❓ The Leader of the Opposition questions the Treasurer regarding a meeting between his chief of staff, Brian Burke, and Julian Grill concerning payroll tax relief, citing an email suggesting the chief of staff's support. The Treasurer deflects, questions the authenticity of the email, and accuses the Leader of the Opposition of hypocrisy.
AnsweredQoN 611Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer the Treasurer to an article in today’s The Australian Financial Review that details a meeting that took place between Brian Burke, Julian Grill and the Treasurer’s chief of staff, Mike Megaw, to discuss payroll tax relief. According to The Australian Financial Review , Mr Grill sent an e-mail following that meeting stating - In short, the meeting was successful and Mike is prepared to recommend to the minister that he proceed with a cabinet minute to amend the law as suggested. (1) Does the Treasurer stand by his claim in this place on 20 March 2003 that his chief of staff played no role in the cabinet minute that ultimately led to the provision of payroll tax relief for a number of clients of Mr Burke and Mr Grill? (2) Will the Treasurer now admit that he misled the House when he also stated in this place on 20 March 2003 that the meeting between Burke, Grill and his chief of staff was not granted to discuss the matter of payroll tax? Mr E.S. RIPPER
AnswerView source ↗
(1) On the day that people in Baghdad have torn down a statue of Saddam Hussein, the Leader of the Opposition is concerning himself with what might have been done by someone who was last a Premier of this State and member of this place in 1988. That is how far back he wants to go. As is usual on this topic, I have a couple of questions for the Leader of the Opposition. He is very good at asking questions but he does not answer them too well. He quoted an e-mail in this House. Who is the e-mail from and who is it to? Mr C.J. Barnett: It is from Mr Grill to one of his clients. Mr E.S. RIPPER: Who is it to? If the Leader of the Opposition is prepared to quote an e-mail in this place, he should say to whom it was sent. The name is usually on the e-mail. Mr C.J. Barnett: One of his clients. Mr E.S. RIPPER: Who? Mr C.J. Barnett: I do not know. Mr E.S. RIPPER: How does he know that it is a genuine e-mail? Mr C.J. Barnett: It was sent to me from a Labor Party source. Mr E.S. RIPPER: I repeat the question: how does he know it is a genuine e-mail? I answered this question on a previous occasion. I advised the House before I answered that question that I had confirmed my understanding of events with both my chief of staff and the Under Treasurer. Both confirmed that the cabinet minute was prepared by the Department of Treasury and Finance without the intervention of my chief of staff. That is the answer given by both my chief of staff and the Under Treasurer. On this matter, the Government acted in accordance with recommendations of the Department of Treasury and Finance following representations from the Leader of the Opposition’s old organisation, the Western Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the accountants’ organisation, CPA Australia. The Leader of the Opposition thinks the decision is a good one. The Chamber of Commerce and Industry thinks the decision is a good one. It was made in a proper way following representations from a peak industry group and the preparation of a cabinet minute by the Department of Treasury and Finance. I have another question for the Leader of the Opposition. He has not yet answered this. Did the Leader of the Opposition meet with Mr Grill on this matter? Mr C.J. Barnett: I did. I have said that publicly. Mr E.S. RIPPER: Somehow it is okay for the Leader of the Opposition to meet with Mr Grill on the matter, yet it is not okay for a staff member of a minister to meet with Mr Grill. Mr C.J. Barnett: I am not influenced by either Brian Burke or Julian Grill like you are. Mr E.S. RIPPER: The Leader of the Opposition must get clear the rules he thinks should apply. Mr C.J. Barnett: I am not a minister. Mr E.S. RIPPER: That is dead right. He is not a minister. That is what burns away in his heart. It eats away at him day after day. He is a bad sufferer of relevance deprivation syndrome. He cannot stand that he is not a minister. He is a very poor Leader of the Opposition because he cannot get over the fact that he is not a minister. (2) Of course I have not misled the House. I have been totally and entirely accurate in what I have told the House.
(2) Will the Treasurer now admit that he misled the House when he also stated in this place on 20 March 2003 that the meeting between Burke, Grill and his chief of staff was not granted to discuss the matter of payroll tax? Mr E.S. RIPPER replied: (1) On the day that people in Baghdad have torn down a statue of Saddam Hussein, the Leader of the Opposition is concerning himself with what might have been done by someone who was last a Premier of this State and member of this place in 1988. That is how far back he wants to go. As is usual on this topic, I have a couple of questions for the Leader of the Opposition. He is very good at asking questions but he does not answer them too well. He quoted an e-mail in this House. Who is the e-mail from and who is it to? Mr C.J. Barnett: It is from Mr Grill to one of his clients. Mr E.S. RIPPER: Who is it to? If the Leader of the Opposition is prepared to quote an e-mail in this place, he should say to whom it was sent. The name is usually on the e-mail. Mr C.J. Barnett: One of his clients. Mr E.S. RIPPER: Who? Mr C.J. Barnett: I do not know. Mr E.S. RIPPER: How does he know that it is a genuine e-mail? Mr C.J. Barnett: It was sent to me from a Labor Party source. Mr E.S. RIPPER: I repeat the question: how does he know it is a genuine e-mail? I answered this question on a previous occasion. I advised the House before I answered that question that I had confirmed my understanding of events with both my chief of staff and the Under Treasurer. Both confirmed that the cabinet minute was prepared by the Department of Treasury and Finance without the intervention of my chief of staff. That is the answer given by both my chief of staff and the Under Treasurer. On this matter, the Government acted in accordance with recommendations of the Department of Treasury and Finance following representations from the Leader of the Opposition’s old organisation, the Western Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the accountants’ organisation, CPA Australia. The Leader of the Opposition thinks the decision is a good one. The Chamber of Commerce and Industry thinks the decision is a good one. It was made in a proper way following representations from a peak industry group and the preparation of a cabinet minute by the Department of Treasury and Finance. I have another question for the Leader of the Opposition. He has not yet answered this. Did the Leader of the Opposition meet with Mr Grill on this matter? Mr C.J. Barnett: I did. I have said that publicly. Mr E.S. RIPPER: Somehow it is okay for the Leader of the Opposition to meet with Mr Grill on the matter, yet it is not okay for a staff member of a minister to meet with Mr Grill. Mr C.J. Barnett: I am not influenced by either Brian Burke or Julian Grill like you are. Mr E.S. RIPPER: The Leader of the Opposition must get clear the rules he thinks should apply. Mr C.J. Barnett: I am not a minister. Mr E.S. RIPPER: That is dead right. He is not a minister. That is what burns away in his heart. It eats away at him day after day. He is a bad sufferer of relevance deprivation syndrome. He cannot stand that he is not a minister. He is a very poor Leader of the Opposition because he cannot get over the fact that he is not a minister. (2) Of course I have not misled the House. I have been totally and entirely accurate in what I have told the House.
