❓ Question regarding the WA government's position on BHP Billiton's proposed acquisition of Rio Tinto and its potential impact on the state. The Minister's response deflects the question, citing market sensitivity and accusing the questioner of political maneuvering.
AnsweredQoN 754Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
RIO TINTO - ACQUISITION BY BHP BILLITON
I refer to the proposed acquisition of Rio Tinto by BHP Billiton. (1) What advice has the minister sought regarding the potential impacts this acquisition would have on global commodity prices, royalties, jobs and resource development in Western Australia? (2) If the minister has not sought that advice, why not? (3) What is the state government’s position on this issue, and what specific actions has the state government taken to protect the best interests of Western Australians? Mr E.S. RIPPER
I refer to the proposed acquisition of Rio Tinto by BHP Billiton. (1) What advice has the minister sought regarding the potential impacts this acquisition would have on global commodity prices, royalties, jobs and resource development in Western Australia? (2) If the minister has not sought that advice, why not? (3) What is the state government’s position on this issue, and what specific actions has the state government taken to protect the best interests of Western Australians? Mr E.S. RIPPER
AnswerView source ↗
(1)-(3) It is neither my practice nor the policy of the government to comment on market-sensitive matters related to individual businesses. The state government does not engage in the factional politics of the business community. That is a matter for the private sector and the market. Although I have not yet seen any convincing argument, it may be that this matter will bear on the interests of the state in one way or another. The state government will certainly be vigilant about protecting the interests of the state if and when such a threat emerges to those interests. In the meantime, I think it is important to note that there is no concrete proposal in the marketplace. It may be some time before such a proposal emerges. Although I am sure that many journalists would like me to comment on this matter so that they would have another excuse to run a story on this issue, I do not see any reason to go beyond the comments that the Premier has made on this issue already. I am surprised that the Deputy Leader of the Opposition is concerned about this issue; I thought he had other things on his mind this week! Around this chamber there is a challenge that dare not speak its name - just as last time there was a betrayal that dare not speak its name! The Deputy Leader of the Opposition is about to do to this Leader of the Opposition what he did to the last Leader of the Opposition. I want to quote from an interview that the Leader of the Opposition gave to Geoff Hutchison - Point of Order Mr C.J. BARNETT : This is a clear misuse of question time. If the state government wants to debate the internal affairs of the Liberal Party, I invite it to suspend standing orders, and we will have a debate. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : There is no point of order. Clearly we have been going for 25 minutes now, and if we get an answer to the question, that would be good. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr E.S. RIPPER : I wanted to highlight that the Deputy Leader of the Opposition has a few things going on that are not really particularly related to his question - Several members interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER : The Leader of the Opposition told Geoff Hutchison - It just seems that there’s two or three journalists in the State that want to beat things up all the time, and they have got a couple of compliant members of Parliament who have got an axe to grind - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, minister, take a seat. The answer is over.
(1) What advice has the minister sought regarding the potential impacts this acquisition would have on global commodity prices, royalties, jobs and resource development in Western Australia? (2) If the minister has not sought that advice, why not? (3) What is the state government’s position on this issue, and what specific actions has the state government taken to protect the best interests of Western Australians? Mr E.S. RIPPER replied: (1)-(3) It is neither my practice nor the policy of the government to comment on market-sensitive matters related to individual businesses. The state government does not engage in the factional politics of the business community. That is a matter for the private sector and the market. Although I have not yet seen any convincing argument, it may be that this matter will bear on the interests of the state in one way or another. The state government will certainly be vigilant about protecting the interests of the state if and when such a threat emerges to those interests. In the meantime, I think it is important to note that there is no concrete proposal in the marketplace. It may be some time before such a proposal emerges. Although I am sure that many journalists would like me to comment on this matter so that they would have another excuse to run a story on this issue, I do not see any reason to go beyond the comments that the Premier has made on this issue already. I am surprised that the Deputy Leader of the Opposition is concerned about this issue; I thought he had other things on his mind this week! Around this chamber there is a challenge that dare not speak its name - just as last time there was a betrayal that dare not speak its name! The Deputy Leader of the Opposition is about to do to this Leader of the Opposition what he did to the last Leader of the Opposition. I want to quote from an interview that the Leader of the Opposition gave to Geoff Hutchison - Point of Order Mr C.J. BARNETT : This is a clear misuse of question time. If the state government wants to debate the internal affairs of the Liberal Party, I invite it to suspend standing orders, and we will have a debate. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : There is no point of order. Clearly we have been going for 25 minutes now, and if we get an answer to the question, that would be good. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr E.S. RIPPER : I wanted to highlight that the Deputy Leader of the Opposition has a few things going on that are not really particularly related to his question - Several members interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER : The Leader of the Opposition told Geoff Hutchison - It just seems that there’s two or three journalists in the State that want to beat things up all the time, and they have got a couple of compliant members of Parliament who have got an axe to grind - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, minister, take a seat. The answer is over.
