❓ Mr. Quigley questions the Minister for Police regarding a potential investigation into the Member for Vasse for driving under the influence, citing new evidence. The Minister refuses to interfere with the ongoing police investigation.
AnsweredQoN 127Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
MEMBER FOR
VASSE — ROAD TRAFFIC INCIDENT — POLICE INVESTIGATION
127. Mr J.R. QUIGLEY to the
Minister for Police:
I refer to reports in the media on Monday, 10 March that
there was no evidence upon which the member for Vasse could be prosecuted for
driving under the influence of alcohol in Subiaco in the early hours of the
morning of Sunday, 23 February —
Point of Order
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : While allegations may be made, I do not think there is
any establishment yet—there may be—that the member for Vasse
was driving under the influence of alcohol.
The
SPEAKER : Okay. I will not accept that as a point of order. The
member can ask his question.
Questions without Notice Resumed
Mr J.R. QUIGLEY :
Thank you. I will just start again, if I may, Mr Speaker.
I refer to reports in the media on Monday, 10 March that
there was no evidence upon which the member for Vasse could be prosecuted for
driving under the influence of alcohol in Subiaco in the early hours of the
morning of Sunday, 23 February. In view of the new evidence, firstly, witnesses
who observed the member for Vasse consuming alcohol over several hours, and a
witness who observed him alight from his car in Roberts Road and who described
him as appearing to be intoxicated; secondly —
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Wanneroo, I call you to order for the first time.
Member for Murray–Wellington, I call you to order for the first time.
This is a very long question, member for Butler. Continue.
Mr
J.R. QUIGLEY : I will just have to start again, having been interrupted, Mr
Speaker!
The second new element of fresh
evidence is the multiple crashes that the vehicle may have been involved in,
indicating an incapacity to properly control the vehicle; and, thirdly, the
Premier's comments on Monday, 10 March concerning the member for Vasse
driving his vehicle home, that he was involved in a car accident and that he
had only a sketchy memory of driving home; and given that the law in Western
Australia does not require a blood alcohol reading —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : This
is a very, very long question, member for Butler.
Mr J.R. QUIGLEY : I
have two lines to read.
As the law in Western Australia does not require a blood
alcohol reading —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Wanneroo, I call you to order for the second time. Member for
Butler, continue.
Mr J.R. QUIGLEY :
As the law in Western Australia does not require a blood alcohol reading to
sustain a conviction for driving under the influence of alcohol, will the
Minister for Police now request the police to investigate whether the member
for Vasse was driving under the influence of alcohol, based on this fresh
evidence?
VASSE — ROAD TRAFFIC INCIDENT — POLICE INVESTIGATION
127. Mr J.R. QUIGLEY to the
Minister for Police:
I refer to reports in the media on Monday, 10 March that
there was no evidence upon which the member for Vasse could be prosecuted for
driving under the influence of alcohol in Subiaco in the early hours of the
morning of Sunday, 23 February —
Point of Order
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : While allegations may be made, I do not think there is
any establishment yet—there may be—that the member for Vasse
was driving under the influence of alcohol.
The
SPEAKER : Okay. I will not accept that as a point of order. The
member can ask his question.
Questions without Notice Resumed
Mr J.R. QUIGLEY :
Thank you. I will just start again, if I may, Mr Speaker.
I refer to reports in the media on Monday, 10 March that
there was no evidence upon which the member for Vasse could be prosecuted for
driving under the influence of alcohol in Subiaco in the early hours of the
morning of Sunday, 23 February. In view of the new evidence, firstly, witnesses
who observed the member for Vasse consuming alcohol over several hours, and a
witness who observed him alight from his car in Roberts Road and who described
him as appearing to be intoxicated; secondly —
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Wanneroo, I call you to order for the first time.
Member for Murray–Wellington, I call you to order for the first time.
This is a very long question, member for Butler. Continue.
Mr
J.R. QUIGLEY : I will just have to start again, having been interrupted, Mr
Speaker!
The second new element of fresh
evidence is the multiple crashes that the vehicle may have been involved in,
indicating an incapacity to properly control the vehicle; and, thirdly, the
Premier's comments on Monday, 10 March concerning the member for Vasse
driving his vehicle home, that he was involved in a car accident and that he
had only a sketchy memory of driving home; and given that the law in Western
Australia does not require a blood alcohol reading —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : This
is a very, very long question, member for Butler.
Mr J.R. QUIGLEY : I
have two lines to read.
As the law in Western Australia does not require a blood
alcohol reading —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Wanneroo, I call you to order for the second time. Member for
Butler, continue.
Mr J.R. QUIGLEY :
As the law in Western Australia does not require a blood alcohol reading to
sustain a conviction for driving under the influence of alcohol, will the
Minister for Police now request the police to investigate whether the member
for Vasse was driving under the influence of alcohol, based on this fresh
evidence?
AnswerView source ↗
I might have missed something in the member for Butler's
CV, but the last time I checked he was not a police investigator. He was not
charged with conducting police investigations. I have said in this house on
numerous occasions that, as Minister for Police, I will not interfere in an
ongoing police investigation —
Point of Order
Mr
J.R. QUIGLEY : I was not asking the minister about an ongoing police
investigation; I was asking the minister about a matter that the police said
they would not investigate.