Mr E.S. RIPPER replied: (1) On the day that people in Baghdad have torn down a statue of Saddam Hussein, the Leader of the Opposition is concerning himself with what might have been done by someone who was last a Premier of this State and member of this place in 1988. That is how far back he wants to go. As is usual on this topic, I have a couple of questions for the Leader of the Opposition. He is very good at asking questions but he does not answer them too well. He quoted an e-mail in this House. Who is the e-mail from and who is it to? Mr C.J. Barnett: It is from Mr Grill to one of his clients. Mr E.S. RIPPER: Who is it to? If the Leader of the Opposition is prepared to quote an e-mail in this place, he should say to whom it was sent. The name is usually on the e-mail. Mr C.J. Barnett: One of his clients. Mr E.S. RIPPER: Who? Mr C.J. Barnett: I do not know. Mr E.S. RIPPER: How does he know that it is a genuine e-mail? Mr C.J. Barnett: It was sent to me from a Labor Party source. Mr E.S. RIPPER: I repeat the question: how does he know it is a genuine e-mail? I answered this question on a previous occasion. I advised the House before I answered that question that I had confirmed my understanding of events with both my chief of staff and the Under Treasurer. Both confirmed that the cabinet minute was prepared by the Department of Treasury and Finance without the intervention of my chief of staff. That is the answer given by both my chief of staff and the Under Treasurer. On this matter, the Government acted in accordance with recommendations of the Department of Treasury and Finance following representations from the Leader of the Opposition’s old organisation, the Western Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the accountants’ organisation, CPA Australia. The Leader of the Opposition thinks the decision is a good one. The Chamber of Commerce and Industry thinks the decision is a good one. It was made in a proper way following representations from a peak industry group and the preparation of a cabinet minute by the Department of Treasury and Finance. I have another question for the Leader of the Opposition. He has not yet answered this. Did the Leader of the Opposition meet with Mr Grill on this matter? Mr C.J. Barnett: I did. I have said that publicly. Mr E.S. RIPPER: Somehow it is okay for the Leader of the Opposition to meet with Mr Grill on the matter, yet it is not okay for a staff member of a minister to meet with Mr Grill. Mr C.J. Barnett: I am not influenced by either Brian Burke or Julian Grill like you are. Mr E.S. RIPPER: The Leader of the Opposition must get clear the rules he thinks should apply. Mr C.J. Barnett: I am not a minister. Mr E.S. RIPPER: That is dead right. He is not a minister. That is what burns away in his heart. It eats away at him day after day. He is a bad sufferer of relevance deprivation syndrome. He cannot stand that he is not a minister. He is a very poor Leader of the Opposition because he cannot get over the fact that he is not a minister. (2) Of course I have not misled the House. I have been totally and entirely accurate in what I have told the House.
(1) On the day that people in Baghdad have torn down a statue of Saddam Hussein, the Leader of the Opposition is concerning himself with what might have been done by someone who was last a Premier of this State and member of this place in 1988. That is how far back he wants to go. As is usual on this topic, I have a couple of questions for the Leader of the Opposition. He is very good at asking questions but he does not answer them too well. He quoted an e-mail in this House. Who is the e-mail from and who is it to? Mr C.J. Barnett: It is from Mr Grill to one of his clients. Mr E.S. RIPPER: Who is it to? If the Leader of the Opposition is prepared to quote an e-mail in this place, he should say to whom it was sent. The name is usually on the e-mail. Mr C.J. Barnett: One of his clients. Mr E.S. RIPPER: Who? Mr C.J. Barnett: I do not know. Mr E.S. RIPPER: How does he know that it is a genuine e-mail? Mr C.J. Barnett: It was sent to me from a Labor Party source. Mr E.S. RIPPER: I repeat the question: how does he know it is a genuine e-mail? I answered this question on a previous occasion. I advised the House before I answered that question that I had confirmed my understanding of events with both my chief of staff and the Under Treasurer. Both confirmed that the cabinet minute was prepared by the Department of Treasury and Finance without the intervention of my chief of staff. That is the answer given by both my chief of staff and the Under Treasurer. On this matter, the Government acted in accordance with recommendations of the Department of Treasury and Finance following representations from the Leader of the Opposition’s old organisation, the Western Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the accountants’ organisation, CPA Australia. The Leader of the Opposition thinks the decision is a good one. The Chamber of Commerce and Industry thinks the decision is a good one. It was made in a proper way following representations from a peak industry group and the preparation of a cabinet minute by the Department of Treasury and Finance. I have another question for the Leader of the Opposition. He has not yet answered this. Did the Leader of the Opposition meet with Mr Grill on this matter? Mr C.J. Barnett: I did. I have said that publicly. Mr E.S. RIPPER: Somehow it is okay for the Leader of the Opposition to meet with Mr Grill on the matter, yet it is not okay for a staff member of a minister to meet with Mr Grill. Mr C.J. Barnett: I am not influenced by either Brian Burke or Julian Grill like you are. Mr E.S. RIPPER: The Leader of the Opposition must get clear the rules he thinks should apply. Mr C.J. Barnett: I am not a minister. Mr E.S. RIPPER: That is dead right. He is not a minister. That is what burns away in his heart. It eats away at him day after day. He is a bad sufferer of relevance deprivation syndrome. He cannot stand that he is not a minister. He is a very poor Leader of the Opposition because he cannot get over the fact that he is not a minister. (2) Of course I have not misled the House. I have been totally and entirely accurate in what I have told the House.
Mr E.S. RIPPER: Who is it to? If the Leader of the Opposition is prepared to quote an e-mail in this place, he should say to whom it was sent. The name is usually on the e-mail. Mr C.J. Barnett: One of his clients. Mr E.S. RIPPER: Who? Mr C.J. Barnett: I do not know. Mr E.S. RIPPER: How does he know that it is a genuine e-mail? Mr C.J. Barnett: It was sent to me from a Labor Party source. Mr E.S. RIPPER: I repeat the question: how does he know it is a genuine e-mail? I answered this question on a previous occasion. I advised the House before I answered that question that I had confirmed my understanding of events with both my chief of staff and the Under Treasurer. Both confirmed that the cabinet minute was prepared by the Department of Treasury and Finance without the intervention of my chief of staff. That is the answer given by both my chief of staff and the Under Treasurer. On this matter, the Government acted in accordance with recommendations of the Department of Treasury and Finance following representations from the Leader of the Opposition’s old organisation, the Western Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the accountants’ organisation, CPA Australia. The Leader of the Opposition thinks the decision is a good one. The Chamber of Commerce and Industry thinks the decision is a good one. It was made in a proper way following representations from a peak industry group and the preparation of a cabinet minute by the Department of Treasury and Finance. I have another question for the Leader of the Opposition. He has not yet answered this. Did the Leader of the Opposition meet with Mr Grill on this matter? Mr C.J. Barnett: I did. I have said that publicly. Mr E.S. RIPPER: Somehow it is okay for the Leader of the Opposition to meet with Mr Grill on the matter, yet it is not okay for a staff member of a minister to meet with Mr Grill. Mr C.J. Barnett: I am not influenced by either Brian Burke or Julian Grill like you are. Mr E.S. RIPPER: The Leader of the Opposition must get clear the rules he thinks should apply. Mr C.J. Barnett: I am not a minister. Mr E.S. RIPPER: That is dead right. He is not a minister. That is what burns away in his heart. It eats away at him day after day. He is a bad sufferer of relevance deprivation syndrome. He cannot stand that he is not a minister. He is a very poor Leader of the Opposition because he cannot get over the fact that he is not a minister. (2) Of course I have not misled the House. I have been totally and entirely accurate in what I have told the House.
