❓ Mr. Hyde questions the Premier regarding a perceived conflict of interest involving the Minister for Planning and a Dalkeith development. The Premier acknowledges a technical breach but defends the Minister's integrity.
AnsweredQoN 151Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Minister for
Planning — Conflict of Interest — Waratah Avenue, Dalkeith
151. Mr J.N. HYDE to the Premier:
I refer to the ongoing concern about
the Minister for Planning's perceived conflict of interest in relation
to the Waratah Avenue, Dalkeith development.
(1) Has the
Premier counselled the minister about the difference between an actual conflict
of interest and a perceived conflict of interest or any other aspects of this
matter?
(2) If he has
counselled the minister, what advice has he given the minister in handling
future perceived conflicts of interest?
(3) The Premier
advised this house that the minister has written to the cabinet secretary asking whether there was a conflict of interest. Has the
cabinet secretary replied and provided advice; and, if so, what was the advice
given to the minister?
Planning — Conflict of Interest — Waratah Avenue, Dalkeith
151. Mr J.N. HYDE to the Premier:
I refer to the ongoing concern about
the Minister for Planning's perceived conflict of interest in relation
to the Waratah Avenue, Dalkeith development.
(1) Has the
Premier counselled the minister about the difference between an actual conflict
of interest and a perceived conflict of interest or any other aspects of this
matter?
(2) If he has
counselled the minister, what advice has he given the minister in handling
future perceived conflicts of interest?
(3) The Premier
advised this house that the minister has written to the cabinet secretary asking whether there was a conflict of interest. Has the
cabinet secretary replied and provided advice; and, if so, what was the advice
given to the minister?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(3)
To the best of my knowledge, the cabinet secretary has not yet replied to the
minister, but I am sure he will do so shortly. He may well be seeking some
advice about that in any case. I restate that the Minister for Planning
purchased the property in April 2010, presumably as an investment property. He
declared it in September 2010 on his declaration of financial interests. That
was September 2010. In October 2011, he approved a recommendation from the WA
Planning Commission relating to the development on the other side of the road.
It was not a cabinet decision. He simply approved a recommendation to him as
minister—almost an administrative role. If the minister erred, he erred
only in failing to, I guess, question either myself or the cabinet secretary
whether he should totally exempt himself from that issue.
Dr A.D. Buti :
Which he should have.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
He probably should have. It is a technical breach, but that is all it is. In my
view it is not a conflict of interest, either perceived or real.
Dr A.D. Buti interjected.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
The member can argue that later if he wants to. He had declared the property.
Mr M. McGowan :
Making a decision that could potentially benefit the minister.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
Sorry; I am trying to answer the question; I am trying to be very fair. I think
even members opposite would agree that that minister probably has the highest
integrity in this Parliament in every respect in the way he conducts himself.
Mr
M. McGowan : Yes, but he has not shown it here.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : He had declared the property. It was an administrative
decision, and he drew to the attention of the department the fact that he owned
a property opposite to make sure the department was aware of it.
Mr
J.N. Hyde : After they had given him the advice he wanted.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : It was not on his mind. Yes, he should have sought my advice
on whether it was appropriate to make even that administrative decision. He did
not do that; that was an error, but that is all it was.
To the best of my knowledge, the cabinet secretary has not yet replied to the
minister, but I am sure he will do so shortly. He may well be seeking some
advice about that in any case. I restate that the Minister for Planning
purchased the property in April 2010, presumably as an investment property. He
declared it in September 2010 on his declaration of financial interests. That
was September 2010. In October 2011, he approved a recommendation from the WA
Planning Commission relating to the development on the other side of the road.
It was not a cabinet decision. He simply approved a recommendation to him as
minister—almost an administrative role. If the minister erred, he erred
only in failing to, I guess, question either myself or the cabinet secretary
whether he should totally exempt himself from that issue.
Dr A.D. Buti :
Which he should have.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
He probably should have. It is a technical breach, but that is all it is. In my
view it is not a conflict of interest, either perceived or real.
Dr A.D. Buti interjected.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
The member can argue that later if he wants to. He had declared the property.
Mr M. McGowan :
Making a decision that could potentially benefit the minister.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
Sorry; I am trying to answer the question; I am trying to be very fair. I think
even members opposite would agree that that minister probably has the highest
integrity in this Parliament in every respect in the way he conducts himself.
Mr
M. McGowan : Yes, but he has not shown it here.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : He had declared the property. It was an administrative
decision, and he drew to the attention of the department the fact that he owned
a property opposite to make sure the department was aware of it.
Mr
J.N. Hyde : After they had given him the advice he wanted.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : It was not on his mind. Yes, he should have sought my advice
on whether it was appropriate to make even that administrative decision. He did
not do that; that was an error, but that is all it was.
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