❓ Mr Zempilas questions the Premier about Hon Kyle McGinn's trip to Washington regarding the Westport project and potential damage to the AUKUS agreement. The Premier defends the Westport project and downplays McGinn's influence.
AnsweredQoN 10Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Westport—Hon Kyle M c Ginn—Washington
trip
10. Mr Basil Zempilas to the Premier :
I refer to media
reports about Labor MLC Hon Kyle McGinn's trip to Washington to warn senior US
politicians about the state government's Westport project.
(1) Did Hon Kyle McGinn inform anyone in the state
government about his trip either before or after?
(2) Was he a parliamentary secretary during the
time he was in Washington?
(3) Why did the Premier refuse to take any action
against Hon Kyle McGinn given the potential damage to the AUKUS agreement
caused by his lobbying?
trip
10. Mr Basil Zempilas to the Premier :
I refer to media
reports about Labor MLC Hon Kyle McGinn's trip to Washington to warn senior US
politicians about the state government's Westport project.
(1) Did Hon Kyle McGinn inform anyone in the state
government about his trip either before or after?
(2) Was he a parliamentary secretary during the
time he was in Washington?
(3) Why did the Premier refuse to take any action
against Hon Kyle McGinn given the potential damage to the AUKUS agreement
caused by his lobbying?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member
for the question.
(1)–(3) I can inform the chamber that the
government is fully committed to the Westport project. This is a
multigenerational project that will ensure that Western Australia has the
economic infrastructure it needs to continue to be a nation-leading economy.
That includes a government that has finally taken the steps to ensure that we
have a world-class port facility to ensure that we have the infrastructure and
the capacity to maintain our container traffic into the future.
As I said, this is a
multigenerational project. It is a very important one. If we had listened to
the words of the previous Liberal–National government, we would have seen
no action taken in relation to Fremantle port. In fact, the previous mob tried
to privatise Fremantle port.
Point of order
Mr Liam Staltari: I point to standing order 78 about
relevance. The Premier was asked specifically about the actions of Mr McGinn
and has failed to answer.
The Speaker: Thank you, member. There is no point of
order. The Premier is starting his response and still has a way to go to
complete that. Carry on, Premier.
Questions without
notice resumed
Mr Roger Cook: Westport will play a critical role in
ensuring Western Australia remains a global economic and industrial powerhouse
by integrating the state's premier industrial and trade areas with our premier
international trade gateway. It will be an important part. We all understand
there are a range of views about Westport. Of course, the union of which Mr McGinn
is a member has particular views on it as well. We understand those views and
that is why we work with all stakeholders, including Mr McGinn's union, in
relation to these things.
While Mr McGinn was
on holiday in the US, having paid his own way there, he attended a meeting of,
essentially, the international branch of the maritime union. It was at that
particular event that he expressed some views and spoke to some papers that
were tabled at it. Mr McGinn did this on his own free time under his own
resources and, of course, as a member of the community and not as a
representative of the government.
In the meantime, we
have also had another important representative of the government in the US—Hon
Paul Papalia, who is the Minister for Defence Industries. He undertook a range
of meetings and had discussions on our defence industry ambitions. I think
members will find that people in the US are listening to Hon Paul Papalia, not
someone who was on their holidays under their own free will and under their own
steam and having funded their own particular activities.
for the question.
(1)–(3) I can inform the chamber that the
government is fully committed to the Westport project. This is a
multigenerational project that will ensure that Western Australia has the
economic infrastructure it needs to continue to be a nation-leading economy.
That includes a government that has finally taken the steps to ensure that we
have a world-class port facility to ensure that we have the infrastructure and
the capacity to maintain our container traffic into the future.
As I said, this is a
multigenerational project. It is a very important one. If we had listened to
the words of the previous Liberal–National government, we would have seen
no action taken in relation to Fremantle port. In fact, the previous mob tried
to privatise Fremantle port.
Point of order
Mr Liam Staltari: I point to standing order 78 about
relevance. The Premier was asked specifically about the actions of Mr McGinn
and has failed to answer.
The Speaker: Thank you, member. There is no point of
order. The Premier is starting his response and still has a way to go to
complete that. Carry on, Premier.
Questions without
notice resumed
Mr Roger Cook: Westport will play a critical role in
ensuring Western Australia remains a global economic and industrial powerhouse
by integrating the state's premier industrial and trade areas with our premier
international trade gateway. It will be an important part. We all understand
there are a range of views about Westport. Of course, the union of which Mr McGinn
is a member has particular views on it as well. We understand those views and
that is why we work with all stakeholders, including Mr McGinn's union, in
relation to these things.
While Mr McGinn was
on holiday in the US, having paid his own way there, he attended a meeting of,
essentially, the international branch of the maritime union. It was at that
particular event that he expressed some views and spoke to some papers that
were tabled at it. Mr McGinn did this on his own free time under his own
resources and, of course, as a member of the community and not as a
representative of the government.
In the meantime, we
have also had another important representative of the government in the US—Hon
Paul Papalia, who is the Minister for Defence Industries. He undertook a range
of meetings and had discussions on our defence industry ambitions. I think
members will find that people in the US are listening to Hon Paul Papalia, not
someone who was on their holidays under their own free will and under their own
steam and having funded their own particular activities.
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