❓ A member of parliament questions the minister about a government contract awarded to Western Boat Builders for a Fisheries WA patrol boat, specifically questioning the choice of a relatively unknown builder over a cheaper, established company. The minister avoids answering directly, suggesting the member provide the question with notice.
AnsweredQoN 97Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
The minister will be aware that the Government has recently let a contract to Western Boat Builders for a 20-metre Fisheries WA patrol boat for more than $2.3 million. Can the minister tell the House - (1) Who is Western Boat Builders, and where does it intend to construct the vessel? (2) How many similar types of vessels has it built? (3) In the interests of public accountability, why has this contract been awarded to a relatively unknown boat builder for approximately $400 000 above the price tendered by a well-established WA ship-building company? Hon TOM STEPHENS
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for his question without notice. I have started to develop a file of the questions that the member has asked - The PRESIDENT: I trust the minister will be answering this particular question, rather than reading the file. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The prelude to this answer is that I have discovered that the member asks questions that require an enormous amount of detail in their answers. His first question was asked on Tuesday, 22 May, and I answered it on Wednesday, 23 May. It was possible to answer that question only by way of reference to a briefing note comprising more than three pages. The next question required an enormous amount of detailed information. There used to be a part of question time called notices of questions, which was sometimes given at the start of question time. If the member would like an answer to a question of the sort he has just asked, the wisest thing he could do, as he is an experienced member of the House and knows the way this place works - Hon George Cash: Are you saying that you know nothing about this contract? Hon TOM STEPHENS: The best way for the member to ensure that he receives a detailed reply to this question is for him to give some notice of the question, and I ask that the member place the question on notice.
(1) Who is Western Boat Builders, and where does it intend to construct the vessel? (2) How many similar types of vessels has it built? (3) In the interests of public accountability, why has this contract been awarded to a relatively unknown boat builder for approximately $400 000 above the price tendered by a well-established WA ship-building company? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: I thank the member for his question without notice. I have started to develop a file of the questions that the member has asked - The PRESIDENT: I trust the minister will be answering this particular question, rather than reading the file. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The prelude to this answer is that I have discovered that the member asks questions that require an enormous amount of detail in their answers. His first question was asked on Tuesday, 22 May, and I answered it on Wednesday, 23 May. It was possible to answer that question only by way of reference to a briefing note comprising more than three pages. The next question required an enormous amount of detailed information. There used to be a part of question time called notices of questions, which was sometimes given at the start of question time. If the member would like an answer to a question of the sort he has just asked, the wisest thing he could do, as he is an experienced member of the House and knows the way this place works - Hon George Cash: Are you saying that you know nothing about this contract? Hon TOM STEPHENS: The best way for the member to ensure that he receives a detailed reply to this question is for him to give some notice of the question, and I ask that the member place the question on notice.
(2) How many similar types of vessels has it built? (3) In the interests of public accountability, why has this contract been awarded to a relatively unknown boat builder for approximately $400 000 above the price tendered by a well-established WA ship-building company? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: I thank the member for his question without notice. I have started to develop a file of the questions that the member has asked - The PRESIDENT: I trust the minister will be answering this particular question, rather than reading the file. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The prelude to this answer is that I have discovered that the member asks questions that require an enormous amount of detail in their answers. His first question was asked on Tuesday, 22 May, and I answered it on Wednesday, 23 May. It was possible to answer that question only by way of reference to a briefing note comprising more than three pages. The next question required an enormous amount of detailed information. There used to be a part of question time called notices of questions, which was sometimes given at the start of question time. If the member would like an answer to a question of the sort he has just asked, the wisest thing he could do, as he is an experienced member of the House and knows the way this place works - Hon George Cash: Are you saying that you know nothing about this contract? Hon TOM STEPHENS: The best way for the member to ensure that he receives a detailed reply to this question is for him to give some notice of the question, and I ask that the member place the question on notice.
