❓ The Minister for State Development provides an update on WA's strong international trade performance, highlighting record export figures and a trade surplus. The discussion then shifts to concerns about approvals processes for mining companies and a specific case raised by the Leader of the Opposition.
AnsweredQoN 580Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Will the minister please update the house on Western Australia’s recent international trade performance? Mr A.J. CARPENTER
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Kingsley for the question. Following the Acting Premier’s line, it is true that things are very, very good in Western Australia, and they just keep getting better. There seems to be no end in sight to the very well managed economy and very strong markets for our resources, and we are servicing those markets very well. The latest international trade figures show that Western Australia now accounts for 31.2 per cent of the nation’s exports. I think that is the highest percentage we have ever reached. Mr E.S. Ripper : I am sure that is a record. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I think it is another record. The nominal value of the state’s exports is up by 23.3 per cent in the year to August 2005 to a record $40.6 billion. There has been a 27.4 per cent increase in the nominal value of WA’s exports in the August quarter alone when compared with the same period in 2004. There has been national growth of 5.3 per cent and the state’s trade surplus is a record $26 billion over the year to August 2005, up from - Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I love this sort of stuff. I love baiting the second-raters. That figure is up from $20.9 billion for the same period, compared with Australia’s $21.1 billion trade deficit. However, as everybody knows, we can always do better. I agree that we can do better. I was very interested to read the speech - I did not have the pleasure of hearing it - of the member for Kalgoorlie, the Leader of the Opposition, at the state Liberal Party conference. He raised a couple of interesting issues, and the Treasurer has already alluded to one of them. The member raised an issue that I think is very important and it relates to the approvals process. I agree that we can do better with the approvals process, and we are working in that direction. Some initiatives are coming out now. I am very keen to help out in individual cases when they arise, as well as the general situation. In his speech the member for Kalgoorlie said about the approvals process - Believe it or not a mining company executive told me a few weeks ago that his company was prevented from processing a stockpile of ore because weeds had grown through it and he was now caught by Labor’s native vegetation clearing regulations. If the member for Kalgoorlie could give me the detail of that now across the chamber, I will chase it up and try to resolve the issue. Mr M.J. Birney : It has been resolved. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Can the member tell me who it was? Mr M.J. Birney : I will give you the information. It was put to me by a very senior mining company executive of a very substantial mining company in this state. Several members interjected. Mr M.J. Birney : Let me finish. I’m sure you’ll let me finish. He was absolutely flabbergasted that he had come up against this brick wall. I said to him that I would take it up publicly for him. He said, “No, I don’t want to incur the wrath of the government. We will have to deal with it at our level.” It has now been dealt with. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am interested in the details of this case so that I can pursue it to see whether it is a real case study that we can ensure is never repeated. Can the member tell me who it was? Mr M.J. Birney : He has asked me not to. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I suspect this is another flourish of imagination from the Leader of the Opposition. It is not backed up by reality. It is certainly not backed up by facts. Mr M.J. Birney : I will tell you what I will do. I will give him a call this afternoon to see whether he has changed his view about whether I can go public with the name of his company, provided you give an absolute assurance that there will be no backlash towards that company. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : If I ever find out who it was, I will crush him! Mr M.J. Birney : As you wanted to do with the school principals! Do you remember that? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Yes, I do! It was a very interesting speech. It was peppered with little diamonds such as that. There was one right at the start that really stuck out. In fact, it startled me. Mind you, I have been a member of Parliament for only nine years, and I have been following state politics professionally for only 17 or 18 years! I am sure a lot of former members of the Liberal Party would be interested in this. The Leader of the Opposition made the assertion - In fact, we currently have the best, most talented and skilled batch of Liberal MPs that your party has produced in decades and with your help they will be around for a very long time to come. Mr M.J. Birney : Where are you going with this? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I can see a bit of talent over there! I do not know what Sir Charles Court would have thought about that - or Bill Hassell or Richard Court! Mr M.J. Birney : They were nodding. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am sure they were nodding! The Leader of the Opposition in his speech used words to the effect, “We currently have the most talented batch of Liberal MPs we have ever had in this party”. Point of Order Mr M.J. BIRNEY : Madam Deputy Speaker, even though the minister’s dissertation is highly amusing - The DEPUTY SPEAKER (Mrs D.J. Guise) : Order! I suggest the member quote the standing order that he intends to use, otherwise I will need to ask him to sit down. Mr M.J. BIRNEY : I am about to do that, Madam Deputy Speaker. Even though the minister’s speech is highly amusing, he is making an absolute joke of question time. I bring to your attention the standing order of relevance. I cannot even remember the question the minister was asked, but I guarantee it has nothing to do with what the minister is talking about. The standing order is relevance. The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Order! I warn members not to abuse the standing orders in raising a point of order, and I ask ministers to keep the answers to questions relatively succinct, if they can. Mr M.J. BIRNEY : Was my point of order upheld, Madam Deputy Speaker? The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Order! No. There is no point of order. The minister. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will be succinct, Madam Deputy Speaker. It is not me who is making the joke. It is the Leader of the Opposition.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: I thank the member for Kingsley for the question. Following the Acting Premier’s line, it is true that things are very, very good in Western Australia, and they just keep getting better. There seems to be no end in sight to the very well managed economy and very strong markets for our resources, and we are servicing those markets very well. The latest international trade figures show that Western Australia now accounts for 31.2 per cent of the nation’s exports. I think that is the highest percentage we have ever reached. Mr E.S. Ripper : I am sure that is a record. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I think it is another record. The nominal value of the state’s exports is up by 23.3 per cent in the year to August 2005 to a record $40.6 billion. There has been a 27.4 per cent increase in the nominal value of WA’s exports in the August quarter alone when compared with the same period in 2004. There has been national growth of 5.3 per cent and the state’s trade surplus is a record $26 billion over the year to August 2005, up from - Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I love this sort of stuff. I love baiting the second-raters. That figure is up from $20.9 billion for the same period, compared with Australia’s $21.1 billion trade deficit. However, as everybody knows, we can always do better. I agree that we can do better. I was very interested to read the speech - I did not have the pleasure of hearing it - of the member for Kalgoorlie, the Leader of the Opposition, at the state Liberal Party conference. He raised a couple of interesting issues, and the Treasurer has already alluded to one of them. The member raised an issue that I think is very important and it relates to the approvals process. I agree that we can do better with the approvals process, and we are working in that direction. Some initiatives are coming out now. I am very keen to help out in individual cases when they arise, as well as the general situation. In his speech the member for Kalgoorlie said about the approvals process - Believe it or not a mining company executive told me a few weeks ago that his company was prevented from processing a stockpile of ore because weeds had grown through it and he was now caught by Labor’s native vegetation clearing regulations. If the member for Kalgoorlie could give me the detail of that now across the chamber, I will chase it up and try to resolve the issue. Mr M.J. Birney : It has been resolved. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Can the member tell me who it was? Mr M.J. Birney : I will give you the information. It was put to me by a very senior mining company executive of a very substantial mining company in this state. Several members interjected. Mr M.J. Birney : Let me finish. I’m sure you’ll let me finish. He was absolutely flabbergasted that he had come up against this brick wall. I said to him that I would take it up publicly for him. He said, “No, I don’t want to incur the wrath of the government. We will have to deal with it at our level.” It has now been dealt with. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am interested in the details of this case so that I can pursue it to see whether it is a real case study that we can ensure is never repeated. Can the member tell me who it was? Mr M.J. Birney : He has asked me not to. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I suspect this is another flourish of imagination from the Leader of the Opposition. It is not backed up by reality. It is certainly not backed up by facts. Mr M.J. Birney : I will tell you what I will do. I will give him a call this afternoon to see whether he has changed his view about whether I can go public with the name of his company, provided you give an absolute assurance that there will be no backlash towards that company. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : If I ever find out who it was, I will crush him! Mr M.J. Birney : As you wanted to do with the school principals! Do you remember that? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Yes, I do! It was a very interesting speech. It was peppered with little diamonds such as that. There was one right at the start that really stuck out. In fact, it startled me. Mind you, I have been a member of Parliament for only nine years, and I have been following state politics professionally for only 17 or 18 years! I am sure a lot of former members of the Liberal Party would be interested in this. The Leader of the Opposition made the assertion - In fact, we currently have the best, most talented and skilled batch of Liberal MPs that your party has produced in decades and with your help they will be around for a very long time to come. Mr M.J. Birney : Where are you going with this? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I can see a bit of talent over there! I do not know what Sir Charles Court would have thought about that - or Bill Hassell or Richard Court! Mr M.J. Birney : They were nodding. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am sure they were nodding! The Leader of the Opposition in his speech used words to the effect, “We currently have the most talented batch of Liberal MPs we have ever had in this party”. Point of Order Mr M.J. BIRNEY : Madam Deputy Speaker, even though the minister’s dissertation is highly amusing - The DEPUTY SPEAKER (Mrs D.J. Guise) : Order! I suggest the member quote the standing order that he intends to use, otherwise I will need to ask him to sit down. Mr M.J. BIRNEY : I am about to do that, Madam Deputy Speaker. Even though the minister’s speech is highly amusing, he is making an absolute joke of question time. I bring to your attention the standing order of relevance. I cannot even remember the question the minister was asked, but I guarantee it has nothing to do with what the minister is talking about. The standing order is relevance. The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Order! I warn members not to abuse the standing orders in raising a point of order, and I ask ministers to keep the answers to questions relatively succinct, if they can. Mr M.J. BIRNEY : Was my point of order upheld, Madam Deputy Speaker? The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Order! No. There is no point of order. The minister. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will be succinct, Madam Deputy Speaker. It is not me who is making the joke. It is the Leader of the Opposition.
I thank the member for Kingsley for the question. Following the Acting Premier’s line, it is true that things are very, very good in Western Australia, and they just keep getting better. There seems to be no end in sight to the very well managed economy and very strong markets for our resources, and we are servicing those markets very well. The latest international trade figures show that Western Australia now accounts for 31.2 per cent of the nation’s exports. I think that is the highest percentage we have ever reached. Mr E.S. Ripper : I am sure that is a record. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I think it is another record. The nominal value of the state’s exports is up by 23.3 per cent in the year to August 2005 to a record $40.6 billion. There has been a 27.4 per cent increase in the nominal value of WA’s exports in the August quarter alone when compared with the same period in 2004. There has been national growth of 5.3 per cent and the state’s trade surplus is a record $26 billion over the year to August 2005, up from - Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I love this sort of stuff. I love baiting the second-raters. That figure is up from $20.9 billion for the same period, compared with Australia’s $21.1 billion trade deficit. However, as everybody knows, we can always do better. I agree that we can do better. I was very interested to read the speech - I did not have the pleasure of hearing it - of the member for Kalgoorlie, the Leader of the Opposition, at the state Liberal Party conference. He raised a couple of interesting issues, and the Treasurer has already alluded to one of them. The member raised an issue that I think is very important and it relates to the approvals process. I agree that we can do better with the approvals process, and we are working in that direction. Some initiatives are coming out now. I am very keen to help out in individual cases when they arise, as well as the general situation. In his speech the member for Kalgoorlie said about the approvals process - Believe it or not a mining company executive told me a few weeks ago that his company was prevented from processing a stockpile of ore because weeds had grown through it and he was now caught by Labor’s native vegetation clearing regulations. If the member for Kalgoorlie could give me the detail of that now across the chamber, I will chase it up and try to resolve the issue. Mr M.J. Birney : It has been resolved. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Can the member tell me who it was? Mr M.J. Birney : I will give you the information. It was put to me by a very senior mining company executive of a very substantial mining company in this state. Several members interjected. Mr M.J. Birney : Let me finish. I’m sure you’ll let me finish. He was absolutely flabbergasted that he had come up against this brick wall. I said to him that I would take it up publicly for him. He said, “No, I don’t want to incur the wrath of the government. We will have to deal with it at our level.” It has now been dealt with. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am interested in the details of this case so that I can pursue it to see whether it is a real case study that we can ensure is never repeated. Can the member tell me who it was? Mr M.J. Birney : He has asked me not to. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I suspect this is another flourish of imagination from the Leader of the Opposition. It is not backed up by reality. It is certainly not backed up by facts. Mr M.J. Birney : I will tell you what I will do. I will give him a call this afternoon to see whether he has changed his view about whether I can go public with the name of his company, provided you give an absolute assurance that there will be no backlash towards that company. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : If I ever find out who it was, I will crush him! Mr M.J. Birney : As you wanted to do with the school principals! Do you remember that? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Yes, I do! It was a very interesting speech. It was peppered with little diamonds such as that. There was one right at the start that really stuck out. In fact, it startled me. Mind you, I have been a member of Parliament for only nine years, and I have been following state politics professionally for only 17 or 18 years! I am sure a lot of former members of the Liberal Party would be interested in this. The Leader of the Opposition made the assertion - In fact, we currently have the best, most talented and skilled batch of Liberal MPs that your party has produced in decades and with your help they will be around for a very long time to come. Mr M.J. Birney : Where are you going with this? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I can see a bit of talent over there! I do not know what Sir Charles Court would have thought about that - or Bill Hassell or Richard Court! Mr M.J. Birney : They were nodding. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am sure they were nodding! The Leader of the Opposition in his speech used words to the effect, “We currently have the most talented batch of Liberal MPs we have ever had in this party”. Point of Order Mr M.J. BIRNEY : Madam Deputy Speaker, even though the minister’s dissertation is highly amusing - The DEPUTY SPEAKER (Mrs D.J. Guise) : Order! I suggest the member quote the standing order that he intends to use, otherwise I will need to ask him to sit down. Mr M.J. BIRNEY : I am about to do that, Madam Deputy Speaker. Even though the minister’s speech is highly amusing, he is making an absolute joke of question time. I bring to your attention the standing order of relevance. I cannot even remember the question the minister was asked, but I guarantee it has nothing to do with what the minister is talking about. The standing order is relevance. The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Order! I warn members not to abuse the standing orders in raising a point of order, and I ask ministers to keep the answers to questions relatively succinct, if they can. Mr M.J. BIRNEY : Was my point of order upheld, Madam Deputy Speaker? The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Order! No. There is no point of order. The minister. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will be succinct, Madam Deputy Speaker. It is not me who is making the joke. It is the Leader of the Opposition.