Mr C.J. Barnett: One of his clients. Mr E.S. RIPPER: Who? Mr C.J. Barnett: I do not know. Mr E.S. RIPPER: How does he know that it is a genuine e-mail? Mr C.J. Barnett: It was sent to me from a Labor Party source. Mr E.S. RIPPER: I repeat the question: how does he know it is a genuine e-mail? I answered this question on a previous occasion. I advised the House before I answered that question that I had confirmed my understanding of events with both my chief of staff and the Under Treasurer. Both confirmed that the cabinet minute was prepared by the Department of Treasury and Finance without the intervention of my chief of staff. That is the answer given by both my chief of staff and the Under Treasurer. On this matter, the Government acted in accordance with recommendations of the Department of Treasury and Finance following representations from the Leader of the Opposition’s old organisation, the Western Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the accountants’ organisation, CPA Australia. The Leader of the Opposition thinks the decision is a good one. The Chamber of Commerce and Industry thinks the decision is a good one. It was made in a proper way following representations from a peak industry group and the preparation of a cabinet minute by the Department of Treasury and Finance. I have another question for the Leader of the Opposition. He has not yet answered this. Did the Leader of the Opposition meet with Mr Grill on this matter? Mr C.J. Barnett: I did. I have said that publicly. Mr E.S. RIPPER: Somehow it is okay for the Leader of the Opposition to meet with Mr Grill on the matter, yet it is not okay for a staff member of a minister to meet with Mr Grill. Mr C.J. Barnett: I am not influenced by either Brian Burke or Julian Grill like you are. Mr E.S. RIPPER: The Leader of the Opposition must get clear the rules he thinks should apply. Mr C.J. Barnett: I am not a minister. Mr E.S. RIPPER: That is dead right. He is not a minister. That is what burns away in his heart. It eats away at him day after day. He is a bad sufferer of relevance deprivation syndrome. He cannot stand that he is not a minister. He is a very poor Leader of the Opposition because he cannot get over the fact that he is not a minister. (2) Of course I have not misled the House. I have been totally and entirely accurate in what I have told the House.
Mr E.S. RIPPER: Who? Mr C.J. Barnett: I do not know. Mr E.S. RIPPER: How does he know that it is a genuine e-mail? Mr C.J. Barnett: It was sent to me from a Labor Party source. Mr E.S. RIPPER: I repeat the question: how does he know it is a genuine e-mail? I answered this question on a previous occasion. I advised the House before I answered that question that I had confirmed my understanding of events with both my chief of staff and the Under Treasurer. Both confirmed that the cabinet minute was prepared by the Department of Treasury and Finance without the intervention of my chief of staff. That is the answer given by both my chief of staff and the Under Treasurer. On this matter, the Government acted in accordance with recommendations of the Department of Treasury and Finance following representations from the Leader of the Opposition’s old organisation, the Western Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the accountants’ organisation, CPA Australia. The Leader of the Opposition thinks the decision is a good one. The Chamber of Commerce and Industry thinks the decision is a good one. It was made in a proper way following representations from a peak industry group and the preparation of a cabinet minute by the Department of Treasury and Finance. I have another question for the Leader of the Opposition. He has not yet answered this. Did the Leader of the Opposition meet with Mr Grill on this matter? Mr C.J. Barnett: I did. I have said that publicly. Mr E.S. RIPPER: Somehow it is okay for the Leader of the Opposition to meet with Mr Grill on the matter, yet it is not okay for a staff member of a minister to meet with Mr Grill. Mr C.J. Barnett: I am not influenced by either Brian Burke or Julian Grill like you are. Mr E.S. RIPPER: The Leader of the Opposition must get clear the rules he thinks should apply. Mr C.J. Barnett: I am not a minister. Mr E.S. RIPPER: That is dead right. He is not a minister. That is what burns away in his heart. It eats away at him day after day. He is a bad sufferer of relevance deprivation syndrome. He cannot stand that he is not a minister. He is a very poor Leader of the Opposition because he cannot get over the fact that he is not a minister. (2) Of course I have not misled the House. I have been totally and entirely accurate in what I have told the House.
Mr C.J. Barnett: I do not know. Mr E.S. RIPPER: How does he know that it is a genuine e-mail? Mr C.J. Barnett: It was sent to me from a Labor Party source. Mr E.S. RIPPER: I repeat the question: how does he know it is a genuine e-mail? I answered this question on a previous occasion. I advised the House before I answered that question that I had confirmed my understanding of events with both my chief of staff and the Under Treasurer. Both confirmed that the cabinet minute was prepared by the Department of Treasury and Finance without the intervention of my chief of staff. That is the answer given by both my chief of staff and the Under Treasurer. On this matter, the Government acted in accordance with recommendations of the Department of Treasury and Finance following representations from the Leader of the Opposition’s old organisation, the Western Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the accountants’ organisation, CPA Australia. The Leader of the Opposition thinks the decision is a good one. The Chamber of Commerce and Industry thinks the decision is a good one. It was made in a proper way following representations from a peak industry group and the preparation of a cabinet minute by the Department of Treasury and Finance. I have another question for the Leader of the Opposition. He has not yet answered this. Did the Leader of the Opposition meet with Mr Grill on this matter? Mr C.J. Barnett: I did. I have said that publicly. Mr E.S. RIPPER: Somehow it is okay for the Leader of the Opposition to meet with Mr Grill on the matter, yet it is not okay for a staff member of a minister to meet with Mr Grill. Mr C.J. Barnett: I am not influenced by either Brian Burke or Julian Grill like you are. Mr E.S. RIPPER: The Leader of the Opposition must get clear the rules he thinks should apply. Mr C.J. Barnett: I am not a minister. Mr E.S. RIPPER: That is dead right. He is not a minister. That is what burns away in his heart. It eats away at him day after day. He is a bad sufferer of relevance deprivation syndrome. He cannot stand that he is not a minister. He is a very poor Leader of the Opposition because he cannot get over the fact that he is not a minister. (2) Of course I have not misled the House. I have been totally and entirely accurate in what I have told the House.
Mr E.S. RIPPER: How does he know that it is a genuine e-mail? Mr C.J. Barnett: It was sent to me from a Labor Party source. Mr E.S. RIPPER: I repeat the question: how does he know it is a genuine e-mail? I answered this question on a previous occasion. I advised the House before I answered that question that I had confirmed my understanding of events with both my chief of staff and the Under Treasurer. Both confirmed that the cabinet minute was prepared by the Department of Treasury and Finance without the intervention of my chief of staff. That is the answer given by both my chief of staff and the Under Treasurer. On this matter, the Government acted in accordance with recommendations of the Department of Treasury and Finance following representations from the Leader of the Opposition’s old organisation, the Western Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the accountants’ organisation, CPA Australia. The Leader of the Opposition thinks the decision is a good one. The Chamber of Commerce and Industry thinks the decision is a good one. It was made in a proper way following representations from a peak industry group and the preparation of a cabinet minute by the Department of Treasury and Finance. I have another question for the Leader of the Opposition. He has not yet answered this. Did the Leader of the Opposition meet with Mr Grill on this matter? Mr C.J. Barnett: I did. I have said that publicly. Mr E.S. RIPPER: Somehow it is okay for the Leader of the Opposition to meet with Mr Grill on the matter, yet it is not okay for a staff member of a minister to meet with Mr Grill. Mr C.J. Barnett: I am not influenced by either Brian Burke or Julian Grill like you are. Mr E.S. RIPPER: The Leader of the Opposition must get clear the rules he thinks should apply. Mr C.J. Barnett: I am not a minister. Mr E.S. RIPPER: That is dead right. He is not a minister. That is what burns away in his heart. It eats away at him day after day. He is a bad sufferer of relevance deprivation syndrome. He cannot stand that he is not a minister. He is a very poor Leader of the Opposition because he cannot get over the fact that he is not a minister. (2) Of course I have not misled the House. I have been totally and entirely accurate in what I have told the House.
