McGowan questions Barnett about changing the definition of 'government committees' after revealing figures to Parliament. Barnett claims there was no prior definition or registry.

AnsweredQoN 199Legislative Assembly
Asked
6 May 2010
Portfolio
Premier

QuestionView source ↗

GOVERNMENT COMMITTEES, REVIEWS, INQUIRIES AND ADVISORY BOARDS
I ask a supplementary question. How is it open and accountable for the Premier to change the definition after he has already revealed to the Parliament 170 new committees; and did this new definition apply when the Premier came up with the figure of 1 276 original committees? Mr C.J. BARNETT

AnswerView source ↗

Well, as the member for Vasse interjected to say, there was no definition — Mr M. McGowan : No. You have a definition. You are saying 1 276. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : There was no definition. Mr M. McGowan : You are saying 1 276. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Not only was there no list and no registry of how many boards and committees existed—it did not exist—and I remember members opposite ridiculing me when I suggested that it might be over 1 000 — Mr M. McGowan : How can that be if there is no definition? Mr C.J. BARNETT : We went right through — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Premier, take a seat. Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you for the third time. Members, that concludes question time. Point of Order Mr T.G. STEPHENS : Point of order, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : There is no point of order. Mr T.G. STEPHENS : Actually, there is. The SPEAKER : I will give the member the call in a moment. I have something that I need to present to the Parliament. Mr T.G. STEPHENS : Mr Speaker, my point of order — The SPEAKER : Member, I am going to give you the call in a moment. Mr T.G. STEPHENS : Mr Speaker, my point of order relates to your — The SPEAKER : Member for Pilbara, I formally call you for the first time. I am going to give you an opportunity in a moment to make your point. All I am saying to you is that I am going to provide some information to the house. Mr T.G. STEPHENS : In reference to question time, Mr Speaker? The SPEAKER : Member for Pilbara, I formally call you for the second time. Mr T.G. STEPHENS : My point of order takes precedence, surely. The SPEAKER : Member for Pilbara, I formally call you for the third time.
Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: Well, as the member for Vasse interjected to say, there was no definition — Mr M. McGowan : No. You have a definition. You are saying 1 276. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : There was no definition. Mr M. McGowan : You are saying 1 276. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Not only was there no list and no registry of how many boards and committees existed—it did not exist—and I remember members opposite ridiculing me when I suggested that it might be over 1 000 — Mr M. McGowan : How can that be if there is no definition? Mr C.J. BARNETT : We went right through — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Premier, take a seat. Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you for the third time. Members, that concludes question time. Point of Order Mr T.G. STEPHENS : Point of order, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : There is no point of order. Mr T.G. STEPHENS : Actually, there is. The SPEAKER : I will give the member the call in a moment. I have something that I need to present to the Parliament. Mr T.G. STEPHENS : Mr Speaker, my point of order — The SPEAKER : Member, I am going to give you the call in a moment. Mr T.G. STEPHENS : Mr Speaker, my point of order relates to your — The SPEAKER : Member for Pilbara, I formally call you for the first time. I am going to give you an opportunity in a moment to make your point. All I am saying to you is that I am going to provide some information to the house. Mr T.G. STEPHENS : In reference to question time, Mr Speaker? The SPEAKER : Member for Pilbara, I formally call you for the second time. Mr T.G. STEPHENS : My point of order takes precedence, surely. The SPEAKER : Member for Pilbara, I formally call you for the third time.
