❓ Opposition Leader Mark McGowan questions Premier Colin Barnett about the number and cost of government committees, reviews, inquiries, and advisory boards created since September 2008. The Premier acknowledges the question but defers a complete answer to the following week, citing initial difficulties in identifying existing committees and the need for a clear definition.
AnsweredQoN 198Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
GOVERNMENT COMMITTEES, REVIEWS, INQUIRIES AND ADVISORY BOARDS
Some notice of this question was given at 9.35 this morning. I refer to the Premier’s election commitment for open and accountable government and to the fact that by October last year, his government had created roughly 170 committees, reviews and inquiries at a cost of $10 million, including the roadside towing removal advisory group and the interagency working group on damaged birds. I also note that on two occasions in Parliament he has refused to reveal the number of committees, inquiries and reviews that his government has created. (1) What is the total number of committees, reviews, inquiries and advisory boards created by his government since 23 September 2008? (2) What is the total cost of these new committees, reviews, inquiries and advisory boards? (3) Will he table a list of all the committees, reviews, inquiries and advisory boards by the close of business today? Mr C.J. BARNETT
Some notice of this question was given at 9.35 this morning. I refer to the Premier’s election commitment for open and accountable government and to the fact that by October last year, his government had created roughly 170 committees, reviews and inquiries at a cost of $10 million, including the roadside towing removal advisory group and the interagency working group on damaged birds. I also note that on two occasions in Parliament he has refused to reveal the number of committees, inquiries and reviews that his government has created. (1) What is the total number of committees, reviews, inquiries and advisory boards created by his government since 23 September 2008? (2) What is the total cost of these new committees, reviews, inquiries and advisory boards? (3) Will he table a list of all the committees, reviews, inquiries and advisory boards by the close of business today? Mr C.J. BARNETT
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Rockingham for his question and for some notice. (1)–(3) I intend to answer part of his question now and at the next week of sitting I will answer the remaining part. Let me explain. When this government came to power, I looked into the issue of the number of committees, reviews and boards in existence. The first telling observation was that no-one knew; there was absolutely no idea. We did an exercise in identifying all the committees, reviews and working parties we could find across government. The grand total was 1 276. Mr B.S. Wyatt : Since then you’ve had a committee blow-out. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Well — Mr M. McGowan : Tell us—how many? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am trying to answer. When members opposite calm down, I will continue my answer. That is my new policy. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Mindarie for the second time and the member for Armadale for the first time. If members want question time to finish at this moment, that can happen. I am sure that there are members on both sides of the house who would like to ask questions. I would like to give them that opportunity. Some members in this place see things in a different light. Mr C.J. BARNETT : So, as I said, there was no record. No-one knew how many committees there were. We found 1 276 committees, review boards, or whatever else. Mr E.S. Ripper : How many are there now? Mr C.J. BARNETT : They are just immature! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : They are! Okay. I will keep going. Is the member for Rockingham interested in the answer? I take this as a serious question, to which the member for Rockingham would like a serious answer. So I will address my remarks to the member for Rockingham. Mr M. McGowan : Yes. You are easily distracted. Do not get distracted. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will not get distracted. We discovered 1 276 committees and boards. There was no overall register. There was no consistency. So, one of the tasks, apart from identifying the number of committees and boards, was then to define what is a committee or board. The member may or may not agree with that. Mr R.H. Cook : You are getting distracted again! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am getting easily distracted today. It is beyond the member for Cannington’s intellect, but it would seem to me that we need to make some sort of definition of what constitutes a government board or committee. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I think the member for Rockingham would agree that a reasonable definition of a board or committee — Mr B.S. Wyatt : You should publish a dictionary! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I know. I might. The SPEAKER : Order! Take a seat, Premier. Member for Victoria Park, I call you for the first time today. The Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I think a reasonable definition, and one that this government has adopted, is that in any total listing of government boards and committees, the definition that will be used is a committee that has at least — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Member for Armadale, I call you formally for the second time today, and I call the member for Victoria Park for the second time today . Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the third time, a reasonable definition of a board or committee is one that has an external member, and in particular an external member who receives payment. Mr E.S. Ripper : That is one way to reduce the numbers! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, it is. But it is a significant point, because if — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : What is the point? What is the point of trying to respond to a serious question? It is an important question. It is an important question about the number of boards and committees in government. I take it as a serious question. I am trying to provide a serious response. I think that is a reasonable definition. In other words, if a committee or a review board is set up — Mrs M.H. Roberts : How many are there under that definition? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If a committee is set up — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Members, this will be the last question in question time today. Member for Midland, I formally call you for the first time. The Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It seems reasonable that if a body has external members, in particular external paid members, it should constitute a board or committee. The reason I make that distinction is that it means that it would have been set up by government—by cabinet, or by a minister—and there will be, no doubt, additional funding attached to it. If, however, for example, a chief executive officer or a group of agencies sets up some sort of working party internally within government, that is not a board or committee. That is not a review. That is those people doing their job. So, we need to make that distinction to answer the question and to get a proper handle on the number of boards and committees. Since we have come to government, a large number of committees have been abolished. Over 200 have been abolished. There is a significantly further number that will cease to operate, as their time runs out, for various reasons. There is another large number that we would like to abolish, but that will require legislative change. To that effect, we will be bringing in an omnibus bill. I would hope that members would look at that bill and tell us which committees they accept can be abolished and which ones they want to debate. Now, to get to the actual first point of the member’s question, according to that definition, which I believe is the appropriate definition, this government has created 52 new boards since it was elected. We have abolished over five times that number. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite may laugh. We have created 52. I will, when I produce this full report, list every committee that has been created, every one that has been abolished, every one that will cease, and every one that we intend to abolish. Members will find that that will basically halve the number of committees in Western Australia. Mr M. McGowan : What is the cost? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will provide full details at the next sitting of Parliament of the cost of each of the new bodies set up, on which, according to that criterion, there is an external member, in particular an external paid member. I will provide all of that. The number is 52, and members will get that full information.
(1) What is the total number of committees, reviews, inquiries and advisory boards created by his government since 23 September 2008? (2) What is the total cost of these new committees, reviews, inquiries and advisory boards? (3) Will he table a list of all the committees, reviews, inquiries and advisory boards by the close of business today? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: I thank the member for Rockingham for his question and for some notice. (1)–(3) I intend to answer part of his question now and at the next week of sitting I will answer the remaining part. Let me explain. When this government came to power, I looked into the issue of the number of committees, reviews and boards in existence. The first telling observation was that no-one knew; there was absolutely no idea. We did an exercise in identifying all the committees, reviews and working parties we could find across government. The grand total was 1 276. Mr B.S. Wyatt : Since then you’ve had a committee blow-out. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Well — Mr M. McGowan : Tell us—how many? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am trying to answer. When members opposite calm down, I will continue my answer. That is my new policy. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Mindarie for the second time and the member for Armadale for the first time. If members want question time to finish at this moment, that can happen. I am sure that there are members on both sides of the house who would like to ask questions. I would like to give them that opportunity. Some members in this place see things in a different light. Mr C.J. BARNETT : So, as I said, there was no record. No-one knew how many committees there were. We found 1 276 committees, review boards, or whatever else. Mr E.S. Ripper : How many are there now? Mr C.J. BARNETT : They are just immature! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : They are! Okay. I will keep going. Is the member for Rockingham interested in the answer? I take this as a serious question, to which the member for Rockingham would like a serious answer. So I will address my remarks to the member for Rockingham. Mr M. McGowan : Yes. You are easily distracted. Do not get distracted. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will not get distracted. We discovered 1 276 committees and boards. There was no overall register. There was no consistency. So, one of the tasks, apart from identifying the number of committees and boards, was then to define what is a committee or board. The member may or may not agree with that. Mr R.H. Cook : You are getting distracted again! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am getting easily distracted today. It is beyond the member for Cannington’s intellect, but it would seem to me that we need to make some sort of definition of what constitutes a government board or committee. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I think the member for Rockingham would agree that a reasonable definition of a board or committee — Mr B.S. Wyatt : You should publish a dictionary! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I know. I might. The SPEAKER : Order! Take a seat, Premier. Member for Victoria Park, I call you for the first time today. The Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I think a reasonable definition, and one that this government has adopted, is that in any total listing of government boards and committees, the definition that will be used is a committee that has at least — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Member for Armadale, I call you formally for the second time today, and I call the member for Victoria Park for the second time today . Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the third time, a reasonable definition of a board or committee is one that has an external member, and in particular an external member who receives payment. Mr E.S. Ripper : That is one way to reduce the numbers! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, it is. But it is a significant point, because if — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : What is the point? What is the point of trying to respond to a serious question? It is an important question. It is an important question about the number of boards and committees in government. I take it as a serious question. I am trying to provide a serious response. I think that is a reasonable definition. In other words, if a committee or a review board is set up — Mrs M.H. Roberts : How many are there under that definition? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If a committee is set up — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Members, this will be the last question in question time today. Member for Midland, I formally call you for the first time. The Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It seems reasonable that if a body has external members, in particular external paid members, it should constitute a board or committee. The reason I make that distinction is that it means that it would have been set up by government—by cabinet, or by a minister—and there will be, no doubt, additional funding attached to it. If, however, for example, a chief executive officer or a group of agencies sets up some sort of working party internally within government, that is not a board or committee. That is not a review. That is those people doing their job. So, we need to make that distinction to answer the question and to get a proper handle on the number of boards and committees. Since we have come to government, a large number of committees have been abolished. Over 200 have been abolished. There is a significantly further number that will cease to operate, as their time runs out, for various reasons. There is another large number that we would like to abolish, but that will require legislative change. To that effect, we will be bringing in an omnibus bill. I would hope that members would look at that bill and tell us which committees they accept can be abolished and which ones they want to debate. Now, to get to the actual first point of the member’s question, according to that definition, which I believe is the appropriate definition, this government has created 52 new boards since it was elected. We have abolished over five times that number. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite may laugh. We have created 52. I will, when I produce this full report, list every committee that has been created, every one that has been abolished, every one that will cease, and every one that we intend to abolish. Members will find that that will basically halve the number of committees in Western Australia. Mr M. McGowan : What is the cost? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will provide full details at the next sitting of Parliament of the cost of each of the new bodies set up, on which, according to that criterion, there is an external member, in particular an external paid member. I will provide all of that. The number is 52, and members will get that full information.
(2) What is the total cost of these new committees, reviews, inquiries and advisory boards? (3) Will he table a list of all the committees, reviews, inquiries and advisory boards by the close of business today? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: I thank the member for Rockingham for his question and for some notice. (1)–(3) I intend to answer part of his question now and at the next week of sitting I will answer the remaining part. Let me explain. When this government came to power, I looked into the issue of the number of committees, reviews and boards in existence. The first telling observation was that no-one knew; there was absolutely no idea. We did an exercise in identifying all the committees, reviews and working parties we could find across government. The grand total was 1 276. Mr B.S. Wyatt : Since then you’ve had a committee blow-out. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Well — Mr M. McGowan : Tell us—how many? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am trying to answer. When members opposite calm down, I will continue my answer. That is my new policy. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Mindarie for the second time and the member for Armadale for the first time. If members want question time to finish at this moment, that can happen. I am sure that there are members on both sides of the house who would like to ask questions. I would like to give them that opportunity. Some members in this place see things in a different light. Mr C.J. BARNETT : So, as I said, there was no record. No-one knew how many committees there were. We found 1 276 committees, review boards, or whatever else. Mr E.S. Ripper : How many are there now? Mr C.J. BARNETT : They are just immature! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : They are! Okay. I will keep going. Is the member for Rockingham interested in the answer? I take this as a serious question, to which the member for Rockingham would like a serious answer. So I will address my remarks to the member for Rockingham. Mr M. McGowan : Yes. You are easily distracted. Do not get distracted. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will not get distracted. We discovered 1 276 committees and boards. There was no overall register. There was no consistency. So, one of the tasks, apart from identifying the number of committees and boards, was then to define what is a committee or board. The member may or may not agree with that. Mr R.H. Cook : You are getting distracted again! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am getting easily distracted today. It is beyond the member for Cannington’s intellect, but it would seem to me that we need to make some sort of definition of what constitutes a government board or committee. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I think the member for Rockingham would agree that a reasonable definition of a board or committee — Mr B.S. Wyatt : You should publish a dictionary! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I know. I might. The SPEAKER : Order! Take a seat, Premier. Member for Victoria Park, I call you for the first time today. The Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I think a reasonable definition, and one that this government has adopted, is that in any total listing of government boards and committees, the definition that will be used is a committee that has at least — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Member for Armadale, I call you formally for the second time today, and I call the member for Victoria Park for the second time today . Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the third time, a reasonable definition of a board or committee is one that has an external member, and in particular an external member who receives payment. Mr E.S. Ripper : That is one way to reduce the numbers! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, it is. But it is a significant point, because if — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : What is the point? What is the point of trying to respond to a serious question? It is an important question. It is an important question about the number of boards and committees in government. I take it as a serious question. I am trying to provide a serious response. I think that is a reasonable definition. In other words, if a committee or a review board is set up — Mrs M.H. Roberts : How many are there under that definition? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If a committee is set up — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Members, this will be the last question in question time today. Member for Midland, I formally call you for the first time. The Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It seems reasonable that if a body has external members, in particular external paid members, it should constitute a board or committee. The reason I make that distinction is that it means that it would have been set up by government—by cabinet, or by a minister—and there will be, no doubt, additional funding attached to it. If, however, for example, a chief executive officer or a group of agencies sets up some sort of working party internally within government, that is not a board or committee. That is not a review. That is those people doing their job. So, we need to make that distinction to answer the question and to get a proper handle on the number of boards and committees. Since we have come to government, a large number of committees have been abolished. Over 200 have been abolished. There is a significantly further number that will cease to operate, as their time runs out, for various reasons. There is another large number that we would like to abolish, but that will require legislative change. To that effect, we will be bringing in an omnibus bill. I would hope that members would look at that bill and tell us which committees they accept can be abolished and which ones they want to debate. Now, to get to the actual first point of the member’s question, according to that definition, which I believe is the appropriate definition, this government has created 52 new boards since it was elected. We have abolished over five times that number. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite may laugh. We have created 52. I will, when I produce this full report, list every committee that has been created, every one that has been abolished, every one that will cease, and every one that we intend to abolish. Members will find that that will basically halve the number of committees in Western Australia. Mr M. McGowan : What is the cost? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will provide full details at the next sitting of Parliament of the cost of each of the new bodies set up, on which, according to that criterion, there is an external member, in particular an external paid member. I will provide all of that. The number is 52, and members will get that full information.
(3) Will he table a list of all the committees, reviews, inquiries and advisory boards by the close of business today? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: I thank the member for Rockingham for his question and for some notice. (1)–(3) I intend to answer part of his question now and at the next week of sitting I will answer the remaining part. Let me explain. When this government came to power, I looked into the issue of the number of committees, reviews and boards in existence. The first telling observation was that no-one knew; there was absolutely no idea. We did an exercise in identifying all the committees, reviews and working parties we could find across government. The grand total was 1 276. Mr B.S. Wyatt : Since then you’ve had a committee blow-out. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Well — Mr M. McGowan : Tell us—how many? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am trying to answer. When members opposite calm down, I will continue my answer. That is my new policy. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Mindarie for the second time and the member for Armadale for the first time. If members want question time to finish at this moment, that can happen. I am sure that there are members on both sides of the house who would like to ask questions. I would like to give them that opportunity. Some members in this place see things in a different light. Mr C.J. BARNETT : So, as I said, there was no record. No-one knew how many committees there were. We found 1 276 committees, review boards, or whatever else. Mr E.S. Ripper : How many are there now? Mr C.J. BARNETT : They are just immature! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : They are! Okay. I will keep going. Is the member for Rockingham interested in the answer? I take this as a serious question, to which the member for Rockingham would like a serious answer. So I will address my remarks to the member for Rockingham. Mr M. McGowan : Yes. You are easily distracted. Do not get distracted. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will not get distracted. We discovered 1 276 committees and boards. There was no overall register. There was no consistency. So, one of the tasks, apart from identifying the number of committees and boards, was then to define what is a committee or board. The member may or may not agree with that. Mr R.H. Cook : You are getting distracted again! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am getting easily distracted today. It is beyond the member for Cannington’s intellect, but it would seem to me that we need to make some sort of definition of what constitutes a government board or committee. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I think the member for Rockingham would agree that a reasonable definition of a board or committee — Mr B.S. Wyatt : You should publish a dictionary! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I know. I might. The SPEAKER : Order! Take a seat, Premier. Member for Victoria Park, I call you for the first time today. The Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I think a reasonable definition, and one that this government has adopted, is that in any total listing of government boards and committees, the definition that will be used is a committee that has at least — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Member for Armadale, I call you formally for the second time today, and I call the member for Victoria Park for the second time today . Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the third time, a reasonable definition of a board or committee is one that has an external member, and in particular an external member who receives payment. Mr E.S. Ripper : That is one way to reduce the numbers! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, it is. But it is a significant point, because if — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : What is the point? What is the point of trying to respond to a serious question? It is an important question. It is an important question about the number of boards and committees in government. I take it as a serious question. I am trying to provide a serious response. I think that is a reasonable definition. In other words, if a committee or a review board is set up — Mrs M.H. Roberts : How many are there under that definition? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If a committee is set up — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Members, this will be the last question in question time today. Member for Midland, I formally call you for the first time. The Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It seems reasonable that if a body has external members, in particular external paid members, it should constitute a board or committee. The reason I make that distinction is that it means that it would have been set up by government—by cabinet, or by a minister—and there will be, no doubt, additional funding attached to it. If, however, for example, a chief executive officer or a group of agencies sets up some sort of working party internally within government, that is not a board or committee. That is not a review. That is those people doing their job. So, we need to make that distinction to answer the question and to get a proper handle on the number of boards and committees. Since we have come to government, a large number of committees have been abolished. Over 200 have been abolished. There is a significantly further number that will cease to operate, as their time runs out, for various reasons. There is another large number that we would like to abolish, but that will require legislative change. To that effect, we will be bringing in an omnibus bill. I would hope that members would look at that bill and tell us which committees they accept can be abolished and which ones they want to debate. Now, to get to the actual first point of the member’s question, according to that definition, which I believe is the appropriate definition, this government has created 52 new boards since it was elected. We have abolished over five times that number. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite may laugh. We have created 52. I will, when I produce this full report, list every committee that has been created, every one that has been abolished, every one that will cease, and every one that we intend to abolish. Members will find that that will basically halve the number of committees in Western Australia. Mr M. McGowan : What is the cost? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will provide full details at the next sitting of Parliament of the cost of each of the new bodies set up, on which, according to that criterion, there is an external member, in particular an external paid member. I will provide all of that. The number is 52, and members will get that full information.
Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: I thank the member for Rockingham for his question and for some notice. (1)–(3) I intend to answer part of his question now and at the next week of sitting I will answer the remaining part. Let me explain. When this government came to power, I looked into the issue of the number of committees, reviews and boards in existence. The first telling observation was that no-one knew; there was absolutely no idea. We did an exercise in identifying all the committees, reviews and working parties we could find across government. The grand total was 1 276. Mr B.S. Wyatt : Since then you’ve had a committee blow-out. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Well — Mr M. McGowan : Tell us—how many? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am trying to answer. When members opposite calm down, I will continue my answer. That is my new policy. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Mindarie for the second time and the member for Armadale for the first time. If members want question time to finish at this moment, that can happen. I am sure that there are members on both sides of the house who would like to ask questions. I would like to give them that opportunity. Some members in this place see things in a different light. Mr C.J. BARNETT : So, as I said, there was no record. No-one knew how many committees there were. We found 1 276 committees, review boards, or whatever else. Mr E.S. Ripper : How many are there now? Mr C.J. BARNETT : They are just immature! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : They are! Okay. I will keep going. Is the member for Rockingham interested in the answer? I take this as a serious question, to which the member for Rockingham would like a serious answer. So I will address my remarks to the member for Rockingham. Mr M. McGowan : Yes. You are easily distracted. Do not get distracted. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will not get distracted. We discovered 1 276 committees and boards. There was no overall register. There was no consistency. So, one of the tasks, apart from identifying the number of committees and boards, was then to define what is a committee or board. The member may or may not agree with that. Mr R.H. Cook : You are getting distracted again! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am getting easily distracted today. It is beyond the member for Cannington’s intellect, but it would seem to me that we need to make some sort of definition of what constitutes a government board or committee. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I think the member for Rockingham would agree that a reasonable definition of a board or committee — Mr B.S. Wyatt : You should publish a dictionary! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I know. I might. The SPEAKER : Order! Take a seat, Premier. Member for Victoria Park, I call you for the first time today. The Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I think a reasonable definition, and one that this government has adopted, is that in any total listing of government boards and committees, the definition that will be used is a committee that has at least — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Member for Armadale, I call you formally for the second time today, and I call the member for Victoria Park for the second time today . Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the third time, a reasonable definition of a board or committee is one that has an external member, and in particular an external member who receives payment. Mr E.S. Ripper : That is one way to reduce the numbers! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, it is. But it is a significant point, because if — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : What is the point? What is the point of trying to respond to a serious question? It is an important question. It is an important question about the number of boards and committees in government. I take it as a serious question. I am trying to provide a serious response. I think that is a reasonable definition. In other words, if a committee or a review board is set up — Mrs M.H. Roberts : How many are there under that definition? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If a committee is set up — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Members, this will be the last question in question time today. Member for Midland, I formally call you for the first time. The Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It seems reasonable that if a body has external members, in particular external paid members, it should constitute a board or committee. The reason I make that distinction is that it means that it would have been set up by government—by cabinet, or by a minister—and there will be, no doubt, additional funding attached to it. If, however, for example, a chief executive officer or a group of agencies sets up some sort of working party internally within government, that is not a board or committee. That is not a review. That is those people doing their job. So, we need to make that distinction to answer the question and to get a proper handle on the number of boards and committees. Since we have come to government, a large number of committees have been abolished. Over 200 have been abolished. There is a significantly further number that will cease to operate, as their time runs out, for various reasons. There is another large number that we would like to abolish, but that will require legislative change. To that effect, we will be bringing in an omnibus bill. I would hope that members would look at that bill and tell us which committees they accept can be abolished and which ones they want to debate. Now, to get to the actual first point of the member’s question, according to that definition, which I believe is the appropriate definition, this government has created 52 new boards since it was elected. We have abolished over five times that number. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite may laugh. We have created 52. I will, when I produce this full report, list every committee that has been created, every one that has been abolished, every one that will cease, and every one that we intend to abolish. Members will find that that will basically halve the number of committees in Western Australia. Mr M. McGowan : What is the cost? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will provide full details at the next sitting of Parliament of the cost of each of the new bodies set up, on which, according to that criterion, there is an external member, in particular an external paid member. I will provide all of that. The number is 52, and members will get that full information.
I thank the member for Rockingham for his question and for some notice. (1)–(3) I intend to answer part of his question now and at the next week of sitting I will answer the remaining part. Let me explain. When this government came to power, I looked into the issue of the number of committees, reviews and boards in existence. The first telling observation was that no-one knew; there was absolutely no idea. We did an exercise in identifying all the committees, reviews and working parties we could find across government. The grand total was 1 276. Mr B.S. Wyatt : Since then you’ve had a committee blow-out. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Well — Mr M. McGowan : Tell us—how many? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am trying to answer. When members opposite calm down, I will continue my answer. That is my new policy. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Mindarie for the second time and the member for Armadale for the first time. If members want question time to finish at this moment, that can happen. I am sure that there are members on both sides of the house who would like to ask questions. I would like to give them that opportunity. Some members in this place see things in a different light. Mr C.J. BARNETT : So, as I said, there was no record. No-one knew how many committees there were. We found 1 276 committees, review boards, or whatever else. Mr E.S. Ripper : How many are there now? Mr C.J. BARNETT : They are just immature! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : They are! Okay. I will keep going. Is the member for Rockingham interested in the answer? I take this as a serious question, to which the member for Rockingham would like a serious answer. So I will address my remarks to the member for Rockingham. Mr M. McGowan : Yes. You are easily distracted. Do not get distracted. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will not get distracted. We discovered 1 276 committees and boards. There was no overall register. There was no consistency. So, one of the tasks, apart from identifying the number of committees and boards, was then to define what is a committee or board. The member may or may not agree with that. Mr R.H. Cook : You are getting distracted again! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am getting easily distracted today. It is beyond the member for Cannington’s intellect, but it would seem to me that we need to make some sort of definition of what constitutes a government board or committee. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I think the member for Rockingham would agree that a reasonable definition of a board or committee — Mr B.S. Wyatt : You should publish a dictionary! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I know. I might. The SPEAKER : Order! Take a seat, Premier. Member for Victoria Park, I call you for the first time today. The Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I think a reasonable definition, and one that this government has adopted, is that in any total listing of government boards and committees, the definition that will be used is a committee that has at least — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Member for Armadale, I call you formally for the second time today, and I call the member for Victoria Park for the second time today . Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the third time, a reasonable definition of a board or committee is one that has an external member, and in particular an external member who receives payment. Mr E.S. Ripper : That is one way to reduce the numbers! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, it is. But it is a significant point, because if — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : What is the point? What is the point of trying to respond to a serious question? It is an important question. It is an important question about the number of boards and committees in government. I take it as a serious question. I am trying to provide a serious response. I think that is a reasonable definition. In other words, if a committee or a review board is set up — Mrs M.H. Roberts : How many are there under that definition? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If a committee is set up — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Members, this will be the last question in question time today. Member for Midland, I formally call you for the first time. The Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It seems reasonable that if a body has external members, in particular external paid members, it should constitute a board or committee. The reason I make that distinction is that it means that it would have been set up by government—by cabinet, or by a minister—and there will be, no doubt, additional funding attached to it. If, however, for example, a chief executive officer or a group of agencies sets up some sort of working party internally within government, that is not a board or committee. That is not a review. That is those people doing their job. So, we need to make that distinction to answer the question and to get a proper handle on the number of boards and committees. Since we have come to government, a large number of committees have been abolished. Over 200 have been abolished. There is a significantly further number that will cease to operate, as their time runs out, for various reasons. There is another large number that we would like to abolish, but that will require legislative change. To that effect, we will be bringing in an omnibus bill. I would hope that members would look at that bill and tell us which committees they accept can be abolished and which ones they want to debate. Now, to get to the actual first point of the member’s question, according to that definition, which I believe is the appropriate definition, this government has created 52 new boards since it was elected. We have abolished over five times that number. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite may laugh. We have created 52. I will, when I produce this full report, list every committee that has been created, every one that has been abolished, every one that will cease, and every one that we intend to abolish. Members will find that that will basically halve the number of committees in Western Australia. Mr M. McGowan : What is the cost? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will provide full details at the next sitting of Parliament of the cost of each of the new bodies set up, on which, according to that criterion, there is an external member, in particular an external paid member. I will provide all of that. The number is 52, and members will get that full information.
(1)–(3) I intend to answer part of his question now and at the next week of sitting I will answer the remaining part. Let me explain. When this government came to power, I looked into the issue of the number of committees, reviews and boards in existence. The first telling observation was that no-one knew; there was absolutely no idea. We did an exercise in identifying all the committees, reviews and working parties we could find across government. The grand total was 1 276. Mr B.S. Wyatt : Since then you’ve had a committee blow-out. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Well — Mr M. McGowan : Tell us—how many? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am trying to answer. When members opposite calm down, I will continue my answer. That is my new policy. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Mindarie for the second time and the member for Armadale for the first time. If members want question time to finish at this moment, that can happen. I am sure that there are members on both sides of the house who would like to ask questions. I would like to give them that opportunity. Some members in this place see things in a different light. Mr C.J. BARNETT : So, as I said, there was no record. No-one knew how many committees there were. We found 1 276 committees, review boards, or whatever else. Mr E.S. Ripper : How many are there now? Mr C.J. BARNETT : They are just immature! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : They are! Okay. I will keep going. Is the member for Rockingham interested in the answer? I take this as a serious question, to which the member for Rockingham would like a serious answer. So I will address my remarks to the member for Rockingham. Mr M. McGowan : Yes. You are easily distracted. Do not get distracted. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will not get distracted. We discovered 1 276 committees and boards. There was no overall register. There was no consistency. So, one of the tasks, apart from identifying the number of committees and boards, was then to define what is a committee or board. The member may or may not agree with that. Mr R.H. Cook : You are getting distracted again! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am getting easily distracted today. It is beyond the member for Cannington’s intellect, but it would seem to me that we need to make some sort of definition of what constitutes a government board or committee. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I think the member for Rockingham would agree that a reasonable definition of a board or committee — Mr B.S. Wyatt : You should publish a dictionary! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I know. I might. The SPEAKER : Order! Take a seat, Premier. Member for Victoria Park, I call you for the first time today. The Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I think a reasonable definition, and one that this government has adopted, is that in any total listing of government boards and committees, the definition that will be used is a committee that has at least — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Member for Armadale, I call you formally for the second time today, and I call the member for Victoria Park for the second time today . Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the third time, a reasonable definition of a board or committee is one that has an external member, and in particular an external member who receives payment. Mr E.S. Ripper : That is one way to reduce the numbers! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, it is. But it is a significant point, because if — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : What is the point? What is the point of trying to respond to a serious question? It is an important question. It is an important question about the number of boards and committees in government. I take it as a serious question. I am trying to provide a serious response. I think that is a reasonable definition. In other words, if a committee or a review board is set up — Mrs M.H. Roberts : How many are there under that definition? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If a committee is set up — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Members, this will be the last question in question time today. Member for Midland, I formally call you for the first time. The Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It seems reasonable that if a body has external members, in particular external paid members, it should constitute a board or committee. The reason I make that distinction is that it means that it would have been set up by government—by cabinet, or by a minister—and there will be, no doubt, additional funding attached to it. If, however, for example, a chief executive officer or a group of agencies sets up some sort of working party internally within government, that is not a board or committee. That is not a review. That is those people doing their job. So, we need to make that distinction to answer the question and to get a proper handle on the number of boards and committees. Since we have come to government, a large number of committees have been abolished. Over 200 have been abolished. There is a significantly further number that will cease to operate, as their time runs out, for various reasons. There is another large number that we would like to abolish, but that will require legislative change. To that effect, we will be bringing in an omnibus bill. I would hope that members would look at that bill and tell us which committees they accept can be abolished and which ones they want to debate. Now, to get to the actual first point of the member’s question, according to that definition, which I believe is the appropriate definition, this government has created 52 new boards since it was elected. We have abolished over five times that number. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite may laugh. We have created 52. I will, when I produce this full report, list every committee that has been created, every one that has been abolished, every one that will cease, and every one that we intend to abolish. Members will find that that will basically halve the number of committees in Western Australia. Mr M. McGowan : What is the cost? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will provide full details at the next sitting of Parliament of the cost of each of the new bodies set up, on which, according to that criterion, there is an external member, in particular an external paid member. I will provide all of that. The number is 52, and members will get that full information.
