Hon Robin Chapple questions the Minister for State Development regarding concerns raised by Mr. E Thomas about the Cooke Review, specifically regarding uninvestigated issues and perceived deception. The Minister acknowledges receipt and offers to forward the concerns to Tony Cooke.

AnsweredQoN 1648Legislative Council
Asked
12 December 2003
Portfolio
State Development

QuestionView source ↗

I refer to a letter I understand is dated 7 November 2003 from Mr E Thomas addressed to the Minister for State Development with serious concerns about the Cooke Review -
(1) Has the Minister received the above letter dated 7 November 2003.?
(2) If yes to (1) on what date was it received?
(3) Can the Minister explain what did the Minister specifically do to address all the concerns raised in this letter dated 7 November 2003 to ensure that Mr Thomas’s issues were investigated?
(4) If no to (3) why not?
(5) Is it correct that part of the letter dated 7 November 2003 states ‘Anyway minister unless all of my issues I raised to the Laing Report are investigated including some of the issues my family members have, I honestly believe that the government has conned us into believing our issues would be addressed and dealt with under the Cooke Review when in reality nothing has been achieved and it has been a total waste of taxpayers money’?
(6) If no to (5) will the Minister table the letter dated 7 November 2003?
(7) Can the Minister explain why all of Mr Thomas’s issues have not been investigated by the Cooke Review despite being told by Tony Cooke and Ms Lisa Johnson that all of his issues would be investigated given that last time Tony Cooke was in Kalgoorlie he told Mr Thomas and his family that he would come back and investigate all of his concerns when to date this has not happened?
(8) If no to (7) why not?