Well, as the member for Vasse interjected to say, there was no definition — Mr M. McGowan : No. You have a definition. You are saying 1 276. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : There was no definition. Mr M. McGowan : You are saying 1 276. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Not only was there no list and no registry of how many boards and committees existed—it did not exist—and I remember members opposite ridiculing me when I suggested that it might be over 1 000 — Mr M. McGowan : How can that be if there is no definition? Mr C.J. BARNETT : We went right through — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Premier, take a seat. Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you for the third time. Members, that concludes question time. Point of Order Mr T.G. STEPHENS : Point of order, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : There is no point of order. Mr T.G. STEPHENS : Actually, there is. The SPEAKER : I will give the member the call in a moment. I have something that I need to present to the Parliament. Mr T.G. STEPHENS : Mr Speaker, my point of order — The SPEAKER : Member, I am going to give you the call in a moment. Mr T.G. STEPHENS : Mr Speaker, my point of order relates to your — The SPEAKER : Member for Pilbara, I formally call you for the first time. I am going to give you an opportunity in a moment to make your point. All I am saying to you is that I am going to provide some information to the house. Mr T.G. STEPHENS : In reference to question time, Mr Speaker? The SPEAKER : Member for Pilbara, I formally call you for the second time. Mr T.G. STEPHENS : My point of order takes precedence, surely. The SPEAKER : Member for Pilbara, I formally call you for the third time.
Mr M. McGowan : No. You have a definition. You are saying 1 276. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : There was no definition. Mr M. McGowan : You are saying 1 276. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Not only was there no list and no registry of how many boards and committees existed—it did not exist—and I remember members opposite ridiculing me when I suggested that it might be over 1 000 — Mr M. McGowan : How can that be if there is no definition? Mr C.J. BARNETT : We went right through — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Premier, take a seat. Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you for the third time. Members, that concludes question time. Point of Order Mr T.G. STEPHENS : Point of order, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : There is no point of order. Mr T.G. STEPHENS : Actually, there is. The SPEAKER : I will give the member the call in a moment. I have something that I need to present to the Parliament. Mr T.G. STEPHENS : Mr Speaker, my point of order — The SPEAKER : Member, I am going to give you the call in a moment. Mr T.G. STEPHENS : Mr Speaker, my point of order relates to your — The SPEAKER : Member for Pilbara, I formally call you for the first time. I am going to give you an opportunity in a moment to make your point. All I am saying to you is that I am going to provide some information to the house. Mr T.G. STEPHENS : In reference to question time, Mr Speaker? The SPEAKER : Member for Pilbara, I formally call you for the second time. Mr T.G. STEPHENS : My point of order takes precedence, surely. The SPEAKER : Member for Pilbara, I formally call you for the third time.
The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : There was no definition. Mr M. McGowan : You are saying 1 276. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Not only was there no list and no registry of how many boards and committees existed—it did not exist—and I remember members opposite ridiculing me when I suggested that it might be over 1 000 — Mr M. McGowan : How can that be if there is no definition? Mr C.J. BARNETT : We went right through — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Premier, take a seat. Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you for the third time. Members, that concludes question time. Point of Order Mr T.G. STEPHENS : Point of order, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : There is no point of order. Mr T.G. STEPHENS : Actually, there is. The SPEAKER : I will give the member the call in a moment. I have something that I need to present to the Parliament. Mr T.G. STEPHENS : Mr Speaker, my point of order — The SPEAKER : Member, I am going to give you the call in a moment. Mr T.G. STEPHENS : Mr Speaker, my point of order relates to your — The SPEAKER : Member for Pilbara, I formally call you for the first time. I am going to give you an opportunity in a moment to make your point. All I am saying to you is that I am going to provide some information to the house. Mr T.G. STEPHENS : In reference to question time, Mr Speaker? The SPEAKER : Member for Pilbara, I formally call you for the second time. Mr T.G. STEPHENS : My point of order takes precedence, surely. The SPEAKER : Member for Pilbara, I formally call you for the third time.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : There was no definition. Mr M. McGowan : You are saying 1 276. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Not only was there no list and no registry of how many boards and committees existed—it did not exist—and I remember members opposite ridiculing me when I suggested that it might be over 1 000 — Mr M. McGowan : How can that be if there is no definition? Mr C.J. BARNETT : We went right through — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Premier, take a seat. Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you for the third time. Members, that concludes question time. Point of Order Mr T.G. STEPHENS : Point of order, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : There is no point of order. Mr T.G. STEPHENS : Actually, there is. The SPEAKER : I will give the member the call in a moment. I have something that I need to present to the Parliament. Mr T.G. STEPHENS : Mr Speaker, my point of order — The SPEAKER : Member, I am going to give you the call in a moment. Mr T.G. STEPHENS : Mr Speaker, my point of order relates to your — The SPEAKER : Member for Pilbara, I formally call you for the first time. I am going to give you an opportunity in a moment to make your point. All I am saying to you is that I am going to provide some information to the house. Mr T.G. STEPHENS : In reference to question time, Mr Speaker? The SPEAKER : Member for Pilbara, I formally call you for the second time. Mr T.G. STEPHENS : My point of order takes precedence, surely. The SPEAKER : Member for Pilbara, I formally call you for the third time.