(2) If the minister has not sought that advice, why not? (3) What is the state government’s position on this issue, and what specific actions has the state government taken to protect the best interests of Western Australians? Mr E.S. RIPPER replied: (1)-(3) It is neither my practice nor the policy of the government to comment on market-sensitive matters related to individual businesses. The state government does not engage in the factional politics of the business community. That is a matter for the private sector and the market. Although I have not yet seen any convincing argument, it may be that this matter will bear on the interests of the state in one way or another. The state government will certainly be vigilant about protecting the interests of the state if and when such a threat emerges to those interests. In the meantime, I think it is important to note that there is no concrete proposal in the marketplace. It may be some time before such a proposal emerges. Although I am sure that many journalists would like me to comment on this matter so that they would have another excuse to run a story on this issue, I do not see any reason to go beyond the comments that the Premier has made on this issue already. I am surprised that the Deputy Leader of the Opposition is concerned about this issue; I thought he had other things on his mind this week! Around this chamber there is a challenge that dare not speak its name - just as last time there was a betrayal that dare not speak its name! The Deputy Leader of the Opposition is about to do to this Leader of the Opposition what he did to the last Leader of the Opposition. I want to quote from an interview that the Leader of the Opposition gave to Geoff Hutchison - Point of Order Mr C.J. BARNETT : This is a clear misuse of question time. If the state government wants to debate the internal affairs of the Liberal Party, I invite it to suspend standing orders, and we will have a debate. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : There is no point of order. Clearly we have been going for 25 minutes now, and if we get an answer to the question, that would be good. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr E.S. RIPPER : I wanted to highlight that the Deputy Leader of the Opposition has a few things going on that are not really particularly related to his question - Several members interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER : The Leader of the Opposition told Geoff Hutchison - It just seems that there’s two or three journalists in the State that want to beat things up all the time, and they have got a couple of compliant members of Parliament who have got an axe to grind - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, minister, take a seat. The answer is over.
(3) What is the state government’s position on this issue, and what specific actions has the state government taken to protect the best interests of Western Australians? Mr E.S. RIPPER replied: (1)-(3) It is neither my practice nor the policy of the government to comment on market-sensitive matters related to individual businesses. The state government does not engage in the factional politics of the business community. That is a matter for the private sector and the market. Although I have not yet seen any convincing argument, it may be that this matter will bear on the interests of the state in one way or another. The state government will certainly be vigilant about protecting the interests of the state if and when such a threat emerges to those interests. In the meantime, I think it is important to note that there is no concrete proposal in the marketplace. It may be some time before such a proposal emerges. Although I am sure that many journalists would like me to comment on this matter so that they would have another excuse to run a story on this issue, I do not see any reason to go beyond the comments that the Premier has made on this issue already. I am surprised that the Deputy Leader of the Opposition is concerned about this issue; I thought he had other things on his mind this week! Around this chamber there is a challenge that dare not speak its name - just as last time there was a betrayal that dare not speak its name! The Deputy Leader of the Opposition is about to do to this Leader of the Opposition what he did to the last Leader of the Opposition. I want to quote from an interview that the Leader of the Opposition gave to Geoff Hutchison - Point of Order Mr C.J. BARNETT : This is a clear misuse of question time. If the state government wants to debate the internal affairs of the Liberal Party, I invite it to suspend standing orders, and we will have a debate. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : There is no point of order. Clearly we have been going for 25 minutes now, and if we get an answer to the question, that would be good. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr E.S. RIPPER : I wanted to highlight that the Deputy Leader of the Opposition has a few things going on that are not really particularly related to his question - Several members interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER : The Leader of the Opposition told Geoff Hutchison - It just seems that there’s two or three journalists in the State that want to beat things up all the time, and they have got a couple of compliant members of Parliament who have got an axe to grind - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, minister, take a seat. The answer is over.
