❓ Opposition Leader McGowan questions Premier Barnett about communication with the former Minister for Local Government regarding local government amalgamations and the Lord Mayor of Perth's disclosure issues. Barnett denies directing anyone on how to handle the Lord Mayor's situation and claims frequent discussions with the former minister.
AnsweredQoN 708Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
MINISTER FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT — MEETINGS
WITH PREMIER
708. Mr M. McGOWAN to the Premier:
Mr Speaker —
Mr
R.H. Cook interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Kwinana! That is enough!
Mr
M. McGOWAN : I refer to the comments by the former Minister for Local
Government that he had to listen to talkback radio to find out what the Premier
has said about his portfolio and then try to find a way to adjust and work off
that.
(1) Why was the
Premier so difficult for the former minister to contact and deal with during
the period the Premier was pushing controversial local government amalgamations?
(2) Did the
Premier at any point direct the former minister or his office on how he wanted
the disclosure issues of the Lord Mayor, Lisa Scaffidi, dealt with?
WITH PREMIER
708. Mr M. McGOWAN to the Premier:
Mr Speaker —
Mr
R.H. Cook interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Kwinana! That is enough!
Mr
M. McGOWAN : I refer to the comments by the former Minister for Local
Government that he had to listen to talkback radio to find out what the Premier
has said about his portfolio and then try to find a way to adjust and work off
that.
(1) Why was the
Premier so difficult for the former minister to contact and deal with during
the period the Premier was pushing controversial local government amalgamations?
(2) Did the
Premier at any point direct the former minister or his office on how he wanted
the disclosure issues of the Lord Mayor, Lisa Scaffidi, dealt with?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) I
have no idea what the former Minister for Local Government was referring to in
terms of listening on the radio, because I had numerous and frequent meetings
with him about local government, particularly the City of Perth Act, which I think
has been a significant achievement that he can take a lot of credit for,
because we have finally got a city —
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : That is enough!
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : I do not know why members laugh. We have finally got a city
with a proper boundary. It is a damn good act.
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : That is enough!
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : What is happening in the City of Perth has been a one-in-100-years
transformation.
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Thank you! Member for Mandurah, I call you to order for the second
time. Premier, through the Chair.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : The former Minister for Local Government and I had lots of
discussions and attended lots of meetings about the City of Perth in particular
but also about local government reform generally.
Mrs
M.H. Roberts interjected.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : I am just trying to answer the question.
Mr
M. McGowan interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition!
Mr
M. McGowan interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I have been pretty lenient with you.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : With respect to the situation relating to the Lord Mayor's
travel and the sort of inquiries and the case as it has been proceeding, in no
way have I directed anyone on how that should be handled, other than expressing
a view, which I expressed publicly, that I would want the matter dealt with as
quickly as possible.
have no idea what the former Minister for Local Government was referring to in
terms of listening on the radio, because I had numerous and frequent meetings
with him about local government, particularly the City of Perth Act, which I think
has been a significant achievement that he can take a lot of credit for,
because we have finally got a city —
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : That is enough!
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : I do not know why members laugh. We have finally got a city
with a proper boundary. It is a damn good act.
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : That is enough!
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : What is happening in the City of Perth has been a one-in-100-years
transformation.
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Thank you! Member for Mandurah, I call you to order for the second
time. Premier, through the Chair.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : The former Minister for Local Government and I had lots of
discussions and attended lots of meetings about the City of Perth in particular
but also about local government reform generally.
Mrs
M.H. Roberts interjected.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : I am just trying to answer the question.
Mr
M. McGowan interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition!
Mr
M. McGowan interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I have been pretty lenient with you.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : With respect to the situation relating to the Lord Mayor's
travel and the sort of inquiries and the case as it has been proceeding, in no
way have I directed anyone on how that should be handled, other than expressing
a view, which I expressed publicly, that I would want the matter dealt with as
quickly as possible.
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