Mr. Wyatt questions the appropriateness of the WAPC head spending $10,000 on a Christmas party using taxpayer funds during a period of rising electricity bills. The Minister acknowledges the event but withholds judgement pending a response from Mr. Prattley.

AnsweredQoN 731Legislative Assembly
Asked
15 November 2012
Portfolio
Planning

QuestionView source ↗

GARY PRATTLEY — CREDIT CARD EXPENDITURE
731. Mr B.S. WYATT to the Minister for Planning:
I have a supplementary question. Does the minister think it
is appropriate that in December last year, a time when people's
electricity bills were increasing by 62 per cent, that the head of his
department—WAPC—was spending $10 000 on a WA taxpayer–funded
credit card for a Christmas party?

AnswerView source ↗

I think it is appropriate on some occasions for modest events
to be —
Mr
B.S. Wyatt : Modest!
The
SPEAKER : Thank you, members!
Several members interjected.
Mr J.H.D. DAY :
Does the opposition want an answer or not?
I think it is appropriate for modest events to either express
thanks or encourage interaction between various stakeholders in relation to
particular agencies and particular aspects of what governments are involved in
to be held. Whether the particular expenditure was appropriate or not is
something that is the subject of a request for a response from Mr Prattley to
me; I am not making any judgement on that whatsoever. But the event that I and
a large number of other people attended—I cannot recall whether there
were any opposition members there or not, but it would not have been unusual if
there were—was a modest function held at 140 William Street. There was
a bit of finger food and the usual sort of range of drinks—nothing out
of the ordinary—and it probably was more modest than the press will be
providing for us in the courtyard here at Parliament House later today.

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