Mr C.J. Barnett: It was sent to me from a Labor Party source. Mr E.S. RIPPER: I repeat the question: how does he know it is a genuine e-mail? I answered this question on a previous occasion. I advised the House before I answered that question that I had confirmed my understanding of events with both my chief of staff and the Under Treasurer. Both confirmed that the cabinet minute was prepared by the Department of Treasury and Finance without the intervention of my chief of staff. That is the answer given by both my chief of staff and the Under Treasurer. On this matter, the Government acted in accordance with recommendations of the Department of Treasury and Finance following representations from the Leader of the Opposition’s old organisation, the Western Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the accountants’ organisation, CPA Australia. The Leader of the Opposition thinks the decision is a good one. The Chamber of Commerce and Industry thinks the decision is a good one. It was made in a proper way following representations from a peak industry group and the preparation of a cabinet minute by the Department of Treasury and Finance. I have another question for the Leader of the Opposition. He has not yet answered this. Did the Leader of the Opposition meet with Mr Grill on this matter? Mr C.J. Barnett: I did. I have said that publicly. Mr E.S. RIPPER: Somehow it is okay for the Leader of the Opposition to meet with Mr Grill on the matter, yet it is not okay for a staff member of a minister to meet with Mr Grill. Mr C.J. Barnett: I am not influenced by either Brian Burke or Julian Grill like you are. Mr E.S. RIPPER: The Leader of the Opposition must get clear the rules he thinks should apply. Mr C.J. Barnett: I am not a minister. Mr E.S. RIPPER: That is dead right. He is not a minister. That is what burns away in his heart. It eats away at him day after day. He is a bad sufferer of relevance deprivation syndrome. He cannot stand that he is not a minister. He is a very poor Leader of the Opposition because he cannot get over the fact that he is not a minister. (2) Of course I have not misled the House. I have been totally and entirely accurate in what I have told the House.
Mr E.S. RIPPER: I repeat the question: how does he know it is a genuine e-mail? I answered this question on a previous occasion. I advised the House before I answered that question that I had confirmed my understanding of events with both my chief of staff and the Under Treasurer. Both confirmed that the cabinet minute was prepared by the Department of Treasury and Finance without the intervention of my chief of staff. That is the answer given by both my chief of staff and the Under Treasurer. On this matter, the Government acted in accordance with recommendations of the Department of Treasury and Finance following representations from the Leader of the Opposition’s old organisation, the Western Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the accountants’ organisation, CPA Australia. The Leader of the Opposition thinks the decision is a good one. The Chamber of Commerce and Industry thinks the decision is a good one. It was made in a proper way following representations from a peak industry group and the preparation of a cabinet minute by the Department of Treasury and Finance. I have another question for the Leader of the Opposition. He has not yet answered this. Did the Leader of the Opposition meet with Mr Grill on this matter? Mr C.J. Barnett: I did. I have said that publicly. Mr E.S. RIPPER: Somehow it is okay for the Leader of the Opposition to meet with Mr Grill on the matter, yet it is not okay for a staff member of a minister to meet with Mr Grill. Mr C.J. Barnett: I am not influenced by either Brian Burke or Julian Grill like you are. Mr E.S. RIPPER: The Leader of the Opposition must get clear the rules he thinks should apply. Mr C.J. Barnett: I am not a minister. Mr E.S. RIPPER: That is dead right. He is not a minister. That is what burns away in his heart. It eats away at him day after day. He is a bad sufferer of relevance deprivation syndrome. He cannot stand that he is not a minister. He is a very poor Leader of the Opposition because he cannot get over the fact that he is not a minister. (2) Of course I have not misled the House. I have been totally and entirely accurate in what I have told the House.
I answered this question on a previous occasion. I advised the House before I answered that question that I had confirmed my understanding of events with both my chief of staff and the Under Treasurer. Both confirmed that the cabinet minute was prepared by the Department of Treasury and Finance without the intervention of my chief of staff. That is the answer given by both my chief of staff and the Under Treasurer. On this matter, the Government acted in accordance with recommendations of the Department of Treasury and Finance following representations from the Leader of the Opposition’s old organisation, the Western Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the accountants’ organisation, CPA Australia. The Leader of the Opposition thinks the decision is a good one. The Chamber of Commerce and Industry thinks the decision is a good one. It was made in a proper way following representations from a peak industry group and the preparation of a cabinet minute by the Department of Treasury and Finance. I have another question for the Leader of the Opposition. He has not yet answered this. Did the Leader of the Opposition meet with Mr Grill on this matter? Mr C.J. Barnett: I did. I have said that publicly. Mr E.S. RIPPER: Somehow it is okay for the Leader of the Opposition to meet with Mr Grill on the matter, yet it is not okay for a staff member of a minister to meet with Mr Grill. Mr C.J. Barnett: I am not influenced by either Brian Burke or Julian Grill like you are. Mr E.S. RIPPER: The Leader of the Opposition must get clear the rules he thinks should apply. Mr C.J. Barnett: I am not a minister. Mr E.S. RIPPER: That is dead right. He is not a minister. That is what burns away in his heart. It eats away at him day after day. He is a bad sufferer of relevance deprivation syndrome. He cannot stand that he is not a minister. He is a very poor Leader of the Opposition because he cannot get over the fact that he is not a minister. (2) Of course I have not misled the House. I have been totally and entirely accurate in what I have told the House.
I have another question for the Leader of the Opposition. He has not yet answered this. Did the Leader of the Opposition meet with Mr Grill on this matter? Mr C.J. Barnett: I did. I have said that publicly. Mr E.S. RIPPER: Somehow it is okay for the Leader of the Opposition to meet with Mr Grill on the matter, yet it is not okay for a staff member of a minister to meet with Mr Grill. Mr C.J. Barnett: I am not influenced by either Brian Burke or Julian Grill like you are. Mr E.S. RIPPER: The Leader of the Opposition must get clear the rules he thinks should apply. Mr C.J. Barnett: I am not a minister. Mr E.S. RIPPER: That is dead right. He is not a minister. That is what burns away in his heart. It eats away at him day after day. He is a bad sufferer of relevance deprivation syndrome. He cannot stand that he is not a minister. He is a very poor Leader of the Opposition because he cannot get over the fact that he is not a minister. (2) Of course I have not misled the House. I have been totally and entirely accurate in what I have told the House.
Mr C.J. Barnett: I did. I have said that publicly. Mr E.S. RIPPER: Somehow it is okay for the Leader of the Opposition to meet with Mr Grill on the matter, yet it is not okay for a staff member of a minister to meet with Mr Grill. Mr C.J. Barnett: I am not influenced by either Brian Burke or Julian Grill like you are. Mr E.S. RIPPER: The Leader of the Opposition must get clear the rules he thinks should apply. Mr C.J. Barnett: I am not a minister. Mr E.S. RIPPER: That is dead right. He is not a minister. That is what burns away in his heart. It eats away at him day after day. He is a bad sufferer of relevance deprivation syndrome. He cannot stand that he is not a minister. He is a very poor Leader of the Opposition because he cannot get over the fact that he is not a minister. (2) Of course I have not misled the House. I have been totally and entirely accurate in what I have told the House.
Mr E.S. RIPPER: Somehow it is okay for the Leader of the Opposition to meet with Mr Grill on the matter, yet it is not okay for a staff member of a minister to meet with Mr Grill. Mr C.J. Barnett: I am not influenced by either Brian Burke or Julian Grill like you are. Mr E.S. RIPPER: The Leader of the Opposition must get clear the rules he thinks should apply. Mr C.J. Barnett: I am not a minister. Mr E.S. RIPPER: That is dead right. He is not a minister. That is what burns away in his heart. It eats away at him day after day. He is a bad sufferer of relevance deprivation syndrome. He cannot stand that he is not a minister. He is a very poor Leader of the Opposition because he cannot get over the fact that he is not a minister. (2) Of course I have not misled the House. I have been totally and entirely accurate in what I have told the House.