Mr B.S. Wyatt : Since then you’ve had a committee blow-out. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Well — Mr M. McGowan : Tell us—how many? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am trying to answer. When members opposite calm down, I will continue my answer. That is my new policy. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Mindarie for the second time and the member for Armadale for the first time. If members want question time to finish at this moment, that can happen. I am sure that there are members on both sides of the house who would like to ask questions. I would like to give them that opportunity. Some members in this place see things in a different light. Mr C.J. BARNETT : So, as I said, there was no record. No-one knew how many committees there were. We found 1 276 committees, review boards, or whatever else. Mr E.S. Ripper : How many are there now? Mr C.J. BARNETT : They are just immature! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : They are! Okay. I will keep going. Is the member for Rockingham interested in the answer? I take this as a serious question, to which the member for Rockingham would like a serious answer. So I will address my remarks to the member for Rockingham. Mr M. McGowan : Yes. You are easily distracted. Do not get distracted. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will not get distracted. We discovered 1 276 committees and boards. There was no overall register. There was no consistency. So, one of the tasks, apart from identifying the number of committees and boards, was then to define what is a committee or board. The member may or may not agree with that. Mr R.H. Cook : You are getting distracted again! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am getting easily distracted today. It is beyond the member for Cannington’s intellect, but it would seem to me that we need to make some sort of definition of what constitutes a government board or committee. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I think the member for Rockingham would agree that a reasonable definition of a board or committee — Mr B.S. Wyatt : You should publish a dictionary! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I know. I might. The SPEAKER : Order! Take a seat, Premier. Member for Victoria Park, I call you for the first time today. The Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I think a reasonable definition, and one that this government has adopted, is that in any total listing of government boards and committees, the definition that will be used is a committee that has at least — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Member for Armadale, I call you formally for the second time today, and I call the member for Victoria Park for the second time today . Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the third time, a reasonable definition of a board or committee is one that has an external member, and in particular an external member who receives payment. Mr E.S. Ripper : That is one way to reduce the numbers! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, it is. But it is a significant point, because if — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : What is the point? What is the point of trying to respond to a serious question? It is an important question. It is an important question about the number of boards and committees in government. I take it as a serious question. I am trying to provide a serious response. I think that is a reasonable definition. In other words, if a committee or a review board is set up — Mrs M.H. Roberts : How many are there under that definition? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If a committee is set up — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Members, this will be the last question in question time today. Member for Midland, I formally call you for the first time. The Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It seems reasonable that if a body has external members, in particular external paid members, it should constitute a board or committee. The reason I make that distinction is that it means that it would have been set up by government—by cabinet, or by a minister—and there will be, no doubt, additional funding attached to it. If, however, for example, a chief executive officer or a group of agencies sets up some sort of working party internally within government, that is not a board or committee. That is not a review. That is those people doing their job. So, we need to make that distinction to answer the question and to get a proper handle on the number of boards and committees. Since we have come to government, a large number of committees have been abolished. Over 200 have been abolished. There is a significantly further number that will cease to operate, as their time runs out, for various reasons. There is another large number that we would like to abolish, but that will require legislative change. To that effect, we will be bringing in an omnibus bill. I would hope that members would look at that bill and tell us which committees they accept can be abolished and which ones they want to debate. Now, to get to the actual first point of the member’s question, according to that definition, which I believe is the appropriate definition, this government has created 52 new boards since it was elected. We have abolished over five times that number. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite may laugh. We have created 52. I will, when I produce this full report, list every committee that has been created, every one that has been abolished, every one that will cease, and every one that we intend to abolish. Members will find that that will basically halve the number of committees in Western Australia. Mr M. McGowan : What is the cost? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will provide full details at the next sitting of Parliament of the cost of each of the new bodies set up, on which, according to that criterion, there is an external member, in particular an external paid member. I will provide all of that. The number is 52, and members will get that full information.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Well — Mr M. McGowan : Tell us—how many? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am trying to answer. When members opposite calm down, I will continue my answer. That is my new policy. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Mindarie for the second time and the member for Armadale for the first time. If members want question time to finish at this moment, that can happen. I am sure that there are members on both sides of the house who would like to ask questions. I would like to give them that opportunity. Some members in this place see things in a different light. Mr C.J. BARNETT : So, as I said, there was no record. No-one knew how many committees there were. We found 1 276 committees, review boards, or whatever else. Mr E.S. Ripper : How many are there now? Mr C.J. BARNETT : They are just immature! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : They are! Okay. I will keep going. Is the member for Rockingham interested in the answer? I take this as a serious question, to which the member for Rockingham would like a serious answer. So I will address my remarks to the member for Rockingham. Mr M. McGowan : Yes. You are easily distracted. Do not get distracted. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will not get distracted. We discovered 1 276 committees and boards. There was no overall register. There was no consistency. So, one of the tasks, apart from identifying the number of committees and boards, was then to define what is a committee or board. The member may or may not agree with that. Mr R.H. Cook : You are getting distracted again! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am getting easily distracted today. It is beyond the member for Cannington’s intellect, but it would seem to me that we need to make some sort of definition of what constitutes a government board or committee. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I think the member for Rockingham would agree that a reasonable definition of a board or committee — Mr B.S. Wyatt : You should publish a dictionary! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I know. I might. The SPEAKER : Order! Take a seat, Premier. Member for Victoria Park, I call you for the first time today. The Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I think a reasonable definition, and one that this government has adopted, is that in any total listing of government boards and committees, the definition that will be used is a committee that has at least — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Member for Armadale, I call you formally for the second time today, and I call the member for Victoria Park for the second time today . Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the third time, a reasonable definition of a board or committee is one that has an external member, and in particular an external member who receives payment. Mr E.S. Ripper : That is one way to reduce the numbers! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, it is. But it is a significant point, because if — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : What is the point? What is the point of trying to respond to a serious question? It is an important question. It is an important question about the number of boards and committees in government. I take it as a serious question. I am trying to provide a serious response. I think that is a reasonable definition. In other words, if a committee or a review board is set up — Mrs M.H. Roberts : How many are there under that definition? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If a committee is set up — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Members, this will be the last question in question time today. Member for Midland, I formally call you for the first time. The Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It seems reasonable that if a body has external members, in particular external paid members, it should constitute a board or committee. The reason I make that distinction is that it means that it would have been set up by government—by cabinet, or by a minister—and there will be, no doubt, additional funding attached to it. If, however, for example, a chief executive officer or a group of agencies sets up some sort of working party internally within government, that is not a board or committee. That is not a review. That is those people doing their job. So, we need to make that distinction to answer the question and to get a proper handle on the number of boards and committees. Since we have come to government, a large number of committees have been abolished. Over 200 have been abolished. There is a significantly further number that will cease to operate, as their time runs out, for various reasons. There is another large number that we would like to abolish, but that will require legislative change. To that effect, we will be bringing in an omnibus bill. I would hope that members would look at that bill and tell us which committees they accept can be abolished and which ones they want to debate. Now, to get to the actual first point of the member’s question, according to that definition, which I believe is the appropriate definition, this government has created 52 new boards since it was elected. We have abolished over five times that number. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite may laugh. We have created 52. I will, when I produce this full report, list every committee that has been created, every one that has been abolished, every one that will cease, and every one that we intend to abolish. Members will find that that will basically halve the number of committees in Western Australia. Mr M. McGowan : What is the cost? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will provide full details at the next sitting of Parliament of the cost of each of the new bodies set up, on which, according to that criterion, there is an external member, in particular an external paid member. I will provide all of that. The number is 52, and members will get that full information.
Mr M. McGowan : Tell us—how many? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am trying to answer. When members opposite calm down, I will continue my answer. That is my new policy. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Mindarie for the second time and the member for Armadale for the first time. If members want question time to finish at this moment, that can happen. I am sure that there are members on both sides of the house who would like to ask questions. I would like to give them that opportunity. Some members in this place see things in a different light. Mr C.J. BARNETT : So, as I said, there was no record. No-one knew how many committees there were. We found 1 276 committees, review boards, or whatever else. Mr E.S. Ripper : How many are there now? Mr C.J. BARNETT : They are just immature! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : They are! Okay. I will keep going. Is the member for Rockingham interested in the answer? I take this as a serious question, to which the member for Rockingham would like a serious answer. So I will address my remarks to the member for Rockingham. Mr M. McGowan : Yes. You are easily distracted. Do not get distracted. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will not get distracted. We discovered 1 276 committees and boards. There was no overall register. There was no consistency. So, one of the tasks, apart from identifying the number of committees and boards, was then to define what is a committee or board. The member may or may not agree with that. Mr R.H. Cook : You are getting distracted again! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am getting easily distracted today. It is beyond the member for Cannington’s intellect, but it would seem to me that we need to make some sort of definition of what constitutes a government board or committee. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I think the member for Rockingham would agree that a reasonable definition of a board or committee — Mr B.S. Wyatt : You should publish a dictionary! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I know. I might. The SPEAKER : Order! Take a seat, Premier. Member for Victoria Park, I call you for the first time today. The Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I think a reasonable definition, and one that this government has adopted, is that in any total listing of government boards and committees, the definition that will be used is a committee that has at least — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Member for Armadale, I call you formally for the second time today, and I call the member for Victoria Park for the second time today . Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the third time, a reasonable definition of a board or committee is one that has an external member, and in particular an external member who receives payment. Mr E.S. Ripper : That is one way to reduce the numbers! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, it is. But it is a significant point, because if — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : What is the point? What is the point of trying to respond to a serious question? It is an important question. It is an important question about the number of boards and committees in government. I take it as a serious question. I am trying to provide a serious response. I think that is a reasonable definition. In other words, if a committee or a review board is set up — Mrs M.H. Roberts : How many are there under that definition? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If a committee is set up — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Members, this will be the last question in question time today. Member for Midland, I formally call you for the first time. The Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It seems reasonable that if a body has external members, in particular external paid members, it should constitute a board or committee. The reason I make that distinction is that it means that it would have been set up by government—by cabinet, or by a minister—and there will be, no doubt, additional funding attached to it. If, however, for example, a chief executive officer or a group of agencies sets up some sort of working party internally within government, that is not a board or committee. That is not a review. That is those people doing their job. So, we need to make that distinction to answer the question and to get a proper handle on the number of boards and committees. Since we have come to government, a large number of committees have been abolished. Over 200 have been abolished. There is a significantly further number that will cease to operate, as their time runs out, for various reasons. There is another large number that we would like to abolish, but that will require legislative change. To that effect, we will be bringing in an omnibus bill. I would hope that members would look at that bill and tell us which committees they accept can be abolished and which ones they want to debate. Now, to get to the actual first point of the member’s question, according to that definition, which I believe is the appropriate definition, this government has created 52 new boards since it was elected. We have abolished over five times that number. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite may laugh. We have created 52. I will, when I produce this full report, list every committee that has been created, every one that has been abolished, every one that will cease, and every one that we intend to abolish. Members will find that that will basically halve the number of committees in Western Australia. Mr M. McGowan : What is the cost? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will provide full details at the next sitting of Parliament of the cost of each of the new bodies set up, on which, according to that criterion, there is an external member, in particular an external paid member. I will provide all of that. The number is 52, and members will get that full information.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am trying to answer. When members opposite calm down, I will continue my answer. That is my new policy. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Mindarie for the second time and the member for Armadale for the first time. If members want question time to finish at this moment, that can happen. I am sure that there are members on both sides of the house who would like to ask questions. I would like to give them that opportunity. Some members in this place see things in a different light. Mr C.J. BARNETT : So, as I said, there was no record. No-one knew how many committees there were. We found 1 276 committees, review boards, or whatever else. Mr E.S. Ripper : How many are there now? Mr C.J. BARNETT : They are just immature! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : They are! Okay. I will keep going. Is the member for Rockingham interested in the answer? I take this as a serious question, to which the member for Rockingham would like a serious answer. So I will address my remarks to the member for Rockingham. Mr M. McGowan : Yes. You are easily distracted. Do not get distracted. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will not get distracted. We discovered 1 276 committees and boards. There was no overall register. There was no consistency. So, one of the tasks, apart from identifying the number of committees and boards, was then to define what is a committee or board. The member may or may not agree with that. Mr R.H. Cook : You are getting distracted again! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am getting easily distracted today. It is beyond the member for Cannington’s intellect, but it would seem to me that we need to make some sort of definition of what constitutes a government board or committee. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I think the member for Rockingham would agree that a reasonable definition of a board or committee — Mr B.S. Wyatt : You should publish a dictionary! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I know. I might. The SPEAKER : Order! Take a seat, Premier. Member for Victoria Park, I call you for the first time today. The Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I think a reasonable definition, and one that this government has adopted, is that in any total listing of government boards and committees, the definition that will be used is a committee that has at least — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Member for Armadale, I call you formally for the second time today, and I call the member for Victoria Park for the second time today . Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the third time, a reasonable definition of a board or committee is one that has an external member, and in particular an external member who receives payment. Mr E.S. Ripper : That is one way to reduce the numbers! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, it is. But it is a significant point, because if — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : What is the point? What is the point of trying to respond to a serious question? It is an important question. It is an important question about the number of boards and committees in government. I take it as a serious question. I am trying to provide a serious response. I think that is a reasonable definition. In other words, if a committee or a review board is set up — Mrs M.H. Roberts : How many are there under that definition? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If a committee is set up — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Members, this will be the last question in question time today. Member for Midland, I formally call you for the first time. The Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It seems reasonable that if a body has external members, in particular external paid members, it should constitute a board or committee. The reason I make that distinction is that it means that it would have been set up by government—by cabinet, or by a minister—and there will be, no doubt, additional funding attached to it. If, however, for example, a chief executive officer or a group of agencies sets up some sort of working party internally within government, that is not a board or committee. That is not a review. That is those people doing their job. So, we need to make that distinction to answer the question and to get a proper handle on the number of boards and committees. Since we have come to government, a large number of committees have been abolished. Over 200 have been abolished. There is a significantly further number that will cease to operate, as their time runs out, for various reasons. There is another large number that we would like to abolish, but that will require legislative change. To that effect, we will be bringing in an omnibus bill. I would hope that members would look at that bill and tell us which committees they accept can be abolished and which ones they want to debate. Now, to get to the actual first point of the member’s question, according to that definition, which I believe is the appropriate definition, this government has created 52 new boards since it was elected. We have abolished over five times that number. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite may laugh. We have created 52. I will, when I produce this full report, list every committee that has been created, every one that has been abolished, every one that will cease, and every one that we intend to abolish. Members will find that that will basically halve the number of committees in Western Australia. Mr M. McGowan : What is the cost? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will provide full details at the next sitting of Parliament of the cost of each of the new bodies set up, on which, according to that criterion, there is an external member, in particular an external paid member. I will provide all of that. The number is 52, and members will get that full information.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Mindarie for the second time and the member for Armadale for the first time. If members want question time to finish at this moment, that can happen. I am sure that there are members on both sides of the house who would like to ask questions. I would like to give them that opportunity. Some members in this place see things in a different light. Mr C.J. BARNETT : So, as I said, there was no record. No-one knew how many committees there were. We found 1 276 committees, review boards, or whatever else. Mr E.S. Ripper : How many are there now? Mr C.J. BARNETT : They are just immature! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : They are! Okay. I will keep going. Is the member for Rockingham interested in the answer? I take this as a serious question, to which the member for Rockingham would like a serious answer. So I will address my remarks to the member for Rockingham. Mr M. McGowan : Yes. You are easily distracted. Do not get distracted. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will not get distracted. We discovered 1 276 committees and boards. There was no overall register. There was no consistency. So, one of the tasks, apart from identifying the number of committees and boards, was then to define what is a committee or board. The member may or may not agree with that. Mr R.H. Cook : You are getting distracted again! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am getting easily distracted today. It is beyond the member for Cannington’s intellect, but it would seem to me that we need to make some sort of definition of what constitutes a government board or committee. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I think the member for Rockingham would agree that a reasonable definition of a board or committee — Mr B.S. Wyatt : You should publish a dictionary! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I know. I might. The SPEAKER : Order! Take a seat, Premier. Member for Victoria Park, I call you for the first time today. The Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I think a reasonable definition, and one that this government has adopted, is that in any total listing of government boards and committees, the definition that will be used is a committee that has at least — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Member for Armadale, I call you formally for the second time today, and I call the member for Victoria Park for the second time today . Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the third time, a reasonable definition of a board or committee is one that has an external member, and in particular an external member who receives payment. Mr E.S. Ripper : That is one way to reduce the numbers! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, it is. But it is a significant point, because if — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : What is the point? What is the point of trying to respond to a serious question? It is an important question. It is an important question about the number of boards and committees in government. I take it as a serious question. I am trying to provide a serious response. I think that is a reasonable definition. In other words, if a committee or a review board is set up — Mrs M.H. Roberts : How many are there under that definition? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If a committee is set up — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Members, this will be the last question in question time today. Member for Midland, I formally call you for the first time. The Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It seems reasonable that if a body has external members, in particular external paid members, it should constitute a board or committee. The reason I make that distinction is that it means that it would have been set up by government—by cabinet, or by a minister—and there will be, no doubt, additional funding attached to it. If, however, for example, a chief executive officer or a group of agencies sets up some sort of working party internally within government, that is not a board or committee. That is not a review. That is those people doing their job. So, we need to make that distinction to answer the question and to get a proper handle on the number of boards and committees. Since we have come to government, a large number of committees have been abolished. Over 200 have been abolished. There is a significantly further number that will cease to operate, as their time runs out, for various reasons. There is another large number that we would like to abolish, but that will require legislative change. To that effect, we will be bringing in an omnibus bill. I would hope that members would look at that bill and tell us which committees they accept can be abolished and which ones they want to debate. Now, to get to the actual first point of the member’s question, according to that definition, which I believe is the appropriate definition, this government has created 52 new boards since it was elected. We have abolished over five times that number. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite may laugh. We have created 52. I will, when I produce this full report, list every committee that has been created, every one that has been abolished, every one that will cease, and every one that we intend to abolish. Members will find that that will basically halve the number of committees in Western Australia. Mr M. McGowan : What is the cost? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will provide full details at the next sitting of Parliament of the cost of each of the new bodies set up, on which, according to that criterion, there is an external member, in particular an external paid member. I will provide all of that. The number is 52, and members will get that full information.
The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Mindarie for the second time and the member for Armadale for the first time. If members want question time to finish at this moment, that can happen. I am sure that there are members on both sides of the house who would like to ask questions. I would like to give them that opportunity. Some members in this place see things in a different light. Mr C.J. BARNETT : So, as I said, there was no record. No-one knew how many committees there were. We found 1 276 committees, review boards, or whatever else. Mr E.S. Ripper : How many are there now? Mr C.J. BARNETT : They are just immature! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : They are! Okay. I will keep going. Is the member for Rockingham interested in the answer? I take this as a serious question, to which the member for Rockingham would like a serious answer. So I will address my remarks to the member for Rockingham. Mr M. McGowan : Yes. You are easily distracted. Do not get distracted. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will not get distracted. We discovered 1 276 committees and boards. There was no overall register. There was no consistency. So, one of the tasks, apart from identifying the number of committees and boards, was then to define what is a committee or board. The member may or may not agree with that. Mr R.H. Cook : You are getting distracted again! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am getting easily distracted today. It is beyond the member for Cannington’s intellect, but it would seem to me that we need to make some sort of definition of what constitutes a government board or committee. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I think the member for Rockingham would agree that a reasonable definition of a board or committee — Mr B.S. Wyatt : You should publish a dictionary! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I know. I might. The SPEAKER : Order! Take a seat, Premier. Member for Victoria Park, I call you for the first time today. The Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I think a reasonable definition, and one that this government has adopted, is that in any total listing of government boards and committees, the definition that will be used is a committee that has at least — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Member for Armadale, I call you formally for the second time today, and I call the member for Victoria Park for the second time today . Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the third time, a reasonable definition of a board or committee is one that has an external member, and in particular an external member who receives payment. Mr E.S. Ripper : That is one way to reduce the numbers! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, it is. But it is a significant point, because if — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : What is the point? What is the point of trying to respond to a serious question? It is an important question. It is an important question about the number of boards and committees in government. I take it as a serious question. I am trying to provide a serious response. I think that is a reasonable definition. In other words, if a committee or a review board is set up — Mrs M.H. Roberts : How many are there under that definition? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If a committee is set up — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Members, this will be the last question in question time today. Member for Midland, I formally call you for the first time. The Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It seems reasonable that if a body has external members, in particular external paid members, it should constitute a board or committee. The reason I make that distinction is that it means that it would have been set up by government—by cabinet, or by a minister—and there will be, no doubt, additional funding attached to it. If, however, for example, a chief executive officer or a group of agencies sets up some sort of working party internally within government, that is not a board or committee. That is not a review. That is those people doing their job. So, we need to make that distinction to answer the question and to get a proper handle on the number of boards and committees. Since we have come to government, a large number of committees have been abolished. Over 200 have been abolished. There is a significantly further number that will cease to operate, as their time runs out, for various reasons. There is another large number that we would like to abolish, but that will require legislative change. To that effect, we will be bringing in an omnibus bill. I would hope that members would look at that bill and tell us which committees they accept can be abolished and which ones they want to debate. Now, to get to the actual first point of the member’s question, according to that definition, which I believe is the appropriate definition, this government has created 52 new boards since it was elected. We have abolished over five times that number. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite may laugh. We have created 52. I will, when I produce this full report, list every committee that has been created, every one that has been abolished, every one that will cease, and every one that we intend to abolish. Members will find that that will basically halve the number of committees in Western Australia. Mr M. McGowan : What is the cost? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will provide full details at the next sitting of Parliament of the cost of each of the new bodies set up, on which, according to that criterion, there is an external member, in particular an external paid member. I will provide all of that. The number is 52, and members will get that full information.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : So, as I said, there was no record. No-one knew how many committees there were. We found 1 276 committees, review boards, or whatever else. Mr E.S. Ripper : How many are there now? Mr C.J. BARNETT : They are just immature! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : They are! Okay. I will keep going. Is the member for Rockingham interested in the answer? I take this as a serious question, to which the member for Rockingham would like a serious answer. So I will address my remarks to the member for Rockingham. Mr M. McGowan : Yes. You are easily distracted. Do not get distracted. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will not get distracted. We discovered 1 276 committees and boards. There was no overall register. There was no consistency. So, one of the tasks, apart from identifying the number of committees and boards, was then to define what is a committee or board. The member may or may not agree with that. Mr R.H. Cook : You are getting distracted again! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am getting easily distracted today. It is beyond the member for Cannington’s intellect, but it would seem to me that we need to make some sort of definition of what constitutes a government board or committee. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I think the member for Rockingham would agree that a reasonable definition of a board or committee — Mr B.S. Wyatt : You should publish a dictionary! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I know. I might. The SPEAKER : Order! Take a seat, Premier. Member for Victoria Park, I call you for the first time today. The Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I think a reasonable definition, and one that this government has adopted, is that in any total listing of government boards and committees, the definition that will be used is a committee that has at least — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Member for Armadale, I call you formally for the second time today, and I call the member for Victoria Park for the second time today . Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the third time, a reasonable definition of a board or committee is one that has an external member, and in particular an external member who receives payment. Mr E.S. Ripper : That is one way to reduce the numbers! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, it is. But it is a significant point, because if — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : What is the point? What is the point of trying to respond to a serious question? It is an important question. It is an important question about the number of boards and committees in government. I take it as a serious question. I am trying to provide a serious response. I think that is a reasonable definition. In other words, if a committee or a review board is set up — Mrs M.H. Roberts : How many are there under that definition? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If a committee is set up — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Members, this will be the last question in question time today. Member for Midland, I formally call you for the first time. The Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It seems reasonable that if a body has external members, in particular external paid members, it should constitute a board or committee. The reason I make that distinction is that it means that it would have been set up by government—by cabinet, or by a minister—and there will be, no doubt, additional funding attached to it. If, however, for example, a chief executive officer or a group of agencies sets up some sort of working party internally within government, that is not a board or committee. That is not a review. That is those people doing their job. So, we need to make that distinction to answer the question and to get a proper handle on the number of boards and committees. Since we have come to government, a large number of committees have been abolished. Over 200 have been abolished. There is a significantly further number that will cease to operate, as their time runs out, for various reasons. There is another large number that we would like to abolish, but that will require legislative change. To that effect, we will be bringing in an omnibus bill. I would hope that members would look at that bill and tell us which committees they accept can be abolished and which ones they want to debate. Now, to get to the actual first point of the member’s question, according to that definition, which I believe is the appropriate definition, this government has created 52 new boards since it was elected. We have abolished over five times that number. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite may laugh. We have created 52. I will, when I produce this full report, list every committee that has been created, every one that has been abolished, every one that will cease, and every one that we intend to abolish. Members will find that that will basically halve the number of committees in Western Australia. Mr M. McGowan : What is the cost? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will provide full details at the next sitting of Parliament of the cost of each of the new bodies set up, on which, according to that criterion, there is an external member, in particular an external paid member. I will provide all of that. The number is 52, and members will get that full information.
