❓ Opposition Leader Mark McGowan questions Premier Colin Barnett regarding the sacking of Rob Johnson (Member for Hillarys) and the Corruption and Crime Commission Amendment Bill 2012, suggesting it was due to Johnson's opposition to the bill. The Premier denies this, stating Liberal Party members can oppose legislation.
AnsweredQoN 504Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
CORRUPTION AND CRIME COMMISSION AMENDMENT BILL 2012
— MEMBER FOR HILLARYS' OPPOSITION
504. Mr M. McGOWAN to the Premier:
I refer to today's media
reports over the rift that has developed in the Premier's government
over the Premier's proposed Corruption and Crime Commission legislation
and the fact that earlier this year the Premier was lauding the member for
Hillarys' performance as police minister.
(1) Is it not
now clear that the reason the Premier sacked former police minister and member
for Hillarys Rob Johnson from cabinet was that he would not support the Premier's
flawed laws?
(2) Is the
reason the member for Hillarys did not support the Premier's laws that
he feared they would actually help organised crime and that police corruption
would flourish?
(3) Why has
the Premier once again found it difficult to admit that he is wrong?
— MEMBER FOR HILLARYS' OPPOSITION
504. Mr M. McGOWAN to the Premier:
I refer to today's media
reports over the rift that has developed in the Premier's government
over the Premier's proposed Corruption and Crime Commission legislation
and the fact that earlier this year the Premier was lauding the member for
Hillarys' performance as police minister.
(1) Is it not
now clear that the reason the Premier sacked former police minister and member
for Hillarys Rob Johnson from cabinet was that he would not support the Premier's
flawed laws?
(2) Is the
reason the member for Hillarys did not support the Premier's laws that
he feared they would actually help organised crime and that police corruption
would flourish?
(3) Why has
the Premier once again found it difficult to admit that he is wrong?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(3)
What a silly question, but that is what we get.
Mr M. McGowan : More arrogance.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is a silly
question.
Unlike the Labor Party, in the Liberal Party members of Parliament can oppose government
legislation.
Ms M.M. Quirk interjected.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will explain. Unlike the Labor Party, in
which a member would probably lose preselection, in the Liberal Party, if a
member —
Mr M. McGowan : But that's not the question.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering it. If a member disagrees
with the position of the government, so long as that member takes it to the
party room and explains their position, that is accepted. That is what the
member for Hillarys did. He followed the rules of the party room to the letter,
and I have no objection to that whatsoever. As to the changes in the structure
of cabinet, they were not in any sense related to people's positions on
the CCC bill.
What a silly question, but that is what we get.
Mr M. McGowan : More arrogance.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is a silly
question.
Unlike the Labor Party, in the Liberal Party members of Parliament can oppose government
legislation.
Ms M.M. Quirk interjected.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will explain. Unlike the Labor Party, in
which a member would probably lose preselection, in the Liberal Party, if a
member —
Mr M. McGowan : But that's not the question.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering it. If a member disagrees
with the position of the government, so long as that member takes it to the
party room and explains their position, that is accepted. That is what the
member for Hillarys did. He followed the rules of the party room to the letter,
and I have no objection to that whatsoever. As to the changes in the structure
of cabinet, they were not in any sense related to people's positions on
the CCC bill.
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