❓ Mr. Wyatt questions the Treasurer about the impact of the Member for Vasse's absence on the budget process. The Treasurer assures that the budget is on schedule despite the loss of the Member for Vasse.
AnsweredQoN 98Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
MEMBER FOR VASSE — STATE BUDGET PROCESS
98. Mr B.S. WYATT to the
Treasurer:
I refer to the budget process and, in particular, the
disarray that has been caused by the Treasurer's handling of the member
for Vasse's absence after the incident on 23 February until last
Sunday.
(1) Although I
appreciate that the Treasurer's sole concern is for the member for
Vasse's health, given that the government is in the middle of a budget
process, why did he not seek to clarify his length of absence with the former
Treasurer's chief of staff at his meeting on 24 February?
(2) Given that
the Treasurer consulted the Deputy Premier on this matter, what advice did he
give about the likely length of absence?
98. Mr B.S. WYATT to the
Treasurer:
I refer to the budget process and, in particular, the
disarray that has been caused by the Treasurer's handling of the member
for Vasse's absence after the incident on 23 February until last
Sunday.
(1) Although I
appreciate that the Treasurer's sole concern is for the member for
Vasse's health, given that the government is in the middle of a budget
process, why did he not seek to clarify his length of absence with the former
Treasurer's chief of staff at his meeting on 24 February?
(2) Given that
the Treasurer consulted the Deputy Premier on this matter, what advice did he
give about the likely length of absence?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2)
When the former Treasurer's chief of staff came to see me first thing
on Monday, 24 February, the day after the breakdown had occurred, there was no
suggestion that it would be a long absence. I expected perhaps a few days. That
was in my mind. Indeed, when I spoke to the Liberal party room, my comments
were along those lines.
Mr D.J. Kelly interjected.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
It was the day after. The former Treasurer had had a breakdown. I had no idea
of his medical condition; I was simply informed that he would not be in cabinet
and he might be away for a few days. A few days after that, he was admitted to
hospital and he spent 10 days in hospital. This happened only two weeks ago and
he spent 10 of those days in hospital, initially in Western Australia in Perth
and then in a clinic in Sydney. He was basically out of it. That is the
reality.
The member for Victoria Park is saying that the budget is in
disarray. The budget is not in disarray at all. A lot of preparatory work has
been done not only by the member for Vasse before his resignation, but also by
the other members of the Economic and Expenditure Reform Committee, and the
budget process is going smoothly. There is a lot of work to be done—there
is no doubt about that—but it is on time and on schedule. For the time
being, I will be the Treasurer, and we will continue to work through that
process.
Sure, the member for Vasse is a loss. He is a very talented
person and has a great capacity for work, but the process goes on and there is
no disarray. The government misses him but we continue with the job.
When the former Treasurer's chief of staff came to see me first thing
on Monday, 24 February, the day after the breakdown had occurred, there was no
suggestion that it would be a long absence. I expected perhaps a few days. That
was in my mind. Indeed, when I spoke to the Liberal party room, my comments
were along those lines.
Mr D.J. Kelly interjected.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
It was the day after. The former Treasurer had had a breakdown. I had no idea
of his medical condition; I was simply informed that he would not be in cabinet
and he might be away for a few days. A few days after that, he was admitted to
hospital and he spent 10 days in hospital. This happened only two weeks ago and
he spent 10 of those days in hospital, initially in Western Australia in Perth
and then in a clinic in Sydney. He was basically out of it. That is the
reality.
The member for Victoria Park is saying that the budget is in
disarray. The budget is not in disarray at all. A lot of preparatory work has
been done not only by the member for Vasse before his resignation, but also by
the other members of the Economic and Expenditure Reform Committee, and the
budget process is going smoothly. There is a lot of work to be done—there
is no doubt about that—but it is on time and on schedule. For the time
being, I will be the Treasurer, and we will continue to work through that
process.
Sure, the member for Vasse is a loss. He is a very talented
person and has a great capacity for work, but the process goes on and there is
no disarray. The government misses him but we continue with the job.
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