Mr M. McGowan : You are saying 1 276. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Not only was there no list and no registry of how many boards and committees existed—it did not exist—and I remember members opposite ridiculing me when I suggested that it might be over 1 000 — Mr M. McGowan : How can that be if there is no definition? Mr C.J. BARNETT : We went right through — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Premier, take a seat. Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you for the third time. Members, that concludes question time. Point of Order Mr T.G. STEPHENS : Point of order, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : There is no point of order. Mr T.G. STEPHENS : Actually, there is. The SPEAKER : I will give the member the call in a moment. I have something that I need to present to the Parliament. Mr T.G. STEPHENS : Mr Speaker, my point of order — The SPEAKER : Member, I am going to give you the call in a moment. Mr T.G. STEPHENS : Mr Speaker, my point of order relates to your — The SPEAKER : Member for Pilbara, I formally call you for the first time. I am going to give you an opportunity in a moment to make your point. All I am saying to you is that I am going to provide some information to the house. Mr T.G. STEPHENS : In reference to question time, Mr Speaker? The SPEAKER : Member for Pilbara, I formally call you for the second time. Mr T.G. STEPHENS : My point of order takes precedence, surely. The SPEAKER : Member for Pilbara, I formally call you for the third time.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Not only was there no list and no registry of how many boards and committees existed—it did not exist—and I remember members opposite ridiculing me when I suggested that it might be over 1 000 — Mr M. McGowan : How can that be if there is no definition? Mr C.J. BARNETT : We went right through — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Premier, take a seat. Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you for the third time. Members, that concludes question time. Point of Order Mr T.G. STEPHENS : Point of order, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : There is no point of order. Mr T.G. STEPHENS : Actually, there is. The SPEAKER : I will give the member the call in a moment. I have something that I need to present to the Parliament. Mr T.G. STEPHENS : Mr Speaker, my point of order — The SPEAKER : Member, I am going to give you the call in a moment. Mr T.G. STEPHENS : Mr Speaker, my point of order relates to your — The SPEAKER : Member for Pilbara, I formally call you for the first time. I am going to give you an opportunity in a moment to make your point. All I am saying to you is that I am going to provide some information to the house. Mr T.G. STEPHENS : In reference to question time, Mr Speaker? The SPEAKER : Member for Pilbara, I formally call you for the second time. Mr T.G. STEPHENS : My point of order takes precedence, surely. The SPEAKER : Member for Pilbara, I formally call you for the third time.
