❓ Question regarding the impact of the Commonwealth's Huawei 5G ban on WA's radio system replacement project. The Minister's answer deflects and accuses the opposition of security breaches.
AnsweredQoN 593Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS —
HUAWEI
593. Mr W.R. MARMION to the Minister for Transport:
Can the minister confirm that the
commonwealth's Department of Home Affairs today banned Huawei from
participating in the 5G network; and can the minister confirm whether this will
prevent the radio system —
Mr P. Papalia interjected.
The SPEAKER : Minister for
Tourism, I know who you are! I call you to order for the first time. I will
hear the question in silence.
Mr W.R. MARMION : Thank you,
Mr Speaker, for your protection.
Can the minister confirm the
commonwealth Department of Home Affairs today banned Huawei from participating
in the 5G network; and can the minister confirm whether this will prevent the
radio system replacement project being upgraded to 5G?
HUAWEI
593. Mr W.R. MARMION to the Minister for Transport:
Can the minister confirm that the
commonwealth's Department of Home Affairs today banned Huawei from
participating in the 5G network; and can the minister confirm whether this will
prevent the radio system —
Mr P. Papalia interjected.
The SPEAKER : Minister for
Tourism, I know who you are! I call you to order for the first time. I will
hear the question in silence.
Mr W.R. MARMION : Thank you,
Mr Speaker, for your protection.
Can the minister confirm the
commonwealth Department of Home Affairs today banned Huawei from participating
in the 5G network; and can the minister confirm whether this will prevent the
radio system replacement project being upgraded to 5G?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for the question.
The answer to first part of the question is yes. In relation to the second
part, that has to be referred to the Minister for Home Affairs. Does everyone
know who it is? Because I have lost count. Yesterday, who was it? I cannot
remember.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members! I want to hear.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : I cannot
remember who it was yesterday. I am not sure who it is today. I am not sure who
it will be tomorrow. In relation to this question, I will go through it again.
Mr S.K. L'Estrange :
It is a serious question.
Ms
R. SAFFIOTI : It is a serious
question. We have had an independent procurement process. The Public Transport
Authority employed the relevant security consultants. We sought clearance from
the commonwealth agencies and, of course, we briefed the opposition. Who is the
biggest national security threat in this place? It is the opposition, who
photocopied official documents or took photos of official documents —
Mr P. Papalia : It's
worse taking photos.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : They took
photos of official documents.
Mr P. Papalia interjected.
The SPEAKER : Minister for
Tourism! I call you to order for the second time.
Mr F.M. Logan : On a mobile
phone?
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : It might have
been an Optus one. They claimed that they did not take those photos and then
they said, ''We took the photos but we deleted them.'' That is
the type of security we have from the other side. I know what the member is
trying to do, but I think that earlier this year the member seated behind him
highlighted how great it was to have a company like Huawei participating in
such a contract.
The answer to first part of the question is yes. In relation to the second
part, that has to be referred to the Minister for Home Affairs. Does everyone
know who it is? Because I have lost count. Yesterday, who was it? I cannot
remember.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members! I want to hear.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : I cannot
remember who it was yesterday. I am not sure who it is today. I am not sure who
it will be tomorrow. In relation to this question, I will go through it again.
Mr S.K. L'Estrange :
It is a serious question.
Ms
R. SAFFIOTI : It is a serious
question. We have had an independent procurement process. The Public Transport
Authority employed the relevant security consultants. We sought clearance from
the commonwealth agencies and, of course, we briefed the opposition. Who is the
biggest national security threat in this place? It is the opposition, who
photocopied official documents or took photos of official documents —
Mr P. Papalia : It's
worse taking photos.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : They took
photos of official documents.
Mr P. Papalia interjected.
The SPEAKER : Minister for
Tourism! I call you to order for the second time.
Mr F.M. Logan : On a mobile
phone?
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : It might have
been an Optus one. They claimed that they did not take those photos and then
they said, ''We took the photos but we deleted them.'' That is
the type of security we have from the other side. I know what the member is
trying to do, but I think that earlier this year the member seated behind him
highlighted how great it was to have a company like Huawei participating in
such a contract.
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