A parliamentary question probes Premier Gallop about the handling of an ABC inquiry into a minister's Alinta shareholdings. The Premier explains the standard procedure for handling press inquiries and clarifies his discussion with the minister regarding his managed fund.

AnsweredQoN 626Legislative Assembly
Asked
18 October 2005
Portfolio
Premier

QuestionView source ↗

I refer to the Premier’s admission that he had spoken with the member for Yokine in August about a line of inquiry by the ABC regarding the Alinta shareholdings of the member for Yokine and his wife. (1) As the ABC’s inquiry was made to the office of the then Minister for Seniors, why was it referred to the Premier for consideration? (2) What advice was given to the ABC at that time about the member for Yokine’s shareholding in Alinta? (3) What advice was given to the ABC at that time regarding the shareholding in Alinta of the wife of the member for Yokine? Dr G.I. GALLOP

AnswerView source ↗

(1) This matter arose as a result of the practice of members of my staff and the staff of ministers, when I am touring around Western Australia and there is a potential press inquiry, to let me know what is happening so that I am in a position to deal with it. (2)-(3) I did discuss with the then minister the nature of his managed fund and how it operated. I am not in a position to indicate what his own press secretary said to the ABC. The question as relayed to me dealt with the disaggregation of Western Power. That was the question being raised. The minister made it clear to me that he had an independently operated managed fund. Of course, that to me was satisfactory in terms of the way in which we have to declare our interests.
(1) As the ABC’s inquiry was made to the office of the then Minister for Seniors, why was it referred to the Premier for consideration? (2) What advice was given to the ABC at that time about the member for Yokine’s shareholding in Alinta? (3) What advice was given to the ABC at that time regarding the shareholding in Alinta of the wife of the member for Yokine? Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: (1) This matter arose as a result of the practice of members of my staff and the staff of ministers, when I am touring around Western Australia and there is a potential press inquiry, to let me know what is happening so that I am in a position to deal with it. (2)-(3) I did discuss with the then minister the nature of his managed fund and how it operated. I am not in a position to indicate what his own press secretary said to the ABC. The question as relayed to me dealt with the disaggregation of Western Power. That was the question being raised. The minister made it clear to me that he had an independently operated managed fund. Of course, that to me was satisfactory in terms of the way in which we have to declare our interests.
(2) What advice was given to the ABC at that time about the member for Yokine’s shareholding in Alinta? (3) What advice was given to the ABC at that time regarding the shareholding in Alinta of the wife of the member for Yokine? Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: (1) This matter arose as a result of the practice of members of my staff and the staff of ministers, when I am touring around Western Australia and there is a potential press inquiry, to let me know what is happening so that I am in a position to deal with it. (2)-(3) I did discuss with the then minister the nature of his managed fund and how it operated. I am not in a position to indicate what his own press secretary said to the ABC. The question as relayed to me dealt with the disaggregation of Western Power. That was the question being raised. The minister made it clear to me that he had an independently operated managed fund. Of course, that to me was satisfactory in terms of the way in which we have to declare our interests.
(3) What advice was given to the ABC at that time regarding the shareholding in Alinta of the wife of the member for Yokine? Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: (1) This matter arose as a result of the practice of members of my staff and the staff of ministers, when I am touring around Western Australia and there is a potential press inquiry, to let me know what is happening so that I am in a position to deal with it. (2)-(3) I did discuss with the then minister the nature of his managed fund and how it operated. I am not in a position to indicate what his own press secretary said to the ABC. The question as relayed to me dealt with the disaggregation of Western Power. That was the question being raised. The minister made it clear to me that he had an independently operated managed fund. Of course, that to me was satisfactory in terms of the way in which we have to declare our interests.
Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: (1) This matter arose as a result of the practice of members of my staff and the staff of ministers, when I am touring around Western Australia and there is a potential press inquiry, to let me know what is happening so that I am in a position to deal with it. (2)-(3) I did discuss with the then minister the nature of his managed fund and how it operated. I am not in a position to indicate what his own press secretary said to the ABC. The question as relayed to me dealt with the disaggregation of Western Power. That was the question being raised. The minister made it clear to me that he had an independently operated managed fund. Of course, that to me was satisfactory in terms of the way in which we have to declare our interests.
(1) This matter arose as a result of the practice of members of my staff and the staff of ministers, when I am touring around Western Australia and there is a potential press inquiry, to let me know what is happening so that I am in a position to deal with it. (2)-(3) I did discuss with the then minister the nature of his managed fund and how it operated. I am not in a position to indicate what his own press secretary said to the ABC. The question as relayed to me dealt with the disaggregation of Western Power. That was the question being raised. The minister made it clear to me that he had an independently operated managed fund. Of course, that to me was satisfactory in terms of the way in which we have to declare our interests.
(2)-(3) I did discuss with the then minister the nature of his managed fund and how it operated. I am not in a position to indicate what his own press secretary said to the ABC. The question as relayed to me dealt with the disaggregation of Western Power. That was the question being raised. The minister made it clear to me that he had an independently operated managed fund. Of course, that to me was satisfactory in terms of the way in which we have to declare our interests.

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