Mr E.S. Ripper : How many are there now? Mr C.J. BARNETT : They are just immature! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : They are! Okay. I will keep going. Is the member for Rockingham interested in the answer? I take this as a serious question, to which the member for Rockingham would like a serious answer. So I will address my remarks to the member for Rockingham. Mr M. McGowan : Yes. You are easily distracted. Do not get distracted. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will not get distracted. We discovered 1 276 committees and boards. There was no overall register. There was no consistency. So, one of the tasks, apart from identifying the number of committees and boards, was then to define what is a committee or board. The member may or may not agree with that. Mr R.H. Cook : You are getting distracted again! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am getting easily distracted today. It is beyond the member for Cannington’s intellect, but it would seem to me that we need to make some sort of definition of what constitutes a government board or committee. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I think the member for Rockingham would agree that a reasonable definition of a board or committee — Mr B.S. Wyatt : You should publish a dictionary! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I know. I might. The SPEAKER : Order! Take a seat, Premier. Member for Victoria Park, I call you for the first time today. The Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I think a reasonable definition, and one that this government has adopted, is that in any total listing of government boards and committees, the definition that will be used is a committee that has at least — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Member for Armadale, I call you formally for the second time today, and I call the member for Victoria Park for the second time today . Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the third time, a reasonable definition of a board or committee is one that has an external member, and in particular an external member who receives payment. Mr E.S. Ripper : That is one way to reduce the numbers! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, it is. But it is a significant point, because if — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : What is the point? What is the point of trying to respond to a serious question? It is an important question. It is an important question about the number of boards and committees in government. I take it as a serious question. I am trying to provide a serious response. I think that is a reasonable definition. In other words, if a committee or a review board is set up — Mrs M.H. Roberts : How many are there under that definition? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If a committee is set up — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Members, this will be the last question in question time today. Member for Midland, I formally call you for the first time. The Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It seems reasonable that if a body has external members, in particular external paid members, it should constitute a board or committee. The reason I make that distinction is that it means that it would have been set up by government—by cabinet, or by a minister—and there will be, no doubt, additional funding attached to it. If, however, for example, a chief executive officer or a group of agencies sets up some sort of working party internally within government, that is not a board or committee. That is not a review. That is those people doing their job. So, we need to make that distinction to answer the question and to get a proper handle on the number of boards and committees. Since we have come to government, a large number of committees have been abolished. Over 200 have been abolished. There is a significantly further number that will cease to operate, as their time runs out, for various reasons. There is another large number that we would like to abolish, but that will require legislative change. To that effect, we will be bringing in an omnibus bill. I would hope that members would look at that bill and tell us which committees they accept can be abolished and which ones they want to debate. Now, to get to the actual first point of the member’s question, according to that definition, which I believe is the appropriate definition, this government has created 52 new boards since it was elected. We have abolished over five times that number. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite may laugh. We have created 52. I will, when I produce this full report, list every committee that has been created, every one that has been abolished, every one that will cease, and every one that we intend to abolish. Members will find that that will basically halve the number of committees in Western Australia. Mr M. McGowan : What is the cost? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will provide full details at the next sitting of Parliament of the cost of each of the new bodies set up, on which, according to that criterion, there is an external member, in particular an external paid member. I will provide all of that. The number is 52, and members will get that full information.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : They are just immature! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : They are! Okay. I will keep going. Is the member for Rockingham interested in the answer? I take this as a serious question, to which the member for Rockingham would like a serious answer. So I will address my remarks to the member for Rockingham. Mr M. McGowan : Yes. You are easily distracted. Do not get distracted. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will not get distracted. We discovered 1 276 committees and boards. There was no overall register. There was no consistency. So, one of the tasks, apart from identifying the number of committees and boards, was then to define what is a committee or board. The member may or may not agree with that. Mr R.H. Cook : You are getting distracted again! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am getting easily distracted today. It is beyond the member for Cannington’s intellect, but it would seem to me that we need to make some sort of definition of what constitutes a government board or committee. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I think the member for Rockingham would agree that a reasonable definition of a board or committee — Mr B.S. Wyatt : You should publish a dictionary! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I know. I might. The SPEAKER : Order! Take a seat, Premier. Member for Victoria Park, I call you for the first time today. The Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I think a reasonable definition, and one that this government has adopted, is that in any total listing of government boards and committees, the definition that will be used is a committee that has at least — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Member for Armadale, I call you formally for the second time today, and I call the member for Victoria Park for the second time today . Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the third time, a reasonable definition of a board or committee is one that has an external member, and in particular an external member who receives payment. Mr E.S. Ripper : That is one way to reduce the numbers! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, it is. But it is a significant point, because if — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : What is the point? What is the point of trying to respond to a serious question? It is an important question. It is an important question about the number of boards and committees in government. I take it as a serious question. I am trying to provide a serious response. I think that is a reasonable definition. In other words, if a committee or a review board is set up — Mrs M.H. Roberts : How many are there under that definition? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If a committee is set up — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Members, this will be the last question in question time today. Member for Midland, I formally call you for the first time. The Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It seems reasonable that if a body has external members, in particular external paid members, it should constitute a board or committee. The reason I make that distinction is that it means that it would have been set up by government—by cabinet, or by a minister—and there will be, no doubt, additional funding attached to it. If, however, for example, a chief executive officer or a group of agencies sets up some sort of working party internally within government, that is not a board or committee. That is not a review. That is those people doing their job. So, we need to make that distinction to answer the question and to get a proper handle on the number of boards and committees. Since we have come to government, a large number of committees have been abolished. Over 200 have been abolished. There is a significantly further number that will cease to operate, as their time runs out, for various reasons. There is another large number that we would like to abolish, but that will require legislative change. To that effect, we will be bringing in an omnibus bill. I would hope that members would look at that bill and tell us which committees they accept can be abolished and which ones they want to debate. Now, to get to the actual first point of the member’s question, according to that definition, which I believe is the appropriate definition, this government has created 52 new boards since it was elected. We have abolished over five times that number. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite may laugh. We have created 52. I will, when I produce this full report, list every committee that has been created, every one that has been abolished, every one that will cease, and every one that we intend to abolish. Members will find that that will basically halve the number of committees in Western Australia. Mr M. McGowan : What is the cost? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will provide full details at the next sitting of Parliament of the cost of each of the new bodies set up, on which, according to that criterion, there is an external member, in particular an external paid member. I will provide all of that. The number is 52, and members will get that full information.
Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : They are! Okay. I will keep going. Is the member for Rockingham interested in the answer? I take this as a serious question, to which the member for Rockingham would like a serious answer. So I will address my remarks to the member for Rockingham. Mr M. McGowan : Yes. You are easily distracted. Do not get distracted. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will not get distracted. We discovered 1 276 committees and boards. There was no overall register. There was no consistency. So, one of the tasks, apart from identifying the number of committees and boards, was then to define what is a committee or board. The member may or may not agree with that. Mr R.H. Cook : You are getting distracted again! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am getting easily distracted today. It is beyond the member for Cannington’s intellect, but it would seem to me that we need to make some sort of definition of what constitutes a government board or committee. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I think the member for Rockingham would agree that a reasonable definition of a board or committee — Mr B.S. Wyatt : You should publish a dictionary! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I know. I might. The SPEAKER : Order! Take a seat, Premier. Member for Victoria Park, I call you for the first time today. The Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I think a reasonable definition, and one that this government has adopted, is that in any total listing of government boards and committees, the definition that will be used is a committee that has at least — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Member for Armadale, I call you formally for the second time today, and I call the member for Victoria Park for the second time today . Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the third time, a reasonable definition of a board or committee is one that has an external member, and in particular an external member who receives payment. Mr E.S. Ripper : That is one way to reduce the numbers! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, it is. But it is a significant point, because if — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : What is the point? What is the point of trying to respond to a serious question? It is an important question. It is an important question about the number of boards and committees in government. I take it as a serious question. I am trying to provide a serious response. I think that is a reasonable definition. In other words, if a committee or a review board is set up — Mrs M.H. Roberts : How many are there under that definition? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If a committee is set up — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Members, this will be the last question in question time today. Member for Midland, I formally call you for the first time. The Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It seems reasonable that if a body has external members, in particular external paid members, it should constitute a board or committee. The reason I make that distinction is that it means that it would have been set up by government—by cabinet, or by a minister—and there will be, no doubt, additional funding attached to it. If, however, for example, a chief executive officer or a group of agencies sets up some sort of working party internally within government, that is not a board or committee. That is not a review. That is those people doing their job. So, we need to make that distinction to answer the question and to get a proper handle on the number of boards and committees. Since we have come to government, a large number of committees have been abolished. Over 200 have been abolished. There is a significantly further number that will cease to operate, as their time runs out, for various reasons. There is another large number that we would like to abolish, but that will require legislative change. To that effect, we will be bringing in an omnibus bill. I would hope that members would look at that bill and tell us which committees they accept can be abolished and which ones they want to debate. Now, to get to the actual first point of the member’s question, according to that definition, which I believe is the appropriate definition, this government has created 52 new boards since it was elected. We have abolished over five times that number. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite may laugh. We have created 52. I will, when I produce this full report, list every committee that has been created, every one that has been abolished, every one that will cease, and every one that we intend to abolish. Members will find that that will basically halve the number of committees in Western Australia. Mr M. McGowan : What is the cost? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will provide full details at the next sitting of Parliament of the cost of each of the new bodies set up, on which, according to that criterion, there is an external member, in particular an external paid member. I will provide all of that. The number is 52, and members will get that full information.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : They are! Okay. I will keep going. Is the member for Rockingham interested in the answer? I take this as a serious question, to which the member for Rockingham would like a serious answer. So I will address my remarks to the member for Rockingham. Mr M. McGowan : Yes. You are easily distracted. Do not get distracted. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will not get distracted. We discovered 1 276 committees and boards. There was no overall register. There was no consistency. So, one of the tasks, apart from identifying the number of committees and boards, was then to define what is a committee or board. The member may or may not agree with that. Mr R.H. Cook : You are getting distracted again! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am getting easily distracted today. It is beyond the member for Cannington’s intellect, but it would seem to me that we need to make some sort of definition of what constitutes a government board or committee. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I think the member for Rockingham would agree that a reasonable definition of a board or committee — Mr B.S. Wyatt : You should publish a dictionary! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I know. I might. The SPEAKER : Order! Take a seat, Premier. Member for Victoria Park, I call you for the first time today. The Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I think a reasonable definition, and one that this government has adopted, is that in any total listing of government boards and committees, the definition that will be used is a committee that has at least — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Member for Armadale, I call you formally for the second time today, and I call the member for Victoria Park for the second time today . Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the third time, a reasonable definition of a board or committee is one that has an external member, and in particular an external member who receives payment. Mr E.S. Ripper : That is one way to reduce the numbers! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, it is. But it is a significant point, because if — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : What is the point? What is the point of trying to respond to a serious question? It is an important question. It is an important question about the number of boards and committees in government. I take it as a serious question. I am trying to provide a serious response. I think that is a reasonable definition. In other words, if a committee or a review board is set up — Mrs M.H. Roberts : How many are there under that definition? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If a committee is set up — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Members, this will be the last question in question time today. Member for Midland, I formally call you for the first time. The Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It seems reasonable that if a body has external members, in particular external paid members, it should constitute a board or committee. The reason I make that distinction is that it means that it would have been set up by government—by cabinet, or by a minister—and there will be, no doubt, additional funding attached to it. If, however, for example, a chief executive officer or a group of agencies sets up some sort of working party internally within government, that is not a board or committee. That is not a review. That is those people doing their job. So, we need to make that distinction to answer the question and to get a proper handle on the number of boards and committees. Since we have come to government, a large number of committees have been abolished. Over 200 have been abolished. There is a significantly further number that will cease to operate, as their time runs out, for various reasons. There is another large number that we would like to abolish, but that will require legislative change. To that effect, we will be bringing in an omnibus bill. I would hope that members would look at that bill and tell us which committees they accept can be abolished and which ones they want to debate. Now, to get to the actual first point of the member’s question, according to that definition, which I believe is the appropriate definition, this government has created 52 new boards since it was elected. We have abolished over five times that number. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite may laugh. We have created 52. I will, when I produce this full report, list every committee that has been created, every one that has been abolished, every one that will cease, and every one that we intend to abolish. Members will find that that will basically halve the number of committees in Western Australia. Mr M. McGowan : What is the cost? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will provide full details at the next sitting of Parliament of the cost of each of the new bodies set up, on which, according to that criterion, there is an external member, in particular an external paid member. I will provide all of that. The number is 52, and members will get that full information.
Mr M. McGowan : Yes. You are easily distracted. Do not get distracted. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will not get distracted. We discovered 1 276 committees and boards. There was no overall register. There was no consistency. So, one of the tasks, apart from identifying the number of committees and boards, was then to define what is a committee or board. The member may or may not agree with that. Mr R.H. Cook : You are getting distracted again! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am getting easily distracted today. It is beyond the member for Cannington’s intellect, but it would seem to me that we need to make some sort of definition of what constitutes a government board or committee. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I think the member for Rockingham would agree that a reasonable definition of a board or committee — Mr B.S. Wyatt : You should publish a dictionary! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I know. I might. The SPEAKER : Order! Take a seat, Premier. Member for Victoria Park, I call you for the first time today. The Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I think a reasonable definition, and one that this government has adopted, is that in any total listing of government boards and committees, the definition that will be used is a committee that has at least — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Member for Armadale, I call you formally for the second time today, and I call the member for Victoria Park for the second time today . Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the third time, a reasonable definition of a board or committee is one that has an external member, and in particular an external member who receives payment. Mr E.S. Ripper : That is one way to reduce the numbers! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, it is. But it is a significant point, because if — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : What is the point? What is the point of trying to respond to a serious question? It is an important question. It is an important question about the number of boards and committees in government. I take it as a serious question. I am trying to provide a serious response. I think that is a reasonable definition. In other words, if a committee or a review board is set up — Mrs M.H. Roberts : How many are there under that definition? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If a committee is set up — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Members, this will be the last question in question time today. Member for Midland, I formally call you for the first time. The Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It seems reasonable that if a body has external members, in particular external paid members, it should constitute a board or committee. The reason I make that distinction is that it means that it would have been set up by government—by cabinet, or by a minister—and there will be, no doubt, additional funding attached to it. If, however, for example, a chief executive officer or a group of agencies sets up some sort of working party internally within government, that is not a board or committee. That is not a review. That is those people doing their job. So, we need to make that distinction to answer the question and to get a proper handle on the number of boards and committees. Since we have come to government, a large number of committees have been abolished. Over 200 have been abolished. There is a significantly further number that will cease to operate, as their time runs out, for various reasons. There is another large number that we would like to abolish, but that will require legislative change. To that effect, we will be bringing in an omnibus bill. I would hope that members would look at that bill and tell us which committees they accept can be abolished and which ones they want to debate. Now, to get to the actual first point of the member’s question, according to that definition, which I believe is the appropriate definition, this government has created 52 new boards since it was elected. We have abolished over five times that number. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite may laugh. We have created 52. I will, when I produce this full report, list every committee that has been created, every one that has been abolished, every one that will cease, and every one that we intend to abolish. Members will find that that will basically halve the number of committees in Western Australia. Mr M. McGowan : What is the cost? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will provide full details at the next sitting of Parliament of the cost of each of the new bodies set up, on which, according to that criterion, there is an external member, in particular an external paid member. I will provide all of that. The number is 52, and members will get that full information.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will not get distracted. We discovered 1 276 committees and boards. There was no overall register. There was no consistency. So, one of the tasks, apart from identifying the number of committees and boards, was then to define what is a committee or board. The member may or may not agree with that. Mr R.H. Cook : You are getting distracted again! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am getting easily distracted today. It is beyond the member for Cannington’s intellect, but it would seem to me that we need to make some sort of definition of what constitutes a government board or committee. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I think the member for Rockingham would agree that a reasonable definition of a board or committee — Mr B.S. Wyatt : You should publish a dictionary! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I know. I might. The SPEAKER : Order! Take a seat, Premier. Member for Victoria Park, I call you for the first time today. The Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I think a reasonable definition, and one that this government has adopted, is that in any total listing of government boards and committees, the definition that will be used is a committee that has at least — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Member for Armadale, I call you formally for the second time today, and I call the member for Victoria Park for the second time today . Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the third time, a reasonable definition of a board or committee is one that has an external member, and in particular an external member who receives payment. Mr E.S. Ripper : That is one way to reduce the numbers! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, it is. But it is a significant point, because if — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : What is the point? What is the point of trying to respond to a serious question? It is an important question. It is an important question about the number of boards and committees in government. I take it as a serious question. I am trying to provide a serious response. I think that is a reasonable definition. In other words, if a committee or a review board is set up — Mrs M.H. Roberts : How many are there under that definition? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If a committee is set up — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Members, this will be the last question in question time today. Member for Midland, I formally call you for the first time. The Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It seems reasonable that if a body has external members, in particular external paid members, it should constitute a board or committee. The reason I make that distinction is that it means that it would have been set up by government—by cabinet, or by a minister—and there will be, no doubt, additional funding attached to it. If, however, for example, a chief executive officer or a group of agencies sets up some sort of working party internally within government, that is not a board or committee. That is not a review. That is those people doing their job. So, we need to make that distinction to answer the question and to get a proper handle on the number of boards and committees. Since we have come to government, a large number of committees have been abolished. Over 200 have been abolished. There is a significantly further number that will cease to operate, as their time runs out, for various reasons. There is another large number that we would like to abolish, but that will require legislative change. To that effect, we will be bringing in an omnibus bill. I would hope that members would look at that bill and tell us which committees they accept can be abolished and which ones they want to debate. Now, to get to the actual first point of the member’s question, according to that definition, which I believe is the appropriate definition, this government has created 52 new boards since it was elected. We have abolished over five times that number. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite may laugh. We have created 52. I will, when I produce this full report, list every committee that has been created, every one that has been abolished, every one that will cease, and every one that we intend to abolish. Members will find that that will basically halve the number of committees in Western Australia. Mr M. McGowan : What is the cost? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will provide full details at the next sitting of Parliament of the cost of each of the new bodies set up, on which, according to that criterion, there is an external member, in particular an external paid member. I will provide all of that. The number is 52, and members will get that full information.
Mr R.H. Cook : You are getting distracted again! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am getting easily distracted today. It is beyond the member for Cannington’s intellect, but it would seem to me that we need to make some sort of definition of what constitutes a government board or committee. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I think the member for Rockingham would agree that a reasonable definition of a board or committee — Mr B.S. Wyatt : You should publish a dictionary! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I know. I might. The SPEAKER : Order! Take a seat, Premier. Member for Victoria Park, I call you for the first time today. The Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I think a reasonable definition, and one that this government has adopted, is that in any total listing of government boards and committees, the definition that will be used is a committee that has at least — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Member for Armadale, I call you formally for the second time today, and I call the member for Victoria Park for the second time today . Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the third time, a reasonable definition of a board or committee is one that has an external member, and in particular an external member who receives payment. Mr E.S. Ripper : That is one way to reduce the numbers! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, it is. But it is a significant point, because if — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : What is the point? What is the point of trying to respond to a serious question? It is an important question. It is an important question about the number of boards and committees in government. I take it as a serious question. I am trying to provide a serious response. I think that is a reasonable definition. In other words, if a committee or a review board is set up — Mrs M.H. Roberts : How many are there under that definition? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If a committee is set up — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Members, this will be the last question in question time today. Member for Midland, I formally call you for the first time. The Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It seems reasonable that if a body has external members, in particular external paid members, it should constitute a board or committee. The reason I make that distinction is that it means that it would have been set up by government—by cabinet, or by a minister—and there will be, no doubt, additional funding attached to it. If, however, for example, a chief executive officer or a group of agencies sets up some sort of working party internally within government, that is not a board or committee. That is not a review. That is those people doing their job. So, we need to make that distinction to answer the question and to get a proper handle on the number of boards and committees. Since we have come to government, a large number of committees have been abolished. Over 200 have been abolished. There is a significantly further number that will cease to operate, as their time runs out, for various reasons. There is another large number that we would like to abolish, but that will require legislative change. To that effect, we will be bringing in an omnibus bill. I would hope that members would look at that bill and tell us which committees they accept can be abolished and which ones they want to debate. Now, to get to the actual first point of the member’s question, according to that definition, which I believe is the appropriate definition, this government has created 52 new boards since it was elected. We have abolished over five times that number. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite may laugh. We have created 52. I will, when I produce this full report, list every committee that has been created, every one that has been abolished, every one that will cease, and every one that we intend to abolish. Members will find that that will basically halve the number of committees in Western Australia. Mr M. McGowan : What is the cost? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will provide full details at the next sitting of Parliament of the cost of each of the new bodies set up, on which, according to that criterion, there is an external member, in particular an external paid member. I will provide all of that. The number is 52, and members will get that full information.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am getting easily distracted today. It is beyond the member for Cannington’s intellect, but it would seem to me that we need to make some sort of definition of what constitutes a government board or committee. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I think the member for Rockingham would agree that a reasonable definition of a board or committee — Mr B.S. Wyatt : You should publish a dictionary! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I know. I might. The SPEAKER : Order! Take a seat, Premier. Member for Victoria Park, I call you for the first time today. The Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I think a reasonable definition, and one that this government has adopted, is that in any total listing of government boards and committees, the definition that will be used is a committee that has at least — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Member for Armadale, I call you formally for the second time today, and I call the member for Victoria Park for the second time today . Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the third time, a reasonable definition of a board or committee is one that has an external member, and in particular an external member who receives payment. Mr E.S. Ripper : That is one way to reduce the numbers! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, it is. But it is a significant point, because if — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : What is the point? What is the point of trying to respond to a serious question? It is an important question. It is an important question about the number of boards and committees in government. I take it as a serious question. I am trying to provide a serious response. I think that is a reasonable definition. In other words, if a committee or a review board is set up — Mrs M.H. Roberts : How many are there under that definition? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If a committee is set up — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Members, this will be the last question in question time today. Member for Midland, I formally call you for the first time. The Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It seems reasonable that if a body has external members, in particular external paid members, it should constitute a board or committee. The reason I make that distinction is that it means that it would have been set up by government—by cabinet, or by a minister—and there will be, no doubt, additional funding attached to it. If, however, for example, a chief executive officer or a group of agencies sets up some sort of working party internally within government, that is not a board or committee. That is not a review. That is those people doing their job. So, we need to make that distinction to answer the question and to get a proper handle on the number of boards and committees. Since we have come to government, a large number of committees have been abolished. Over 200 have been abolished. There is a significantly further number that will cease to operate, as their time runs out, for various reasons. There is another large number that we would like to abolish, but that will require legislative change. To that effect, we will be bringing in an omnibus bill. I would hope that members would look at that bill and tell us which committees they accept can be abolished and which ones they want to debate. Now, to get to the actual first point of the member’s question, according to that definition, which I believe is the appropriate definition, this government has created 52 new boards since it was elected. We have abolished over five times that number. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite may laugh. We have created 52. I will, when I produce this full report, list every committee that has been created, every one that has been abolished, every one that will cease, and every one that we intend to abolish. Members will find that that will basically halve the number of committees in Western Australia. Mr M. McGowan : What is the cost? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will provide full details at the next sitting of Parliament of the cost of each of the new bodies set up, on which, according to that criterion, there is an external member, in particular an external paid member. I will provide all of that. The number is 52, and members will get that full information.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I think the member for Rockingham would agree that a reasonable definition of a board or committee — Mr B.S. Wyatt : You should publish a dictionary! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I know. I might. The SPEAKER : Order! Take a seat, Premier. Member for Victoria Park, I call you for the first time today. The Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I think a reasonable definition, and one that this government has adopted, is that in any total listing of government boards and committees, the definition that will be used is a committee that has at least — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Member for Armadale, I call you formally for the second time today, and I call the member for Victoria Park for the second time today . Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the third time, a reasonable definition of a board or committee is one that has an external member, and in particular an external member who receives payment. Mr E.S. Ripper : That is one way to reduce the numbers! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, it is. But it is a significant point, because if — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : What is the point? What is the point of trying to respond to a serious question? It is an important question. It is an important question about the number of boards and committees in government. I take it as a serious question. I am trying to provide a serious response. I think that is a reasonable definition. In other words, if a committee or a review board is set up — Mrs M.H. Roberts : How many are there under that definition? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If a committee is set up — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Members, this will be the last question in question time today. Member for Midland, I formally call you for the first time. The Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It seems reasonable that if a body has external members, in particular external paid members, it should constitute a board or committee. The reason I make that distinction is that it means that it would have been set up by government—by cabinet, or by a minister—and there will be, no doubt, additional funding attached to it. If, however, for example, a chief executive officer or a group of agencies sets up some sort of working party internally within government, that is not a board or committee. That is not a review. That is those people doing their job. So, we need to make that distinction to answer the question and to get a proper handle on the number of boards and committees. Since we have come to government, a large number of committees have been abolished. Over 200 have been abolished. There is a significantly further number that will cease to operate, as their time runs out, for various reasons. There is another large number that we would like to abolish, but that will require legislative change. To that effect, we will be bringing in an omnibus bill. I would hope that members would look at that bill and tell us which committees they accept can be abolished and which ones they want to debate. Now, to get to the actual first point of the member’s question, according to that definition, which I believe is the appropriate definition, this government has created 52 new boards since it was elected. We have abolished over five times that number. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite may laugh. We have created 52. I will, when I produce this full report, list every committee that has been created, every one that has been abolished, every one that will cease, and every one that we intend to abolish. Members will find that that will basically halve the number of committees in Western Australia. Mr M. McGowan : What is the cost? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will provide full details at the next sitting of Parliament of the cost of each of the new bodies set up, on which, according to that criterion, there is an external member, in particular an external paid member. I will provide all of that. The number is 52, and members will get that full information.
The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I think the member for Rockingham would agree that a reasonable definition of a board or committee — Mr B.S. Wyatt : You should publish a dictionary! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I know. I might. The SPEAKER : Order! Take a seat, Premier. Member for Victoria Park, I call you for the first time today. The Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I think a reasonable definition, and one that this government has adopted, is that in any total listing of government boards and committees, the definition that will be used is a committee that has at least — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Member for Armadale, I call you formally for the second time today, and I call the member for Victoria Park for the second time today . Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the third time, a reasonable definition of a board or committee is one that has an external member, and in particular an external member who receives payment. Mr E.S. Ripper : That is one way to reduce the numbers! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, it is. But it is a significant point, because if — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : What is the point? What is the point of trying to respond to a serious question? It is an important question. It is an important question about the number of boards and committees in government. I take it as a serious question. I am trying to provide a serious response. I think that is a reasonable definition. In other words, if a committee or a review board is set up — Mrs M.H. Roberts : How many are there under that definition? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If a committee is set up — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Members, this will be the last question in question time today. Member for Midland, I formally call you for the first time. The Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It seems reasonable that if a body has external members, in particular external paid members, it should constitute a board or committee. The reason I make that distinction is that it means that it would have been set up by government—by cabinet, or by a minister—and there will be, no doubt, additional funding attached to it. If, however, for example, a chief executive officer or a group of agencies sets up some sort of working party internally within government, that is not a board or committee. That is not a review. That is those people doing their job. So, we need to make that distinction to answer the question and to get a proper handle on the number of boards and committees. Since we have come to government, a large number of committees have been abolished. Over 200 have been abolished. There is a significantly further number that will cease to operate, as their time runs out, for various reasons. There is another large number that we would like to abolish, but that will require legislative change. To that effect, we will be bringing in an omnibus bill. I would hope that members would look at that bill and tell us which committees they accept can be abolished and which ones they want to debate. Now, to get to the actual first point of the member’s question, according to that definition, which I believe is the appropriate definition, this government has created 52 new boards since it was elected. We have abolished over five times that number. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite may laugh. We have created 52. I will, when I produce this full report, list every committee that has been created, every one that has been abolished, every one that will cease, and every one that we intend to abolish. Members will find that that will basically halve the number of committees in Western Australia. Mr M. McGowan : What is the cost? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will provide full details at the next sitting of Parliament of the cost of each of the new bodies set up, on which, according to that criterion, there is an external member, in particular an external paid member. I will provide all of that. The number is 52, and members will get that full information.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I think the member for Rockingham would agree that a reasonable definition of a board or committee — Mr B.S. Wyatt : You should publish a dictionary! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I know. I might. The SPEAKER : Order! Take a seat, Premier. Member for Victoria Park, I call you for the first time today. The Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I think a reasonable definition, and one that this government has adopted, is that in any total listing of government boards and committees, the definition that will be used is a committee that has at least — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Member for Armadale, I call you formally for the second time today, and I call the member for Victoria Park for the second time today . Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the third time, a reasonable definition of a board or committee is one that has an external member, and in particular an external member who receives payment. Mr E.S. Ripper : That is one way to reduce the numbers! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, it is. But it is a significant point, because if — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : What is the point? What is the point of trying to respond to a serious question? It is an important question. It is an important question about the number of boards and committees in government. I take it as a serious question. I am trying to provide a serious response. I think that is a reasonable definition. In other words, if a committee or a review board is set up — Mrs M.H. Roberts : How many are there under that definition? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If a committee is set up — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Members, this will be the last question in question time today. Member for Midland, I formally call you for the first time. The Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It seems reasonable that if a body has external members, in particular external paid members, it should constitute a board or committee. The reason I make that distinction is that it means that it would have been set up by government—by cabinet, or by a minister—and there will be, no doubt, additional funding attached to it. If, however, for example, a chief executive officer or a group of agencies sets up some sort of working party internally within government, that is not a board or committee. That is not a review. That is those people doing their job. So, we need to make that distinction to answer the question and to get a proper handle on the number of boards and committees. Since we have come to government, a large number of committees have been abolished. Over 200 have been abolished. There is a significantly further number that will cease to operate, as their time runs out, for various reasons. There is another large number that we would like to abolish, but that will require legislative change. To that effect, we will be bringing in an omnibus bill. I would hope that members would look at that bill and tell us which committees they accept can be abolished and which ones they want to debate. Now, to get to the actual first point of the member’s question, according to that definition, which I believe is the appropriate definition, this government has created 52 new boards since it was elected. We have abolished over five times that number. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite may laugh. We have created 52. I will, when I produce this full report, list every committee that has been created, every one that has been abolished, every one that will cease, and every one that we intend to abolish. Members will find that that will basically halve the number of committees in Western Australia. Mr M. McGowan : What is the cost? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will provide full details at the next sitting of Parliament of the cost of each of the new bodies set up, on which, according to that criterion, there is an external member, in particular an external paid member. I will provide all of that. The number is 52, and members will get that full information.
