❓ Hon Michael Mischin questions the Premier regarding cabinet confidentiality and the Paul Whyte corruption scandal, seeking transparency on reports and advice related to Whyte's agencies and appointment. The response deflects, highlighting Whyte's previous roles and criticising the former government.
AnsweredQoN 1465Legislative Council
Asked
28 November 2019
Member
Portfolio
Leader of the House representing the Premier
QuestionView source ↗
DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITIES
— PAUL WHYTE
1465. Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN to the Leader of the House
representing the Premier:
I
refer to the Treasurer's call for the Leader of the Opposition to waive
cabinet confidentiality over a 2012 report into the Housing Authority, and the
Premier's unsubstantiated allegation that the then government had
buried the report.
(1) Will the
Premier waive cabinet confidentiality over any taxpayer-funded reports and
advice to his government expressing concerns about the agencies of which Mr
Paul Whyte was a part, including any submission to cabinet regarding Mr Whyte's
appointment as director general, so that his government's
responsibility for the corruption scandal can be ascertained, or will these
remain buried?
(2) If he will not, why not?
(3) What are the
principles by which the Premier considers cabinet confidentiality ought to be
waived, so that a future Liberal government will know what standard of
disclosure to expect from him?
— PAUL WHYTE
1465. Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN to the Leader of the House
representing the Premier:
I
refer to the Treasurer's call for the Leader of the Opposition to waive
cabinet confidentiality over a 2012 report into the Housing Authority, and the
Premier's unsubstantiated allegation that the then government had
buried the report.
(1) Will the
Premier waive cabinet confidentiality over any taxpayer-funded reports and
advice to his government expressing concerns about the agencies of which Mr
Paul Whyte was a part, including any submission to cabinet regarding Mr Whyte's
appointment as director general, so that his government's
responsibility for the corruption scandal can be ascertained, or will these
remain buried?
(2) If he will not, why not?
(3) What are the
principles by which the Premier considers cabinet confidentiality ought to be
waived, so that a future Liberal government will know what standard of
disclosure to expect from him?
AnswerView source ↗
That is a long, long way away for
that third one. I thank the member for some notice of the question.
(1) Mr Whyte, who had previously acted as director
general a number of times across multiple agencies in the previous
government, was appointed to act in the role by the former director general, Mr
Grahame Searle, as per the Public Sector Management Act 1994. This does not
require cabinet approval.
(2) Not applicable.
(3) The Treasurer has asked the Leader of the
Opposition to publicly release the 2012 value for money review so that the people of Western Australia may better
understand the advice that was ignored by a number of ministers while this alleged corruption was
allowed to flourish under the former Liberal–National government.
Hon Michael Mischin : What
about part (3)? Are you answering that one?
Hon Sue Ellery : I just did.
that third one. I thank the member for some notice of the question.
(1) Mr Whyte, who had previously acted as director
general a number of times across multiple agencies in the previous
government, was appointed to act in the role by the former director general, Mr
Grahame Searle, as per the Public Sector Management Act 1994. This does not
require cabinet approval.
(2) Not applicable.
(3) The Treasurer has asked the Leader of the
Opposition to publicly release the 2012 value for money review so that the people of Western Australia may better
understand the advice that was ignored by a number of ministers while this alleged corruption was
allowed to flourish under the former Liberal–National government.
Hon Michael Mischin : What
about part (3)? Are you answering that one?
Hon Sue Ellery : I just did.
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