❓ Mr. Kirkup questions Premier McGowan about Paul Whyte's promotion despite alleged knowledge of issues in 2016. McGowan deflects, highlighting Whyte's previous roles under the Liberal-National government and claiming his government's changes led to the exposure of Whyte's corruption.
AnsweredQoN 1093Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITIES — PAUL WHYTE
1093. Mr Z.R.F. KIRKUP to the Premier:
I have a supplementary question. If
the Treasurer knew of this problem with Mr Whyte back in 2016, why was he
promoted —
Ms S. Winton interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Wanneroo, I call you to order for the first time. Start again.
Mr Z.R.F. KIRKUP : Thank you
very much, Mr Speaker.
Given the Treasurer knew of this
problem with Mr Whyte back in 2016, why was he promoted under the Premier's
government and only charged in 2019?
1093. Mr Z.R.F. KIRKUP to the Premier:
I have a supplementary question. If
the Treasurer knew of this problem with Mr Whyte back in 2016, why was he
promoted —
Ms S. Winton interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Wanneroo, I call you to order for the first time. Start again.
Mr Z.R.F. KIRKUP : Thank you
very much, Mr Speaker.
Given the Treasurer knew of this
problem with Mr Whyte back in 2016, why was he promoted under the Premier's
government and only charged in 2019?
AnswerView source ↗
When the former government was in
office, it made him acting director general of Housing for at least a year. It
made him acting director general of Regional Development for at least four
months.
Mr Z.R.F. Kirkup interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member, you
have had your question.
Mr M. McGOWAN : We were in
opposition. I do not know whether the member understands the system. The
opposition does not make these decisions. I do not know whether the member gets
that. That is what occurred when the Liberal and National Parties were in
government, and the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party was the Minister for
Housing. The member for Warren–Blackwood was also the Minister for
Housing. In fact, Mr Speaker, there was seven Ministers for Housing over that
term—seven Ministers for Housing over the term of the last government,
which lasted eight and a half years. There were a full seven. That really must
be some sort of record! It is impressive.
Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected.
The SPEAKER : Treasurer! Members, your own Premier is
on his feet.
Mr M. McGOWAN : When we put
in place the machinery-of-government changes on 1 July, he was subsumed below
someone else. That is what happened. His position was subsumed below someone
else. Members opposite have a strange definition of promotion.
Mr Z.R.F. Kirkup interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Dawesville!
Mr M. McGOWAN : It is a strange
definition of promotion when he was placed below someone else and therefore
allowed the alleged corruption to be exposed.
Mr A. Krsticevic interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Carine!
Mr M. McGOWAN : I will
explain it to members opposite again.
Mr A. Krsticevic interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Carine, I heard you the first two times.
Mr M. McGOWAN : Other
people in the department then had the confidence to report him to someone above
him.
Mr A. Krsticevic interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Carine, I call you to order for the first time.
Mr M. McGOWAN : When the
Liberal and National Parties were in office, they did not have that confidence
because he was in charge. Corruption flourished under the Liberals and
Nationals. We have uncovered it, we will continue to uncover it, and it is
because of the changes we have made that it is being uncovered.
office, it made him acting director general of Housing for at least a year. It
made him acting director general of Regional Development for at least four
months.
Mr Z.R.F. Kirkup interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member, you
have had your question.
Mr M. McGOWAN : We were in
opposition. I do not know whether the member understands the system. The
opposition does not make these decisions. I do not know whether the member gets
that. That is what occurred when the Liberal and National Parties were in
government, and the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party was the Minister for
Housing. The member for Warren–Blackwood was also the Minister for
Housing. In fact, Mr Speaker, there was seven Ministers for Housing over that
term—seven Ministers for Housing over the term of the last government,
which lasted eight and a half years. There were a full seven. That really must
be some sort of record! It is impressive.
Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected.
The SPEAKER : Treasurer! Members, your own Premier is
on his feet.
Mr M. McGOWAN : When we put
in place the machinery-of-government changes on 1 July, he was subsumed below
someone else. That is what happened. His position was subsumed below someone
else. Members opposite have a strange definition of promotion.
Mr Z.R.F. Kirkup interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Dawesville!
Mr M. McGOWAN : It is a strange
definition of promotion when he was placed below someone else and therefore
allowed the alleged corruption to be exposed.
Mr A. Krsticevic interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Carine!
Mr M. McGOWAN : I will
explain it to members opposite again.
Mr A. Krsticevic interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Carine, I heard you the first two times.
Mr M. McGOWAN : Other
people in the department then had the confidence to report him to someone above
him.
Mr A. Krsticevic interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Carine, I call you to order for the first time.
Mr M. McGOWAN : When the
Liberal and National Parties were in office, they did not have that confidence
because he was in charge. Corruption flourished under the Liberals and
Nationals. We have uncovered it, we will continue to uncover it, and it is
because of the changes we have made that it is being uncovered.
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