❓ Mr. Johnson questions the Premier about a report finding the Premier's and former Treasurer's staff in contempt of Parliament regarding the Troy Buswell car crash affair. The Premier acknowledges the report but defends his staff's actions, citing Buswell's mental health.
AnsweredQoN 858Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
FORMER
MEMBER FOR VASSE — ROAD TRAFFIC INCIDENT —STANDING COMMITTEE ON
PROCEDURE AND PRIVILEGES REPORT
858. Mr R.F. JOHNSON to the
Premier:
Is the Premier aware
of the explosive report relating to Troy Buswell's car crash affair
that found the Premier's deputy chief of staff, Stephen Home, guilty of
contempt of Parliament and also found Buswell's former chief of staff,
Rachael Turnseck, guilty of contempt of Parliament and recommends both have
seven days to apologise to the Legislative Council for providing misleading
information in answer to parliamentary questions? What is the Premier going to
do about his staff and former staff of the Western Australian Treasurer
treating the Parliament with contempt?
MEMBER FOR VASSE — ROAD TRAFFIC INCIDENT —STANDING COMMITTEE ON
PROCEDURE AND PRIVILEGES REPORT
858. Mr R.F. JOHNSON to the
Premier:
Is the Premier aware
of the explosive report relating to Troy Buswell's car crash affair
that found the Premier's deputy chief of staff, Stephen Home, guilty of
contempt of Parliament and also found Buswell's former chief of staff,
Rachael Turnseck, guilty of contempt of Parliament and recommends both have
seven days to apologise to the Legislative Council for providing misleading
information in answer to parliamentary questions? What is the Premier going to
do about his staff and former staff of the Western Australian Treasurer
treating the Parliament with contempt?
AnswerView source ↗
I am aware that a report
has been tabled in the upper house. I have yet to read that report. I doubt
that I would concur with that report. However, the Council, the upper house,
can do what it wishes to.
Mr M. McGowan : You have the numbers!
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Sorry, I am not in any sense going to
interfere in what the upper house does. Can I make a more general proposition?
It is an extraordinarily unhealthy thing for this Parliament to be naming
government employees in reports like that. It is an extraordinarily unhealthy
thing. If we go back to the circumstances surrounding former member for Vasse
Troy Buswell, as I have said in this chamber many, many times—I regret
to have to repeat it—in the circumstances following that incident on that
night, which he has accepted responsibility for, there was a serious risk to
his wellbeing, a very serious risk.
Several members
interjected.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : There was no cover-up; the reports make
that clear.
Several members
interjected.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am talking about that report. Troy's
staff member —
Mr M. McGowan interjected.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : You will not understand this: Troy's
staff member acted with care and compassion for his wellbeing, and when
inquiries from the Department of the Premier and Cabinet were made to medical
staff concerned, the director general, and therefore me, was alerted to the
serious nature of the condition of Troy Buswell at that time. If members
opposite want to gloat about that and play politics, that reflects on them and
on the Labor Party's attitude to mental health.
Several members interjected.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes
it does.
The SPEAKER : That is enough; that is enough!
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
While I in no way excuse the behaviour on that night and never have done, I think
that when someone is in a serious health condition, some privacy relates to the
individual and his immediate family, not to members of Parliament.
has been tabled in the upper house. I have yet to read that report. I doubt
that I would concur with that report. However, the Council, the upper house,
can do what it wishes to.
Mr M. McGowan : You have the numbers!
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Sorry, I am not in any sense going to
interfere in what the upper house does. Can I make a more general proposition?
It is an extraordinarily unhealthy thing for this Parliament to be naming
government employees in reports like that. It is an extraordinarily unhealthy
thing. If we go back to the circumstances surrounding former member for Vasse
Troy Buswell, as I have said in this chamber many, many times—I regret
to have to repeat it—in the circumstances following that incident on that
night, which he has accepted responsibility for, there was a serious risk to
his wellbeing, a very serious risk.
Several members
interjected.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : There was no cover-up; the reports make
that clear.
Several members
interjected.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am talking about that report. Troy's
staff member —
Mr M. McGowan interjected.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : You will not understand this: Troy's
staff member acted with care and compassion for his wellbeing, and when
inquiries from the Department of the Premier and Cabinet were made to medical
staff concerned, the director general, and therefore me, was alerted to the
serious nature of the condition of Troy Buswell at that time. If members
opposite want to gloat about that and play politics, that reflects on them and
on the Labor Party's attitude to mental health.
Several members interjected.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes
it does.
The SPEAKER : That is enough; that is enough!
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
While I in no way excuse the behaviour on that night and never have done, I think
that when someone is in a serious health condition, some privacy relates to the
individual and his immediate family, not to members of Parliament.
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