Question on Notice regarding Deputy Premier's handling of conflict of interest allegations related to the Epic Energy deal and Alinta shares, specifically concerning communication with the Premier and the involvement of the member for Yokine. The answer is evasive, referring to previous statements and claiming 'no issue'.

AnsweredQoN 776Legislative Council
Asked
19 October 2005
Portfolio
parliamentary secretary representing the Deputy Premier

QuestionView source ↗

I refer the Deputy Premier to his statements to Parliament last week explaining that when questions about a conflict of interest over the Epic Energy deal were raised again in August this year, that his staff advised him that the matter appeared to be about the member for Yokine but that there was nothing to it. (1) Was the Deputy Premier made aware of the Kuceras’ Alinta shares at that time? (2) Will the Deputy Premier offer a plausible explanation as to how his staff linked the member for Yokine to the questions without being aware of the Alinta shares? (3) When the Deputy Premier assisted the Premier in preparing answers to the questions in August, did the Deputy Premier or his office inform the Premier or his office that the target of the opposition’s interest in the matter appeared to be the member for Yokine or did the Deputy Premier withhold that vital information from the Premier? The PRESIDENT : I have some concerns about the question’s relationship to portfolios, but if the parliamentary secretary has an answer, she may give one if she wishes. Hon KATE DOUST

AnswerView source ↗

I do have an answer, Mr President. I thank the member for some notice of this question. The response from the Deputy Premier is - (1) He has already given an explanation in answer to questions on this same issue in the Legislative Assembly. (2) See (1). (3) He was advised that there was no issue. Therefore, beyond providing information that he had provided in answer to a question asked in the Legislative Council, there was no need to provide additional information.
(1) Was the Deputy Premier made aware of the Kuceras’ Alinta shares at that time? (2) Will the Deputy Premier offer a plausible explanation as to how his staff linked the member for Yokine to the questions without being aware of the Alinta shares? (3) When the Deputy Premier assisted the Premier in preparing answers to the questions in August, did the Deputy Premier or his office inform the Premier or his office that the target of the opposition’s interest in the matter appeared to be the member for Yokine or did the Deputy Premier withhold that vital information from the Premier? The PRESIDENT : I have some concerns about the question’s relationship to portfolios, but if the parliamentary secretary has an answer, she may give one if she wishes. Hon KATE DOUST replied: I do have an answer, Mr President. I thank the member for some notice of this question. The response from the Deputy Premier is - (1) He has already given an explanation in answer to questions on this same issue in the Legislative Assembly. (2) See (1). (3) He was advised that there was no issue. Therefore, beyond providing information that he had provided in answer to a question asked in the Legislative Council, there was no need to provide additional information.
(2) Will the Deputy Premier offer a plausible explanation as to how his staff linked the member for Yokine to the questions without being aware of the Alinta shares? (3) When the Deputy Premier assisted the Premier in preparing answers to the questions in August, did the Deputy Premier or his office inform the Premier or his office that the target of the opposition’s interest in the matter appeared to be the member for Yokine or did the Deputy Premier withhold that vital information from the Premier? The PRESIDENT : I have some concerns about the question’s relationship to portfolios, but if the parliamentary secretary has an answer, she may give one if she wishes. Hon KATE DOUST replied: I do have an answer, Mr President. I thank the member for some notice of this question. The response from the Deputy Premier is - (1) He has already given an explanation in answer to questions on this same issue in the Legislative Assembly. (2) See (1). (3) He was advised that there was no issue. Therefore, beyond providing information that he had provided in answer to a question asked in the Legislative Council, there was no need to provide additional information.
(3) When the Deputy Premier assisted the Premier in preparing answers to the questions in August, did the Deputy Premier or his office inform the Premier or his office that the target of the opposition’s interest in the matter appeared to be the member for Yokine or did the Deputy Premier withhold that vital information from the Premier? The PRESIDENT : I have some concerns about the question’s relationship to portfolios, but if the parliamentary secretary has an answer, she may give one if she wishes. Hon KATE DOUST replied: I do have an answer, Mr President. I thank the member for some notice of this question. The response from the Deputy Premier is - (1) He has already given an explanation in answer to questions on this same issue in the Legislative Assembly. (2) See (1). (3) He was advised that there was no issue. Therefore, beyond providing information that he had provided in answer to a question asked in the Legislative Council, there was no need to provide additional information.
The PRESIDENT : I have some concerns about the question’s relationship to portfolios, but if the parliamentary secretary has an answer, she may give one if she wishes. Hon KATE DOUST replied: I do have an answer, Mr President. I thank the member for some notice of this question. The response from the Deputy Premier is - (1) He has already given an explanation in answer to questions on this same issue in the Legislative Assembly. (2) See (1). (3) He was advised that there was no issue. Therefore, beyond providing information that he had provided in answer to a question asked in the Legislative Council, there was no need to provide additional information.
Hon KATE DOUST replied: I do have an answer, Mr President. I thank the member for some notice of this question. The response from the Deputy Premier is - (1) He has already given an explanation in answer to questions on this same issue in the Legislative Assembly. (2) See (1). (3) He was advised that there was no issue. Therefore, beyond providing information that he had provided in answer to a question asked in the Legislative Council, there was no need to provide additional information.
I do have an answer, Mr President. I thank the member for some notice of this question. The response from the Deputy Premier is - (1) He has already given an explanation in answer to questions on this same issue in the Legislative Assembly. (2) See (1). (3) He was advised that there was no issue. Therefore, beyond providing information that he had provided in answer to a question asked in the Legislative Council, there was no need to provide additional information.
(1) He has already given an explanation in answer to questions on this same issue in the Legislative Assembly. (2) See (1). (3) He was advised that there was no issue. Therefore, beyond providing information that he had provided in answer to a question asked in the Legislative Council, there was no need to provide additional information.
(2) See (1). (3) He was advised that there was no issue. Therefore, beyond providing information that he had provided in answer to a question asked in the Legislative Council, there was no need to provide additional information.
(3) He was advised that there was no issue. Therefore, beyond providing information that he had provided in answer to a question asked in the Legislative Council, there was no need to provide additional information.

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