Barnett asks if any cabinet ministers were named in the Kennedy Royal Commission. Gallop avoids a direct answer, criticising the previous Liberal government's handling of corruption and accusing the opposition of political opportunism.

AnsweredQoN 453Legislative Assembly
Asked
26 February 2003
Portfolio
Premier

QuestionView source ↗

Is the Premier aware of whether any of his cabinet ministers have been named in the Kennedy royal commission into police corruption? Dr G.I. GALLOP

AnswerView source ↗

The royal commission into police corruption in Western Australia was an initiative of this Government. The Government is doing something that should have been done years ago in Western Australia. I am reminded of the attitude of the Liberals to this issue when they were in government. Mr M.W. Trenorden: Answer yes or no. Dr G.I. GALLOP: I will come to that issue. The former Minister for Police, the member for Darling Range, was quoted in The West Australian of 17 February 1997 as stating - . . . WA’s corruption watchdogs are tough enough to root out police corruption without the need for a royal commission. The attitude that the former Liberal Government took to police corruption and child sexual abuse in Aboriginal communities was to sweep those issues under the carpet. The attitude it took to waste management and contaminated sites in our State was to sweep those issues under the carpet. These people come into the Parliament and think that they can lecture this Government on the initiatives that it is taking to ensure that police corruption is properly dealt with. I was offended yesterday when the Leader of the Opposition implied that somehow or another this Government would interfere in the operational affairs of the current Anti-Corruption Commission and the new Corruption and Crime Commission that will be created. That was indicative of the mentality of the Leader of the Opposition. I have not been to all the hearings of the royal commission into police corruption. Many of those hearings are held in secret. If any matters are raised with the Government about members of Parliament or Cabinet, we will deal with them. The royal commission has not raised any such matters with the Government. The Leader of the Opposition will go as low as one can go to try to make a political impact. We saw that yesterday during the debate on the Minister for the Environment and Heritage. I am not aware that any matters have been raised in the hearings of the royal commission which relate to cabinet ministers and which would require my attention. Several members interjected. Dr G.I. GALLOP: Have they been? What does the Leader of the Opposition know about that? Mr C.J. Barnett: I am asking you. Dr G.I. GALLOP: On what basis did the Leader of the Opposition ask that question? Several members interjected. Dr G.I. GALLOP: This Opposition will go as low as one can go. There have been a number of great comic duos in human history. I was pretty keen on Morecambe and Wise. They were pretty good. Peter Cooke and Dudley Moore were also pretty good. We have seen others, such as Abbott and Costello, and Laurel and Hardy. However, there is no better comic duo than the Leader of the Opposition and his deputy - bitter and twisted.
Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: The royal commission into police corruption in Western Australia was an initiative of this Government. The Government is doing something that should have been done years ago in Western Australia. I am reminded of the attitude of the Liberals to this issue when they were in government. Mr M.W. Trenorden: Answer yes or no. Dr G.I. GALLOP: I will come to that issue. The former Minister for Police, the member for Darling Range, was quoted in The West Australian of 17 February 1997 as stating - . . . WA’s corruption watchdogs are tough enough to root out police corruption without the need for a royal commission. The attitude that the former Liberal Government took to police corruption and child sexual abuse in Aboriginal communities was to sweep those issues under the carpet. The attitude it took to waste management and contaminated sites in our State was to sweep those issues under the carpet. These people come into the Parliament and think that they can lecture this Government on the initiatives that it is taking to ensure that police corruption is properly dealt with. I was offended yesterday when the Leader of the Opposition implied that somehow or another this Government would interfere in the operational affairs of the current Anti-Corruption Commission and the new Corruption and Crime Commission that will be created. That was indicative of the mentality of the Leader of the Opposition. I have not been to all the hearings of the royal commission into police corruption. Many of those hearings are held in secret. If any matters are raised with the Government about members of Parliament or Cabinet, we will deal with them. The royal commission has not raised any such matters with the Government. The Leader of the Opposition will go as low as one can go to try to make a political impact. We saw that yesterday during the debate on the Minister for the Environment and Heritage. I am not aware that any matters have been raised in the hearings of the royal commission which relate to cabinet ministers and which would require my attention. Several members interjected. Dr G.I. GALLOP: Have they been? What does the Leader of the Opposition know about that? Mr C.J. Barnett: I am asking you. Dr G.I. GALLOP: On what basis did the Leader of the Opposition ask that question? Several members interjected. Dr G.I. GALLOP: This Opposition will go as low as one can go. There have been a number of great comic duos in human history. I was pretty keen on Morecambe and Wise. They were pretty good. Peter Cooke and Dudley Moore were also pretty good. We have seen others, such as Abbott and Costello, and Laurel and Hardy. However, there is no better comic duo than the Leader of the Opposition and his deputy - bitter and twisted.
