❓ Opposition questions the Premier regarding the disclosure of documents related to Clive Palmer's Balmoral South mining project approvals. The Premier defends the Minister for Regional Development's handling of the matter, citing commercial sensitivity and compliance with FOI laws, while admitting he hasn't reviewed the documents himself.
AnsweredQoN 478Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
BALMORAL SOUTH MINING PROJECT APPROVALS
I refer to the 21-plus unreleased documents and minutes of six meetings relating to contact between the Minister for Regional Development and billionaire National Party supporter Clive Palmer. (1) Will the Premier ensure complete disclosure of these documents? (2) Has the Premier or his office examined these documents to see what is in them? (3) Has the Premier satisfied himself that the documents show no impropriety? (4) Will the Premier release any and all documents from his own office in relation to Mr Palmer and his approvals? Mr C.J. BARNETT
I refer to the 21-plus unreleased documents and minutes of six meetings relating to contact between the Minister for Regional Development and billionaire National Party supporter Clive Palmer. (1) Will the Premier ensure complete disclosure of these documents? (2) Has the Premier or his office examined these documents to see what is in them? (3) Has the Premier satisfied himself that the documents show no impropriety? (4) Will the Premier release any and all documents from his own office in relation to Mr Palmer and his approvals? Mr C.J. BARNETT
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for the question. (1)–(4) The Minister for Regional Development has, as he has said in this Parliament several times, complied with the Freedom of Information Act and has released documents. The information that members opposite are referring to is commercially sensitive to Mineralogy. That is the position; that is the way the system works. I have not seen the documents. Mr M. McGowan : Then how do you know? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I take him at his word. Mr M. McGowan : You should look at the documents. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have not seen the documents. I am not aware of whether anyone in my office has seen them. Mr M. McGowan : Are you going to look at them? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am trying to answer the question. I have not seen them and I have not sought to see them. I am not aware of any documents from my office. I do not believe that there are any documents from my office, but I will undertake to have a look to see if there are. I do not think there are.
(1) Will the Premier ensure complete disclosure of these documents? (2) Has the Premier or his office examined these documents to see what is in them? (3) Has the Premier satisfied himself that the documents show no impropriety? (4) Will the Premier release any and all documents from his own office in relation to Mr Palmer and his approvals? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: I thank the member for the question. (1)–(4) The Minister for Regional Development has, as he has said in this Parliament several times, complied with the Freedom of Information Act and has released documents. The information that members opposite are referring to is commercially sensitive to Mineralogy. That is the position; that is the way the system works. I have not seen the documents. Mr M. McGowan : Then how do you know? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I take him at his word. Mr M. McGowan : You should look at the documents. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have not seen the documents. I am not aware of whether anyone in my office has seen them. Mr M. McGowan : Are you going to look at them? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am trying to answer the question. I have not seen them and I have not sought to see them. I am not aware of any documents from my office. I do not believe that there are any documents from my office, but I will undertake to have a look to see if there are. I do not think there are.
(2) Has the Premier or his office examined these documents to see what is in them? (3) Has the Premier satisfied himself that the documents show no impropriety? (4) Will the Premier release any and all documents from his own office in relation to Mr Palmer and his approvals? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: I thank the member for the question. (1)–(4) The Minister for Regional Development has, as he has said in this Parliament several times, complied with the Freedom of Information Act and has released documents. The information that members opposite are referring to is commercially sensitive to Mineralogy. That is the position; that is the way the system works. I have not seen the documents. Mr M. McGowan : Then how do you know? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I take him at his word. Mr M. McGowan : You should look at the documents. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have not seen the documents. I am not aware of whether anyone in my office has seen them. Mr M. McGowan : Are you going to look at them? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am trying to answer the question. I have not seen them and I have not sought to see them. I am not aware of any documents from my office. I do not believe that there are any documents from my office, but I will undertake to have a look to see if there are. I do not think there are.