Mr E.S. Ripper : I am sure that is a record. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I think it is another record. The nominal value of the state’s exports is up by 23.3 per cent in the year to August 2005 to a record $40.6 billion. There has been a 27.4 per cent increase in the nominal value of WA’s exports in the August quarter alone when compared with the same period in 2004. There has been national growth of 5.3 per cent and the state’s trade surplus is a record $26 billion over the year to August 2005, up from - Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I love this sort of stuff. I love baiting the second-raters. That figure is up from $20.9 billion for the same period, compared with Australia’s $21.1 billion trade deficit. However, as everybody knows, we can always do better. I agree that we can do better. I was very interested to read the speech - I did not have the pleasure of hearing it - of the member for Kalgoorlie, the Leader of the Opposition, at the state Liberal Party conference. He raised a couple of interesting issues, and the Treasurer has already alluded to one of them. The member raised an issue that I think is very important and it relates to the approvals process. I agree that we can do better with the approvals process, and we are working in that direction. Some initiatives are coming out now. I am very keen to help out in individual cases when they arise, as well as the general situation. In his speech the member for Kalgoorlie said about the approvals process - Believe it or not a mining company executive told me a few weeks ago that his company was prevented from processing a stockpile of ore because weeds had grown through it and he was now caught by Labor’s native vegetation clearing regulations. If the member for Kalgoorlie could give me the detail of that now across the chamber, I will chase it up and try to resolve the issue. Mr M.J. Birney : It has been resolved. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Can the member tell me who it was? Mr M.J. Birney : I will give you the information. It was put to me by a very senior mining company executive of a very substantial mining company in this state. Several members interjected. Mr M.J. Birney : Let me finish. I’m sure you’ll let me finish. He was absolutely flabbergasted that he had come up against this brick wall. I said to him that I would take it up publicly for him. He said, “No, I don’t want to incur the wrath of the government. We will have to deal with it at our level.” It has now been dealt with. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am interested in the details of this case so that I can pursue it to see whether it is a real case study that we can ensure is never repeated. Can the member tell me who it was? Mr M.J. Birney : He has asked me not to. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I suspect this is another flourish of imagination from the Leader of the Opposition. It is not backed up by reality. It is certainly not backed up by facts. Mr M.J. Birney : I will tell you what I will do. I will give him a call this afternoon to see whether he has changed his view about whether I can go public with the name of his company, provided you give an absolute assurance that there will be no backlash towards that company. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : If I ever find out who it was, I will crush him! Mr M.J. Birney : As you wanted to do with the school principals! Do you remember that? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Yes, I do! It was a very interesting speech. It was peppered with little diamonds such as that. There was one right at the start that really stuck out. In fact, it startled me. Mind you, I have been a member of Parliament for only nine years, and I have been following state politics professionally for only 17 or 18 years! I am sure a lot of former members of the Liberal Party would be interested in this. The Leader of the Opposition made the assertion - In fact, we currently have the best, most talented and skilled batch of Liberal MPs that your party has produced in decades and with your help they will be around for a very long time to come. Mr M.J. Birney : Where are you going with this? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I can see a bit of talent over there! I do not know what Sir Charles Court would have thought about that - or Bill Hassell or Richard Court! Mr M.J. Birney : They were nodding. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am sure they were nodding! The Leader of the Opposition in his speech used words to the effect, “We currently have the most talented batch of Liberal MPs we have ever had in this party”. Point of Order Mr M.J. BIRNEY : Madam Deputy Speaker, even though the minister’s dissertation is highly amusing - The DEPUTY SPEAKER (Mrs D.J. Guise) : Order! I suggest the member quote the standing order that he intends to use, otherwise I will need to ask him to sit down. Mr M.J. BIRNEY : I am about to do that, Madam Deputy Speaker. Even though the minister’s speech is highly amusing, he is making an absolute joke of question time. I bring to your attention the standing order of relevance. I cannot even remember the question the minister was asked, but I guarantee it has nothing to do with what the minister is talking about. The standing order is relevance. The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Order! I warn members not to abuse the standing orders in raising a point of order, and I ask ministers to keep the answers to questions relatively succinct, if they can. Mr M.J. BIRNEY : Was my point of order upheld, Madam Deputy Speaker? The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Order! No. There is no point of order. The minister. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will be succinct, Madam Deputy Speaker. It is not me who is making the joke. It is the Leader of the Opposition.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I think it is another record. The nominal value of the state’s exports is up by 23.3 per cent in the year to August 2005 to a record $40.6 billion. There has been a 27.4 per cent increase in the nominal value of WA’s exports in the August quarter alone when compared with the same period in 2004. There has been national growth of 5.3 per cent and the state’s trade surplus is a record $26 billion over the year to August 2005, up from - Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I love this sort of stuff. I love baiting the second-raters. That figure is up from $20.9 billion for the same period, compared with Australia’s $21.1 billion trade deficit. However, as everybody knows, we can always do better. I agree that we can do better. I was very interested to read the speech - I did not have the pleasure of hearing it - of the member for Kalgoorlie, the Leader of the Opposition, at the state Liberal Party conference. He raised a couple of interesting issues, and the Treasurer has already alluded to one of them. The member raised an issue that I think is very important and it relates to the approvals process. I agree that we can do better with the approvals process, and we are working in that direction. Some initiatives are coming out now. I am very keen to help out in individual cases when they arise, as well as the general situation. In his speech the member for Kalgoorlie said about the approvals process - Believe it or not a mining company executive told me a few weeks ago that his company was prevented from processing a stockpile of ore because weeds had grown through it and he was now caught by Labor’s native vegetation clearing regulations. If the member for Kalgoorlie could give me the detail of that now across the chamber, I will chase it up and try to resolve the issue. Mr M.J. Birney : It has been resolved. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Can the member tell me who it was? Mr M.J. Birney : I will give you the information. It was put to me by a very senior mining company executive of a very substantial mining company in this state. Several members interjected. Mr M.J. Birney : Let me finish. I’m sure you’ll let me finish. He was absolutely flabbergasted that he had come up against this brick wall. I said to him that I would take it up publicly for him. He said, “No, I don’t want to incur the wrath of the government. We will have to deal with it at our level.” It has now been dealt with. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am interested in the details of this case so that I can pursue it to see whether it is a real case study that we can ensure is never repeated. Can the member tell me who it was? Mr M.J. Birney : He has asked me not to. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I suspect this is another flourish of imagination from the Leader of the Opposition. It is not backed up by reality. It is certainly not backed up by facts. Mr M.J. Birney : I will tell you what I will do. I will give him a call this afternoon to see whether he has changed his view about whether I can go public with the name of his company, provided you give an absolute assurance that there will be no backlash towards that company. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : If I ever find out who it was, I will crush him! Mr M.J. Birney : As you wanted to do with the school principals! Do you remember that? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Yes, I do! It was a very interesting speech. It was peppered with little diamonds such as that. There was one right at the start that really stuck out. In fact, it startled me. Mind you, I have been a member of Parliament for only nine years, and I have been following state politics professionally for only 17 or 18 years! I am sure a lot of former members of the Liberal Party would be interested in this. The Leader of the Opposition made the assertion - In fact, we currently have the best, most talented and skilled batch of Liberal MPs that your party has produced in decades and with your help they will be around for a very long time to come. Mr M.J. Birney : Where are you going with this? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I can see a bit of talent over there! I do not know what Sir Charles Court would have thought about that - or Bill Hassell or Richard Court! Mr M.J. Birney : They were nodding. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am sure they were nodding! The Leader of the Opposition in his speech used words to the effect, “We currently have the most talented batch of Liberal MPs we have ever had in this party”. Point of Order Mr M.J. BIRNEY : Madam Deputy Speaker, even though the minister’s dissertation is highly amusing - The DEPUTY SPEAKER (Mrs D.J. Guise) : Order! I suggest the member quote the standing order that he intends to use, otherwise I will need to ask him to sit down. Mr M.J. BIRNEY : I am about to do that, Madam Deputy Speaker. Even though the minister’s speech is highly amusing, he is making an absolute joke of question time. I bring to your attention the standing order of relevance. I cannot even remember the question the minister was asked, but I guarantee it has nothing to do with what the minister is talking about. The standing order is relevance. The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Order! I warn members not to abuse the standing orders in raising a point of order, and I ask ministers to keep the answers to questions relatively succinct, if they can. Mr M.J. BIRNEY : Was my point of order upheld, Madam Deputy Speaker? The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Order! No. There is no point of order. The minister. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will be succinct, Madam Deputy Speaker. It is not me who is making the joke. It is the Leader of the Opposition.
Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I love this sort of stuff. I love baiting the second-raters. That figure is up from $20.9 billion for the same period, compared with Australia’s $21.1 billion trade deficit. However, as everybody knows, we can always do better. I agree that we can do better. I was very interested to read the speech - I did not have the pleasure of hearing it - of the member for Kalgoorlie, the Leader of the Opposition, at the state Liberal Party conference. He raised a couple of interesting issues, and the Treasurer has already alluded to one of them. The member raised an issue that I think is very important and it relates to the approvals process. I agree that we can do better with the approvals process, and we are working in that direction. Some initiatives are coming out now. I am very keen to help out in individual cases when they arise, as well as the general situation. In his speech the member for Kalgoorlie said about the approvals process - Believe it or not a mining company executive told me a few weeks ago that his company was prevented from processing a stockpile of ore because weeds had grown through it and he was now caught by Labor’s native vegetation clearing regulations. If the member for Kalgoorlie could give me the detail of that now across the chamber, I will chase it up and try to resolve the issue. Mr M.J. Birney : It has been resolved. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Can the member tell me who it was? Mr M.J. Birney : I will give you the information. It was put to me by a very senior mining company executive of a very substantial mining company in this state. Several members interjected. Mr M.J. Birney : Let me finish. I’m sure you’ll let me finish. He was absolutely flabbergasted that he had come up against this brick wall. I said to him that I would take it up publicly for him. He said, “No, I don’t want to incur the wrath of the government. We will have to deal with it at our level.” It has now been dealt with. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am interested in the details of this case so that I can pursue it to see whether it is a real case study that we can ensure is never repeated. Can the member tell me who it was? Mr M.J. Birney : He has asked me not to. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I suspect this is another flourish of imagination from the Leader of the Opposition. It is not backed up by reality. It is certainly not backed up by facts. Mr M.J. Birney : I will tell you what I will do. I will give him a call this afternoon to see whether he has changed his view about whether I can go public with the name of his company, provided you give an absolute assurance that there will be no backlash towards that company. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : If I ever find out who it was, I will crush him! Mr M.J. Birney : As you wanted to do with the school principals! Do you remember that? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Yes, I do! It was a very interesting speech. It was peppered with little diamonds such as that. There was one right at the start that really stuck out. In fact, it startled me. Mind you, I have been a member of Parliament for only nine years, and I have been following state politics professionally for only 17 or 18 years! I am sure a lot of former members of the Liberal Party would be interested in this. The Leader of the Opposition made the assertion - In fact, we currently have the best, most talented and skilled batch of Liberal MPs that your party has produced in decades and with your help they will be around for a very long time to come. Mr M.J. Birney : Where are you going with this? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I can see a bit of talent over there! I do not know what Sir Charles Court would have thought about that - or Bill Hassell or Richard Court! Mr M.J. Birney : They were nodding. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am sure they were nodding! The Leader of the Opposition in his speech used words to the effect, “We currently have the most talented batch of Liberal MPs we have ever had in this party”. Point of Order Mr M.J. BIRNEY : Madam Deputy Speaker, even though the minister’s dissertation is highly amusing - The DEPUTY SPEAKER (Mrs D.J. Guise) : Order! I suggest the member quote the standing order that he intends to use, otherwise I will need to ask him to sit down. Mr M.J. BIRNEY : I am about to do that, Madam Deputy Speaker. Even though the minister’s speech is highly amusing, he is making an absolute joke of question time. I bring to your attention the standing order of relevance. I cannot even remember the question the minister was asked, but I guarantee it has nothing to do with what the minister is talking about. The standing order is relevance. The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Order! I warn members not to abuse the standing orders in raising a point of order, and I ask ministers to keep the answers to questions relatively succinct, if they can. Mr M.J. BIRNEY : Was my point of order upheld, Madam Deputy Speaker? The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Order! No. There is no point of order. The minister. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will be succinct, Madam Deputy Speaker. It is not me who is making the joke. It is the Leader of the Opposition.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I love this sort of stuff. I love baiting the second-raters. That figure is up from $20.9 billion for the same period, compared with Australia’s $21.1 billion trade deficit. However, as everybody knows, we can always do better. I agree that we can do better. I was very interested to read the speech - I did not have the pleasure of hearing it - of the member for Kalgoorlie, the Leader of the Opposition, at the state Liberal Party conference. He raised a couple of interesting issues, and the Treasurer has already alluded to one of them. The member raised an issue that I think is very important and it relates to the approvals process. I agree that we can do better with the approvals process, and we are working in that direction. Some initiatives are coming out now. I am very keen to help out in individual cases when they arise, as well as the general situation. In his speech the member for Kalgoorlie said about the approvals process - Believe it or not a mining company executive told me a few weeks ago that his company was prevented from processing a stockpile of ore because weeds had grown through it and he was now caught by Labor’s native vegetation clearing regulations. If the member for Kalgoorlie could give me the detail of that now across the chamber, I will chase it up and try to resolve the issue. Mr M.J. Birney : It has been resolved. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Can the member tell me who it was? Mr M.J. Birney : I will give you the information. It was put to me by a very senior mining company executive of a very substantial mining company in this state. Several members interjected. Mr M.J. Birney : Let me finish. I’m sure you’ll let me finish. He was absolutely flabbergasted that he had come up against this brick wall. I said to him that I would take it up publicly for him. He said, “No, I don’t want to incur the wrath of the government. We will have to deal with it at our level.” It has now been dealt with. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am interested in the details of this case so that I can pursue it to see whether it is a real case study that we can ensure is never repeated. Can the member tell me who it was? Mr M.J. Birney : He has asked me not to. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I suspect this is another flourish of imagination from the Leader of the Opposition. It is not backed up by reality. It is certainly not backed up by facts. Mr M.J. Birney : I will tell you what I will do. I will give him a call this afternoon to see whether he has changed his view about whether I can go public with the name of his company, provided you give an absolute assurance that there will be no backlash towards that company. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : If I ever find out who it was, I will crush him! Mr M.J. Birney : As you wanted to do with the school principals! Do you remember that? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Yes, I do! It was a very interesting speech. It was peppered with little diamonds such as that. There was one right at the start that really stuck out. In fact, it startled me. Mind you, I have been a member of Parliament for only nine years, and I have been following state politics professionally for only 17 or 18 years! I am sure a lot of former members of the Liberal Party would be interested in this. The Leader of the Opposition made the assertion - In fact, we currently have the best, most talented and skilled batch of Liberal MPs that your party has produced in decades and with your help they will be around for a very long time to come. Mr M.J. Birney : Where are you going with this? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I can see a bit of talent over there! I do not know what Sir Charles Court would have thought about that - or Bill Hassell or Richard Court! Mr M.J. Birney : They were nodding. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am sure they were nodding! The Leader of the Opposition in his speech used words to the effect, “We currently have the most talented batch of Liberal MPs we have ever had in this party”. Point of Order Mr M.J. BIRNEY : Madam Deputy Speaker, even though the minister’s dissertation is highly amusing - The DEPUTY SPEAKER (Mrs D.J. Guise) : Order! I suggest the member quote the standing order that he intends to use, otherwise I will need to ask him to sit down. Mr M.J. BIRNEY : I am about to do that, Madam Deputy Speaker. Even though the minister’s speech is highly amusing, he is making an absolute joke of question time. I bring to your attention the standing order of relevance. I cannot even remember the question the minister was asked, but I guarantee it has nothing to do with what the minister is talking about. The standing order is relevance. The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Order! I warn members not to abuse the standing orders in raising a point of order, and I ask ministers to keep the answers to questions relatively succinct, if they can. Mr M.J. BIRNEY : Was my point of order upheld, Madam Deputy Speaker? The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Order! No. There is no point of order. The minister. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will be succinct, Madam Deputy Speaker. It is not me who is making the joke. It is the Leader of the Opposition.
That figure is up from $20.9 billion for the same period, compared with Australia’s $21.1 billion trade deficit. However, as everybody knows, we can always do better. I agree that we can do better. I was very interested to read the speech - I did not have the pleasure of hearing it - of the member for Kalgoorlie, the Leader of the Opposition, at the state Liberal Party conference. He raised a couple of interesting issues, and the Treasurer has already alluded to one of them. The member raised an issue that I think is very important and it relates to the approvals process. I agree that we can do better with the approvals process, and we are working in that direction. Some initiatives are coming out now. I am very keen to help out in individual cases when they arise, as well as the general situation. In his speech the member for Kalgoorlie said about the approvals process - Believe it or not a mining company executive told me a few weeks ago that his company was prevented from processing a stockpile of ore because weeds had grown through it and he was now caught by Labor’s native vegetation clearing regulations. If the member for Kalgoorlie could give me the detail of that now across the chamber, I will chase it up and try to resolve the issue. Mr M.J. Birney : It has been resolved. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Can the member tell me who it was? Mr M.J. Birney : I will give you the information. It was put to me by a very senior mining company executive of a very substantial mining company in this state. Several members interjected. Mr M.J. Birney : Let me finish. I’m sure you’ll let me finish. He was absolutely flabbergasted that he had come up against this brick wall. I said to him that I would take it up publicly for him. He said, “No, I don’t want to incur the wrath of the government. We will have to deal with it at our level.” It has now been dealt with. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am interested in the details of this case so that I can pursue it to see whether it is a real case study that we can ensure is never repeated. Can the member tell me who it was? Mr M.J. Birney : He has asked me not to. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I suspect this is another flourish of imagination from the Leader of the Opposition. It is not backed up by reality. It is certainly not backed up by facts. Mr M.J. Birney : I will tell you what I will do. I will give him a call this afternoon to see whether he has changed his view about whether I can go public with the name of his company, provided you give an absolute assurance that there will be no backlash towards that company. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : If I ever find out who it was, I will crush him! Mr M.J. Birney : As you wanted to do with the school principals! Do you remember that? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Yes, I do! It was a very interesting speech. It was peppered with little diamonds such as that. There was one right at the start that really stuck out. In fact, it startled me. Mind you, I have been a member of Parliament for only nine years, and I have been following state politics professionally for only 17 or 18 years! I am sure a lot of former members of the Liberal Party would be interested in this. The Leader of the Opposition made the assertion - In fact, we currently have the best, most talented and skilled batch of Liberal MPs that your party has produced in decades and with your help they will be around for a very long time to come. Mr M.J. Birney : Where are you going with this? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I can see a bit of talent over there! I do not know what Sir Charles Court would have thought about that - or Bill Hassell or Richard Court! Mr M.J. Birney : They were nodding. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am sure they were nodding! The Leader of the Opposition in his speech used words to the effect, “We currently have the most talented batch of Liberal MPs we have ever had in this party”. Point of Order Mr M.J. BIRNEY : Madam Deputy Speaker, even though the minister’s dissertation is highly amusing - The DEPUTY SPEAKER (Mrs D.J. Guise) : Order! I suggest the member quote the standing order that he intends to use, otherwise I will need to ask him to sit down. Mr M.J. BIRNEY : I am about to do that, Madam Deputy Speaker. Even though the minister’s speech is highly amusing, he is making an absolute joke of question time. I bring to your attention the standing order of relevance. I cannot even remember the question the minister was asked, but I guarantee it has nothing to do with what the minister is talking about. The standing order is relevance. The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Order! I warn members not to abuse the standing orders in raising a point of order, and I ask ministers to keep the answers to questions relatively succinct, if they can. Mr M.J. BIRNEY : Was my point of order upheld, Madam Deputy Speaker? The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Order! No. There is no point of order. The minister. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will be succinct, Madam Deputy Speaker. It is not me who is making the joke. It is the Leader of the Opposition.