Mr E.S. RIPPER replied: (1)-(3) It is neither my practice nor the policy of the government to comment on market-sensitive matters related to individual businesses. The state government does not engage in the factional politics of the business community. That is a matter for the private sector and the market. Although I have not yet seen any convincing argument, it may be that this matter will bear on the interests of the state in one way or another. The state government will certainly be vigilant about protecting the interests of the state if and when such a threat emerges to those interests. In the meantime, I think it is important to note that there is no concrete proposal in the marketplace. It may be some time before such a proposal emerges. Although I am sure that many journalists would like me to comment on this matter so that they would have another excuse to run a story on this issue, I do not see any reason to go beyond the comments that the Premier has made on this issue already. I am surprised that the Deputy Leader of the Opposition is concerned about this issue; I thought he had other things on his mind this week! Around this chamber there is a challenge that dare not speak its name - just as last time there was a betrayal that dare not speak its name! The Deputy Leader of the Opposition is about to do to this Leader of the Opposition what he did to the last Leader of the Opposition. I want to quote from an interview that the Leader of the Opposition gave to Geoff Hutchison - Point of Order Mr C.J. BARNETT : This is a clear misuse of question time. If the state government wants to debate the internal affairs of the Liberal Party, I invite it to suspend standing orders, and we will have a debate. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : There is no point of order. Clearly we have been going for 25 minutes now, and if we get an answer to the question, that would be good. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr E.S. RIPPER : I wanted to highlight that the Deputy Leader of the Opposition has a few things going on that are not really particularly related to his question - Several members interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER : The Leader of the Opposition told Geoff Hutchison - It just seems that there’s two or three journalists in the State that want to beat things up all the time, and they have got a couple of compliant members of Parliament who have got an axe to grind - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, minister, take a seat. The answer is over.
(1)-(3) It is neither my practice nor the policy of the government to comment on market-sensitive matters related to individual businesses. The state government does not engage in the factional politics of the business community. That is a matter for the private sector and the market. Although I have not yet seen any convincing argument, it may be that this matter will bear on the interests of the state in one way or another. The state government will certainly be vigilant about protecting the interests of the state if and when such a threat emerges to those interests. In the meantime, I think it is important to note that there is no concrete proposal in the marketplace. It may be some time before such a proposal emerges. Although I am sure that many journalists would like me to comment on this matter so that they would have another excuse to run a story on this issue, I do not see any reason to go beyond the comments that the Premier has made on this issue already. I am surprised that the Deputy Leader of the Opposition is concerned about this issue; I thought he had other things on his mind this week! Around this chamber there is a challenge that dare not speak its name - just as last time there was a betrayal that dare not speak its name! The Deputy Leader of the Opposition is about to do to this Leader of the Opposition what he did to the last Leader of the Opposition. I want to quote from an interview that the Leader of the Opposition gave to Geoff Hutchison - Point of Order Mr C.J. BARNETT : This is a clear misuse of question time. If the state government wants to debate the internal affairs of the Liberal Party, I invite it to suspend standing orders, and we will have a debate. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : There is no point of order. Clearly we have been going for 25 minutes now, and if we get an answer to the question, that would be good. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr E.S. RIPPER : I wanted to highlight that the Deputy Leader of the Opposition has a few things going on that are not really particularly related to his question - Several members interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER : The Leader of the Opposition told Geoff Hutchison - It just seems that there’s two or three journalists in the State that want to beat things up all the time, and they have got a couple of compliant members of Parliament who have got an axe to grind - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, minister, take a seat. The answer is over.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : There is no point of order. Clearly we have been going for 25 minutes now, and if we get an answer to the question, that would be good. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr E.S. RIPPER : I wanted to highlight that the Deputy Leader of the Opposition has a few things going on that are not really particularly related to his question - Several members interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER : The Leader of the Opposition told Geoff Hutchison - It just seems that there’s two or three journalists in the State that want to beat things up all the time, and they have got a couple of compliant members of Parliament who have got an axe to grind - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, minister, take a seat. The answer is over.
