Hon Sue Ellery questions the Premier regarding a potential conflict of interest by the Minister for Agriculture and Food during the Perth Market (Disposal) Bill 2015 debate, specifically concerning disclosure as per the Ministerial Code of Conduct. The Premier's response differentiates between cabinet consideration and parliamentary debate.

AnsweredQoN 1452Legislative Council
Asked
3 December 2015
Portfolio
Leader of the House representing the Premier

QuestionView source ↗

PERTH
MARKET AUTHORITY — MINISTER FOR AGRICULTURE AND FOOD — CONFLICT
OF INTEREST
1452. Hon SUE ELLERY to the
Leader of the House representing the Premier:
I draw the Premier's attention to the Perth Market
(Disposal) Bill 2015, which provides direct ministerial responsibility to the
Minister for Agriculture and Food to implement the bill once enacted.
(1) Given the
Ministerial Code of Conduct holds that ministers are accountable to both the
community and Parliament for the administration of their departments,
authorities and statutes, does the failure of the Minister for Agriculture and Food
to disclose his conflict of interest to Parliament during the course of debate
on the bill constitute a breach of the code?
(2) If not, why not?

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the honourable member for some notice of the
question.
(1)–(2)
The minister has provided an explanation to the house of his actions in relation
to a conflict of interest he identified earlier this year. His declaration
under the Ministerial Code of Conduct affects his involvement in cabinet
consideration of the matter and not his ability to speak on the matter in
Parliament.

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