answering the question? Hon TOM STEPHENS: I am describing the circumstances, as the member requested. Following the inspection of the site on that day, I called on Acacia Way to speak with some of the Aboriginal people who have an interest in that cultural centre project. When I pulled into the village, I was recognised by the group of people standing close to the roadway, who - Hon Norman Moore interjected. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Hon Norman Moore has a prurient interest in this subject. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Order. There will be no subsequent questions here. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I will complete the exercise. I was asked for the circumstances. I pulled into the Mungullah village and a group of the leadership of the community said to me that they were concerned that there was no polling booth in that community at that time. There had been polling booths at previous elections. I also expressed my surprise that the polling booth was not there, and they asked if I would mind giving them a lift. Several members interjected. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I must confess to this House that, at the last federal election, on polling day, I was not as focused on the election as I might normally have been. I was asked for a lift, and offered the lift in response to that request. A $20 fine applies to people who do not vote. Depriving people of a vote might suit the Leader of the Opposition. He has had 25 years of trying to stop Aboriginal people from voting. I have never hesitated in assisting anyone who wants to get to a polling booth on polling day. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Hon Derrick Tomlinson is concerned that his question is banking up, so I ask members for silence, and hopefully Hon Simon O’Brien will not want to ask two questions at the same time, in which case Hon Derrick Tomlinson might get his question in.
(2) No. Hon Norman Moore: It would be the first time you have ever done that. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I like the company of Aboriginal people. I seek out and enjoy their company, and I have always done so, throughout my life. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Order members! I do not know that this is relevant to the answering of the question. Hon TOM STEPHENS: (1) I will explain the circumstances. I was in Carnarvon, as I previously described to the House, for a range of functions on 9 and 10 November last year, including representing the Premier. As I have previously detailed to the House, that required me to attend a function in the evening, a breakfast meeting with the shire president, and the opening of the HMAS Sydney entry to Carnarvon. I also met with a community group, and then inspected a land site over which there is a dispute about its future use. I then visited the proposed site for the Piyarli Yardi Aboriginal cultural centre, which is to be built with a $4.5 million contribution from the State Government. It is a proposal developed through the Gascoyne Development Commission, for which I am responsible. Hon Norman Moore: When will you get around to answering the question? Hon TOM STEPHENS: I am describing the circumstances, as the member requested. Following the inspection of the site on that day, I called on Acacia Way to speak with some of the Aboriginal people who have an interest in that cultural centre project. When I pulled into the village, I was recognised by the group of people standing close to the roadway, who - Hon Norman Moore interjected. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Hon Norman Moore has a prurient interest in this subject. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Order. There will be no subsequent questions here. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I will complete the exercise. I was asked for the circumstances. I pulled into the Mungullah village and a group of the leadership of the community said to me that they were concerned that there was no polling booth in that community at that time. There had been polling booths at previous elections. I also expressed my surprise that the polling booth was not there, and they asked if I would mind giving them a lift. Several members interjected. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I must confess to this House that, at the last federal election, on polling day, I was not as focused on the election as I might normally have been. I was asked for a lift, and offered the lift in response to that request. A $20 fine applies to people who do not vote. Depriving people of a vote might suit the Leader of the Opposition. He has had 25 years of trying to stop Aboriginal people from voting. I have never hesitated in assisting anyone who wants to get to a polling booth on polling day. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Hon Derrick Tomlinson is concerned that his question is banking up, so I ask members for silence, and hopefully Hon Simon O’Brien will not want to ask two questions at the same time, in which case Hon Derrick Tomlinson might get his question in.