I was very interested to read the speech - I did not have the pleasure of hearing it - of the member for Kalgoorlie, the Leader of the Opposition, at the state Liberal Party conference. He raised a couple of interesting issues, and the Treasurer has already alluded to one of them. The member raised an issue that I think is very important and it relates to the approvals process. I agree that we can do better with the approvals process, and we are working in that direction. Some initiatives are coming out now. I am very keen to help out in individual cases when they arise, as well as the general situation. In his speech the member for Kalgoorlie said about the approvals process - Believe it or not a mining company executive told me a few weeks ago that his company was prevented from processing a stockpile of ore because weeds had grown through it and he was now caught by Labor’s native vegetation clearing regulations. If the member for Kalgoorlie could give me the detail of that now across the chamber, I will chase it up and try to resolve the issue. Mr M.J. Birney : It has been resolved. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Can the member tell me who it was? Mr M.J. Birney : I will give you the information. It was put to me by a very senior mining company executive of a very substantial mining company in this state. Several members interjected. Mr M.J. Birney : Let me finish. I’m sure you’ll let me finish. He was absolutely flabbergasted that he had come up against this brick wall. I said to him that I would take it up publicly for him. He said, “No, I don’t want to incur the wrath of the government. We will have to deal with it at our level.” It has now been dealt with. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am interested in the details of this case so that I can pursue it to see whether it is a real case study that we can ensure is never repeated. Can the member tell me who it was? Mr M.J. Birney : He has asked me not to. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I suspect this is another flourish of imagination from the Leader of the Opposition. It is not backed up by reality. It is certainly not backed up by facts. Mr M.J. Birney : I will tell you what I will do. I will give him a call this afternoon to see whether he has changed his view about whether I can go public with the name of his company, provided you give an absolute assurance that there will be no backlash towards that company. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : If I ever find out who it was, I will crush him! Mr M.J. Birney : As you wanted to do with the school principals! Do you remember that? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Yes, I do! It was a very interesting speech. It was peppered with little diamonds such as that. There was one right at the start that really stuck out. In fact, it startled me. Mind you, I have been a member of Parliament for only nine years, and I have been following state politics professionally for only 17 or 18 years! I am sure a lot of former members of the Liberal Party would be interested in this. The Leader of the Opposition made the assertion - In fact, we currently have the best, most talented and skilled batch of Liberal MPs that your party has produced in decades and with your help they will be around for a very long time to come. Mr M.J. Birney : Where are you going with this? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I can see a bit of talent over there! I do not know what Sir Charles Court would have thought about that - or Bill Hassell or Richard Court! Mr M.J. Birney : They were nodding. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am sure they were nodding! The Leader of the Opposition in his speech used words to the effect, “We currently have the most talented batch of Liberal MPs we have ever had in this party”. Point of Order Mr M.J. BIRNEY : Madam Deputy Speaker, even though the minister’s dissertation is highly amusing - The DEPUTY SPEAKER (Mrs D.J. Guise) : Order! I suggest the member quote the standing order that he intends to use, otherwise I will need to ask him to sit down. Mr M.J. BIRNEY : I am about to do that, Madam Deputy Speaker. Even though the minister’s speech is highly amusing, he is making an absolute joke of question time. I bring to your attention the standing order of relevance. I cannot even remember the question the minister was asked, but I guarantee it has nothing to do with what the minister is talking about. The standing order is relevance. The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Order! I warn members not to abuse the standing orders in raising a point of order, and I ask ministers to keep the answers to questions relatively succinct, if they can. Mr M.J. BIRNEY : Was my point of order upheld, Madam Deputy Speaker? The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Order! No. There is no point of order. The minister. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will be succinct, Madam Deputy Speaker. It is not me who is making the joke. It is the Leader of the Opposition.
Mr M.J. Birney : It has been resolved. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Can the member tell me who it was? Mr M.J. Birney : I will give you the information. It was put to me by a very senior mining company executive of a very substantial mining company in this state. Several members interjected. Mr M.J. Birney : Let me finish. I’m sure you’ll let me finish. He was absolutely flabbergasted that he had come up against this brick wall. I said to him that I would take it up publicly for him. He said, “No, I don’t want to incur the wrath of the government. We will have to deal with it at our level.” It has now been dealt with. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am interested in the details of this case so that I can pursue it to see whether it is a real case study that we can ensure is never repeated. Can the member tell me who it was? Mr M.J. Birney : He has asked me not to. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I suspect this is another flourish of imagination from the Leader of the Opposition. It is not backed up by reality. It is certainly not backed up by facts. Mr M.J. Birney : I will tell you what I will do. I will give him a call this afternoon to see whether he has changed his view about whether I can go public with the name of his company, provided you give an absolute assurance that there will be no backlash towards that company. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : If I ever find out who it was, I will crush him! Mr M.J. Birney : As you wanted to do with the school principals! Do you remember that? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Yes, I do! It was a very interesting speech. It was peppered with little diamonds such as that. There was one right at the start that really stuck out. In fact, it startled me. Mind you, I have been a member of Parliament for only nine years, and I have been following state politics professionally for only 17 or 18 years! I am sure a lot of former members of the Liberal Party would be interested in this. The Leader of the Opposition made the assertion - In fact, we currently have the best, most talented and skilled batch of Liberal MPs that your party has produced in decades and with your help they will be around for a very long time to come. Mr M.J. Birney : Where are you going with this? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I can see a bit of talent over there! I do not know what Sir Charles Court would have thought about that - or Bill Hassell or Richard Court! Mr M.J. Birney : They were nodding. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am sure they were nodding! The Leader of the Opposition in his speech used words to the effect, “We currently have the most talented batch of Liberal MPs we have ever had in this party”. Point of Order Mr M.J. BIRNEY : Madam Deputy Speaker, even though the minister’s dissertation is highly amusing - The DEPUTY SPEAKER (Mrs D.J. Guise) : Order! I suggest the member quote the standing order that he intends to use, otherwise I will need to ask him to sit down. Mr M.J. BIRNEY : I am about to do that, Madam Deputy Speaker. Even though the minister’s speech is highly amusing, he is making an absolute joke of question time. I bring to your attention the standing order of relevance. I cannot even remember the question the minister was asked, but I guarantee it has nothing to do with what the minister is talking about. The standing order is relevance. The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Order! I warn members not to abuse the standing orders in raising a point of order, and I ask ministers to keep the answers to questions relatively succinct, if they can. Mr M.J. BIRNEY : Was my point of order upheld, Madam Deputy Speaker? The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Order! No. There is no point of order. The minister. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will be succinct, Madam Deputy Speaker. It is not me who is making the joke. It is the Leader of the Opposition.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Can the member tell me who it was? Mr M.J. Birney : I will give you the information. It was put to me by a very senior mining company executive of a very substantial mining company in this state. Several members interjected. Mr M.J. Birney : Let me finish. I’m sure you’ll let me finish. He was absolutely flabbergasted that he had come up against this brick wall. I said to him that I would take it up publicly for him. He said, “No, I don’t want to incur the wrath of the government. We will have to deal with it at our level.” It has now been dealt with. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am interested in the details of this case so that I can pursue it to see whether it is a real case study that we can ensure is never repeated. Can the member tell me who it was? Mr M.J. Birney : He has asked me not to. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I suspect this is another flourish of imagination from the Leader of the Opposition. It is not backed up by reality. It is certainly not backed up by facts. Mr M.J. Birney : I will tell you what I will do. I will give him a call this afternoon to see whether he has changed his view about whether I can go public with the name of his company, provided you give an absolute assurance that there will be no backlash towards that company. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : If I ever find out who it was, I will crush him! Mr M.J. Birney : As you wanted to do with the school principals! Do you remember that? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Yes, I do! It was a very interesting speech. It was peppered with little diamonds such as that. There was one right at the start that really stuck out. In fact, it startled me. Mind you, I have been a member of Parliament for only nine years, and I have been following state politics professionally for only 17 or 18 years! I am sure a lot of former members of the Liberal Party would be interested in this. The Leader of the Opposition made the assertion - In fact, we currently have the best, most talented and skilled batch of Liberal MPs that your party has produced in decades and with your help they will be around for a very long time to come. Mr M.J. Birney : Where are you going with this? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I can see a bit of talent over there! I do not know what Sir Charles Court would have thought about that - or Bill Hassell or Richard Court! Mr M.J. Birney : They were nodding. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am sure they were nodding! The Leader of the Opposition in his speech used words to the effect, “We currently have the most talented batch of Liberal MPs we have ever had in this party”. Point of Order Mr M.J. BIRNEY : Madam Deputy Speaker, even though the minister’s dissertation is highly amusing - The DEPUTY SPEAKER (Mrs D.J. Guise) : Order! I suggest the member quote the standing order that he intends to use, otherwise I will need to ask him to sit down. Mr M.J. BIRNEY : I am about to do that, Madam Deputy Speaker. Even though the minister’s speech is highly amusing, he is making an absolute joke of question time. I bring to your attention the standing order of relevance. I cannot even remember the question the minister was asked, but I guarantee it has nothing to do with what the minister is talking about. The standing order is relevance. The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Order! I warn members not to abuse the standing orders in raising a point of order, and I ask ministers to keep the answers to questions relatively succinct, if they can. Mr M.J. BIRNEY : Was my point of order upheld, Madam Deputy Speaker? The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Order! No. There is no point of order. The minister. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will be succinct, Madam Deputy Speaker. It is not me who is making the joke. It is the Leader of the Opposition.
Mr M.J. Birney : I will give you the information. It was put to me by a very senior mining company executive of a very substantial mining company in this state. Several members interjected. Mr M.J. Birney : Let me finish. I’m sure you’ll let me finish. He was absolutely flabbergasted that he had come up against this brick wall. I said to him that I would take it up publicly for him. He said, “No, I don’t want to incur the wrath of the government. We will have to deal with it at our level.” It has now been dealt with. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am interested in the details of this case so that I can pursue it to see whether it is a real case study that we can ensure is never repeated. Can the member tell me who it was? Mr M.J. Birney : He has asked me not to. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I suspect this is another flourish of imagination from the Leader of the Opposition. It is not backed up by reality. It is certainly not backed up by facts. Mr M.J. Birney : I will tell you what I will do. I will give him a call this afternoon to see whether he has changed his view about whether I can go public with the name of his company, provided you give an absolute assurance that there will be no backlash towards that company. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : If I ever find out who it was, I will crush him! Mr M.J. Birney : As you wanted to do with the school principals! Do you remember that? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Yes, I do! It was a very interesting speech. It was peppered with little diamonds such as that. There was one right at the start that really stuck out. In fact, it startled me. Mind you, I have been a member of Parliament for only nine years, and I have been following state politics professionally for only 17 or 18 years! I am sure a lot of former members of the Liberal Party would be interested in this. The Leader of the Opposition made the assertion - In fact, we currently have the best, most talented and skilled batch of Liberal MPs that your party has produced in decades and with your help they will be around for a very long time to come. Mr M.J. Birney : Where are you going with this? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I can see a bit of talent over there! I do not know what Sir Charles Court would have thought about that - or Bill Hassell or Richard Court! Mr M.J. Birney : They were nodding. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am sure they were nodding! The Leader of the Opposition in his speech used words to the effect, “We currently have the most talented batch of Liberal MPs we have ever had in this party”. Point of Order Mr M.J. BIRNEY : Madam Deputy Speaker, even though the minister’s dissertation is highly amusing - The DEPUTY SPEAKER (Mrs D.J. Guise) : Order! I suggest the member quote the standing order that he intends to use, otherwise I will need to ask him to sit down. Mr M.J. BIRNEY : I am about to do that, Madam Deputy Speaker. Even though the minister’s speech is highly amusing, he is making an absolute joke of question time. I bring to your attention the standing order of relevance. I cannot even remember the question the minister was asked, but I guarantee it has nothing to do with what the minister is talking about. The standing order is relevance. The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Order! I warn members not to abuse the standing orders in raising a point of order, and I ask ministers to keep the answers to questions relatively succinct, if they can. Mr M.J. BIRNEY : Was my point of order upheld, Madam Deputy Speaker? The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Order! No. There is no point of order. The minister. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will be succinct, Madam Deputy Speaker. It is not me who is making the joke. It is the Leader of the Opposition.
Several members interjected. Mr M.J. Birney : Let me finish. I’m sure you’ll let me finish. He was absolutely flabbergasted that he had come up against this brick wall. I said to him that I would take it up publicly for him. He said, “No, I don’t want to incur the wrath of the government. We will have to deal with it at our level.” It has now been dealt with. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am interested in the details of this case so that I can pursue it to see whether it is a real case study that we can ensure is never repeated. Can the member tell me who it was? Mr M.J. Birney : He has asked me not to. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I suspect this is another flourish of imagination from the Leader of the Opposition. It is not backed up by reality. It is certainly not backed up by facts. Mr M.J. Birney : I will tell you what I will do. I will give him a call this afternoon to see whether he has changed his view about whether I can go public with the name of his company, provided you give an absolute assurance that there will be no backlash towards that company. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : If I ever find out who it was, I will crush him! Mr M.J. Birney : As you wanted to do with the school principals! Do you remember that? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Yes, I do! It was a very interesting speech. It was peppered with little diamonds such as that. There was one right at the start that really stuck out. In fact, it startled me. Mind you, I have been a member of Parliament for only nine years, and I have been following state politics professionally for only 17 or 18 years! I am sure a lot of former members of the Liberal Party would be interested in this. The Leader of the Opposition made the assertion - In fact, we currently have the best, most talented and skilled batch of Liberal MPs that your party has produced in decades and with your help they will be around for a very long time to come. Mr M.J. Birney : Where are you going with this? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I can see a bit of talent over there! I do not know what Sir Charles Court would have thought about that - or Bill Hassell or Richard Court! Mr M.J. Birney : They were nodding. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am sure they were nodding! The Leader of the Opposition in his speech used words to the effect, “We currently have the most talented batch of Liberal MPs we have ever had in this party”. Point of Order Mr M.J. BIRNEY : Madam Deputy Speaker, even though the minister’s dissertation is highly amusing - The DEPUTY SPEAKER (Mrs D.J. Guise) : Order! I suggest the member quote the standing order that he intends to use, otherwise I will need to ask him to sit down. Mr M.J. BIRNEY : I am about to do that, Madam Deputy Speaker. Even though the minister’s speech is highly amusing, he is making an absolute joke of question time. I bring to your attention the standing order of relevance. I cannot even remember the question the minister was asked, but I guarantee it has nothing to do with what the minister is talking about. The standing order is relevance. The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Order! I warn members not to abuse the standing orders in raising a point of order, and I ask ministers to keep the answers to questions relatively succinct, if they can. Mr M.J. BIRNEY : Was my point of order upheld, Madam Deputy Speaker? The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Order! No. There is no point of order. The minister. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will be succinct, Madam Deputy Speaker. It is not me who is making the joke. It is the Leader of the Opposition.
Mr M.J. Birney : Let me finish. I’m sure you’ll let me finish. He was absolutely flabbergasted that he had come up against this brick wall. I said to him that I would take it up publicly for him. He said, “No, I don’t want to incur the wrath of the government. We will have to deal with it at our level.” It has now been dealt with. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am interested in the details of this case so that I can pursue it to see whether it is a real case study that we can ensure is never repeated. Can the member tell me who it was? Mr M.J. Birney : He has asked me not to. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I suspect this is another flourish of imagination from the Leader of the Opposition. It is not backed up by reality. It is certainly not backed up by facts. Mr M.J. Birney : I will tell you what I will do. I will give him a call this afternoon to see whether he has changed his view about whether I can go public with the name of his company, provided you give an absolute assurance that there will be no backlash towards that company. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : If I ever find out who it was, I will crush him! Mr M.J. Birney : As you wanted to do with the school principals! Do you remember that? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Yes, I do! It was a very interesting speech. It was peppered with little diamonds such as that. There was one right at the start that really stuck out. In fact, it startled me. Mind you, I have been a member of Parliament for only nine years, and I have been following state politics professionally for only 17 or 18 years! I am sure a lot of former members of the Liberal Party would be interested in this. The Leader of the Opposition made the assertion - In fact, we currently have the best, most talented and skilled batch of Liberal MPs that your party has produced in decades and with your help they will be around for a very long time to come. Mr M.J. Birney : Where are you going with this? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I can see a bit of talent over there! I do not know what Sir Charles Court would have thought about that - or Bill Hassell or Richard Court! Mr M.J. Birney : They were nodding. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am sure they were nodding! The Leader of the Opposition in his speech used words to the effect, “We currently have the most talented batch of Liberal MPs we have ever had in this party”. Point of Order Mr M.J. BIRNEY : Madam Deputy Speaker, even though the minister’s dissertation is highly amusing - The DEPUTY SPEAKER (Mrs D.J. Guise) : Order! I suggest the member quote the standing order that he intends to use, otherwise I will need to ask him to sit down. Mr M.J. BIRNEY : I am about to do that, Madam Deputy Speaker. Even though the minister’s speech is highly amusing, he is making an absolute joke of question time. I bring to your attention the standing order of relevance. I cannot even remember the question the minister was asked, but I guarantee it has nothing to do with what the minister is talking about. The standing order is relevance. The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Order! I warn members not to abuse the standing orders in raising a point of order, and I ask ministers to keep the answers to questions relatively succinct, if they can. Mr M.J. BIRNEY : Was my point of order upheld, Madam Deputy Speaker? The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Order! No. There is no point of order. The minister. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will be succinct, Madam Deputy Speaker. It is not me who is making the joke. It is the Leader of the Opposition.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am interested in the details of this case so that I can pursue it to see whether it is a real case study that we can ensure is never repeated. Can the member tell me who it was? Mr M.J. Birney : He has asked me not to. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I suspect this is another flourish of imagination from the Leader of the Opposition. It is not backed up by reality. It is certainly not backed up by facts. Mr M.J. Birney : I will tell you what I will do. I will give him a call this afternoon to see whether he has changed his view about whether I can go public with the name of his company, provided you give an absolute assurance that there will be no backlash towards that company. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : If I ever find out who it was, I will crush him! Mr M.J. Birney : As you wanted to do with the school principals! Do you remember that? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Yes, I do! It was a very interesting speech. It was peppered with little diamonds such as that. There was one right at the start that really stuck out. In fact, it startled me. Mind you, I have been a member of Parliament for only nine years, and I have been following state politics professionally for only 17 or 18 years! I am sure a lot of former members of the Liberal Party would be interested in this. The Leader of the Opposition made the assertion - In fact, we currently have the best, most talented and skilled batch of Liberal MPs that your party has produced in decades and with your help they will be around for a very long time to come. Mr M.J. Birney : Where are you going with this? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I can see a bit of talent over there! I do not know what Sir Charles Court would have thought about that - or Bill Hassell or Richard Court! Mr M.J. Birney : They were nodding. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am sure they were nodding! The Leader of the Opposition in his speech used words to the effect, “We currently have the most talented batch of Liberal MPs we have ever had in this party”. Point of Order Mr M.J. BIRNEY : Madam Deputy Speaker, even though the minister’s dissertation is highly amusing - The DEPUTY SPEAKER (Mrs D.J. Guise) : Order! I suggest the member quote the standing order that he intends to use, otherwise I will need to ask him to sit down. Mr M.J. BIRNEY : I am about to do that, Madam Deputy Speaker. Even though the minister’s speech is highly amusing, he is making an absolute joke of question time. I bring to your attention the standing order of relevance. I cannot even remember the question the minister was asked, but I guarantee it has nothing to do with what the minister is talking about. The standing order is relevance. The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Order! I warn members not to abuse the standing orders in raising a point of order, and I ask ministers to keep the answers to questions relatively succinct, if they can. Mr M.J. BIRNEY : Was my point of order upheld, Madam Deputy Speaker? The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Order! No. There is no point of order. The minister. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will be succinct, Madam Deputy Speaker. It is not me who is making the joke. It is the Leader of the Opposition.