Mr C.J. Barnett: I am not influenced by either Brian Burke or Julian Grill like you are. Mr E.S. RIPPER: The Leader of the Opposition must get clear the rules he thinks should apply. Mr C.J. Barnett: I am not a minister. Mr E.S. RIPPER: That is dead right. He is not a minister. That is what burns away in his heart. It eats away at him day after day. He is a bad sufferer of relevance deprivation syndrome. He cannot stand that he is not a minister. He is a very poor Leader of the Opposition because he cannot get over the fact that he is not a minister. (2) Of course I have not misled the House. I have been totally and entirely accurate in what I have told the House.
Mr E.S. RIPPER: The Leader of the Opposition must get clear the rules he thinks should apply. Mr C.J. Barnett: I am not a minister. Mr E.S. RIPPER: That is dead right. He is not a minister. That is what burns away in his heart. It eats away at him day after day. He is a bad sufferer of relevance deprivation syndrome. He cannot stand that he is not a minister. He is a very poor Leader of the Opposition because he cannot get over the fact that he is not a minister. (2) Of course I have not misled the House. I have been totally and entirely accurate in what I have told the House.
Mr C.J. Barnett: I am not a minister. Mr E.S. RIPPER: That is dead right. He is not a minister. That is what burns away in his heart. It eats away at him day after day. He is a bad sufferer of relevance deprivation syndrome. He cannot stand that he is not a minister. He is a very poor Leader of the Opposition because he cannot get over the fact that he is not a minister. (2) Of course I have not misled the House. I have been totally and entirely accurate in what I have told the House.
Mr E.S. RIPPER: That is dead right. He is not a minister. That is what burns away in his heart. It eats away at him day after day. He is a bad sufferer of relevance deprivation syndrome. He cannot stand that he is not a minister. He is a very poor Leader of the Opposition because he cannot get over the fact that he is not a minister. (2) Of course I have not misled the House. I have been totally and entirely accurate in what I have told the House.
(2) Of course I have not misled the House. I have been totally and entirely accurate in what I have told the House.
(2) Will the Treasurer now admit that he misled the House when he also stated in this place on 20 March 2003 that the meeting between Burke, Grill and his chief of staff was not granted to discuss the matter of payroll tax? Mr E.S. RIPPER replied: (1) On the day that people in Baghdad have torn down a statue of Saddam Hussein, the Leader of the Opposition is concerning himself with what might have been done by someone who was last a Premier of this State and member of this place in 1988. That is how far back he wants to go. As is usual on this topic, I have a couple of questions for the Leader of the Opposition. He is very good at asking questions but he does not answer them too well. He quoted an e-mail in this House. Who is the e-mail from and who is it to? Mr C.J. Barnett: It is from Mr Grill to one of his clients. Mr E.S. RIPPER: Who is it to? If the Leader of the Opposition is prepared to quote an e-mail in this place, he should say to whom it was sent. The name is usually on the e-mail. Mr C.J. Barnett: One of his clients. Mr E.S. RIPPER: Who? Mr C.J. Barnett: I do not know. Mr E.S. RIPPER: How does he know that it is a genuine e-mail? Mr C.J. Barnett: It was sent to me from a Labor Party source. Mr E.S. RIPPER: I repeat the question: how does he know it is a genuine e-mail? I answered this question on a previous occasion. I advised the House before I answered that question that I had confirmed my understanding of events with both my chief of staff and the Under Treasurer. Both confirmed that the cabinet minute was prepared by the Department of Treasury and Finance without the intervention of my chief of staff. That is the answer given by both my chief of staff and the Under Treasurer. On this matter, the Government acted in accordance with recommendations of the Department of Treasury and Finance following representations from the Leader of the Opposition’s old organisation, the Western Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the accountants’ organisation, CPA Australia. The Leader of the Opposition thinks the decision is a good one. The Chamber of Commerce and Industry thinks the decision is a good one. It was made in a proper way following representations from a peak industry group and the preparation of a cabinet minute by the Department of Treasury and Finance. I have another question for the Leader of the Opposition. He has not yet answered this. Did the Leader of the Opposition meet with Mr Grill on this matter? Mr C.J. Barnett: I did. I have said that publicly. Mr E.S. RIPPER: Somehow it is okay for the Leader of the Opposition to meet with Mr Grill on the matter, yet it is not okay for a staff member of a minister to meet with Mr Grill. Mr C.J. Barnett: I am not influenced by either Brian Burke or Julian Grill like you are. Mr E.S. RIPPER: The Leader of the Opposition must get clear the rules he thinks should apply. Mr C.J. Barnett: I am not a minister. Mr E.S. RIPPER: That is dead right. He is not a minister. That is what burns away in his heart. It eats away at him day after day. He is a bad sufferer of relevance deprivation syndrome. He cannot stand that he is not a minister. He is a very poor Leader of the Opposition because he cannot get over the fact that he is not a minister. (2) Of course I have not misled the House. I have been totally and entirely accurate in what I have told the House.
Mr E.S. RIPPER replied: (1) On the day that people in Baghdad have torn down a statue of Saddam Hussein, the Leader of the Opposition is concerning himself with what might have been done by someone who was last a Premier of this State and member of this place in 1988. That is how far back he wants to go. As is usual on this topic, I have a couple of questions for the Leader of the Opposition. He is very good at asking questions but he does not answer them too well. He quoted an e-mail in this House. Who is the e-mail from and who is it to? Mr C.J. Barnett: It is from Mr Grill to one of his clients. Mr E.S. RIPPER: Who is it to? If the Leader of the Opposition is prepared to quote an e-mail in this place, he should say to whom it was sent. The name is usually on the e-mail. Mr C.J. Barnett: One of his clients. Mr E.S. RIPPER: Who? Mr C.J. Barnett: I do not know. Mr E.S. RIPPER: How does he know that it is a genuine e-mail? Mr C.J. Barnett: It was sent to me from a Labor Party source. Mr E.S. RIPPER: I repeat the question: how does he know it is a genuine e-mail? I answered this question on a previous occasion. I advised the House before I answered that question that I had confirmed my understanding of events with both my chief of staff and the Under Treasurer. Both confirmed that the cabinet minute was prepared by the Department of Treasury and Finance without the intervention of my chief of staff. That is the answer given by both my chief of staff and the Under Treasurer. On this matter, the Government acted in accordance with recommendations of the Department of Treasury and Finance following representations from the Leader of the Opposition’s old organisation, the Western Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the accountants’ organisation, CPA Australia. The Leader of the Opposition thinks the decision is a good one. The Chamber of Commerce and Industry thinks the decision is a good one. It was made in a proper way following representations from a peak industry group and the preparation of a cabinet minute by the Department of Treasury and Finance. I have another question for the Leader of the Opposition. He has not yet answered this. Did the Leader of the Opposition meet with Mr Grill on this matter? Mr C.J. Barnett: I did. I have said that publicly. Mr E.S. RIPPER: Somehow it is okay for the Leader of the Opposition to meet with Mr Grill on the matter, yet it is not okay for a staff member of a minister to meet with Mr Grill. Mr C.J. Barnett: I am not influenced by either Brian Burke or Julian Grill like you are. Mr E.S. RIPPER: The Leader of the Opposition must get clear the rules he thinks should apply. Mr C.J. Barnett: I am not a minister. Mr E.S. RIPPER: That is dead right. He is not a minister. That is what burns away in his heart. It eats away at him day after day. He is a bad sufferer of relevance deprivation syndrome. He cannot stand that he is not a minister. He is a very poor Leader of the Opposition because he cannot get over the fact that he is not a minister. (2) Of course I have not misled the House. I have been totally and entirely accurate in what I have told the House.