Hon Norman Moore: It would be the first time you have ever done that. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I like the company of Aboriginal people. I seek out and enjoy their company, and I have always done so, throughout my life. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Order members! I do not know that this is relevant to the answering of the question. Hon TOM STEPHENS: (1) I will explain the circumstances. I was in Carnarvon, as I previously described to the House, for a range of functions on 9 and 10 November last year, including representing the Premier. As I have previously detailed to the House, that required me to attend a function in the evening, a breakfast meeting with the shire president, and the opening of the HMAS Sydney entry to Carnarvon. I also met with a community group, and then inspected a land site over which there is a dispute about its future use. I then visited the proposed site for the Piyarli Yardi Aboriginal cultural centre, which is to be built with a $4.5 million contribution from the State Government. It is a proposal developed through the Gascoyne Development Commission, for which I am responsible. Hon Norman Moore: When will you get around to answering the question? Hon TOM STEPHENS: I am describing the circumstances, as the member requested. Following the inspection of the site on that day, I called on Acacia Way to speak with some of the Aboriginal people who have an interest in that cultural centre project. When I pulled into the village, I was recognised by the group of people standing close to the roadway, who - Hon Norman Moore interjected. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Hon Norman Moore has a prurient interest in this subject. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Order. There will be no subsequent questions here. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I will complete the exercise. I was asked for the circumstances. I pulled into the Mungullah village and a group of the leadership of the community said to me that they were concerned that there was no polling booth in that community at that time. There had been polling booths at previous elections. I also expressed my surprise that the polling booth was not there, and they asked if I would mind giving them a lift. Several members interjected. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I must confess to this House that, at the last federal election, on polling day, I was not as focused on the election as I might normally have been. I was asked for a lift, and offered the lift in response to that request. A $20 fine applies to people who do not vote. Depriving people of a vote might suit the Leader of the Opposition. He has had 25 years of trying to stop Aboriginal people from voting. I have never hesitated in assisting anyone who wants to get to a polling booth on polling day. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Hon Derrick Tomlinson is concerned that his question is banking up, so I ask members for silence, and hopefully Hon Simon O’Brien will not want to ask two questions at the same time, in which case Hon Derrick Tomlinson might get his question in.
Hon TOM STEPHENS: I like the company of Aboriginal people. I seek out and enjoy their company, and I have always done so, throughout my life. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Order members! I do not know that this is relevant to the answering of the question. Hon TOM STEPHENS: (1) I will explain the circumstances. I was in Carnarvon, as I previously described to the House, for a range of functions on 9 and 10 November last year, including representing the Premier. As I have previously detailed to the House, that required me to attend a function in the evening, a breakfast meeting with the shire president, and the opening of the HMAS Sydney entry to Carnarvon. I also met with a community group, and then inspected a land site over which there is a dispute about its future use. I then visited the proposed site for the Piyarli Yardi Aboriginal cultural centre, which is to be built with a $4.5 million contribution from the State Government. It is a proposal developed through the Gascoyne Development Commission, for which I am responsible. Hon Norman Moore: When will you get around to answering the question? Hon TOM STEPHENS: I am describing the circumstances, as the member requested. Following the inspection of the site on that day, I called on Acacia Way to speak with some of the Aboriginal people who have an interest in that cultural centre project. When I pulled into the village, I was recognised by the group of people standing close to the roadway, who - Hon Norman Moore interjected. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Hon Norman Moore has a prurient interest in this subject. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Order. There will be no subsequent questions here. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I will complete the exercise. I was asked for the circumstances. I pulled into the Mungullah village and a group of the leadership of the community said to me that they were concerned that there was no polling booth in that community at that time. There had been polling booths at previous elections. I also expressed my surprise that the polling booth was not there, and they asked if I would mind giving them a lift. Several members interjected. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I must confess to this House that, at the last federal election, on polling day, I was not as focused on the election as I might normally have been. I was asked for a lift, and offered the lift in response to that request. A $20 fine applies to people who do not vote. Depriving people of a vote might suit the Leader of the Opposition. He has had 25 years of trying to stop Aboriginal people from voting. I have never hesitated in assisting anyone who wants to get to a polling booth on polling day. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Hon Derrick Tomlinson is concerned that his question is banking up, so I ask members for silence, and hopefully Hon Simon O’Brien will not want to ask two questions at the same time, in which case Hon Derrick Tomlinson might get his question in.
Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Order members! I do not know that this is relevant to the answering of the question. Hon TOM STEPHENS: (1) I will explain the circumstances. I was in Carnarvon, as I previously described to the House, for a range of functions on 9 and 10 November last year, including representing the Premier. As I have previously detailed to the House, that required me to attend a function in the evening, a breakfast meeting with the shire president, and the opening of the HMAS Sydney entry to Carnarvon. I also met with a community group, and then inspected a land site over which there is a dispute about its future use. I then visited the proposed site for the Piyarli Yardi Aboriginal cultural centre, which is to be built with a $4.5 million contribution from the State Government. It is a proposal developed through the Gascoyne Development Commission, for which I am responsible. Hon Norman Moore: When will you get around to answering the question? Hon TOM STEPHENS: I am describing the circumstances, as the member requested. Following the inspection of the site on that day, I called on Acacia Way to speak with some of the Aboriginal people who have an interest in that cultural centre project. When I pulled into the village, I was recognised by the group of people standing close to the roadway, who - Hon Norman Moore interjected. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Hon Norman Moore has a prurient interest in this subject. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Order. There will be no subsequent questions here. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I will complete the exercise. I was asked for the circumstances. I pulled into the Mungullah village and a group of the leadership of the community said to me that they were concerned that there was no polling booth in that community at that time. There had been polling booths at previous elections. I also expressed my surprise that the polling booth was not there, and they asked if I would mind giving them a lift. Several members interjected. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I must confess to this House that, at the last federal election, on polling day, I was not as focused on the election as I might normally have been. I was asked for a lift, and offered the lift in response to that request. A $20 fine applies to people who do not vote. Depriving people of a vote might suit the Leader of the Opposition. He has had 25 years of trying to stop Aboriginal people from voting. I have never hesitated in assisting anyone who wants to get to a polling booth on polling day. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Hon Derrick Tomlinson is concerned that his question is banking up, so I ask members for silence, and hopefully Hon Simon O’Brien will not want to ask two questions at the same time, in which case Hon Derrick Tomlinson might get his question in.
The PRESIDENT: Order members! I do not know that this is relevant to the answering of the question. Hon TOM STEPHENS: (1) I will explain the circumstances. I was in Carnarvon, as I previously described to the House, for a range of functions on 9 and 10 November last year, including representing the Premier. As I have previously detailed to the House, that required me to attend a function in the evening, a breakfast meeting with the shire president, and the opening of the HMAS Sydney entry to Carnarvon. I also met with a community group, and then inspected a land site over which there is a dispute about its future use. I then visited the proposed site for the Piyarli Yardi Aboriginal cultural centre, which is to be built with a $4.5 million contribution from the State Government. It is a proposal developed through the Gascoyne Development Commission, for which I am responsible. Hon Norman Moore: When will you get around to answering the question? Hon TOM STEPHENS: I am describing the circumstances, as the member requested. Following the inspection of the site on that day, I called on Acacia Way to speak with some of the Aboriginal people who have an interest in that cultural centre project. When I pulled into the village, I was recognised by the group of people standing close to the roadway, who - Hon Norman Moore interjected. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Hon Norman Moore has a prurient interest in this subject. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Order. There will be no subsequent questions here. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I will complete the exercise. I was asked for the circumstances. I pulled into the Mungullah village and a group of the leadership of the community said to me that they were concerned that there was no polling booth in that community at that time. There had been polling booths at previous elections. I also expressed my surprise that the polling booth was not there, and they asked if I would mind giving them a lift. Several members interjected. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I must confess to this House that, at the last federal election, on polling day, I was not as focused on the election as I might normally have been. I was asked for a lift, and offered the lift in response to that request. A $20 fine applies to people who do not vote. Depriving people of a vote might suit the Leader of the Opposition. He has had 25 years of trying to stop Aboriginal people from voting. I have never hesitated in assisting anyone who wants to get to a polling booth on polling day. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Hon Derrick Tomlinson is concerned that his question is banking up, so I ask members for silence, and hopefully Hon Simon O’Brien will not want to ask two questions at the same time, in which case Hon Derrick Tomlinson might get his question in.
