❓ Ms. Quirk questions the Premier about the Keelty report on the Roleystone-Kelmscott bushfires, seeking assurances of its unedited release and tabling. The Premier initially deflects, then confirms the report is before cabinet and will be released with the government's response.
AnsweredQoN 430Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
ROLEYSTONE–KELMSCOTT BUSHFIRES — KEELTY REPORT
I refer to the Keelty report into the Kelmscott–Roleystone fires and to widespread community reservations about the operations of the Fire and Emergency Services Authority, including the Durack division of the Liberal Party, which is calling at the Liberal Party’s state conference this weekend for a full and independent inquiry. (1) Given that the government received this report in June, when does the Premier anticipate it being tabled? (2) Can the Premier give assurances that the report will not be edited? (3) Has the report been considered by cabinet? (4) Will the Premier release the report and satisfy community concerns, including concerns of the Durack division of the Liberal Party? Mr C.J. BARNETT
I refer to the Keelty report into the Kelmscott–Roleystone fires and to widespread community reservations about the operations of the Fire and Emergency Services Authority, including the Durack division of the Liberal Party, which is calling at the Liberal Party’s state conference this weekend for a full and independent inquiry. (1) Given that the government received this report in June, when does the Premier anticipate it being tabled? (2) Can the Premier give assurances that the report will not be edited? (3) Has the report been considered by cabinet? (4) Will the Premier release the report and satisfy community concerns, including concerns of the Durack division of the Liberal Party? Mr C.J. BARNETT
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(4) I am delighted that the Labor member for Girrawheen is so keen about the welfare of the Durack division of the Liberal Party. Perhaps she wants to swap sides. A number of her colleagues are keen to swap over, but I did not have her on that list. Ms M.M. Quirk : It would double the IQ, Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Double the IQ—when you come over here, the IQ will go up? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker, it is a low base. I had a very rare day off yesterday; I hardly ever have a sick day off. I came back, and I thought, “I’ve only been away for one day”, and I was confronted as I walked into Parliament by a journalist who asked, “Why has the government appointed a lobbyist to lobby itself?” I thought, “That sounds a very strange thing.” I had only been away for a day. I came back and I looked at a piece of paper, and here is the headline: “Barnett government employs its own Liberal lobbyist”. It is interesting. I will read from this document, because I wonder what you people have been doing for the last seven weeks. Opposition members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is on the register! I do not think they have done any work at all. The performance of the opposition in question time today was absolutely dismal. Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : The member for Girrawheen has asked the Premier about a very serious subject. She asked about fires in which 78 people or thereabouts lost their homes. The Premier is now trivialising that by trying to make jokes at people’s expense. I ask under standing order 78 that the Premier actually answers the question. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have strayed away from the topic. It was just that reference to the Durack division of the Liberal Party was a long stretch. Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Sorry; I am not going to be dealing with the Keelty report on the weekend. Why would I be doing that? As if I am going to be talking about the Keelty report at a state Liberal conference! Mr E.S. Ripper : They want a full inquiry into the matter. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition keeps interrupting. It explains why Labor got into so much trouble over issues like this and lobbyists: they could never ever distinguish between the role of government and the role of political parties. Mr M. McGowan interjected. The SPEAKER : The member for Rockingham has raised a point of order. I think the Premier has acknowledged the point of order. My observation is that the Premier in endeavouring to answer the very question has been continually interjected upon. I am going to give the Premier the opportunity. If he is not going to answer that question, I am going to sit him down. It is that simple. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Keelty report has been received by the government. It is a far-reaching and detailed report. It is currently before cabinet, and it will remain before cabinet for at least another few weeks. I can inform the house that the author, Mick Keelty, will be briefing and addressing cabinet over the detail of that report. The government will then finalise its response to that report, and the report and the government’s response will be released publicly. Mr E.S. Ripper : Can the opposition have a briefing from Mr Keelty? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Once the report is made public, yes, it can. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : That will be up to the government to decide when it has considered it. But it will not be far away. There are a lot of serious issues raised. Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am not going to talk to the member about that. I said it is before cabinet, and that is all I am going to say in that respect. There will be further discussions within government about it. The Department of the Premier and Cabinet is already discussing some of the issues with various agencies, and we intend to respond in a very serious way to what is a very serious and detailed report. That is something that is going on. I expect it will be publicly released or released into this Parliament in the coming few weeks. It will not be delayed unnecessarily. The government will take its time to carefully consider the issues and to talk to some of the individuals and agencies referred to in that report. We will do that properly and carefully.
(1) Given that the government received this report in June, when does the Premier anticipate it being tabled? (2) Can the Premier give assurances that the report will not be edited? (3) Has the report been considered by cabinet? (4) Will the Premier release the report and satisfy community concerns, including concerns of the Durack division of the Liberal Party? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)–(4) I am delighted that the Labor member for Girrawheen is so keen about the welfare of the Durack division of the Liberal Party. Perhaps she wants to swap sides. A number of her colleagues are keen to swap over, but I did not have her on that list. Ms M.M. Quirk : It would double the IQ, Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Double the IQ—when you come over here, the IQ will go up? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker, it is a low base. I had a very rare day off yesterday; I hardly ever have a sick day off. I came back, and I thought, “I’ve only been away for one day”, and I was confronted as I walked into Parliament by a journalist who asked, “Why has the government appointed a lobbyist to lobby itself?” I thought, “That sounds a very strange thing.” I had only been away for a day. I came back and I looked at a piece of paper, and here is the headline: “Barnett government employs its own Liberal lobbyist”. It is interesting. I will read from this document, because I wonder what you people have been doing for the last seven weeks. Opposition members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is on the register! I do not think they have done any work at all. The performance of the opposition in question time today was absolutely dismal. Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : The member for Girrawheen has asked the Premier about a very serious subject. She asked about fires in which 78 people or thereabouts lost their homes. The Premier is now trivialising that by trying to make jokes at people’s expense. I ask under standing order 78 that the Premier actually answers the question. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have strayed away from the topic. It was just that reference to the Durack division of the Liberal Party was a long stretch. Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Sorry; I am not going to be dealing with the Keelty report on the weekend. Why would I be doing that? As if I am going to be talking about the Keelty report at a state Liberal conference! Mr E.S. Ripper : They want a full inquiry into the matter. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition keeps interrupting. It explains why Labor got into so much trouble over issues like this and lobbyists: they could never ever distinguish between the role of government and the role of political parties. Mr M. McGowan interjected. The SPEAKER : The member for Rockingham has raised a point of order. I think the Premier has acknowledged the point of order. My observation is that the Premier in endeavouring to answer the very question has been continually interjected upon. I am going to give the Premier the opportunity. If he is not going to answer that question, I am going to sit him down. It is that simple. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Keelty report has been received by the government. It is a far-reaching and detailed report. It is currently before cabinet, and it will remain before cabinet for at least another few weeks. I can inform the house that the author, Mick Keelty, will be briefing and addressing cabinet over the detail of that report. The government will then finalise its response to that report, and the report and the government’s response will be released publicly. Mr E.S. Ripper : Can the opposition have a briefing from Mr Keelty? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Once the report is made public, yes, it can. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : That will be up to the government to decide when it has considered it. But it will not be far away. There are a lot of serious issues raised. Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am not going to talk to the member about that. I said it is before cabinet, and that is all I am going to say in that respect. There will be further discussions within government about it. The Department of the Premier and Cabinet is already discussing some of the issues with various agencies, and we intend to respond in a very serious way to what is a very serious and detailed report. That is something that is going on. I expect it will be publicly released or released into this Parliament in the coming few weeks. It will not be delayed unnecessarily. The government will take its time to carefully consider the issues and to talk to some of the individuals and agencies referred to in that report. We will do that properly and carefully.
(2) Can the Premier give assurances that the report will not be edited? (3) Has the report been considered by cabinet? (4) Will the Premier release the report and satisfy community concerns, including concerns of the Durack division of the Liberal Party? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)–(4) I am delighted that the Labor member for Girrawheen is so keen about the welfare of the Durack division of the Liberal Party. Perhaps she wants to swap sides. A number of her colleagues are keen to swap over, but I did not have her on that list. Ms M.M. Quirk : It would double the IQ, Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Double the IQ—when you come over here, the IQ will go up? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker, it is a low base. I had a very rare day off yesterday; I hardly ever have a sick day off. I came back, and I thought, “I’ve only been away for one day”, and I was confronted as I walked into Parliament by a journalist who asked, “Why has the government appointed a lobbyist to lobby itself?” I thought, “That sounds a very strange thing.” I had only been away for a day. I came back and I looked at a piece of paper, and here is the headline: “Barnett government employs its own Liberal lobbyist”. It is interesting. I will read from this document, because I wonder what you people have been doing for the last seven weeks. Opposition members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is on the register! I do not think they have done any work at all. The performance of the opposition in question time today was absolutely dismal. Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : The member for Girrawheen has asked the Premier about a very serious subject. She asked about fires in which 78 people or thereabouts lost their homes. The Premier is now trivialising that by trying to make jokes at people’s expense. I ask under standing order 78 that the Premier actually answers the question. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have strayed away from the topic. It was just that reference to the Durack division of the Liberal Party was a long stretch. Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Sorry; I am not going to be dealing with the Keelty report on the weekend. Why would I be doing that? As if I am going to be talking about the Keelty report at a state Liberal conference! Mr E.S. Ripper : They want a full inquiry into the matter. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition keeps interrupting. It explains why Labor got into so much trouble over issues like this and lobbyists: they could never ever distinguish between the role of government and the role of political parties. Mr M. McGowan interjected. The SPEAKER : The member for Rockingham has raised a point of order. I think the Premier has acknowledged the point of order. My observation is that the Premier in endeavouring to answer the very question has been continually interjected upon. I am going to give the Premier the opportunity. If he is not going to answer that question, I am going to sit him down. It is that simple. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Keelty report has been received by the government. It is a far-reaching and detailed report. It is currently before cabinet, and it will remain before cabinet for at least another few weeks. I can inform the house that the author, Mick Keelty, will be briefing and addressing cabinet over the detail of that report. The government will then finalise its response to that report, and the report and the government’s response will be released publicly. Mr E.S. Ripper : Can the opposition have a briefing from Mr Keelty? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Once the report is made public, yes, it can. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : That will be up to the government to decide when it has considered it. But it will not be far away. There are a lot of serious issues raised. Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am not going to talk to the member about that. I said it is before cabinet, and that is all I am going to say in that respect. There will be further discussions within government about it. The Department of the Premier and Cabinet is already discussing some of the issues with various agencies, and we intend to respond in a very serious way to what is a very serious and detailed report. That is something that is going on. I expect it will be publicly released or released into this Parliament in the coming few weeks. It will not be delayed unnecessarily. The government will take its time to carefully consider the issues and to talk to some of the individuals and agencies referred to in that report. We will do that properly and carefully.
(3) Has the report been considered by cabinet? (4) Will the Premier release the report and satisfy community concerns, including concerns of the Durack division of the Liberal Party? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)–(4) I am delighted that the Labor member for Girrawheen is so keen about the welfare of the Durack division of the Liberal Party. Perhaps she wants to swap sides. A number of her colleagues are keen to swap over, but I did not have her on that list. Ms M.M. Quirk : It would double the IQ, Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Double the IQ—when you come over here, the IQ will go up? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker, it is a low base. I had a very rare day off yesterday; I hardly ever have a sick day off. I came back, and I thought, “I’ve only been away for one day”, and I was confronted as I walked into Parliament by a journalist who asked, “Why has the government appointed a lobbyist to lobby itself?” I thought, “That sounds a very strange thing.” I had only been away for a day. I came back and I looked at a piece of paper, and here is the headline: “Barnett government employs its own Liberal lobbyist”. It is interesting. I will read from this document, because I wonder what you people have been doing for the last seven weeks. Opposition members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is on the register! I do not think they have done any work at all. The performance of the opposition in question time today was absolutely dismal. Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : The member for Girrawheen has asked the Premier about a very serious subject. She asked about fires in which 78 people or thereabouts lost their homes. The Premier is now trivialising that by trying to make jokes at people’s expense. I ask under standing order 78 that the Premier actually answers the question. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have strayed away from the topic. It was just that reference to the Durack division of the Liberal Party was a long stretch. Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Sorry; I am not going to be dealing with the Keelty report on the weekend. Why would I be doing that? As if I am going to be talking about the Keelty report at a state Liberal conference! Mr E.S. Ripper : They want a full inquiry into the matter. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition keeps interrupting. It explains why Labor got into so much trouble over issues like this and lobbyists: they could never ever distinguish between the role of government and the role of political parties. Mr M. McGowan interjected. The SPEAKER : The member for Rockingham has raised a point of order. I think the Premier has acknowledged the point of order. My observation is that the Premier in endeavouring to answer the very question has been continually interjected upon. I am going to give the Premier the opportunity. If he is not going to answer that question, I am going to sit him down. It is that simple. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Keelty report has been received by the government. It is a far-reaching and detailed report. It is currently before cabinet, and it will remain before cabinet for at least another few weeks. I can inform the house that the author, Mick Keelty, will be briefing and addressing cabinet over the detail of that report. The government will then finalise its response to that report, and the report and the government’s response will be released publicly. Mr E.S. Ripper : Can the opposition have a briefing from Mr Keelty? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Once the report is made public, yes, it can. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : That will be up to the government to decide when it has considered it. But it will not be far away. There are a lot of serious issues raised. Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am not going to talk to the member about that. I said it is before cabinet, and that is all I am going to say in that respect. There will be further discussions within government about it. The Department of the Premier and Cabinet is already discussing some of the issues with various agencies, and we intend to respond in a very serious way to what is a very serious and detailed report. That is something that is going on. I expect it will be publicly released or released into this Parliament in the coming few weeks. It will not be delayed unnecessarily. The government will take its time to carefully consider the issues and to talk to some of the individuals and agencies referred to in that report. We will do that properly and carefully.