(3) Has the Premier satisfied himself that the documents show no impropriety? (4) Will the Premier release any and all documents from his own office in relation to Mr Palmer and his approvals? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: I thank the member for the question. (1)–(4) The Minister for Regional Development has, as he has said in this Parliament several times, complied with the Freedom of Information Act and has released documents. The information that members opposite are referring to is commercially sensitive to Mineralogy. That is the position; that is the way the system works. I have not seen the documents. Mr M. McGowan : Then how do you know? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I take him at his word. Mr M. McGowan : You should look at the documents. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have not seen the documents. I am not aware of whether anyone in my office has seen them. Mr M. McGowan : Are you going to look at them? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am trying to answer the question. I have not seen them and I have not sought to see them. I am not aware of any documents from my office. I do not believe that there are any documents from my office, but I will undertake to have a look to see if there are. I do not think there are.
(4) Will the Premier release any and all documents from his own office in relation to Mr Palmer and his approvals? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: I thank the member for the question. (1)–(4) The Minister for Regional Development has, as he has said in this Parliament several times, complied with the Freedom of Information Act and has released documents. The information that members opposite are referring to is commercially sensitive to Mineralogy. That is the position; that is the way the system works. I have not seen the documents. Mr M. McGowan : Then how do you know? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I take him at his word. Mr M. McGowan : You should look at the documents. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have not seen the documents. I am not aware of whether anyone in my office has seen them. Mr M. McGowan : Are you going to look at them? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am trying to answer the question. I have not seen them and I have not sought to see them. I am not aware of any documents from my office. I do not believe that there are any documents from my office, but I will undertake to have a look to see if there are. I do not think there are.
Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: I thank the member for the question. (1)–(4) The Minister for Regional Development has, as he has said in this Parliament several times, complied with the Freedom of Information Act and has released documents. The information that members opposite are referring to is commercially sensitive to Mineralogy. That is the position; that is the way the system works. I have not seen the documents. Mr M. McGowan : Then how do you know? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I take him at his word. Mr M. McGowan : You should look at the documents. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have not seen the documents. I am not aware of whether anyone in my office has seen them. Mr M. McGowan : Are you going to look at them? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am trying to answer the question. I have not seen them and I have not sought to see them. I am not aware of any documents from my office. I do not believe that there are any documents from my office, but I will undertake to have a look to see if there are. I do not think there are.
I thank the member for the question. (1)–(4) The Minister for Regional Development has, as he has said in this Parliament several times, complied with the Freedom of Information Act and has released documents. The information that members opposite are referring to is commercially sensitive to Mineralogy. That is the position; that is the way the system works. I have not seen the documents. Mr M. McGowan : Then how do you know? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I take him at his word. Mr M. McGowan : You should look at the documents. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have not seen the documents. I am not aware of whether anyone in my office has seen them. Mr M. McGowan : Are you going to look at them? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am trying to answer the question. I have not seen them and I have not sought to see them. I am not aware of any documents from my office. I do not believe that there are any documents from my office, but I will undertake to have a look to see if there are. I do not think there are.
(1)–(4) The Minister for Regional Development has, as he has said in this Parliament several times, complied with the Freedom of Information Act and has released documents. The information that members opposite are referring to is commercially sensitive to Mineralogy. That is the position; that is the way the system works. I have not seen the documents. Mr M. McGowan : Then how do you know? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I take him at his word. Mr M. McGowan : You should look at the documents. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have not seen the documents. I am not aware of whether anyone in my office has seen them. Mr M. McGowan : Are you going to look at them? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am trying to answer the question. I have not seen them and I have not sought to see them. I am not aware of any documents from my office. I do not believe that there are any documents from my office, but I will undertake to have a look to see if there are. I do not think there are.
Mr M. McGowan : Then how do you know? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I take him at his word. Mr M. McGowan : You should look at the documents. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have not seen the documents. I am not aware of whether anyone in my office has seen them. Mr M. McGowan : Are you going to look at them? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am trying to answer the question. I have not seen them and I have not sought to see them. I am not aware of any documents from my office. I do not believe that there are any documents from my office, but I will undertake to have a look to see if there are. I do not think there are.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I take him at his word. Mr M. McGowan : You should look at the documents. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have not seen the documents. I am not aware of whether anyone in my office has seen them. Mr M. McGowan : Are you going to look at them? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am trying to answer the question. I have not seen them and I have not sought to see them. I am not aware of any documents from my office. I do not believe that there are any documents from my office, but I will undertake to have a look to see if there are. I do not think there are.
