❓ The Leader of the Opposition questions the Premier about bullying allegations against his staff made by other members of parliament. The Premier denies the allegations and states no formal complaints have been made.
AnsweredQoN 697Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
DEPARTMENT OF THE PREMIER AND CABINET —
STAFF BULLYING — ALLEGATIONS
697. Mr M. McGOWAN to the Premier:
I refer to claims made by the member
for Murray–Wellington that the Department of the Premier and Cabinet
had placed spies in his office to report back on him, and claims by Hon Helen Morton that she had to stop
certain members of the Premier's staff from contacting her staff when
she was a minister due to their ''demoralising and destructive influence
on her office''.
(1) Has the Premier received complaints of
bullying or misconduct from ministers regarding his staff; and, i f so,
which staff members and what was the nature of the allegations?
(2) Have any of the Premier's staff
members ever been counselled for their behaviour towards other ministerial
staff or ministers?
STAFF BULLYING — ALLEGATIONS
697. Mr M. McGOWAN to the Premier:
I refer to claims made by the member
for Murray–Wellington that the Department of the Premier and Cabinet
had placed spies in his office to report back on him, and claims by Hon Helen Morton that she had to stop
certain members of the Premier's staff from contacting her staff when
she was a minister due to their ''demoralising and destructive influence
on her office''.
(1) Has the Premier received complaints of
bullying or misconduct from ministers regarding his staff; and, i f so,
which staff members and what was the nature of the allegations?
(2) Have any of the Premier's staff
members ever been counselled for their behaviour towards other ministerial
staff or ministers?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) I
do not think my staff is an issue for the Leader of the Opposition, and if he
wishes to go down that path, that would be a grave, grave mistake.
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Members!
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : I am just making the point that the Leader of the Opposition
would not want to go down that path.
With respect to the comments made by
the member for Murray–Wellington, that I had placed spies in his office—I
think that was it—that is just not true. This is not the Cold War. It
is a ridiculous assertion—just no truth at all. Ministers appoint their
own staff, so there is just no truth in that. With respect to the comments made
by Hon Helen Morton, we had a party
room meeting today—a long meeting and a pretty open one—and
some comments were made relating to my staff, but no complaint has been made to
me concerning the conduct —
Ms M.M. Quirk interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen!
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : If a member of Parliament wanted to make a formal complaint
to me or to the head of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet about the
conduct of my staff, they would do so.
Mr
M. McGowan : And none have been made?
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : No member has made such a complaint.
do not think my staff is an issue for the Leader of the Opposition, and if he
wishes to go down that path, that would be a grave, grave mistake.
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Members!
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : I am just making the point that the Leader of the Opposition
would not want to go down that path.
With respect to the comments made by
the member for Murray–Wellington, that I had placed spies in his office—I
think that was it—that is just not true. This is not the Cold War. It
is a ridiculous assertion—just no truth at all. Ministers appoint their
own staff, so there is just no truth in that. With respect to the comments made
by Hon Helen Morton, we had a party
room meeting today—a long meeting and a pretty open one—and
some comments were made relating to my staff, but no complaint has been made to
me concerning the conduct —
Ms M.M. Quirk interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen!
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : If a member of Parliament wanted to make a formal complaint
to me or to the head of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet about the
conduct of my staff, they would do so.
Mr
M. McGowan : And none have been made?
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : No member has made such a complaint.
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