❓ Mr. Wyatt questions the Premier about a potential conflict of interest regarding the Deputy Premier's shareholdings and his role as Acting Premier and Minister for State Development. The Premier defends the appointment, dismissing the conflict and accusing the opposition of political games.
AnsweredQoN 679Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
DEPUTY
PREMIER — CONFLICT OF INTEREST
679. Mr B.S. WYATT to the Premier:
I refer to Ministerial Code of
Conduct point 7, titled ''Divestment of Conflicting Positions''.
It states —
Immediately after appointment,
Ministers shall take action to divest themselves of shareholdings in any
company and interests in partnerships and trusts, by virtue of which a conflict
exists, or could reasonably be expected to exist, with their portfolio
responsibilities.
(1) Was the
Premier aware of the Deputy Premier's share portfolio of 400 000 shares
in Tectonic Resources when he approved his appointment as Acting Premier and
Minister for State Development in March 2011 and June 2011?
(2) If so, why
did he appoint him to the position of Acting Premier and Minister for State
Development, given the clear breach of the Ministerial Code of Conduct?
(3) What steps
will the Premier now take to clear this clear breach of the Ministerial Code of
Conduct?
PREMIER — CONFLICT OF INTEREST
679. Mr B.S. WYATT to the Premier:
I refer to Ministerial Code of
Conduct point 7, titled ''Divestment of Conflicting Positions''.
It states —
Immediately after appointment,
Ministers shall take action to divest themselves of shareholdings in any
company and interests in partnerships and trusts, by virtue of which a conflict
exists, or could reasonably be expected to exist, with their portfolio
responsibilities.
(1) Was the
Premier aware of the Deputy Premier's share portfolio of 400 000 shares
in Tectonic Resources when he approved his appointment as Acting Premier and
Minister for State Development in March 2011 and June 2011?
(2) If so, why
did he appoint him to the position of Acting Premier and Minister for State
Development, given the clear breach of the Ministerial Code of Conduct?
(3) What steps
will the Premier now take to clear this clear breach of the Ministerial Code of
Conduct?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(3) I
think in March I was visiting Singapore, establishing a special relationship
between Singapore and Western Australia. I think in June I took a week or
thereabouts off on leave. It seems to me fairly logical that if the Premier of
the state is on leave or outside the country, the Deputy Premier would act in
his place.
Mr B.S. Wyatt : You're right;
agreed.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT: I would not have thought that was too hard; follow the
bouncing ball. The Premier is on leave or away; who do we get? We look around
and think, ''Ah! The Deputy Premier should be Acting Premier''.
It is a bit tricky to think through, but I would have thought that is where we
would go: Deputy Premier.
Mr B.S. Wyatt :
Very good, Premier; I'm glad you've got that worked out. Now
the next bit.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : So the member has grasped that point?
Mr
B.S. Wyatt : Oh, that's very easy.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : Is there a conflict? No. Are we dealing with those companies?
No, we are not.
Mr
B.S. Wyatt : Well, ''reasonably be expected to exist''?
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : It is not his portfolio.
Mr
B.S. Wyatt : State Development? No interest in resource companies?
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : The Deputy Premier was simply acting as Premier for a short
time. He was not undertaking roles in the portfolio of State Development; he
was not dealing with any company of interest.
Mr
B.S. Wyatt : How would you know? You were away, remember?
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : Is this it? Here we are, three months out from an election;
this is the Labor Party in full flight, acting for Len Buckeridge, asking
repeat questions and now querying why a Premier would make the Deputy Premier
Acting Premier in his absence!
Mr
B.S. Wyatt : That's not the question.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : Does it get better than this? This is like Monty Python!
Mr
B.S. Wyatt : I actually agree with you! You are a funny little bugger, aren't
you?
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oh,
charming!
Mr B.S. Wyatt : Len's
right. When I'm over at Peppy Grove next time, talking about you, I'll
say, ''You're right; he is a silly little bugger''. I
agree with Len! You should preselect him! We might preselect him!
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
Of course the Deputy Premier would be Acting Premier in the Premier's
absence.
think in March I was visiting Singapore, establishing a special relationship
between Singapore and Western Australia. I think in June I took a week or
thereabouts off on leave. It seems to me fairly logical that if the Premier of
the state is on leave or outside the country, the Deputy Premier would act in
his place.
Mr B.S. Wyatt : You're right;
agreed.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT: I would not have thought that was too hard; follow the
bouncing ball. The Premier is on leave or away; who do we get? We look around
and think, ''Ah! The Deputy Premier should be Acting Premier''.
It is a bit tricky to think through, but I would have thought that is where we
would go: Deputy Premier.
Mr B.S. Wyatt :
Very good, Premier; I'm glad you've got that worked out. Now
the next bit.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : So the member has grasped that point?
Mr
B.S. Wyatt : Oh, that's very easy.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : Is there a conflict? No. Are we dealing with those companies?
No, we are not.
Mr
B.S. Wyatt : Well, ''reasonably be expected to exist''?
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : It is not his portfolio.
Mr
B.S. Wyatt : State Development? No interest in resource companies?
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : The Deputy Premier was simply acting as Premier for a short
time. He was not undertaking roles in the portfolio of State Development; he
was not dealing with any company of interest.
Mr
B.S. Wyatt : How would you know? You were away, remember?
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : Is this it? Here we are, three months out from an election;
this is the Labor Party in full flight, acting for Len Buckeridge, asking
repeat questions and now querying why a Premier would make the Deputy Premier
Acting Premier in his absence!
Mr
B.S. Wyatt : That's not the question.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : Does it get better than this? This is like Monty Python!
Mr
B.S. Wyatt : I actually agree with you! You are a funny little bugger, aren't
you?
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oh,
charming!
Mr B.S. Wyatt : Len's
right. When I'm over at Peppy Grove next time, talking about you, I'll
say, ''You're right; he is a silly little bugger''. I
agree with Len! You should preselect him! We might preselect him!
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
Of course the Deputy Premier would be Acting Premier in the Premier's
absence.
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