The SPEAKER : There is no point of order. Clearly we have been going for 25 minutes now, and if we get an answer to the question, that would be good. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr E.S. RIPPER : I wanted to highlight that the Deputy Leader of the Opposition has a few things going on that are not really particularly related to his question - Several members interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER : The Leader of the Opposition told Geoff Hutchison - It just seems that there’s two or three journalists in the State that want to beat things up all the time, and they have got a couple of compliant members of Parliament who have got an axe to grind - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, minister, take a seat. The answer is over.
Several members interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER : The Leader of the Opposition told Geoff Hutchison - It just seems that there’s two or three journalists in the State that want to beat things up all the time, and they have got a couple of compliant members of Parliament who have got an axe to grind - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, minister, take a seat. The answer is over.
Mr E.S. RIPPER : The Leader of the Opposition told Geoff Hutchison - It just seems that there’s two or three journalists in the State that want to beat things up all the time, and they have got a couple of compliant members of Parliament who have got an axe to grind - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, minister, take a seat. The answer is over.
The SPEAKER : Order, minister, take a seat. The answer is over.
(1) What advice has the minister sought regarding the potential impacts this acquisition would have on global commodity prices, royalties, jobs and resource development in Western Australia? (2) If the minister has not sought that advice, why not? (3) What is the state government’s position on this issue, and what specific actions has the state government taken to protect the best interests of Western Australians? Mr E.S. RIPPER replied: (1)-(3) It is neither my practice nor the policy of the government to comment on market-sensitive matters related to individual businesses. The state government does not engage in the factional politics of the business community. That is a matter for the private sector and the market. Although I have not yet seen any convincing argument, it may be that this matter will bear on the interests of the state in one way or another. The state government will certainly be vigilant about protecting the interests of the state if and when such a threat emerges to those interests. In the meantime, I think it is important to note that there is no concrete proposal in the marketplace. It may be some time before such a proposal emerges. Although I am sure that many journalists would like me to comment on this matter so that they would have another excuse to run a story on this issue, I do not see any reason to go beyond the comments that the Premier has made on this issue already. I am surprised that the Deputy Leader of the Opposition is concerned about this issue; I thought he had other things on his mind this week! Around this chamber there is a challenge that dare not speak its name - just as last time there was a betrayal that dare not speak its name! The Deputy Leader of the Opposition is about to do to this Leader of the Opposition what he did to the last Leader of the Opposition. I want to quote from an interview that the Leader of the Opposition gave to Geoff Hutchison - Point of Order Mr C.J. BARNETT : This is a clear misuse of question time. If the state government wants to debate the internal affairs of the Liberal Party, I invite it to suspend standing orders, and we will have a debate. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : There is no point of order. Clearly we have been going for 25 minutes now, and if we get an answer to the question, that would be good. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr E.S. RIPPER : I wanted to highlight that the Deputy Leader of the Opposition has a few things going on that are not really particularly related to his question - Several members interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER : The Leader of the Opposition told Geoff Hutchison - It just seems that there’s two or three journalists in the State that want to beat things up all the time, and they have got a couple of compliant members of Parliament who have got an axe to grind - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, minister, take a seat. The answer is over.