Mr B.S. Wyatt : You should publish a dictionary! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I know. I might. The SPEAKER : Order! Take a seat, Premier. Member for Victoria Park, I call you for the first time today. The Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I think a reasonable definition, and one that this government has adopted, is that in any total listing of government boards and committees, the definition that will be used is a committee that has at least — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Member for Armadale, I call you formally for the second time today, and I call the member for Victoria Park for the second time today . Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the third time, a reasonable definition of a board or committee is one that has an external member, and in particular an external member who receives payment. Mr E.S. Ripper : That is one way to reduce the numbers! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, it is. But it is a significant point, because if — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : What is the point? What is the point of trying to respond to a serious question? It is an important question. It is an important question about the number of boards and committees in government. I take it as a serious question. I am trying to provide a serious response. I think that is a reasonable definition. In other words, if a committee or a review board is set up — Mrs M.H. Roberts : How many are there under that definition? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If a committee is set up — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Members, this will be the last question in question time today. Member for Midland, I formally call you for the first time. The Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It seems reasonable that if a body has external members, in particular external paid members, it should constitute a board or committee. The reason I make that distinction is that it means that it would have been set up by government—by cabinet, or by a minister—and there will be, no doubt, additional funding attached to it. If, however, for example, a chief executive officer or a group of agencies sets up some sort of working party internally within government, that is not a board or committee. That is not a review. That is those people doing their job. So, we need to make that distinction to answer the question and to get a proper handle on the number of boards and committees. Since we have come to government, a large number of committees have been abolished. Over 200 have been abolished. There is a significantly further number that will cease to operate, as their time runs out, for various reasons. There is another large number that we would like to abolish, but that will require legislative change. To that effect, we will be bringing in an omnibus bill. I would hope that members would look at that bill and tell us which committees they accept can be abolished and which ones they want to debate. Now, to get to the actual first point of the member’s question, according to that definition, which I believe is the appropriate definition, this government has created 52 new boards since it was elected. We have abolished over five times that number. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite may laugh. We have created 52. I will, when I produce this full report, list every committee that has been created, every one that has been abolished, every one that will cease, and every one that we intend to abolish. Members will find that that will basically halve the number of committees in Western Australia. Mr M. McGowan : What is the cost? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will provide full details at the next sitting of Parliament of the cost of each of the new bodies set up, on which, according to that criterion, there is an external member, in particular an external paid member. I will provide all of that. The number is 52, and members will get that full information.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I know. I might. The SPEAKER : Order! Take a seat, Premier. Member for Victoria Park, I call you for the first time today. The Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I think a reasonable definition, and one that this government has adopted, is that in any total listing of government boards and committees, the definition that will be used is a committee that has at least — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Member for Armadale, I call you formally for the second time today, and I call the member for Victoria Park for the second time today . Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the third time, a reasonable definition of a board or committee is one that has an external member, and in particular an external member who receives payment. Mr E.S. Ripper : That is one way to reduce the numbers! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, it is. But it is a significant point, because if — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : What is the point? What is the point of trying to respond to a serious question? It is an important question. It is an important question about the number of boards and committees in government. I take it as a serious question. I am trying to provide a serious response. I think that is a reasonable definition. In other words, if a committee or a review board is set up — Mrs M.H. Roberts : How many are there under that definition? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If a committee is set up — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Members, this will be the last question in question time today. Member for Midland, I formally call you for the first time. The Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It seems reasonable that if a body has external members, in particular external paid members, it should constitute a board or committee. The reason I make that distinction is that it means that it would have been set up by government—by cabinet, or by a minister—and there will be, no doubt, additional funding attached to it. If, however, for example, a chief executive officer or a group of agencies sets up some sort of working party internally within government, that is not a board or committee. That is not a review. That is those people doing their job. So, we need to make that distinction to answer the question and to get a proper handle on the number of boards and committees. Since we have come to government, a large number of committees have been abolished. Over 200 have been abolished. There is a significantly further number that will cease to operate, as their time runs out, for various reasons. There is another large number that we would like to abolish, but that will require legislative change. To that effect, we will be bringing in an omnibus bill. I would hope that members would look at that bill and tell us which committees they accept can be abolished and which ones they want to debate. Now, to get to the actual first point of the member’s question, according to that definition, which I believe is the appropriate definition, this government has created 52 new boards since it was elected. We have abolished over five times that number. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite may laugh. We have created 52. I will, when I produce this full report, list every committee that has been created, every one that has been abolished, every one that will cease, and every one that we intend to abolish. Members will find that that will basically halve the number of committees in Western Australia. Mr M. McGowan : What is the cost? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will provide full details at the next sitting of Parliament of the cost of each of the new bodies set up, on which, according to that criterion, there is an external member, in particular an external paid member. I will provide all of that. The number is 52, and members will get that full information.
The SPEAKER : Order! Take a seat, Premier. Member for Victoria Park, I call you for the first time today. The Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I think a reasonable definition, and one that this government has adopted, is that in any total listing of government boards and committees, the definition that will be used is a committee that has at least — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Member for Armadale, I call you formally for the second time today, and I call the member for Victoria Park for the second time today . Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the third time, a reasonable definition of a board or committee is one that has an external member, and in particular an external member who receives payment. Mr E.S. Ripper : That is one way to reduce the numbers! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, it is. But it is a significant point, because if — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : What is the point? What is the point of trying to respond to a serious question? It is an important question. It is an important question about the number of boards and committees in government. I take it as a serious question. I am trying to provide a serious response. I think that is a reasonable definition. In other words, if a committee or a review board is set up — Mrs M.H. Roberts : How many are there under that definition? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If a committee is set up — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Members, this will be the last question in question time today. Member for Midland, I formally call you for the first time. The Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It seems reasonable that if a body has external members, in particular external paid members, it should constitute a board or committee. The reason I make that distinction is that it means that it would have been set up by government—by cabinet, or by a minister—and there will be, no doubt, additional funding attached to it. If, however, for example, a chief executive officer or a group of agencies sets up some sort of working party internally within government, that is not a board or committee. That is not a review. That is those people doing their job. So, we need to make that distinction to answer the question and to get a proper handle on the number of boards and committees. Since we have come to government, a large number of committees have been abolished. Over 200 have been abolished. There is a significantly further number that will cease to operate, as their time runs out, for various reasons. There is another large number that we would like to abolish, but that will require legislative change. To that effect, we will be bringing in an omnibus bill. I would hope that members would look at that bill and tell us which committees they accept can be abolished and which ones they want to debate. Now, to get to the actual first point of the member’s question, according to that definition, which I believe is the appropriate definition, this government has created 52 new boards since it was elected. We have abolished over five times that number. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite may laugh. We have created 52. I will, when I produce this full report, list every committee that has been created, every one that has been abolished, every one that will cease, and every one that we intend to abolish. Members will find that that will basically halve the number of committees in Western Australia. Mr M. McGowan : What is the cost? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will provide full details at the next sitting of Parliament of the cost of each of the new bodies set up, on which, according to that criterion, there is an external member, in particular an external paid member. I will provide all of that. The number is 52, and members will get that full information.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I think a reasonable definition, and one that this government has adopted, is that in any total listing of government boards and committees, the definition that will be used is a committee that has at least — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Member for Armadale, I call you formally for the second time today, and I call the member for Victoria Park for the second time today . Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the third time, a reasonable definition of a board or committee is one that has an external member, and in particular an external member who receives payment. Mr E.S. Ripper : That is one way to reduce the numbers! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, it is. But it is a significant point, because if — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : What is the point? What is the point of trying to respond to a serious question? It is an important question. It is an important question about the number of boards and committees in government. I take it as a serious question. I am trying to provide a serious response. I think that is a reasonable definition. In other words, if a committee or a review board is set up — Mrs M.H. Roberts : How many are there under that definition? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If a committee is set up — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Members, this will be the last question in question time today. Member for Midland, I formally call you for the first time. The Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It seems reasonable that if a body has external members, in particular external paid members, it should constitute a board or committee. The reason I make that distinction is that it means that it would have been set up by government—by cabinet, or by a minister—and there will be, no doubt, additional funding attached to it. If, however, for example, a chief executive officer or a group of agencies sets up some sort of working party internally within government, that is not a board or committee. That is not a review. That is those people doing their job. So, we need to make that distinction to answer the question and to get a proper handle on the number of boards and committees. Since we have come to government, a large number of committees have been abolished. Over 200 have been abolished. There is a significantly further number that will cease to operate, as their time runs out, for various reasons. There is another large number that we would like to abolish, but that will require legislative change. To that effect, we will be bringing in an omnibus bill. I would hope that members would look at that bill and tell us which committees they accept can be abolished and which ones they want to debate. Now, to get to the actual first point of the member’s question, according to that definition, which I believe is the appropriate definition, this government has created 52 new boards since it was elected. We have abolished over five times that number. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite may laugh. We have created 52. I will, when I produce this full report, list every committee that has been created, every one that has been abolished, every one that will cease, and every one that we intend to abolish. Members will find that that will basically halve the number of committees in Western Australia. Mr M. McGowan : What is the cost? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will provide full details at the next sitting of Parliament of the cost of each of the new bodies set up, on which, according to that criterion, there is an external member, in particular an external paid member. I will provide all of that. The number is 52, and members will get that full information.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Member for Armadale, I call you formally for the second time today, and I call the member for Victoria Park for the second time today . Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the third time, a reasonable definition of a board or committee is one that has an external member, and in particular an external member who receives payment. Mr E.S. Ripper : That is one way to reduce the numbers! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, it is. But it is a significant point, because if — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : What is the point? What is the point of trying to respond to a serious question? It is an important question. It is an important question about the number of boards and committees in government. I take it as a serious question. I am trying to provide a serious response. I think that is a reasonable definition. In other words, if a committee or a review board is set up — Mrs M.H. Roberts : How many are there under that definition? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If a committee is set up — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Members, this will be the last question in question time today. Member for Midland, I formally call you for the first time. The Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It seems reasonable that if a body has external members, in particular external paid members, it should constitute a board or committee. The reason I make that distinction is that it means that it would have been set up by government—by cabinet, or by a minister—and there will be, no doubt, additional funding attached to it. If, however, for example, a chief executive officer or a group of agencies sets up some sort of working party internally within government, that is not a board or committee. That is not a review. That is those people doing their job. So, we need to make that distinction to answer the question and to get a proper handle on the number of boards and committees. Since we have come to government, a large number of committees have been abolished. Over 200 have been abolished. There is a significantly further number that will cease to operate, as their time runs out, for various reasons. There is another large number that we would like to abolish, but that will require legislative change. To that effect, we will be bringing in an omnibus bill. I would hope that members would look at that bill and tell us which committees they accept can be abolished and which ones they want to debate. Now, to get to the actual first point of the member’s question, according to that definition, which I believe is the appropriate definition, this government has created 52 new boards since it was elected. We have abolished over five times that number. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite may laugh. We have created 52. I will, when I produce this full report, list every committee that has been created, every one that has been abolished, every one that will cease, and every one that we intend to abolish. Members will find that that will basically halve the number of committees in Western Australia. Mr M. McGowan : What is the cost? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will provide full details at the next sitting of Parliament of the cost of each of the new bodies set up, on which, according to that criterion, there is an external member, in particular an external paid member. I will provide all of that. The number is 52, and members will get that full information.
The SPEAKER : Order! Member for Armadale, I call you formally for the second time today, and I call the member for Victoria Park for the second time today . Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the third time, a reasonable definition of a board or committee is one that has an external member, and in particular an external member who receives payment. Mr E.S. Ripper : That is one way to reduce the numbers! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, it is. But it is a significant point, because if — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : What is the point? What is the point of trying to respond to a serious question? It is an important question. It is an important question about the number of boards and committees in government. I take it as a serious question. I am trying to provide a serious response. I think that is a reasonable definition. In other words, if a committee or a review board is set up — Mrs M.H. Roberts : How many are there under that definition? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If a committee is set up — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Members, this will be the last question in question time today. Member for Midland, I formally call you for the first time. The Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It seems reasonable that if a body has external members, in particular external paid members, it should constitute a board or committee. The reason I make that distinction is that it means that it would have been set up by government—by cabinet, or by a minister—and there will be, no doubt, additional funding attached to it. If, however, for example, a chief executive officer or a group of agencies sets up some sort of working party internally within government, that is not a board or committee. That is not a review. That is those people doing their job. So, we need to make that distinction to answer the question and to get a proper handle on the number of boards and committees. Since we have come to government, a large number of committees have been abolished. Over 200 have been abolished. There is a significantly further number that will cease to operate, as their time runs out, for various reasons. There is another large number that we would like to abolish, but that will require legislative change. To that effect, we will be bringing in an omnibus bill. I would hope that members would look at that bill and tell us which committees they accept can be abolished and which ones they want to debate. Now, to get to the actual first point of the member’s question, according to that definition, which I believe is the appropriate definition, this government has created 52 new boards since it was elected. We have abolished over five times that number. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite may laugh. We have created 52. I will, when I produce this full report, list every committee that has been created, every one that has been abolished, every one that will cease, and every one that we intend to abolish. Members will find that that will basically halve the number of committees in Western Australia. Mr M. McGowan : What is the cost? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will provide full details at the next sitting of Parliament of the cost of each of the new bodies set up, on which, according to that criterion, there is an external member, in particular an external paid member. I will provide all of that. The number is 52, and members will get that full information.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the third time, a reasonable definition of a board or committee is one that has an external member, and in particular an external member who receives payment. Mr E.S. Ripper : That is one way to reduce the numbers! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, it is. But it is a significant point, because if — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : What is the point? What is the point of trying to respond to a serious question? It is an important question. It is an important question about the number of boards and committees in government. I take it as a serious question. I am trying to provide a serious response. I think that is a reasonable definition. In other words, if a committee or a review board is set up — Mrs M.H. Roberts : How many are there under that definition? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If a committee is set up — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Members, this will be the last question in question time today. Member for Midland, I formally call you for the first time. The Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It seems reasonable that if a body has external members, in particular external paid members, it should constitute a board or committee. The reason I make that distinction is that it means that it would have been set up by government—by cabinet, or by a minister—and there will be, no doubt, additional funding attached to it. If, however, for example, a chief executive officer or a group of agencies sets up some sort of working party internally within government, that is not a board or committee. That is not a review. That is those people doing their job. So, we need to make that distinction to answer the question and to get a proper handle on the number of boards and committees. Since we have come to government, a large number of committees have been abolished. Over 200 have been abolished. There is a significantly further number that will cease to operate, as their time runs out, for various reasons. There is another large number that we would like to abolish, but that will require legislative change. To that effect, we will be bringing in an omnibus bill. I would hope that members would look at that bill and tell us which committees they accept can be abolished and which ones they want to debate. Now, to get to the actual first point of the member’s question, according to that definition, which I believe is the appropriate definition, this government has created 52 new boards since it was elected. We have abolished over five times that number. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite may laugh. We have created 52. I will, when I produce this full report, list every committee that has been created, every one that has been abolished, every one that will cease, and every one that we intend to abolish. Members will find that that will basically halve the number of committees in Western Australia. Mr M. McGowan : What is the cost? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will provide full details at the next sitting of Parliament of the cost of each of the new bodies set up, on which, according to that criterion, there is an external member, in particular an external paid member. I will provide all of that. The number is 52, and members will get that full information.
Mr E.S. Ripper : That is one way to reduce the numbers! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, it is. But it is a significant point, because if — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : What is the point? What is the point of trying to respond to a serious question? It is an important question. It is an important question about the number of boards and committees in government. I take it as a serious question. I am trying to provide a serious response. I think that is a reasonable definition. In other words, if a committee or a review board is set up — Mrs M.H. Roberts : How many are there under that definition? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If a committee is set up — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Members, this will be the last question in question time today. Member for Midland, I formally call you for the first time. The Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It seems reasonable that if a body has external members, in particular external paid members, it should constitute a board or committee. The reason I make that distinction is that it means that it would have been set up by government—by cabinet, or by a minister—and there will be, no doubt, additional funding attached to it. If, however, for example, a chief executive officer or a group of agencies sets up some sort of working party internally within government, that is not a board or committee. That is not a review. That is those people doing their job. So, we need to make that distinction to answer the question and to get a proper handle on the number of boards and committees. Since we have come to government, a large number of committees have been abolished. Over 200 have been abolished. There is a significantly further number that will cease to operate, as their time runs out, for various reasons. There is another large number that we would like to abolish, but that will require legislative change. To that effect, we will be bringing in an omnibus bill. I would hope that members would look at that bill and tell us which committees they accept can be abolished and which ones they want to debate. Now, to get to the actual first point of the member’s question, according to that definition, which I believe is the appropriate definition, this government has created 52 new boards since it was elected. We have abolished over five times that number. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite may laugh. We have created 52. I will, when I produce this full report, list every committee that has been created, every one that has been abolished, every one that will cease, and every one that we intend to abolish. Members will find that that will basically halve the number of committees in Western Australia. Mr M. McGowan : What is the cost? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will provide full details at the next sitting of Parliament of the cost of each of the new bodies set up, on which, according to that criterion, there is an external member, in particular an external paid member. I will provide all of that. The number is 52, and members will get that full information.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, it is. But it is a significant point, because if — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : What is the point? What is the point of trying to respond to a serious question? It is an important question. It is an important question about the number of boards and committees in government. I take it as a serious question. I am trying to provide a serious response. I think that is a reasonable definition. In other words, if a committee or a review board is set up — Mrs M.H. Roberts : How many are there under that definition? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If a committee is set up — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Members, this will be the last question in question time today. Member for Midland, I formally call you for the first time. The Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It seems reasonable that if a body has external members, in particular external paid members, it should constitute a board or committee. The reason I make that distinction is that it means that it would have been set up by government—by cabinet, or by a minister—and there will be, no doubt, additional funding attached to it. If, however, for example, a chief executive officer or a group of agencies sets up some sort of working party internally within government, that is not a board or committee. That is not a review. That is those people doing their job. So, we need to make that distinction to answer the question and to get a proper handle on the number of boards and committees. Since we have come to government, a large number of committees have been abolished. Over 200 have been abolished. There is a significantly further number that will cease to operate, as their time runs out, for various reasons. There is another large number that we would like to abolish, but that will require legislative change. To that effect, we will be bringing in an omnibus bill. I would hope that members would look at that bill and tell us which committees they accept can be abolished and which ones they want to debate. Now, to get to the actual first point of the member’s question, according to that definition, which I believe is the appropriate definition, this government has created 52 new boards since it was elected. We have abolished over five times that number. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite may laugh. We have created 52. I will, when I produce this full report, list every committee that has been created, every one that has been abolished, every one that will cease, and every one that we intend to abolish. Members will find that that will basically halve the number of committees in Western Australia. Mr M. McGowan : What is the cost? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will provide full details at the next sitting of Parliament of the cost of each of the new bodies set up, on which, according to that criterion, there is an external member, in particular an external paid member. I will provide all of that. The number is 52, and members will get that full information.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : What is the point? What is the point of trying to respond to a serious question? It is an important question. It is an important question about the number of boards and committees in government. I take it as a serious question. I am trying to provide a serious response. I think that is a reasonable definition. In other words, if a committee or a review board is set up — Mrs M.H. Roberts : How many are there under that definition? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If a committee is set up — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Members, this will be the last question in question time today. Member for Midland, I formally call you for the first time. The Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It seems reasonable that if a body has external members, in particular external paid members, it should constitute a board or committee. The reason I make that distinction is that it means that it would have been set up by government—by cabinet, or by a minister—and there will be, no doubt, additional funding attached to it. If, however, for example, a chief executive officer or a group of agencies sets up some sort of working party internally within government, that is not a board or committee. That is not a review. That is those people doing their job. So, we need to make that distinction to answer the question and to get a proper handle on the number of boards and committees. Since we have come to government, a large number of committees have been abolished. Over 200 have been abolished. There is a significantly further number that will cease to operate, as their time runs out, for various reasons. There is another large number that we would like to abolish, but that will require legislative change. To that effect, we will be bringing in an omnibus bill. I would hope that members would look at that bill and tell us which committees they accept can be abolished and which ones they want to debate. Now, to get to the actual first point of the member’s question, according to that definition, which I believe is the appropriate definition, this government has created 52 new boards since it was elected. We have abolished over five times that number. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite may laugh. We have created 52. I will, when I produce this full report, list every committee that has been created, every one that has been abolished, every one that will cease, and every one that we intend to abolish. Members will find that that will basically halve the number of committees in Western Australia. Mr M. McGowan : What is the cost? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will provide full details at the next sitting of Parliament of the cost of each of the new bodies set up, on which, according to that criterion, there is an external member, in particular an external paid member. I will provide all of that. The number is 52, and members will get that full information.
The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : What is the point? What is the point of trying to respond to a serious question? It is an important question. It is an important question about the number of boards and committees in government. I take it as a serious question. I am trying to provide a serious response. I think that is a reasonable definition. In other words, if a committee or a review board is set up — Mrs M.H. Roberts : How many are there under that definition? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If a committee is set up — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Members, this will be the last question in question time today. Member for Midland, I formally call you for the first time. The Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It seems reasonable that if a body has external members, in particular external paid members, it should constitute a board or committee. The reason I make that distinction is that it means that it would have been set up by government—by cabinet, or by a minister—and there will be, no doubt, additional funding attached to it. If, however, for example, a chief executive officer or a group of agencies sets up some sort of working party internally within government, that is not a board or committee. That is not a review. That is those people doing their job. So, we need to make that distinction to answer the question and to get a proper handle on the number of boards and committees. Since we have come to government, a large number of committees have been abolished. Over 200 have been abolished. There is a significantly further number that will cease to operate, as their time runs out, for various reasons. There is another large number that we would like to abolish, but that will require legislative change. To that effect, we will be bringing in an omnibus bill. I would hope that members would look at that bill and tell us which committees they accept can be abolished and which ones they want to debate. Now, to get to the actual first point of the member’s question, according to that definition, which I believe is the appropriate definition, this government has created 52 new boards since it was elected. We have abolished over five times that number. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite may laugh. We have created 52. I will, when I produce this full report, list every committee that has been created, every one that has been abolished, every one that will cease, and every one that we intend to abolish. Members will find that that will basically halve the number of committees in Western Australia. Mr M. McGowan : What is the cost? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will provide full details at the next sitting of Parliament of the cost of each of the new bodies set up, on which, according to that criterion, there is an external member, in particular an external paid member. I will provide all of that. The number is 52, and members will get that full information.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : What is the point? What is the point of trying to respond to a serious question? It is an important question. It is an important question about the number of boards and committees in government. I take it as a serious question. I am trying to provide a serious response. I think that is a reasonable definition. In other words, if a committee or a review board is set up — Mrs M.H. Roberts : How many are there under that definition? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If a committee is set up — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Members, this will be the last question in question time today. Member for Midland, I formally call you for the first time. The Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It seems reasonable that if a body has external members, in particular external paid members, it should constitute a board or committee. The reason I make that distinction is that it means that it would have been set up by government—by cabinet, or by a minister—and there will be, no doubt, additional funding attached to it. If, however, for example, a chief executive officer or a group of agencies sets up some sort of working party internally within government, that is not a board or committee. That is not a review. That is those people doing their job. So, we need to make that distinction to answer the question and to get a proper handle on the number of boards and committees. Since we have come to government, a large number of committees have been abolished. Over 200 have been abolished. There is a significantly further number that will cease to operate, as their time runs out, for various reasons. There is another large number that we would like to abolish, but that will require legislative change. To that effect, we will be bringing in an omnibus bill. I would hope that members would look at that bill and tell us which committees they accept can be abolished and which ones they want to debate. Now, to get to the actual first point of the member’s question, according to that definition, which I believe is the appropriate definition, this government has created 52 new boards since it was elected. We have abolished over five times that number. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite may laugh. We have created 52. I will, when I produce this full report, list every committee that has been created, every one that has been abolished, every one that will cease, and every one that we intend to abolish. Members will find that that will basically halve the number of committees in Western Australia. Mr M. McGowan : What is the cost? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will provide full details at the next sitting of Parliament of the cost of each of the new bodies set up, on which, according to that criterion, there is an external member, in particular an external paid member. I will provide all of that. The number is 52, and members will get that full information.
Mrs M.H. Roberts : How many are there under that definition? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If a committee is set up — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Members, this will be the last question in question time today. Member for Midland, I formally call you for the first time. The Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It seems reasonable that if a body has external members, in particular external paid members, it should constitute a board or committee. The reason I make that distinction is that it means that it would have been set up by government—by cabinet, or by a minister—and there will be, no doubt, additional funding attached to it. If, however, for example, a chief executive officer or a group of agencies sets up some sort of working party internally within government, that is not a board or committee. That is not a review. That is those people doing their job. So, we need to make that distinction to answer the question and to get a proper handle on the number of boards and committees. Since we have come to government, a large number of committees have been abolished. Over 200 have been abolished. There is a significantly further number that will cease to operate, as their time runs out, for various reasons. There is another large number that we would like to abolish, but that will require legislative change. To that effect, we will be bringing in an omnibus bill. I would hope that members would look at that bill and tell us which committees they accept can be abolished and which ones they want to debate. Now, to get to the actual first point of the member’s question, according to that definition, which I believe is the appropriate definition, this government has created 52 new boards since it was elected. We have abolished over five times that number. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite may laugh. We have created 52. I will, when I produce this full report, list every committee that has been created, every one that has been abolished, every one that will cease, and every one that we intend to abolish. Members will find that that will basically halve the number of committees in Western Australia. Mr M. McGowan : What is the cost? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will provide full details at the next sitting of Parliament of the cost of each of the new bodies set up, on which, according to that criterion, there is an external member, in particular an external paid member. I will provide all of that. The number is 52, and members will get that full information.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : If a committee is set up — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Members, this will be the last question in question time today. Member for Midland, I formally call you for the first time. The Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It seems reasonable that if a body has external members, in particular external paid members, it should constitute a board or committee. The reason I make that distinction is that it means that it would have been set up by government—by cabinet, or by a minister—and there will be, no doubt, additional funding attached to it. If, however, for example, a chief executive officer or a group of agencies sets up some sort of working party internally within government, that is not a board or committee. That is not a review. That is those people doing their job. So, we need to make that distinction to answer the question and to get a proper handle on the number of boards and committees. Since we have come to government, a large number of committees have been abolished. Over 200 have been abolished. There is a significantly further number that will cease to operate, as their time runs out, for various reasons. There is another large number that we would like to abolish, but that will require legislative change. To that effect, we will be bringing in an omnibus bill. I would hope that members would look at that bill and tell us which committees they accept can be abolished and which ones they want to debate. Now, to get to the actual first point of the member’s question, according to that definition, which I believe is the appropriate definition, this government has created 52 new boards since it was elected. We have abolished over five times that number. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite may laugh. We have created 52. I will, when I produce this full report, list every committee that has been created, every one that has been abolished, every one that will cease, and every one that we intend to abolish. Members will find that that will basically halve the number of committees in Western Australia. Mr M. McGowan : What is the cost? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will provide full details at the next sitting of Parliament of the cost of each of the new bodies set up, on which, according to that criterion, there is an external member, in particular an external paid member. I will provide all of that. The number is 52, and members will get that full information.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Members, this will be the last question in question time today. Member for Midland, I formally call you for the first time. The Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It seems reasonable that if a body has external members, in particular external paid members, it should constitute a board or committee. The reason I make that distinction is that it means that it would have been set up by government—by cabinet, or by a minister—and there will be, no doubt, additional funding attached to it. If, however, for example, a chief executive officer or a group of agencies sets up some sort of working party internally within government, that is not a board or committee. That is not a review. That is those people doing their job. So, we need to make that distinction to answer the question and to get a proper handle on the number of boards and committees. Since we have come to government, a large number of committees have been abolished. Over 200 have been abolished. There is a significantly further number that will cease to operate, as their time runs out, for various reasons. There is another large number that we would like to abolish, but that will require legislative change. To that effect, we will be bringing in an omnibus bill. I would hope that members would look at that bill and tell us which committees they accept can be abolished and which ones they want to debate. Now, to get to the actual first point of the member’s question, according to that definition, which I believe is the appropriate definition, this government has created 52 new boards since it was elected. We have abolished over five times that number. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite may laugh. We have created 52. I will, when I produce this full report, list every committee that has been created, every one that has been abolished, every one that will cease, and every one that we intend to abolish. Members will find that that will basically halve the number of committees in Western Australia. Mr M. McGowan : What is the cost? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will provide full details at the next sitting of Parliament of the cost of each of the new bodies set up, on which, according to that criterion, there is an external member, in particular an external paid member. I will provide all of that. The number is 52, and members will get that full information.
The SPEAKER : Order! Members, this will be the last question in question time today. Member for Midland, I formally call you for the first time. The Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It seems reasonable that if a body has external members, in particular external paid members, it should constitute a board or committee. The reason I make that distinction is that it means that it would have been set up by government—by cabinet, or by a minister—and there will be, no doubt, additional funding attached to it. If, however, for example, a chief executive officer or a group of agencies sets up some sort of working party internally within government, that is not a board or committee. That is not a review. That is those people doing their job. So, we need to make that distinction to answer the question and to get a proper handle on the number of boards and committees. Since we have come to government, a large number of committees have been abolished. Over 200 have been abolished. There is a significantly further number that will cease to operate, as their time runs out, for various reasons. There is another large number that we would like to abolish, but that will require legislative change. To that effect, we will be bringing in an omnibus bill. I would hope that members would look at that bill and tell us which committees they accept can be abolished and which ones they want to debate. Now, to get to the actual first point of the member’s question, according to that definition, which I believe is the appropriate definition, this government has created 52 new boards since it was elected. We have abolished over five times that number. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite may laugh. We have created 52. I will, when I produce this full report, list every committee that has been created, every one that has been abolished, every one that will cease, and every one that we intend to abolish. Members will find that that will basically halve the number of committees in Western Australia. Mr M. McGowan : What is the cost? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will provide full details at the next sitting of Parliament of the cost of each of the new bodies set up, on which, according to that criterion, there is an external member, in particular an external paid member. I will provide all of that. The number is 52, and members will get that full information.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : It seems reasonable that if a body has external members, in particular external paid members, it should constitute a board or committee. The reason I make that distinction is that it means that it would have been set up by government—by cabinet, or by a minister—and there will be, no doubt, additional funding attached to it. If, however, for example, a chief executive officer or a group of agencies sets up some sort of working party internally within government, that is not a board or committee. That is not a review. That is those people doing their job. So, we need to make that distinction to answer the question and to get a proper handle on the number of boards and committees. Since we have come to government, a large number of committees have been abolished. Over 200 have been abolished. There is a significantly further number that will cease to operate, as their time runs out, for various reasons. There is another large number that we would like to abolish, but that will require legislative change. To that effect, we will be bringing in an omnibus bill. I would hope that members would look at that bill and tell us which committees they accept can be abolished and which ones they want to debate. Now, to get to the actual first point of the member’s question, according to that definition, which I believe is the appropriate definition, this government has created 52 new boards since it was elected. We have abolished over five times that number. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite may laugh. We have created 52. I will, when I produce this full report, list every committee that has been created, every one that has been abolished, every one that will cease, and every one that we intend to abolish. Members will find that that will basically halve the number of committees in Western Australia. Mr M. McGowan : What is the cost? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will provide full details at the next sitting of Parliament of the cost of each of the new bodies set up, on which, according to that criterion, there is an external member, in particular an external paid member. I will provide all of that. The number is 52, and members will get that full information.
