❓ Opposition Leader Mark McGowan questions Premier Barnett on why experienced members haven't been rotated back into cabinet, accusing him of abandoning his rotation policy. Barnett defends his approach, citing the number of ministers who have served and contrasting it with Labor's record.
AnsweredQoN 138Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
BARNETT
MINISTRY — ROTATION POLICY
138. Mr
M. McGOWAN to the Premier:
I refer to the Premier's comments in June last year
in reference to the demotion of ministers —
''Expect rotations within
cabinet.''
Specifically concerning the member for Murray–Wellington,
the Premier said —
... I think the member was
probably unlucky and I hope he gets another opportunity.
(1) Why have
more experienced members, such as the member for Murray–Wellington, the
member for Bunbury, the member for Hillarys, the member for Eyre, Hon Simon O'Brien
or Hon Robyn McSweeney, not been rotated back through the cabinet?
(2) Why has
the Premier abandoned his rotation policy?
MINISTRY — ROTATION POLICY
138. Mr
M. McGOWAN to the Premier:
I refer to the Premier's comments in June last year
in reference to the demotion of ministers —
''Expect rotations within
cabinet.''
Specifically concerning the member for Murray–Wellington,
the Premier said —
... I think the member was
probably unlucky and I hope he gets another opportunity.
(1) Why have
more experienced members, such as the member for Murray–Wellington, the
member for Bunbury, the member for Hillarys, the member for Eyre, Hon Simon O'Brien
or Hon Robyn McSweeney, not been rotated back through the cabinet?
(2) Why has
the Premier abandoned his rotation policy?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2)
I am not an AFL coach! Was that a serious question? Is that the opposition's
second question for the day? Is that it? This is seriously pathetic. I rely on
memory now —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Victoria Park, I call you to order for the second time. I want to
hear the Premier in silence.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
As members would be aware, cabinet consists of 17 ministers. I am relying on
memory, but I think with the most recent changes since this government was
elected in September 2008, there will have been 28 members of cabinet in a
17-member cabinet. That is rotation. For whatever circumstance —
Several members interjected.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
There are 17 members in cabinet and to the best of my memory, 28 members have
served in the cabinet of the Liberal–National government; I think I am
correct on that figure.
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Midland, I call you to order for the first time.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
There are various reasons why there have been changes to cabinet. I have an
attitude of giving people on opportunity to serve in cabinet and I have demonstrated that. Every
situation is different, but I would much rather our policies than the policies
under Labor when it lost four ministers because they were before the Corruption
and Crime Commission. Let us not forget that.
I am not an AFL coach! Was that a serious question? Is that the opposition's
second question for the day? Is that it? This is seriously pathetic. I rely on
memory now —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Victoria Park, I call you to order for the second time. I want to
hear the Premier in silence.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
As members would be aware, cabinet consists of 17 ministers. I am relying on
memory, but I think with the most recent changes since this government was
elected in September 2008, there will have been 28 members of cabinet in a
17-member cabinet. That is rotation. For whatever circumstance —
Several members interjected.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
There are 17 members in cabinet and to the best of my memory, 28 members have
served in the cabinet of the Liberal–National government; I think I am
correct on that figure.
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Midland, I call you to order for the first time.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
There are various reasons why there have been changes to cabinet. I have an
attitude of giving people on opportunity to serve in cabinet and I have demonstrated that. Every
situation is different, but I would much rather our policies than the policies
under Labor when it lost four ministers because they were before the Corruption
and Crime Commission. Let us not forget that.
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