(2) If the minister has not sought that advice, why not? (3) What is the state government’s position on this issue, and what specific actions has the state government taken to protect the best interests of Western Australians? Mr E.S. RIPPER replied: (1)-(3) It is neither my practice nor the policy of the government to comment on market-sensitive matters related to individual businesses. The state government does not engage in the factional politics of the business community. That is a matter for the private sector and the market. Although I have not yet seen any convincing argument, it may be that this matter will bear on the interests of the state in one way or another. The state government will certainly be vigilant about protecting the interests of the state if and when such a threat emerges to those interests. In the meantime, I think it is important to note that there is no concrete proposal in the marketplace. It may be some time before such a proposal emerges. Although I am sure that many journalists would like me to comment on this matter so that they would have another excuse to run a story on this issue, I do not see any reason to go beyond the comments that the Premier has made on this issue already. I am surprised that the Deputy Leader of the Opposition is concerned about this issue; I thought he had other things on his mind this week! Around this chamber there is a challenge that dare not speak its name - just as last time there was a betrayal that dare not speak its name! The Deputy Leader of the Opposition is about to do to this Leader of the Opposition what he did to the last Leader of the Opposition. I want to quote from an interview that the Leader of the Opposition gave to Geoff Hutchison - Point of Order Mr C.J. BARNETT : This is a clear misuse of question time. If the state government wants to debate the internal affairs of the Liberal Party, I invite it to suspend standing orders, and we will have a debate. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : There is no point of order. Clearly we have been going for 25 minutes now, and if we get an answer to the question, that would be good. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr E.S. RIPPER : I wanted to highlight that the Deputy Leader of the Opposition has a few things going on that are not really particularly related to his question - Several members interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER : The Leader of the Opposition told Geoff Hutchison - It just seems that there’s two or three journalists in the State that want to beat things up all the time, and they have got a couple of compliant members of Parliament who have got an axe to grind - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, minister, take a seat. The answer is over.
(3) What is the state government’s position on this issue, and what specific actions has the state government taken to protect the best interests of Western Australians? Mr E.S. RIPPER replied: (1)-(3) It is neither my practice nor the policy of the government to comment on market-sensitive matters related to individual businesses. The state government does not engage in the factional politics of the business community. That is a matter for the private sector and the market. Although I have not yet seen any convincing argument, it may be that this matter will bear on the interests of the state in one way or another. The state government will certainly be vigilant about protecting the interests of the state if and when such a threat emerges to those interests. In the meantime, I think it is important to note that there is no concrete proposal in the marketplace. It may be some time before such a proposal emerges. Although I am sure that many journalists would like me to comment on this matter so that they would have another excuse to run a story on this issue, I do not see any reason to go beyond the comments that the Premier has made on this issue already. I am surprised that the Deputy Leader of the Opposition is concerned about this issue; I thought he had other things on his mind this week! Around this chamber there is a challenge that dare not speak its name - just as last time there was a betrayal that dare not speak its name! The Deputy Leader of the Opposition is about to do to this Leader of the Opposition what he did to the last Leader of the Opposition. I want to quote from an interview that the Leader of the Opposition gave to Geoff Hutchison - Point of Order Mr C.J. BARNETT : This is a clear misuse of question time. If the state government wants to debate the internal affairs of the Liberal Party, I invite it to suspend standing orders, and we will have a debate. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : There is no point of order. Clearly we have been going for 25 minutes now, and if we get an answer to the question, that would be good. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr E.S. RIPPER : I wanted to highlight that the Deputy Leader of the Opposition has a few things going on that are not really particularly related to his question - Several members interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER : The Leader of the Opposition told Geoff Hutchison - It just seems that there’s two or three journalists in the State that want to beat things up all the time, and they have got a couple of compliant members of Parliament who have got an axe to grind - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, minister, take a seat. The answer is over.
Mr E.S. RIPPER replied: (1)-(3) It is neither my practice nor the policy of the government to comment on market-sensitive matters related to individual businesses. The state government does not engage in the factional politics of the business community. That is a matter for the private sector and the market. Although I have not yet seen any convincing argument, it may be that this matter will bear on the interests of the state in one way or another. The state government will certainly be vigilant about protecting the interests of the state if and when such a threat emerges to those interests. In the meantime, I think it is important to note that there is no concrete proposal in the marketplace. It may be some time before such a proposal emerges. Although I am sure that many journalists would like me to comment on this matter so that they would have another excuse to run a story on this issue, I do not see any reason to go beyond the comments that the Premier has made on this issue already. I am surprised that the Deputy Leader of the Opposition is concerned about this issue; I thought he had other things on his mind this week! Around this chamber there is a challenge that dare not speak its name - just as last time there was a betrayal that dare not speak its name! The Deputy Leader of the Opposition is about to do to this Leader of the Opposition what he did to the last Leader of the Opposition. I want to quote from an interview that the Leader of the Opposition gave to Geoff Hutchison - Point of Order Mr C.J. BARNETT : This is a clear misuse of question time. If the state government wants to debate the internal affairs of the Liberal Party, I invite it to suspend standing orders, and we will have a debate. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : There is no point of order. Clearly we have been going for 25 minutes now, and if we get an answer to the question, that would be good. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr E.S. RIPPER : I wanted to highlight that the Deputy Leader of the Opposition has a few things going on that are not really particularly related to his question - Several members interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER : The Leader of the Opposition told Geoff Hutchison - It just seems that there’s two or three journalists in the State that want to beat things up all the time, and they have got a couple of compliant members of Parliament who have got an axe to grind - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, minister, take a seat. The answer is over.