Now, to get to the actual first point of the member’s question, according to that definition, which I believe is the appropriate definition, this government has created 52 new boards since it was elected. We have abolished over five times that number. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite may laugh. We have created 52. I will, when I produce this full report, list every committee that has been created, every one that has been abolished, every one that will cease, and every one that we intend to abolish. Members will find that that will basically halve the number of committees in Western Australia. Mr M. McGowan : What is the cost? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will provide full details at the next sitting of Parliament of the cost of each of the new bodies set up, on which, according to that criterion, there is an external member, in particular an external paid member. I will provide all of that. The number is 52, and members will get that full information.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite may laugh. We have created 52. I will, when I produce this full report, list every committee that has been created, every one that has been abolished, every one that will cease, and every one that we intend to abolish. Members will find that that will basically halve the number of committees in Western Australia. Mr M. McGowan : What is the cost? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will provide full details at the next sitting of Parliament of the cost of each of the new bodies set up, on which, according to that criterion, there is an external member, in particular an external paid member. I will provide all of that. The number is 52, and members will get that full information.
The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite may laugh. We have created 52. I will, when I produce this full report, list every committee that has been created, every one that has been abolished, every one that will cease, and every one that we intend to abolish. Members will find that that will basically halve the number of committees in Western Australia. Mr M. McGowan : What is the cost? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will provide full details at the next sitting of Parliament of the cost of each of the new bodies set up, on which, according to that criterion, there is an external member, in particular an external paid member. I will provide all of that. The number is 52, and members will get that full information.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite may laugh. We have created 52. I will, when I produce this full report, list every committee that has been created, every one that has been abolished, every one that will cease, and every one that we intend to abolish. Members will find that that will basically halve the number of committees in Western Australia. Mr M. McGowan : What is the cost? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will provide full details at the next sitting of Parliament of the cost of each of the new bodies set up, on which, according to that criterion, there is an external member, in particular an external paid member. I will provide all of that. The number is 52, and members will get that full information.
Mr M. McGowan : What is the cost? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will provide full details at the next sitting of Parliament of the cost of each of the new bodies set up, on which, according to that criterion, there is an external member, in particular an external paid member. I will provide all of that. The number is 52, and members will get that full information.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will provide full details at the next sitting of Parliament of the cost of each of the new bodies set up, on which, according to that criterion, there is an external member, in particular an external paid member. I will provide all of that. The number is 52, and members will get that full information.
(1) What is the total number of committees, reviews, inquiries and advisory boards created by his government since 23 September 2008? (2) What is the total cost of these new committees, reviews, inquiries and advisory boards? (3) Will he table a list of all the committees, reviews, inquiries and advisory boards by the close of business today? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: I thank the member for Rockingham for his question and for some notice. (1)–(3) I intend to answer part of his question now and at the next week of sitting I will answer the remaining part. Let me explain. When this government came to power, I looked into the issue of the number of committees, reviews and boards in existence. The first telling observation was that no-one knew; there was absolutely no idea. We did an exercise in identifying all the committees, reviews and working parties we could find across government. The grand total was 1 276. Mr B.S. Wyatt : Since then you’ve had a committee blow-out. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Well — Mr M. McGowan : Tell us—how many? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am trying to answer. When members opposite calm down, I will continue my answer. That is my new policy. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Mindarie for the second time and the member for Armadale for the first time. If members want question time to finish at this moment, that can happen. I am sure that there are members on both sides of the house who would like to ask questions. I would like to give them that opportunity. Some members in this place see things in a different light. Mr C.J. BARNETT : So, as I said, there was no record. No-one knew how many committees there were. We found 1 276 committees, review boards, or whatever else. Mr E.S. Ripper : How many are there now? Mr C.J. BARNETT : They are just immature! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : They are! Okay. I will keep going. Is the member for Rockingham interested in the answer? I take this as a serious question, to which the member for Rockingham would like a serious answer. So I will address my remarks to the member for Rockingham. Mr M. McGowan : Yes. You are easily distracted. Do not get distracted. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will not get distracted. We discovered 1 276 committees and boards. There was no overall register. There was no consistency. So, one of the tasks, apart from identifying the number of committees and boards, was then to define what is a committee or board. The member may or may not agree with that. Mr R.H. Cook : You are getting distracted again! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am getting easily distracted today. It is beyond the member for Cannington’s intellect, but it would seem to me that we need to make some sort of definition of what constitutes a government board or committee. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I think the member for Rockingham would agree that a reasonable definition of a board or committee — Mr B.S. Wyatt : You should publish a dictionary! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I know. I might. The SPEAKER : Order! Take a seat, Premier. Member for Victoria Park, I call you for the first time today. The Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I think a reasonable definition, and one that this government has adopted, is that in any total listing of government boards and committees, the definition that will be used is a committee that has at least — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Member for Armadale, I call you formally for the second time today, and I call the member for Victoria Park for the second time today . Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the third time, a reasonable definition of a board or committee is one that has an external member, and in particular an external member who receives payment. Mr E.S. Ripper : That is one way to reduce the numbers! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, it is. But it is a significant point, because if — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : What is the point? What is the point of trying to respond to a serious question? It is an important question. It is an important question about the number of boards and committees in government. I take it as a serious question. I am trying to provide a serious response. I think that is a reasonable definition. In other words, if a committee or a review board is set up — Mrs M.H. Roberts : How many are there under that definition? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If a committee is set up — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Members, this will be the last question in question time today. Member for Midland, I formally call you for the first time. The Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It seems reasonable that if a body has external members, in particular external paid members, it should constitute a board or committee. The reason I make that distinction is that it means that it would have been set up by government—by cabinet, or by a minister—and there will be, no doubt, additional funding attached to it. If, however, for example, a chief executive officer or a group of agencies sets up some sort of working party internally within government, that is not a board or committee. That is not a review. That is those people doing their job. So, we need to make that distinction to answer the question and to get a proper handle on the number of boards and committees. Since we have come to government, a large number of committees have been abolished. Over 200 have been abolished. There is a significantly further number that will cease to operate, as their time runs out, for various reasons. There is another large number that we would like to abolish, but that will require legislative change. To that effect, we will be bringing in an omnibus bill. I would hope that members would look at that bill and tell us which committees they accept can be abolished and which ones they want to debate. Now, to get to the actual first point of the member’s question, according to that definition, which I believe is the appropriate definition, this government has created 52 new boards since it was elected. We have abolished over five times that number. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite may laugh. We have created 52. I will, when I produce this full report, list every committee that has been created, every one that has been abolished, every one that will cease, and every one that we intend to abolish. Members will find that that will basically halve the number of committees in Western Australia. Mr M. McGowan : What is the cost? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will provide full details at the next sitting of Parliament of the cost of each of the new bodies set up, on which, according to that criterion, there is an external member, in particular an external paid member. I will provide all of that. The number is 52, and members will get that full information.
(2) What is the total cost of these new committees, reviews, inquiries and advisory boards? (3) Will he table a list of all the committees, reviews, inquiries and advisory boards by the close of business today? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: I thank the member for Rockingham for his question and for some notice. (1)–(3) I intend to answer part of his question now and at the next week of sitting I will answer the remaining part. Let me explain. When this government came to power, I looked into the issue of the number of committees, reviews and boards in existence. The first telling observation was that no-one knew; there was absolutely no idea. We did an exercise in identifying all the committees, reviews and working parties we could find across government. The grand total was 1 276. Mr B.S. Wyatt : Since then you’ve had a committee blow-out. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Well — Mr M. McGowan : Tell us—how many? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am trying to answer. When members opposite calm down, I will continue my answer. That is my new policy. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Mindarie for the second time and the member for Armadale for the first time. If members want question time to finish at this moment, that can happen. I am sure that there are members on both sides of the house who would like to ask questions. I would like to give them that opportunity. Some members in this place see things in a different light. Mr C.J. BARNETT : So, as I said, there was no record. No-one knew how many committees there were. We found 1 276 committees, review boards, or whatever else. Mr E.S. Ripper : How many are there now? Mr C.J. BARNETT : They are just immature! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : They are! Okay. I will keep going. Is the member for Rockingham interested in the answer? I take this as a serious question, to which the member for Rockingham would like a serious answer. So I will address my remarks to the member for Rockingham. Mr M. McGowan : Yes. You are easily distracted. Do not get distracted. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will not get distracted. We discovered 1 276 committees and boards. There was no overall register. There was no consistency. So, one of the tasks, apart from identifying the number of committees and boards, was then to define what is a committee or board. The member may or may not agree with that. Mr R.H. Cook : You are getting distracted again! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am getting easily distracted today. It is beyond the member for Cannington’s intellect, but it would seem to me that we need to make some sort of definition of what constitutes a government board or committee. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I think the member for Rockingham would agree that a reasonable definition of a board or committee — Mr B.S. Wyatt : You should publish a dictionary! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I know. I might. The SPEAKER : Order! Take a seat, Premier. Member for Victoria Park, I call you for the first time today. The Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I think a reasonable definition, and one that this government has adopted, is that in any total listing of government boards and committees, the definition that will be used is a committee that has at least — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Member for Armadale, I call you formally for the second time today, and I call the member for Victoria Park for the second time today . Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the third time, a reasonable definition of a board or committee is one that has an external member, and in particular an external member who receives payment. Mr E.S. Ripper : That is one way to reduce the numbers! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, it is. But it is a significant point, because if — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : What is the point? What is the point of trying to respond to a serious question? It is an important question. It is an important question about the number of boards and committees in government. I take it as a serious question. I am trying to provide a serious response. I think that is a reasonable definition. In other words, if a committee or a review board is set up — Mrs M.H. Roberts : How many are there under that definition? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If a committee is set up — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Members, this will be the last question in question time today. Member for Midland, I formally call you for the first time. The Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It seems reasonable that if a body has external members, in particular external paid members, it should constitute a board or committee. The reason I make that distinction is that it means that it would have been set up by government—by cabinet, or by a minister—and there will be, no doubt, additional funding attached to it. If, however, for example, a chief executive officer or a group of agencies sets up some sort of working party internally within government, that is not a board or committee. That is not a review. That is those people doing their job. So, we need to make that distinction to answer the question and to get a proper handle on the number of boards and committees. Since we have come to government, a large number of committees have been abolished. Over 200 have been abolished. There is a significantly further number that will cease to operate, as their time runs out, for various reasons. There is another large number that we would like to abolish, but that will require legislative change. To that effect, we will be bringing in an omnibus bill. I would hope that members would look at that bill and tell us which committees they accept can be abolished and which ones they want to debate. Now, to get to the actual first point of the member’s question, according to that definition, which I believe is the appropriate definition, this government has created 52 new boards since it was elected. We have abolished over five times that number. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite may laugh. We have created 52. I will, when I produce this full report, list every committee that has been created, every one that has been abolished, every one that will cease, and every one that we intend to abolish. Members will find that that will basically halve the number of committees in Western Australia. Mr M. McGowan : What is the cost? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will provide full details at the next sitting of Parliament of the cost of each of the new bodies set up, on which, according to that criterion, there is an external member, in particular an external paid member. I will provide all of that. The number is 52, and members will get that full information.
(3) Will he table a list of all the committees, reviews, inquiries and advisory boards by the close of business today? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: I thank the member for Rockingham for his question and for some notice. (1)–(3) I intend to answer part of his question now and at the next week of sitting I will answer the remaining part. Let me explain. When this government came to power, I looked into the issue of the number of committees, reviews and boards in existence. The first telling observation was that no-one knew; there was absolutely no idea. We did an exercise in identifying all the committees, reviews and working parties we could find across government. The grand total was 1 276. Mr B.S. Wyatt : Since then you’ve had a committee blow-out. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Well — Mr M. McGowan : Tell us—how many? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am trying to answer. When members opposite calm down, I will continue my answer. That is my new policy. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Mindarie for the second time and the member for Armadale for the first time. If members want question time to finish at this moment, that can happen. I am sure that there are members on both sides of the house who would like to ask questions. I would like to give them that opportunity. Some members in this place see things in a different light. Mr C.J. BARNETT : So, as I said, there was no record. No-one knew how many committees there were. We found 1 276 committees, review boards, or whatever else. Mr E.S. Ripper : How many are there now? Mr C.J. BARNETT : They are just immature! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : They are! Okay. I will keep going. Is the member for Rockingham interested in the answer? I take this as a serious question, to which the member for Rockingham would like a serious answer. So I will address my remarks to the member for Rockingham. Mr M. McGowan : Yes. You are easily distracted. Do not get distracted. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will not get distracted. We discovered 1 276 committees and boards. There was no overall register. There was no consistency. So, one of the tasks, apart from identifying the number of committees and boards, was then to define what is a committee or board. The member may or may not agree with that. Mr R.H. Cook : You are getting distracted again! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am getting easily distracted today. It is beyond the member for Cannington’s intellect, but it would seem to me that we need to make some sort of definition of what constitutes a government board or committee. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I think the member for Rockingham would agree that a reasonable definition of a board or committee — Mr B.S. Wyatt : You should publish a dictionary! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I know. I might. The SPEAKER : Order! Take a seat, Premier. Member for Victoria Park, I call you for the first time today. The Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I think a reasonable definition, and one that this government has adopted, is that in any total listing of government boards and committees, the definition that will be used is a committee that has at least — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Member for Armadale, I call you formally for the second time today, and I call the member for Victoria Park for the second time today . Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the third time, a reasonable definition of a board or committee is one that has an external member, and in particular an external member who receives payment. Mr E.S. Ripper : That is one way to reduce the numbers! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, it is. But it is a significant point, because if — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : What is the point? What is the point of trying to respond to a serious question? It is an important question. It is an important question about the number of boards and committees in government. I take it as a serious question. I am trying to provide a serious response. I think that is a reasonable definition. In other words, if a committee or a review board is set up — Mrs M.H. Roberts : How many are there under that definition? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If a committee is set up — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Members, this will be the last question in question time today. Member for Midland, I formally call you for the first time. The Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It seems reasonable that if a body has external members, in particular external paid members, it should constitute a board or committee. The reason I make that distinction is that it means that it would have been set up by government—by cabinet, or by a minister—and there will be, no doubt, additional funding attached to it. If, however, for example, a chief executive officer or a group of agencies sets up some sort of working party internally within government, that is not a board or committee. That is not a review. That is those people doing their job. So, we need to make that distinction to answer the question and to get a proper handle on the number of boards and committees. Since we have come to government, a large number of committees have been abolished. Over 200 have been abolished. There is a significantly further number that will cease to operate, as their time runs out, for various reasons. There is another large number that we would like to abolish, but that will require legislative change. To that effect, we will be bringing in an omnibus bill. I would hope that members would look at that bill and tell us which committees they accept can be abolished and which ones they want to debate. Now, to get to the actual first point of the member’s question, according to that definition, which I believe is the appropriate definition, this government has created 52 new boards since it was elected. We have abolished over five times that number. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite may laugh. We have created 52. I will, when I produce this full report, list every committee that has been created, every one that has been abolished, every one that will cease, and every one that we intend to abolish. Members will find that that will basically halve the number of committees in Western Australia. Mr M. McGowan : What is the cost? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will provide full details at the next sitting of Parliament of the cost of each of the new bodies set up, on which, according to that criterion, there is an external member, in particular an external paid member. I will provide all of that. The number is 52, and members will get that full information.
Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: I thank the member for Rockingham for his question and for some notice. (1)–(3) I intend to answer part of his question now and at the next week of sitting I will answer the remaining part. Let me explain. When this government came to power, I looked into the issue of the number of committees, reviews and boards in existence. The first telling observation was that no-one knew; there was absolutely no idea. We did an exercise in identifying all the committees, reviews and working parties we could find across government. The grand total was 1 276. Mr B.S. Wyatt : Since then you’ve had a committee blow-out. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Well — Mr M. McGowan : Tell us—how many? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am trying to answer. When members opposite calm down, I will continue my answer. That is my new policy. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Mindarie for the second time and the member for Armadale for the first time. If members want question time to finish at this moment, that can happen. I am sure that there are members on both sides of the house who would like to ask questions. I would like to give them that opportunity. Some members in this place see things in a different light. Mr C.J. BARNETT : So, as I said, there was no record. No-one knew how many committees there were. We found 1 276 committees, review boards, or whatever else. Mr E.S. Ripper : How many are there now? Mr C.J. BARNETT : They are just immature! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : They are! Okay. I will keep going. Is the member for Rockingham interested in the answer? I take this as a serious question, to which the member for Rockingham would like a serious answer. So I will address my remarks to the member for Rockingham. Mr M. McGowan : Yes. You are easily distracted. Do not get distracted. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will not get distracted. We discovered 1 276 committees and boards. There was no overall register. There was no consistency. So, one of the tasks, apart from identifying the number of committees and boards, was then to define what is a committee or board. The member may or may not agree with that. Mr R.H. Cook : You are getting distracted again! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am getting easily distracted today. It is beyond the member for Cannington’s intellect, but it would seem to me that we need to make some sort of definition of what constitutes a government board or committee. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I think the member for Rockingham would agree that a reasonable definition of a board or committee — Mr B.S. Wyatt : You should publish a dictionary! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I know. I might. The SPEAKER : Order! Take a seat, Premier. Member for Victoria Park, I call you for the first time today. The Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I think a reasonable definition, and one that this government has adopted, is that in any total listing of government boards and committees, the definition that will be used is a committee that has at least — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Member for Armadale, I call you formally for the second time today, and I call the member for Victoria Park for the second time today . Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the third time, a reasonable definition of a board or committee is one that has an external member, and in particular an external member who receives payment. Mr E.S. Ripper : That is one way to reduce the numbers! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, it is. But it is a significant point, because if — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : What is the point? What is the point of trying to respond to a serious question? It is an important question. It is an important question about the number of boards and committees in government. I take it as a serious question. I am trying to provide a serious response. I think that is a reasonable definition. In other words, if a committee or a review board is set up — Mrs M.H. Roberts : How many are there under that definition? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If a committee is set up — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Members, this will be the last question in question time today. Member for Midland, I formally call you for the first time. The Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It seems reasonable that if a body has external members, in particular external paid members, it should constitute a board or committee. The reason I make that distinction is that it means that it would have been set up by government—by cabinet, or by a minister—and there will be, no doubt, additional funding attached to it. If, however, for example, a chief executive officer or a group of agencies sets up some sort of working party internally within government, that is not a board or committee. That is not a review. That is those people doing their job. So, we need to make that distinction to answer the question and to get a proper handle on the number of boards and committees. Since we have come to government, a large number of committees have been abolished. Over 200 have been abolished. There is a significantly further number that will cease to operate, as their time runs out, for various reasons. There is another large number that we would like to abolish, but that will require legislative change. To that effect, we will be bringing in an omnibus bill. I would hope that members would look at that bill and tell us which committees they accept can be abolished and which ones they want to debate. Now, to get to the actual first point of the member’s question, according to that definition, which I believe is the appropriate definition, this government has created 52 new boards since it was elected. We have abolished over five times that number. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite may laugh. We have created 52. I will, when I produce this full report, list every committee that has been created, every one that has been abolished, every one that will cease, and every one that we intend to abolish. Members will find that that will basically halve the number of committees in Western Australia. Mr M. McGowan : What is the cost? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will provide full details at the next sitting of Parliament of the cost of each of the new bodies set up, on which, according to that criterion, there is an external member, in particular an external paid member. I will provide all of that. The number is 52, and members will get that full information.
I thank the member for Rockingham for his question and for some notice. (1)–(3) I intend to answer part of his question now and at the next week of sitting I will answer the remaining part. Let me explain. When this government came to power, I looked into the issue of the number of committees, reviews and boards in existence. The first telling observation was that no-one knew; there was absolutely no idea. We did an exercise in identifying all the committees, reviews and working parties we could find across government. The grand total was 1 276. Mr B.S. Wyatt : Since then you’ve had a committee blow-out. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Well — Mr M. McGowan : Tell us—how many? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am trying to answer. When members opposite calm down, I will continue my answer. That is my new policy. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Mindarie for the second time and the member for Armadale for the first time. If members want question time to finish at this moment, that can happen. I am sure that there are members on both sides of the house who would like to ask questions. I would like to give them that opportunity. Some members in this place see things in a different light. Mr C.J. BARNETT : So, as I said, there was no record. No-one knew how many committees there were. We found 1 276 committees, review boards, or whatever else. Mr E.S. Ripper : How many are there now? Mr C.J. BARNETT : They are just immature! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : They are! Okay. I will keep going. Is the member for Rockingham interested in the answer? I take this as a serious question, to which the member for Rockingham would like a serious answer. So I will address my remarks to the member for Rockingham. Mr M. McGowan : Yes. You are easily distracted. Do not get distracted. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will not get distracted. We discovered 1 276 committees and boards. There was no overall register. There was no consistency. So, one of the tasks, apart from identifying the number of committees and boards, was then to define what is a committee or board. The member may or may not agree with that. Mr R.H. Cook : You are getting distracted again! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am getting easily distracted today. It is beyond the member for Cannington’s intellect, but it would seem to me that we need to make some sort of definition of what constitutes a government board or committee. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I think the member for Rockingham would agree that a reasonable definition of a board or committee — Mr B.S. Wyatt : You should publish a dictionary! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I know. I might. The SPEAKER : Order! Take a seat, Premier. Member for Victoria Park, I call you for the first time today. The Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I think a reasonable definition, and one that this government has adopted, is that in any total listing of government boards and committees, the definition that will be used is a committee that has at least — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Member for Armadale, I call you formally for the second time today, and I call the member for Victoria Park for the second time today . Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the third time, a reasonable definition of a board or committee is one that has an external member, and in particular an external member who receives payment. Mr E.S. Ripper : That is one way to reduce the numbers! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, it is. But it is a significant point, because if — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : What is the point? What is the point of trying to respond to a serious question? It is an important question. It is an important question about the number of boards and committees in government. I take it as a serious question. I am trying to provide a serious response. I think that is a reasonable definition. In other words, if a committee or a review board is set up — Mrs M.H. Roberts : How many are there under that definition? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If a committee is set up — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Members, this will be the last question in question time today. Member for Midland, I formally call you for the first time. The Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It seems reasonable that if a body has external members, in particular external paid members, it should constitute a board or committee. The reason I make that distinction is that it means that it would have been set up by government—by cabinet, or by a minister—and there will be, no doubt, additional funding attached to it. If, however, for example, a chief executive officer or a group of agencies sets up some sort of working party internally within government, that is not a board or committee. That is not a review. That is those people doing their job. So, we need to make that distinction to answer the question and to get a proper handle on the number of boards and committees. Since we have come to government, a large number of committees have been abolished. Over 200 have been abolished. There is a significantly further number that will cease to operate, as their time runs out, for various reasons. There is another large number that we would like to abolish, but that will require legislative change. To that effect, we will be bringing in an omnibus bill. I would hope that members would look at that bill and tell us which committees they accept can be abolished and which ones they want to debate. Now, to get to the actual first point of the member’s question, according to that definition, which I believe is the appropriate definition, this government has created 52 new boards since it was elected. We have abolished over five times that number. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite may laugh. We have created 52. I will, when I produce this full report, list every committee that has been created, every one that has been abolished, every one that will cease, and every one that we intend to abolish. Members will find that that will basically halve the number of committees in Western Australia. Mr M. McGowan : What is the cost? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will provide full details at the next sitting of Parliament of the cost of each of the new bodies set up, on which, according to that criterion, there is an external member, in particular an external paid member. I will provide all of that. The number is 52, and members will get that full information.
(1)–(3) I intend to answer part of his question now and at the next week of sitting I will answer the remaining part. Let me explain. When this government came to power, I looked into the issue of the number of committees, reviews and boards in existence. The first telling observation was that no-one knew; there was absolutely no idea. We did an exercise in identifying all the committees, reviews and working parties we could find across government. The grand total was 1 276. Mr B.S. Wyatt : Since then you’ve had a committee blow-out. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Well — Mr M. McGowan : Tell us—how many? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am trying to answer. When members opposite calm down, I will continue my answer. That is my new policy. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Mindarie for the second time and the member for Armadale for the first time. If members want question time to finish at this moment, that can happen. I am sure that there are members on both sides of the house who would like to ask questions. I would like to give them that opportunity. Some members in this place see things in a different light. Mr C.J. BARNETT : So, as I said, there was no record. No-one knew how many committees there were. We found 1 276 committees, review boards, or whatever else. Mr E.S. Ripper : How many are there now? Mr C.J. BARNETT : They are just immature! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : They are! Okay. I will keep going. Is the member for Rockingham interested in the answer? I take this as a serious question, to which the member for Rockingham would like a serious answer. So I will address my remarks to the member for Rockingham. Mr M. McGowan : Yes. You are easily distracted. Do not get distracted. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will not get distracted. We discovered 1 276 committees and boards. There was no overall register. There was no consistency. So, one of the tasks, apart from identifying the number of committees and boards, was then to define what is a committee or board. The member may or may not agree with that. Mr R.H. Cook : You are getting distracted again! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am getting easily distracted today. It is beyond the member for Cannington’s intellect, but it would seem to me that we need to make some sort of definition of what constitutes a government board or committee. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I think the member for Rockingham would agree that a reasonable definition of a board or committee — Mr B.S. Wyatt : You should publish a dictionary! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I know. I might. The SPEAKER : Order! Take a seat, Premier. Member for Victoria Park, I call you for the first time today. The Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I think a reasonable definition, and one that this government has adopted, is that in any total listing of government boards and committees, the definition that will be used is a committee that has at least — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Member for Armadale, I call you formally for the second time today, and I call the member for Victoria Park for the second time today . Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the third time, a reasonable definition of a board or committee is one that has an external member, and in particular an external member who receives payment. Mr E.S. Ripper : That is one way to reduce the numbers! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, it is. But it is a significant point, because if — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : What is the point? What is the point of trying to respond to a serious question? It is an important question. It is an important question about the number of boards and committees in government. I take it as a serious question. I am trying to provide a serious response. I think that is a reasonable definition. In other words, if a committee or a review board is set up — Mrs M.H. Roberts : How many are there under that definition? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If a committee is set up — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Members, this will be the last question in question time today. Member for Midland, I formally call you for the first time. The Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It seems reasonable that if a body has external members, in particular external paid members, it should constitute a board or committee. The reason I make that distinction is that it means that it would have been set up by government—by cabinet, or by a minister—and there will be, no doubt, additional funding attached to it. If, however, for example, a chief executive officer or a group of agencies sets up some sort of working party internally within government, that is not a board or committee. That is not a review. That is those people doing their job. So, we need to make that distinction to answer the question and to get a proper handle on the number of boards and committees. Since we have come to government, a large number of committees have been abolished. Over 200 have been abolished. There is a significantly further number that will cease to operate, as their time runs out, for various reasons. There is another large number that we would like to abolish, but that will require legislative change. To that effect, we will be bringing in an omnibus bill. I would hope that members would look at that bill and tell us which committees they accept can be abolished and which ones they want to debate. Now, to get to the actual first point of the member’s question, according to that definition, which I believe is the appropriate definition, this government has created 52 new boards since it was elected. We have abolished over five times that number. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite may laugh. We have created 52. I will, when I produce this full report, list every committee that has been created, every one that has been abolished, every one that will cease, and every one that we intend to abolish. Members will find that that will basically halve the number of committees in Western Australia. Mr M. McGowan : What is the cost? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will provide full details at the next sitting of Parliament of the cost of each of the new bodies set up, on which, according to that criterion, there is an external member, in particular an external paid member. I will provide all of that. The number is 52, and members will get that full information.