The royal commission into police corruption in Western Australia was an initiative of this Government. The Government is doing something that should have been done years ago in Western Australia. I am reminded of the attitude of the Liberals to this issue when they were in government. Mr M.W. Trenorden: Answer yes or no. Dr G.I. GALLOP: I will come to that issue. The former Minister for Police, the member for Darling Range, was quoted in The West Australian of 17 February 1997 as stating - . . . WA’s corruption watchdogs are tough enough to root out police corruption without the need for a royal commission. The attitude that the former Liberal Government took to police corruption and child sexual abuse in Aboriginal communities was to sweep those issues under the carpet. The attitude it took to waste management and contaminated sites in our State was to sweep those issues under the carpet. These people come into the Parliament and think that they can lecture this Government on the initiatives that it is taking to ensure that police corruption is properly dealt with. I was offended yesterday when the Leader of the Opposition implied that somehow or another this Government would interfere in the operational affairs of the current Anti-Corruption Commission and the new Corruption and Crime Commission that will be created. That was indicative of the mentality of the Leader of the Opposition. I have not been to all the hearings of the royal commission into police corruption. Many of those hearings are held in secret. If any matters are raised with the Government about members of Parliament or Cabinet, we will deal with them. The royal commission has not raised any such matters with the Government. The Leader of the Opposition will go as low as one can go to try to make a political impact. We saw that yesterday during the debate on the Minister for the Environment and Heritage. I am not aware that any matters have been raised in the hearings of the royal commission which relate to cabinet ministers and which would require my attention. Several members interjected. Dr G.I. GALLOP: Have they been? What does the Leader of the Opposition know about that? Mr C.J. Barnett: I am asking you. Dr G.I. GALLOP: On what basis did the Leader of the Opposition ask that question? Several members interjected. Dr G.I. GALLOP: This Opposition will go as low as one can go. There have been a number of great comic duos in human history. I was pretty keen on Morecambe and Wise. They were pretty good. Peter Cooke and Dudley Moore were also pretty good. We have seen others, such as Abbott and Costello, and Laurel and Hardy. However, there is no better comic duo than the Leader of the Opposition and his deputy - bitter and twisted.
Mr M.W. Trenorden: Answer yes or no. Dr G.I. GALLOP: I will come to that issue. The former Minister for Police, the member for Darling Range, was quoted in The West Australian of 17 February 1997 as stating - . . . WA’s corruption watchdogs are tough enough to root out police corruption without the need for a royal commission. The attitude that the former Liberal Government took to police corruption and child sexual abuse in Aboriginal communities was to sweep those issues under the carpet. The attitude it took to waste management and contaminated sites in our State was to sweep those issues under the carpet. These people come into the Parliament and think that they can lecture this Government on the initiatives that it is taking to ensure that police corruption is properly dealt with. I was offended yesterday when the Leader of the Opposition implied that somehow or another this Government would interfere in the operational affairs of the current Anti-Corruption Commission and the new Corruption and Crime Commission that will be created. That was indicative of the mentality of the Leader of the Opposition. I have not been to all the hearings of the royal commission into police corruption. Many of those hearings are held in secret. If any matters are raised with the Government about members of Parliament or Cabinet, we will deal with them. The royal commission has not raised any such matters with the Government. The Leader of the Opposition will go as low as one can go to try to make a political impact. We saw that yesterday during the debate on the Minister for the Environment and Heritage. I am not aware that any matters have been raised in the hearings of the royal commission which relate to cabinet ministers and which would require my attention. Several members interjected. Dr G.I. GALLOP: Have they been? What does the Leader of the Opposition know about that? Mr C.J. Barnett: I am asking you. Dr G.I. GALLOP: On what basis did the Leader of the Opposition ask that question? Several members interjected. Dr G.I. GALLOP: This Opposition will go as low as one can go. There have been a number of great comic duos in human history. I was pretty keen on Morecambe and Wise. They were pretty good. Peter Cooke and Dudley Moore were also pretty good. We have seen others, such as Abbott and Costello, and Laurel and Hardy. However, there is no better comic duo than the Leader of the Opposition and his deputy - bitter and twisted.