Mr M. McGowan : You should look at the documents. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have not seen the documents. I am not aware of whether anyone in my office has seen them. Mr M. McGowan : Are you going to look at them? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am trying to answer the question. I have not seen them and I have not sought to see them. I am not aware of any documents from my office. I do not believe that there are any documents from my office, but I will undertake to have a look to see if there are. I do not think there are.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have not seen the documents. I am not aware of whether anyone in my office has seen them. Mr M. McGowan : Are you going to look at them? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am trying to answer the question. I have not seen them and I have not sought to see them. I am not aware of any documents from my office. I do not believe that there are any documents from my office, but I will undertake to have a look to see if there are. I do not think there are.
Mr M. McGowan : Are you going to look at them? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am trying to answer the question. I have not seen them and I have not sought to see them. I am not aware of any documents from my office. I do not believe that there are any documents from my office, but I will undertake to have a look to see if there are. I do not think there are.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am trying to answer the question. I have not seen them and I have not sought to see them. I am not aware of any documents from my office. I do not believe that there are any documents from my office, but I will undertake to have a look to see if there are. I do not think there are.
(1) Will the Premier ensure complete disclosure of these documents? (2) Has the Premier or his office examined these documents to see what is in them? (3) Has the Premier satisfied himself that the documents show no impropriety? (4) Will the Premier release any and all documents from his own office in relation to Mr Palmer and his approvals? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: I thank the member for the question. (1)–(4) The Minister for Regional Development has, as he has said in this Parliament several times, complied with the Freedom of Information Act and has released documents. The information that members opposite are referring to is commercially sensitive to Mineralogy. That is the position; that is the way the system works. I have not seen the documents. Mr M. McGowan : Then how do you know? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I take him at his word. Mr M. McGowan : You should look at the documents. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have not seen the documents. I am not aware of whether anyone in my office has seen them. Mr M. McGowan : Are you going to look at them? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am trying to answer the question. I have not seen them and I have not sought to see them. I am not aware of any documents from my office. I do not believe that there are any documents from my office, but I will undertake to have a look to see if there are. I do not think there are.
(2) Has the Premier or his office examined these documents to see what is in them? (3) Has the Premier satisfied himself that the documents show no impropriety? (4) Will the Premier release any and all documents from his own office in relation to Mr Palmer and his approvals? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: I thank the member for the question. (1)–(4) The Minister for Regional Development has, as he has said in this Parliament several times, complied with the Freedom of Information Act and has released documents. The information that members opposite are referring to is commercially sensitive to Mineralogy. That is the position; that is the way the system works. I have not seen the documents. Mr M. McGowan : Then how do you know? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I take him at his word. Mr M. McGowan : You should look at the documents. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have not seen the documents. I am not aware of whether anyone in my office has seen them. Mr M. McGowan : Are you going to look at them? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am trying to answer the question. I have not seen them and I have not sought to see them. I am not aware of any documents from my office. I do not believe that there are any documents from my office, but I will undertake to have a look to see if there are. I do not think there are.
(3) Has the Premier satisfied himself that the documents show no impropriety? (4) Will the Premier release any and all documents from his own office in relation to Mr Palmer and his approvals? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: I thank the member for the question. (1)–(4) The Minister for Regional Development has, as he has said in this Parliament several times, complied with the Freedom of Information Act and has released documents. The information that members opposite are referring to is commercially sensitive to Mineralogy. That is the position; that is the way the system works. I have not seen the documents. Mr M. McGowan : Then how do you know? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I take him at his word. Mr M. McGowan : You should look at the documents. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have not seen the documents. I am not aware of whether anyone in my office has seen them. Mr M. McGowan : Are you going to look at them? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am trying to answer the question. I have not seen them and I have not sought to see them. I am not aware of any documents from my office. I do not believe that there are any documents from my office, but I will undertake to have a look to see if there are. I do not think there are.
(4) Will the Premier release any and all documents from his own office in relation to Mr Palmer and his approvals? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: I thank the member for the question. (1)–(4) The Minister for Regional Development has, as he has said in this Parliament several times, complied with the Freedom of Information Act and has released documents. The information that members opposite are referring to is commercially sensitive to Mineralogy. That is the position; that is the way the system works. I have not seen the documents. Mr M. McGowan : Then how do you know? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I take him at his word. Mr M. McGowan : You should look at the documents. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have not seen the documents. I am not aware of whether anyone in my office has seen them. Mr M. McGowan : Are you going to look at them? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am trying to answer the question. I have not seen them and I have not sought to see them. I am not aware of any documents from my office. I do not believe that there are any documents from my office, but I will undertake to have a look to see if there are. I do not think there are.
Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: I thank the member for the question. (1)–(4) The Minister for Regional Development has, as he has said in this Parliament several times, complied with the Freedom of Information Act and has released documents. The information that members opposite are referring to is commercially sensitive to Mineralogy. That is the position; that is the way the system works. I have not seen the documents. Mr M. McGowan : Then how do you know? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I take him at his word. Mr M. McGowan : You should look at the documents. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have not seen the documents. I am not aware of whether anyone in my office has seen them. Mr M. McGowan : Are you going to look at them? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am trying to answer the question. I have not seen them and I have not sought to see them. I am not aware of any documents from my office. I do not believe that there are any documents from my office, but I will undertake to have a look to see if there are. I do not think there are.
I thank the member for the question. (1)–(4) The Minister for Regional Development has, as he has said in this Parliament several times, complied with the Freedom of Information Act and has released documents. The information that members opposite are referring to is commercially sensitive to Mineralogy. That is the position; that is the way the system works. I have not seen the documents. Mr M. McGowan : Then how do you know? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I take him at his word. Mr M. McGowan : You should look at the documents. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have not seen the documents. I am not aware of whether anyone in my office has seen them. Mr M. McGowan : Are you going to look at them? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am trying to answer the question. I have not seen them and I have not sought to see them. I am not aware of any documents from my office. I do not believe that there are any documents from my office, but I will undertake to have a look to see if there are. I do not think there are.
(1)–(4) The Minister for Regional Development has, as he has said in this Parliament several times, complied with the Freedom of Information Act and has released documents. The information that members opposite are referring to is commercially sensitive to Mineralogy. That is the position; that is the way the system works. I have not seen the documents. Mr M. McGowan : Then how do you know? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I take him at his word. Mr M. McGowan : You should look at the documents. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have not seen the documents. I am not aware of whether anyone in my office has seen them. Mr M. McGowan : Are you going to look at them? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am trying to answer the question. I have not seen them and I have not sought to see them. I am not aware of any documents from my office. I do not believe that there are any documents from my office, but I will undertake to have a look to see if there are. I do not think there are.
Mr M. McGowan : Then how do you know? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I take him at his word. Mr M. McGowan : You should look at the documents. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have not seen the documents. I am not aware of whether anyone in my office has seen them. Mr M. McGowan : Are you going to look at them? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am trying to answer the question. I have not seen them and I have not sought to see them. I am not aware of any documents from my office. I do not believe that there are any documents from my office, but I will undertake to have a look to see if there are. I do not think there are.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I take him at his word. Mr M. McGowan : You should look at the documents. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have not seen the documents. I am not aware of whether anyone in my office has seen them. Mr M. McGowan : Are you going to look at them? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am trying to answer the question. I have not seen them and I have not sought to see them. I am not aware of any documents from my office. I do not believe that there are any documents from my office, but I will undertake to have a look to see if there are. I do not think there are.
Mr M. McGowan : You should look at the documents. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have not seen the documents. I am not aware of whether anyone in my office has seen them. Mr M. McGowan : Are you going to look at them? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am trying to answer the question. I have not seen them and I have not sought to see them. I am not aware of any documents from my office. I do not believe that there are any documents from my office, but I will undertake to have a look to see if there are. I do not think there are.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have not seen the documents. I am not aware of whether anyone in my office has seen them. Mr M. McGowan : Are you going to look at them? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am trying to answer the question. I have not seen them and I have not sought to see them. I am not aware of any documents from my office. I do not believe that there are any documents from my office, but I will undertake to have a look to see if there are. I do not think there are.
Mr M. McGowan : Are you going to look at them? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am trying to answer the question. I have not seen them and I have not sought to see them. I am not aware of any documents from my office. I do not believe that there are any documents from my office, but I will undertake to have a look to see if there are. I do not think there are.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am trying to answer the question. I have not seen them and I have not sought to see them. I am not aware of any documents from my office. I do not believe that there are any documents from my office, but I will undertake to have a look to see if there are. I do not think there are.
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