Mr M.J. Birney : He has asked me not to. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I suspect this is another flourish of imagination from the Leader of the Opposition. It is not backed up by reality. It is certainly not backed up by facts. Mr M.J. Birney : I will tell you what I will do. I will give him a call this afternoon to see whether he has changed his view about whether I can go public with the name of his company, provided you give an absolute assurance that there will be no backlash towards that company. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : If I ever find out who it was, I will crush him! Mr M.J. Birney : As you wanted to do with the school principals! Do you remember that? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Yes, I do! It was a very interesting speech. It was peppered with little diamonds such as that. There was one right at the start that really stuck out. In fact, it startled me. Mind you, I have been a member of Parliament for only nine years, and I have been following state politics professionally for only 17 or 18 years! I am sure a lot of former members of the Liberal Party would be interested in this. The Leader of the Opposition made the assertion - In fact, we currently have the best, most talented and skilled batch of Liberal MPs that your party has produced in decades and with your help they will be around for a very long time to come. Mr M.J. Birney : Where are you going with this? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I can see a bit of talent over there! I do not know what Sir Charles Court would have thought about that - or Bill Hassell or Richard Court! Mr M.J. Birney : They were nodding. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am sure they were nodding! The Leader of the Opposition in his speech used words to the effect, “We currently have the most talented batch of Liberal MPs we have ever had in this party”. Point of Order Mr M.J. BIRNEY : Madam Deputy Speaker, even though the minister’s dissertation is highly amusing - The DEPUTY SPEAKER (Mrs D.J. Guise) : Order! I suggest the member quote the standing order that he intends to use, otherwise I will need to ask him to sit down. Mr M.J. BIRNEY : I am about to do that, Madam Deputy Speaker. Even though the minister’s speech is highly amusing, he is making an absolute joke of question time. I bring to your attention the standing order of relevance. I cannot even remember the question the minister was asked, but I guarantee it has nothing to do with what the minister is talking about. The standing order is relevance. The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Order! I warn members not to abuse the standing orders in raising a point of order, and I ask ministers to keep the answers to questions relatively succinct, if they can. Mr M.J. BIRNEY : Was my point of order upheld, Madam Deputy Speaker? The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Order! No. There is no point of order. The minister. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will be succinct, Madam Deputy Speaker. It is not me who is making the joke. It is the Leader of the Opposition.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I suspect this is another flourish of imagination from the Leader of the Opposition. It is not backed up by reality. It is certainly not backed up by facts. Mr M.J. Birney : I will tell you what I will do. I will give him a call this afternoon to see whether he has changed his view about whether I can go public with the name of his company, provided you give an absolute assurance that there will be no backlash towards that company. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : If I ever find out who it was, I will crush him! Mr M.J. Birney : As you wanted to do with the school principals! Do you remember that? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Yes, I do! It was a very interesting speech. It was peppered with little diamonds such as that. There was one right at the start that really stuck out. In fact, it startled me. Mind you, I have been a member of Parliament for only nine years, and I have been following state politics professionally for only 17 or 18 years! I am sure a lot of former members of the Liberal Party would be interested in this. The Leader of the Opposition made the assertion - In fact, we currently have the best, most talented and skilled batch of Liberal MPs that your party has produced in decades and with your help they will be around for a very long time to come. Mr M.J. Birney : Where are you going with this? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I can see a bit of talent over there! I do not know what Sir Charles Court would have thought about that - or Bill Hassell or Richard Court! Mr M.J. Birney : They were nodding. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am sure they were nodding! The Leader of the Opposition in his speech used words to the effect, “We currently have the most talented batch of Liberal MPs we have ever had in this party”. Point of Order Mr M.J. BIRNEY : Madam Deputy Speaker, even though the minister’s dissertation is highly amusing - The DEPUTY SPEAKER (Mrs D.J. Guise) : Order! I suggest the member quote the standing order that he intends to use, otherwise I will need to ask him to sit down. Mr M.J. BIRNEY : I am about to do that, Madam Deputy Speaker. Even though the minister’s speech is highly amusing, he is making an absolute joke of question time. I bring to your attention the standing order of relevance. I cannot even remember the question the minister was asked, but I guarantee it has nothing to do with what the minister is talking about. The standing order is relevance. The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Order! I warn members not to abuse the standing orders in raising a point of order, and I ask ministers to keep the answers to questions relatively succinct, if they can. Mr M.J. BIRNEY : Was my point of order upheld, Madam Deputy Speaker? The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Order! No. There is no point of order. The minister. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will be succinct, Madam Deputy Speaker. It is not me who is making the joke. It is the Leader of the Opposition.
Mr M.J. Birney : I will tell you what I will do. I will give him a call this afternoon to see whether he has changed his view about whether I can go public with the name of his company, provided you give an absolute assurance that there will be no backlash towards that company. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : If I ever find out who it was, I will crush him! Mr M.J. Birney : As you wanted to do with the school principals! Do you remember that? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Yes, I do! It was a very interesting speech. It was peppered with little diamonds such as that. There was one right at the start that really stuck out. In fact, it startled me. Mind you, I have been a member of Parliament for only nine years, and I have been following state politics professionally for only 17 or 18 years! I am sure a lot of former members of the Liberal Party would be interested in this. The Leader of the Opposition made the assertion - In fact, we currently have the best, most talented and skilled batch of Liberal MPs that your party has produced in decades and with your help they will be around for a very long time to come. Mr M.J. Birney : Where are you going with this? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I can see a bit of talent over there! I do not know what Sir Charles Court would have thought about that - or Bill Hassell or Richard Court! Mr M.J. Birney : They were nodding. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am sure they were nodding! The Leader of the Opposition in his speech used words to the effect, “We currently have the most talented batch of Liberal MPs we have ever had in this party”. Point of Order Mr M.J. BIRNEY : Madam Deputy Speaker, even though the minister’s dissertation is highly amusing - The DEPUTY SPEAKER (Mrs D.J. Guise) : Order! I suggest the member quote the standing order that he intends to use, otherwise I will need to ask him to sit down. Mr M.J. BIRNEY : I am about to do that, Madam Deputy Speaker. Even though the minister’s speech is highly amusing, he is making an absolute joke of question time. I bring to your attention the standing order of relevance. I cannot even remember the question the minister was asked, but I guarantee it has nothing to do with what the minister is talking about. The standing order is relevance. The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Order! I warn members not to abuse the standing orders in raising a point of order, and I ask ministers to keep the answers to questions relatively succinct, if they can. Mr M.J. BIRNEY : Was my point of order upheld, Madam Deputy Speaker? The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Order! No. There is no point of order. The minister. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will be succinct, Madam Deputy Speaker. It is not me who is making the joke. It is the Leader of the Opposition.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : If I ever find out who it was, I will crush him! Mr M.J. Birney : As you wanted to do with the school principals! Do you remember that? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Yes, I do! It was a very interesting speech. It was peppered with little diamonds such as that. There was one right at the start that really stuck out. In fact, it startled me. Mind you, I have been a member of Parliament for only nine years, and I have been following state politics professionally for only 17 or 18 years! I am sure a lot of former members of the Liberal Party would be interested in this. The Leader of the Opposition made the assertion - In fact, we currently have the best, most talented and skilled batch of Liberal MPs that your party has produced in decades and with your help they will be around for a very long time to come. Mr M.J. Birney : Where are you going with this? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I can see a bit of talent over there! I do not know what Sir Charles Court would have thought about that - or Bill Hassell or Richard Court! Mr M.J. Birney : They were nodding. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am sure they were nodding! The Leader of the Opposition in his speech used words to the effect, “We currently have the most talented batch of Liberal MPs we have ever had in this party”. Point of Order Mr M.J. BIRNEY : Madam Deputy Speaker, even though the minister’s dissertation is highly amusing - The DEPUTY SPEAKER (Mrs D.J. Guise) : Order! I suggest the member quote the standing order that he intends to use, otherwise I will need to ask him to sit down. Mr M.J. BIRNEY : I am about to do that, Madam Deputy Speaker. Even though the minister’s speech is highly amusing, he is making an absolute joke of question time. I bring to your attention the standing order of relevance. I cannot even remember the question the minister was asked, but I guarantee it has nothing to do with what the minister is talking about. The standing order is relevance. The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Order! I warn members not to abuse the standing orders in raising a point of order, and I ask ministers to keep the answers to questions relatively succinct, if they can. Mr M.J. BIRNEY : Was my point of order upheld, Madam Deputy Speaker? The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Order! No. There is no point of order. The minister. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will be succinct, Madam Deputy Speaker. It is not me who is making the joke. It is the Leader of the Opposition.
Mr M.J. Birney : As you wanted to do with the school principals! Do you remember that? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Yes, I do! It was a very interesting speech. It was peppered with little diamonds such as that. There was one right at the start that really stuck out. In fact, it startled me. Mind you, I have been a member of Parliament for only nine years, and I have been following state politics professionally for only 17 or 18 years! I am sure a lot of former members of the Liberal Party would be interested in this. The Leader of the Opposition made the assertion - In fact, we currently have the best, most talented and skilled batch of Liberal MPs that your party has produced in decades and with your help they will be around for a very long time to come. Mr M.J. Birney : Where are you going with this? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I can see a bit of talent over there! I do not know what Sir Charles Court would have thought about that - or Bill Hassell or Richard Court! Mr M.J. Birney : They were nodding. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am sure they were nodding! The Leader of the Opposition in his speech used words to the effect, “We currently have the most talented batch of Liberal MPs we have ever had in this party”. Point of Order Mr M.J. BIRNEY : Madam Deputy Speaker, even though the minister’s dissertation is highly amusing - The DEPUTY SPEAKER (Mrs D.J. Guise) : Order! I suggest the member quote the standing order that he intends to use, otherwise I will need to ask him to sit down. Mr M.J. BIRNEY : I am about to do that, Madam Deputy Speaker. Even though the minister’s speech is highly amusing, he is making an absolute joke of question time. I bring to your attention the standing order of relevance. I cannot even remember the question the minister was asked, but I guarantee it has nothing to do with what the minister is talking about. The standing order is relevance. The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Order! I warn members not to abuse the standing orders in raising a point of order, and I ask ministers to keep the answers to questions relatively succinct, if they can. Mr M.J. BIRNEY : Was my point of order upheld, Madam Deputy Speaker? The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Order! No. There is no point of order. The minister. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will be succinct, Madam Deputy Speaker. It is not me who is making the joke. It is the Leader of the Opposition.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Yes, I do! It was a very interesting speech. It was peppered with little diamonds such as that. There was one right at the start that really stuck out. In fact, it startled me. Mind you, I have been a member of Parliament for only nine years, and I have been following state politics professionally for only 17 or 18 years! I am sure a lot of former members of the Liberal Party would be interested in this. The Leader of the Opposition made the assertion - In fact, we currently have the best, most talented and skilled batch of Liberal MPs that your party has produced in decades and with your help they will be around for a very long time to come. Mr M.J. Birney : Where are you going with this? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I can see a bit of talent over there! I do not know what Sir Charles Court would have thought about that - or Bill Hassell or Richard Court! Mr M.J. Birney : They were nodding. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am sure they were nodding! The Leader of the Opposition in his speech used words to the effect, “We currently have the most talented batch of Liberal MPs we have ever had in this party”. Point of Order Mr M.J. BIRNEY : Madam Deputy Speaker, even though the minister’s dissertation is highly amusing - The DEPUTY SPEAKER (Mrs D.J. Guise) : Order! I suggest the member quote the standing order that he intends to use, otherwise I will need to ask him to sit down. Mr M.J. BIRNEY : I am about to do that, Madam Deputy Speaker. Even though the minister’s speech is highly amusing, he is making an absolute joke of question time. I bring to your attention the standing order of relevance. I cannot even remember the question the minister was asked, but I guarantee it has nothing to do with what the minister is talking about. The standing order is relevance. The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Order! I warn members not to abuse the standing orders in raising a point of order, and I ask ministers to keep the answers to questions relatively succinct, if they can. Mr M.J. BIRNEY : Was my point of order upheld, Madam Deputy Speaker? The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Order! No. There is no point of order. The minister. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will be succinct, Madam Deputy Speaker. It is not me who is making the joke. It is the Leader of the Opposition.
It was a very interesting speech. It was peppered with little diamonds such as that. There was one right at the start that really stuck out. In fact, it startled me. Mind you, I have been a member of Parliament for only nine years, and I have been following state politics professionally for only 17 or 18 years! I am sure a lot of former members of the Liberal Party would be interested in this. The Leader of the Opposition made the assertion - In fact, we currently have the best, most talented and skilled batch of Liberal MPs that your party has produced in decades and with your help they will be around for a very long time to come. Mr M.J. Birney : Where are you going with this? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I can see a bit of talent over there! I do not know what Sir Charles Court would have thought about that - or Bill Hassell or Richard Court! Mr M.J. Birney : They were nodding. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am sure they were nodding! The Leader of the Opposition in his speech used words to the effect, “We currently have the most talented batch of Liberal MPs we have ever had in this party”. Point of Order Mr M.J. BIRNEY : Madam Deputy Speaker, even though the minister’s dissertation is highly amusing - The DEPUTY SPEAKER (Mrs D.J. Guise) : Order! I suggest the member quote the standing order that he intends to use, otherwise I will need to ask him to sit down. Mr M.J. BIRNEY : I am about to do that, Madam Deputy Speaker. Even though the minister’s speech is highly amusing, he is making an absolute joke of question time. I bring to your attention the standing order of relevance. I cannot even remember the question the minister was asked, but I guarantee it has nothing to do with what the minister is talking about. The standing order is relevance. The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Order! I warn members not to abuse the standing orders in raising a point of order, and I ask ministers to keep the answers to questions relatively succinct, if they can. Mr M.J. BIRNEY : Was my point of order upheld, Madam Deputy Speaker? The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Order! No. There is no point of order. The minister. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will be succinct, Madam Deputy Speaker. It is not me who is making the joke. It is the Leader of the Opposition.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I can see a bit of talent over there! I do not know what Sir Charles Court would have thought about that - or Bill Hassell or Richard Court! Mr M.J. Birney : They were nodding. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am sure they were nodding! The Leader of the Opposition in his speech used words to the effect, “We currently have the most talented batch of Liberal MPs we have ever had in this party”. Point of Order Mr M.J. BIRNEY : Madam Deputy Speaker, even though the minister’s dissertation is highly amusing - The DEPUTY SPEAKER (Mrs D.J. Guise) : Order! I suggest the member quote the standing order that he intends to use, otherwise I will need to ask him to sit down. Mr M.J. BIRNEY : I am about to do that, Madam Deputy Speaker. Even though the minister’s speech is highly amusing, he is making an absolute joke of question time. I bring to your attention the standing order of relevance. I cannot even remember the question the minister was asked, but I guarantee it has nothing to do with what the minister is talking about. The standing order is relevance. The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Order! I warn members not to abuse the standing orders in raising a point of order, and I ask ministers to keep the answers to questions relatively succinct, if they can. Mr M.J. BIRNEY : Was my point of order upheld, Madam Deputy Speaker? The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Order! No. There is no point of order. The minister. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will be succinct, Madam Deputy Speaker. It is not me who is making the joke. It is the Leader of the Opposition.
Mr M.J. Birney : They were nodding. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am sure they were nodding! The Leader of the Opposition in his speech used words to the effect, “We currently have the most talented batch of Liberal MPs we have ever had in this party”. Point of Order Mr M.J. BIRNEY : Madam Deputy Speaker, even though the minister’s dissertation is highly amusing - The DEPUTY SPEAKER (Mrs D.J. Guise) : Order! I suggest the member quote the standing order that he intends to use, otherwise I will need to ask him to sit down. Mr M.J. BIRNEY : I am about to do that, Madam Deputy Speaker. Even though the minister’s speech is highly amusing, he is making an absolute joke of question time. I bring to your attention the standing order of relevance. I cannot even remember the question the minister was asked, but I guarantee it has nothing to do with what the minister is talking about. The standing order is relevance. The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Order! I warn members not to abuse the standing orders in raising a point of order, and I ask ministers to keep the answers to questions relatively succinct, if they can. Mr M.J. BIRNEY : Was my point of order upheld, Madam Deputy Speaker? The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Order! No. There is no point of order. The minister. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will be succinct, Madam Deputy Speaker. It is not me who is making the joke. It is the Leader of the Opposition.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am sure they were nodding! The Leader of the Opposition in his speech used words to the effect, “We currently have the most talented batch of Liberal MPs we have ever had in this party”. Point of Order Mr M.J. BIRNEY : Madam Deputy Speaker, even though the minister’s dissertation is highly amusing - The DEPUTY SPEAKER (Mrs D.J. Guise) : Order! I suggest the member quote the standing order that he intends to use, otherwise I will need to ask him to sit down. Mr M.J. BIRNEY : I am about to do that, Madam Deputy Speaker. Even though the minister’s speech is highly amusing, he is making an absolute joke of question time. I bring to your attention the standing order of relevance. I cannot even remember the question the minister was asked, but I guarantee it has nothing to do with what the minister is talking about. The standing order is relevance. The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Order! I warn members not to abuse the standing orders in raising a point of order, and I ask ministers to keep the answers to questions relatively succinct, if they can. Mr M.J. BIRNEY : Was my point of order upheld, Madam Deputy Speaker? The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Order! No. There is no point of order. The minister. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will be succinct, Madam Deputy Speaker. It is not me who is making the joke. It is the Leader of the Opposition.