(1) On the day that people in Baghdad have torn down a statue of Saddam Hussein, the Leader of the Opposition is concerning himself with what might have been done by someone who was last a Premier of this State and member of this place in 1988. That is how far back he wants to go. As is usual on this topic, I have a couple of questions for the Leader of the Opposition. He is very good at asking questions but he does not answer them too well. He quoted an e-mail in this House. Who is the e-mail from and who is it to? Mr C.J. Barnett: It is from Mr Grill to one of his clients. Mr E.S. RIPPER: Who is it to? If the Leader of the Opposition is prepared to quote an e-mail in this place, he should say to whom it was sent. The name is usually on the e-mail. Mr C.J. Barnett: One of his clients. Mr E.S. RIPPER: Who? Mr C.J. Barnett: I do not know. Mr E.S. RIPPER: How does he know that it is a genuine e-mail? Mr C.J. Barnett: It was sent to me from a Labor Party source. Mr E.S. RIPPER: I repeat the question: how does he know it is a genuine e-mail? I answered this question on a previous occasion. I advised the House before I answered that question that I had confirmed my understanding of events with both my chief of staff and the Under Treasurer. Both confirmed that the cabinet minute was prepared by the Department of Treasury and Finance without the intervention of my chief of staff. That is the answer given by both my chief of staff and the Under Treasurer. On this matter, the Government acted in accordance with recommendations of the Department of Treasury and Finance following representations from the Leader of the Opposition’s old organisation, the Western Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the accountants’ organisation, CPA Australia. The Leader of the Opposition thinks the decision is a good one. The Chamber of Commerce and Industry thinks the decision is a good one. It was made in a proper way following representations from a peak industry group and the preparation of a cabinet minute by the Department of Treasury and Finance. I have another question for the Leader of the Opposition. He has not yet answered this. Did the Leader of the Opposition meet with Mr Grill on this matter? Mr C.J. Barnett: I did. I have said that publicly. Mr E.S. RIPPER: Somehow it is okay for the Leader of the Opposition to meet with Mr Grill on the matter, yet it is not okay for a staff member of a minister to meet with Mr Grill. Mr C.J. Barnett: I am not influenced by either Brian Burke or Julian Grill like you are. Mr E.S. RIPPER: The Leader of the Opposition must get clear the rules he thinks should apply. Mr C.J. Barnett: I am not a minister. Mr E.S. RIPPER: That is dead right. He is not a minister. That is what burns away in his heart. It eats away at him day after day. He is a bad sufferer of relevance deprivation syndrome. He cannot stand that he is not a minister. He is a very poor Leader of the Opposition because he cannot get over the fact that he is not a minister. (2) Of course I have not misled the House. I have been totally and entirely accurate in what I have told the House.
Mr E.S. RIPPER: Who is it to? If the Leader of the Opposition is prepared to quote an e-mail in this place, he should say to whom it was sent. The name is usually on the e-mail. Mr C.J. Barnett: One of his clients. Mr E.S. RIPPER: Who? Mr C.J. Barnett: I do not know. Mr E.S. RIPPER: How does he know that it is a genuine e-mail? Mr C.J. Barnett: It was sent to me from a Labor Party source. Mr E.S. RIPPER: I repeat the question: how does he know it is a genuine e-mail? I answered this question on a previous occasion. I advised the House before I answered that question that I had confirmed my understanding of events with both my chief of staff and the Under Treasurer. Both confirmed that the cabinet minute was prepared by the Department of Treasury and Finance without the intervention of my chief of staff. That is the answer given by both my chief of staff and the Under Treasurer. On this matter, the Government acted in accordance with recommendations of the Department of Treasury and Finance following representations from the Leader of the Opposition’s old organisation, the Western Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the accountants’ organisation, CPA Australia. The Leader of the Opposition thinks the decision is a good one. The Chamber of Commerce and Industry thinks the decision is a good one. It was made in a proper way following representations from a peak industry group and the preparation of a cabinet minute by the Department of Treasury and Finance. I have another question for the Leader of the Opposition. He has not yet answered this. Did the Leader of the Opposition meet with Mr Grill on this matter? Mr C.J. Barnett: I did. I have said that publicly. Mr E.S. RIPPER: Somehow it is okay for the Leader of the Opposition to meet with Mr Grill on the matter, yet it is not okay for a staff member of a minister to meet with Mr Grill. Mr C.J. Barnett: I am not influenced by either Brian Burke or Julian Grill like you are. Mr E.S. RIPPER: The Leader of the Opposition must get clear the rules he thinks should apply. Mr C.J. Barnett: I am not a minister. Mr E.S. RIPPER: That is dead right. He is not a minister. That is what burns away in his heart. It eats away at him day after day. He is a bad sufferer of relevance deprivation syndrome. He cannot stand that he is not a minister. He is a very poor Leader of the Opposition because he cannot get over the fact that he is not a minister. (2) Of course I have not misled the House. I have been totally and entirely accurate in what I have told the House.
Mr C.J. Barnett: One of his clients. Mr E.S. RIPPER: Who? Mr C.J. Barnett: I do not know. Mr E.S. RIPPER: How does he know that it is a genuine e-mail? Mr C.J. Barnett: It was sent to me from a Labor Party source. Mr E.S. RIPPER: I repeat the question: how does he know it is a genuine e-mail? I answered this question on a previous occasion. I advised the House before I answered that question that I had confirmed my understanding of events with both my chief of staff and the Under Treasurer. Both confirmed that the cabinet minute was prepared by the Department of Treasury and Finance without the intervention of my chief of staff. That is the answer given by both my chief of staff and the Under Treasurer. On this matter, the Government acted in accordance with recommendations of the Department of Treasury and Finance following representations from the Leader of the Opposition’s old organisation, the Western Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the accountants’ organisation, CPA Australia. The Leader of the Opposition thinks the decision is a good one. The Chamber of Commerce and Industry thinks the decision is a good one. It was made in a proper way following representations from a peak industry group and the preparation of a cabinet minute by the Department of Treasury and Finance. I have another question for the Leader of the Opposition. He has not yet answered this. Did the Leader of the Opposition meet with Mr Grill on this matter? Mr C.J. Barnett: I did. I have said that publicly. Mr E.S. RIPPER: Somehow it is okay for the Leader of the Opposition to meet with Mr Grill on the matter, yet it is not okay for a staff member of a minister to meet with Mr Grill. Mr C.J. Barnett: I am not influenced by either Brian Burke or Julian Grill like you are. Mr E.S. RIPPER: The Leader of the Opposition must get clear the rules he thinks should apply. Mr C.J. Barnett: I am not a minister. Mr E.S. RIPPER: That is dead right. He is not a minister. That is what burns away in his heart. It eats away at him day after day. He is a bad sufferer of relevance deprivation syndrome. He cannot stand that he is not a minister. He is a very poor Leader of the Opposition because he cannot get over the fact that he is not a minister. (2) Of course I have not misled the House. I have been totally and entirely accurate in what I have told the House.