(4) Will the Premier release the report and satisfy community concerns, including concerns of the Durack division of the Liberal Party? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)–(4) I am delighted that the Labor member for Girrawheen is so keen about the welfare of the Durack division of the Liberal Party. Perhaps she wants to swap sides. A number of her colleagues are keen to swap over, but I did not have her on that list. Ms M.M. Quirk : It would double the IQ, Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Double the IQ—when you come over here, the IQ will go up? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker, it is a low base. I had a very rare day off yesterday; I hardly ever have a sick day off. I came back, and I thought, “I’ve only been away for one day”, and I was confronted as I walked into Parliament by a journalist who asked, “Why has the government appointed a lobbyist to lobby itself?” I thought, “That sounds a very strange thing.” I had only been away for a day. I came back and I looked at a piece of paper, and here is the headline: “Barnett government employs its own Liberal lobbyist”. It is interesting. I will read from this document, because I wonder what you people have been doing for the last seven weeks. Opposition members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is on the register! I do not think they have done any work at all. The performance of the opposition in question time today was absolutely dismal. Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : The member for Girrawheen has asked the Premier about a very serious subject. She asked about fires in which 78 people or thereabouts lost their homes. The Premier is now trivialising that by trying to make jokes at people’s expense. I ask under standing order 78 that the Premier actually answers the question. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have strayed away from the topic. It was just that reference to the Durack division of the Liberal Party was a long stretch. Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Sorry; I am not going to be dealing with the Keelty report on the weekend. Why would I be doing that? As if I am going to be talking about the Keelty report at a state Liberal conference! Mr E.S. Ripper : They want a full inquiry into the matter. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition keeps interrupting. It explains why Labor got into so much trouble over issues like this and lobbyists: they could never ever distinguish between the role of government and the role of political parties. Mr M. McGowan interjected. The SPEAKER : The member for Rockingham has raised a point of order. I think the Premier has acknowledged the point of order. My observation is that the Premier in endeavouring to answer the very question has been continually interjected upon. I am going to give the Premier the opportunity. If he is not going to answer that question, I am going to sit him down. It is that simple. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Keelty report has been received by the government. It is a far-reaching and detailed report. It is currently before cabinet, and it will remain before cabinet for at least another few weeks. I can inform the house that the author, Mick Keelty, will be briefing and addressing cabinet over the detail of that report. The government will then finalise its response to that report, and the report and the government’s response will be released publicly. Mr E.S. Ripper : Can the opposition have a briefing from Mr Keelty? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Once the report is made public, yes, it can. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : That will be up to the government to decide when it has considered it. But it will not be far away. There are a lot of serious issues raised. Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am not going to talk to the member about that. I said it is before cabinet, and that is all I am going to say in that respect. There will be further discussions within government about it. The Department of the Premier and Cabinet is already discussing some of the issues with various agencies, and we intend to respond in a very serious way to what is a very serious and detailed report. That is something that is going on. I expect it will be publicly released or released into this Parliament in the coming few weeks. It will not be delayed unnecessarily. The government will take its time to carefully consider the issues and to talk to some of the individuals and agencies referred to in that report. We will do that properly and carefully.
Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)–(4) I am delighted that the Labor member for Girrawheen is so keen about the welfare of the Durack division of the Liberal Party. Perhaps she wants to swap sides. A number of her colleagues are keen to swap over, but I did not have her on that list. Ms M.M. Quirk : It would double the IQ, Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Double the IQ—when you come over here, the IQ will go up? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker, it is a low base. I had a very rare day off yesterday; I hardly ever have a sick day off. I came back, and I thought, “I’ve only been away for one day”, and I was confronted as I walked into Parliament by a journalist who asked, “Why has the government appointed a lobbyist to lobby itself?” I thought, “That sounds a very strange thing.” I had only been away for a day. I came back and I looked at a piece of paper, and here is the headline: “Barnett government employs its own Liberal lobbyist”. It is interesting. I will read from this document, because I wonder what you people have been doing for the last seven weeks. Opposition members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is on the register! I do not think they have done any work at all. The performance of the opposition in question time today was absolutely dismal. Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : The member for Girrawheen has asked the Premier about a very serious subject. She asked about fires in which 78 people or thereabouts lost their homes. The Premier is now trivialising that by trying to make jokes at people’s expense. I ask under standing order 78 that the Premier actually answers the question. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have strayed away from the topic. It was just that reference to the Durack division of the Liberal Party was a long stretch. Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Sorry; I am not going to be dealing with the Keelty report on the weekend. Why would I be doing that? As if I am going to be talking about the Keelty report at a state Liberal conference! Mr E.S. Ripper : They want a full inquiry into the matter. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition keeps interrupting. It explains why Labor got into so much trouble over issues like this and lobbyists: they could never ever distinguish between the role of government and the role of political parties. Mr M. McGowan interjected. The SPEAKER : The member for Rockingham has raised a point of order. I think the Premier has acknowledged the point of order. My observation is that the Premier in endeavouring to answer the very question has been continually interjected upon. I am going to give the Premier the opportunity. If he is not going to answer that question, I am going to sit him down. It is that simple. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Keelty report has been received by the government. It is a far-reaching and detailed report. It is currently before cabinet, and it will remain before cabinet for at least another few weeks. I can inform the house that the author, Mick Keelty, will be briefing and addressing cabinet over the detail of that report. The government will then finalise its response to that report, and the report and the government’s response will be released publicly. Mr E.S. Ripper : Can the opposition have a briefing from Mr Keelty? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Once the report is made public, yes, it can. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : That will be up to the government to decide when it has considered it. But it will not be far away. There are a lot of serious issues raised. Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am not going to talk to the member about that. I said it is before cabinet, and that is all I am going to say in that respect. There will be further discussions within government about it. The Department of the Premier and Cabinet is already discussing some of the issues with various agencies, and we intend to respond in a very serious way to what is a very serious and detailed report. That is something that is going on. I expect it will be publicly released or released into this Parliament in the coming few weeks. It will not be delayed unnecessarily. The government will take its time to carefully consider the issues and to talk to some of the individuals and agencies referred to in that report. We will do that properly and carefully.
(1)–(4) I am delighted that the Labor member for Girrawheen is so keen about the welfare of the Durack division of the Liberal Party. Perhaps she wants to swap sides. A number of her colleagues are keen to swap over, but I did not have her on that list. Ms M.M. Quirk : It would double the IQ, Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Double the IQ—when you come over here, the IQ will go up? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker, it is a low base. I had a very rare day off yesterday; I hardly ever have a sick day off. I came back, and I thought, “I’ve only been away for one day”, and I was confronted as I walked into Parliament by a journalist who asked, “Why has the government appointed a lobbyist to lobby itself?” I thought, “That sounds a very strange thing.” I had only been away for a day. I came back and I looked at a piece of paper, and here is the headline: “Barnett government employs its own Liberal lobbyist”. It is interesting. I will read from this document, because I wonder what you people have been doing for the last seven weeks. Opposition members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is on the register! I do not think they have done any work at all. The performance of the opposition in question time today was absolutely dismal. Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : The member for Girrawheen has asked the Premier about a very serious subject. She asked about fires in which 78 people or thereabouts lost their homes. The Premier is now trivialising that by trying to make jokes at people’s expense. I ask under standing order 78 that the Premier actually answers the question. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have strayed away from the topic. It was just that reference to the Durack division of the Liberal Party was a long stretch. Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Sorry; I am not going to be dealing with the Keelty report on the weekend. Why would I be doing that? As if I am going to be talking about the Keelty report at a state Liberal conference! Mr E.S. Ripper : They want a full inquiry into the matter. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition keeps interrupting. It explains why Labor got into so much trouble over issues like this and lobbyists: they could never ever distinguish between the role of government and the role of political parties. Mr M. McGowan interjected. The SPEAKER : The member for Rockingham has raised a point of order. I think the Premier has acknowledged the point of order. My observation is that the Premier in endeavouring to answer the very question has been continually interjected upon. I am going to give the Premier the opportunity. If he is not going to answer that question, I am going to sit him down. It is that simple. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Keelty report has been received by the government. It is a far-reaching and detailed report. It is currently before cabinet, and it will remain before cabinet for at least another few weeks. I can inform the house that the author, Mick Keelty, will be briefing and addressing cabinet over the detail of that report. The government will then finalise its response to that report, and the report and the government’s response will be released publicly. Mr E.S. Ripper : Can the opposition have a briefing from Mr Keelty? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Once the report is made public, yes, it can. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : That will be up to the government to decide when it has considered it. But it will not be far away. There are a lot of serious issues raised. Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am not going to talk to the member about that. I said it is before cabinet, and that is all I am going to say in that respect. There will be further discussions within government about it. The Department of the Premier and Cabinet is already discussing some of the issues with various agencies, and we intend to respond in a very serious way to what is a very serious and detailed report. That is something that is going on. I expect it will be publicly released or released into this Parliament in the coming few weeks. It will not be delayed unnecessarily. The government will take its time to carefully consider the issues and to talk to some of the individuals and agencies referred to in that report. We will do that properly and carefully.