The DEPUTY SPEAKER (Mrs D.J. Guise) : Order! I suggest the member quote the standing order that he intends to use, otherwise I will need to ask him to sit down. Mr M.J. BIRNEY : I am about to do that, Madam Deputy Speaker. Even though the minister’s speech is highly amusing, he is making an absolute joke of question time. I bring to your attention the standing order of relevance. I cannot even remember the question the minister was asked, but I guarantee it has nothing to do with what the minister is talking about. The standing order is relevance. The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Order! I warn members not to abuse the standing orders in raising a point of order, and I ask ministers to keep the answers to questions relatively succinct, if they can. Mr M.J. BIRNEY : Was my point of order upheld, Madam Deputy Speaker? The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Order! No. There is no point of order. The minister. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will be succinct, Madam Deputy Speaker. It is not me who is making the joke. It is the Leader of the Opposition.
Mr M.J. BIRNEY : I am about to do that, Madam Deputy Speaker. Even though the minister’s speech is highly amusing, he is making an absolute joke of question time. I bring to your attention the standing order of relevance. I cannot even remember the question the minister was asked, but I guarantee it has nothing to do with what the minister is talking about. The standing order is relevance. The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Order! I warn members not to abuse the standing orders in raising a point of order, and I ask ministers to keep the answers to questions relatively succinct, if they can. Mr M.J. BIRNEY : Was my point of order upheld, Madam Deputy Speaker? The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Order! No. There is no point of order. The minister. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will be succinct, Madam Deputy Speaker. It is not me who is making the joke. It is the Leader of the Opposition.
The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Order! I warn members not to abuse the standing orders in raising a point of order, and I ask ministers to keep the answers to questions relatively succinct, if they can. Mr M.J. BIRNEY : Was my point of order upheld, Madam Deputy Speaker? The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Order! No. There is no point of order. The minister. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will be succinct, Madam Deputy Speaker. It is not me who is making the joke. It is the Leader of the Opposition.
Mr M.J. BIRNEY : Was my point of order upheld, Madam Deputy Speaker? The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Order! No. There is no point of order. The minister. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will be succinct, Madam Deputy Speaker. It is not me who is making the joke. It is the Leader of the Opposition.
The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Order! No. There is no point of order. The minister. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will be succinct, Madam Deputy Speaker. It is not me who is making the joke. It is the Leader of the Opposition.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: I thank the member for Kingsley for the question. Following the Acting Premier’s line, it is true that things are very, very good in Western Australia, and they just keep getting better. There seems to be no end in sight to the very well managed economy and very strong markets for our resources, and we are servicing those markets very well. The latest international trade figures show that Western Australia now accounts for 31.2 per cent of the nation’s exports. I think that is the highest percentage we have ever reached. Mr E.S. Ripper : I am sure that is a record. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I think it is another record. The nominal value of the state’s exports is up by 23.3 per cent in the year to August 2005 to a record $40.6 billion. There has been a 27.4 per cent increase in the nominal value of WA’s exports in the August quarter alone when compared with the same period in 2004. There has been national growth of 5.3 per cent and the state’s trade surplus is a record $26 billion over the year to August 2005, up from - Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I love this sort of stuff. I love baiting the second-raters. That figure is up from $20.9 billion for the same period, compared with Australia’s $21.1 billion trade deficit. However, as everybody knows, we can always do better. I agree that we can do better. I was very interested to read the speech - I did not have the pleasure of hearing it - of the member for Kalgoorlie, the Leader of the Opposition, at the state Liberal Party conference. He raised a couple of interesting issues, and the Treasurer has already alluded to one of them. The member raised an issue that I think is very important and it relates to the approvals process. I agree that we can do better with the approvals process, and we are working in that direction. Some initiatives are coming out now. I am very keen to help out in individual cases when they arise, as well as the general situation. In his speech the member for Kalgoorlie said about the approvals process - Believe it or not a mining company executive told me a few weeks ago that his company was prevented from processing a stockpile of ore because weeds had grown through it and he was now caught by Labor’s native vegetation clearing regulations. If the member for Kalgoorlie could give me the detail of that now across the chamber, I will chase it up and try to resolve the issue. Mr M.J. Birney : It has been resolved. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Can the member tell me who it was? Mr M.J. Birney : I will give you the information. It was put to me by a very senior mining company executive of a very substantial mining company in this state. Several members interjected. Mr M.J. Birney : Let me finish. I’m sure you’ll let me finish. He was absolutely flabbergasted that he had come up against this brick wall. I said to him that I would take it up publicly for him. He said, “No, I don’t want to incur the wrath of the government. We will have to deal with it at our level.” It has now been dealt with. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am interested in the details of this case so that I can pursue it to see whether it is a real case study that we can ensure is never repeated. Can the member tell me who it was? Mr M.J. Birney : He has asked me not to. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I suspect this is another flourish of imagination from the Leader of the Opposition. It is not backed up by reality. It is certainly not backed up by facts. Mr M.J. Birney : I will tell you what I will do. I will give him a call this afternoon to see whether he has changed his view about whether I can go public with the name of his company, provided you give an absolute assurance that there will be no backlash towards that company. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : If I ever find out who it was, I will crush him! Mr M.J. Birney : As you wanted to do with the school principals! Do you remember that? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Yes, I do! It was a very interesting speech. It was peppered with little diamonds such as that. There was one right at the start that really stuck out. In fact, it startled me. Mind you, I have been a member of Parliament for only nine years, and I have been following state politics professionally for only 17 or 18 years! I am sure a lot of former members of the Liberal Party would be interested in this. The Leader of the Opposition made the assertion - In fact, we currently have the best, most talented and skilled batch of Liberal MPs that your party has produced in decades and with your help they will be around for a very long time to come. Mr M.J. Birney : Where are you going with this? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I can see a bit of talent over there! I do not know what Sir Charles Court would have thought about that - or Bill Hassell or Richard Court! Mr M.J. Birney : They were nodding. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am sure they were nodding! The Leader of the Opposition in his speech used words to the effect, “We currently have the most talented batch of Liberal MPs we have ever had in this party”. Point of Order Mr M.J. BIRNEY : Madam Deputy Speaker, even though the minister’s dissertation is highly amusing - The DEPUTY SPEAKER (Mrs D.J. Guise) : Order! I suggest the member quote the standing order that he intends to use, otherwise I will need to ask him to sit down. Mr M.J. BIRNEY : I am about to do that, Madam Deputy Speaker. Even though the minister’s speech is highly amusing, he is making an absolute joke of question time. I bring to your attention the standing order of relevance. I cannot even remember the question the minister was asked, but I guarantee it has nothing to do with what the minister is talking about. The standing order is relevance. The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Order! I warn members not to abuse the standing orders in raising a point of order, and I ask ministers to keep the answers to questions relatively succinct, if they can. Mr M.J. BIRNEY : Was my point of order upheld, Madam Deputy Speaker? The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Order! No. There is no point of order. The minister. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will be succinct, Madam Deputy Speaker. It is not me who is making the joke. It is the Leader of the Opposition.
I thank the member for Kingsley for the question. Following the Acting Premier’s line, it is true that things are very, very good in Western Australia, and they just keep getting better. There seems to be no end in sight to the very well managed economy and very strong markets for our resources, and we are servicing those markets very well. The latest international trade figures show that Western Australia now accounts for 31.2 per cent of the nation’s exports. I think that is the highest percentage we have ever reached. Mr E.S. Ripper : I am sure that is a record. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I think it is another record. The nominal value of the state’s exports is up by 23.3 per cent in the year to August 2005 to a record $40.6 billion. There has been a 27.4 per cent increase in the nominal value of WA’s exports in the August quarter alone when compared with the same period in 2004. There has been national growth of 5.3 per cent and the state’s trade surplus is a record $26 billion over the year to August 2005, up from - Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I love this sort of stuff. I love baiting the second-raters. That figure is up from $20.9 billion for the same period, compared with Australia’s $21.1 billion trade deficit. However, as everybody knows, we can always do better. I agree that we can do better. I was very interested to read the speech - I did not have the pleasure of hearing it - of the member for Kalgoorlie, the Leader of the Opposition, at the state Liberal Party conference. He raised a couple of interesting issues, and the Treasurer has already alluded to one of them. The member raised an issue that I think is very important and it relates to the approvals process. I agree that we can do better with the approvals process, and we are working in that direction. Some initiatives are coming out now. I am very keen to help out in individual cases when they arise, as well as the general situation. In his speech the member for Kalgoorlie said about the approvals process - Believe it or not a mining company executive told me a few weeks ago that his company was prevented from processing a stockpile of ore because weeds had grown through it and he was now caught by Labor’s native vegetation clearing regulations. If the member for Kalgoorlie could give me the detail of that now across the chamber, I will chase it up and try to resolve the issue. Mr M.J. Birney : It has been resolved. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Can the member tell me who it was? Mr M.J. Birney : I will give you the information. It was put to me by a very senior mining company executive of a very substantial mining company in this state. Several members interjected. Mr M.J. Birney : Let me finish. I’m sure you’ll let me finish. He was absolutely flabbergasted that he had come up against this brick wall. I said to him that I would take it up publicly for him. He said, “No, I don’t want to incur the wrath of the government. We will have to deal with it at our level.” It has now been dealt with. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am interested in the details of this case so that I can pursue it to see whether it is a real case study that we can ensure is never repeated. Can the member tell me who it was? Mr M.J. Birney : He has asked me not to. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I suspect this is another flourish of imagination from the Leader of the Opposition. It is not backed up by reality. It is certainly not backed up by facts. Mr M.J. Birney : I will tell you what I will do. I will give him a call this afternoon to see whether he has changed his view about whether I can go public with the name of his company, provided you give an absolute assurance that there will be no backlash towards that company. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : If I ever find out who it was, I will crush him! Mr M.J. Birney : As you wanted to do with the school principals! Do you remember that? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Yes, I do! It was a very interesting speech. It was peppered with little diamonds such as that. There was one right at the start that really stuck out. In fact, it startled me. Mind you, I have been a member of Parliament for only nine years, and I have been following state politics professionally for only 17 or 18 years! I am sure a lot of former members of the Liberal Party would be interested in this. The Leader of the Opposition made the assertion - In fact, we currently have the best, most talented and skilled batch of Liberal MPs that your party has produced in decades and with your help they will be around for a very long time to come. Mr M.J. Birney : Where are you going with this? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I can see a bit of talent over there! I do not know what Sir Charles Court would have thought about that - or Bill Hassell or Richard Court! Mr M.J. Birney : They were nodding. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am sure they were nodding! The Leader of the Opposition in his speech used words to the effect, “We currently have the most talented batch of Liberal MPs we have ever had in this party”. Point of Order Mr M.J. BIRNEY : Madam Deputy Speaker, even though the minister’s dissertation is highly amusing - The DEPUTY SPEAKER (Mrs D.J. Guise) : Order! I suggest the member quote the standing order that he intends to use, otherwise I will need to ask him to sit down. Mr M.J. BIRNEY : I am about to do that, Madam Deputy Speaker. Even though the minister’s speech is highly amusing, he is making an absolute joke of question time. I bring to your attention the standing order of relevance. I cannot even remember the question the minister was asked, but I guarantee it has nothing to do with what the minister is talking about. The standing order is relevance. The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Order! I warn members not to abuse the standing orders in raising a point of order, and I ask ministers to keep the answers to questions relatively succinct, if they can. Mr M.J. BIRNEY : Was my point of order upheld, Madam Deputy Speaker? The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Order! No. There is no point of order. The minister. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will be succinct, Madam Deputy Speaker. It is not me who is making the joke. It is the Leader of the Opposition.
Mr E.S. Ripper : I am sure that is a record. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I think it is another record. The nominal value of the state’s exports is up by 23.3 per cent in the year to August 2005 to a record $40.6 billion. There has been a 27.4 per cent increase in the nominal value of WA’s exports in the August quarter alone when compared with the same period in 2004. There has been national growth of 5.3 per cent and the state’s trade surplus is a record $26 billion over the year to August 2005, up from - Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I love this sort of stuff. I love baiting the second-raters. That figure is up from $20.9 billion for the same period, compared with Australia’s $21.1 billion trade deficit. However, as everybody knows, we can always do better. I agree that we can do better. I was very interested to read the speech - I did not have the pleasure of hearing it - of the member for Kalgoorlie, the Leader of the Opposition, at the state Liberal Party conference. He raised a couple of interesting issues, and the Treasurer has already alluded to one of them. The member raised an issue that I think is very important and it relates to the approvals process. I agree that we can do better with the approvals process, and we are working in that direction. Some initiatives are coming out now. I am very keen to help out in individual cases when they arise, as well as the general situation. In his speech the member for Kalgoorlie said about the approvals process - Believe it or not a mining company executive told me a few weeks ago that his company was prevented from processing a stockpile of ore because weeds had grown through it and he was now caught by Labor’s native vegetation clearing regulations. If the member for Kalgoorlie could give me the detail of that now across the chamber, I will chase it up and try to resolve the issue. Mr M.J. Birney : It has been resolved. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Can the member tell me who it was? Mr M.J. Birney : I will give you the information. It was put to me by a very senior mining company executive of a very substantial mining company in this state. Several members interjected. Mr M.J. Birney : Let me finish. I’m sure you’ll let me finish. He was absolutely flabbergasted that he had come up against this brick wall. I said to him that I would take it up publicly for him. He said, “No, I don’t want to incur the wrath of the government. We will have to deal with it at our level.” It has now been dealt with. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am interested in the details of this case so that I can pursue it to see whether it is a real case study that we can ensure is never repeated. Can the member tell me who it was? Mr M.J. Birney : He has asked me not to. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I suspect this is another flourish of imagination from the Leader of the Opposition. It is not backed up by reality. It is certainly not backed up by facts. Mr M.J. Birney : I will tell you what I will do. I will give him a call this afternoon to see whether he has changed his view about whether I can go public with the name of his company, provided you give an absolute assurance that there will be no backlash towards that company. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : If I ever find out who it was, I will crush him! Mr M.J. Birney : As you wanted to do with the school principals! Do you remember that? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Yes, I do! It was a very interesting speech. It was peppered with little diamonds such as that. There was one right at the start that really stuck out. In fact, it startled me. Mind you, I have been a member of Parliament for only nine years, and I have been following state politics professionally for only 17 or 18 years! I am sure a lot of former members of the Liberal Party would be interested in this. The Leader of the Opposition made the assertion - In fact, we currently have the best, most talented and skilled batch of Liberal MPs that your party has produced in decades and with your help they will be around for a very long time to come. Mr M.J. Birney : Where are you going with this? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I can see a bit of talent over there! I do not know what Sir Charles Court would have thought about that - or Bill Hassell or Richard Court! Mr M.J. Birney : They were nodding. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am sure they were nodding! The Leader of the Opposition in his speech used words to the effect, “We currently have the most talented batch of Liberal MPs we have ever had in this party”. Point of Order Mr M.J. BIRNEY : Madam Deputy Speaker, even though the minister’s dissertation is highly amusing - The DEPUTY SPEAKER (Mrs D.J. Guise) : Order! I suggest the member quote the standing order that he intends to use, otherwise I will need to ask him to sit down. Mr M.J. BIRNEY : I am about to do that, Madam Deputy Speaker. Even though the minister’s speech is highly amusing, he is making an absolute joke of question time. I bring to your attention the standing order of relevance. I cannot even remember the question the minister was asked, but I guarantee it has nothing to do with what the minister is talking about. The standing order is relevance. The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Order! I warn members not to abuse the standing orders in raising a point of order, and I ask ministers to keep the answers to questions relatively succinct, if they can. Mr M.J. BIRNEY : Was my point of order upheld, Madam Deputy Speaker? The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Order! No. There is no point of order. The minister. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will be succinct, Madam Deputy Speaker. It is not me who is making the joke. It is the Leader of the Opposition.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I think it is another record. The nominal value of the state’s exports is up by 23.3 per cent in the year to August 2005 to a record $40.6 billion. There has been a 27.4 per cent increase in the nominal value of WA’s exports in the August quarter alone when compared with the same period in 2004. There has been national growth of 5.3 per cent and the state’s trade surplus is a record $26 billion over the year to August 2005, up from - Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I love this sort of stuff. I love baiting the second-raters. That figure is up from $20.9 billion for the same period, compared with Australia’s $21.1 billion trade deficit. However, as everybody knows, we can always do better. I agree that we can do better. I was very interested to read the speech - I did not have the pleasure of hearing it - of the member for Kalgoorlie, the Leader of the Opposition, at the state Liberal Party conference. He raised a couple of interesting issues, and the Treasurer has already alluded to one of them. The member raised an issue that I think is very important and it relates to the approvals process. I agree that we can do better with the approvals process, and we are working in that direction. Some initiatives are coming out now. I am very keen to help out in individual cases when they arise, as well as the general situation. In his speech the member for Kalgoorlie said about the approvals process - Believe it or not a mining company executive told me a few weeks ago that his company was prevented from processing a stockpile of ore because weeds had grown through it and he was now caught by Labor’s native vegetation clearing regulations. If the member for Kalgoorlie could give me the detail of that now across the chamber, I will chase it up and try to resolve the issue. Mr M.J. Birney : It has been resolved. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Can the member tell me who it was? Mr M.J. Birney : I will give you the information. It was put to me by a very senior mining company executive of a very substantial mining company in this state. Several members interjected. Mr M.J. Birney : Let me finish. I’m sure you’ll let me finish. He was absolutely flabbergasted that he had come up against this brick wall. I said to him that I would take it up publicly for him. He said, “No, I don’t want to incur the wrath of the government. We will have to deal with it at our level.” It has now been dealt with. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am interested in the details of this case so that I can pursue it to see whether it is a real case study that we can ensure is never repeated. Can the member tell me who it was? Mr M.J. Birney : He has asked me not to. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I suspect this is another flourish of imagination from the Leader of the Opposition. It is not backed up by reality. It is certainly not backed up by facts. Mr M.J. Birney : I will tell you what I will do. I will give him a call this afternoon to see whether he has changed his view about whether I can go public with the name of his company, provided you give an absolute assurance that there will be no backlash towards that company. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : If I ever find out who it was, I will crush him! Mr M.J. Birney : As you wanted to do with the school principals! Do you remember that? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Yes, I do! It was a very interesting speech. It was peppered with little diamonds such as that. There was one right at the start that really stuck out. In fact, it startled me. Mind you, I have been a member of Parliament for only nine years, and I have been following state politics professionally for only 17 or 18 years! I am sure a lot of former members of the Liberal Party would be interested in this. The Leader of the Opposition made the assertion - In fact, we currently have the best, most talented and skilled batch of Liberal MPs that your party has produced in decades and with your help they will be around for a very long time to come. Mr M.J. Birney : Where are you going with this? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I can see a bit of talent over there! I do not know what Sir Charles Court would have thought about that - or Bill Hassell or Richard Court! Mr M.J. Birney : They were nodding. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am sure they were nodding! The Leader of the Opposition in his speech used words to the effect, “We currently have the most talented batch of Liberal MPs we have ever had in this party”. Point of Order Mr M.J. BIRNEY : Madam Deputy Speaker, even though the minister’s dissertation is highly amusing - The DEPUTY SPEAKER (Mrs D.J. Guise) : Order! I suggest the member quote the standing order that he intends to use, otherwise I will need to ask him to sit down. Mr M.J. BIRNEY : I am about to do that, Madam Deputy Speaker. Even though the minister’s speech is highly amusing, he is making an absolute joke of question time. I bring to your attention the standing order of relevance. I cannot even remember the question the minister was asked, but I guarantee it has nothing to do with what the minister is talking about. The standing order is relevance. The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Order! I warn members not to abuse the standing orders in raising a point of order, and I ask ministers to keep the answers to questions relatively succinct, if they can. Mr M.J. BIRNEY : Was my point of order upheld, Madam Deputy Speaker? The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Order! No. There is no point of order. The minister. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will be succinct, Madam Deputy Speaker. It is not me who is making the joke. It is the Leader of the Opposition.
Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I love this sort of stuff. I love baiting the second-raters. That figure is up from $20.9 billion for the same period, compared with Australia’s $21.1 billion trade deficit. However, as everybody knows, we can always do better. I agree that we can do better. I was very interested to read the speech - I did not have the pleasure of hearing it - of the member for Kalgoorlie, the Leader of the Opposition, at the state Liberal Party conference. He raised a couple of interesting issues, and the Treasurer has already alluded to one of them. The member raised an issue that I think is very important and it relates to the approvals process. I agree that we can do better with the approvals process, and we are working in that direction. Some initiatives are coming out now. I am very keen to help out in individual cases when they arise, as well as the general situation. In his speech the member for Kalgoorlie said about the approvals process - Believe it or not a mining company executive told me a few weeks ago that his company was prevented from processing a stockpile of ore because weeds had grown through it and he was now caught by Labor’s native vegetation clearing regulations. If the member for Kalgoorlie could give me the detail of that now across the chamber, I will chase it up and try to resolve the issue. Mr M.J. Birney : It has been resolved. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Can the member tell me who it was? Mr M.J. Birney : I will give you the information. It was put to me by a very senior mining company executive of a very substantial mining company in this state. Several members interjected. Mr M.J. Birney : Let me finish. I’m sure you’ll let me finish. He was absolutely flabbergasted that he had come up against this brick wall. I said to him that I would take it up publicly for him. He said, “No, I don’t want to incur the wrath of the government. We will have to deal with it at our level.” It has now been dealt with. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am interested in the details of this case so that I can pursue it to see whether it is a real case study that we can ensure is never repeated. Can the member tell me who it was? Mr M.J. Birney : He has asked me not to. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I suspect this is another flourish of imagination from the Leader of the Opposition. It is not backed up by reality. It is certainly not backed up by facts. Mr M.J. Birney : I will tell you what I will do. I will give him a call this afternoon to see whether he has changed his view about whether I can go public with the name of his company, provided you give an absolute assurance that there will be no backlash towards that company. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : If I ever find out who it was, I will crush him! Mr M.J. Birney : As you wanted to do with the school principals! Do you remember that? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Yes, I do! It was a very interesting speech. It was peppered with little diamonds such as that. There was one right at the start that really stuck out. In fact, it startled me. Mind you, I have been a member of Parliament for only nine years, and I have been following state politics professionally for only 17 or 18 years! I am sure a lot of former members of the Liberal Party would be interested in this. The Leader of the Opposition made the assertion - In fact, we currently have the best, most talented and skilled batch of Liberal MPs that your party has produced in decades and with your help they will be around for a very long time to come. Mr M.J. Birney : Where are you going with this? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I can see a bit of talent over there! I do not know what Sir Charles Court would have thought about that - or Bill Hassell or Richard Court! Mr M.J. Birney : They were nodding. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am sure they were nodding! The Leader of the Opposition in his speech used words to the effect, “We currently have the most talented batch of Liberal MPs we have ever had in this party”. Point of Order Mr M.J. BIRNEY : Madam Deputy Speaker, even though the minister’s dissertation is highly amusing - The DEPUTY SPEAKER (Mrs D.J. Guise) : Order! I suggest the member quote the standing order that he intends to use, otherwise I will need to ask him to sit down. Mr M.J. BIRNEY : I am about to do that, Madam Deputy Speaker. Even though the minister’s speech is highly amusing, he is making an absolute joke of question time. I bring to your attention the standing order of relevance. I cannot even remember the question the minister was asked, but I guarantee it has nothing to do with what the minister is talking about. The standing order is relevance. The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Order! I warn members not to abuse the standing orders in raising a point of order, and I ask ministers to keep the answers to questions relatively succinct, if they can. Mr M.J. BIRNEY : Was my point of order upheld, Madam Deputy Speaker? The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Order! No. There is no point of order. The minister. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will be succinct, Madam Deputy Speaker. It is not me who is making the joke. It is the Leader of the Opposition.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I love this sort of stuff. I love baiting the second-raters. That figure is up from $20.9 billion for the same period, compared with Australia’s $21.1 billion trade deficit. However, as everybody knows, we can always do better. I agree that we can do better. I was very interested to read the speech - I did not have the pleasure of hearing it - of the member for Kalgoorlie, the Leader of the Opposition, at the state Liberal Party conference. He raised a couple of interesting issues, and the Treasurer has already alluded to one of them. The member raised an issue that I think is very important and it relates to the approvals process. I agree that we can do better with the approvals process, and we are working in that direction. Some initiatives are coming out now. I am very keen to help out in individual cases when they arise, as well as the general situation. In his speech the member for Kalgoorlie said about the approvals process - Believe it or not a mining company executive told me a few weeks ago that his company was prevented from processing a stockpile of ore because weeds had grown through it and he was now caught by Labor’s native vegetation clearing regulations. If the member for Kalgoorlie could give me the detail of that now across the chamber, I will chase it up and try to resolve the issue. Mr M.J. Birney : It has been resolved. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Can the member tell me who it was? Mr M.J. Birney : I will give you the information. It was put to me by a very senior mining company executive of a very substantial mining company in this state. Several members interjected. Mr M.J. Birney : Let me finish. I’m sure you’ll let me finish. He was absolutely flabbergasted that he had come up against this brick wall. I said to him that I would take it up publicly for him. He said, “No, I don’t want to incur the wrath of the government. We will have to deal with it at our level.” It has now been dealt with. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am interested in the details of this case so that I can pursue it to see whether it is a real case study that we can ensure is never repeated. Can the member tell me who it was? Mr M.J. Birney : He has asked me not to. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I suspect this is another flourish of imagination from the Leader of the Opposition. It is not backed up by reality. It is certainly not backed up by facts. Mr M.J. Birney : I will tell you what I will do. I will give him a call this afternoon to see whether he has changed his view about whether I can go public with the name of his company, provided you give an absolute assurance that there will be no backlash towards that company. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : If I ever find out who it was, I will crush him! Mr M.J. Birney : As you wanted to do with the school principals! Do you remember that? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Yes, I do! It was a very interesting speech. It was peppered with little diamonds such as that. There was one right at the start that really stuck out. In fact, it startled me. Mind you, I have been a member of Parliament for only nine years, and I have been following state politics professionally for only 17 or 18 years! I am sure a lot of former members of the Liberal Party would be interested in this. The Leader of the Opposition made the assertion - In fact, we currently have the best, most talented and skilled batch of Liberal MPs that your party has produced in decades and with your help they will be around for a very long time to come. Mr M.J. Birney : Where are you going with this? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I can see a bit of talent over there! I do not know what Sir Charles Court would have thought about that - or Bill Hassell or Richard Court! Mr M.J. Birney : They were nodding. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am sure they were nodding! The Leader of the Opposition in his speech used words to the effect, “We currently have the most talented batch of Liberal MPs we have ever had in this party”. Point of Order Mr M.J. BIRNEY : Madam Deputy Speaker, even though the minister’s dissertation is highly amusing - The DEPUTY SPEAKER (Mrs D.J. Guise) : Order! I suggest the member quote the standing order that he intends to use, otherwise I will need to ask him to sit down. Mr M.J. BIRNEY : I am about to do that, Madam Deputy Speaker. Even though the minister’s speech is highly amusing, he is making an absolute joke of question time. I bring to your attention the standing order of relevance. I cannot even remember the question the minister was asked, but I guarantee it has nothing to do with what the minister is talking about. The standing order is relevance. The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Order! I warn members not to abuse the standing orders in raising a point of order, and I ask ministers to keep the answers to questions relatively succinct, if they can. Mr M.J. BIRNEY : Was my point of order upheld, Madam Deputy Speaker? The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Order! No. There is no point of order. The minister. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will be succinct, Madam Deputy Speaker. It is not me who is making the joke. It is the Leader of the Opposition.
That figure is up from $20.9 billion for the same period, compared with Australia’s $21.1 billion trade deficit. However, as everybody knows, we can always do better. I agree that we can do better. I was very interested to read the speech - I did not have the pleasure of hearing it - of the member for Kalgoorlie, the Leader of the Opposition, at the state Liberal Party conference. He raised a couple of interesting issues, and the Treasurer has already alluded to one of them. The member raised an issue that I think is very important and it relates to the approvals process. I agree that we can do better with the approvals process, and we are working in that direction. Some initiatives are coming out now. I am very keen to help out in individual cases when they arise, as well as the general situation. In his speech the member for Kalgoorlie said about the approvals process - Believe it or not a mining company executive told me a few weeks ago that his company was prevented from processing a stockpile of ore because weeds had grown through it and he was now caught by Labor’s native vegetation clearing regulations. If the member for Kalgoorlie could give me the detail of that now across the chamber, I will chase it up and try to resolve the issue. Mr M.J. Birney : It has been resolved. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Can the member tell me who it was? Mr M.J. Birney : I will give you the information. It was put to me by a very senior mining company executive of a very substantial mining company in this state. Several members interjected. Mr M.J. Birney : Let me finish. I’m sure you’ll let me finish. He was absolutely flabbergasted that he had come up against this brick wall. I said to him that I would take it up publicly for him. He said, “No, I don’t want to incur the wrath of the government. We will have to deal with it at our level.” It has now been dealt with. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am interested in the details of this case so that I can pursue it to see whether it is a real case study that we can ensure is never repeated. Can the member tell me who it was? Mr M.J. Birney : He has asked me not to. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I suspect this is another flourish of imagination from the Leader of the Opposition. It is not backed up by reality. It is certainly not backed up by facts. Mr M.J. Birney : I will tell you what I will do. I will give him a call this afternoon to see whether he has changed his view about whether I can go public with the name of his company, provided you give an absolute assurance that there will be no backlash towards that company. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : If I ever find out who it was, I will crush him! Mr M.J. Birney : As you wanted to do with the school principals! Do you remember that? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Yes, I do! It was a very interesting speech. It was peppered with little diamonds such as that. There was one right at the start that really stuck out. In fact, it startled me. Mind you, I have been a member of Parliament for only nine years, and I have been following state politics professionally for only 17 or 18 years! I am sure a lot of former members of the Liberal Party would be interested in this. The Leader of the Opposition made the assertion - In fact, we currently have the best, most talented and skilled batch of Liberal MPs that your party has produced in decades and with your help they will be around for a very long time to come. Mr M.J. Birney : Where are you going with this? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I can see a bit of talent over there! I do not know what Sir Charles Court would have thought about that - or Bill Hassell or Richard Court! Mr M.J. Birney : They were nodding. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am sure they were nodding! The Leader of the Opposition in his speech used words to the effect, “We currently have the most talented batch of Liberal MPs we have ever had in this party”. Point of Order Mr M.J. BIRNEY : Madam Deputy Speaker, even though the minister’s dissertation is highly amusing - The DEPUTY SPEAKER (Mrs D.J. Guise) : Order! I suggest the member quote the standing order that he intends to use, otherwise I will need to ask him to sit down. Mr M.J. BIRNEY : I am about to do that, Madam Deputy Speaker. Even though the minister’s speech is highly amusing, he is making an absolute joke of question time. I bring to your attention the standing order of relevance. I cannot even remember the question the minister was asked, but I guarantee it has nothing to do with what the minister is talking about. The standing order is relevance. The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Order! I warn members not to abuse the standing orders in raising a point of order, and I ask ministers to keep the answers to questions relatively succinct, if they can. Mr M.J. BIRNEY : Was my point of order upheld, Madam Deputy Speaker? The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Order! No. There is no point of order. The minister. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will be succinct, Madam Deputy Speaker. It is not me who is making the joke. It is the Leader of the Opposition.
I was very interested to read the speech - I did not have the pleasure of hearing it - of the member for Kalgoorlie, the Leader of the Opposition, at the state Liberal Party conference. He raised a couple of interesting issues, and the Treasurer has already alluded to one of them. The member raised an issue that I think is very important and it relates to the approvals process. I agree that we can do better with the approvals process, and we are working in that direction. Some initiatives are coming out now. I am very keen to help out in individual cases when they arise, as well as the general situation. In his speech the member for Kalgoorlie said about the approvals process - Believe it or not a mining company executive told me a few weeks ago that his company was prevented from processing a stockpile of ore because weeds had grown through it and he was now caught by Labor’s native vegetation clearing regulations. If the member for Kalgoorlie could give me the detail of that now across the chamber, I will chase it up and try to resolve the issue. Mr M.J. Birney : It has been resolved. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Can the member tell me who it was? Mr M.J. Birney : I will give you the information. It was put to me by a very senior mining company executive of a very substantial mining company in this state. Several members interjected. Mr M.J. Birney : Let me finish. I’m sure you’ll let me finish. He was absolutely flabbergasted that he had come up against this brick wall. I said to him that I would take it up publicly for him. He said, “No, I don’t want to incur the wrath of the government. We will have to deal with it at our level.” It has now been dealt with. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am interested in the details of this case so that I can pursue it to see whether it is a real case study that we can ensure is never repeated. Can the member tell me who it was? Mr M.J. Birney : He has asked me not to. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I suspect this is another flourish of imagination from the Leader of the Opposition. It is not backed up by reality. It is certainly not backed up by facts. Mr M.J. Birney : I will tell you what I will do. I will give him a call this afternoon to see whether he has changed his view about whether I can go public with the name of his company, provided you give an absolute assurance that there will be no backlash towards that company. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : If I ever find out who it was, I will crush him! Mr M.J. Birney : As you wanted to do with the school principals! Do you remember that? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Yes, I do! It was a very interesting speech. It was peppered with little diamonds such as that. There was one right at the start that really stuck out. In fact, it startled me. Mind you, I have been a member of Parliament for only nine years, and I have been following state politics professionally for only 17 or 18 years! I am sure a lot of former members of the Liberal Party would be interested in this. The Leader of the Opposition made the assertion - In fact, we currently have the best, most talented and skilled batch of Liberal MPs that your party has produced in decades and with your help they will be around for a very long time to come. Mr M.J. Birney : Where are you going with this? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I can see a bit of talent over there! I do not know what Sir Charles Court would have thought about that - or Bill Hassell or Richard Court! Mr M.J. Birney : They were nodding. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am sure they were nodding! The Leader of the Opposition in his speech used words to the effect, “We currently have the most talented batch of Liberal MPs we have ever had in this party”. Point of Order Mr M.J. BIRNEY : Madam Deputy Speaker, even though the minister’s dissertation is highly amusing - The DEPUTY SPEAKER (Mrs D.J. Guise) : Order! I suggest the member quote the standing order that he intends to use, otherwise I will need to ask him to sit down. Mr M.J. BIRNEY : I am about to do that, Madam Deputy Speaker. Even though the minister’s speech is highly amusing, he is making an absolute joke of question time. I bring to your attention the standing order of relevance. I cannot even remember the question the minister was asked, but I guarantee it has nothing to do with what the minister is talking about. The standing order is relevance. The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Order! I warn members not to abuse the standing orders in raising a point of order, and I ask ministers to keep the answers to questions relatively succinct, if they can. Mr M.J. BIRNEY : Was my point of order upheld, Madam Deputy Speaker? The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Order! No. There is no point of order. The minister. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will be succinct, Madam Deputy Speaker. It is not me who is making the joke. It is the Leader of the Opposition.