Mr E.S. RIPPER: Who? Mr C.J. Barnett: I do not know. Mr E.S. RIPPER: How does he know that it is a genuine e-mail? Mr C.J. Barnett: It was sent to me from a Labor Party source. Mr E.S. RIPPER: I repeat the question: how does he know it is a genuine e-mail? I answered this question on a previous occasion. I advised the House before I answered that question that I had confirmed my understanding of events with both my chief of staff and the Under Treasurer. Both confirmed that the cabinet minute was prepared by the Department of Treasury and Finance without the intervention of my chief of staff. That is the answer given by both my chief of staff and the Under Treasurer. On this matter, the Government acted in accordance with recommendations of the Department of Treasury and Finance following representations from the Leader of the Opposition’s old organisation, the Western Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the accountants’ organisation, CPA Australia. The Leader of the Opposition thinks the decision is a good one. The Chamber of Commerce and Industry thinks the decision is a good one. It was made in a proper way following representations from a peak industry group and the preparation of a cabinet minute by the Department of Treasury and Finance. I have another question for the Leader of the Opposition. He has not yet answered this. Did the Leader of the Opposition meet with Mr Grill on this matter? Mr C.J. Barnett: I did. I have said that publicly. Mr E.S. RIPPER: Somehow it is okay for the Leader of the Opposition to meet with Mr Grill on the matter, yet it is not okay for a staff member of a minister to meet with Mr Grill. Mr C.J. Barnett: I am not influenced by either Brian Burke or Julian Grill like you are. Mr E.S. RIPPER: The Leader of the Opposition must get clear the rules he thinks should apply. Mr C.J. Barnett: I am not a minister. Mr E.S. RIPPER: That is dead right. He is not a minister. That is what burns away in his heart. It eats away at him day after day. He is a bad sufferer of relevance deprivation syndrome. He cannot stand that he is not a minister. He is a very poor Leader of the Opposition because he cannot get over the fact that he is not a minister. (2) Of course I have not misled the House. I have been totally and entirely accurate in what I have told the House.
Mr C.J. Barnett: I do not know. Mr E.S. RIPPER: How does he know that it is a genuine e-mail? Mr C.J. Barnett: It was sent to me from a Labor Party source. Mr E.S. RIPPER: I repeat the question: how does he know it is a genuine e-mail? I answered this question on a previous occasion. I advised the House before I answered that question that I had confirmed my understanding of events with both my chief of staff and the Under Treasurer. Both confirmed that the cabinet minute was prepared by the Department of Treasury and Finance without the intervention of my chief of staff. That is the answer given by both my chief of staff and the Under Treasurer. On this matter, the Government acted in accordance with recommendations of the Department of Treasury and Finance following representations from the Leader of the Opposition’s old organisation, the Western Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the accountants’ organisation, CPA Australia. The Leader of the Opposition thinks the decision is a good one. The Chamber of Commerce and Industry thinks the decision is a good one. It was made in a proper way following representations from a peak industry group and the preparation of a cabinet minute by the Department of Treasury and Finance. I have another question for the Leader of the Opposition. He has not yet answered this. Did the Leader of the Opposition meet with Mr Grill on this matter? Mr C.J. Barnett: I did. I have said that publicly. Mr E.S. RIPPER: Somehow it is okay for the Leader of the Opposition to meet with Mr Grill on the matter, yet it is not okay for a staff member of a minister to meet with Mr Grill. Mr C.J. Barnett: I am not influenced by either Brian Burke or Julian Grill like you are. Mr E.S. RIPPER: The Leader of the Opposition must get clear the rules he thinks should apply. Mr C.J. Barnett: I am not a minister. Mr E.S. RIPPER: That is dead right. He is not a minister. That is what burns away in his heart. It eats away at him day after day. He is a bad sufferer of relevance deprivation syndrome. He cannot stand that he is not a minister. He is a very poor Leader of the Opposition because he cannot get over the fact that he is not a minister. (2) Of course I have not misled the House. I have been totally and entirely accurate in what I have told the House.
Mr E.S. RIPPER: How does he know that it is a genuine e-mail? Mr C.J. Barnett: It was sent to me from a Labor Party source. Mr E.S. RIPPER: I repeat the question: how does he know it is a genuine e-mail? I answered this question on a previous occasion. I advised the House before I answered that question that I had confirmed my understanding of events with both my chief of staff and the Under Treasurer. Both confirmed that the cabinet minute was prepared by the Department of Treasury and Finance without the intervention of my chief of staff. That is the answer given by both my chief of staff and the Under Treasurer. On this matter, the Government acted in accordance with recommendations of the Department of Treasury and Finance following representations from the Leader of the Opposition’s old organisation, the Western Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the accountants’ organisation, CPA Australia. The Leader of the Opposition thinks the decision is a good one. The Chamber of Commerce and Industry thinks the decision is a good one. It was made in a proper way following representations from a peak industry group and the preparation of a cabinet minute by the Department of Treasury and Finance. I have another question for the Leader of the Opposition. He has not yet answered this. Did the Leader of the Opposition meet with Mr Grill on this matter? Mr C.J. Barnett: I did. I have said that publicly. Mr E.S. RIPPER: Somehow it is okay for the Leader of the Opposition to meet with Mr Grill on the matter, yet it is not okay for a staff member of a minister to meet with Mr Grill. Mr C.J. Barnett: I am not influenced by either Brian Burke or Julian Grill like you are. Mr E.S. RIPPER: The Leader of the Opposition must get clear the rules he thinks should apply. Mr C.J. Barnett: I am not a minister. Mr E.S. RIPPER: That is dead right. He is not a minister. That is what burns away in his heart. It eats away at him day after day. He is a bad sufferer of relevance deprivation syndrome. He cannot stand that he is not a minister. He is a very poor Leader of the Opposition because he cannot get over the fact that he is not a minister. (2) Of course I have not misled the House. I have been totally and entirely accurate in what I have told the House.
Mr C.J. Barnett: It was sent to me from a Labor Party source. Mr E.S. RIPPER: I repeat the question: how does he know it is a genuine e-mail? I answered this question on a previous occasion. I advised the House before I answered that question that I had confirmed my understanding of events with both my chief of staff and the Under Treasurer. Both confirmed that the cabinet minute was prepared by the Department of Treasury and Finance without the intervention of my chief of staff. That is the answer given by both my chief of staff and the Under Treasurer. On this matter, the Government acted in accordance with recommendations of the Department of Treasury and Finance following representations from the Leader of the Opposition’s old organisation, the Western Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the accountants’ organisation, CPA Australia. The Leader of the Opposition thinks the decision is a good one. The Chamber of Commerce and Industry thinks the decision is a good one. It was made in a proper way following representations from a peak industry group and the preparation of a cabinet minute by the Department of Treasury and Finance. I have another question for the Leader of the Opposition. He has not yet answered this. Did the Leader of the Opposition meet with Mr Grill on this matter? Mr C.J. Barnett: I did. I have said that publicly. Mr E.S. RIPPER: Somehow it is okay for the Leader of the Opposition to meet with Mr Grill on the matter, yet it is not okay for a staff member of a minister to meet with Mr Grill. Mr C.J. Barnett: I am not influenced by either Brian Burke or Julian Grill like you are. Mr E.S. RIPPER: The Leader of the Opposition must get clear the rules he thinks should apply. Mr C.J. Barnett: I am not a minister. Mr E.S. RIPPER: That is dead right. He is not a minister. That is what burns away in his heart. It eats away at him day after day. He is a bad sufferer of relevance deprivation syndrome. He cannot stand that he is not a minister. He is a very poor Leader of the Opposition because he cannot get over the fact that he is not a minister. (2) Of course I have not misled the House. I have been totally and entirely accurate in what I have told the House.
