❓ McGowan questions Barnett about conflicting statements regarding the National Party's involvement in cabinet discussions about the sale of Fremantle Port. Barnett clarifies the alliance arrangement and the National Party's right to abstain from votes.
AnsweredQoN 154Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
FREMANTLE PORT — ASSET SALES
154. Mr M. McGOWAN to the Premier:
My question without notice is to the
Premier.
Mr
A.P. Jacob : Sit down and wait for the Premier.
Mr
M. McGOWAN : No. I am going to wait till the Premier comes in. This is a completely
dysfunctional government. The Premier cannot even come in for question time.
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Let us carry on. Leader of the Opposition.
Mr
J.R. Quigley interjected.
The
SPEAKER : You just do not listen, member for Butler. I call you to order for
the third time.
Mr
M. McGOWAN : I refer to the Premier's comments on Sunday about the
sale of Fremantle port and the National Party's position, when he said —
''Mia Davies is a cabinet
minister. She has attended all the cabinet meetings in which we've
discussed Fremantle Port,'' �
Given that the National Party leader
claims that his members absented themselves from the cabinet meeting at which
the government decided to sell the Fremantle port, who is telling the truth—the
Premier or his National Party colleagues?
154. Mr M. McGOWAN to the Premier:
My question without notice is to the
Premier.
Mr
A.P. Jacob : Sit down and wait for the Premier.
Mr
M. McGOWAN : No. I am going to wait till the Premier comes in. This is a completely
dysfunctional government. The Premier cannot even come in for question time.
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Let us carry on. Leader of the Opposition.
Mr
J.R. Quigley interjected.
The
SPEAKER : You just do not listen, member for Butler. I call you to order for
the third time.
Mr
M. McGOWAN : I refer to the Premier's comments on Sunday about the
sale of Fremantle port and the National Party's position, when he said —
''Mia Davies is a cabinet
minister. She has attended all the cabinet meetings in which we've
discussed Fremantle Port,'' �
Given that the National Party leader
claims that his members absented themselves from the cabinet meeting at which
the government decided to sell the Fremantle port, who is telling the truth—the
Premier or his National Party colleagues?
AnswerView source ↗
Mr Speaker —
Ms
R. Saffioti : This is getting tiresome.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : It is tiresome.
Can I explain the alliance
arrangement? It is not a coalition, as previous Liberal–National
governments have been. It is different; it is a looser form of coalition. Under
that, it has been agreed that if the National Party differs from a position, it
has the right to leave cabinet and not participate in a vote. It does not mean
that something will not still go ahead, but the National Party has the right to
do that.
The discussions about the
privatisation of the Fremantle port have been going on for some time. In the
cabinet meeting this week and in the previous week there was a lengthy
discussion and briefing by the Treasurer about the privatisation of the port
issues and all ministers were present through that. That discussion continued,
and some issues were raised, not surprisingly, as it is a complex
privatisation. There are lots of issues to raise, and we have been very careful
about it. In the cabinet meeting held this week that discussion continued and
the National Party made it clear that there were aspects that it was not
satisfied with, and therefore it would leave cabinet and not participate from
that point on. The remainder of the cabinet—the Liberal Party of the
cabinet, if you like—decided to proceed and we have finalised —
Mr
P. Papalia interjected.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : If you cannot comprehend, my friend, I am explaining the
alliance structure.
Several members interjected.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : Do members opposite want an answer or not?
I am explaining, because I do not
think people understand.
Mr
W.J. Johnston : Tell the truth.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : Tell the truth—from you!
The
SPEAKER : Member for Cannington, I call you to order for the third time. I am
just going to warn everybody that you do not start from zero again. There are
many people on three calls. If you want to have a rest, it is on your head.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : Under the alliance arrangement, it worked as it is allowed to
work. Yes, all ministers were present during the discussion and the briefings
by the Treasurer and the Minister for Transport about the privatisation, and
there was the usual wideranging discussion. That continued on into the cabinet
meeting this week. The National Party made it clear that it was not, at that
stage, prepared to support the privatisation. Therefore, under our alliance
arrangement, the National Party ministers left the cabinet, and then the
decision was made. They were not, as was suggested in the silly debate we had
earlier, there for part of the cabinet decision; therefore, they were not
breaching cabinet solidarity.
Mr
M. McGowan : You said they were there.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : I just answered the question completely. If the Leader of the
Opposition cannot comprehend that, I cannot do anything about it.
Ms
R. Saffioti : This is getting tiresome.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : It is tiresome.
Can I explain the alliance
arrangement? It is not a coalition, as previous Liberal–National
governments have been. It is different; it is a looser form of coalition. Under
that, it has been agreed that if the National Party differs from a position, it
has the right to leave cabinet and not participate in a vote. It does not mean
that something will not still go ahead, but the National Party has the right to
do that.
The discussions about the
privatisation of the Fremantle port have been going on for some time. In the
cabinet meeting this week and in the previous week there was a lengthy
discussion and briefing by the Treasurer about the privatisation of the port
issues and all ministers were present through that. That discussion continued,
and some issues were raised, not surprisingly, as it is a complex
privatisation. There are lots of issues to raise, and we have been very careful
about it. In the cabinet meeting held this week that discussion continued and
the National Party made it clear that there were aspects that it was not
satisfied with, and therefore it would leave cabinet and not participate from
that point on. The remainder of the cabinet—the Liberal Party of the
cabinet, if you like—decided to proceed and we have finalised —
Mr
P. Papalia interjected.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : If you cannot comprehend, my friend, I am explaining the
alliance structure.
Several members interjected.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : Do members opposite want an answer or not?
I am explaining, because I do not
think people understand.
Mr
W.J. Johnston : Tell the truth.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : Tell the truth—from you!
The
SPEAKER : Member for Cannington, I call you to order for the third time. I am
just going to warn everybody that you do not start from zero again. There are
many people on three calls. If you want to have a rest, it is on your head.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : Under the alliance arrangement, it worked as it is allowed to
work. Yes, all ministers were present during the discussion and the briefings
by the Treasurer and the Minister for Transport about the privatisation, and
there was the usual wideranging discussion. That continued on into the cabinet
meeting this week. The National Party made it clear that it was not, at that
stage, prepared to support the privatisation. Therefore, under our alliance
arrangement, the National Party ministers left the cabinet, and then the
decision was made. They were not, as was suggested in the silly debate we had
earlier, there for part of the cabinet decision; therefore, they were not
breaching cabinet solidarity.
Mr
M. McGowan : You said they were there.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : I just answered the question completely. If the Leader of the
Opposition cannot comprehend that, I cannot do anything about it.
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