Hon TOM STEPHENS: (1) I will explain the circumstances. I was in Carnarvon, as I previously described to the House, for a range of functions on 9 and 10 November last year, including representing the Premier. As I have previously detailed to the House, that required me to attend a function in the evening, a breakfast meeting with the shire president, and the opening of the HMAS Sydney entry to Carnarvon. I also met with a community group, and then inspected a land site over which there is a dispute about its future use. I then visited the proposed site for the Piyarli Yardi Aboriginal cultural centre, which is to be built with a $4.5 million contribution from the State Government. It is a proposal developed through the Gascoyne Development Commission, for which I am responsible. Hon Norman Moore: When will you get around to answering the question? Hon TOM STEPHENS: I am describing the circumstances, as the member requested. Following the inspection of the site on that day, I called on Acacia Way to speak with some of the Aboriginal people who have an interest in that cultural centre project. When I pulled into the village, I was recognised by the group of people standing close to the roadway, who - Hon Norman Moore interjected. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Hon Norman Moore has a prurient interest in this subject. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Order. There will be no subsequent questions here. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I will complete the exercise. I was asked for the circumstances. I pulled into the Mungullah village and a group of the leadership of the community said to me that they were concerned that there was no polling booth in that community at that time. There had been polling booths at previous elections. I also expressed my surprise that the polling booth was not there, and they asked if I would mind giving them a lift. Several members interjected. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I must confess to this House that, at the last federal election, on polling day, I was not as focused on the election as I might normally have been. I was asked for a lift, and offered the lift in response to that request. A $20 fine applies to people who do not vote. Depriving people of a vote might suit the Leader of the Opposition. He has had 25 years of trying to stop Aboriginal people from voting. I have never hesitated in assisting anyone who wants to get to a polling booth on polling day. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Hon Derrick Tomlinson is concerned that his question is banking up, so I ask members for silence, and hopefully Hon Simon O’Brien will not want to ask two questions at the same time, in which case Hon Derrick Tomlinson might get his question in.
(1) I will explain the circumstances. I was in Carnarvon, as I previously described to the House, for a range of functions on 9 and 10 November last year, including representing the Premier. As I have previously detailed to the House, that required me to attend a function in the evening, a breakfast meeting with the shire president, and the opening of the HMAS Sydney entry to Carnarvon. I also met with a community group, and then inspected a land site over which there is a dispute about its future use. I then visited the proposed site for the Piyarli Yardi Aboriginal cultural centre, which is to be built with a $4.5 million contribution from the State Government. It is a proposal developed through the Gascoyne Development Commission, for which I am responsible. Hon Norman Moore: When will you get around to answering the question? Hon TOM STEPHENS: I am describing the circumstances, as the member requested. Following the inspection of the site on that day, I called on Acacia Way to speak with some of the Aboriginal people who have an interest in that cultural centre project. When I pulled into the village, I was recognised by the group of people standing close to the roadway, who - Hon Norman Moore interjected. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Hon Norman Moore has a prurient interest in this subject. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Order. There will be no subsequent questions here. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I will complete the exercise. I was asked for the circumstances. I pulled into the Mungullah village and a group of the leadership of the community said to me that they were concerned that there was no polling booth in that community at that time. There had been polling booths at previous elections. I also expressed my surprise that the polling booth was not there, and they asked if I would mind giving them a lift. Several members interjected. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I must confess to this House that, at the last federal election, on polling day, I was not as focused on the election as I might normally have been. I was asked for a lift, and offered the lift in response to that request. A $20 fine applies to people who do not vote. Depriving people of a vote might suit the Leader of the Opposition. He has had 25 years of trying to stop Aboriginal people from voting. I have never hesitated in assisting anyone who wants to get to a polling booth on polling day. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Hon Derrick Tomlinson is concerned that his question is banking up, so I ask members for silence, and hopefully Hon Simon O’Brien will not want to ask two questions at the same time, in which case Hon Derrick Tomlinson might get his question in.