AnswerView source ↗

Answered
30 March 2004
Responded by
Parliamentary Secretary representing the Minister for State Development
Response time
109 days
(1) Yes. (2) 12 November 2003. (3) The letter contains a number of accusations including that Tony Cooke deceived and mislead some community members. On the 19th November 2003, I replied to Mr Thomas in the following terms: "I do not think it would be prudent to comment on the number of observations you make regarding the Review. Clearly the Review needs to run its course and culminate in the final report being received. Having said that, I would be prepared to put your views directly to Tony Cooke for a response. You may care to let me know if you would be agreeable to me forwarding a copy of your letter to him for comment." (4) Not applicable. (5) The letter states in part: "I have been promised by Mr Cooke at least on three occasions that he would come to Kalgoorlie and come out on site and see some of my concerns. I was also told by a lady called Ms Johnson that her and Tony would be coming to see me and going out in the bush with me. I originally made a submission to Robert Laing or Commissioner Laing and yet still my matters and others I represent in my family have not been investigated despite being told by Mr Cooke that he would. The last time he visited Kalgoorlie I explained we needed at least 2 days to be able to do this and he indicated to me and Phylis that he would come back. I haven’t heard from him about coming back and I honestly feel that I have been cheated or conned as I was promised that he would come back. I have tried ringing Mr Cooke and leaving messages as I have done in the past many times, but he never seems to get back to me. How many times do I have to telephone him to least get a return phone call. Anyway minister unless all of my issues that I raised to the Laing Report are investigated including some of the issues my family members have, I honestly believe that the government has conned us into believing our issues would be addressed and dealt with under the Cooke Review when in reality nothing has been achieved and it has been a total waste of taxpayers money." (6) N/A. (7) See my answer to Question 3. (8) N/A.
(2) 12 November 2003. (3) The letter contains a number of accusations including that Tony Cooke deceived and mislead some community members. On the 19th November 2003, I replied to Mr Thomas in the following terms: "I do not think it would be prudent to comment on the number of observations you make regarding the Review. Clearly the Review needs to run its course and culminate in the final report being received. Having said that, I would be prepared to put your views directly to Tony Cooke for a response. You may care to let me know if you would be agreeable to me forwarding a copy of your letter to him for comment." (4) Not applicable. (5) The letter states in part: "I have been promised by Mr Cooke at least on three occasions that he would come to Kalgoorlie and come out on site and see some of my concerns. I was also told by a lady called Ms Johnson that her and Tony would be coming to see me and going out in the bush with me. I originally made a submission to Robert Laing or Commissioner Laing and yet still my matters and others I represent in my family have not been investigated despite being told by Mr Cooke that he would. The last time he visited Kalgoorlie I explained we needed at least 2 days to be able to do this and he indicated to me and Phylis that he would come back. I haven’t heard from him about coming back and I honestly feel that I have been cheated or conned as I was promised that he would come back. I have tried ringing Mr Cooke and leaving messages as I have done in the past many times, but he never seems to get back to me. How many times do I have to telephone him to least get a return phone call. Anyway minister unless all of my issues that I raised to the Laing Report are investigated including some of the issues my family members have, I honestly believe that the government has conned us into believing our issues would be addressed and dealt with under the Cooke Review when in reality nothing has been achieved and it has been a total waste of taxpayers money." (6) N/A. (7) See my answer to Question 3. (8) N/A.
(3) The letter contains a number of accusations including that Tony Cooke deceived and mislead some community members. On the 19th November 2003, I replied to Mr Thomas in the following terms: "I do not think it would be prudent to comment on the number of observations you make regarding the Review. Clearly the Review needs to run its course and culminate in the final report being received. Having said that, I would be prepared to put your views directly to Tony Cooke for a response. You may care to let me know if you would be agreeable to me forwarding a copy of your letter to him for comment." (4) Not applicable. (5) The letter states in part: "I have been promised by Mr Cooke at least on three occasions that he would come to Kalgoorlie and come out on site and see some of my concerns. I was also told by a lady called Ms Johnson that her and Tony would be coming to see me and going out in the bush with me. I originally made a submission to Robert Laing or Commissioner Laing and yet still my matters and others I represent in my family have not been investigated despite being told by Mr Cooke that he would. The last time he visited Kalgoorlie I explained we needed at least 2 days to be able to do this and he indicated to me and Phylis that he would come back. I haven’t heard from him about coming back and I honestly feel that I have been cheated or conned as I was promised that he would come back. I have tried ringing Mr Cooke and leaving messages as I have done in the past many times, but he never seems to get back to me. How many times do I have to telephone him to least get a return phone call. Anyway minister unless all of my issues that I raised to the Laing Report are investigated including some of the issues my family members have, I honestly believe that the government has conned us into believing our issues would be addressed and dealt with under the Cooke Review when in reality nothing has been achieved and it has been a total waste of taxpayers money." (6) N/A. (7) See my answer to Question 3. (8) N/A.
(4) Not applicable. (5) The letter states in part: "I have been promised by Mr Cooke at least on three occasions that he would come to Kalgoorlie and come out on site and see some of my concerns. I was also told by a lady called Ms Johnson that her and Tony would be coming to see me and going out in the bush with me. I originally made a submission to Robert Laing or Commissioner Laing and yet still my matters and others I represent in my family have not been investigated despite being told by Mr Cooke that he would. The last time he visited Kalgoorlie I explained we needed at least 2 days to be able to do this and he indicated to me and Phylis that he would come back. I haven’t heard from him about coming back and I honestly feel that I have been cheated or conned as I was promised that he would come back. I have tried ringing Mr Cooke and leaving messages as I have done in the past many times, but he never seems to get back to me. How many times do I have to telephone him to least get a return phone call. Anyway minister unless all of my issues that I raised to the Laing Report are investigated including some of the issues my family members have, I honestly believe that the government has conned us into believing our issues would be addressed and dealt with under the Cooke Review when in reality nothing has been achieved and it has been a total waste of taxpayers money." (6) N/A. (7) See my answer to Question 3. (8) N/A.
(5) The letter states in part: "I have been promised by Mr Cooke at least on three occasions that he would come to Kalgoorlie and come out on site and see some of my concerns. I was also told by a lady called Ms Johnson that her and Tony would be coming to see me and going out in the bush with me. I originally made a submission to Robert Laing or Commissioner Laing and yet still my matters and others I represent in my family have not been investigated despite being told by Mr Cooke that he would. The last time he visited Kalgoorlie I explained we needed at least 2 days to be able to do this and he indicated to me and Phylis that he would come back. I haven’t heard from him about coming back and I honestly feel that I have been cheated or conned as I was promised that he would come back. I have tried ringing Mr Cooke and leaving messages as I have done in the past many times, but he never seems to get back to me. How many times do I have to telephone him to least get a return phone call. Anyway minister unless all of my issues that I raised to the Laing Report are investigated including some of the issues my family members have, I honestly believe that the government has conned us into believing our issues would be addressed and dealt with under the Cooke Review when in reality nothing has been achieved and it has been a total waste of taxpayers money." (6) N/A. (7) See my answer to Question 3. (8) N/A.
The last time he visited Kalgoorlie I explained we needed at least 2 days to be able to do this and he indicated to me and Phylis that he would come back. I haven’t heard from him about coming back and I honestly feel that I have been cheated or conned as I was promised that he would come back. I have tried ringing Mr Cooke and leaving messages as I have done in the past many times, but he never seems to get back to me. How many times do I have to telephone him to least get a return phone call. Anyway minister unless all of my issues that I raised to the Laing Report are investigated including some of the issues my family members have, I honestly believe that the government has conned us into believing our issues would be addressed and dealt with under the Cooke Review when in reality nothing has been achieved and it has been a total waste of taxpayers money." (6) N/A. (7) See my answer to Question 3. (8) N/A.
I haven’t heard from him about coming back and I honestly feel that I have been cheated or conned as I was promised that he would come back. I have tried ringing Mr Cooke and leaving messages as I have done in the past many times, but he never seems to get back to me. How many times do I have to telephone him to least get a return phone call. Anyway minister unless all of my issues that I raised to the Laing Report are investigated including some of the issues my family members have, I honestly believe that the government has conned us into believing our issues would be addressed and dealt with under the Cooke Review when in reality nothing has been achieved and it has been a total waste of taxpayers money." (6) N/A. (7) See my answer to Question 3. (8) N/A.
Anyway minister unless all of my issues that I raised to the Laing Report are investigated including some of the issues my family members have, I honestly believe that the government has conned us into believing our issues would be addressed and dealt with under the Cooke Review when in reality nothing has been achieved and it has been a total waste of taxpayers money." (6) N/A. (7) See my answer to Question 3. (8) N/A.
(6) N/A. (7) See my answer to Question 3. (8) N/A.
(7) See my answer to Question 3. (8) N/A.
(8) N/A.

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