Mr M. McGowan : How can that be if there is no definition? Mr C.J. BARNETT : We went right through — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Premier, take a seat. Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you for the third time. Members, that concludes question time. Point of Order Mr T.G. STEPHENS : Point of order, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : There is no point of order. Mr T.G. STEPHENS : Actually, there is. The SPEAKER : I will give the member the call in a moment. I have something that I need to present to the Parliament. Mr T.G. STEPHENS : Mr Speaker, my point of order — The SPEAKER : Member, I am going to give you the call in a moment. Mr T.G. STEPHENS : Mr Speaker, my point of order relates to your — The SPEAKER : Member for Pilbara, I formally call you for the first time. I am going to give you an opportunity in a moment to make your point. All I am saying to you is that I am going to provide some information to the house. Mr T.G. STEPHENS : In reference to question time, Mr Speaker? The SPEAKER : Member for Pilbara, I formally call you for the second time. Mr T.G. STEPHENS : My point of order takes precedence, surely. The SPEAKER : Member for Pilbara, I formally call you for the third time.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : We went right through — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Premier, take a seat. Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you for the third time. Members, that concludes question time. Point of Order Mr T.G. STEPHENS : Point of order, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : There is no point of order. Mr T.G. STEPHENS : Actually, there is. The SPEAKER : I will give the member the call in a moment. I have something that I need to present to the Parliament. Mr T.G. STEPHENS : Mr Speaker, my point of order — The SPEAKER : Member, I am going to give you the call in a moment. Mr T.G. STEPHENS : Mr Speaker, my point of order relates to your — The SPEAKER : Member for Pilbara, I formally call you for the first time. I am going to give you an opportunity in a moment to make your point. All I am saying to you is that I am going to provide some information to the house. Mr T.G. STEPHENS : In reference to question time, Mr Speaker? The SPEAKER : Member for Pilbara, I formally call you for the second time. Mr T.G. STEPHENS : My point of order takes precedence, surely. The SPEAKER : Member for Pilbara, I formally call you for the third time.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Premier, take a seat. Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you for the third time. Members, that concludes question time. Point of Order Mr T.G. STEPHENS : Point of order, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : There is no point of order. Mr T.G. STEPHENS : Actually, there is. The SPEAKER : I will give the member the call in a moment. I have something that I need to present to the Parliament. Mr T.G. STEPHENS : Mr Speaker, my point of order — The SPEAKER : Member, I am going to give you the call in a moment. Mr T.G. STEPHENS : Mr Speaker, my point of order relates to your — The SPEAKER : Member for Pilbara, I formally call you for the first time. I am going to give you an opportunity in a moment to make your point. All I am saying to you is that I am going to provide some information to the house. Mr T.G. STEPHENS : In reference to question time, Mr Speaker? The SPEAKER : Member for Pilbara, I formally call you for the second time. Mr T.G. STEPHENS : My point of order takes precedence, surely. The SPEAKER : Member for Pilbara, I formally call you for the third time.
The SPEAKER : Order! Premier, take a seat. Member for Victoria Park, I formally call you for the third time. Members, that concludes question time. Point of Order Mr T.G. STEPHENS : Point of order, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : There is no point of order. Mr T.G. STEPHENS : Actually, there is. The SPEAKER : I will give the member the call in a moment. I have something that I need to present to the Parliament. Mr T.G. STEPHENS : Mr Speaker, my point of order — The SPEAKER : Member, I am going to give you the call in a moment. Mr T.G. STEPHENS : Mr Speaker, my point of order relates to your — The SPEAKER : Member for Pilbara, I formally call you for the first time. I am going to give you an opportunity in a moment to make your point. All I am saying to you is that I am going to provide some information to the house. Mr T.G. STEPHENS : In reference to question time, Mr Speaker? The SPEAKER : Member for Pilbara, I formally call you for the second time. Mr T.G. STEPHENS : My point of order takes precedence, surely. The SPEAKER : Member for Pilbara, I formally call you for the third time.
The SPEAKER : There is no point of order. Mr T.G. STEPHENS : Actually, there is. The SPEAKER : I will give the member the call in a moment. I have something that I need to present to the Parliament. Mr T.G. STEPHENS : Mr Speaker, my point of order — The SPEAKER : Member, I am going to give you the call in a moment. Mr T.G. STEPHENS : Mr Speaker, my point of order relates to your — The SPEAKER : Member for Pilbara, I formally call you for the first time. I am going to give you an opportunity in a moment to make your point. All I am saying to you is that I am going to provide some information to the house. Mr T.G. STEPHENS : In reference to question time, Mr Speaker? The SPEAKER : Member for Pilbara, I formally call you for the second time. Mr T.G. STEPHENS : My point of order takes precedence, surely. The SPEAKER : Member for Pilbara, I formally call you for the third time.