Mr B.S. Wyatt : Since then you’ve had a committee blow-out. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Well — Mr M. McGowan : Tell us—how many? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am trying to answer. When members opposite calm down, I will continue my answer. That is my new policy. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Mindarie for the second time and the member for Armadale for the first time. If members want question time to finish at this moment, that can happen. I am sure that there are members on both sides of the house who would like to ask questions. I would like to give them that opportunity. Some members in this place see things in a different light. Mr C.J. BARNETT : So, as I said, there was no record. No-one knew how many committees there were. We found 1 276 committees, review boards, or whatever else. Mr E.S. Ripper : How many are there now? Mr C.J. BARNETT : They are just immature! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : They are! Okay. I will keep going. Is the member for Rockingham interested in the answer? I take this as a serious question, to which the member for Rockingham would like a serious answer. So I will address my remarks to the member for Rockingham. Mr M. McGowan : Yes. You are easily distracted. Do not get distracted. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will not get distracted. We discovered 1 276 committees and boards. There was no overall register. There was no consistency. So, one of the tasks, apart from identifying the number of committees and boards, was then to define what is a committee or board. The member may or may not agree with that. Mr R.H. Cook : You are getting distracted again! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am getting easily distracted today. It is beyond the member for Cannington’s intellect, but it would seem to me that we need to make some sort of definition of what constitutes a government board or committee. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I think the member for Rockingham would agree that a reasonable definition of a board or committee — Mr B.S. Wyatt : You should publish a dictionary! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I know. I might. The SPEAKER : Order! Take a seat, Premier. Member for Victoria Park, I call you for the first time today. The Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I think a reasonable definition, and one that this government has adopted, is that in any total listing of government boards and committees, the definition that will be used is a committee that has at least — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Member for Armadale, I call you formally for the second time today, and I call the member for Victoria Park for the second time today . Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the third time, a reasonable definition of a board or committee is one that has an external member, and in particular an external member who receives payment. Mr E.S. Ripper : That is one way to reduce the numbers! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, it is. But it is a significant point, because if — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : What is the point? What is the point of trying to respond to a serious question? It is an important question. It is an important question about the number of boards and committees in government. I take it as a serious question. I am trying to provide a serious response. I think that is a reasonable definition. In other words, if a committee or a review board is set up — Mrs M.H. Roberts : How many are there under that definition? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If a committee is set up — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Members, this will be the last question in question time today. Member for Midland, I formally call you for the first time. The Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It seems reasonable that if a body has external members, in particular external paid members, it should constitute a board or committee. The reason I make that distinction is that it means that it would have been set up by government—by cabinet, or by a minister—and there will be, no doubt, additional funding attached to it. If, however, for example, a chief executive officer or a group of agencies sets up some sort of working party internally within government, that is not a board or committee. That is not a review. That is those people doing their job. So, we need to make that distinction to answer the question and to get a proper handle on the number of boards and committees. Since we have come to government, a large number of committees have been abolished. Over 200 have been abolished. There is a significantly further number that will cease to operate, as their time runs out, for various reasons. There is another large number that we would like to abolish, but that will require legislative change. To that effect, we will be bringing in an omnibus bill. I would hope that members would look at that bill and tell us which committees they accept can be abolished and which ones they want to debate. Now, to get to the actual first point of the member’s question, according to that definition, which I believe is the appropriate definition, this government has created 52 new boards since it was elected. We have abolished over five times that number. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite may laugh. We have created 52. I will, when I produce this full report, list every committee that has been created, every one that has been abolished, every one that will cease, and every one that we intend to abolish. Members will find that that will basically halve the number of committees in Western Australia. Mr M. McGowan : What is the cost? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will provide full details at the next sitting of Parliament of the cost of each of the new bodies set up, on which, according to that criterion, there is an external member, in particular an external paid member. I will provide all of that. The number is 52, and members will get that full information.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Well — Mr M. McGowan : Tell us—how many? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am trying to answer. When members opposite calm down, I will continue my answer. That is my new policy. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Mindarie for the second time and the member for Armadale for the first time. If members want question time to finish at this moment, that can happen. I am sure that there are members on both sides of the house who would like to ask questions. I would like to give them that opportunity. Some members in this place see things in a different light. Mr C.J. BARNETT : So, as I said, there was no record. No-one knew how many committees there were. We found 1 276 committees, review boards, or whatever else. Mr E.S. Ripper : How many are there now? Mr C.J. BARNETT : They are just immature! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : They are! Okay. I will keep going. Is the member for Rockingham interested in the answer? I take this as a serious question, to which the member for Rockingham would like a serious answer. So I will address my remarks to the member for Rockingham. Mr M. McGowan : Yes. You are easily distracted. Do not get distracted. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will not get distracted. We discovered 1 276 committees and boards. There was no overall register. There was no consistency. So, one of the tasks, apart from identifying the number of committees and boards, was then to define what is a committee or board. The member may or may not agree with that. Mr R.H. Cook : You are getting distracted again! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am getting easily distracted today. It is beyond the member for Cannington’s intellect, but it would seem to me that we need to make some sort of definition of what constitutes a government board or committee. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I think the member for Rockingham would agree that a reasonable definition of a board or committee — Mr B.S. Wyatt : You should publish a dictionary! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I know. I might. The SPEAKER : Order! Take a seat, Premier. Member for Victoria Park, I call you for the first time today. The Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I think a reasonable definition, and one that this government has adopted, is that in any total listing of government boards and committees, the definition that will be used is a committee that has at least — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Member for Armadale, I call you formally for the second time today, and I call the member for Victoria Park for the second time today . Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the third time, a reasonable definition of a board or committee is one that has an external member, and in particular an external member who receives payment. Mr E.S. Ripper : That is one way to reduce the numbers! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, it is. But it is a significant point, because if — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : What is the point? What is the point of trying to respond to a serious question? It is an important question. It is an important question about the number of boards and committees in government. I take it as a serious question. I am trying to provide a serious response. I think that is a reasonable definition. In other words, if a committee or a review board is set up — Mrs M.H. Roberts : How many are there under that definition? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If a committee is set up — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Members, this will be the last question in question time today. Member for Midland, I formally call you for the first time. The Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It seems reasonable that if a body has external members, in particular external paid members, it should constitute a board or committee. The reason I make that distinction is that it means that it would have been set up by government—by cabinet, or by a minister—and there will be, no doubt, additional funding attached to it. If, however, for example, a chief executive officer or a group of agencies sets up some sort of working party internally within government, that is not a board or committee. That is not a review. That is those people doing their job. So, we need to make that distinction to answer the question and to get a proper handle on the number of boards and committees. Since we have come to government, a large number of committees have been abolished. Over 200 have been abolished. There is a significantly further number that will cease to operate, as their time runs out, for various reasons. There is another large number that we would like to abolish, but that will require legislative change. To that effect, we will be bringing in an omnibus bill. I would hope that members would look at that bill and tell us which committees they accept can be abolished and which ones they want to debate. Now, to get to the actual first point of the member’s question, according to that definition, which I believe is the appropriate definition, this government has created 52 new boards since it was elected. We have abolished over five times that number. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite may laugh. We have created 52. I will, when I produce this full report, list every committee that has been created, every one that has been abolished, every one that will cease, and every one that we intend to abolish. Members will find that that will basically halve the number of committees in Western Australia. Mr M. McGowan : What is the cost? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will provide full details at the next sitting of Parliament of the cost of each of the new bodies set up, on which, according to that criterion, there is an external member, in particular an external paid member. I will provide all of that. The number is 52, and members will get that full information.
Mr M. McGowan : Tell us—how many? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am trying to answer. When members opposite calm down, I will continue my answer. That is my new policy. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Mindarie for the second time and the member for Armadale for the first time. If members want question time to finish at this moment, that can happen. I am sure that there are members on both sides of the house who would like to ask questions. I would like to give them that opportunity. Some members in this place see things in a different light. Mr C.J. BARNETT : So, as I said, there was no record. No-one knew how many committees there were. We found 1 276 committees, review boards, or whatever else. Mr E.S. Ripper : How many are there now? Mr C.J. BARNETT : They are just immature! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : They are! Okay. I will keep going. Is the member for Rockingham interested in the answer? I take this as a serious question, to which the member for Rockingham would like a serious answer. So I will address my remarks to the member for Rockingham. Mr M. McGowan : Yes. You are easily distracted. Do not get distracted. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will not get distracted. We discovered 1 276 committees and boards. There was no overall register. There was no consistency. So, one of the tasks, apart from identifying the number of committees and boards, was then to define what is a committee or board. The member may or may not agree with that. Mr R.H. Cook : You are getting distracted again! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am getting easily distracted today. It is beyond the member for Cannington’s intellect, but it would seem to me that we need to make some sort of definition of what constitutes a government board or committee. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I think the member for Rockingham would agree that a reasonable definition of a board or committee — Mr B.S. Wyatt : You should publish a dictionary! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I know. I might. The SPEAKER : Order! Take a seat, Premier. Member for Victoria Park, I call you for the first time today. The Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I think a reasonable definition, and one that this government has adopted, is that in any total listing of government boards and committees, the definition that will be used is a committee that has at least — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Member for Armadale, I call you formally for the second time today, and I call the member for Victoria Park for the second time today . Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the third time, a reasonable definition of a board or committee is one that has an external member, and in particular an external member who receives payment. Mr E.S. Ripper : That is one way to reduce the numbers! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, it is. But it is a significant point, because if — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : What is the point? What is the point of trying to respond to a serious question? It is an important question. It is an important question about the number of boards and committees in government. I take it as a serious question. I am trying to provide a serious response. I think that is a reasonable definition. In other words, if a committee or a review board is set up — Mrs M.H. Roberts : How many are there under that definition? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If a committee is set up — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Members, this will be the last question in question time today. Member for Midland, I formally call you for the first time. The Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It seems reasonable that if a body has external members, in particular external paid members, it should constitute a board or committee. The reason I make that distinction is that it means that it would have been set up by government—by cabinet, or by a minister—and there will be, no doubt, additional funding attached to it. If, however, for example, a chief executive officer or a group of agencies sets up some sort of working party internally within government, that is not a board or committee. That is not a review. That is those people doing their job. So, we need to make that distinction to answer the question and to get a proper handle on the number of boards and committees. Since we have come to government, a large number of committees have been abolished. Over 200 have been abolished. There is a significantly further number that will cease to operate, as their time runs out, for various reasons. There is another large number that we would like to abolish, but that will require legislative change. To that effect, we will be bringing in an omnibus bill. I would hope that members would look at that bill and tell us which committees they accept can be abolished and which ones they want to debate. Now, to get to the actual first point of the member’s question, according to that definition, which I believe is the appropriate definition, this government has created 52 new boards since it was elected. We have abolished over five times that number. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite may laugh. We have created 52. I will, when I produce this full report, list every committee that has been created, every one that has been abolished, every one that will cease, and every one that we intend to abolish. Members will find that that will basically halve the number of committees in Western Australia. Mr M. McGowan : What is the cost? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will provide full details at the next sitting of Parliament of the cost of each of the new bodies set up, on which, according to that criterion, there is an external member, in particular an external paid member. I will provide all of that. The number is 52, and members will get that full information.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am trying to answer. When members opposite calm down, I will continue my answer. That is my new policy. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Mindarie for the second time and the member for Armadale for the first time. If members want question time to finish at this moment, that can happen. I am sure that there are members on both sides of the house who would like to ask questions. I would like to give them that opportunity. Some members in this place see things in a different light. Mr C.J. BARNETT : So, as I said, there was no record. No-one knew how many committees there were. We found 1 276 committees, review boards, or whatever else. Mr E.S. Ripper : How many are there now? Mr C.J. BARNETT : They are just immature! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : They are! Okay. I will keep going. Is the member for Rockingham interested in the answer? I take this as a serious question, to which the member for Rockingham would like a serious answer. So I will address my remarks to the member for Rockingham. Mr M. McGowan : Yes. You are easily distracted. Do not get distracted. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will not get distracted. We discovered 1 276 committees and boards. There was no overall register. There was no consistency. So, one of the tasks, apart from identifying the number of committees and boards, was then to define what is a committee or board. The member may or may not agree with that. Mr R.H. Cook : You are getting distracted again! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am getting easily distracted today. It is beyond the member for Cannington’s intellect, but it would seem to me that we need to make some sort of definition of what constitutes a government board or committee. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I think the member for Rockingham would agree that a reasonable definition of a board or committee — Mr B.S. Wyatt : You should publish a dictionary! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I know. I might. The SPEAKER : Order! Take a seat, Premier. Member for Victoria Park, I call you for the first time today. The Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I think a reasonable definition, and one that this government has adopted, is that in any total listing of government boards and committees, the definition that will be used is a committee that has at least — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Member for Armadale, I call you formally for the second time today, and I call the member for Victoria Park for the second time today . Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the third time, a reasonable definition of a board or committee is one that has an external member, and in particular an external member who receives payment. Mr E.S. Ripper : That is one way to reduce the numbers! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, it is. But it is a significant point, because if — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : What is the point? What is the point of trying to respond to a serious question? It is an important question. It is an important question about the number of boards and committees in government. I take it as a serious question. I am trying to provide a serious response. I think that is a reasonable definition. In other words, if a committee or a review board is set up — Mrs M.H. Roberts : How many are there under that definition? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If a committee is set up — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Members, this will be the last question in question time today. Member for Midland, I formally call you for the first time. The Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It seems reasonable that if a body has external members, in particular external paid members, it should constitute a board or committee. The reason I make that distinction is that it means that it would have been set up by government—by cabinet, or by a minister—and there will be, no doubt, additional funding attached to it. If, however, for example, a chief executive officer or a group of agencies sets up some sort of working party internally within government, that is not a board or committee. That is not a review. That is those people doing their job. So, we need to make that distinction to answer the question and to get a proper handle on the number of boards and committees. Since we have come to government, a large number of committees have been abolished. Over 200 have been abolished. There is a significantly further number that will cease to operate, as their time runs out, for various reasons. There is another large number that we would like to abolish, but that will require legislative change. To that effect, we will be bringing in an omnibus bill. I would hope that members would look at that bill and tell us which committees they accept can be abolished and which ones they want to debate. Now, to get to the actual first point of the member’s question, according to that definition, which I believe is the appropriate definition, this government has created 52 new boards since it was elected. We have abolished over five times that number. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite may laugh. We have created 52. I will, when I produce this full report, list every committee that has been created, every one that has been abolished, every one that will cease, and every one that we intend to abolish. Members will find that that will basically halve the number of committees in Western Australia. Mr M. McGowan : What is the cost? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will provide full details at the next sitting of Parliament of the cost of each of the new bodies set up, on which, according to that criterion, there is an external member, in particular an external paid member. I will provide all of that. The number is 52, and members will get that full information.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Mindarie for the second time and the member for Armadale for the first time. If members want question time to finish at this moment, that can happen. I am sure that there are members on both sides of the house who would like to ask questions. I would like to give them that opportunity. Some members in this place see things in a different light. Mr C.J. BARNETT : So, as I said, there was no record. No-one knew how many committees there were. We found 1 276 committees, review boards, or whatever else. Mr E.S. Ripper : How many are there now? Mr C.J. BARNETT : They are just immature! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : They are! Okay. I will keep going. Is the member for Rockingham interested in the answer? I take this as a serious question, to which the member for Rockingham would like a serious answer. So I will address my remarks to the member for Rockingham. Mr M. McGowan : Yes. You are easily distracted. Do not get distracted. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will not get distracted. We discovered 1 276 committees and boards. There was no overall register. There was no consistency. So, one of the tasks, apart from identifying the number of committees and boards, was then to define what is a committee or board. The member may or may not agree with that. Mr R.H. Cook : You are getting distracted again! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am getting easily distracted today. It is beyond the member for Cannington’s intellect, but it would seem to me that we need to make some sort of definition of what constitutes a government board or committee. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I think the member for Rockingham would agree that a reasonable definition of a board or committee — Mr B.S. Wyatt : You should publish a dictionary! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I know. I might. The SPEAKER : Order! Take a seat, Premier. Member for Victoria Park, I call you for the first time today. The Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I think a reasonable definition, and one that this government has adopted, is that in any total listing of government boards and committees, the definition that will be used is a committee that has at least — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Member for Armadale, I call you formally for the second time today, and I call the member for Victoria Park for the second time today . Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the third time, a reasonable definition of a board or committee is one that has an external member, and in particular an external member who receives payment. Mr E.S. Ripper : That is one way to reduce the numbers! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, it is. But it is a significant point, because if — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : What is the point? What is the point of trying to respond to a serious question? It is an important question. It is an important question about the number of boards and committees in government. I take it as a serious question. I am trying to provide a serious response. I think that is a reasonable definition. In other words, if a committee or a review board is set up — Mrs M.H. Roberts : How many are there under that definition? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If a committee is set up — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Members, this will be the last question in question time today. Member for Midland, I formally call you for the first time. The Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It seems reasonable that if a body has external members, in particular external paid members, it should constitute a board or committee. The reason I make that distinction is that it means that it would have been set up by government—by cabinet, or by a minister—and there will be, no doubt, additional funding attached to it. If, however, for example, a chief executive officer or a group of agencies sets up some sort of working party internally within government, that is not a board or committee. That is not a review. That is those people doing their job. So, we need to make that distinction to answer the question and to get a proper handle on the number of boards and committees. Since we have come to government, a large number of committees have been abolished. Over 200 have been abolished. There is a significantly further number that will cease to operate, as their time runs out, for various reasons. There is another large number that we would like to abolish, but that will require legislative change. To that effect, we will be bringing in an omnibus bill. I would hope that members would look at that bill and tell us which committees they accept can be abolished and which ones they want to debate. Now, to get to the actual first point of the member’s question, according to that definition, which I believe is the appropriate definition, this government has created 52 new boards since it was elected. We have abolished over five times that number. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite may laugh. We have created 52. I will, when I produce this full report, list every committee that has been created, every one that has been abolished, every one that will cease, and every one that we intend to abolish. Members will find that that will basically halve the number of committees in Western Australia. Mr M. McGowan : What is the cost? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will provide full details at the next sitting of Parliament of the cost of each of the new bodies set up, on which, according to that criterion, there is an external member, in particular an external paid member. I will provide all of that. The number is 52, and members will get that full information.
The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for Mindarie for the second time and the member for Armadale for the first time. If members want question time to finish at this moment, that can happen. I am sure that there are members on both sides of the house who would like to ask questions. I would like to give them that opportunity. Some members in this place see things in a different light. Mr C.J. BARNETT : So, as I said, there was no record. No-one knew how many committees there were. We found 1 276 committees, review boards, or whatever else. Mr E.S. Ripper : How many are there now? Mr C.J. BARNETT : They are just immature! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : They are! Okay. I will keep going. Is the member for Rockingham interested in the answer? I take this as a serious question, to which the member for Rockingham would like a serious answer. So I will address my remarks to the member for Rockingham. Mr M. McGowan : Yes. You are easily distracted. Do not get distracted. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will not get distracted. We discovered 1 276 committees and boards. There was no overall register. There was no consistency. So, one of the tasks, apart from identifying the number of committees and boards, was then to define what is a committee or board. The member may or may not agree with that. Mr R.H. Cook : You are getting distracted again! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am getting easily distracted today. It is beyond the member for Cannington’s intellect, but it would seem to me that we need to make some sort of definition of what constitutes a government board or committee. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I think the member for Rockingham would agree that a reasonable definition of a board or committee — Mr B.S. Wyatt : You should publish a dictionary! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I know. I might. The SPEAKER : Order! Take a seat, Premier. Member for Victoria Park, I call you for the first time today. The Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I think a reasonable definition, and one that this government has adopted, is that in any total listing of government boards and committees, the definition that will be used is a committee that has at least — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Member for Armadale, I call you formally for the second time today, and I call the member for Victoria Park for the second time today . Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the third time, a reasonable definition of a board or committee is one that has an external member, and in particular an external member who receives payment. Mr E.S. Ripper : That is one way to reduce the numbers! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, it is. But it is a significant point, because if — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : What is the point? What is the point of trying to respond to a serious question? It is an important question. It is an important question about the number of boards and committees in government. I take it as a serious question. I am trying to provide a serious response. I think that is a reasonable definition. In other words, if a committee or a review board is set up — Mrs M.H. Roberts : How many are there under that definition? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If a committee is set up — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Members, this will be the last question in question time today. Member for Midland, I formally call you for the first time. The Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It seems reasonable that if a body has external members, in particular external paid members, it should constitute a board or committee. The reason I make that distinction is that it means that it would have been set up by government—by cabinet, or by a minister—and there will be, no doubt, additional funding attached to it. If, however, for example, a chief executive officer or a group of agencies sets up some sort of working party internally within government, that is not a board or committee. That is not a review. That is those people doing their job. So, we need to make that distinction to answer the question and to get a proper handle on the number of boards and committees. Since we have come to government, a large number of committees have been abolished. Over 200 have been abolished. There is a significantly further number that will cease to operate, as their time runs out, for various reasons. There is another large number that we would like to abolish, but that will require legislative change. To that effect, we will be bringing in an omnibus bill. I would hope that members would look at that bill and tell us which committees they accept can be abolished and which ones they want to debate. Now, to get to the actual first point of the member’s question, according to that definition, which I believe is the appropriate definition, this government has created 52 new boards since it was elected. We have abolished over five times that number. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite may laugh. We have created 52. I will, when I produce this full report, list every committee that has been created, every one that has been abolished, every one that will cease, and every one that we intend to abolish. Members will find that that will basically halve the number of committees in Western Australia. Mr M. McGowan : What is the cost? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will provide full details at the next sitting of Parliament of the cost of each of the new bodies set up, on which, according to that criterion, there is an external member, in particular an external paid member. I will provide all of that. The number is 52, and members will get that full information.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : So, as I said, there was no record. No-one knew how many committees there were. We found 1 276 committees, review boards, or whatever else. Mr E.S. Ripper : How many are there now? Mr C.J. BARNETT : They are just immature! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : They are! Okay. I will keep going. Is the member for Rockingham interested in the answer? I take this as a serious question, to which the member for Rockingham would like a serious answer. So I will address my remarks to the member for Rockingham. Mr M. McGowan : Yes. You are easily distracted. Do not get distracted. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will not get distracted. We discovered 1 276 committees and boards. There was no overall register. There was no consistency. So, one of the tasks, apart from identifying the number of committees and boards, was then to define what is a committee or board. The member may or may not agree with that. Mr R.H. Cook : You are getting distracted again! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am getting easily distracted today. It is beyond the member for Cannington’s intellect, but it would seem to me that we need to make some sort of definition of what constitutes a government board or committee. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I think the member for Rockingham would agree that a reasonable definition of a board or committee — Mr B.S. Wyatt : You should publish a dictionary! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I know. I might. The SPEAKER : Order! Take a seat, Premier. Member for Victoria Park, I call you for the first time today. The Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I think a reasonable definition, and one that this government has adopted, is that in any total listing of government boards and committees, the definition that will be used is a committee that has at least — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Member for Armadale, I call you formally for the second time today, and I call the member for Victoria Park for the second time today . Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the third time, a reasonable definition of a board or committee is one that has an external member, and in particular an external member who receives payment. Mr E.S. Ripper : That is one way to reduce the numbers! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, it is. But it is a significant point, because if — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : What is the point? What is the point of trying to respond to a serious question? It is an important question. It is an important question about the number of boards and committees in government. I take it as a serious question. I am trying to provide a serious response. I think that is a reasonable definition. In other words, if a committee or a review board is set up — Mrs M.H. Roberts : How many are there under that definition? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If a committee is set up — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Members, this will be the last question in question time today. Member for Midland, I formally call you for the first time. The Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It seems reasonable that if a body has external members, in particular external paid members, it should constitute a board or committee. The reason I make that distinction is that it means that it would have been set up by government—by cabinet, or by a minister—and there will be, no doubt, additional funding attached to it. If, however, for example, a chief executive officer or a group of agencies sets up some sort of working party internally within government, that is not a board or committee. That is not a review. That is those people doing their job. So, we need to make that distinction to answer the question and to get a proper handle on the number of boards and committees. Since we have come to government, a large number of committees have been abolished. Over 200 have been abolished. There is a significantly further number that will cease to operate, as their time runs out, for various reasons. There is another large number that we would like to abolish, but that will require legislative change. To that effect, we will be bringing in an omnibus bill. I would hope that members would look at that bill and tell us which committees they accept can be abolished and which ones they want to debate. Now, to get to the actual first point of the member’s question, according to that definition, which I believe is the appropriate definition, this government has created 52 new boards since it was elected. We have abolished over five times that number. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite may laugh. We have created 52. I will, when I produce this full report, list every committee that has been created, every one that has been abolished, every one that will cease, and every one that we intend to abolish. Members will find that that will basically halve the number of committees in Western Australia. Mr M. McGowan : What is the cost? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will provide full details at the next sitting of Parliament of the cost of each of the new bodies set up, on which, according to that criterion, there is an external member, in particular an external paid member. I will provide all of that. The number is 52, and members will get that full information.
Mr E.S. Ripper : How many are there now? Mr C.J. BARNETT : They are just immature! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : They are! Okay. I will keep going. Is the member for Rockingham interested in the answer? I take this as a serious question, to which the member for Rockingham would like a serious answer. So I will address my remarks to the member for Rockingham. Mr M. McGowan : Yes. You are easily distracted. Do not get distracted. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will not get distracted. We discovered 1 276 committees and boards. There was no overall register. There was no consistency. So, one of the tasks, apart from identifying the number of committees and boards, was then to define what is a committee or board. The member may or may not agree with that. Mr R.H. Cook : You are getting distracted again! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am getting easily distracted today. It is beyond the member for Cannington’s intellect, but it would seem to me that we need to make some sort of definition of what constitutes a government board or committee. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I think the member for Rockingham would agree that a reasonable definition of a board or committee — Mr B.S. Wyatt : You should publish a dictionary! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I know. I might. The SPEAKER : Order! Take a seat, Premier. Member for Victoria Park, I call you for the first time today. The Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I think a reasonable definition, and one that this government has adopted, is that in any total listing of government boards and committees, the definition that will be used is a committee that has at least — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Member for Armadale, I call you formally for the second time today, and I call the member for Victoria Park for the second time today . Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the third time, a reasonable definition of a board or committee is one that has an external member, and in particular an external member who receives payment. Mr E.S. Ripper : That is one way to reduce the numbers! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, it is. But it is a significant point, because if — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : What is the point? What is the point of trying to respond to a serious question? It is an important question. It is an important question about the number of boards and committees in government. I take it as a serious question. I am trying to provide a serious response. I think that is a reasonable definition. In other words, if a committee or a review board is set up — Mrs M.H. Roberts : How many are there under that definition? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If a committee is set up — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Members, this will be the last question in question time today. Member for Midland, I formally call you for the first time. The Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It seems reasonable that if a body has external members, in particular external paid members, it should constitute a board or committee. The reason I make that distinction is that it means that it would have been set up by government—by cabinet, or by a minister—and there will be, no doubt, additional funding attached to it. If, however, for example, a chief executive officer or a group of agencies sets up some sort of working party internally within government, that is not a board or committee. That is not a review. That is those people doing their job. So, we need to make that distinction to answer the question and to get a proper handle on the number of boards and committees. Since we have come to government, a large number of committees have been abolished. Over 200 have been abolished. There is a significantly further number that will cease to operate, as their time runs out, for various reasons. There is another large number that we would like to abolish, but that will require legislative change. To that effect, we will be bringing in an omnibus bill. I would hope that members would look at that bill and tell us which committees they accept can be abolished and which ones they want to debate. Now, to get to the actual first point of the member’s question, according to that definition, which I believe is the appropriate definition, this government has created 52 new boards since it was elected. We have abolished over five times that number. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite may laugh. We have created 52. I will, when I produce this full report, list every committee that has been created, every one that has been abolished, every one that will cease, and every one that we intend to abolish. Members will find that that will basically halve the number of committees in Western Australia. Mr M. McGowan : What is the cost? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will provide full details at the next sitting of Parliament of the cost of each of the new bodies set up, on which, according to that criterion, there is an external member, in particular an external paid member. I will provide all of that. The number is 52, and members will get that full information.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : They are just immature! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : They are! Okay. I will keep going. Is the member for Rockingham interested in the answer? I take this as a serious question, to which the member for Rockingham would like a serious answer. So I will address my remarks to the member for Rockingham. Mr M. McGowan : Yes. You are easily distracted. Do not get distracted. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will not get distracted. We discovered 1 276 committees and boards. There was no overall register. There was no consistency. So, one of the tasks, apart from identifying the number of committees and boards, was then to define what is a committee or board. The member may or may not agree with that. Mr R.H. Cook : You are getting distracted again! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am getting easily distracted today. It is beyond the member for Cannington’s intellect, but it would seem to me that we need to make some sort of definition of what constitutes a government board or committee. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I think the member for Rockingham would agree that a reasonable definition of a board or committee — Mr B.S. Wyatt : You should publish a dictionary! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I know. I might. The SPEAKER : Order! Take a seat, Premier. Member for Victoria Park, I call you for the first time today. The Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I think a reasonable definition, and one that this government has adopted, is that in any total listing of government boards and committees, the definition that will be used is a committee that has at least — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Member for Armadale, I call you formally for the second time today, and I call the member for Victoria Park for the second time today . Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the third time, a reasonable definition of a board or committee is one that has an external member, and in particular an external member who receives payment. Mr E.S. Ripper : That is one way to reduce the numbers! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, it is. But it is a significant point, because if — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : What is the point? What is the point of trying to respond to a serious question? It is an important question. It is an important question about the number of boards and committees in government. I take it as a serious question. I am trying to provide a serious response. I think that is a reasonable definition. In other words, if a committee or a review board is set up — Mrs M.H. Roberts : How many are there under that definition? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If a committee is set up — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Members, this will be the last question in question time today. Member for Midland, I formally call you for the first time. The Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It seems reasonable that if a body has external members, in particular external paid members, it should constitute a board or committee. The reason I make that distinction is that it means that it would have been set up by government—by cabinet, or by a minister—and there will be, no doubt, additional funding attached to it. If, however, for example, a chief executive officer or a group of agencies sets up some sort of working party internally within government, that is not a board or committee. That is not a review. That is those people doing their job. So, we need to make that distinction to answer the question and to get a proper handle on the number of boards and committees. Since we have come to government, a large number of committees have been abolished. Over 200 have been abolished. There is a significantly further number that will cease to operate, as their time runs out, for various reasons. There is another large number that we would like to abolish, but that will require legislative change. To that effect, we will be bringing in an omnibus bill. I would hope that members would look at that bill and tell us which committees they accept can be abolished and which ones they want to debate. Now, to get to the actual first point of the member’s question, according to that definition, which I believe is the appropriate definition, this government has created 52 new boards since it was elected. We have abolished over five times that number. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite may laugh. We have created 52. I will, when I produce this full report, list every committee that has been created, every one that has been abolished, every one that will cease, and every one that we intend to abolish. Members will find that that will basically halve the number of committees in Western Australia. Mr M. McGowan : What is the cost? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will provide full details at the next sitting of Parliament of the cost of each of the new bodies set up, on which, according to that criterion, there is an external member, in particular an external paid member. I will provide all of that. The number is 52, and members will get that full information.
Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : They are! Okay. I will keep going. Is the member for Rockingham interested in the answer? I take this as a serious question, to which the member for Rockingham would like a serious answer. So I will address my remarks to the member for Rockingham. Mr M. McGowan : Yes. You are easily distracted. Do not get distracted. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will not get distracted. We discovered 1 276 committees and boards. There was no overall register. There was no consistency. So, one of the tasks, apart from identifying the number of committees and boards, was then to define what is a committee or board. The member may or may not agree with that. Mr R.H. Cook : You are getting distracted again! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am getting easily distracted today. It is beyond the member for Cannington’s intellect, but it would seem to me that we need to make some sort of definition of what constitutes a government board or committee. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I think the member for Rockingham would agree that a reasonable definition of a board or committee — Mr B.S. Wyatt : You should publish a dictionary! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I know. I might. The SPEAKER : Order! Take a seat, Premier. Member for Victoria Park, I call you for the first time today. The Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I think a reasonable definition, and one that this government has adopted, is that in any total listing of government boards and committees, the definition that will be used is a committee that has at least — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Member for Armadale, I call you formally for the second time today, and I call the member for Victoria Park for the second time today . Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the third time, a reasonable definition of a board or committee is one that has an external member, and in particular an external member who receives payment. Mr E.S. Ripper : That is one way to reduce the numbers! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, it is. But it is a significant point, because if — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : What is the point? What is the point of trying to respond to a serious question? It is an important question. It is an important question about the number of boards and committees in government. I take it as a serious question. I am trying to provide a serious response. I think that is a reasonable definition. In other words, if a committee or a review board is set up — Mrs M.H. Roberts : How many are there under that definition? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If a committee is set up — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Members, this will be the last question in question time today. Member for Midland, I formally call you for the first time. The Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It seems reasonable that if a body has external members, in particular external paid members, it should constitute a board or committee. The reason I make that distinction is that it means that it would have been set up by government—by cabinet, or by a minister—and there will be, no doubt, additional funding attached to it. If, however, for example, a chief executive officer or a group of agencies sets up some sort of working party internally within government, that is not a board or committee. That is not a review. That is those people doing their job. So, we need to make that distinction to answer the question and to get a proper handle on the number of boards and committees. Since we have come to government, a large number of committees have been abolished. Over 200 have been abolished. There is a significantly further number that will cease to operate, as their time runs out, for various reasons. There is another large number that we would like to abolish, but that will require legislative change. To that effect, we will be bringing in an omnibus bill. I would hope that members would look at that bill and tell us which committees they accept can be abolished and which ones they want to debate. Now, to get to the actual first point of the member’s question, according to that definition, which I believe is the appropriate definition, this government has created 52 new boards since it was elected. We have abolished over five times that number. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite may laugh. We have created 52. I will, when I produce this full report, list every committee that has been created, every one that has been abolished, every one that will cease, and every one that we intend to abolish. Members will find that that will basically halve the number of committees in Western Australia. Mr M. McGowan : What is the cost? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will provide full details at the next sitting of Parliament of the cost of each of the new bodies set up, on which, according to that criterion, there is an external member, in particular an external paid member. I will provide all of that. The number is 52, and members will get that full information.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : They are! Okay. I will keep going. Is the member for Rockingham interested in the answer? I take this as a serious question, to which the member for Rockingham would like a serious answer. So I will address my remarks to the member for Rockingham. Mr M. McGowan : Yes. You are easily distracted. Do not get distracted. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will not get distracted. We discovered 1 276 committees and boards. There was no overall register. There was no consistency. So, one of the tasks, apart from identifying the number of committees and boards, was then to define what is a committee or board. The member may or may not agree with that. Mr R.H. Cook : You are getting distracted again! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am getting easily distracted today. It is beyond the member for Cannington’s intellect, but it would seem to me that we need to make some sort of definition of what constitutes a government board or committee. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I think the member for Rockingham would agree that a reasonable definition of a board or committee — Mr B.S. Wyatt : You should publish a dictionary! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I know. I might. The SPEAKER : Order! Take a seat, Premier. Member for Victoria Park, I call you for the first time today. The Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I think a reasonable definition, and one that this government has adopted, is that in any total listing of government boards and committees, the definition that will be used is a committee that has at least — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Member for Armadale, I call you formally for the second time today, and I call the member for Victoria Park for the second time today . Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the third time, a reasonable definition of a board or committee is one that has an external member, and in particular an external member who receives payment. Mr E.S. Ripper : That is one way to reduce the numbers! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, it is. But it is a significant point, because if — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : What is the point? What is the point of trying to respond to a serious question? It is an important question. It is an important question about the number of boards and committees in government. I take it as a serious question. I am trying to provide a serious response. I think that is a reasonable definition. In other words, if a committee or a review board is set up — Mrs M.H. Roberts : How many are there under that definition? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If a committee is set up — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Members, this will be the last question in question time today. Member for Midland, I formally call you for the first time. The Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It seems reasonable that if a body has external members, in particular external paid members, it should constitute a board or committee. The reason I make that distinction is that it means that it would have been set up by government—by cabinet, or by a minister—and there will be, no doubt, additional funding attached to it. If, however, for example, a chief executive officer or a group of agencies sets up some sort of working party internally within government, that is not a board or committee. That is not a review. That is those people doing their job. So, we need to make that distinction to answer the question and to get a proper handle on the number of boards and committees. Since we have come to government, a large number of committees have been abolished. Over 200 have been abolished. There is a significantly further number that will cease to operate, as their time runs out, for various reasons. There is another large number that we would like to abolish, but that will require legislative change. To that effect, we will be bringing in an omnibus bill. I would hope that members would look at that bill and tell us which committees they accept can be abolished and which ones they want to debate. Now, to get to the actual first point of the member’s question, according to that definition, which I believe is the appropriate definition, this government has created 52 new boards since it was elected. We have abolished over five times that number. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite may laugh. We have created 52. I will, when I produce this full report, list every committee that has been created, every one that has been abolished, every one that will cease, and every one that we intend to abolish. Members will find that that will basically halve the number of committees in Western Australia. Mr M. McGowan : What is the cost? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will provide full details at the next sitting of Parliament of the cost of each of the new bodies set up, on which, according to that criterion, there is an external member, in particular an external paid member. I will provide all of that. The number is 52, and members will get that full information.
Mr M. McGowan : Yes. You are easily distracted. Do not get distracted. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will not get distracted. We discovered 1 276 committees and boards. There was no overall register. There was no consistency. So, one of the tasks, apart from identifying the number of committees and boards, was then to define what is a committee or board. The member may or may not agree with that. Mr R.H. Cook : You are getting distracted again! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am getting easily distracted today. It is beyond the member for Cannington’s intellect, but it would seem to me that we need to make some sort of definition of what constitutes a government board or committee. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I think the member for Rockingham would agree that a reasonable definition of a board or committee — Mr B.S. Wyatt : You should publish a dictionary! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I know. I might. The SPEAKER : Order! Take a seat, Premier. Member for Victoria Park, I call you for the first time today. The Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I think a reasonable definition, and one that this government has adopted, is that in any total listing of government boards and committees, the definition that will be used is a committee that has at least — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Member for Armadale, I call you formally for the second time today, and I call the member for Victoria Park for the second time today . Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the third time, a reasonable definition of a board or committee is one that has an external member, and in particular an external member who receives payment. Mr E.S. Ripper : That is one way to reduce the numbers! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, it is. But it is a significant point, because if — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : What is the point? What is the point of trying to respond to a serious question? It is an important question. It is an important question about the number of boards and committees in government. I take it as a serious question. I am trying to provide a serious response. I think that is a reasonable definition. In other words, if a committee or a review board is set up — Mrs M.H. Roberts : How many are there under that definition? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If a committee is set up — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Members, this will be the last question in question time today. Member for Midland, I formally call you for the first time. The Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It seems reasonable that if a body has external members, in particular external paid members, it should constitute a board or committee. The reason I make that distinction is that it means that it would have been set up by government—by cabinet, or by a minister—and there will be, no doubt, additional funding attached to it. If, however, for example, a chief executive officer or a group of agencies sets up some sort of working party internally within government, that is not a board or committee. That is not a review. That is those people doing their job. So, we need to make that distinction to answer the question and to get a proper handle on the number of boards and committees. Since we have come to government, a large number of committees have been abolished. Over 200 have been abolished. There is a significantly further number that will cease to operate, as their time runs out, for various reasons. There is another large number that we would like to abolish, but that will require legislative change. To that effect, we will be bringing in an omnibus bill. I would hope that members would look at that bill and tell us which committees they accept can be abolished and which ones they want to debate. Now, to get to the actual first point of the member’s question, according to that definition, which I believe is the appropriate definition, this government has created 52 new boards since it was elected. We have abolished over five times that number. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite may laugh. We have created 52. I will, when I produce this full report, list every committee that has been created, every one that has been abolished, every one that will cease, and every one that we intend to abolish. Members will find that that will basically halve the number of committees in Western Australia. Mr M. McGowan : What is the cost? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will provide full details at the next sitting of Parliament of the cost of each of the new bodies set up, on which, according to that criterion, there is an external member, in particular an external paid member. I will provide all of that. The number is 52, and members will get that full information.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will not get distracted. We discovered 1 276 committees and boards. There was no overall register. There was no consistency. So, one of the tasks, apart from identifying the number of committees and boards, was then to define what is a committee or board. The member may or may not agree with that. Mr R.H. Cook : You are getting distracted again! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am getting easily distracted today. It is beyond the member for Cannington’s intellect, but it would seem to me that we need to make some sort of definition of what constitutes a government board or committee. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I think the member for Rockingham would agree that a reasonable definition of a board or committee — Mr B.S. Wyatt : You should publish a dictionary! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I know. I might. The SPEAKER : Order! Take a seat, Premier. Member for Victoria Park, I call you for the first time today. The Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I think a reasonable definition, and one that this government has adopted, is that in any total listing of government boards and committees, the definition that will be used is a committee that has at least — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Member for Armadale, I call you formally for the second time today, and I call the member for Victoria Park for the second time today . Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the third time, a reasonable definition of a board or committee is one that has an external member, and in particular an external member who receives payment. Mr E.S. Ripper : That is one way to reduce the numbers! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, it is. But it is a significant point, because if — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : What is the point? What is the point of trying to respond to a serious question? It is an important question. It is an important question about the number of boards and committees in government. I take it as a serious question. I am trying to provide a serious response. I think that is a reasonable definition. In other words, if a committee or a review board is set up — Mrs M.H. Roberts : How many are there under that definition? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If a committee is set up — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Members, this will be the last question in question time today. Member for Midland, I formally call you for the first time. The Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It seems reasonable that if a body has external members, in particular external paid members, it should constitute a board or committee. The reason I make that distinction is that it means that it would have been set up by government—by cabinet, or by a minister—and there will be, no doubt, additional funding attached to it. If, however, for example, a chief executive officer or a group of agencies sets up some sort of working party internally within government, that is not a board or committee. That is not a review. That is those people doing their job. So, we need to make that distinction to answer the question and to get a proper handle on the number of boards and committees. Since we have come to government, a large number of committees have been abolished. Over 200 have been abolished. There is a significantly further number that will cease to operate, as their time runs out, for various reasons. There is another large number that we would like to abolish, but that will require legislative change. To that effect, we will be bringing in an omnibus bill. I would hope that members would look at that bill and tell us which committees they accept can be abolished and which ones they want to debate. Now, to get to the actual first point of the member’s question, according to that definition, which I believe is the appropriate definition, this government has created 52 new boards since it was elected. We have abolished over five times that number. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite may laugh. We have created 52. I will, when I produce this full report, list every committee that has been created, every one that has been abolished, every one that will cease, and every one that we intend to abolish. Members will find that that will basically halve the number of committees in Western Australia. Mr M. McGowan : What is the cost? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will provide full details at the next sitting of Parliament of the cost of each of the new bodies set up, on which, according to that criterion, there is an external member, in particular an external paid member. I will provide all of that. The number is 52, and members will get that full information.
Mr R.H. Cook : You are getting distracted again! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am getting easily distracted today. It is beyond the member for Cannington’s intellect, but it would seem to me that we need to make some sort of definition of what constitutes a government board or committee. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I think the member for Rockingham would agree that a reasonable definition of a board or committee — Mr B.S. Wyatt : You should publish a dictionary! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I know. I might. The SPEAKER : Order! Take a seat, Premier. Member for Victoria Park, I call you for the first time today. The Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I think a reasonable definition, and one that this government has adopted, is that in any total listing of government boards and committees, the definition that will be used is a committee that has at least — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Member for Armadale, I call you formally for the second time today, and I call the member for Victoria Park for the second time today . Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the third time, a reasonable definition of a board or committee is one that has an external member, and in particular an external member who receives payment. Mr E.S. Ripper : That is one way to reduce the numbers! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, it is. But it is a significant point, because if — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : What is the point? What is the point of trying to respond to a serious question? It is an important question. It is an important question about the number of boards and committees in government. I take it as a serious question. I am trying to provide a serious response. I think that is a reasonable definition. In other words, if a committee or a review board is set up — Mrs M.H. Roberts : How many are there under that definition? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If a committee is set up — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Members, this will be the last question in question time today. Member for Midland, I formally call you for the first time. The Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It seems reasonable that if a body has external members, in particular external paid members, it should constitute a board or committee. The reason I make that distinction is that it means that it would have been set up by government—by cabinet, or by a minister—and there will be, no doubt, additional funding attached to it. If, however, for example, a chief executive officer or a group of agencies sets up some sort of working party internally within government, that is not a board or committee. That is not a review. That is those people doing their job. So, we need to make that distinction to answer the question and to get a proper handle on the number of boards and committees. Since we have come to government, a large number of committees have been abolished. Over 200 have been abolished. There is a significantly further number that will cease to operate, as their time runs out, for various reasons. There is another large number that we would like to abolish, but that will require legislative change. To that effect, we will be bringing in an omnibus bill. I would hope that members would look at that bill and tell us which committees they accept can be abolished and which ones they want to debate. Now, to get to the actual first point of the member’s question, according to that definition, which I believe is the appropriate definition, this government has created 52 new boards since it was elected. We have abolished over five times that number. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite may laugh. We have created 52. I will, when I produce this full report, list every committee that has been created, every one that has been abolished, every one that will cease, and every one that we intend to abolish. Members will find that that will basically halve the number of committees in Western Australia. Mr M. McGowan : What is the cost? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will provide full details at the next sitting of Parliament of the cost of each of the new bodies set up, on which, according to that criterion, there is an external member, in particular an external paid member. I will provide all of that. The number is 52, and members will get that full information.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am getting easily distracted today. It is beyond the member for Cannington’s intellect, but it would seem to me that we need to make some sort of definition of what constitutes a government board or committee. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I think the member for Rockingham would agree that a reasonable definition of a board or committee — Mr B.S. Wyatt : You should publish a dictionary! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I know. I might. The SPEAKER : Order! Take a seat, Premier. Member for Victoria Park, I call you for the first time today. The Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I think a reasonable definition, and one that this government has adopted, is that in any total listing of government boards and committees, the definition that will be used is a committee that has at least — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Member for Armadale, I call you formally for the second time today, and I call the member for Victoria Park for the second time today . Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the third time, a reasonable definition of a board or committee is one that has an external member, and in particular an external member who receives payment. Mr E.S. Ripper : That is one way to reduce the numbers! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, it is. But it is a significant point, because if — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : What is the point? What is the point of trying to respond to a serious question? It is an important question. It is an important question about the number of boards and committees in government. I take it as a serious question. I am trying to provide a serious response. I think that is a reasonable definition. In other words, if a committee or a review board is set up — Mrs M.H. Roberts : How many are there under that definition? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If a committee is set up — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Members, this will be the last question in question time today. Member for Midland, I formally call you for the first time. The Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It seems reasonable that if a body has external members, in particular external paid members, it should constitute a board or committee. The reason I make that distinction is that it means that it would have been set up by government—by cabinet, or by a minister—and there will be, no doubt, additional funding attached to it. If, however, for example, a chief executive officer or a group of agencies sets up some sort of working party internally within government, that is not a board or committee. That is not a review. That is those people doing their job. So, we need to make that distinction to answer the question and to get a proper handle on the number of boards and committees. Since we have come to government, a large number of committees have been abolished. Over 200 have been abolished. There is a significantly further number that will cease to operate, as their time runs out, for various reasons. There is another large number that we would like to abolish, but that will require legislative change. To that effect, we will be bringing in an omnibus bill. I would hope that members would look at that bill and tell us which committees they accept can be abolished and which ones they want to debate. Now, to get to the actual first point of the member’s question, according to that definition, which I believe is the appropriate definition, this government has created 52 new boards since it was elected. We have abolished over five times that number. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite may laugh. We have created 52. I will, when I produce this full report, list every committee that has been created, every one that has been abolished, every one that will cease, and every one that we intend to abolish. Members will find that that will basically halve the number of committees in Western Australia. Mr M. McGowan : What is the cost? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will provide full details at the next sitting of Parliament of the cost of each of the new bodies set up, on which, according to that criterion, there is an external member, in particular an external paid member. I will provide all of that. The number is 52, and members will get that full information.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I think the member for Rockingham would agree that a reasonable definition of a board or committee — Mr B.S. Wyatt : You should publish a dictionary! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I know. I might. The SPEAKER : Order! Take a seat, Premier. Member for Victoria Park, I call you for the first time today. The Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I think a reasonable definition, and one that this government has adopted, is that in any total listing of government boards and committees, the definition that will be used is a committee that has at least — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Member for Armadale, I call you formally for the second time today, and I call the member for Victoria Park for the second time today . Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the third time, a reasonable definition of a board or committee is one that has an external member, and in particular an external member who receives payment. Mr E.S. Ripper : That is one way to reduce the numbers! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, it is. But it is a significant point, because if — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : What is the point? What is the point of trying to respond to a serious question? It is an important question. It is an important question about the number of boards and committees in government. I take it as a serious question. I am trying to provide a serious response. I think that is a reasonable definition. In other words, if a committee or a review board is set up — Mrs M.H. Roberts : How many are there under that definition? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If a committee is set up — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Members, this will be the last question in question time today. Member for Midland, I formally call you for the first time. The Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It seems reasonable that if a body has external members, in particular external paid members, it should constitute a board or committee. The reason I make that distinction is that it means that it would have been set up by government—by cabinet, or by a minister—and there will be, no doubt, additional funding attached to it. If, however, for example, a chief executive officer or a group of agencies sets up some sort of working party internally within government, that is not a board or committee. That is not a review. That is those people doing their job. So, we need to make that distinction to answer the question and to get a proper handle on the number of boards and committees. Since we have come to government, a large number of committees have been abolished. Over 200 have been abolished. There is a significantly further number that will cease to operate, as their time runs out, for various reasons. There is another large number that we would like to abolish, but that will require legislative change. To that effect, we will be bringing in an omnibus bill. I would hope that members would look at that bill and tell us which committees they accept can be abolished and which ones they want to debate. Now, to get to the actual first point of the member’s question, according to that definition, which I believe is the appropriate definition, this government has created 52 new boards since it was elected. We have abolished over five times that number. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite may laugh. We have created 52. I will, when I produce this full report, list every committee that has been created, every one that has been abolished, every one that will cease, and every one that we intend to abolish. Members will find that that will basically halve the number of committees in Western Australia. Mr M. McGowan : What is the cost? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will provide full details at the next sitting of Parliament of the cost of each of the new bodies set up, on which, according to that criterion, there is an external member, in particular an external paid member. I will provide all of that. The number is 52, and members will get that full information.
The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I think the member for Rockingham would agree that a reasonable definition of a board or committee — Mr B.S. Wyatt : You should publish a dictionary! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I know. I might. The SPEAKER : Order! Take a seat, Premier. Member for Victoria Park, I call you for the first time today. The Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I think a reasonable definition, and one that this government has adopted, is that in any total listing of government boards and committees, the definition that will be used is a committee that has at least — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Member for Armadale, I call you formally for the second time today, and I call the member for Victoria Park for the second time today . Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the third time, a reasonable definition of a board or committee is one that has an external member, and in particular an external member who receives payment. Mr E.S. Ripper : That is one way to reduce the numbers! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, it is. But it is a significant point, because if — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : What is the point? What is the point of trying to respond to a serious question? It is an important question. It is an important question about the number of boards and committees in government. I take it as a serious question. I am trying to provide a serious response. I think that is a reasonable definition. In other words, if a committee or a review board is set up — Mrs M.H. Roberts : How many are there under that definition? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If a committee is set up — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Members, this will be the last question in question time today. Member for Midland, I formally call you for the first time. The Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It seems reasonable that if a body has external members, in particular external paid members, it should constitute a board or committee. The reason I make that distinction is that it means that it would have been set up by government—by cabinet, or by a minister—and there will be, no doubt, additional funding attached to it. If, however, for example, a chief executive officer or a group of agencies sets up some sort of working party internally within government, that is not a board or committee. That is not a review. That is those people doing their job. So, we need to make that distinction to answer the question and to get a proper handle on the number of boards and committees. Since we have come to government, a large number of committees have been abolished. Over 200 have been abolished. There is a significantly further number that will cease to operate, as their time runs out, for various reasons. There is another large number that we would like to abolish, but that will require legislative change. To that effect, we will be bringing in an omnibus bill. I would hope that members would look at that bill and tell us which committees they accept can be abolished and which ones they want to debate. Now, to get to the actual first point of the member’s question, according to that definition, which I believe is the appropriate definition, this government has created 52 new boards since it was elected. We have abolished over five times that number. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite may laugh. We have created 52. I will, when I produce this full report, list every committee that has been created, every one that has been abolished, every one that will cease, and every one that we intend to abolish. Members will find that that will basically halve the number of committees in Western Australia. Mr M. McGowan : What is the cost? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will provide full details at the next sitting of Parliament of the cost of each of the new bodies set up, on which, according to that criterion, there is an external member, in particular an external paid member. I will provide all of that. The number is 52, and members will get that full information.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I think the member for Rockingham would agree that a reasonable definition of a board or committee — Mr B.S. Wyatt : You should publish a dictionary! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I know. I might. The SPEAKER : Order! Take a seat, Premier. Member for Victoria Park, I call you for the first time today. The Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I think a reasonable definition, and one that this government has adopted, is that in any total listing of government boards and committees, the definition that will be used is a committee that has at least — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Member for Armadale, I call you formally for the second time today, and I call the member for Victoria Park for the second time today . Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the third time, a reasonable definition of a board or committee is one that has an external member, and in particular an external member who receives payment. Mr E.S. Ripper : That is one way to reduce the numbers! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, it is. But it is a significant point, because if — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : What is the point? What is the point of trying to respond to a serious question? It is an important question. It is an important question about the number of boards and committees in government. I take it as a serious question. I am trying to provide a serious response. I think that is a reasonable definition. In other words, if a committee or a review board is set up — Mrs M.H. Roberts : How many are there under that definition? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If a committee is set up — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Members, this will be the last question in question time today. Member for Midland, I formally call you for the first time. The Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It seems reasonable that if a body has external members, in particular external paid members, it should constitute a board or committee. The reason I make that distinction is that it means that it would have been set up by government—by cabinet, or by a minister—and there will be, no doubt, additional funding attached to it. If, however, for example, a chief executive officer or a group of agencies sets up some sort of working party internally within government, that is not a board or committee. That is not a review. That is those people doing their job. So, we need to make that distinction to answer the question and to get a proper handle on the number of boards and committees. Since we have come to government, a large number of committees have been abolished. Over 200 have been abolished. There is a significantly further number that will cease to operate, as their time runs out, for various reasons. There is another large number that we would like to abolish, but that will require legislative change. To that effect, we will be bringing in an omnibus bill. I would hope that members would look at that bill and tell us which committees they accept can be abolished and which ones they want to debate. Now, to get to the actual first point of the member’s question, according to that definition, which I believe is the appropriate definition, this government has created 52 new boards since it was elected. We have abolished over five times that number. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite may laugh. We have created 52. I will, when I produce this full report, list every committee that has been created, every one that has been abolished, every one that will cease, and every one that we intend to abolish. Members will find that that will basically halve the number of committees in Western Australia. Mr M. McGowan : What is the cost? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will provide full details at the next sitting of Parliament of the cost of each of the new bodies set up, on which, according to that criterion, there is an external member, in particular an external paid member. I will provide all of that. The number is 52, and members will get that full information.
Mr B.S. Wyatt : You should publish a dictionary! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I know. I might. The SPEAKER : Order! Take a seat, Premier. Member for Victoria Park, I call you for the first time today. The Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I think a reasonable definition, and one that this government has adopted, is that in any total listing of government boards and committees, the definition that will be used is a committee that has at least — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Member for Armadale, I call you formally for the second time today, and I call the member for Victoria Park for the second time today . Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the third time, a reasonable definition of a board or committee is one that has an external member, and in particular an external member who receives payment. Mr E.S. Ripper : That is one way to reduce the numbers! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, it is. But it is a significant point, because if — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : What is the point? What is the point of trying to respond to a serious question? It is an important question. It is an important question about the number of boards and committees in government. I take it as a serious question. I am trying to provide a serious response. I think that is a reasonable definition. In other words, if a committee or a review board is set up — Mrs M.H. Roberts : How many are there under that definition? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If a committee is set up — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Members, this will be the last question in question time today. Member for Midland, I formally call you for the first time. The Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It seems reasonable that if a body has external members, in particular external paid members, it should constitute a board or committee. The reason I make that distinction is that it means that it would have been set up by government—by cabinet, or by a minister—and there will be, no doubt, additional funding attached to it. If, however, for example, a chief executive officer or a group of agencies sets up some sort of working party internally within government, that is not a board or committee. That is not a review. That is those people doing their job. So, we need to make that distinction to answer the question and to get a proper handle on the number of boards and committees. Since we have come to government, a large number of committees have been abolished. Over 200 have been abolished. There is a significantly further number that will cease to operate, as their time runs out, for various reasons. There is another large number that we would like to abolish, but that will require legislative change. To that effect, we will be bringing in an omnibus bill. I would hope that members would look at that bill and tell us which committees they accept can be abolished and which ones they want to debate. Now, to get to the actual first point of the member’s question, according to that definition, which I believe is the appropriate definition, this government has created 52 new boards since it was elected. We have abolished over five times that number. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite may laugh. We have created 52. I will, when I produce this full report, list every committee that has been created, every one that has been abolished, every one that will cease, and every one that we intend to abolish. Members will find that that will basically halve the number of committees in Western Australia. Mr M. McGowan : What is the cost? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will provide full details at the next sitting of Parliament of the cost of each of the new bodies set up, on which, according to that criterion, there is an external member, in particular an external paid member. I will provide all of that. The number is 52, and members will get that full information.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I know. I might. The SPEAKER : Order! Take a seat, Premier. Member for Victoria Park, I call you for the first time today. The Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I think a reasonable definition, and one that this government has adopted, is that in any total listing of government boards and committees, the definition that will be used is a committee that has at least — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Member for Armadale, I call you formally for the second time today, and I call the member for Victoria Park for the second time today . Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the third time, a reasonable definition of a board or committee is one that has an external member, and in particular an external member who receives payment. Mr E.S. Ripper : That is one way to reduce the numbers! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, it is. But it is a significant point, because if — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : What is the point? What is the point of trying to respond to a serious question? It is an important question. It is an important question about the number of boards and committees in government. I take it as a serious question. I am trying to provide a serious response. I think that is a reasonable definition. In other words, if a committee or a review board is set up — Mrs M.H. Roberts : How many are there under that definition? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If a committee is set up — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Members, this will be the last question in question time today. Member for Midland, I formally call you for the first time. The Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It seems reasonable that if a body has external members, in particular external paid members, it should constitute a board or committee. The reason I make that distinction is that it means that it would have been set up by government—by cabinet, or by a minister—and there will be, no doubt, additional funding attached to it. If, however, for example, a chief executive officer or a group of agencies sets up some sort of working party internally within government, that is not a board or committee. That is not a review. That is those people doing their job. So, we need to make that distinction to answer the question and to get a proper handle on the number of boards and committees. Since we have come to government, a large number of committees have been abolished. Over 200 have been abolished. There is a significantly further number that will cease to operate, as their time runs out, for various reasons. There is another large number that we would like to abolish, but that will require legislative change. To that effect, we will be bringing in an omnibus bill. I would hope that members would look at that bill and tell us which committees they accept can be abolished and which ones they want to debate. Now, to get to the actual first point of the member’s question, according to that definition, which I believe is the appropriate definition, this government has created 52 new boards since it was elected. We have abolished over five times that number. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite may laugh. We have created 52. I will, when I produce this full report, list every committee that has been created, every one that has been abolished, every one that will cease, and every one that we intend to abolish. Members will find that that will basically halve the number of committees in Western Australia. Mr M. McGowan : What is the cost? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will provide full details at the next sitting of Parliament of the cost of each of the new bodies set up, on which, according to that criterion, there is an external member, in particular an external paid member. I will provide all of that. The number is 52, and members will get that full information.