Mr M.J. Birney : It has been resolved. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Can the member tell me who it was? Mr M.J. Birney : I will give you the information. It was put to me by a very senior mining company executive of a very substantial mining company in this state. Several members interjected. Mr M.J. Birney : Let me finish. I’m sure you’ll let me finish. He was absolutely flabbergasted that he had come up against this brick wall. I said to him that I would take it up publicly for him. He said, “No, I don’t want to incur the wrath of the government. We will have to deal with it at our level.” It has now been dealt with. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am interested in the details of this case so that I can pursue it to see whether it is a real case study that we can ensure is never repeated. Can the member tell me who it was? Mr M.J. Birney : He has asked me not to. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I suspect this is another flourish of imagination from the Leader of the Opposition. It is not backed up by reality. It is certainly not backed up by facts. Mr M.J. Birney : I will tell you what I will do. I will give him a call this afternoon to see whether he has changed his view about whether I can go public with the name of his company, provided you give an absolute assurance that there will be no backlash towards that company. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : If I ever find out who it was, I will crush him! Mr M.J. Birney : As you wanted to do with the school principals! Do you remember that? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Yes, I do! It was a very interesting speech. It was peppered with little diamonds such as that. There was one right at the start that really stuck out. In fact, it startled me. Mind you, I have been a member of Parliament for only nine years, and I have been following state politics professionally for only 17 or 18 years! I am sure a lot of former members of the Liberal Party would be interested in this. The Leader of the Opposition made the assertion - In fact, we currently have the best, most talented and skilled batch of Liberal MPs that your party has produced in decades and with your help they will be around for a very long time to come. Mr M.J. Birney : Where are you going with this? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I can see a bit of talent over there! I do not know what Sir Charles Court would have thought about that - or Bill Hassell or Richard Court! Mr M.J. Birney : They were nodding. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am sure they were nodding! The Leader of the Opposition in his speech used words to the effect, “We currently have the most talented batch of Liberal MPs we have ever had in this party”. Point of Order Mr M.J. BIRNEY : Madam Deputy Speaker, even though the minister’s dissertation is highly amusing - The DEPUTY SPEAKER (Mrs D.J. Guise) : Order! I suggest the member quote the standing order that he intends to use, otherwise I will need to ask him to sit down. Mr M.J. BIRNEY : I am about to do that, Madam Deputy Speaker. Even though the minister’s speech is highly amusing, he is making an absolute joke of question time. I bring to your attention the standing order of relevance. I cannot even remember the question the minister was asked, but I guarantee it has nothing to do with what the minister is talking about. The standing order is relevance. The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Order! I warn members not to abuse the standing orders in raising a point of order, and I ask ministers to keep the answers to questions relatively succinct, if they can. Mr M.J. BIRNEY : Was my point of order upheld, Madam Deputy Speaker? The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Order! No. There is no point of order. The minister. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will be succinct, Madam Deputy Speaker. It is not me who is making the joke. It is the Leader of the Opposition.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Can the member tell me who it was? Mr M.J. Birney : I will give you the information. It was put to me by a very senior mining company executive of a very substantial mining company in this state. Several members interjected. Mr M.J. Birney : Let me finish. I’m sure you’ll let me finish. He was absolutely flabbergasted that he had come up against this brick wall. I said to him that I would take it up publicly for him. He said, “No, I don’t want to incur the wrath of the government. We will have to deal with it at our level.” It has now been dealt with. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am interested in the details of this case so that I can pursue it to see whether it is a real case study that we can ensure is never repeated. Can the member tell me who it was? Mr M.J. Birney : He has asked me not to. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I suspect this is another flourish of imagination from the Leader of the Opposition. It is not backed up by reality. It is certainly not backed up by facts. Mr M.J. Birney : I will tell you what I will do. I will give him a call this afternoon to see whether he has changed his view about whether I can go public with the name of his company, provided you give an absolute assurance that there will be no backlash towards that company. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : If I ever find out who it was, I will crush him! Mr M.J. Birney : As you wanted to do with the school principals! Do you remember that? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Yes, I do! It was a very interesting speech. It was peppered with little diamonds such as that. There was one right at the start that really stuck out. In fact, it startled me. Mind you, I have been a member of Parliament for only nine years, and I have been following state politics professionally for only 17 or 18 years! I am sure a lot of former members of the Liberal Party would be interested in this. The Leader of the Opposition made the assertion - In fact, we currently have the best, most talented and skilled batch of Liberal MPs that your party has produced in decades and with your help they will be around for a very long time to come. Mr M.J. Birney : Where are you going with this? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I can see a bit of talent over there! I do not know what Sir Charles Court would have thought about that - or Bill Hassell or Richard Court! Mr M.J. Birney : They were nodding. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am sure they were nodding! The Leader of the Opposition in his speech used words to the effect, “We currently have the most talented batch of Liberal MPs we have ever had in this party”. Point of Order Mr M.J. BIRNEY : Madam Deputy Speaker, even though the minister’s dissertation is highly amusing - The DEPUTY SPEAKER (Mrs D.J. Guise) : Order! I suggest the member quote the standing order that he intends to use, otherwise I will need to ask him to sit down. Mr M.J. BIRNEY : I am about to do that, Madam Deputy Speaker. Even though the minister’s speech is highly amusing, he is making an absolute joke of question time. I bring to your attention the standing order of relevance. I cannot even remember the question the minister was asked, but I guarantee it has nothing to do with what the minister is talking about. The standing order is relevance. The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Order! I warn members not to abuse the standing orders in raising a point of order, and I ask ministers to keep the answers to questions relatively succinct, if they can. Mr M.J. BIRNEY : Was my point of order upheld, Madam Deputy Speaker? The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Order! No. There is no point of order. The minister. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will be succinct, Madam Deputy Speaker. It is not me who is making the joke. It is the Leader of the Opposition.
Mr M.J. Birney : I will give you the information. It was put to me by a very senior mining company executive of a very substantial mining company in this state. Several members interjected. Mr M.J. Birney : Let me finish. I’m sure you’ll let me finish. He was absolutely flabbergasted that he had come up against this brick wall. I said to him that I would take it up publicly for him. He said, “No, I don’t want to incur the wrath of the government. We will have to deal with it at our level.” It has now been dealt with. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am interested in the details of this case so that I can pursue it to see whether it is a real case study that we can ensure is never repeated. Can the member tell me who it was? Mr M.J. Birney : He has asked me not to. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I suspect this is another flourish of imagination from the Leader of the Opposition. It is not backed up by reality. It is certainly not backed up by facts. Mr M.J. Birney : I will tell you what I will do. I will give him a call this afternoon to see whether he has changed his view about whether I can go public with the name of his company, provided you give an absolute assurance that there will be no backlash towards that company. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : If I ever find out who it was, I will crush him! Mr M.J. Birney : As you wanted to do with the school principals! Do you remember that? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Yes, I do! It was a very interesting speech. It was peppered with little diamonds such as that. There was one right at the start that really stuck out. In fact, it startled me. Mind you, I have been a member of Parliament for only nine years, and I have been following state politics professionally for only 17 or 18 years! I am sure a lot of former members of the Liberal Party would be interested in this. The Leader of the Opposition made the assertion - In fact, we currently have the best, most talented and skilled batch of Liberal MPs that your party has produced in decades and with your help they will be around for a very long time to come. Mr M.J. Birney : Where are you going with this? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I can see a bit of talent over there! I do not know what Sir Charles Court would have thought about that - or Bill Hassell or Richard Court! Mr M.J. Birney : They were nodding. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am sure they were nodding! The Leader of the Opposition in his speech used words to the effect, “We currently have the most talented batch of Liberal MPs we have ever had in this party”. Point of Order Mr M.J. BIRNEY : Madam Deputy Speaker, even though the minister’s dissertation is highly amusing - The DEPUTY SPEAKER (Mrs D.J. Guise) : Order! I suggest the member quote the standing order that he intends to use, otherwise I will need to ask him to sit down. Mr M.J. BIRNEY : I am about to do that, Madam Deputy Speaker. Even though the minister’s speech is highly amusing, he is making an absolute joke of question time. I bring to your attention the standing order of relevance. I cannot even remember the question the minister was asked, but I guarantee it has nothing to do with what the minister is talking about. The standing order is relevance. The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Order! I warn members not to abuse the standing orders in raising a point of order, and I ask ministers to keep the answers to questions relatively succinct, if they can. Mr M.J. BIRNEY : Was my point of order upheld, Madam Deputy Speaker? The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Order! No. There is no point of order. The minister. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will be succinct, Madam Deputy Speaker. It is not me who is making the joke. It is the Leader of the Opposition.
Several members interjected. Mr M.J. Birney : Let me finish. I’m sure you’ll let me finish. He was absolutely flabbergasted that he had come up against this brick wall. I said to him that I would take it up publicly for him. He said, “No, I don’t want to incur the wrath of the government. We will have to deal with it at our level.” It has now been dealt with. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am interested in the details of this case so that I can pursue it to see whether it is a real case study that we can ensure is never repeated. Can the member tell me who it was? Mr M.J. Birney : He has asked me not to. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I suspect this is another flourish of imagination from the Leader of the Opposition. It is not backed up by reality. It is certainly not backed up by facts. Mr M.J. Birney : I will tell you what I will do. I will give him a call this afternoon to see whether he has changed his view about whether I can go public with the name of his company, provided you give an absolute assurance that there will be no backlash towards that company. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : If I ever find out who it was, I will crush him! Mr M.J. Birney : As you wanted to do with the school principals! Do you remember that? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Yes, I do! It was a very interesting speech. It was peppered with little diamonds such as that. There was one right at the start that really stuck out. In fact, it startled me. Mind you, I have been a member of Parliament for only nine years, and I have been following state politics professionally for only 17 or 18 years! I am sure a lot of former members of the Liberal Party would be interested in this. The Leader of the Opposition made the assertion - In fact, we currently have the best, most talented and skilled batch of Liberal MPs that your party has produced in decades and with your help they will be around for a very long time to come. Mr M.J. Birney : Where are you going with this? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I can see a bit of talent over there! I do not know what Sir Charles Court would have thought about that - or Bill Hassell or Richard Court! Mr M.J. Birney : They were nodding. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am sure they were nodding! The Leader of the Opposition in his speech used words to the effect, “We currently have the most talented batch of Liberal MPs we have ever had in this party”. Point of Order Mr M.J. BIRNEY : Madam Deputy Speaker, even though the minister’s dissertation is highly amusing - The DEPUTY SPEAKER (Mrs D.J. Guise) : Order! I suggest the member quote the standing order that he intends to use, otherwise I will need to ask him to sit down. Mr M.J. BIRNEY : I am about to do that, Madam Deputy Speaker. Even though the minister’s speech is highly amusing, he is making an absolute joke of question time. I bring to your attention the standing order of relevance. I cannot even remember the question the minister was asked, but I guarantee it has nothing to do with what the minister is talking about. The standing order is relevance. The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Order! I warn members not to abuse the standing orders in raising a point of order, and I ask ministers to keep the answers to questions relatively succinct, if they can. Mr M.J. BIRNEY : Was my point of order upheld, Madam Deputy Speaker? The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Order! No. There is no point of order. The minister. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will be succinct, Madam Deputy Speaker. It is not me who is making the joke. It is the Leader of the Opposition.
Mr M.J. Birney : Let me finish. I’m sure you’ll let me finish. He was absolutely flabbergasted that he had come up against this brick wall. I said to him that I would take it up publicly for him. He said, “No, I don’t want to incur the wrath of the government. We will have to deal with it at our level.” It has now been dealt with. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am interested in the details of this case so that I can pursue it to see whether it is a real case study that we can ensure is never repeated. Can the member tell me who it was? Mr M.J. Birney : He has asked me not to. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I suspect this is another flourish of imagination from the Leader of the Opposition. It is not backed up by reality. It is certainly not backed up by facts. Mr M.J. Birney : I will tell you what I will do. I will give him a call this afternoon to see whether he has changed his view about whether I can go public with the name of his company, provided you give an absolute assurance that there will be no backlash towards that company. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : If I ever find out who it was, I will crush him! Mr M.J. Birney : As you wanted to do with the school principals! Do you remember that? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Yes, I do! It was a very interesting speech. It was peppered with little diamonds such as that. There was one right at the start that really stuck out. In fact, it startled me. Mind you, I have been a member of Parliament for only nine years, and I have been following state politics professionally for only 17 or 18 years! I am sure a lot of former members of the Liberal Party would be interested in this. The Leader of the Opposition made the assertion - In fact, we currently have the best, most talented and skilled batch of Liberal MPs that your party has produced in decades and with your help they will be around for a very long time to come. Mr M.J. Birney : Where are you going with this? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I can see a bit of talent over there! I do not know what Sir Charles Court would have thought about that - or Bill Hassell or Richard Court! Mr M.J. Birney : They were nodding. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am sure they were nodding! The Leader of the Opposition in his speech used words to the effect, “We currently have the most talented batch of Liberal MPs we have ever had in this party”. Point of Order Mr M.J. BIRNEY : Madam Deputy Speaker, even though the minister’s dissertation is highly amusing - The DEPUTY SPEAKER (Mrs D.J. Guise) : Order! I suggest the member quote the standing order that he intends to use, otherwise I will need to ask him to sit down. Mr M.J. BIRNEY : I am about to do that, Madam Deputy Speaker. Even though the minister’s speech is highly amusing, he is making an absolute joke of question time. I bring to your attention the standing order of relevance. I cannot even remember the question the minister was asked, but I guarantee it has nothing to do with what the minister is talking about. The standing order is relevance. The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Order! I warn members not to abuse the standing orders in raising a point of order, and I ask ministers to keep the answers to questions relatively succinct, if they can. Mr M.J. BIRNEY : Was my point of order upheld, Madam Deputy Speaker? The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Order! No. There is no point of order. The minister. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will be succinct, Madam Deputy Speaker. It is not me who is making the joke. It is the Leader of the Opposition.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am interested in the details of this case so that I can pursue it to see whether it is a real case study that we can ensure is never repeated. Can the member tell me who it was? Mr M.J. Birney : He has asked me not to. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I suspect this is another flourish of imagination from the Leader of the Opposition. It is not backed up by reality. It is certainly not backed up by facts. Mr M.J. Birney : I will tell you what I will do. I will give him a call this afternoon to see whether he has changed his view about whether I can go public with the name of his company, provided you give an absolute assurance that there will be no backlash towards that company. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : If I ever find out who it was, I will crush him! Mr M.J. Birney : As you wanted to do with the school principals! Do you remember that? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Yes, I do! It was a very interesting speech. It was peppered with little diamonds such as that. There was one right at the start that really stuck out. In fact, it startled me. Mind you, I have been a member of Parliament for only nine years, and I have been following state politics professionally for only 17 or 18 years! I am sure a lot of former members of the Liberal Party would be interested in this. The Leader of the Opposition made the assertion - In fact, we currently have the best, most talented and skilled batch of Liberal MPs that your party has produced in decades and with your help they will be around for a very long time to come. Mr M.J. Birney : Where are you going with this? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I can see a bit of talent over there! I do not know what Sir Charles Court would have thought about that - or Bill Hassell or Richard Court! Mr M.J. Birney : They were nodding. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am sure they were nodding! The Leader of the Opposition in his speech used words to the effect, “We currently have the most talented batch of Liberal MPs we have ever had in this party”. Point of Order Mr M.J. BIRNEY : Madam Deputy Speaker, even though the minister’s dissertation is highly amusing - The DEPUTY SPEAKER (Mrs D.J. Guise) : Order! I suggest the member quote the standing order that he intends to use, otherwise I will need to ask him to sit down. Mr M.J. BIRNEY : I am about to do that, Madam Deputy Speaker. Even though the minister’s speech is highly amusing, he is making an absolute joke of question time. I bring to your attention the standing order of relevance. I cannot even remember the question the minister was asked, but I guarantee it has nothing to do with what the minister is talking about. The standing order is relevance. The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Order! I warn members not to abuse the standing orders in raising a point of order, and I ask ministers to keep the answers to questions relatively succinct, if they can. Mr M.J. BIRNEY : Was my point of order upheld, Madam Deputy Speaker? The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Order! No. There is no point of order. The minister. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will be succinct, Madam Deputy Speaker. It is not me who is making the joke. It is the Leader of the Opposition.