(3) In the interests of public accountability, why has this contract been awarded to a relatively unknown boat builder for approximately $400 000 above the price tendered by a well-established WA ship-building company? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: I thank the member for his question without notice. I have started to develop a file of the questions that the member has asked - The PRESIDENT: I trust the minister will be answering this particular question, rather than reading the file. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The prelude to this answer is that I have discovered that the member asks questions that require an enormous amount of detail in their answers. His first question was asked on Tuesday, 22 May, and I answered it on Wednesday, 23 May. It was possible to answer that question only by way of reference to a briefing note comprising more than three pages. The next question required an enormous amount of detailed information. There used to be a part of question time called notices of questions, which was sometimes given at the start of question time. If the member would like an answer to a question of the sort he has just asked, the wisest thing he could do, as he is an experienced member of the House and knows the way this place works - Hon George Cash: Are you saying that you know nothing about this contract? Hon TOM STEPHENS: The best way for the member to ensure that he receives a detailed reply to this question is for him to give some notice of the question, and I ask that the member place the question on notice.
Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: I thank the member for his question without notice. I have started to develop a file of the questions that the member has asked - The PRESIDENT: I trust the minister will be answering this particular question, rather than reading the file. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The prelude to this answer is that I have discovered that the member asks questions that require an enormous amount of detail in their answers. His first question was asked on Tuesday, 22 May, and I answered it on Wednesday, 23 May. It was possible to answer that question only by way of reference to a briefing note comprising more than three pages. The next question required an enormous amount of detailed information. There used to be a part of question time called notices of questions, which was sometimes given at the start of question time. If the member would like an answer to a question of the sort he has just asked, the wisest thing he could do, as he is an experienced member of the House and knows the way this place works - Hon George Cash: Are you saying that you know nothing about this contract? Hon TOM STEPHENS: The best way for the member to ensure that he receives a detailed reply to this question is for him to give some notice of the question, and I ask that the member place the question on notice.
I thank the member for his question without notice. I have started to develop a file of the questions that the member has asked - The PRESIDENT: I trust the minister will be answering this particular question, rather than reading the file. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The prelude to this answer is that I have discovered that the member asks questions that require an enormous amount of detail in their answers. His first question was asked on Tuesday, 22 May, and I answered it on Wednesday, 23 May. It was possible to answer that question only by way of reference to a briefing note comprising more than three pages. The next question required an enormous amount of detailed information. There used to be a part of question time called notices of questions, which was sometimes given at the start of question time. If the member would like an answer to a question of the sort he has just asked, the wisest thing he could do, as he is an experienced member of the House and knows the way this place works - Hon George Cash: Are you saying that you know nothing about this contract? Hon TOM STEPHENS: The best way for the member to ensure that he receives a detailed reply to this question is for him to give some notice of the question, and I ask that the member place the question on notice.
The PRESIDENT: I trust the minister will be answering this particular question, rather than reading the file. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The prelude to this answer is that I have discovered that the member asks questions that require an enormous amount of detail in their answers. His first question was asked on Tuesday, 22 May, and I answered it on Wednesday, 23 May. It was possible to answer that question only by way of reference to a briefing note comprising more than three pages. The next question required an enormous amount of detailed information. There used to be a part of question time called notices of questions, which was sometimes given at the start of question time. If the member would like an answer to a question of the sort he has just asked, the wisest thing he could do, as he is an experienced member of the House and knows the way this place works - Hon George Cash: Are you saying that you know nothing about this contract? Hon TOM STEPHENS: The best way for the member to ensure that he receives a detailed reply to this question is for him to give some notice of the question, and I ask that the member place the question on notice.