Ms M.M. Quirk : It would double the IQ, Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Double the IQ—when you come over here, the IQ will go up? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker, it is a low base. I had a very rare day off yesterday; I hardly ever have a sick day off. I came back, and I thought, “I’ve only been away for one day”, and I was confronted as I walked into Parliament by a journalist who asked, “Why has the government appointed a lobbyist to lobby itself?” I thought, “That sounds a very strange thing.” I had only been away for a day. I came back and I looked at a piece of paper, and here is the headline: “Barnett government employs its own Liberal lobbyist”. It is interesting. I will read from this document, because I wonder what you people have been doing for the last seven weeks. Opposition members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is on the register! I do not think they have done any work at all. The performance of the opposition in question time today was absolutely dismal. Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : The member for Girrawheen has asked the Premier about a very serious subject. She asked about fires in which 78 people or thereabouts lost their homes. The Premier is now trivialising that by trying to make jokes at people’s expense. I ask under standing order 78 that the Premier actually answers the question. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have strayed away from the topic. It was just that reference to the Durack division of the Liberal Party was a long stretch. Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Sorry; I am not going to be dealing with the Keelty report on the weekend. Why would I be doing that? As if I am going to be talking about the Keelty report at a state Liberal conference! Mr E.S. Ripper : They want a full inquiry into the matter. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition keeps interrupting. It explains why Labor got into so much trouble over issues like this and lobbyists: they could never ever distinguish between the role of government and the role of political parties. Mr M. McGowan interjected. The SPEAKER : The member for Rockingham has raised a point of order. I think the Premier has acknowledged the point of order. My observation is that the Premier in endeavouring to answer the very question has been continually interjected upon. I am going to give the Premier the opportunity. If he is not going to answer that question, I am going to sit him down. It is that simple. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Keelty report has been received by the government. It is a far-reaching and detailed report. It is currently before cabinet, and it will remain before cabinet for at least another few weeks. I can inform the house that the author, Mick Keelty, will be briefing and addressing cabinet over the detail of that report. The government will then finalise its response to that report, and the report and the government’s response will be released publicly. Mr E.S. Ripper : Can the opposition have a briefing from Mr Keelty? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Once the report is made public, yes, it can. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : That will be up to the government to decide when it has considered it. But it will not be far away. There are a lot of serious issues raised. Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am not going to talk to the member about that. I said it is before cabinet, and that is all I am going to say in that respect. There will be further discussions within government about it. The Department of the Premier and Cabinet is already discussing some of the issues with various agencies, and we intend to respond in a very serious way to what is a very serious and detailed report. That is something that is going on. I expect it will be publicly released or released into this Parliament in the coming few weeks. It will not be delayed unnecessarily. The government will take its time to carefully consider the issues and to talk to some of the individuals and agencies referred to in that report. We will do that properly and carefully.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Double the IQ—when you come over here, the IQ will go up? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker, it is a low base. I had a very rare day off yesterday; I hardly ever have a sick day off. I came back, and I thought, “I’ve only been away for one day”, and I was confronted as I walked into Parliament by a journalist who asked, “Why has the government appointed a lobbyist to lobby itself?” I thought, “That sounds a very strange thing.” I had only been away for a day. I came back and I looked at a piece of paper, and here is the headline: “Barnett government employs its own Liberal lobbyist”. It is interesting. I will read from this document, because I wonder what you people have been doing for the last seven weeks. Opposition members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is on the register! I do not think they have done any work at all. The performance of the opposition in question time today was absolutely dismal. Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : The member for Girrawheen has asked the Premier about a very serious subject. She asked about fires in which 78 people or thereabouts lost their homes. The Premier is now trivialising that by trying to make jokes at people’s expense. I ask under standing order 78 that the Premier actually answers the question. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have strayed away from the topic. It was just that reference to the Durack division of the Liberal Party was a long stretch. Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Sorry; I am not going to be dealing with the Keelty report on the weekend. Why would I be doing that? As if I am going to be talking about the Keelty report at a state Liberal conference! Mr E.S. Ripper : They want a full inquiry into the matter. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition keeps interrupting. It explains why Labor got into so much trouble over issues like this and lobbyists: they could never ever distinguish between the role of government and the role of political parties. Mr M. McGowan interjected. The SPEAKER : The member for Rockingham has raised a point of order. I think the Premier has acknowledged the point of order. My observation is that the Premier in endeavouring to answer the very question has been continually interjected upon. I am going to give the Premier the opportunity. If he is not going to answer that question, I am going to sit him down. It is that simple. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Keelty report has been received by the government. It is a far-reaching and detailed report. It is currently before cabinet, and it will remain before cabinet for at least another few weeks. I can inform the house that the author, Mick Keelty, will be briefing and addressing cabinet over the detail of that report. The government will then finalise its response to that report, and the report and the government’s response will be released publicly. Mr E.S. Ripper : Can the opposition have a briefing from Mr Keelty? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Once the report is made public, yes, it can. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : That will be up to the government to decide when it has considered it. But it will not be far away. There are a lot of serious issues raised. Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am not going to talk to the member about that. I said it is before cabinet, and that is all I am going to say in that respect. There will be further discussions within government about it. The Department of the Premier and Cabinet is already discussing some of the issues with various agencies, and we intend to respond in a very serious way to what is a very serious and detailed report. That is something that is going on. I expect it will be publicly released or released into this Parliament in the coming few weeks. It will not be delayed unnecessarily. The government will take its time to carefully consider the issues and to talk to some of the individuals and agencies referred to in that report. We will do that properly and carefully.
Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker, it is a low base. I had a very rare day off yesterday; I hardly ever have a sick day off. I came back, and I thought, “I’ve only been away for one day”, and I was confronted as I walked into Parliament by a journalist who asked, “Why has the government appointed a lobbyist to lobby itself?” I thought, “That sounds a very strange thing.” I had only been away for a day. I came back and I looked at a piece of paper, and here is the headline: “Barnett government employs its own Liberal lobbyist”. It is interesting. I will read from this document, because I wonder what you people have been doing for the last seven weeks. Opposition members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is on the register! I do not think they have done any work at all. The performance of the opposition in question time today was absolutely dismal. Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : The member for Girrawheen has asked the Premier about a very serious subject. She asked about fires in which 78 people or thereabouts lost their homes. The Premier is now trivialising that by trying to make jokes at people’s expense. I ask under standing order 78 that the Premier actually answers the question. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have strayed away from the topic. It was just that reference to the Durack division of the Liberal Party was a long stretch. Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Sorry; I am not going to be dealing with the Keelty report on the weekend. Why would I be doing that? As if I am going to be talking about the Keelty report at a state Liberal conference! Mr E.S. Ripper : They want a full inquiry into the matter. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition keeps interrupting. It explains why Labor got into so much trouble over issues like this and lobbyists: they could never ever distinguish between the role of government and the role of political parties. Mr M. McGowan interjected. The SPEAKER : The member for Rockingham has raised a point of order. I think the Premier has acknowledged the point of order. My observation is that the Premier in endeavouring to answer the very question has been continually interjected upon. I am going to give the Premier the opportunity. If he is not going to answer that question, I am going to sit him down. It is that simple. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Keelty report has been received by the government. It is a far-reaching and detailed report. It is currently before cabinet, and it will remain before cabinet for at least another few weeks. I can inform the house that the author, Mick Keelty, will be briefing and addressing cabinet over the detail of that report. The government will then finalise its response to that report, and the report and the government’s response will be released publicly. Mr E.S. Ripper : Can the opposition have a briefing from Mr Keelty? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Once the report is made public, yes, it can. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : That will be up to the government to decide when it has considered it. But it will not be far away. There are a lot of serious issues raised. Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am not going to talk to the member about that. I said it is before cabinet, and that is all I am going to say in that respect. There will be further discussions within government about it. The Department of the Premier and Cabinet is already discussing some of the issues with various agencies, and we intend to respond in a very serious way to what is a very serious and detailed report. That is something that is going on. I expect it will be publicly released or released into this Parliament in the coming few weeks. It will not be delayed unnecessarily. The government will take its time to carefully consider the issues and to talk to some of the individuals and agencies referred to in that report. We will do that properly and carefully.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker, it is a low base. I had a very rare day off yesterday; I hardly ever have a sick day off. I came back, and I thought, “I’ve only been away for one day”, and I was confronted as I walked into Parliament by a journalist who asked, “Why has the government appointed a lobbyist to lobby itself?” I thought, “That sounds a very strange thing.” I had only been away for a day. I came back and I looked at a piece of paper, and here is the headline: “Barnett government employs its own Liberal lobbyist”. It is interesting. I will read from this document, because I wonder what you people have been doing for the last seven weeks. Opposition members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is on the register! I do not think they have done any work at all. The performance of the opposition in question time today was absolutely dismal. Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : The member for Girrawheen has asked the Premier about a very serious subject. She asked about fires in which 78 people or thereabouts lost their homes. The Premier is now trivialising that by trying to make jokes at people’s expense. I ask under standing order 78 that the Premier actually answers the question. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have strayed away from the topic. It was just that reference to the Durack division of the Liberal Party was a long stretch. Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Sorry; I am not going to be dealing with the Keelty report on the weekend. Why would I be doing that? As if I am going to be talking about the Keelty report at a state Liberal conference! Mr E.S. Ripper : They want a full inquiry into the matter. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition keeps interrupting. It explains why Labor got into so much trouble over issues like this and lobbyists: they could never ever distinguish between the role of government and the role of political parties. Mr M. McGowan interjected. The SPEAKER : The member for Rockingham has raised a point of order. I think the Premier has acknowledged the point of order. My observation is that the Premier in endeavouring to answer the very question has been continually interjected upon. I am going to give the Premier the opportunity. If he is not going to answer that question, I am going to sit him down. It is that simple. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Keelty report has been received by the government. It is a far-reaching and detailed report. It is currently before cabinet, and it will remain before cabinet for at least another few weeks. I can inform the house that the author, Mick Keelty, will be briefing and addressing cabinet over the detail of that report. The government will then finalise its response to that report, and the report and the government’s response will be released publicly. Mr E.S. Ripper : Can the opposition have a briefing from Mr Keelty? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Once the report is made public, yes, it can. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : That will be up to the government to decide when it has considered it. But it will not be far away. There are a lot of serious issues raised. Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am not going to talk to the member about that. I said it is before cabinet, and that is all I am going to say in that respect. There will be further discussions within government about it. The Department of the Premier and Cabinet is already discussing some of the issues with various agencies, and we intend to respond in a very serious way to what is a very serious and detailed report. That is something that is going on. I expect it will be publicly released or released into this Parliament in the coming few weeks. It will not be delayed unnecessarily. The government will take its time to carefully consider the issues and to talk to some of the individuals and agencies referred to in that report. We will do that properly and carefully.
Opposition members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is on the register! I do not think they have done any work at all. The performance of the opposition in question time today was absolutely dismal. Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : The member for Girrawheen has asked the Premier about a very serious subject. She asked about fires in which 78 people or thereabouts lost their homes. The Premier is now trivialising that by trying to make jokes at people’s expense. I ask under standing order 78 that the Premier actually answers the question. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have strayed away from the topic. It was just that reference to the Durack division of the Liberal Party was a long stretch. Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Sorry; I am not going to be dealing with the Keelty report on the weekend. Why would I be doing that? As if I am going to be talking about the Keelty report at a state Liberal conference! Mr E.S. Ripper : They want a full inquiry into the matter. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition keeps interrupting. It explains why Labor got into so much trouble over issues like this and lobbyists: they could never ever distinguish between the role of government and the role of political parties. Mr M. McGowan interjected. The SPEAKER : The member for Rockingham has raised a point of order. I think the Premier has acknowledged the point of order. My observation is that the Premier in endeavouring to answer the very question has been continually interjected upon. I am going to give the Premier the opportunity. If he is not going to answer that question, I am going to sit him down. It is that simple. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Keelty report has been received by the government. It is a far-reaching and detailed report. It is currently before cabinet, and it will remain before cabinet for at least another few weeks. I can inform the house that the author, Mick Keelty, will be briefing and addressing cabinet over the detail of that report. The government will then finalise its response to that report, and the report and the government’s response will be released publicly. Mr E.S. Ripper : Can the opposition have a briefing from Mr Keelty? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Once the report is made public, yes, it can. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : That will be up to the government to decide when it has considered it. But it will not be far away. There are a lot of serious issues raised. Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am not going to talk to the member about that. I said it is before cabinet, and that is all I am going to say in that respect. There will be further discussions within government about it. The Department of the Premier and Cabinet is already discussing some of the issues with various agencies, and we intend to respond in a very serious way to what is a very serious and detailed report. That is something that is going on. I expect it will be publicly released or released into this Parliament in the coming few weeks. It will not be delayed unnecessarily. The government will take its time to carefully consider the issues and to talk to some of the individuals and agencies referred to in that report. We will do that properly and carefully.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is on the register! I do not think they have done any work at all. The performance of the opposition in question time today was absolutely dismal. Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : The member for Girrawheen has asked the Premier about a very serious subject. She asked about fires in which 78 people or thereabouts lost their homes. The Premier is now trivialising that by trying to make jokes at people’s expense. I ask under standing order 78 that the Premier actually answers the question. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have strayed away from the topic. It was just that reference to the Durack division of the Liberal Party was a long stretch. Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Sorry; I am not going to be dealing with the Keelty report on the weekend. Why would I be doing that? As if I am going to be talking about the Keelty report at a state Liberal conference! Mr E.S. Ripper : They want a full inquiry into the matter. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition keeps interrupting. It explains why Labor got into so much trouble over issues like this and lobbyists: they could never ever distinguish between the role of government and the role of political parties. Mr M. McGowan interjected. The SPEAKER : The member for Rockingham has raised a point of order. I think the Premier has acknowledged the point of order. My observation is that the Premier in endeavouring to answer the very question has been continually interjected upon. I am going to give the Premier the opportunity. If he is not going to answer that question, I am going to sit him down. It is that simple. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Keelty report has been received by the government. It is a far-reaching and detailed report. It is currently before cabinet, and it will remain before cabinet for at least another few weeks. I can inform the house that the author, Mick Keelty, will be briefing and addressing cabinet over the detail of that report. The government will then finalise its response to that report, and the report and the government’s response will be released publicly. Mr E.S. Ripper : Can the opposition have a briefing from Mr Keelty? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Once the report is made public, yes, it can. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : That will be up to the government to decide when it has considered it. But it will not be far away. There are a lot of serious issues raised. Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am not going to talk to the member about that. I said it is before cabinet, and that is all I am going to say in that respect. There will be further discussions within government about it. The Department of the Premier and Cabinet is already discussing some of the issues with various agencies, and we intend to respond in a very serious way to what is a very serious and detailed report. That is something that is going on. I expect it will be publicly released or released into this Parliament in the coming few weeks. It will not be delayed unnecessarily. The government will take its time to carefully consider the issues and to talk to some of the individuals and agencies referred to in that report. We will do that properly and carefully.
Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Sorry; I am not going to be dealing with the Keelty report on the weekend. Why would I be doing that? As if I am going to be talking about the Keelty report at a state Liberal conference! Mr E.S. Ripper : They want a full inquiry into the matter. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition keeps interrupting. It explains why Labor got into so much trouble over issues like this and lobbyists: they could never ever distinguish between the role of government and the role of political parties. Mr M. McGowan interjected. The SPEAKER : The member for Rockingham has raised a point of order. I think the Premier has acknowledged the point of order. My observation is that the Premier in endeavouring to answer the very question has been continually interjected upon. I am going to give the Premier the opportunity. If he is not going to answer that question, I am going to sit him down. It is that simple. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Keelty report has been received by the government. It is a far-reaching and detailed report. It is currently before cabinet, and it will remain before cabinet for at least another few weeks. I can inform the house that the author, Mick Keelty, will be briefing and addressing cabinet over the detail of that report. The government will then finalise its response to that report, and the report and the government’s response will be released publicly. Mr E.S. Ripper : Can the opposition have a briefing from Mr Keelty? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Once the report is made public, yes, it can. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : That will be up to the government to decide when it has considered it. But it will not be far away. There are a lot of serious issues raised. Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am not going to talk to the member about that. I said it is before cabinet, and that is all I am going to say in that respect. There will be further discussions within government about it. The Department of the Premier and Cabinet is already discussing some of the issues with various agencies, and we intend to respond in a very serious way to what is a very serious and detailed report. That is something that is going on. I expect it will be publicly released or released into this Parliament in the coming few weeks. It will not be delayed unnecessarily. The government will take its time to carefully consider the issues and to talk to some of the individuals and agencies referred to in that report. We will do that properly and carefully.
The SPEAKER : Thank you, members. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Sorry; I am not going to be dealing with the Keelty report on the weekend. Why would I be doing that? As if I am going to be talking about the Keelty report at a state Liberal conference! Mr E.S. Ripper : They want a full inquiry into the matter. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition keeps interrupting. It explains why Labor got into so much trouble over issues like this and lobbyists: they could never ever distinguish between the role of government and the role of political parties. Mr M. McGowan interjected. The SPEAKER : The member for Rockingham has raised a point of order. I think the Premier has acknowledged the point of order. My observation is that the Premier in endeavouring to answer the very question has been continually interjected upon. I am going to give the Premier the opportunity. If he is not going to answer that question, I am going to sit him down. It is that simple. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Keelty report has been received by the government. It is a far-reaching and detailed report. It is currently before cabinet, and it will remain before cabinet for at least another few weeks. I can inform the house that the author, Mick Keelty, will be briefing and addressing cabinet over the detail of that report. The government will then finalise its response to that report, and the report and the government’s response will be released publicly. Mr E.S. Ripper : Can the opposition have a briefing from Mr Keelty? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Once the report is made public, yes, it can. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : That will be up to the government to decide when it has considered it. But it will not be far away. There are a lot of serious issues raised. Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am not going to talk to the member about that. I said it is before cabinet, and that is all I am going to say in that respect. There will be further discussions within government about it. The Department of the Premier and Cabinet is already discussing some of the issues with various agencies, and we intend to respond in a very serious way to what is a very serious and detailed report. That is something that is going on. I expect it will be publicly released or released into this Parliament in the coming few weeks. It will not be delayed unnecessarily. The government will take its time to carefully consider the issues and to talk to some of the individuals and agencies referred to in that report. We will do that properly and carefully.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Sorry; I am not going to be dealing with the Keelty report on the weekend. Why would I be doing that? As if I am going to be talking about the Keelty report at a state Liberal conference! Mr E.S. Ripper : They want a full inquiry into the matter. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition keeps interrupting. It explains why Labor got into so much trouble over issues like this and lobbyists: they could never ever distinguish between the role of government and the role of political parties. Mr M. McGowan interjected. The SPEAKER : The member for Rockingham has raised a point of order. I think the Premier has acknowledged the point of order. My observation is that the Premier in endeavouring to answer the very question has been continually interjected upon. I am going to give the Premier the opportunity. If he is not going to answer that question, I am going to sit him down. It is that simple. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Keelty report has been received by the government. It is a far-reaching and detailed report. It is currently before cabinet, and it will remain before cabinet for at least another few weeks. I can inform the house that the author, Mick Keelty, will be briefing and addressing cabinet over the detail of that report. The government will then finalise its response to that report, and the report and the government’s response will be released publicly. Mr E.S. Ripper : Can the opposition have a briefing from Mr Keelty? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Once the report is made public, yes, it can. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : That will be up to the government to decide when it has considered it. But it will not be far away. There are a lot of serious issues raised. Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am not going to talk to the member about that. I said it is before cabinet, and that is all I am going to say in that respect. There will be further discussions within government about it. The Department of the Premier and Cabinet is already discussing some of the issues with various agencies, and we intend to respond in a very serious way to what is a very serious and detailed report. That is something that is going on. I expect it will be publicly released or released into this Parliament in the coming few weeks. It will not be delayed unnecessarily. The government will take its time to carefully consider the issues and to talk to some of the individuals and agencies referred to in that report. We will do that properly and carefully.
Mr E.S. Ripper : They want a full inquiry into the matter. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition keeps interrupting. It explains why Labor got into so much trouble over issues like this and lobbyists: they could never ever distinguish between the role of government and the role of political parties. Mr M. McGowan interjected. The SPEAKER : The member for Rockingham has raised a point of order. I think the Premier has acknowledged the point of order. My observation is that the Premier in endeavouring to answer the very question has been continually interjected upon. I am going to give the Premier the opportunity. If he is not going to answer that question, I am going to sit him down. It is that simple. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Keelty report has been received by the government. It is a far-reaching and detailed report. It is currently before cabinet, and it will remain before cabinet for at least another few weeks. I can inform the house that the author, Mick Keelty, will be briefing and addressing cabinet over the detail of that report. The government will then finalise its response to that report, and the report and the government’s response will be released publicly. Mr E.S. Ripper : Can the opposition have a briefing from Mr Keelty? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Once the report is made public, yes, it can. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : That will be up to the government to decide when it has considered it. But it will not be far away. There are a lot of serious issues raised. Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am not going to talk to the member about that. I said it is before cabinet, and that is all I am going to say in that respect. There will be further discussions within government about it. The Department of the Premier and Cabinet is already discussing some of the issues with various agencies, and we intend to respond in a very serious way to what is a very serious and detailed report. That is something that is going on. I expect it will be publicly released or released into this Parliament in the coming few weeks. It will not be delayed unnecessarily. The government will take its time to carefully consider the issues and to talk to some of the individuals and agencies referred to in that report. We will do that properly and carefully.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition keeps interrupting. It explains why Labor got into so much trouble over issues like this and lobbyists: they could never ever distinguish between the role of government and the role of political parties. Mr M. McGowan interjected. The SPEAKER : The member for Rockingham has raised a point of order. I think the Premier has acknowledged the point of order. My observation is that the Premier in endeavouring to answer the very question has been continually interjected upon. I am going to give the Premier the opportunity. If he is not going to answer that question, I am going to sit him down. It is that simple. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Keelty report has been received by the government. It is a far-reaching and detailed report. It is currently before cabinet, and it will remain before cabinet for at least another few weeks. I can inform the house that the author, Mick Keelty, will be briefing and addressing cabinet over the detail of that report. The government will then finalise its response to that report, and the report and the government’s response will be released publicly. Mr E.S. Ripper : Can the opposition have a briefing from Mr Keelty? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Once the report is made public, yes, it can. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : That will be up to the government to decide when it has considered it. But it will not be far away. There are a lot of serious issues raised. Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am not going to talk to the member about that. I said it is before cabinet, and that is all I am going to say in that respect. There will be further discussions within government about it. The Department of the Premier and Cabinet is already discussing some of the issues with various agencies, and we intend to respond in a very serious way to what is a very serious and detailed report. That is something that is going on. I expect it will be publicly released or released into this Parliament in the coming few weeks. It will not be delayed unnecessarily. The government will take its time to carefully consider the issues and to talk to some of the individuals and agencies referred to in that report. We will do that properly and carefully.
Mr M. McGowan interjected. The SPEAKER : The member for Rockingham has raised a point of order. I think the Premier has acknowledged the point of order. My observation is that the Premier in endeavouring to answer the very question has been continually interjected upon. I am going to give the Premier the opportunity. If he is not going to answer that question, I am going to sit him down. It is that simple. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Keelty report has been received by the government. It is a far-reaching and detailed report. It is currently before cabinet, and it will remain before cabinet for at least another few weeks. I can inform the house that the author, Mick Keelty, will be briefing and addressing cabinet over the detail of that report. The government will then finalise its response to that report, and the report and the government’s response will be released publicly. Mr E.S. Ripper : Can the opposition have a briefing from Mr Keelty? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Once the report is made public, yes, it can. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : That will be up to the government to decide when it has considered it. But it will not be far away. There are a lot of serious issues raised. Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am not going to talk to the member about that. I said it is before cabinet, and that is all I am going to say in that respect. There will be further discussions within government about it. The Department of the Premier and Cabinet is already discussing some of the issues with various agencies, and we intend to respond in a very serious way to what is a very serious and detailed report. That is something that is going on. I expect it will be publicly released or released into this Parliament in the coming few weeks. It will not be delayed unnecessarily. The government will take its time to carefully consider the issues and to talk to some of the individuals and agencies referred to in that report. We will do that properly and carefully.
The SPEAKER : The member for Rockingham has raised a point of order. I think the Premier has acknowledged the point of order. My observation is that the Premier in endeavouring to answer the very question has been continually interjected upon. I am going to give the Premier the opportunity. If he is not going to answer that question, I am going to sit him down. It is that simple. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Keelty report has been received by the government. It is a far-reaching and detailed report. It is currently before cabinet, and it will remain before cabinet for at least another few weeks. I can inform the house that the author, Mick Keelty, will be briefing and addressing cabinet over the detail of that report. The government will then finalise its response to that report, and the report and the government’s response will be released publicly. Mr E.S. Ripper : Can the opposition have a briefing from Mr Keelty? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Once the report is made public, yes, it can. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : That will be up to the government to decide when it has considered it. But it will not be far away. There are a lot of serious issues raised. Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am not going to talk to the member about that. I said it is before cabinet, and that is all I am going to say in that respect. There will be further discussions within government about it. The Department of the Premier and Cabinet is already discussing some of the issues with various agencies, and we intend to respond in a very serious way to what is a very serious and detailed report. That is something that is going on. I expect it will be publicly released or released into this Parliament in the coming few weeks. It will not be delayed unnecessarily. The government will take its time to carefully consider the issues and to talk to some of the individuals and agencies referred to in that report. We will do that properly and carefully.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Keelty report has been received by the government. It is a far-reaching and detailed report. It is currently before cabinet, and it will remain before cabinet for at least another few weeks. I can inform the house that the author, Mick Keelty, will be briefing and addressing cabinet over the detail of that report. The government will then finalise its response to that report, and the report and the government’s response will be released publicly. Mr E.S. Ripper : Can the opposition have a briefing from Mr Keelty? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Once the report is made public, yes, it can. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : That will be up to the government to decide when it has considered it. But it will not be far away. There are a lot of serious issues raised. Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am not going to talk to the member about that. I said it is before cabinet, and that is all I am going to say in that respect. There will be further discussions within government about it. The Department of the Premier and Cabinet is already discussing some of the issues with various agencies, and we intend to respond in a very serious way to what is a very serious and detailed report. That is something that is going on. I expect it will be publicly released or released into this Parliament in the coming few weeks. It will not be delayed unnecessarily. The government will take its time to carefully consider the issues and to talk to some of the individuals and agencies referred to in that report. We will do that properly and carefully.
Mr E.S. Ripper : Can the opposition have a briefing from Mr Keelty? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Once the report is made public, yes, it can. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : That will be up to the government to decide when it has considered it. But it will not be far away. There are a lot of serious issues raised. Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am not going to talk to the member about that. I said it is before cabinet, and that is all I am going to say in that respect. There will be further discussions within government about it. The Department of the Premier and Cabinet is already discussing some of the issues with various agencies, and we intend to respond in a very serious way to what is a very serious and detailed report. That is something that is going on. I expect it will be publicly released or released into this Parliament in the coming few weeks. It will not be delayed unnecessarily. The government will take its time to carefully consider the issues and to talk to some of the individuals and agencies referred to in that report. We will do that properly and carefully.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Once the report is made public, yes, it can. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : That will be up to the government to decide when it has considered it. But it will not be far away. There are a lot of serious issues raised. Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am not going to talk to the member about that. I said it is before cabinet, and that is all I am going to say in that respect. There will be further discussions within government about it. The Department of the Premier and Cabinet is already discussing some of the issues with various agencies, and we intend to respond in a very serious way to what is a very serious and detailed report. That is something that is going on. I expect it will be publicly released or released into this Parliament in the coming few weeks. It will not be delayed unnecessarily. The government will take its time to carefully consider the issues and to talk to some of the individuals and agencies referred to in that report. We will do that properly and carefully.
Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : That will be up to the government to decide when it has considered it. But it will not be far away. There are a lot of serious issues raised. Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am not going to talk to the member about that. I said it is before cabinet, and that is all I am going to say in that respect. There will be further discussions within government about it. The Department of the Premier and Cabinet is already discussing some of the issues with various agencies, and we intend to respond in a very serious way to what is a very serious and detailed report. That is something that is going on. I expect it will be publicly released or released into this Parliament in the coming few weeks. It will not be delayed unnecessarily. The government will take its time to carefully consider the issues and to talk to some of the individuals and agencies referred to in that report. We will do that properly and carefully.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : That will be up to the government to decide when it has considered it. But it will not be far away. There are a lot of serious issues raised. Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am not going to talk to the member about that. I said it is before cabinet, and that is all I am going to say in that respect. There will be further discussions within government about it. The Department of the Premier and Cabinet is already discussing some of the issues with various agencies, and we intend to respond in a very serious way to what is a very serious and detailed report. That is something that is going on. I expect it will be publicly released or released into this Parliament in the coming few weeks. It will not be delayed unnecessarily. The government will take its time to carefully consider the issues and to talk to some of the individuals and agencies referred to in that report. We will do that properly and carefully.
Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am not going to talk to the member about that. I said it is before cabinet, and that is all I am going to say in that respect. There will be further discussions within government about it. The Department of the Premier and Cabinet is already discussing some of the issues with various agencies, and we intend to respond in a very serious way to what is a very serious and detailed report. That is something that is going on. I expect it will be publicly released or released into this Parliament in the coming few weeks. It will not be delayed unnecessarily. The government will take its time to carefully consider the issues and to talk to some of the individuals and agencies referred to in that report. We will do that properly and carefully.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am not going to talk to the member about that. I said it is before cabinet, and that is all I am going to say in that respect. There will be further discussions within government about it. The Department of the Premier and Cabinet is already discussing some of the issues with various agencies, and we intend to respond in a very serious way to what is a very serious and detailed report. That is something that is going on. I expect it will be publicly released or released into this Parliament in the coming few weeks. It will not be delayed unnecessarily. The government will take its time to carefully consider the issues and to talk to some of the individuals and agencies referred to in that report. We will do that properly and carefully.
(1) Given that the government received this report in June, when does the Premier anticipate it being tabled? (2) Can the Premier give assurances that the report will not be edited? (3) Has the report been considered by cabinet? (4) Will the Premier release the report and satisfy community concerns, including concerns of the Durack division of the Liberal Party? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)–(4) I am delighted that the Labor member for Girrawheen is so keen about the welfare of the Durack division of the Liberal Party. Perhaps she wants to swap sides. A number of her colleagues are keen to swap over, but I did not have her on that list. Ms M.M. Quirk : It would double the IQ, Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Double the IQ—when you come over here, the IQ will go up? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker, it is a low base. I had a very rare day off yesterday; I hardly ever have a sick day off. I came back, and I thought, “I’ve only been away for one day”, and I was confronted as I walked into Parliament by a journalist who asked, “Why has the government appointed a lobbyist to lobby itself?” I thought, “That sounds a very strange thing.” I had only been away for a day. I came back and I looked at a piece of paper, and here is the headline: “Barnett government employs its own Liberal lobbyist”. It is interesting. I will read from this document, because I wonder what you people have been doing for the last seven weeks. Opposition members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is on the register! I do not think they have done any work at all. The performance of the opposition in question time today was absolutely dismal. Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : The member for Girrawheen has asked the Premier about a very serious subject. She asked about fires in which 78 people or thereabouts lost their homes. The Premier is now trivialising that by trying to make jokes at people’s expense. I ask under standing order 78 that the Premier actually answers the question. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have strayed away from the topic. It was just that reference to the Durack division of the Liberal Party was a long stretch. Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Sorry; I am not going to be dealing with the Keelty report on the weekend. Why would I be doing that? As if I am going to be talking about the Keelty report at a state Liberal conference! Mr E.S. Ripper : They want a full inquiry into the matter. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition keeps interrupting. It explains why Labor got into so much trouble over issues like this and lobbyists: they could never ever distinguish between the role of government and the role of political parties. Mr M. McGowan interjected. The SPEAKER : The member for Rockingham has raised a point of order. I think the Premier has acknowledged the point of order. My observation is that the Premier in endeavouring to answer the very question has been continually interjected upon. I am going to give the Premier the opportunity. If he is not going to answer that question, I am going to sit him down. It is that simple. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Keelty report has been received by the government. It is a far-reaching and detailed report. It is currently before cabinet, and it will remain before cabinet for at least another few weeks. I can inform the house that the author, Mick Keelty, will be briefing and addressing cabinet over the detail of that report. The government will then finalise its response to that report, and the report and the government’s response will be released publicly. Mr E.S. Ripper : Can the opposition have a briefing from Mr Keelty? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Once the report is made public, yes, it can. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : That will be up to the government to decide when it has considered it. But it will not be far away. There are a lot of serious issues raised. Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am not going to talk to the member about that. I said it is before cabinet, and that is all I am going to say in that respect. There will be further discussions within government about it. The Department of the Premier and Cabinet is already discussing some of the issues with various agencies, and we intend to respond in a very serious way to what is a very serious and detailed report. That is something that is going on. I expect it will be publicly released or released into this Parliament in the coming few weeks. It will not be delayed unnecessarily. The government will take its time to carefully consider the issues and to talk to some of the individuals and agencies referred to in that report. We will do that properly and carefully.
(2) Can the Premier give assurances that the report will not be edited? (3) Has the report been considered by cabinet? (4) Will the Premier release the report and satisfy community concerns, including concerns of the Durack division of the Liberal Party? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)–(4) I am delighted that the Labor member for Girrawheen is so keen about the welfare of the Durack division of the Liberal Party. Perhaps she wants to swap sides. A number of her colleagues are keen to swap over, but I did not have her on that list. Ms M.M. Quirk : It would double the IQ, Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Double the IQ—when you come over here, the IQ will go up? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker, it is a low base. I had a very rare day off yesterday; I hardly ever have a sick day off. I came back, and I thought, “I’ve only been away for one day”, and I was confronted as I walked into Parliament by a journalist who asked, “Why has the government appointed a lobbyist to lobby itself?” I thought, “That sounds a very strange thing.” I had only been away for a day. I came back and I looked at a piece of paper, and here is the headline: “Barnett government employs its own Liberal lobbyist”. It is interesting. I will read from this document, because I wonder what you people have been doing for the last seven weeks. Opposition members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is on the register! I do not think they have done any work at all. The performance of the opposition in question time today was absolutely dismal. Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : The member for Girrawheen has asked the Premier about a very serious subject. She asked about fires in which 78 people or thereabouts lost their homes. The Premier is now trivialising that by trying to make jokes at people’s expense. I ask under standing order 78 that the Premier actually answers the question. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have strayed away from the topic. It was just that reference to the Durack division of the Liberal Party was a long stretch. Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Sorry; I am not going to be dealing with the Keelty report on the weekend. Why would I be doing that? As if I am going to be talking about the Keelty report at a state Liberal conference! Mr E.S. Ripper : They want a full inquiry into the matter. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition keeps interrupting. It explains why Labor got into so much trouble over issues like this and lobbyists: they could never ever distinguish between the role of government and the role of political parties. Mr M. McGowan interjected. The SPEAKER : The member for Rockingham has raised a point of order. I think the Premier has acknowledged the point of order. My observation is that the Premier in endeavouring to answer the very question has been continually interjected upon. I am going to give the Premier the opportunity. If he is not going to answer that question, I am going to sit him down. It is that simple. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Keelty report has been received by the government. It is a far-reaching and detailed report. It is currently before cabinet, and it will remain before cabinet for at least another few weeks. I can inform the house that the author, Mick Keelty, will be briefing and addressing cabinet over the detail of that report. The government will then finalise its response to that report, and the report and the government’s response will be released publicly. Mr E.S. Ripper : Can the opposition have a briefing from Mr Keelty? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Once the report is made public, yes, it can. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : That will be up to the government to decide when it has considered it. But it will not be far away. There are a lot of serious issues raised. Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am not going to talk to the member about that. I said it is before cabinet, and that is all I am going to say in that respect. There will be further discussions within government about it. The Department of the Premier and Cabinet is already discussing some of the issues with various agencies, and we intend to respond in a very serious way to what is a very serious and detailed report. That is something that is going on. I expect it will be publicly released or released into this Parliament in the coming few weeks. It will not be delayed unnecessarily. The government will take its time to carefully consider the issues and to talk to some of the individuals and agencies referred to in that report. We will do that properly and carefully.
(3) Has the report been considered by cabinet? (4) Will the Premier release the report and satisfy community concerns, including concerns of the Durack division of the Liberal Party? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)–(4) I am delighted that the Labor member for Girrawheen is so keen about the welfare of the Durack division of the Liberal Party. Perhaps she wants to swap sides. A number of her colleagues are keen to swap over, but I did not have her on that list. Ms M.M. Quirk : It would double the IQ, Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Double the IQ—when you come over here, the IQ will go up? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker, it is a low base. I had a very rare day off yesterday; I hardly ever have a sick day off. I came back, and I thought, “I’ve only been away for one day”, and I was confronted as I walked into Parliament by a journalist who asked, “Why has the government appointed a lobbyist to lobby itself?” I thought, “That sounds a very strange thing.” I had only been away for a day. I came back and I looked at a piece of paper, and here is the headline: “Barnett government employs its own Liberal lobbyist”. It is interesting. I will read from this document, because I wonder what you people have been doing for the last seven weeks. Opposition members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is on the register! I do not think they have done any work at all. The performance of the opposition in question time today was absolutely dismal. Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : The member for Girrawheen has asked the Premier about a very serious subject. She asked about fires in which 78 people or thereabouts lost their homes. The Premier is now trivialising that by trying to make jokes at people’s expense. I ask under standing order 78 that the Premier actually answers the question. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have strayed away from the topic. It was just that reference to the Durack division of the Liberal Party was a long stretch. Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Sorry; I am not going to be dealing with the Keelty report on the weekend. Why would I be doing that? As if I am going to be talking about the Keelty report at a state Liberal conference! Mr E.S. Ripper : They want a full inquiry into the matter. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition keeps interrupting. It explains why Labor got into so much trouble over issues like this and lobbyists: they could never ever distinguish between the role of government and the role of political parties. Mr M. McGowan interjected. The SPEAKER : The member for Rockingham has raised a point of order. I think the Premier has acknowledged the point of order. My observation is that the Premier in endeavouring to answer the very question has been continually interjected upon. I am going to give the Premier the opportunity. If he is not going to answer that question, I am going to sit him down. It is that simple. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Keelty report has been received by the government. It is a far-reaching and detailed report. It is currently before cabinet, and it will remain before cabinet for at least another few weeks. I can inform the house that the author, Mick Keelty, will be briefing and addressing cabinet over the detail of that report. The government will then finalise its response to that report, and the report and the government’s response will be released publicly. Mr E.S. Ripper : Can the opposition have a briefing from Mr Keelty? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Once the report is made public, yes, it can. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : That will be up to the government to decide when it has considered it. But it will not be far away. There are a lot of serious issues raised. Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am not going to talk to the member about that. I said it is before cabinet, and that is all I am going to say in that respect. There will be further discussions within government about it. The Department of the Premier and Cabinet is already discussing some of the issues with various agencies, and we intend to respond in a very serious way to what is a very serious and detailed report. That is something that is going on. I expect it will be publicly released or released into this Parliament in the coming few weeks. It will not be delayed unnecessarily. The government will take its time to carefully consider the issues and to talk to some of the individuals and agencies referred to in that report. We will do that properly and carefully.