Dr G.I. GALLOP: I will come to that issue. The former Minister for Police, the member for Darling Range, was quoted in The West Australian of 17 February 1997 as stating - . . . WA’s corruption watchdogs are tough enough to root out police corruption without the need for a royal commission. The attitude that the former Liberal Government took to police corruption and child sexual abuse in Aboriginal communities was to sweep those issues under the carpet. The attitude it took to waste management and contaminated sites in our State was to sweep those issues under the carpet. These people come into the Parliament and think that they can lecture this Government on the initiatives that it is taking to ensure that police corruption is properly dealt with. I was offended yesterday when the Leader of the Opposition implied that somehow or another this Government would interfere in the operational affairs of the current Anti-Corruption Commission and the new Corruption and Crime Commission that will be created. That was indicative of the mentality of the Leader of the Opposition. I have not been to all the hearings of the royal commission into police corruption. Many of those hearings are held in secret. If any matters are raised with the Government about members of Parliament or Cabinet, we will deal with them. The royal commission has not raised any such matters with the Government. The Leader of the Opposition will go as low as one can go to try to make a political impact. We saw that yesterday during the debate on the Minister for the Environment and Heritage. I am not aware that any matters have been raised in the hearings of the royal commission which relate to cabinet ministers and which would require my attention. Several members interjected. Dr G.I. GALLOP: Have they been? What does the Leader of the Opposition know about that? Mr C.J. Barnett: I am asking you. Dr G.I. GALLOP: On what basis did the Leader of the Opposition ask that question? Several members interjected. Dr G.I. GALLOP: This Opposition will go as low as one can go. There have been a number of great comic duos in human history. I was pretty keen on Morecambe and Wise. They were pretty good. Peter Cooke and Dudley Moore were also pretty good. We have seen others, such as Abbott and Costello, and Laurel and Hardy. However, there is no better comic duo than the Leader of the Opposition and his deputy - bitter and twisted.
Several members interjected. Dr G.I. GALLOP: Have they been? What does the Leader of the Opposition know about that? Mr C.J. Barnett: I am asking you. Dr G.I. GALLOP: On what basis did the Leader of the Opposition ask that question? Several members interjected. Dr G.I. GALLOP: This Opposition will go as low as one can go. There have been a number of great comic duos in human history. I was pretty keen on Morecambe and Wise. They were pretty good. Peter Cooke and Dudley Moore were also pretty good. We have seen others, such as Abbott and Costello, and Laurel and Hardy. However, there is no better comic duo than the Leader of the Opposition and his deputy - bitter and twisted.
Dr G.I. GALLOP: Have they been? What does the Leader of the Opposition know about that? Mr C.J. Barnett: I am asking you. Dr G.I. GALLOP: On what basis did the Leader of the Opposition ask that question? Several members interjected. Dr G.I. GALLOP: This Opposition will go as low as one can go. There have been a number of great comic duos in human history. I was pretty keen on Morecambe and Wise. They were pretty good. Peter Cooke and Dudley Moore were also pretty good. We have seen others, such as Abbott and Costello, and Laurel and Hardy. However, there is no better comic duo than the Leader of the Opposition and his deputy - bitter and twisted.
Mr C.J. Barnett: I am asking you. Dr G.I. GALLOP: On what basis did the Leader of the Opposition ask that question? Several members interjected. Dr G.I. GALLOP: This Opposition will go as low as one can go. There have been a number of great comic duos in human history. I was pretty keen on Morecambe and Wise. They were pretty good. Peter Cooke and Dudley Moore were also pretty good. We have seen others, such as Abbott and Costello, and Laurel and Hardy. However, there is no better comic duo than the Leader of the Opposition and his deputy - bitter and twisted.
Dr G.I. GALLOP: On what basis did the Leader of the Opposition ask that question? Several members interjected. Dr G.I. GALLOP: This Opposition will go as low as one can go. There have been a number of great comic duos in human history. I was pretty keen on Morecambe and Wise. They were pretty good. Peter Cooke and Dudley Moore were also pretty good. We have seen others, such as Abbott and Costello, and Laurel and Hardy. However, there is no better comic duo than the Leader of the Opposition and his deputy - bitter and twisted.
Several members interjected. Dr G.I. GALLOP: This Opposition will go as low as one can go. There have been a number of great comic duos in human history. I was pretty keen on Morecambe and Wise. They were pretty good. Peter Cooke and Dudley Moore were also pretty good. We have seen others, such as Abbott and Costello, and Laurel and Hardy. However, there is no better comic duo than the Leader of the Opposition and his deputy - bitter and twisted.
Dr G.I. GALLOP: This Opposition will go as low as one can go. There have been a number of great comic duos in human history. I was pretty keen on Morecambe and Wise. They were pretty good. Peter Cooke and Dudley Moore were also pretty good. We have seen others, such as Abbott and Costello, and Laurel and Hardy. However, there is no better comic duo than the Leader of the Opposition and his deputy - bitter and twisted.

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