Hon TOM STEPHENS: The prelude to this answer is that I have discovered that the member asks questions that require an enormous amount of detail in their answers. His first question was asked on Tuesday, 22 May, and I answered it on Wednesday, 23 May. It was possible to answer that question only by way of reference to a briefing note comprising more than three pages. The next question required an enormous amount of detailed information. There used to be a part of question time called notices of questions, which was sometimes given at the start of question time. If the member would like an answer to a question of the sort he has just asked, the wisest thing he could do, as he is an experienced member of the House and knows the way this place works - Hon George Cash: Are you saying that you know nothing about this contract? Hon TOM STEPHENS: The best way for the member to ensure that he receives a detailed reply to this question is for him to give some notice of the question, and I ask that the member place the question on notice.
Hon George Cash: Are you saying that you know nothing about this contract? Hon TOM STEPHENS: The best way for the member to ensure that he receives a detailed reply to this question is for him to give some notice of the question, and I ask that the member place the question on notice.
Hon TOM STEPHENS: The best way for the member to ensure that he receives a detailed reply to this question is for him to give some notice of the question, and I ask that the member place the question on notice.
(1) Who is Western Boat Builders, and where does it intend to construct the vessel? (2) How many similar types of vessels has it built? (3) In the interests of public accountability, why has this contract been awarded to a relatively unknown boat builder for approximately $400 000 above the price tendered by a well-established WA ship-building company? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: I thank the member for his question without notice. I have started to develop a file of the questions that the member has asked - The PRESIDENT: I trust the minister will be answering this particular question, rather than reading the file. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The prelude to this answer is that I have discovered that the member asks questions that require an enormous amount of detail in their answers. His first question was asked on Tuesday, 22 May, and I answered it on Wednesday, 23 May. It was possible to answer that question only by way of reference to a briefing note comprising more than three pages. The next question required an enormous amount of detailed information. There used to be a part of question time called notices of questions, which was sometimes given at the start of question time. If the member would like an answer to a question of the sort he has just asked, the wisest thing he could do, as he is an experienced member of the House and knows the way this place works - Hon George Cash: Are you saying that you know nothing about this contract? Hon TOM STEPHENS: The best way for the member to ensure that he receives a detailed reply to this question is for him to give some notice of the question, and I ask that the member place the question on notice.
(2) How many similar types of vessels has it built? (3) In the interests of public accountability, why has this contract been awarded to a relatively unknown boat builder for approximately $400 000 above the price tendered by a well-established WA ship-building company? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: I thank the member for his question without notice. I have started to develop a file of the questions that the member has asked - The PRESIDENT: I trust the minister will be answering this particular question, rather than reading the file. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The prelude to this answer is that I have discovered that the member asks questions that require an enormous amount of detail in their answers. His first question was asked on Tuesday, 22 May, and I answered it on Wednesday, 23 May. It was possible to answer that question only by way of reference to a briefing note comprising more than three pages. The next question required an enormous amount of detailed information. There used to be a part of question time called notices of questions, which was sometimes given at the start of question time. If the member would like an answer to a question of the sort he has just asked, the wisest thing he could do, as he is an experienced member of the House and knows the way this place works - Hon George Cash: Are you saying that you know nothing about this contract? Hon TOM STEPHENS: The best way for the member to ensure that he receives a detailed reply to this question is for him to give some notice of the question, and I ask that the member place the question on notice.
(3) In the interests of public accountability, why has this contract been awarded to a relatively unknown boat builder for approximately $400 000 above the price tendered by a well-established WA ship-building company? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: I thank the member for his question without notice. I have started to develop a file of the questions that the member has asked - The PRESIDENT: I trust the minister will be answering this particular question, rather than reading the file. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The prelude to this answer is that I have discovered that the member asks questions that require an enormous amount of detail in their answers. His first question was asked on Tuesday, 22 May, and I answered it on Wednesday, 23 May. It was possible to answer that question only by way of reference to a briefing note comprising more than three pages. The next question required an enormous amount of detailed information. There used to be a part of question time called notices of questions, which was sometimes given at the start of question time. If the member would like an answer to a question of the sort he has just asked, the wisest thing he could do, as he is an experienced member of the House and knows the way this place works - Hon George Cash: Are you saying that you know nothing about this contract? Hon TOM STEPHENS: The best way for the member to ensure that he receives a detailed reply to this question is for him to give some notice of the question, and I ask that the member place the question on notice.
Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: I thank the member for his question without notice. I have started to develop a file of the questions that the member has asked - The PRESIDENT: I trust the minister will be answering this particular question, rather than reading the file. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The prelude to this answer is that I have discovered that the member asks questions that require an enormous amount of detail in their answers. His first question was asked on Tuesday, 22 May, and I answered it on Wednesday, 23 May. It was possible to answer that question only by way of reference to a briefing note comprising more than three pages. The next question required an enormous amount of detailed information. There used to be a part of question time called notices of questions, which was sometimes given at the start of question time. If the member would like an answer to a question of the sort he has just asked, the wisest thing he could do, as he is an experienced member of the House and knows the way this place works - Hon George Cash: Are you saying that you know nothing about this contract? Hon TOM STEPHENS: The best way for the member to ensure that he receives a detailed reply to this question is for him to give some notice of the question, and I ask that the member place the question on notice.
I thank the member for his question without notice. I have started to develop a file of the questions that the member has asked - The PRESIDENT: I trust the minister will be answering this particular question, rather than reading the file. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The prelude to this answer is that I have discovered that the member asks questions that require an enormous amount of detail in their answers. His first question was asked on Tuesday, 22 May, and I answered it on Wednesday, 23 May. It was possible to answer that question only by way of reference to a briefing note comprising more than three pages. The next question required an enormous amount of detailed information. There used to be a part of question time called notices of questions, which was sometimes given at the start of question time. If the member would like an answer to a question of the sort he has just asked, the wisest thing he could do, as he is an experienced member of the House and knows the way this place works - Hon George Cash: Are you saying that you know nothing about this contract? Hon TOM STEPHENS: The best way for the member to ensure that he receives a detailed reply to this question is for him to give some notice of the question, and I ask that the member place the question on notice.
The PRESIDENT: I trust the minister will be answering this particular question, rather than reading the file. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The prelude to this answer is that I have discovered that the member asks questions that require an enormous amount of detail in their answers. His first question was asked on Tuesday, 22 May, and I answered it on Wednesday, 23 May. It was possible to answer that question only by way of reference to a briefing note comprising more than three pages. The next question required an enormous amount of detailed information. There used to be a part of question time called notices of questions, which was sometimes given at the start of question time. If the member would like an answer to a question of the sort he has just asked, the wisest thing he could do, as he is an experienced member of the House and knows the way this place works - Hon George Cash: Are you saying that you know nothing about this contract? Hon TOM STEPHENS: The best way for the member to ensure that he receives a detailed reply to this question is for him to give some notice of the question, and I ask that the member place the question on notice.
Hon TOM STEPHENS: The prelude to this answer is that I have discovered that the member asks questions that require an enormous amount of detail in their answers. His first question was asked on Tuesday, 22 May, and I answered it on Wednesday, 23 May. It was possible to answer that question only by way of reference to a briefing note comprising more than three pages. The next question required an enormous amount of detailed information. There used to be a part of question time called notices of questions, which was sometimes given at the start of question time. If the member would like an answer to a question of the sort he has just asked, the wisest thing he could do, as he is an experienced member of the House and knows the way this place works - Hon George Cash: Are you saying that you know nothing about this contract? Hon TOM STEPHENS: The best way for the member to ensure that he receives a detailed reply to this question is for him to give some notice of the question, and I ask that the member place the question on notice.
Hon George Cash: Are you saying that you know nothing about this contract? Hon TOM STEPHENS: The best way for the member to ensure that he receives a detailed reply to this question is for him to give some notice of the question, and I ask that the member place the question on notice.
Hon TOM STEPHENS: The best way for the member to ensure that he receives a detailed reply to this question is for him to give some notice of the question, and I ask that the member place the question on notice.
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