(4) Will the Premier release the report and satisfy community concerns, including concerns of the Durack division of the Liberal Party? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)–(4) I am delighted that the Labor member for Girrawheen is so keen about the welfare of the Durack division of the Liberal Party. Perhaps she wants to swap sides. A number of her colleagues are keen to swap over, but I did not have her on that list. Ms M.M. Quirk : It would double the IQ, Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Double the IQ—when you come over here, the IQ will go up? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker, it is a low base. I had a very rare day off yesterday; I hardly ever have a sick day off. I came back, and I thought, “I’ve only been away for one day”, and I was confronted as I walked into Parliament by a journalist who asked, “Why has the government appointed a lobbyist to lobby itself?” I thought, “That sounds a very strange thing.” I had only been away for a day. I came back and I looked at a piece of paper, and here is the headline: “Barnett government employs its own Liberal lobbyist”. It is interesting. I will read from this document, because I wonder what you people have been doing for the last seven weeks. Opposition members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is on the register! I do not think they have done any work at all. The performance of the opposition in question time today was absolutely dismal. Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : The member for Girrawheen has asked the Premier about a very serious subject. She asked about fires in which 78 people or thereabouts lost their homes. The Premier is now trivialising that by trying to make jokes at people’s expense. I ask under standing order 78 that the Premier actually answers the question. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have strayed away from the topic. It was just that reference to the Durack division of the Liberal Party was a long stretch. Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Sorry; I am not going to be dealing with the Keelty report on the weekend. Why would I be doing that? As if I am going to be talking about the Keelty report at a state Liberal conference! Mr E.S. Ripper : They want a full inquiry into the matter. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition keeps interrupting. It explains why Labor got into so much trouble over issues like this and lobbyists: they could never ever distinguish between the role of government and the role of political parties. Mr M. McGowan interjected. The SPEAKER : The member for Rockingham has raised a point of order. I think the Premier has acknowledged the point of order. My observation is that the Premier in endeavouring to answer the very question has been continually interjected upon. I am going to give the Premier the opportunity. If he is not going to answer that question, I am going to sit him down. It is that simple. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Keelty report has been received by the government. It is a far-reaching and detailed report. It is currently before cabinet, and it will remain before cabinet for at least another few weeks. I can inform the house that the author, Mick Keelty, will be briefing and addressing cabinet over the detail of that report. The government will then finalise its response to that report, and the report and the government’s response will be released publicly. Mr E.S. Ripper : Can the opposition have a briefing from Mr Keelty? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Once the report is made public, yes, it can. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : That will be up to the government to decide when it has considered it. But it will not be far away. There are a lot of serious issues raised. Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am not going to talk to the member about that. I said it is before cabinet, and that is all I am going to say in that respect. There will be further discussions within government about it. The Department of the Premier and Cabinet is already discussing some of the issues with various agencies, and we intend to respond in a very serious way to what is a very serious and detailed report. That is something that is going on. I expect it will be publicly released or released into this Parliament in the coming few weeks. It will not be delayed unnecessarily. The government will take its time to carefully consider the issues and to talk to some of the individuals and agencies referred to in that report. We will do that properly and carefully.
Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)–(4) I am delighted that the Labor member for Girrawheen is so keen about the welfare of the Durack division of the Liberal Party. Perhaps she wants to swap sides. A number of her colleagues are keen to swap over, but I did not have her on that list. Ms M.M. Quirk : It would double the IQ, Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Double the IQ—when you come over here, the IQ will go up? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker, it is a low base. I had a very rare day off yesterday; I hardly ever have a sick day off. I came back, and I thought, “I’ve only been away for one day”, and I was confronted as I walked into Parliament by a journalist who asked, “Why has the government appointed a lobbyist to lobby itself?” I thought, “That sounds a very strange thing.” I had only been away for a day. I came back and I looked at a piece of paper, and here is the headline: “Barnett government employs its own Liberal lobbyist”. It is interesting. I will read from this document, because I wonder what you people have been doing for the last seven weeks. Opposition members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is on the register! I do not think they have done any work at all. The performance of the opposition in question time today was absolutely dismal. Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : The member for Girrawheen has asked the Premier about a very serious subject. She asked about fires in which 78 people or thereabouts lost their homes. The Premier is now trivialising that by trying to make jokes at people’s expense. I ask under standing order 78 that the Premier actually answers the question. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have strayed away from the topic. It was just that reference to the Durack division of the Liberal Party was a long stretch. Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Sorry; I am not going to be dealing with the Keelty report on the weekend. Why would I be doing that? As if I am going to be talking about the Keelty report at a state Liberal conference! Mr E.S. Ripper : They want a full inquiry into the matter. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition keeps interrupting. It explains why Labor got into so much trouble over issues like this and lobbyists: they could never ever distinguish between the role of government and the role of political parties. Mr M. McGowan interjected. The SPEAKER : The member for Rockingham has raised a point of order. I think the Premier has acknowledged the point of order. My observation is that the Premier in endeavouring to answer the very question has been continually interjected upon. I am going to give the Premier the opportunity. If he is not going to answer that question, I am going to sit him down. It is that simple. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Keelty report has been received by the government. It is a far-reaching and detailed report. It is currently before cabinet, and it will remain before cabinet for at least another few weeks. I can inform the house that the author, Mick Keelty, will be briefing and addressing cabinet over the detail of that report. The government will then finalise its response to that report, and the report and the government’s response will be released publicly. Mr E.S. Ripper : Can the opposition have a briefing from Mr Keelty? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Once the report is made public, yes, it can. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : That will be up to the government to decide when it has considered it. But it will not be far away. There are a lot of serious issues raised. Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am not going to talk to the member about that. I said it is before cabinet, and that is all I am going to say in that respect. There will be further discussions within government about it. The Department of the Premier and Cabinet is already discussing some of the issues with various agencies, and we intend to respond in a very serious way to what is a very serious and detailed report. That is something that is going on. I expect it will be publicly released or released into this Parliament in the coming few weeks. It will not be delayed unnecessarily. The government will take its time to carefully consider the issues and to talk to some of the individuals and agencies referred to in that report. We will do that properly and carefully.
(1)–(4) I am delighted that the Labor member for Girrawheen is so keen about the welfare of the Durack division of the Liberal Party. Perhaps she wants to swap sides. A number of her colleagues are keen to swap over, but I did not have her on that list. Ms M.M. Quirk : It would double the IQ, Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Double the IQ—when you come over here, the IQ will go up? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker, it is a low base. I had a very rare day off yesterday; I hardly ever have a sick day off. I came back, and I thought, “I’ve only been away for one day”, and I was confronted as I walked into Parliament by a journalist who asked, “Why has the government appointed a lobbyist to lobby itself?” I thought, “That sounds a very strange thing.” I had only been away for a day. I came back and I looked at a piece of paper, and here is the headline: “Barnett government employs its own Liberal lobbyist”. It is interesting. I will read from this document, because I wonder what you people have been doing for the last seven weeks. Opposition members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is on the register! I do not think they have done any work at all. The performance of the opposition in question time today was absolutely dismal. Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : The member for Girrawheen has asked the Premier about a very serious subject. She asked about fires in which 78 people or thereabouts lost their homes. The Premier is now trivialising that by trying to make jokes at people’s expense. I ask under standing order 78 that the Premier actually answers the question. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have strayed away from the topic. It was just that reference to the Durack division of the Liberal Party was a long stretch. Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Sorry; I am not going to be dealing with the Keelty report on the weekend. Why would I be doing that? As if I am going to be talking about the Keelty report at a state Liberal conference! Mr E.S. Ripper : They want a full inquiry into the matter. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition keeps interrupting. It explains why Labor got into so much trouble over issues like this and lobbyists: they could never ever distinguish between the role of government and the role of political parties. Mr M. McGowan interjected. The SPEAKER : The member for Rockingham has raised a point of order. I think the Premier has acknowledged the point of order. My observation is that the Premier in endeavouring to answer the very question has been continually interjected upon. I am going to give the Premier the opportunity. If he is not going to answer that question, I am going to sit him down. It is that simple. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Keelty report has been received by the government. It is a far-reaching and detailed report. It is currently before cabinet, and it will remain before cabinet for at least another few weeks. I can inform the house that the author, Mick Keelty, will be briefing and addressing cabinet over the detail of that report. The government will then finalise its response to that report, and the report and the government’s response will be released publicly. Mr E.S. Ripper : Can the opposition have a briefing from Mr Keelty? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Once the report is made public, yes, it can. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : That will be up to the government to decide when it has considered it. But it will not be far away. There are a lot of serious issues raised. Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am not going to talk to the member about that. I said it is before cabinet, and that is all I am going to say in that respect. There will be further discussions within government about it. The Department of the Premier and Cabinet is already discussing some of the issues with various agencies, and we intend to respond in a very serious way to what is a very serious and detailed report. That is something that is going on. I expect it will be publicly released or released into this Parliament in the coming few weeks. It will not be delayed unnecessarily. The government will take its time to carefully consider the issues and to talk to some of the individuals and agencies referred to in that report. We will do that properly and carefully.
Ms M.M. Quirk : It would double the IQ, Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Double the IQ—when you come over here, the IQ will go up? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker, it is a low base. I had a very rare day off yesterday; I hardly ever have a sick day off. I came back, and I thought, “I’ve only been away for one day”, and I was confronted as I walked into Parliament by a journalist who asked, “Why has the government appointed a lobbyist to lobby itself?” I thought, “That sounds a very strange thing.” I had only been away for a day. I came back and I looked at a piece of paper, and here is the headline: “Barnett government employs its own Liberal lobbyist”. It is interesting. I will read from this document, because I wonder what you people have been doing for the last seven weeks. Opposition members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is on the register! I do not think they have done any work at all. The performance of the opposition in question time today was absolutely dismal. Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : The member for Girrawheen has asked the Premier about a very serious subject. She asked about fires in which 78 people or thereabouts lost their homes. The Premier is now trivialising that by trying to make jokes at people’s expense. I ask under standing order 78 that the Premier actually answers the question. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have strayed away from the topic. It was just that reference to the Durack division of the Liberal Party was a long stretch. Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Sorry; I am not going to be dealing with the Keelty report on the weekend. Why would I be doing that? As if I am going to be talking about the Keelty report at a state Liberal conference! Mr E.S. Ripper : They want a full inquiry into the matter. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition keeps interrupting. It explains why Labor got into so much trouble over issues like this and lobbyists: they could never ever distinguish between the role of government and the role of political parties. Mr M. McGowan interjected. The SPEAKER : The member for Rockingham has raised a point of order. I think the Premier has acknowledged the point of order. My observation is that the Premier in endeavouring to answer the very question has been continually interjected upon. I am going to give the Premier the opportunity. If he is not going to answer that question, I am going to sit him down. It is that simple. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Keelty report has been received by the government. It is a far-reaching and detailed report. It is currently before cabinet, and it will remain before cabinet for at least another few weeks. I can inform the house that the author, Mick Keelty, will be briefing and addressing cabinet over the detail of that report. The government will then finalise its response to that report, and the report and the government’s response will be released publicly. Mr E.S. Ripper : Can the opposition have a briefing from Mr Keelty? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Once the report is made public, yes, it can. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : That will be up to the government to decide when it has considered it. But it will not be far away. There are a lot of serious issues raised. Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am not going to talk to the member about that. I said it is before cabinet, and that is all I am going to say in that respect. There will be further discussions within government about it. The Department of the Premier and Cabinet is already discussing some of the issues with various agencies, and we intend to respond in a very serious way to what is a very serious and detailed report. That is something that is going on. I expect it will be publicly released or released into this Parliament in the coming few weeks. It will not be delayed unnecessarily. The government will take its time to carefully consider the issues and to talk to some of the individuals and agencies referred to in that report. We will do that properly and carefully.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Double the IQ—when you come over here, the IQ will go up? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker, it is a low base. I had a very rare day off yesterday; I hardly ever have a sick day off. I came back, and I thought, “I’ve only been away for one day”, and I was confronted as I walked into Parliament by a journalist who asked, “Why has the government appointed a lobbyist to lobby itself?” I thought, “That sounds a very strange thing.” I had only been away for a day. I came back and I looked at a piece of paper, and here is the headline: “Barnett government employs its own Liberal lobbyist”. It is interesting. I will read from this document, because I wonder what you people have been doing for the last seven weeks. Opposition members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is on the register! I do not think they have done any work at all. The performance of the opposition in question time today was absolutely dismal. Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : The member for Girrawheen has asked the Premier about a very serious subject. She asked about fires in which 78 people or thereabouts lost their homes. The Premier is now trivialising that by trying to make jokes at people’s expense. I ask under standing order 78 that the Premier actually answers the question. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have strayed away from the topic. It was just that reference to the Durack division of the Liberal Party was a long stretch. Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Sorry; I am not going to be dealing with the Keelty report on the weekend. Why would I be doing that? As if I am going to be talking about the Keelty report at a state Liberal conference! Mr E.S. Ripper : They want a full inquiry into the matter. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition keeps interrupting. It explains why Labor got into so much trouble over issues like this and lobbyists: they could never ever distinguish between the role of government and the role of political parties. Mr M. McGowan interjected. The SPEAKER : The member for Rockingham has raised a point of order. I think the Premier has acknowledged the point of order. My observation is that the Premier in endeavouring to answer the very question has been continually interjected upon. I am going to give the Premier the opportunity. If he is not going to answer that question, I am going to sit him down. It is that simple. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Keelty report has been received by the government. It is a far-reaching and detailed report. It is currently before cabinet, and it will remain before cabinet for at least another few weeks. I can inform the house that the author, Mick Keelty, will be briefing and addressing cabinet over the detail of that report. The government will then finalise its response to that report, and the report and the government’s response will be released publicly. Mr E.S. Ripper : Can the opposition have a briefing from Mr Keelty? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Once the report is made public, yes, it can. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : That will be up to the government to decide when it has considered it. But it will not be far away. There are a lot of serious issues raised. Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am not going to talk to the member about that. I said it is before cabinet, and that is all I am going to say in that respect. There will be further discussions within government about it. The Department of the Premier and Cabinet is already discussing some of the issues with various agencies, and we intend to respond in a very serious way to what is a very serious and detailed report. That is something that is going on. I expect it will be publicly released or released into this Parliament in the coming few weeks. It will not be delayed unnecessarily. The government will take its time to carefully consider the issues and to talk to some of the individuals and agencies referred to in that report. We will do that properly and carefully.
Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker, it is a low base. I had a very rare day off yesterday; I hardly ever have a sick day off. I came back, and I thought, “I’ve only been away for one day”, and I was confronted as I walked into Parliament by a journalist who asked, “Why has the government appointed a lobbyist to lobby itself?” I thought, “That sounds a very strange thing.” I had only been away for a day. I came back and I looked at a piece of paper, and here is the headline: “Barnett government employs its own Liberal lobbyist”. It is interesting. I will read from this document, because I wonder what you people have been doing for the last seven weeks. Opposition members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is on the register! I do not think they have done any work at all. The performance of the opposition in question time today was absolutely dismal. Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : The member for Girrawheen has asked the Premier about a very serious subject. She asked about fires in which 78 people or thereabouts lost their homes. The Premier is now trivialising that by trying to make jokes at people’s expense. I ask under standing order 78 that the Premier actually answers the question. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have strayed away from the topic. It was just that reference to the Durack division of the Liberal Party was a long stretch. Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Sorry; I am not going to be dealing with the Keelty report on the weekend. Why would I be doing that? As if I am going to be talking about the Keelty report at a state Liberal conference! Mr E.S. Ripper : They want a full inquiry into the matter. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition keeps interrupting. It explains why Labor got into so much trouble over issues like this and lobbyists: they could never ever distinguish between the role of government and the role of political parties. Mr M. McGowan interjected. The SPEAKER : The member for Rockingham has raised a point of order. I think the Premier has acknowledged the point of order. My observation is that the Premier in endeavouring to answer the very question has been continually interjected upon. I am going to give the Premier the opportunity. If he is not going to answer that question, I am going to sit him down. It is that simple. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Keelty report has been received by the government. It is a far-reaching and detailed report. It is currently before cabinet, and it will remain before cabinet for at least another few weeks. I can inform the house that the author, Mick Keelty, will be briefing and addressing cabinet over the detail of that report. The government will then finalise its response to that report, and the report and the government’s response will be released publicly. Mr E.S. Ripper : Can the opposition have a briefing from Mr Keelty? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Once the report is made public, yes, it can. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : That will be up to the government to decide when it has considered it. But it will not be far away. There are a lot of serious issues raised. Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am not going to talk to the member about that. I said it is before cabinet, and that is all I am going to say in that respect. There will be further discussions within government about it. The Department of the Premier and Cabinet is already discussing some of the issues with various agencies, and we intend to respond in a very serious way to what is a very serious and detailed report. That is something that is going on. I expect it will be publicly released or released into this Parliament in the coming few weeks. It will not be delayed unnecessarily. The government will take its time to carefully consider the issues and to talk to some of the individuals and agencies referred to in that report. We will do that properly and carefully.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker, it is a low base. I had a very rare day off yesterday; I hardly ever have a sick day off. I came back, and I thought, “I’ve only been away for one day”, and I was confronted as I walked into Parliament by a journalist who asked, “Why has the government appointed a lobbyist to lobby itself?” I thought, “That sounds a very strange thing.” I had only been away for a day. I came back and I looked at a piece of paper, and here is the headline: “Barnett government employs its own Liberal lobbyist”. It is interesting. I will read from this document, because I wonder what you people have been doing for the last seven weeks. Opposition members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is on the register! I do not think they have done any work at all. The performance of the opposition in question time today was absolutely dismal. Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : The member for Girrawheen has asked the Premier about a very serious subject. She asked about fires in which 78 people or thereabouts lost their homes. The Premier is now trivialising that by trying to make jokes at people’s expense. I ask under standing order 78 that the Premier actually answers the question. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have strayed away from the topic. It was just that reference to the Durack division of the Liberal Party was a long stretch. Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Sorry; I am not going to be dealing with the Keelty report on the weekend. Why would I be doing that? As if I am going to be talking about the Keelty report at a state Liberal conference! Mr E.S. Ripper : They want a full inquiry into the matter. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition keeps interrupting. It explains why Labor got into so much trouble over issues like this and lobbyists: they could never ever distinguish between the role of government and the role of political parties. Mr M. McGowan interjected. The SPEAKER : The member for Rockingham has raised a point of order. I think the Premier has acknowledged the point of order. My observation is that the Premier in endeavouring to answer the very question has been continually interjected upon. I am going to give the Premier the opportunity. If he is not going to answer that question, I am going to sit him down. It is that simple. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Keelty report has been received by the government. It is a far-reaching and detailed report. It is currently before cabinet, and it will remain before cabinet for at least another few weeks. I can inform the house that the author, Mick Keelty, will be briefing and addressing cabinet over the detail of that report. The government will then finalise its response to that report, and the report and the government’s response will be released publicly. Mr E.S. Ripper : Can the opposition have a briefing from Mr Keelty? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Once the report is made public, yes, it can. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : That will be up to the government to decide when it has considered it. But it will not be far away. There are a lot of serious issues raised. Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am not going to talk to the member about that. I said it is before cabinet, and that is all I am going to say in that respect. There will be further discussions within government about it. The Department of the Premier and Cabinet is already discussing some of the issues with various agencies, and we intend to respond in a very serious way to what is a very serious and detailed report. That is something that is going on. I expect it will be publicly released or released into this Parliament in the coming few weeks. It will not be delayed unnecessarily. The government will take its time to carefully consider the issues and to talk to some of the individuals and agencies referred to in that report. We will do that properly and carefully.
Opposition members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is on the register! I do not think they have done any work at all. The performance of the opposition in question time today was absolutely dismal. Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : The member for Girrawheen has asked the Premier about a very serious subject. She asked about fires in which 78 people or thereabouts lost their homes. The Premier is now trivialising that by trying to make jokes at people’s expense. I ask under standing order 78 that the Premier actually answers the question. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have strayed away from the topic. It was just that reference to the Durack division of the Liberal Party was a long stretch. Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Sorry; I am not going to be dealing with the Keelty report on the weekend. Why would I be doing that? As if I am going to be talking about the Keelty report at a state Liberal conference! Mr E.S. Ripper : They want a full inquiry into the matter. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition keeps interrupting. It explains why Labor got into so much trouble over issues like this and lobbyists: they could never ever distinguish between the role of government and the role of political parties. Mr M. McGowan interjected. The SPEAKER : The member for Rockingham has raised a point of order. I think the Premier has acknowledged the point of order. My observation is that the Premier in endeavouring to answer the very question has been continually interjected upon. I am going to give the Premier the opportunity. If he is not going to answer that question, I am going to sit him down. It is that simple. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Keelty report has been received by the government. It is a far-reaching and detailed report. It is currently before cabinet, and it will remain before cabinet for at least another few weeks. I can inform the house that the author, Mick Keelty, will be briefing and addressing cabinet over the detail of that report. The government will then finalise its response to that report, and the report and the government’s response will be released publicly. Mr E.S. Ripper : Can the opposition have a briefing from Mr Keelty? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Once the report is made public, yes, it can. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : That will be up to the government to decide when it has considered it. But it will not be far away. There are a lot of serious issues raised. Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am not going to talk to the member about that. I said it is before cabinet, and that is all I am going to say in that respect. There will be further discussions within government about it. The Department of the Premier and Cabinet is already discussing some of the issues with various agencies, and we intend to respond in a very serious way to what is a very serious and detailed report. That is something that is going on. I expect it will be publicly released or released into this Parliament in the coming few weeks. It will not be delayed unnecessarily. The government will take its time to carefully consider the issues and to talk to some of the individuals and agencies referred to in that report. We will do that properly and carefully.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is on the register! I do not think they have done any work at all. The performance of the opposition in question time today was absolutely dismal. Point of Order Mr M. McGOWAN : The member for Girrawheen has asked the Premier about a very serious subject. She asked about fires in which 78 people or thereabouts lost their homes. The Premier is now trivialising that by trying to make jokes at people’s expense. I ask under standing order 78 that the Premier actually answers the question. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have strayed away from the topic. It was just that reference to the Durack division of the Liberal Party was a long stretch. Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Sorry; I am not going to be dealing with the Keelty report on the weekend. Why would I be doing that? As if I am going to be talking about the Keelty report at a state Liberal conference! Mr E.S. Ripper : They want a full inquiry into the matter. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition keeps interrupting. It explains why Labor got into so much trouble over issues like this and lobbyists: they could never ever distinguish between the role of government and the role of political parties. Mr M. McGowan interjected. The SPEAKER : The member for Rockingham has raised a point of order. I think the Premier has acknowledged the point of order. My observation is that the Premier in endeavouring to answer the very question has been continually interjected upon. I am going to give the Premier the opportunity. If he is not going to answer that question, I am going to sit him down. It is that simple. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Keelty report has been received by the government. It is a far-reaching and detailed report. It is currently before cabinet, and it will remain before cabinet for at least another few weeks. I can inform the house that the author, Mick Keelty, will be briefing and addressing cabinet over the detail of that report. The government will then finalise its response to that report, and the report and the government’s response will be released publicly. Mr E.S. Ripper : Can the opposition have a briefing from Mr Keelty? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Once the report is made public, yes, it can. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : That will be up to the government to decide when it has considered it. But it will not be far away. There are a lot of serious issues raised. Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am not going to talk to the member about that. I said it is before cabinet, and that is all I am going to say in that respect. There will be further discussions within government about it. The Department of the Premier and Cabinet is already discussing some of the issues with various agencies, and we intend to respond in a very serious way to what is a very serious and detailed report. That is something that is going on. I expect it will be publicly released or released into this Parliament in the coming few weeks. It will not be delayed unnecessarily. The government will take its time to carefully consider the issues and to talk to some of the individuals and agencies referred to in that report. We will do that properly and carefully.
Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Sorry; I am not going to be dealing with the Keelty report on the weekend. Why would I be doing that? As if I am going to be talking about the Keelty report at a state Liberal conference! Mr E.S. Ripper : They want a full inquiry into the matter. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition keeps interrupting. It explains why Labor got into so much trouble over issues like this and lobbyists: they could never ever distinguish between the role of government and the role of political parties. Mr M. McGowan interjected. The SPEAKER : The member for Rockingham has raised a point of order. I think the Premier has acknowledged the point of order. My observation is that the Premier in endeavouring to answer the very question has been continually interjected upon. I am going to give the Premier the opportunity. If he is not going to answer that question, I am going to sit him down. It is that simple. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Keelty report has been received by the government. It is a far-reaching and detailed report. It is currently before cabinet, and it will remain before cabinet for at least another few weeks. I can inform the house that the author, Mick Keelty, will be briefing and addressing cabinet over the detail of that report. The government will then finalise its response to that report, and the report and the government’s response will be released publicly. Mr E.S. Ripper : Can the opposition have a briefing from Mr Keelty? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Once the report is made public, yes, it can. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : That will be up to the government to decide when it has considered it. But it will not be far away. There are a lot of serious issues raised. Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am not going to talk to the member about that. I said it is before cabinet, and that is all I am going to say in that respect. There will be further discussions within government about it. The Department of the Premier and Cabinet is already discussing some of the issues with various agencies, and we intend to respond in a very serious way to what is a very serious and detailed report. That is something that is going on. I expect it will be publicly released or released into this Parliament in the coming few weeks. It will not be delayed unnecessarily. The government will take its time to carefully consider the issues and to talk to some of the individuals and agencies referred to in that report. We will do that properly and carefully.