Hon Norman Moore: When will you get around to answering the question? Hon TOM STEPHENS: I am describing the circumstances, as the member requested. Following the inspection of the site on that day, I called on Acacia Way to speak with some of the Aboriginal people who have an interest in that cultural centre project. When I pulled into the village, I was recognised by the group of people standing close to the roadway, who - Hon Norman Moore interjected. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Hon Norman Moore has a prurient interest in this subject. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Order. There will be no subsequent questions here. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I will complete the exercise. I was asked for the circumstances. I pulled into the Mungullah village and a group of the leadership of the community said to me that they were concerned that there was no polling booth in that community at that time. There had been polling booths at previous elections. I also expressed my surprise that the polling booth was not there, and they asked if I would mind giving them a lift. Several members interjected. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I must confess to this House that, at the last federal election, on polling day, I was not as focused on the election as I might normally have been. I was asked for a lift, and offered the lift in response to that request. A $20 fine applies to people who do not vote. Depriving people of a vote might suit the Leader of the Opposition. He has had 25 years of trying to stop Aboriginal people from voting. I have never hesitated in assisting anyone who wants to get to a polling booth on polling day. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Hon Derrick Tomlinson is concerned that his question is banking up, so I ask members for silence, and hopefully Hon Simon O’Brien will not want to ask two questions at the same time, in which case Hon Derrick Tomlinson might get his question in.
Hon TOM STEPHENS: I am describing the circumstances, as the member requested. Following the inspection of the site on that day, I called on Acacia Way to speak with some of the Aboriginal people who have an interest in that cultural centre project. When I pulled into the village, I was recognised by the group of people standing close to the roadway, who - Hon Norman Moore interjected. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Hon Norman Moore has a prurient interest in this subject. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Order. There will be no subsequent questions here. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I will complete the exercise. I was asked for the circumstances. I pulled into the Mungullah village and a group of the leadership of the community said to me that they were concerned that there was no polling booth in that community at that time. There had been polling booths at previous elections. I also expressed my surprise that the polling booth was not there, and they asked if I would mind giving them a lift. Several members interjected. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I must confess to this House that, at the last federal election, on polling day, I was not as focused on the election as I might normally have been. I was asked for a lift, and offered the lift in response to that request. A $20 fine applies to people who do not vote. Depriving people of a vote might suit the Leader of the Opposition. He has had 25 years of trying to stop Aboriginal people from voting. I have never hesitated in assisting anyone who wants to get to a polling booth on polling day. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Hon Derrick Tomlinson is concerned that his question is banking up, so I ask members for silence, and hopefully Hon Simon O’Brien will not want to ask two questions at the same time, in which case Hon Derrick Tomlinson might get his question in.
Following the inspection of the site on that day, I called on Acacia Way to speak with some of the Aboriginal people who have an interest in that cultural centre project. When I pulled into the village, I was recognised by the group of people standing close to the roadway, who - Hon Norman Moore interjected. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Hon Norman Moore has a prurient interest in this subject. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Order. There will be no subsequent questions here. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I will complete the exercise. I was asked for the circumstances. I pulled into the Mungullah village and a group of the leadership of the community said to me that they were concerned that there was no polling booth in that community at that time. There had been polling booths at previous elections. I also expressed my surprise that the polling booth was not there, and they asked if I would mind giving them a lift. Several members interjected. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I must confess to this House that, at the last federal election, on polling day, I was not as focused on the election as I might normally have been. I was asked for a lift, and offered the lift in response to that request. A $20 fine applies to people who do not vote. Depriving people of a vote might suit the Leader of the Opposition. He has had 25 years of trying to stop Aboriginal people from voting. I have never hesitated in assisting anyone who wants to get to a polling booth on polling day. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Hon Derrick Tomlinson is concerned that his question is banking up, so I ask members for silence, and hopefully Hon Simon O’Brien will not want to ask two questions at the same time, in which case Hon Derrick Tomlinson might get his question in.