Mr T.G. STEPHENS : Actually, there is. The SPEAKER : I will give the member the call in a moment. I have something that I need to present to the Parliament. Mr T.G. STEPHENS : Mr Speaker, my point of order — The SPEAKER : Member, I am going to give you the call in a moment. Mr T.G. STEPHENS : Mr Speaker, my point of order relates to your — The SPEAKER : Member for Pilbara, I formally call you for the first time. I am going to give you an opportunity in a moment to make your point. All I am saying to you is that I am going to provide some information to the house. Mr T.G. STEPHENS : In reference to question time, Mr Speaker? The SPEAKER : Member for Pilbara, I formally call you for the second time. Mr T.G. STEPHENS : My point of order takes precedence, surely. The SPEAKER : Member for Pilbara, I formally call you for the third time.
The SPEAKER : I will give the member the call in a moment. I have something that I need to present to the Parliament. Mr T.G. STEPHENS : Mr Speaker, my point of order — The SPEAKER : Member, I am going to give you the call in a moment. Mr T.G. STEPHENS : Mr Speaker, my point of order relates to your — The SPEAKER : Member for Pilbara, I formally call you for the first time. I am going to give you an opportunity in a moment to make your point. All I am saying to you is that I am going to provide some information to the house. Mr T.G. STEPHENS : In reference to question time, Mr Speaker? The SPEAKER : Member for Pilbara, I formally call you for the second time. Mr T.G. STEPHENS : My point of order takes precedence, surely. The SPEAKER : Member for Pilbara, I formally call you for the third time.
Mr T.G. STEPHENS : Mr Speaker, my point of order — The SPEAKER : Member, I am going to give you the call in a moment. Mr T.G. STEPHENS : Mr Speaker, my point of order relates to your — The SPEAKER : Member for Pilbara, I formally call you for the first time. I am going to give you an opportunity in a moment to make your point. All I am saying to you is that I am going to provide some information to the house. Mr T.G. STEPHENS : In reference to question time, Mr Speaker? The SPEAKER : Member for Pilbara, I formally call you for the second time. Mr T.G. STEPHENS : My point of order takes precedence, surely. The SPEAKER : Member for Pilbara, I formally call you for the third time.
The SPEAKER : Member, I am going to give you the call in a moment. Mr T.G. STEPHENS : Mr Speaker, my point of order relates to your — The SPEAKER : Member for Pilbara, I formally call you for the first time. I am going to give you an opportunity in a moment to make your point. All I am saying to you is that I am going to provide some information to the house. Mr T.G. STEPHENS : In reference to question time, Mr Speaker? The SPEAKER : Member for Pilbara, I formally call you for the second time. Mr T.G. STEPHENS : My point of order takes precedence, surely. The SPEAKER : Member for Pilbara, I formally call you for the third time.
Mr T.G. STEPHENS : Mr Speaker, my point of order relates to your — The SPEAKER : Member for Pilbara, I formally call you for the first time. I am going to give you an opportunity in a moment to make your point. All I am saying to you is that I am going to provide some information to the house. Mr T.G. STEPHENS : In reference to question time, Mr Speaker? The SPEAKER : Member for Pilbara, I formally call you for the second time. Mr T.G. STEPHENS : My point of order takes precedence, surely. The SPEAKER : Member for Pilbara, I formally call you for the third time.
The SPEAKER : Member for Pilbara, I formally call you for the first time. I am going to give you an opportunity in a moment to make your point. All I am saying to you is that I am going to provide some information to the house. Mr T.G. STEPHENS : In reference to question time, Mr Speaker? The SPEAKER : Member for Pilbara, I formally call you for the second time. Mr T.G. STEPHENS : My point of order takes precedence, surely. The SPEAKER : Member for Pilbara, I formally call you for the third time.
Mr T.G. STEPHENS : In reference to question time, Mr Speaker? The SPEAKER : Member for Pilbara, I formally call you for the second time. Mr T.G. STEPHENS : My point of order takes precedence, surely. The SPEAKER : Member for Pilbara, I formally call you for the third time.
The SPEAKER : Member for Pilbara, I formally call you for the second time. Mr T.G. STEPHENS : My point of order takes precedence, surely. The SPEAKER : Member for Pilbara, I formally call you for the third time.
Mr T.G. STEPHENS : My point of order takes precedence, surely. The SPEAKER : Member for Pilbara, I formally call you for the third time.
The SPEAKER : Member for Pilbara, I formally call you for the third time.

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