Mr E.S. RIPPER: I repeat the question: how does he know it is a genuine e-mail? I answered this question on a previous occasion. I advised the House before I answered that question that I had confirmed my understanding of events with both my chief of staff and the Under Treasurer. Both confirmed that the cabinet minute was prepared by the Department of Treasury and Finance without the intervention of my chief of staff. That is the answer given by both my chief of staff and the Under Treasurer. On this matter, the Government acted in accordance with recommendations of the Department of Treasury and Finance following representations from the Leader of the Opposition’s old organisation, the Western Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the accountants’ organisation, CPA Australia. The Leader of the Opposition thinks the decision is a good one. The Chamber of Commerce and Industry thinks the decision is a good one. It was made in a proper way following representations from a peak industry group and the preparation of a cabinet minute by the Department of Treasury and Finance. I have another question for the Leader of the Opposition. He has not yet answered this. Did the Leader of the Opposition meet with Mr Grill on this matter? Mr C.J. Barnett: I did. I have said that publicly. Mr E.S. RIPPER: Somehow it is okay for the Leader of the Opposition to meet with Mr Grill on the matter, yet it is not okay for a staff member of a minister to meet with Mr Grill. Mr C.J. Barnett: I am not influenced by either Brian Burke or Julian Grill like you are. Mr E.S. RIPPER: The Leader of the Opposition must get clear the rules he thinks should apply. Mr C.J. Barnett: I am not a minister. Mr E.S. RIPPER: That is dead right. He is not a minister. That is what burns away in his heart. It eats away at him day after day. He is a bad sufferer of relevance deprivation syndrome. He cannot stand that he is not a minister. He is a very poor Leader of the Opposition because he cannot get over the fact that he is not a minister. (2) Of course I have not misled the House. I have been totally and entirely accurate in what I have told the House.
I answered this question on a previous occasion. I advised the House before I answered that question that I had confirmed my understanding of events with both my chief of staff and the Under Treasurer. Both confirmed that the cabinet minute was prepared by the Department of Treasury and Finance without the intervention of my chief of staff. That is the answer given by both my chief of staff and the Under Treasurer. On this matter, the Government acted in accordance with recommendations of the Department of Treasury and Finance following representations from the Leader of the Opposition’s old organisation, the Western Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the accountants’ organisation, CPA Australia. The Leader of the Opposition thinks the decision is a good one. The Chamber of Commerce and Industry thinks the decision is a good one. It was made in a proper way following representations from a peak industry group and the preparation of a cabinet minute by the Department of Treasury and Finance. I have another question for the Leader of the Opposition. He has not yet answered this. Did the Leader of the Opposition meet with Mr Grill on this matter? Mr C.J. Barnett: I did. I have said that publicly. Mr E.S. RIPPER: Somehow it is okay for the Leader of the Opposition to meet with Mr Grill on the matter, yet it is not okay for a staff member of a minister to meet with Mr Grill. Mr C.J. Barnett: I am not influenced by either Brian Burke or Julian Grill like you are. Mr E.S. RIPPER: The Leader of the Opposition must get clear the rules he thinks should apply. Mr C.J. Barnett: I am not a minister. Mr E.S. RIPPER: That is dead right. He is not a minister. That is what burns away in his heart. It eats away at him day after day. He is a bad sufferer of relevance deprivation syndrome. He cannot stand that he is not a minister. He is a very poor Leader of the Opposition because he cannot get over the fact that he is not a minister. (2) Of course I have not misled the House. I have been totally and entirely accurate in what I have told the House.
I have another question for the Leader of the Opposition. He has not yet answered this. Did the Leader of the Opposition meet with Mr Grill on this matter? Mr C.J. Barnett: I did. I have said that publicly. Mr E.S. RIPPER: Somehow it is okay for the Leader of the Opposition to meet with Mr Grill on the matter, yet it is not okay for a staff member of a minister to meet with Mr Grill. Mr C.J. Barnett: I am not influenced by either Brian Burke or Julian Grill like you are. Mr E.S. RIPPER: The Leader of the Opposition must get clear the rules he thinks should apply. Mr C.J. Barnett: I am not a minister. Mr E.S. RIPPER: That is dead right. He is not a minister. That is what burns away in his heart. It eats away at him day after day. He is a bad sufferer of relevance deprivation syndrome. He cannot stand that he is not a minister. He is a very poor Leader of the Opposition because he cannot get over the fact that he is not a minister. (2) Of course I have not misled the House. I have been totally and entirely accurate in what I have told the House.
Mr C.J. Barnett: I did. I have said that publicly. Mr E.S. RIPPER: Somehow it is okay for the Leader of the Opposition to meet with Mr Grill on the matter, yet it is not okay for a staff member of a minister to meet with Mr Grill. Mr C.J. Barnett: I am not influenced by either Brian Burke or Julian Grill like you are. Mr E.S. RIPPER: The Leader of the Opposition must get clear the rules he thinks should apply. Mr C.J. Barnett: I am not a minister. Mr E.S. RIPPER: That is dead right. He is not a minister. That is what burns away in his heart. It eats away at him day after day. He is a bad sufferer of relevance deprivation syndrome. He cannot stand that he is not a minister. He is a very poor Leader of the Opposition because he cannot get over the fact that he is not a minister. (2) Of course I have not misled the House. I have been totally and entirely accurate in what I have told the House.
Mr E.S. RIPPER: Somehow it is okay for the Leader of the Opposition to meet with Mr Grill on the matter, yet it is not okay for a staff member of a minister to meet with Mr Grill. Mr C.J. Barnett: I am not influenced by either Brian Burke or Julian Grill like you are. Mr E.S. RIPPER: The Leader of the Opposition must get clear the rules he thinks should apply. Mr C.J. Barnett: I am not a minister. Mr E.S. RIPPER: That is dead right. He is not a minister. That is what burns away in his heart. It eats away at him day after day. He is a bad sufferer of relevance deprivation syndrome. He cannot stand that he is not a minister. He is a very poor Leader of the Opposition because he cannot get over the fact that he is not a minister. (2) Of course I have not misled the House. I have been totally and entirely accurate in what I have told the House.
Mr C.J. Barnett: I am not influenced by either Brian Burke or Julian Grill like you are. Mr E.S. RIPPER: The Leader of the Opposition must get clear the rules he thinks should apply. Mr C.J. Barnett: I am not a minister. Mr E.S. RIPPER: That is dead right. He is not a minister. That is what burns away in his heart. It eats away at him day after day. He is a bad sufferer of relevance deprivation syndrome. He cannot stand that he is not a minister. He is a very poor Leader of the Opposition because he cannot get over the fact that he is not a minister. (2) Of course I have not misled the House. I have been totally and entirely accurate in what I have told the House.
Mr E.S. RIPPER: The Leader of the Opposition must get clear the rules he thinks should apply. Mr C.J. Barnett: I am not a minister. Mr E.S. RIPPER: That is dead right. He is not a minister. That is what burns away in his heart. It eats away at him day after day. He is a bad sufferer of relevance deprivation syndrome. He cannot stand that he is not a minister. He is a very poor Leader of the Opposition because he cannot get over the fact that he is not a minister. (2) Of course I have not misled the House. I have been totally and entirely accurate in what I have told the House.
Mr C.J. Barnett: I am not a minister. Mr E.S. RIPPER: That is dead right. He is not a minister. That is what burns away in his heart. It eats away at him day after day. He is a bad sufferer of relevance deprivation syndrome. He cannot stand that he is not a minister. He is a very poor Leader of the Opposition because he cannot get over the fact that he is not a minister. (2) Of course I have not misled the House. I have been totally and entirely accurate in what I have told the House.
Mr E.S. RIPPER: That is dead right. He is not a minister. That is what burns away in his heart. It eats away at him day after day. He is a bad sufferer of relevance deprivation syndrome. He cannot stand that he is not a minister. He is a very poor Leader of the Opposition because he cannot get over the fact that he is not a minister. (2) Of course I have not misled the House. I have been totally and entirely accurate in what I have told the House.
(2) Of course I have not misled the House. I have been totally and entirely accurate in what I have told the House.
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