Mr M.J. Birney : He has asked me not to. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I suspect this is another flourish of imagination from the Leader of the Opposition. It is not backed up by reality. It is certainly not backed up by facts. Mr M.J. Birney : I will tell you what I will do. I will give him a call this afternoon to see whether he has changed his view about whether I can go public with the name of his company, provided you give an absolute assurance that there will be no backlash towards that company. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : If I ever find out who it was, I will crush him! Mr M.J. Birney : As you wanted to do with the school principals! Do you remember that? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Yes, I do! It was a very interesting speech. It was peppered with little diamonds such as that. There was one right at the start that really stuck out. In fact, it startled me. Mind you, I have been a member of Parliament for only nine years, and I have been following state politics professionally for only 17 or 18 years! I am sure a lot of former members of the Liberal Party would be interested in this. The Leader of the Opposition made the assertion - In fact, we currently have the best, most talented and skilled batch of Liberal MPs that your party has produced in decades and with your help they will be around for a very long time to come. Mr M.J. Birney : Where are you going with this? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I can see a bit of talent over there! I do not know what Sir Charles Court would have thought about that - or Bill Hassell or Richard Court! Mr M.J. Birney : They were nodding. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am sure they were nodding! The Leader of the Opposition in his speech used words to the effect, “We currently have the most talented batch of Liberal MPs we have ever had in this party”. Point of Order Mr M.J. BIRNEY : Madam Deputy Speaker, even though the minister’s dissertation is highly amusing - The DEPUTY SPEAKER (Mrs D.J. Guise) : Order! I suggest the member quote the standing order that he intends to use, otherwise I will need to ask him to sit down. Mr M.J. BIRNEY : I am about to do that, Madam Deputy Speaker. Even though the minister’s speech is highly amusing, he is making an absolute joke of question time. I bring to your attention the standing order of relevance. I cannot even remember the question the minister was asked, but I guarantee it has nothing to do with what the minister is talking about. The standing order is relevance. The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Order! I warn members not to abuse the standing orders in raising a point of order, and I ask ministers to keep the answers to questions relatively succinct, if they can. Mr M.J. BIRNEY : Was my point of order upheld, Madam Deputy Speaker? The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Order! No. There is no point of order. The minister. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will be succinct, Madam Deputy Speaker. It is not me who is making the joke. It is the Leader of the Opposition.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I suspect this is another flourish of imagination from the Leader of the Opposition. It is not backed up by reality. It is certainly not backed up by facts. Mr M.J. Birney : I will tell you what I will do. I will give him a call this afternoon to see whether he has changed his view about whether I can go public with the name of his company, provided you give an absolute assurance that there will be no backlash towards that company. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : If I ever find out who it was, I will crush him! Mr M.J. Birney : As you wanted to do with the school principals! Do you remember that? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Yes, I do! It was a very interesting speech. It was peppered with little diamonds such as that. There was one right at the start that really stuck out. In fact, it startled me. Mind you, I have been a member of Parliament for only nine years, and I have been following state politics professionally for only 17 or 18 years! I am sure a lot of former members of the Liberal Party would be interested in this. The Leader of the Opposition made the assertion - In fact, we currently have the best, most talented and skilled batch of Liberal MPs that your party has produced in decades and with your help they will be around for a very long time to come. Mr M.J. Birney : Where are you going with this? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I can see a bit of talent over there! I do not know what Sir Charles Court would have thought about that - or Bill Hassell or Richard Court! Mr M.J. Birney : They were nodding. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am sure they were nodding! The Leader of the Opposition in his speech used words to the effect, “We currently have the most talented batch of Liberal MPs we have ever had in this party”. Point of Order Mr M.J. BIRNEY : Madam Deputy Speaker, even though the minister’s dissertation is highly amusing - The DEPUTY SPEAKER (Mrs D.J. Guise) : Order! I suggest the member quote the standing order that he intends to use, otherwise I will need to ask him to sit down. Mr M.J. BIRNEY : I am about to do that, Madam Deputy Speaker. Even though the minister’s speech is highly amusing, he is making an absolute joke of question time. I bring to your attention the standing order of relevance. I cannot even remember the question the minister was asked, but I guarantee it has nothing to do with what the minister is talking about. The standing order is relevance. The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Order! I warn members not to abuse the standing orders in raising a point of order, and I ask ministers to keep the answers to questions relatively succinct, if they can. Mr M.J. BIRNEY : Was my point of order upheld, Madam Deputy Speaker? The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Order! No. There is no point of order. The minister. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will be succinct, Madam Deputy Speaker. It is not me who is making the joke. It is the Leader of the Opposition.
Mr M.J. Birney : I will tell you what I will do. I will give him a call this afternoon to see whether he has changed his view about whether I can go public with the name of his company, provided you give an absolute assurance that there will be no backlash towards that company. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : If I ever find out who it was, I will crush him! Mr M.J. Birney : As you wanted to do with the school principals! Do you remember that? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Yes, I do! It was a very interesting speech. It was peppered with little diamonds such as that. There was one right at the start that really stuck out. In fact, it startled me. Mind you, I have been a member of Parliament for only nine years, and I have been following state politics professionally for only 17 or 18 years! I am sure a lot of former members of the Liberal Party would be interested in this. The Leader of the Opposition made the assertion - In fact, we currently have the best, most talented and skilled batch of Liberal MPs that your party has produced in decades and with your help they will be around for a very long time to come. Mr M.J. Birney : Where are you going with this? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I can see a bit of talent over there! I do not know what Sir Charles Court would have thought about that - or Bill Hassell or Richard Court! Mr M.J. Birney : They were nodding. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am sure they were nodding! The Leader of the Opposition in his speech used words to the effect, “We currently have the most talented batch of Liberal MPs we have ever had in this party”. Point of Order Mr M.J. BIRNEY : Madam Deputy Speaker, even though the minister’s dissertation is highly amusing - The DEPUTY SPEAKER (Mrs D.J. Guise) : Order! I suggest the member quote the standing order that he intends to use, otherwise I will need to ask him to sit down. Mr M.J. BIRNEY : I am about to do that, Madam Deputy Speaker. Even though the minister’s speech is highly amusing, he is making an absolute joke of question time. I bring to your attention the standing order of relevance. I cannot even remember the question the minister was asked, but I guarantee it has nothing to do with what the minister is talking about. The standing order is relevance. The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Order! I warn members not to abuse the standing orders in raising a point of order, and I ask ministers to keep the answers to questions relatively succinct, if they can. Mr M.J. BIRNEY : Was my point of order upheld, Madam Deputy Speaker? The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Order! No. There is no point of order. The minister. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will be succinct, Madam Deputy Speaker. It is not me who is making the joke. It is the Leader of the Opposition.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : If I ever find out who it was, I will crush him! Mr M.J. Birney : As you wanted to do with the school principals! Do you remember that? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Yes, I do! It was a very interesting speech. It was peppered with little diamonds such as that. There was one right at the start that really stuck out. In fact, it startled me. Mind you, I have been a member of Parliament for only nine years, and I have been following state politics professionally for only 17 or 18 years! I am sure a lot of former members of the Liberal Party would be interested in this. The Leader of the Opposition made the assertion - In fact, we currently have the best, most talented and skilled batch of Liberal MPs that your party has produced in decades and with your help they will be around for a very long time to come. Mr M.J. Birney : Where are you going with this? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I can see a bit of talent over there! I do not know what Sir Charles Court would have thought about that - or Bill Hassell or Richard Court! Mr M.J. Birney : They were nodding. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am sure they were nodding! The Leader of the Opposition in his speech used words to the effect, “We currently have the most talented batch of Liberal MPs we have ever had in this party”. Point of Order Mr M.J. BIRNEY : Madam Deputy Speaker, even though the minister’s dissertation is highly amusing - The DEPUTY SPEAKER (Mrs D.J. Guise) : Order! I suggest the member quote the standing order that he intends to use, otherwise I will need to ask him to sit down. Mr M.J. BIRNEY : I am about to do that, Madam Deputy Speaker. Even though the minister’s speech is highly amusing, he is making an absolute joke of question time. I bring to your attention the standing order of relevance. I cannot even remember the question the minister was asked, but I guarantee it has nothing to do with what the minister is talking about. The standing order is relevance. The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Order! I warn members not to abuse the standing orders in raising a point of order, and I ask ministers to keep the answers to questions relatively succinct, if they can. Mr M.J. BIRNEY : Was my point of order upheld, Madam Deputy Speaker? The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Order! No. There is no point of order. The minister. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will be succinct, Madam Deputy Speaker. It is not me who is making the joke. It is the Leader of the Opposition.
Mr M.J. Birney : As you wanted to do with the school principals! Do you remember that? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Yes, I do! It was a very interesting speech. It was peppered with little diamonds such as that. There was one right at the start that really stuck out. In fact, it startled me. Mind you, I have been a member of Parliament for only nine years, and I have been following state politics professionally for only 17 or 18 years! I am sure a lot of former members of the Liberal Party would be interested in this. The Leader of the Opposition made the assertion - In fact, we currently have the best, most talented and skilled batch of Liberal MPs that your party has produced in decades and with your help they will be around for a very long time to come. Mr M.J. Birney : Where are you going with this? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I can see a bit of talent over there! I do not know what Sir Charles Court would have thought about that - or Bill Hassell or Richard Court! Mr M.J. Birney : They were nodding. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am sure they were nodding! The Leader of the Opposition in his speech used words to the effect, “We currently have the most talented batch of Liberal MPs we have ever had in this party”. Point of Order Mr M.J. BIRNEY : Madam Deputy Speaker, even though the minister’s dissertation is highly amusing - The DEPUTY SPEAKER (Mrs D.J. Guise) : Order! I suggest the member quote the standing order that he intends to use, otherwise I will need to ask him to sit down. Mr M.J. BIRNEY : I am about to do that, Madam Deputy Speaker. Even though the minister’s speech is highly amusing, he is making an absolute joke of question time. I bring to your attention the standing order of relevance. I cannot even remember the question the minister was asked, but I guarantee it has nothing to do with what the minister is talking about. The standing order is relevance. The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Order! I warn members not to abuse the standing orders in raising a point of order, and I ask ministers to keep the answers to questions relatively succinct, if they can. Mr M.J. BIRNEY : Was my point of order upheld, Madam Deputy Speaker? The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Order! No. There is no point of order. The minister. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will be succinct, Madam Deputy Speaker. It is not me who is making the joke. It is the Leader of the Opposition.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Yes, I do! It was a very interesting speech. It was peppered with little diamonds such as that. There was one right at the start that really stuck out. In fact, it startled me. Mind you, I have been a member of Parliament for only nine years, and I have been following state politics professionally for only 17 or 18 years! I am sure a lot of former members of the Liberal Party would be interested in this. The Leader of the Opposition made the assertion - In fact, we currently have the best, most talented and skilled batch of Liberal MPs that your party has produced in decades and with your help they will be around for a very long time to come. Mr M.J. Birney : Where are you going with this? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I can see a bit of talent over there! I do not know what Sir Charles Court would have thought about that - or Bill Hassell or Richard Court! Mr M.J. Birney : They were nodding. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am sure they were nodding! The Leader of the Opposition in his speech used words to the effect, “We currently have the most talented batch of Liberal MPs we have ever had in this party”. Point of Order Mr M.J. BIRNEY : Madam Deputy Speaker, even though the minister’s dissertation is highly amusing - The DEPUTY SPEAKER (Mrs D.J. Guise) : Order! I suggest the member quote the standing order that he intends to use, otherwise I will need to ask him to sit down. Mr M.J. BIRNEY : I am about to do that, Madam Deputy Speaker. Even though the minister’s speech is highly amusing, he is making an absolute joke of question time. I bring to your attention the standing order of relevance. I cannot even remember the question the minister was asked, but I guarantee it has nothing to do with what the minister is talking about. The standing order is relevance. The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Order! I warn members not to abuse the standing orders in raising a point of order, and I ask ministers to keep the answers to questions relatively succinct, if they can. Mr M.J. BIRNEY : Was my point of order upheld, Madam Deputy Speaker? The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Order! No. There is no point of order. The minister. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will be succinct, Madam Deputy Speaker. It is not me who is making the joke. It is the Leader of the Opposition.
It was a very interesting speech. It was peppered with little diamonds such as that. There was one right at the start that really stuck out. In fact, it startled me. Mind you, I have been a member of Parliament for only nine years, and I have been following state politics professionally for only 17 or 18 years! I am sure a lot of former members of the Liberal Party would be interested in this. The Leader of the Opposition made the assertion - In fact, we currently have the best, most talented and skilled batch of Liberal MPs that your party has produced in decades and with your help they will be around for a very long time to come. Mr M.J. Birney : Where are you going with this? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I can see a bit of talent over there! I do not know what Sir Charles Court would have thought about that - or Bill Hassell or Richard Court! Mr M.J. Birney : They were nodding. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am sure they were nodding! The Leader of the Opposition in his speech used words to the effect, “We currently have the most talented batch of Liberal MPs we have ever had in this party”. Point of Order Mr M.J. BIRNEY : Madam Deputy Speaker, even though the minister’s dissertation is highly amusing - The DEPUTY SPEAKER (Mrs D.J. Guise) : Order! I suggest the member quote the standing order that he intends to use, otherwise I will need to ask him to sit down. Mr M.J. BIRNEY : I am about to do that, Madam Deputy Speaker. Even though the minister’s speech is highly amusing, he is making an absolute joke of question time. I bring to your attention the standing order of relevance. I cannot even remember the question the minister was asked, but I guarantee it has nothing to do with what the minister is talking about. The standing order is relevance. The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Order! I warn members not to abuse the standing orders in raising a point of order, and I ask ministers to keep the answers to questions relatively succinct, if they can. Mr M.J. BIRNEY : Was my point of order upheld, Madam Deputy Speaker? The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Order! No. There is no point of order. The minister. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will be succinct, Madam Deputy Speaker. It is not me who is making the joke. It is the Leader of the Opposition.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I can see a bit of talent over there! I do not know what Sir Charles Court would have thought about that - or Bill Hassell or Richard Court! Mr M.J. Birney : They were nodding. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am sure they were nodding! The Leader of the Opposition in his speech used words to the effect, “We currently have the most talented batch of Liberal MPs we have ever had in this party”. Point of Order Mr M.J. BIRNEY : Madam Deputy Speaker, even though the minister’s dissertation is highly amusing - The DEPUTY SPEAKER (Mrs D.J. Guise) : Order! I suggest the member quote the standing order that he intends to use, otherwise I will need to ask him to sit down. Mr M.J. BIRNEY : I am about to do that, Madam Deputy Speaker. Even though the minister’s speech is highly amusing, he is making an absolute joke of question time. I bring to your attention the standing order of relevance. I cannot even remember the question the minister was asked, but I guarantee it has nothing to do with what the minister is talking about. The standing order is relevance. The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Order! I warn members not to abuse the standing orders in raising a point of order, and I ask ministers to keep the answers to questions relatively succinct, if they can. Mr M.J. BIRNEY : Was my point of order upheld, Madam Deputy Speaker? The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Order! No. There is no point of order. The minister. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will be succinct, Madam Deputy Speaker. It is not me who is making the joke. It is the Leader of the Opposition.
Mr M.J. Birney : They were nodding. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am sure they were nodding! The Leader of the Opposition in his speech used words to the effect, “We currently have the most talented batch of Liberal MPs we have ever had in this party”. Point of Order Mr M.J. BIRNEY : Madam Deputy Speaker, even though the minister’s dissertation is highly amusing - The DEPUTY SPEAKER (Mrs D.J. Guise) : Order! I suggest the member quote the standing order that he intends to use, otherwise I will need to ask him to sit down. Mr M.J. BIRNEY : I am about to do that, Madam Deputy Speaker. Even though the minister’s speech is highly amusing, he is making an absolute joke of question time. I bring to your attention the standing order of relevance. I cannot even remember the question the minister was asked, but I guarantee it has nothing to do with what the minister is talking about. The standing order is relevance. The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Order! I warn members not to abuse the standing orders in raising a point of order, and I ask ministers to keep the answers to questions relatively succinct, if they can. Mr M.J. BIRNEY : Was my point of order upheld, Madam Deputy Speaker? The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Order! No. There is no point of order. The minister. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will be succinct, Madam Deputy Speaker. It is not me who is making the joke. It is the Leader of the Opposition.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am sure they were nodding! The Leader of the Opposition in his speech used words to the effect, “We currently have the most talented batch of Liberal MPs we have ever had in this party”. Point of Order Mr M.J. BIRNEY : Madam Deputy Speaker, even though the minister’s dissertation is highly amusing - The DEPUTY SPEAKER (Mrs D.J. Guise) : Order! I suggest the member quote the standing order that he intends to use, otherwise I will need to ask him to sit down. Mr M.J. BIRNEY : I am about to do that, Madam Deputy Speaker. Even though the minister’s speech is highly amusing, he is making an absolute joke of question time. I bring to your attention the standing order of relevance. I cannot even remember the question the minister was asked, but I guarantee it has nothing to do with what the minister is talking about. The standing order is relevance. The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Order! I warn members not to abuse the standing orders in raising a point of order, and I ask ministers to keep the answers to questions relatively succinct, if they can. Mr M.J. BIRNEY : Was my point of order upheld, Madam Deputy Speaker? The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Order! No. There is no point of order. The minister. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will be succinct, Madam Deputy Speaker. It is not me who is making the joke. It is the Leader of the Opposition.
The DEPUTY SPEAKER (Mrs D.J. Guise) : Order! I suggest the member quote the standing order that he intends to use, otherwise I will need to ask him to sit down. Mr M.J. BIRNEY : I am about to do that, Madam Deputy Speaker. Even though the minister’s speech is highly amusing, he is making an absolute joke of question time. I bring to your attention the standing order of relevance. I cannot even remember the question the minister was asked, but I guarantee it has nothing to do with what the minister is talking about. The standing order is relevance. The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Order! I warn members not to abuse the standing orders in raising a point of order, and I ask ministers to keep the answers to questions relatively succinct, if they can. Mr M.J. BIRNEY : Was my point of order upheld, Madam Deputy Speaker? The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Order! No. There is no point of order. The minister. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will be succinct, Madam Deputy Speaker. It is not me who is making the joke. It is the Leader of the Opposition.
Mr M.J. BIRNEY : I am about to do that, Madam Deputy Speaker. Even though the minister’s speech is highly amusing, he is making an absolute joke of question time. I bring to your attention the standing order of relevance. I cannot even remember the question the minister was asked, but I guarantee it has nothing to do with what the minister is talking about. The standing order is relevance. The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Order! I warn members not to abuse the standing orders in raising a point of order, and I ask ministers to keep the answers to questions relatively succinct, if they can. Mr M.J. BIRNEY : Was my point of order upheld, Madam Deputy Speaker? The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Order! No. There is no point of order. The minister. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will be succinct, Madam Deputy Speaker. It is not me who is making the joke. It is the Leader of the Opposition.
The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Order! I warn members not to abuse the standing orders in raising a point of order, and I ask ministers to keep the answers to questions relatively succinct, if they can. Mr M.J. BIRNEY : Was my point of order upheld, Madam Deputy Speaker? The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Order! No. There is no point of order. The minister. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will be succinct, Madam Deputy Speaker. It is not me who is making the joke. It is the Leader of the Opposition.
Mr M.J. BIRNEY : Was my point of order upheld, Madam Deputy Speaker? The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Order! No. There is no point of order. The minister. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will be succinct, Madam Deputy Speaker. It is not me who is making the joke. It is the Leader of the Opposition.
The DEPUTY SPEAKER : Order! No. There is no point of order. The minister. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will be succinct, Madam Deputy Speaker. It is not me who is making the joke. It is the Leader of the Opposition.
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