The SPEAKER : Order! Take a seat, Premier. Member for Victoria Park, I call you for the first time today. The Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I think a reasonable definition, and one that this government has adopted, is that in any total listing of government boards and committees, the definition that will be used is a committee that has at least — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Member for Armadale, I call you formally for the second time today, and I call the member for Victoria Park for the second time today . Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the third time, a reasonable definition of a board or committee is one that has an external member, and in particular an external member who receives payment. Mr E.S. Ripper : That is one way to reduce the numbers! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, it is. But it is a significant point, because if — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : What is the point? What is the point of trying to respond to a serious question? It is an important question. It is an important question about the number of boards and committees in government. I take it as a serious question. I am trying to provide a serious response. I think that is a reasonable definition. In other words, if a committee or a review board is set up — Mrs M.H. Roberts : How many are there under that definition? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If a committee is set up — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Members, this will be the last question in question time today. Member for Midland, I formally call you for the first time. The Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It seems reasonable that if a body has external members, in particular external paid members, it should constitute a board or committee. The reason I make that distinction is that it means that it would have been set up by government—by cabinet, or by a minister—and there will be, no doubt, additional funding attached to it. If, however, for example, a chief executive officer or a group of agencies sets up some sort of working party internally within government, that is not a board or committee. That is not a review. That is those people doing their job. So, we need to make that distinction to answer the question and to get a proper handle on the number of boards and committees. Since we have come to government, a large number of committees have been abolished. Over 200 have been abolished. There is a significantly further number that will cease to operate, as their time runs out, for various reasons. There is another large number that we would like to abolish, but that will require legislative change. To that effect, we will be bringing in an omnibus bill. I would hope that members would look at that bill and tell us which committees they accept can be abolished and which ones they want to debate. Now, to get to the actual first point of the member’s question, according to that definition, which I believe is the appropriate definition, this government has created 52 new boards since it was elected. We have abolished over five times that number. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite may laugh. We have created 52. I will, when I produce this full report, list every committee that has been created, every one that has been abolished, every one that will cease, and every one that we intend to abolish. Members will find that that will basically halve the number of committees in Western Australia. Mr M. McGowan : What is the cost? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will provide full details at the next sitting of Parliament of the cost of each of the new bodies set up, on which, according to that criterion, there is an external member, in particular an external paid member. I will provide all of that. The number is 52, and members will get that full information.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I think a reasonable definition, and one that this government has adopted, is that in any total listing of government boards and committees, the definition that will be used is a committee that has at least — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Member for Armadale, I call you formally for the second time today, and I call the member for Victoria Park for the second time today . Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the third time, a reasonable definition of a board or committee is one that has an external member, and in particular an external member who receives payment. Mr E.S. Ripper : That is one way to reduce the numbers! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, it is. But it is a significant point, because if — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : What is the point? What is the point of trying to respond to a serious question? It is an important question. It is an important question about the number of boards and committees in government. I take it as a serious question. I am trying to provide a serious response. I think that is a reasonable definition. In other words, if a committee or a review board is set up — Mrs M.H. Roberts : How many are there under that definition? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If a committee is set up — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Members, this will be the last question in question time today. Member for Midland, I formally call you for the first time. The Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It seems reasonable that if a body has external members, in particular external paid members, it should constitute a board or committee. The reason I make that distinction is that it means that it would have been set up by government—by cabinet, or by a minister—and there will be, no doubt, additional funding attached to it. If, however, for example, a chief executive officer or a group of agencies sets up some sort of working party internally within government, that is not a board or committee. That is not a review. That is those people doing their job. So, we need to make that distinction to answer the question and to get a proper handle on the number of boards and committees. Since we have come to government, a large number of committees have been abolished. Over 200 have been abolished. There is a significantly further number that will cease to operate, as their time runs out, for various reasons. There is another large number that we would like to abolish, but that will require legislative change. To that effect, we will be bringing in an omnibus bill. I would hope that members would look at that bill and tell us which committees they accept can be abolished and which ones they want to debate. Now, to get to the actual first point of the member’s question, according to that definition, which I believe is the appropriate definition, this government has created 52 new boards since it was elected. We have abolished over five times that number. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite may laugh. We have created 52. I will, when I produce this full report, list every committee that has been created, every one that has been abolished, every one that will cease, and every one that we intend to abolish. Members will find that that will basically halve the number of committees in Western Australia. Mr M. McGowan : What is the cost? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will provide full details at the next sitting of Parliament of the cost of each of the new bodies set up, on which, according to that criterion, there is an external member, in particular an external paid member. I will provide all of that. The number is 52, and members will get that full information.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Member for Armadale, I call you formally for the second time today, and I call the member for Victoria Park for the second time today . Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the third time, a reasonable definition of a board or committee is one that has an external member, and in particular an external member who receives payment. Mr E.S. Ripper : That is one way to reduce the numbers! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, it is. But it is a significant point, because if — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : What is the point? What is the point of trying to respond to a serious question? It is an important question. It is an important question about the number of boards and committees in government. I take it as a serious question. I am trying to provide a serious response. I think that is a reasonable definition. In other words, if a committee or a review board is set up — Mrs M.H. Roberts : How many are there under that definition? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If a committee is set up — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Members, this will be the last question in question time today. Member for Midland, I formally call you for the first time. The Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It seems reasonable that if a body has external members, in particular external paid members, it should constitute a board or committee. The reason I make that distinction is that it means that it would have been set up by government—by cabinet, or by a minister—and there will be, no doubt, additional funding attached to it. If, however, for example, a chief executive officer or a group of agencies sets up some sort of working party internally within government, that is not a board or committee. That is not a review. That is those people doing their job. So, we need to make that distinction to answer the question and to get a proper handle on the number of boards and committees. Since we have come to government, a large number of committees have been abolished. Over 200 have been abolished. There is a significantly further number that will cease to operate, as their time runs out, for various reasons. There is another large number that we would like to abolish, but that will require legislative change. To that effect, we will be bringing in an omnibus bill. I would hope that members would look at that bill and tell us which committees they accept can be abolished and which ones they want to debate. Now, to get to the actual first point of the member’s question, according to that definition, which I believe is the appropriate definition, this government has created 52 new boards since it was elected. We have abolished over five times that number. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite may laugh. We have created 52. I will, when I produce this full report, list every committee that has been created, every one that has been abolished, every one that will cease, and every one that we intend to abolish. Members will find that that will basically halve the number of committees in Western Australia. Mr M. McGowan : What is the cost? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will provide full details at the next sitting of Parliament of the cost of each of the new bodies set up, on which, according to that criterion, there is an external member, in particular an external paid member. I will provide all of that. The number is 52, and members will get that full information.
The SPEAKER : Order! Member for Armadale, I call you formally for the second time today, and I call the member for Victoria Park for the second time today . Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the third time, a reasonable definition of a board or committee is one that has an external member, and in particular an external member who receives payment. Mr E.S. Ripper : That is one way to reduce the numbers! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, it is. But it is a significant point, because if — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : What is the point? What is the point of trying to respond to a serious question? It is an important question. It is an important question about the number of boards and committees in government. I take it as a serious question. I am trying to provide a serious response. I think that is a reasonable definition. In other words, if a committee or a review board is set up — Mrs M.H. Roberts : How many are there under that definition? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If a committee is set up — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Members, this will be the last question in question time today. Member for Midland, I formally call you for the first time. The Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It seems reasonable that if a body has external members, in particular external paid members, it should constitute a board or committee. The reason I make that distinction is that it means that it would have been set up by government—by cabinet, or by a minister—and there will be, no doubt, additional funding attached to it. If, however, for example, a chief executive officer or a group of agencies sets up some sort of working party internally within government, that is not a board or committee. That is not a review. That is those people doing their job. So, we need to make that distinction to answer the question and to get a proper handle on the number of boards and committees. Since we have come to government, a large number of committees have been abolished. Over 200 have been abolished. There is a significantly further number that will cease to operate, as their time runs out, for various reasons. There is another large number that we would like to abolish, but that will require legislative change. To that effect, we will be bringing in an omnibus bill. I would hope that members would look at that bill and tell us which committees they accept can be abolished and which ones they want to debate. Now, to get to the actual first point of the member’s question, according to that definition, which I believe is the appropriate definition, this government has created 52 new boards since it was elected. We have abolished over five times that number. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite may laugh. We have created 52. I will, when I produce this full report, list every committee that has been created, every one that has been abolished, every one that will cease, and every one that we intend to abolish. Members will find that that will basically halve the number of committees in Western Australia. Mr M. McGowan : What is the cost? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will provide full details at the next sitting of Parliament of the cost of each of the new bodies set up, on which, according to that criterion, there is an external member, in particular an external paid member. I will provide all of that. The number is 52, and members will get that full information.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the third time, a reasonable definition of a board or committee is one that has an external member, and in particular an external member who receives payment. Mr E.S. Ripper : That is one way to reduce the numbers! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, it is. But it is a significant point, because if — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : What is the point? What is the point of trying to respond to a serious question? It is an important question. It is an important question about the number of boards and committees in government. I take it as a serious question. I am trying to provide a serious response. I think that is a reasonable definition. In other words, if a committee or a review board is set up — Mrs M.H. Roberts : How many are there under that definition? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If a committee is set up — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Members, this will be the last question in question time today. Member for Midland, I formally call you for the first time. The Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It seems reasonable that if a body has external members, in particular external paid members, it should constitute a board or committee. The reason I make that distinction is that it means that it would have been set up by government—by cabinet, or by a minister—and there will be, no doubt, additional funding attached to it. If, however, for example, a chief executive officer or a group of agencies sets up some sort of working party internally within government, that is not a board or committee. That is not a review. That is those people doing their job. So, we need to make that distinction to answer the question and to get a proper handle on the number of boards and committees. Since we have come to government, a large number of committees have been abolished. Over 200 have been abolished. There is a significantly further number that will cease to operate, as their time runs out, for various reasons. There is another large number that we would like to abolish, but that will require legislative change. To that effect, we will be bringing in an omnibus bill. I would hope that members would look at that bill and tell us which committees they accept can be abolished and which ones they want to debate. Now, to get to the actual first point of the member’s question, according to that definition, which I believe is the appropriate definition, this government has created 52 new boards since it was elected. We have abolished over five times that number. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite may laugh. We have created 52. I will, when I produce this full report, list every committee that has been created, every one that has been abolished, every one that will cease, and every one that we intend to abolish. Members will find that that will basically halve the number of committees in Western Australia. Mr M. McGowan : What is the cost? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will provide full details at the next sitting of Parliament of the cost of each of the new bodies set up, on which, according to that criterion, there is an external member, in particular an external paid member. I will provide all of that. The number is 52, and members will get that full information.
Mr E.S. Ripper : That is one way to reduce the numbers! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, it is. But it is a significant point, because if — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : What is the point? What is the point of trying to respond to a serious question? It is an important question. It is an important question about the number of boards and committees in government. I take it as a serious question. I am trying to provide a serious response. I think that is a reasonable definition. In other words, if a committee or a review board is set up — Mrs M.H. Roberts : How many are there under that definition? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If a committee is set up — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Members, this will be the last question in question time today. Member for Midland, I formally call you for the first time. The Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It seems reasonable that if a body has external members, in particular external paid members, it should constitute a board or committee. The reason I make that distinction is that it means that it would have been set up by government—by cabinet, or by a minister—and there will be, no doubt, additional funding attached to it. If, however, for example, a chief executive officer or a group of agencies sets up some sort of working party internally within government, that is not a board or committee. That is not a review. That is those people doing their job. So, we need to make that distinction to answer the question and to get a proper handle on the number of boards and committees. Since we have come to government, a large number of committees have been abolished. Over 200 have been abolished. There is a significantly further number that will cease to operate, as their time runs out, for various reasons. There is another large number that we would like to abolish, but that will require legislative change. To that effect, we will be bringing in an omnibus bill. I would hope that members would look at that bill and tell us which committees they accept can be abolished and which ones they want to debate. Now, to get to the actual first point of the member’s question, according to that definition, which I believe is the appropriate definition, this government has created 52 new boards since it was elected. We have abolished over five times that number. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite may laugh. We have created 52. I will, when I produce this full report, list every committee that has been created, every one that has been abolished, every one that will cease, and every one that we intend to abolish. Members will find that that will basically halve the number of committees in Western Australia. Mr M. McGowan : What is the cost? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will provide full details at the next sitting of Parliament of the cost of each of the new bodies set up, on which, according to that criterion, there is an external member, in particular an external paid member. I will provide all of that. The number is 52, and members will get that full information.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, it is. But it is a significant point, because if — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : What is the point? What is the point of trying to respond to a serious question? It is an important question. It is an important question about the number of boards and committees in government. I take it as a serious question. I am trying to provide a serious response. I think that is a reasonable definition. In other words, if a committee or a review board is set up — Mrs M.H. Roberts : How many are there under that definition? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If a committee is set up — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Members, this will be the last question in question time today. Member for Midland, I formally call you for the first time. The Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It seems reasonable that if a body has external members, in particular external paid members, it should constitute a board or committee. The reason I make that distinction is that it means that it would have been set up by government—by cabinet, or by a minister—and there will be, no doubt, additional funding attached to it. If, however, for example, a chief executive officer or a group of agencies sets up some sort of working party internally within government, that is not a board or committee. That is not a review. That is those people doing their job. So, we need to make that distinction to answer the question and to get a proper handle on the number of boards and committees. Since we have come to government, a large number of committees have been abolished. Over 200 have been abolished. There is a significantly further number that will cease to operate, as their time runs out, for various reasons. There is another large number that we would like to abolish, but that will require legislative change. To that effect, we will be bringing in an omnibus bill. I would hope that members would look at that bill and tell us which committees they accept can be abolished and which ones they want to debate. Now, to get to the actual first point of the member’s question, according to that definition, which I believe is the appropriate definition, this government has created 52 new boards since it was elected. We have abolished over five times that number. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite may laugh. We have created 52. I will, when I produce this full report, list every committee that has been created, every one that has been abolished, every one that will cease, and every one that we intend to abolish. Members will find that that will basically halve the number of committees in Western Australia. Mr M. McGowan : What is the cost? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will provide full details at the next sitting of Parliament of the cost of each of the new bodies set up, on which, according to that criterion, there is an external member, in particular an external paid member. I will provide all of that. The number is 52, and members will get that full information.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : What is the point? What is the point of trying to respond to a serious question? It is an important question. It is an important question about the number of boards and committees in government. I take it as a serious question. I am trying to provide a serious response. I think that is a reasonable definition. In other words, if a committee or a review board is set up — Mrs M.H. Roberts : How many are there under that definition? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If a committee is set up — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Members, this will be the last question in question time today. Member for Midland, I formally call you for the first time. The Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It seems reasonable that if a body has external members, in particular external paid members, it should constitute a board or committee. The reason I make that distinction is that it means that it would have been set up by government—by cabinet, or by a minister—and there will be, no doubt, additional funding attached to it. If, however, for example, a chief executive officer or a group of agencies sets up some sort of working party internally within government, that is not a board or committee. That is not a review. That is those people doing their job. So, we need to make that distinction to answer the question and to get a proper handle on the number of boards and committees. Since we have come to government, a large number of committees have been abolished. Over 200 have been abolished. There is a significantly further number that will cease to operate, as their time runs out, for various reasons. There is another large number that we would like to abolish, but that will require legislative change. To that effect, we will be bringing in an omnibus bill. I would hope that members would look at that bill and tell us which committees they accept can be abolished and which ones they want to debate. Now, to get to the actual first point of the member’s question, according to that definition, which I believe is the appropriate definition, this government has created 52 new boards since it was elected. We have abolished over five times that number. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite may laugh. We have created 52. I will, when I produce this full report, list every committee that has been created, every one that has been abolished, every one that will cease, and every one that we intend to abolish. Members will find that that will basically halve the number of committees in Western Australia. Mr M. McGowan : What is the cost? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will provide full details at the next sitting of Parliament of the cost of each of the new bodies set up, on which, according to that criterion, there is an external member, in particular an external paid member. I will provide all of that. The number is 52, and members will get that full information.
The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : What is the point? What is the point of trying to respond to a serious question? It is an important question. It is an important question about the number of boards and committees in government. I take it as a serious question. I am trying to provide a serious response. I think that is a reasonable definition. In other words, if a committee or a review board is set up — Mrs M.H. Roberts : How many are there under that definition? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If a committee is set up — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Members, this will be the last question in question time today. Member for Midland, I formally call you for the first time. The Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It seems reasonable that if a body has external members, in particular external paid members, it should constitute a board or committee. The reason I make that distinction is that it means that it would have been set up by government—by cabinet, or by a minister—and there will be, no doubt, additional funding attached to it. If, however, for example, a chief executive officer or a group of agencies sets up some sort of working party internally within government, that is not a board or committee. That is not a review. That is those people doing their job. So, we need to make that distinction to answer the question and to get a proper handle on the number of boards and committees. Since we have come to government, a large number of committees have been abolished. Over 200 have been abolished. There is a significantly further number that will cease to operate, as their time runs out, for various reasons. There is another large number that we would like to abolish, but that will require legislative change. To that effect, we will be bringing in an omnibus bill. I would hope that members would look at that bill and tell us which committees they accept can be abolished and which ones they want to debate. Now, to get to the actual first point of the member’s question, according to that definition, which I believe is the appropriate definition, this government has created 52 new boards since it was elected. We have abolished over five times that number. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite may laugh. We have created 52. I will, when I produce this full report, list every committee that has been created, every one that has been abolished, every one that will cease, and every one that we intend to abolish. Members will find that that will basically halve the number of committees in Western Australia. Mr M. McGowan : What is the cost? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will provide full details at the next sitting of Parliament of the cost of each of the new bodies set up, on which, according to that criterion, there is an external member, in particular an external paid member. I will provide all of that. The number is 52, and members will get that full information.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : What is the point? What is the point of trying to respond to a serious question? It is an important question. It is an important question about the number of boards and committees in government. I take it as a serious question. I am trying to provide a serious response. I think that is a reasonable definition. In other words, if a committee or a review board is set up — Mrs M.H. Roberts : How many are there under that definition? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If a committee is set up — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Members, this will be the last question in question time today. Member for Midland, I formally call you for the first time. The Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It seems reasonable that if a body has external members, in particular external paid members, it should constitute a board or committee. The reason I make that distinction is that it means that it would have been set up by government—by cabinet, or by a minister—and there will be, no doubt, additional funding attached to it. If, however, for example, a chief executive officer or a group of agencies sets up some sort of working party internally within government, that is not a board or committee. That is not a review. That is those people doing their job. So, we need to make that distinction to answer the question and to get a proper handle on the number of boards and committees. Since we have come to government, a large number of committees have been abolished. Over 200 have been abolished. There is a significantly further number that will cease to operate, as their time runs out, for various reasons. There is another large number that we would like to abolish, but that will require legislative change. To that effect, we will be bringing in an omnibus bill. I would hope that members would look at that bill and tell us which committees they accept can be abolished and which ones they want to debate. Now, to get to the actual first point of the member’s question, according to that definition, which I believe is the appropriate definition, this government has created 52 new boards since it was elected. We have abolished over five times that number. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite may laugh. We have created 52. I will, when I produce this full report, list every committee that has been created, every one that has been abolished, every one that will cease, and every one that we intend to abolish. Members will find that that will basically halve the number of committees in Western Australia. Mr M. McGowan : What is the cost? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will provide full details at the next sitting of Parliament of the cost of each of the new bodies set up, on which, according to that criterion, there is an external member, in particular an external paid member. I will provide all of that. The number is 52, and members will get that full information.
Mrs M.H. Roberts : How many are there under that definition? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If a committee is set up — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Members, this will be the last question in question time today. Member for Midland, I formally call you for the first time. The Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It seems reasonable that if a body has external members, in particular external paid members, it should constitute a board or committee. The reason I make that distinction is that it means that it would have been set up by government—by cabinet, or by a minister—and there will be, no doubt, additional funding attached to it. If, however, for example, a chief executive officer or a group of agencies sets up some sort of working party internally within government, that is not a board or committee. That is not a review. That is those people doing their job. So, we need to make that distinction to answer the question and to get a proper handle on the number of boards and committees. Since we have come to government, a large number of committees have been abolished. Over 200 have been abolished. There is a significantly further number that will cease to operate, as their time runs out, for various reasons. There is another large number that we would like to abolish, but that will require legislative change. To that effect, we will be bringing in an omnibus bill. I would hope that members would look at that bill and tell us which committees they accept can be abolished and which ones they want to debate. Now, to get to the actual first point of the member’s question, according to that definition, which I believe is the appropriate definition, this government has created 52 new boards since it was elected. We have abolished over five times that number. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite may laugh. We have created 52. I will, when I produce this full report, list every committee that has been created, every one that has been abolished, every one that will cease, and every one that we intend to abolish. Members will find that that will basically halve the number of committees in Western Australia. Mr M. McGowan : What is the cost? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will provide full details at the next sitting of Parliament of the cost of each of the new bodies set up, on which, according to that criterion, there is an external member, in particular an external paid member. I will provide all of that. The number is 52, and members will get that full information.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : If a committee is set up — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Members, this will be the last question in question time today. Member for Midland, I formally call you for the first time. The Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It seems reasonable that if a body has external members, in particular external paid members, it should constitute a board or committee. The reason I make that distinction is that it means that it would have been set up by government—by cabinet, or by a minister—and there will be, no doubt, additional funding attached to it. If, however, for example, a chief executive officer or a group of agencies sets up some sort of working party internally within government, that is not a board or committee. That is not a review. That is those people doing their job. So, we need to make that distinction to answer the question and to get a proper handle on the number of boards and committees. Since we have come to government, a large number of committees have been abolished. Over 200 have been abolished. There is a significantly further number that will cease to operate, as their time runs out, for various reasons. There is another large number that we would like to abolish, but that will require legislative change. To that effect, we will be bringing in an omnibus bill. I would hope that members would look at that bill and tell us which committees they accept can be abolished and which ones they want to debate. Now, to get to the actual first point of the member’s question, according to that definition, which I believe is the appropriate definition, this government has created 52 new boards since it was elected. We have abolished over five times that number. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite may laugh. We have created 52. I will, when I produce this full report, list every committee that has been created, every one that has been abolished, every one that will cease, and every one that we intend to abolish. Members will find that that will basically halve the number of committees in Western Australia. Mr M. McGowan : What is the cost? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will provide full details at the next sitting of Parliament of the cost of each of the new bodies set up, on which, according to that criterion, there is an external member, in particular an external paid member. I will provide all of that. The number is 52, and members will get that full information.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Members, this will be the last question in question time today. Member for Midland, I formally call you for the first time. The Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It seems reasonable that if a body has external members, in particular external paid members, it should constitute a board or committee. The reason I make that distinction is that it means that it would have been set up by government—by cabinet, or by a minister—and there will be, no doubt, additional funding attached to it. If, however, for example, a chief executive officer or a group of agencies sets up some sort of working party internally within government, that is not a board or committee. That is not a review. That is those people doing their job. So, we need to make that distinction to answer the question and to get a proper handle on the number of boards and committees. Since we have come to government, a large number of committees have been abolished. Over 200 have been abolished. There is a significantly further number that will cease to operate, as their time runs out, for various reasons. There is another large number that we would like to abolish, but that will require legislative change. To that effect, we will be bringing in an omnibus bill. I would hope that members would look at that bill and tell us which committees they accept can be abolished and which ones they want to debate. Now, to get to the actual first point of the member’s question, according to that definition, which I believe is the appropriate definition, this government has created 52 new boards since it was elected. We have abolished over five times that number. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite may laugh. We have created 52. I will, when I produce this full report, list every committee that has been created, every one that has been abolished, every one that will cease, and every one that we intend to abolish. Members will find that that will basically halve the number of committees in Western Australia. Mr M. McGowan : What is the cost? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will provide full details at the next sitting of Parliament of the cost of each of the new bodies set up, on which, according to that criterion, there is an external member, in particular an external paid member. I will provide all of that. The number is 52, and members will get that full information.
The SPEAKER : Order! Members, this will be the last question in question time today. Member for Midland, I formally call you for the first time. The Premier. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It seems reasonable that if a body has external members, in particular external paid members, it should constitute a board or committee. The reason I make that distinction is that it means that it would have been set up by government—by cabinet, or by a minister—and there will be, no doubt, additional funding attached to it. If, however, for example, a chief executive officer or a group of agencies sets up some sort of working party internally within government, that is not a board or committee. That is not a review. That is those people doing their job. So, we need to make that distinction to answer the question and to get a proper handle on the number of boards and committees. Since we have come to government, a large number of committees have been abolished. Over 200 have been abolished. There is a significantly further number that will cease to operate, as their time runs out, for various reasons. There is another large number that we would like to abolish, but that will require legislative change. To that effect, we will be bringing in an omnibus bill. I would hope that members would look at that bill and tell us which committees they accept can be abolished and which ones they want to debate. Now, to get to the actual first point of the member’s question, according to that definition, which I believe is the appropriate definition, this government has created 52 new boards since it was elected. We have abolished over five times that number. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite may laugh. We have created 52. I will, when I produce this full report, list every committee that has been created, every one that has been abolished, every one that will cease, and every one that we intend to abolish. Members will find that that will basically halve the number of committees in Western Australia. Mr M. McGowan : What is the cost? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will provide full details at the next sitting of Parliament of the cost of each of the new bodies set up, on which, according to that criterion, there is an external member, in particular an external paid member. I will provide all of that. The number is 52, and members will get that full information.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : It seems reasonable that if a body has external members, in particular external paid members, it should constitute a board or committee. The reason I make that distinction is that it means that it would have been set up by government—by cabinet, or by a minister—and there will be, no doubt, additional funding attached to it. If, however, for example, a chief executive officer or a group of agencies sets up some sort of working party internally within government, that is not a board or committee. That is not a review. That is those people doing their job. So, we need to make that distinction to answer the question and to get a proper handle on the number of boards and committees. Since we have come to government, a large number of committees have been abolished. Over 200 have been abolished. There is a significantly further number that will cease to operate, as their time runs out, for various reasons. There is another large number that we would like to abolish, but that will require legislative change. To that effect, we will be bringing in an omnibus bill. I would hope that members would look at that bill and tell us which committees they accept can be abolished and which ones they want to debate. Now, to get to the actual first point of the member’s question, according to that definition, which I believe is the appropriate definition, this government has created 52 new boards since it was elected. We have abolished over five times that number. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite may laugh. We have created 52. I will, when I produce this full report, list every committee that has been created, every one that has been abolished, every one that will cease, and every one that we intend to abolish. Members will find that that will basically halve the number of committees in Western Australia. Mr M. McGowan : What is the cost? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will provide full details at the next sitting of Parliament of the cost of each of the new bodies set up, on which, according to that criterion, there is an external member, in particular an external paid member. I will provide all of that. The number is 52, and members will get that full information.
Now, to get to the actual first point of the member’s question, according to that definition, which I believe is the appropriate definition, this government has created 52 new boards since it was elected. We have abolished over five times that number. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite may laugh. We have created 52. I will, when I produce this full report, list every committee that has been created, every one that has been abolished, every one that will cease, and every one that we intend to abolish. Members will find that that will basically halve the number of committees in Western Australia. Mr M. McGowan : What is the cost? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will provide full details at the next sitting of Parliament of the cost of each of the new bodies set up, on which, according to that criterion, there is an external member, in particular an external paid member. I will provide all of that. The number is 52, and members will get that full information.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite may laugh. We have created 52. I will, when I produce this full report, list every committee that has been created, every one that has been abolished, every one that will cease, and every one that we intend to abolish. Members will find that that will basically halve the number of committees in Western Australia. Mr M. McGowan : What is the cost? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will provide full details at the next sitting of Parliament of the cost of each of the new bodies set up, on which, according to that criterion, there is an external member, in particular an external paid member. I will provide all of that. The number is 52, and members will get that full information.
The SPEAKER : Thank you, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite may laugh. We have created 52. I will, when I produce this full report, list every committee that has been created, every one that has been abolished, every one that will cease, and every one that we intend to abolish. Members will find that that will basically halve the number of committees in Western Australia. Mr M. McGowan : What is the cost? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will provide full details at the next sitting of Parliament of the cost of each of the new bodies set up, on which, according to that criterion, there is an external member, in particular an external paid member. I will provide all of that. The number is 52, and members will get that full information.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite may laugh. We have created 52. I will, when I produce this full report, list every committee that has been created, every one that has been abolished, every one that will cease, and every one that we intend to abolish. Members will find that that will basically halve the number of committees in Western Australia. Mr M. McGowan : What is the cost? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will provide full details at the next sitting of Parliament of the cost of each of the new bodies set up, on which, according to that criterion, there is an external member, in particular an external paid member. I will provide all of that. The number is 52, and members will get that full information.
Mr M. McGowan : What is the cost? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will provide full details at the next sitting of Parliament of the cost of each of the new bodies set up, on which, according to that criterion, there is an external member, in particular an external paid member. I will provide all of that. The number is 52, and members will get that full information.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will provide full details at the next sitting of Parliament of the cost of each of the new bodies set up, on which, according to that criterion, there is an external member, in particular an external paid member. I will provide all of that. The number is 52, and members will get that full information.
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