❓ Question regarding discussions about an Auditor General's report on DevelopmentWA with former lands ministers. The Minister's response avoids a direct answer, instead attacking the Leader of the Opposition's integrity.
AnsweredQoN 183Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
DevelopmentWA—Auditor General report
183. Mr Jonathan Huston to the Minister for
Planning and Lands:
I have a
supplementary question. Has the minister discussed the findings of the Auditor
General's report with the former lands ministers responsible during that time?
183. Mr Jonathan Huston to the Minister for
Planning and Lands:
I have a
supplementary question. Has the minister discussed the findings of the Auditor
General's report with the former lands ministers responsible during that time?
AnswerView source ↗
What I can say is
that I have regular briefings and engagement with the board of DevelopmentWA,
but I would say two things. Noting the commentary from the Leader of the
Liberal Party—
Mr Basil Zempilas interjected.
Mr John Carey: Noting the comments, he does not
support the Regional Land Booster program and—
Mr Basil Zempilas interjected.
The Speaker: Members!
Mr John Carey: He does not support the Regional Land Booster
program—
Mr Basil Zempilas interjected.
Mr John Carey: Shall we stop question time so that the
Leader of the Opposition can just do monologues? We can talk about him closing
women's shelters.
Mr Basil Zempilas: Risk of error, fraud and
corruption.
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members!
Mr John Carey: Can I say this: to get a lecture from
the Leader of the Liberal Party about integrity is extraordinary.
Mr Basil Zempilas: You can talk about me and
you avoid what the Auditor General said.
Mr John Carey: No.
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members! Treasurer, members, the member
for Belmont and Leader of the Opposition, please stop interjecting. The
minister is about to conclude his comments.
Mr John Carey: The yelling and screaming by the leader
of the Liberals hides the fact that I believe there is only one person in this
chamber who has been found that they did not act with integrity. I refer to the
Local Government Standards Panel, which concluded that Zempilas had failed to
act with integrity in not expressly separating his two roles and managing a
conflict of interest—this is from WAtoday .
It stated:
… Zempilas has been ordered to
issue a public apology after using his council-linked social media profile to
campaign for higher office, in breach of local government rules.
I do not know of
another member of this place—
Mr Basil Zempilas: You're comparing that with
the Auditor General's findings.
Mr John Carey: I know the Leader of the Opposition is
very sensitive about this.
Mr Basil Zempilas: You're comparing that with
the Auditor General's findings.
Mr John Carey: Very sensitive.
Mr Basil Zempilas: Error, fraud and corruption,
she said.
Several members
interjected.
Mr John Carey: Speaker, I would seek guidance. The
Liberal leader has just sought to say that the Auditor General found
corruption.
Mr Basil Zempilas: She said risk of error.
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members!
All interjections are not actually captured. The fact that you have now raised
it is something that may be recorded. I shall just take a little bit of advice.
Mr Paul Papalia: Once you acknowledge it, it
has to be recorded.
The Speaker: Yes. The fact that we are talking about
this now is probably going to be recorded. The member actually did clarify what
he meant to say, and I think it is best that the minister finish his comments.
Mr John Carey: The point I was making is that I am not
aware of anyone else in this chamber who has had a standards panel find that
they did not act with integrity—the audacity of the Leader of the
Liberal Party, the only person in this chamber who has had to publicly
apologise due to failing to act with integrity, to lecture everyone else.
that I have regular briefings and engagement with the board of DevelopmentWA,
but I would say two things. Noting the commentary from the Leader of the
Liberal Party—
Mr Basil Zempilas interjected.
Mr John Carey: Noting the comments, he does not
support the Regional Land Booster program and—
Mr Basil Zempilas interjected.
The Speaker: Members!
Mr John Carey: He does not support the Regional Land Booster
program—
Mr Basil Zempilas interjected.
Mr John Carey: Shall we stop question time so that the
Leader of the Opposition can just do monologues? We can talk about him closing
women's shelters.
Mr Basil Zempilas: Risk of error, fraud and
corruption.
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members!
Mr John Carey: Can I say this: to get a lecture from
the Leader of the Liberal Party about integrity is extraordinary.
Mr Basil Zempilas: You can talk about me and
you avoid what the Auditor General said.
Mr John Carey: No.
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members! Treasurer, members, the member
for Belmont and Leader of the Opposition, please stop interjecting. The
minister is about to conclude his comments.
Mr John Carey: The yelling and screaming by the leader
of the Liberals hides the fact that I believe there is only one person in this
chamber who has been found that they did not act with integrity. I refer to the
Local Government Standards Panel, which concluded that Zempilas had failed to
act with integrity in not expressly separating his two roles and managing a
conflict of interest—this is from WAtoday .
It stated:
… Zempilas has been ordered to
issue a public apology after using his council-linked social media profile to
campaign for higher office, in breach of local government rules.
I do not know of
another member of this place—
Mr Basil Zempilas: You're comparing that with
the Auditor General's findings.
Mr John Carey: I know the Leader of the Opposition is
very sensitive about this.
Mr Basil Zempilas: You're comparing that with
the Auditor General's findings.
Mr John Carey: Very sensitive.
Mr Basil Zempilas: Error, fraud and corruption,
she said.
Several members
interjected.
Mr John Carey: Speaker, I would seek guidance. The
Liberal leader has just sought to say that the Auditor General found
corruption.
Mr Basil Zempilas: She said risk of error.
Several members
interjected.
The Speaker: Members!
All interjections are not actually captured. The fact that you have now raised
it is something that may be recorded. I shall just take a little bit of advice.
Mr Paul Papalia: Once you acknowledge it, it
has to be recorded.
The Speaker: Yes. The fact that we are talking about
this now is probably going to be recorded. The member actually did clarify what
he meant to say, and I think it is best that the minister finish his comments.
Mr John Carey: The point I was making is that I am not
aware of anyone else in this chamber who has had a standards panel find that
they did not act with integrity—the audacity of the Leader of the
Liberal Party, the only person in this chamber who has had to publicly
apologise due to failing to act with integrity, to lecture everyone else.
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