Hon Norman Moore interjected. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Hon Norman Moore has a prurient interest in this subject. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Order. There will be no subsequent questions here. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I will complete the exercise. I was asked for the circumstances. I pulled into the Mungullah village and a group of the leadership of the community said to me that they were concerned that there was no polling booth in that community at that time. There had been polling booths at previous elections. I also expressed my surprise that the polling booth was not there, and they asked if I would mind giving them a lift. Several members interjected. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I must confess to this House that, at the last federal election, on polling day, I was not as focused on the election as I might normally have been. I was asked for a lift, and offered the lift in response to that request. A $20 fine applies to people who do not vote. Depriving people of a vote might suit the Leader of the Opposition. He has had 25 years of trying to stop Aboriginal people from voting. I have never hesitated in assisting anyone who wants to get to a polling booth on polling day. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Hon Derrick Tomlinson is concerned that his question is banking up, so I ask members for silence, and hopefully Hon Simon O’Brien will not want to ask two questions at the same time, in which case Hon Derrick Tomlinson might get his question in.
Hon TOM STEPHENS: Hon Norman Moore has a prurient interest in this subject. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Order. There will be no subsequent questions here. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I will complete the exercise. I was asked for the circumstances. I pulled into the Mungullah village and a group of the leadership of the community said to me that they were concerned that there was no polling booth in that community at that time. There had been polling booths at previous elections. I also expressed my surprise that the polling booth was not there, and they asked if I would mind giving them a lift. Several members interjected. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I must confess to this House that, at the last federal election, on polling day, I was not as focused on the election as I might normally have been. I was asked for a lift, and offered the lift in response to that request. A $20 fine applies to people who do not vote. Depriving people of a vote might suit the Leader of the Opposition. He has had 25 years of trying to stop Aboriginal people from voting. I have never hesitated in assisting anyone who wants to get to a polling booth on polling day. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Hon Derrick Tomlinson is concerned that his question is banking up, so I ask members for silence, and hopefully Hon Simon O’Brien will not want to ask two questions at the same time, in which case Hon Derrick Tomlinson might get his question in.
Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Order. There will be no subsequent questions here. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I will complete the exercise. I was asked for the circumstances. I pulled into the Mungullah village and a group of the leadership of the community said to me that they were concerned that there was no polling booth in that community at that time. There had been polling booths at previous elections. I also expressed my surprise that the polling booth was not there, and they asked if I would mind giving them a lift. Several members interjected. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I must confess to this House that, at the last federal election, on polling day, I was not as focused on the election as I might normally have been. I was asked for a lift, and offered the lift in response to that request. A $20 fine applies to people who do not vote. Depriving people of a vote might suit the Leader of the Opposition. He has had 25 years of trying to stop Aboriginal people from voting. I have never hesitated in assisting anyone who wants to get to a polling booth on polling day. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Hon Derrick Tomlinson is concerned that his question is banking up, so I ask members for silence, and hopefully Hon Simon O’Brien will not want to ask two questions at the same time, in which case Hon Derrick Tomlinson might get his question in.