(1)-(3) It is neither my practice nor the policy of the government to comment on market-sensitive matters related to individual businesses. The state government does not engage in the factional politics of the business community. That is a matter for the private sector and the market. Although I have not yet seen any convincing argument, it may be that this matter will bear on the interests of the state in one way or another. The state government will certainly be vigilant about protecting the interests of the state if and when such a threat emerges to those interests. In the meantime, I think it is important to note that there is no concrete proposal in the marketplace. It may be some time before such a proposal emerges. Although I am sure that many journalists would like me to comment on this matter so that they would have another excuse to run a story on this issue, I do not see any reason to go beyond the comments that the Premier has made on this issue already. I am surprised that the Deputy Leader of the Opposition is concerned about this issue; I thought he had other things on his mind this week! Around this chamber there is a challenge that dare not speak its name - just as last time there was a betrayal that dare not speak its name! The Deputy Leader of the Opposition is about to do to this Leader of the Opposition what he did to the last Leader of the Opposition. I want to quote from an interview that the Leader of the Opposition gave to Geoff Hutchison - Point of Order Mr C.J. BARNETT : This is a clear misuse of question time. If the state government wants to debate the internal affairs of the Liberal Party, I invite it to suspend standing orders, and we will have a debate. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : There is no point of order. Clearly we have been going for 25 minutes now, and if we get an answer to the question, that would be good. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr E.S. RIPPER : I wanted to highlight that the Deputy Leader of the Opposition has a few things going on that are not really particularly related to his question - Several members interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER : The Leader of the Opposition told Geoff Hutchison - It just seems that there’s two or three journalists in the State that want to beat things up all the time, and they have got a couple of compliant members of Parliament who have got an axe to grind - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, minister, take a seat. The answer is over.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : There is no point of order. Clearly we have been going for 25 minutes now, and if we get an answer to the question, that would be good. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr E.S. RIPPER : I wanted to highlight that the Deputy Leader of the Opposition has a few things going on that are not really particularly related to his question - Several members interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER : The Leader of the Opposition told Geoff Hutchison - It just seems that there’s two or three journalists in the State that want to beat things up all the time, and they have got a couple of compliant members of Parliament who have got an axe to grind - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, minister, take a seat. The answer is over.
The SPEAKER : There is no point of order. Clearly we have been going for 25 minutes now, and if we get an answer to the question, that would be good. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr E.S. RIPPER : I wanted to highlight that the Deputy Leader of the Opposition has a few things going on that are not really particularly related to his question - Several members interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER : The Leader of the Opposition told Geoff Hutchison - It just seems that there’s two or three journalists in the State that want to beat things up all the time, and they have got a couple of compliant members of Parliament who have got an axe to grind - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, minister, take a seat. The answer is over.
Several members interjected. Mr E.S. RIPPER : The Leader of the Opposition told Geoff Hutchison - It just seems that there’s two or three journalists in the State that want to beat things up all the time, and they have got a couple of compliant members of Parliament who have got an axe to grind - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, minister, take a seat. The answer is over.
Mr E.S. RIPPER : The Leader of the Opposition told Geoff Hutchison - It just seems that there’s two or three journalists in the State that want to beat things up all the time, and they have got a couple of compliant members of Parliament who have got an axe to grind - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, minister, take a seat. The answer is over.
The SPEAKER : Order, minister, take a seat. The answer is over.
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