❓ Mr. Marmion questions the Premier about government contracts with Huawei, specifically regarding ASIO clearance. The Premier avoids a direct answer, criticizes Mr. Marmion, and references external advice.
AnsweredQoN 16Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS —
HUAWEI
16. Mr W.R. MARMION to the Premier:
(1) Can the
Premier confirm that his government's ongoing defence over his decision
on the Huawei contract is because ASIO gave the all-clear to the contract?
(2) Will the
Premier immediately commit to tabling an unredacted copy of ASIO's
so-called clearance or, at least, a redacted copy that ASIO provided him that
gave him clearance —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members on my
right!
Mr W.R. MARMION : — or
is it true that no such clearance was given?
HUAWEI
16. Mr W.R. MARMION to the Premier:
(1) Can the
Premier confirm that his government's ongoing defence over his decision
on the Huawei contract is because ASIO gave the all-clear to the contract?
(2) Will the
Premier immediately commit to tabling an unredacted copy of ASIO's
so-called clearance or, at least, a redacted copy that ASIO provided him that
gave him clearance —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members on my
right!
Mr W.R. MARMION : — or
is it true that no such clearance was given?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) Member
for Nedlands, what are you—62 years of age or something like that? He
has been a member of this Parliament for 10 or 12 years.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Mr M. McGOWAN : He was an
engineer, a political staffer, a public servant and all those things, and he
comes into Parliament demanding that the government table ASIO advice. I mean,
seriously!
Mr W.R. Marmion : Just give us
the heading.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Mr M. McGOWAN : What have you
learnt all these years? What have you actually learnt?
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Mr
M. McGOWAN : I have advised the
house of what we were advised. If members had looked at The West Australian during the course of the week, they would have found that Rear Admiral Lord, a former
senior Australian naval officer —
Mr W.R. Marmion : Not from
ASIO!
Mr M. McGOWAN : —
someone who has served the country, unlike you, member for Nedlands.
Mr S.K. L'Estrange :
What's that about?
Mr M. McGOWAN : Well, it is a true
statement.
He has received, as he has
published, and met with the Prime Minister's office and the Minister for
Home Affairs of Australia's officers who had no concerns in relation to
the matter. The opposition can, because it has no other issues, keep barking on
about this, but they are the facts of the matter. To come in here and demand
the tabling of security advice I think is testament to the quality of the
Liberal Party in this state.
for Nedlands, what are you—62 years of age or something like that? He
has been a member of this Parliament for 10 or 12 years.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Mr M. McGOWAN : He was an
engineer, a political staffer, a public servant and all those things, and he
comes into Parliament demanding that the government table ASIO advice. I mean,
seriously!
Mr W.R. Marmion : Just give us
the heading.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Mr M. McGOWAN : What have you
learnt all these years? What have you actually learnt?
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Mr
M. McGOWAN : I have advised the
house of what we were advised. If members had looked at The West Australian during the course of the week, they would have found that Rear Admiral Lord, a former
senior Australian naval officer —
Mr W.R. Marmion : Not from
ASIO!
Mr M. McGOWAN : —
someone who has served the country, unlike you, member for Nedlands.
Mr S.K. L'Estrange :
What's that about?
Mr M. McGOWAN : Well, it is a true
statement.
He has received, as he has
published, and met with the Prime Minister's office and the Minister for
Home Affairs of Australia's officers who had no concerns in relation to
the matter. The opposition can, because it has no other issues, keep barking on
about this, but they are the facts of the matter. To come in here and demand
the tabling of security advice I think is testament to the quality of the
Liberal Party in this state.
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