The
SPEAKER : There is no point of order.
Questions without Notice Resumed
Mrs
L.M. HARVEY : With respect—correct me if I misheard—I
thought I heard the member for Butler say that he wants me to direct the police
to conduct an investigation.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : A question
was asked; please answer it to the best of your ability, and if the member
wants to ask a supplementary question, he can ask a supplementary question.
Mrs
L.M. HARVEY : Once again, to be clear: the police are conducting an
investigation into the matters of 23 February. As Minister for Police,
convention dictates that ministers do not get involved in ongoing —
Mrs
M.H. Roberts : Don't rely on the lies you put up yesterday!
Withdrawal of Remark
The SPEAKER : Withdraw that
statement please, member for Midland.
Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : I will
withdraw that statement, Mr Speaker —
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Members! I want an unqualified withdrawal, member for Midland.
Just withdraw, please.
Mrs
M.H. ROBERTS : I was attempting to say the words. Mr Speaker, it seems that
you have lost control of that side of the house, because —
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Members!
Mr
D.A. Templeman : You don't like the questions, but they must be
asked!
The
SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah, I call you to order for the first time.
Member for Forrestfield, I call you to order for the first time. I want to hear
the member for Midland in silence.
Mrs
M.H. ROBERTS : You can listen to the tape if you like, but the only words I
have been attempting to utter, despite the interjections of members opposite,
is that I will withdraw that statement.
The
SPEAKER : The statement is withdrawn. I want the minister to answer the
question, and if the member for Butler wants to ask a supplementary question,
he gets a supplementary.
Questions without
Notice Resumed
Mrs
L.M. HARVEY : Once again, there is an ongoing police investigation. As
Minister for Police, it is not fair for me to comment on an ongoing police
investigation. I do not know what is going on over there and why members
opposite do not have confidence in the ability of our police force to conduct a
thorough and professional investigation into these matters. Our police are
highly trained and well resourced; they have a terrific Commissioner of Police
at the helm. They are conducting the investigation and they are the experts.
They need to be able to do a high-profile investigation into these matters on
23 February without interference, commentary or direction from me or any other
member of Parliament, and I stand by that position. I will wait for the police
to conclude their investigations, and at that point in time I will comment, if
it is appropriate to do so. At present, the police need to conduct their
investigation as they see fit. I am not a police officer, and I will not
direct, request or interfere in this investigation in any way, because it is
not appropriate.
CV, but the last time I checked he was not a police investigator. He was not
charged with conducting police investigations. I have said in this house on
numerous occasions that, as Minister for Police, I will not interfere in an
ongoing police investigation —
Point of Order
Mr
J.R. QUIGLEY : I was not asking the minister about an ongoing police
investigation; I was asking the minister about a matter that the police said
they would not investigate.
The
SPEAKER : There is no point of order.
Questions without Notice Resumed
Mrs
L.M. HARVEY : With respect—correct me if I misheard—I
thought I heard the member for Butler say that he wants me to direct the police
to conduct an investigation.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : A question
was asked; please answer it to the best of your ability, and if the member
wants to ask a supplementary question, he can ask a supplementary question.
Mrs
L.M. HARVEY : Once again, to be clear: the police are conducting an
investigation into the matters of 23 February. As Minister for Police,
convention dictates that ministers do not get involved in ongoing —
Mrs
M.H. Roberts : Don't rely on the lies you put up yesterday!
Withdrawal of Remark
The SPEAKER : Withdraw that
statement please, member for Midland.
Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : I will
withdraw that statement, Mr Speaker —
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Members! I want an unqualified withdrawal, member for Midland.
Just withdraw, please.
Mrs
M.H. ROBERTS : I was attempting to say the words. Mr Speaker, it seems that
you have lost control of that side of the house, because —
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Members!
Mr
D.A. Templeman : You don't like the questions, but they must be
asked!
The
SPEAKER : Member for Mandurah, I call you to order for the first time.
Member for Forrestfield, I call you to order for the first time. I want to hear
the member for Midland in silence.
Mrs
M.H. ROBERTS : You can listen to the tape if you like, but the only words I
have been attempting to utter, despite the interjections of members opposite,
is that I will withdraw that statement.
The
SPEAKER : The statement is withdrawn. I want the minister to answer the
question, and if the member for Butler wants to ask a supplementary question,
he gets a supplementary.
Questions without
Notice Resumed
Mrs
L.M. HARVEY : Once again, there is an ongoing police investigation. As
Minister for Police, it is not fair for me to comment on an ongoing police
investigation. I do not know what is going on over there and why members
opposite do not have confidence in the ability of our police force to conduct a
thorough and professional investigation into these matters. Our police are
highly trained and well resourced; they have a terrific Commissioner of Police
at the helm. They are conducting the investigation and they are the experts.
They need to be able to do a high-profile investigation into these matters on
23 February without interference, commentary or direction from me or any other
member of Parliament, and I stand by that position. I will wait for the police
to conclude their investigations, and at that point in time I will comment, if
it is appropriate to do so. At present, the police need to conduct their
investigation as they see fit. I am not a police officer, and I will not
direct, request or interfere in this investigation in any way, because it is
not appropriate.
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