The SPEAKER : Thank you, members. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Sorry; I am not going to be dealing with the Keelty report on the weekend. Why would I be doing that? As if I am going to be talking about the Keelty report at a state Liberal conference! Mr E.S. Ripper : They want a full inquiry into the matter. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition keeps interrupting. It explains why Labor got into so much trouble over issues like this and lobbyists: they could never ever distinguish between the role of government and the role of political parties. Mr M. McGowan interjected. The SPEAKER : The member for Rockingham has raised a point of order. I think the Premier has acknowledged the point of order. My observation is that the Premier in endeavouring to answer the very question has been continually interjected upon. I am going to give the Premier the opportunity. If he is not going to answer that question, I am going to sit him down. It is that simple. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Keelty report has been received by the government. It is a far-reaching and detailed report. It is currently before cabinet, and it will remain before cabinet for at least another few weeks. I can inform the house that the author, Mick Keelty, will be briefing and addressing cabinet over the detail of that report. The government will then finalise its response to that report, and the report and the government’s response will be released publicly. Mr E.S. Ripper : Can the opposition have a briefing from Mr Keelty? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Once the report is made public, yes, it can. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : That will be up to the government to decide when it has considered it. But it will not be far away. There are a lot of serious issues raised. Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am not going to talk to the member about that. I said it is before cabinet, and that is all I am going to say in that respect. There will be further discussions within government about it. The Department of the Premier and Cabinet is already discussing some of the issues with various agencies, and we intend to respond in a very serious way to what is a very serious and detailed report. That is something that is going on. I expect it will be publicly released or released into this Parliament in the coming few weeks. It will not be delayed unnecessarily. The government will take its time to carefully consider the issues and to talk to some of the individuals and agencies referred to in that report. We will do that properly and carefully.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Sorry; I am not going to be dealing with the Keelty report on the weekend. Why would I be doing that? As if I am going to be talking about the Keelty report at a state Liberal conference! Mr E.S. Ripper : They want a full inquiry into the matter. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition keeps interrupting. It explains why Labor got into so much trouble over issues like this and lobbyists: they could never ever distinguish between the role of government and the role of political parties. Mr M. McGowan interjected. The SPEAKER : The member for Rockingham has raised a point of order. I think the Premier has acknowledged the point of order. My observation is that the Premier in endeavouring to answer the very question has been continually interjected upon. I am going to give the Premier the opportunity. If he is not going to answer that question, I am going to sit him down. It is that simple. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Keelty report has been received by the government. It is a far-reaching and detailed report. It is currently before cabinet, and it will remain before cabinet for at least another few weeks. I can inform the house that the author, Mick Keelty, will be briefing and addressing cabinet over the detail of that report. The government will then finalise its response to that report, and the report and the government’s response will be released publicly. Mr E.S. Ripper : Can the opposition have a briefing from Mr Keelty? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Once the report is made public, yes, it can. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : That will be up to the government to decide when it has considered it. But it will not be far away. There are a lot of serious issues raised. Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am not going to talk to the member about that. I said it is before cabinet, and that is all I am going to say in that respect. There will be further discussions within government about it. The Department of the Premier and Cabinet is already discussing some of the issues with various agencies, and we intend to respond in a very serious way to what is a very serious and detailed report. That is something that is going on. I expect it will be publicly released or released into this Parliament in the coming few weeks. It will not be delayed unnecessarily. The government will take its time to carefully consider the issues and to talk to some of the individuals and agencies referred to in that report. We will do that properly and carefully.
Mr E.S. Ripper : They want a full inquiry into the matter. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition keeps interrupting. It explains why Labor got into so much trouble over issues like this and lobbyists: they could never ever distinguish between the role of government and the role of political parties. Mr M. McGowan interjected. The SPEAKER : The member for Rockingham has raised a point of order. I think the Premier has acknowledged the point of order. My observation is that the Premier in endeavouring to answer the very question has been continually interjected upon. I am going to give the Premier the opportunity. If he is not going to answer that question, I am going to sit him down. It is that simple. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Keelty report has been received by the government. It is a far-reaching and detailed report. It is currently before cabinet, and it will remain before cabinet for at least another few weeks. I can inform the house that the author, Mick Keelty, will be briefing and addressing cabinet over the detail of that report. The government will then finalise its response to that report, and the report and the government’s response will be released publicly. Mr E.S. Ripper : Can the opposition have a briefing from Mr Keelty? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Once the report is made public, yes, it can. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : That will be up to the government to decide when it has considered it. But it will not be far away. There are a lot of serious issues raised. Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am not going to talk to the member about that. I said it is before cabinet, and that is all I am going to say in that respect. There will be further discussions within government about it. The Department of the Premier and Cabinet is already discussing some of the issues with various agencies, and we intend to respond in a very serious way to what is a very serious and detailed report. That is something that is going on. I expect it will be publicly released or released into this Parliament in the coming few weeks. It will not be delayed unnecessarily. The government will take its time to carefully consider the issues and to talk to some of the individuals and agencies referred to in that report. We will do that properly and carefully.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition keeps interrupting. It explains why Labor got into so much trouble over issues like this and lobbyists: they could never ever distinguish between the role of government and the role of political parties. Mr M. McGowan interjected. The SPEAKER : The member for Rockingham has raised a point of order. I think the Premier has acknowledged the point of order. My observation is that the Premier in endeavouring to answer the very question has been continually interjected upon. I am going to give the Premier the opportunity. If he is not going to answer that question, I am going to sit him down. It is that simple. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Keelty report has been received by the government. It is a far-reaching and detailed report. It is currently before cabinet, and it will remain before cabinet for at least another few weeks. I can inform the house that the author, Mick Keelty, will be briefing and addressing cabinet over the detail of that report. The government will then finalise its response to that report, and the report and the government’s response will be released publicly. Mr E.S. Ripper : Can the opposition have a briefing from Mr Keelty? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Once the report is made public, yes, it can. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : That will be up to the government to decide when it has considered it. But it will not be far away. There are a lot of serious issues raised. Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am not going to talk to the member about that. I said it is before cabinet, and that is all I am going to say in that respect. There will be further discussions within government about it. The Department of the Premier and Cabinet is already discussing some of the issues with various agencies, and we intend to respond in a very serious way to what is a very serious and detailed report. That is something that is going on. I expect it will be publicly released or released into this Parliament in the coming few weeks. It will not be delayed unnecessarily. The government will take its time to carefully consider the issues and to talk to some of the individuals and agencies referred to in that report. We will do that properly and carefully.
Mr M. McGowan interjected. The SPEAKER : The member for Rockingham has raised a point of order. I think the Premier has acknowledged the point of order. My observation is that the Premier in endeavouring to answer the very question has been continually interjected upon. I am going to give the Premier the opportunity. If he is not going to answer that question, I am going to sit him down. It is that simple. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Keelty report has been received by the government. It is a far-reaching and detailed report. It is currently before cabinet, and it will remain before cabinet for at least another few weeks. I can inform the house that the author, Mick Keelty, will be briefing and addressing cabinet over the detail of that report. The government will then finalise its response to that report, and the report and the government’s response will be released publicly. Mr E.S. Ripper : Can the opposition have a briefing from Mr Keelty? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Once the report is made public, yes, it can. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : That will be up to the government to decide when it has considered it. But it will not be far away. There are a lot of serious issues raised. Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am not going to talk to the member about that. I said it is before cabinet, and that is all I am going to say in that respect. There will be further discussions within government about it. The Department of the Premier and Cabinet is already discussing some of the issues with various agencies, and we intend to respond in a very serious way to what is a very serious and detailed report. That is something that is going on. I expect it will be publicly released or released into this Parliament in the coming few weeks. It will not be delayed unnecessarily. The government will take its time to carefully consider the issues and to talk to some of the individuals and agencies referred to in that report. We will do that properly and carefully.
The SPEAKER : The member for Rockingham has raised a point of order. I think the Premier has acknowledged the point of order. My observation is that the Premier in endeavouring to answer the very question has been continually interjected upon. I am going to give the Premier the opportunity. If he is not going to answer that question, I am going to sit him down. It is that simple. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Keelty report has been received by the government. It is a far-reaching and detailed report. It is currently before cabinet, and it will remain before cabinet for at least another few weeks. I can inform the house that the author, Mick Keelty, will be briefing and addressing cabinet over the detail of that report. The government will then finalise its response to that report, and the report and the government’s response will be released publicly. Mr E.S. Ripper : Can the opposition have a briefing from Mr Keelty? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Once the report is made public, yes, it can. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : That will be up to the government to decide when it has considered it. But it will not be far away. There are a lot of serious issues raised. Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am not going to talk to the member about that. I said it is before cabinet, and that is all I am going to say in that respect. There will be further discussions within government about it. The Department of the Premier and Cabinet is already discussing some of the issues with various agencies, and we intend to respond in a very serious way to what is a very serious and detailed report. That is something that is going on. I expect it will be publicly released or released into this Parliament in the coming few weeks. It will not be delayed unnecessarily. The government will take its time to carefully consider the issues and to talk to some of the individuals and agencies referred to in that report. We will do that properly and carefully.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Keelty report has been received by the government. It is a far-reaching and detailed report. It is currently before cabinet, and it will remain before cabinet for at least another few weeks. I can inform the house that the author, Mick Keelty, will be briefing and addressing cabinet over the detail of that report. The government will then finalise its response to that report, and the report and the government’s response will be released publicly. Mr E.S. Ripper : Can the opposition have a briefing from Mr Keelty? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Once the report is made public, yes, it can. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : That will be up to the government to decide when it has considered it. But it will not be far away. There are a lot of serious issues raised. Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am not going to talk to the member about that. I said it is before cabinet, and that is all I am going to say in that respect. There will be further discussions within government about it. The Department of the Premier and Cabinet is already discussing some of the issues with various agencies, and we intend to respond in a very serious way to what is a very serious and detailed report. That is something that is going on. I expect it will be publicly released or released into this Parliament in the coming few weeks. It will not be delayed unnecessarily. The government will take its time to carefully consider the issues and to talk to some of the individuals and agencies referred to in that report. We will do that properly and carefully.
Mr E.S. Ripper : Can the opposition have a briefing from Mr Keelty? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Once the report is made public, yes, it can. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : That will be up to the government to decide when it has considered it. But it will not be far away. There are a lot of serious issues raised. Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am not going to talk to the member about that. I said it is before cabinet, and that is all I am going to say in that respect. There will be further discussions within government about it. The Department of the Premier and Cabinet is already discussing some of the issues with various agencies, and we intend to respond in a very serious way to what is a very serious and detailed report. That is something that is going on. I expect it will be publicly released or released into this Parliament in the coming few weeks. It will not be delayed unnecessarily. The government will take its time to carefully consider the issues and to talk to some of the individuals and agencies referred to in that report. We will do that properly and carefully.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Once the report is made public, yes, it can. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : That will be up to the government to decide when it has considered it. But it will not be far away. There are a lot of serious issues raised. Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am not going to talk to the member about that. I said it is before cabinet, and that is all I am going to say in that respect. There will be further discussions within government about it. The Department of the Premier and Cabinet is already discussing some of the issues with various agencies, and we intend to respond in a very serious way to what is a very serious and detailed report. That is something that is going on. I expect it will be publicly released or released into this Parliament in the coming few weeks. It will not be delayed unnecessarily. The government will take its time to carefully consider the issues and to talk to some of the individuals and agencies referred to in that report. We will do that properly and carefully.
Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : That will be up to the government to decide when it has considered it. But it will not be far away. There are a lot of serious issues raised. Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am not going to talk to the member about that. I said it is before cabinet, and that is all I am going to say in that respect. There will be further discussions within government about it. The Department of the Premier and Cabinet is already discussing some of the issues with various agencies, and we intend to respond in a very serious way to what is a very serious and detailed report. That is something that is going on. I expect it will be publicly released or released into this Parliament in the coming few weeks. It will not be delayed unnecessarily. The government will take its time to carefully consider the issues and to talk to some of the individuals and agencies referred to in that report. We will do that properly and carefully.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : That will be up to the government to decide when it has considered it. But it will not be far away. There are a lot of serious issues raised. Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am not going to talk to the member about that. I said it is before cabinet, and that is all I am going to say in that respect. There will be further discussions within government about it. The Department of the Premier and Cabinet is already discussing some of the issues with various agencies, and we intend to respond in a very serious way to what is a very serious and detailed report. That is something that is going on. I expect it will be publicly released or released into this Parliament in the coming few weeks. It will not be delayed unnecessarily. The government will take its time to carefully consider the issues and to talk to some of the individuals and agencies referred to in that report. We will do that properly and carefully.
Ms M.M. Quirk interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am not going to talk to the member about that. I said it is before cabinet, and that is all I am going to say in that respect. There will be further discussions within government about it. The Department of the Premier and Cabinet is already discussing some of the issues with various agencies, and we intend to respond in a very serious way to what is a very serious and detailed report. That is something that is going on. I expect it will be publicly released or released into this Parliament in the coming few weeks. It will not be delayed unnecessarily. The government will take its time to carefully consider the issues and to talk to some of the individuals and agencies referred to in that report. We will do that properly and carefully.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am not going to talk to the member about that. I said it is before cabinet, and that is all I am going to say in that respect. There will be further discussions within government about it. The Department of the Premier and Cabinet is already discussing some of the issues with various agencies, and we intend to respond in a very serious way to what is a very serious and detailed report. That is something that is going on. I expect it will be publicly released or released into this Parliament in the coming few weeks. It will not be delayed unnecessarily. The government will take its time to carefully consider the issues and to talk to some of the individuals and agencies referred to in that report. We will do that properly and carefully.
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