The PRESIDENT: Order. There will be no subsequent questions here. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I will complete the exercise. I was asked for the circumstances. I pulled into the Mungullah village and a group of the leadership of the community said to me that they were concerned that there was no polling booth in that community at that time. There had been polling booths at previous elections. I also expressed my surprise that the polling booth was not there, and they asked if I would mind giving them a lift. Several members interjected. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I must confess to this House that, at the last federal election, on polling day, I was not as focused on the election as I might normally have been. I was asked for a lift, and offered the lift in response to that request. A $20 fine applies to people who do not vote. Depriving people of a vote might suit the Leader of the Opposition. He has had 25 years of trying to stop Aboriginal people from voting. I have never hesitated in assisting anyone who wants to get to a polling booth on polling day. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Hon Derrick Tomlinson is concerned that his question is banking up, so I ask members for silence, and hopefully Hon Simon O’Brien will not want to ask two questions at the same time, in which case Hon Derrick Tomlinson might get his question in.
Hon TOM STEPHENS: I will complete the exercise. I was asked for the circumstances. I pulled into the Mungullah village and a group of the leadership of the community said to me that they were concerned that there was no polling booth in that community at that time. There had been polling booths at previous elections. I also expressed my surprise that the polling booth was not there, and they asked if I would mind giving them a lift. Several members interjected. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I must confess to this House that, at the last federal election, on polling day, I was not as focused on the election as I might normally have been. I was asked for a lift, and offered the lift in response to that request. A $20 fine applies to people who do not vote. Depriving people of a vote might suit the Leader of the Opposition. He has had 25 years of trying to stop Aboriginal people from voting. I have never hesitated in assisting anyone who wants to get to a polling booth on polling day. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Hon Derrick Tomlinson is concerned that his question is banking up, so I ask members for silence, and hopefully Hon Simon O’Brien will not want to ask two questions at the same time, in which case Hon Derrick Tomlinson might get his question in.
Several members interjected. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I must confess to this House that, at the last federal election, on polling day, I was not as focused on the election as I might normally have been. I was asked for a lift, and offered the lift in response to that request. A $20 fine applies to people who do not vote. Depriving people of a vote might suit the Leader of the Opposition. He has had 25 years of trying to stop Aboriginal people from voting. I have never hesitated in assisting anyone who wants to get to a polling booth on polling day. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Hon Derrick Tomlinson is concerned that his question is banking up, so I ask members for silence, and hopefully Hon Simon O’Brien will not want to ask two questions at the same time, in which case Hon Derrick Tomlinson might get his question in.
Hon TOM STEPHENS: I must confess to this House that, at the last federal election, on polling day, I was not as focused on the election as I might normally have been. I was asked for a lift, and offered the lift in response to that request. A $20 fine applies to people who do not vote. Depriving people of a vote might suit the Leader of the Opposition. He has had 25 years of trying to stop Aboriginal people from voting. I have never hesitated in assisting anyone who wants to get to a polling booth on polling day. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Hon Derrick Tomlinson is concerned that his question is banking up, so I ask members for silence, and hopefully Hon Simon O’Brien will not want to ask two questions at the same time, in which case Hon Derrick Tomlinson might get his question in.
I was asked for a lift, and offered the lift in response to that request. A $20 fine applies to people who do not vote. Depriving people of a vote might suit the Leader of the Opposition. He has had 25 years of trying to stop Aboriginal people from voting. I have never hesitated in assisting anyone who wants to get to a polling booth on polling day. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Hon Derrick Tomlinson is concerned that his question is banking up, so I ask members for silence, and hopefully Hon Simon O’Brien will not want to ask two questions at the same time, in which case Hon Derrick Tomlinson might get his question in.
Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Hon Derrick Tomlinson is concerned that his question is banking up, so I ask members for silence, and hopefully Hon Simon O’Brien will not want to ask two questions at the same time, in which case Hon Derrick Tomlinson might get his question in.
The PRESIDENT: Hon Derrick Tomlinson is concerned that his question is banking up, so I ask members for silence, and hopefully Hon Simon O’Brien will not want to ask two questions at the same time, in which case Hon Derrick Tomlinson might get his question in.
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