❓ Hon Simon O'Brien questions the Minister about the cost of the inquiry into the City of South Perth. The Minister confirms the State Government will bear the cost but suggests future inquiries may require a different funding model.
AnsweredQoN 1309Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
CITY OF SOUTH PERTH, INQUIRY
I refer to the ministerial statement of 16 April 2002, which advises that the total estimated cost of the inquiry into the City of South Perth, including salary and on-costs of a Department of Local Government and Regional Development officer attached to the inquiry, is $768 759. Will the total cost be borne by the department or will some cost be borne by the City of South Perth? Hon TOM STEPHENS
I refer to the ministerial statement of 16 April 2002, which advises that the total estimated cost of the inquiry into the City of South Perth, including salary and on-costs of a Department of Local Government and Regional Development officer attached to the inquiry, is $768 759. Will the total cost be borne by the department or will some cost be borne by the City of South Perth? Hon TOM STEPHENS
AnswerView source ↗
The total costs, which I identified in the ministerial statement yesterday, will be borne by the State Government. The resources allocated to the Department of Local Government and Regional Development may not be sufficient to withstand the full cost of that inquiry, and it may need supplementary funding. This is an internal matter only. This is a small department and the cost of conducting inquiries of this sort is high. To this point the State Government has shown a commitment to wear the cost of the South Perth inquiry and, as the member would know, it paid for the cost that was to be borne by the City of Cockburn for the inquiry conducted into its affairs by the previous Government. I do not know that the taxpayers of Western Australia or the Government could withstand the full cost of inquiries under this legislation for ever and a day. I cannot give any assurance that the cost of any future inquiries will be borne by the taxpayers through the Government of Western Australia. Hon Norman Moore: Unless there is an election just around the corner. Hon TOM STEPHENS: We have made a commitment to fully cover the costs of the South Perth inquiry. We will not be turning to the City of South Perth seeking reimbursement. I am seeking a change in the Local Government Act that would place local government in a more respectful partnership with the State Government, with an independent tribunal process available to it, so that rather than complaints being investigated by the Minister for Local Government and his department at the expense of the taxpayers of Western Australia, the third tier of government would establish and resource that process. Hon Barry House: It sounds like you do not want any responsibility. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I accept the responsibilities of the statute. Hon Norman Moore: You are giving the $2 million back for Cockburn and now the chickens are coming home to roost. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I am saying that it is time to look closely at this area and ensure that if there is a proliferation of these inquiries, each can be considered as it arises.
Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: The total costs, which I identified in the ministerial statement yesterday, will be borne by the State Government. The resources allocated to the Department of Local Government and Regional Development may not be sufficient to withstand the full cost of that inquiry, and it may need supplementary funding. This is an internal matter only. This is a small department and the cost of conducting inquiries of this sort is high. To this point the State Government has shown a commitment to wear the cost of the South Perth inquiry and, as the member would know, it paid for the cost that was to be borne by the City of Cockburn for the inquiry conducted into its affairs by the previous Government. I do not know that the taxpayers of Western Australia or the Government could withstand the full cost of inquiries under this legislation for ever and a day. I cannot give any assurance that the cost of any future inquiries will be borne by the taxpayers through the Government of Western Australia. Hon Norman Moore: Unless there is an election just around the corner. Hon TOM STEPHENS: We have made a commitment to fully cover the costs of the South Perth inquiry. We will not be turning to the City of South Perth seeking reimbursement. I am seeking a change in the Local Government Act that would place local government in a more respectful partnership with the State Government, with an independent tribunal process available to it, so that rather than complaints being investigated by the Minister for Local Government and his department at the expense of the taxpayers of Western Australia, the third tier of government would establish and resource that process. Hon Barry House: It sounds like you do not want any responsibility. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I accept the responsibilities of the statute. Hon Norman Moore: You are giving the $2 million back for Cockburn and now the chickens are coming home to roost. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I am saying that it is time to look closely at this area and ensure that if there is a proliferation of these inquiries, each can be considered as it arises.
The total costs, which I identified in the ministerial statement yesterday, will be borne by the State Government. The resources allocated to the Department of Local Government and Regional Development may not be sufficient to withstand the full cost of that inquiry, and it may need supplementary funding. This is an internal matter only. This is a small department and the cost of conducting inquiries of this sort is high. To this point the State Government has shown a commitment to wear the cost of the South Perth inquiry and, as the member would know, it paid for the cost that was to be borne by the City of Cockburn for the inquiry conducted into its affairs by the previous Government. I do not know that the taxpayers of Western Australia or the Government could withstand the full cost of inquiries under this legislation for ever and a day. I cannot give any assurance that the cost of any future inquiries will be borne by the taxpayers through the Government of Western Australia. Hon Norman Moore: Unless there is an election just around the corner. Hon TOM STEPHENS: We have made a commitment to fully cover the costs of the South Perth inquiry. We will not be turning to the City of South Perth seeking reimbursement. I am seeking a change in the Local Government Act that would place local government in a more respectful partnership with the State Government, with an independent tribunal process available to it, so that rather than complaints being investigated by the Minister for Local Government and his department at the expense of the taxpayers of Western Australia, the third tier of government would establish and resource that process. Hon Barry House: It sounds like you do not want any responsibility. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I accept the responsibilities of the statute. Hon Norman Moore: You are giving the $2 million back for Cockburn and now the chickens are coming home to roost. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I am saying that it is time to look closely at this area and ensure that if there is a proliferation of these inquiries, each can be considered as it arises.
Hon Norman Moore: Unless there is an election just around the corner. Hon TOM STEPHENS: We have made a commitment to fully cover the costs of the South Perth inquiry. We will not be turning to the City of South Perth seeking reimbursement. I am seeking a change in the Local Government Act that would place local government in a more respectful partnership with the State Government, with an independent tribunal process available to it, so that rather than complaints being investigated by the Minister for Local Government and his department at the expense of the taxpayers of Western Australia, the third tier of government would establish and resource that process. Hon Barry House: It sounds like you do not want any responsibility. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I accept the responsibilities of the statute. Hon Norman Moore: You are giving the $2 million back for Cockburn and now the chickens are coming home to roost. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I am saying that it is time to look closely at this area and ensure that if there is a proliferation of these inquiries, each can be considered as it arises.
Hon TOM STEPHENS: We have made a commitment to fully cover the costs of the South Perth inquiry. We will not be turning to the City of South Perth seeking reimbursement. I am seeking a change in the Local Government Act that would place local government in a more respectful partnership with the State Government, with an independent tribunal process available to it, so that rather than complaints being investigated by the Minister for Local Government and his department at the expense of the taxpayers of Western Australia, the third tier of government would establish and resource that process. Hon Barry House: It sounds like you do not want any responsibility. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I accept the responsibilities of the statute. Hon Norman Moore: You are giving the $2 million back for Cockburn and now the chickens are coming home to roost. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I am saying that it is time to look closely at this area and ensure that if there is a proliferation of these inquiries, each can be considered as it arises.
Hon Barry House: It sounds like you do not want any responsibility. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I accept the responsibilities of the statute. Hon Norman Moore: You are giving the $2 million back for Cockburn and now the chickens are coming home to roost. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I am saying that it is time to look closely at this area and ensure that if there is a proliferation of these inquiries, each can be considered as it arises.
Hon TOM STEPHENS: I accept the responsibilities of the statute. Hon Norman Moore: You are giving the $2 million back for Cockburn and now the chickens are coming home to roost. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I am saying that it is time to look closely at this area and ensure that if there is a proliferation of these inquiries, each can be considered as it arises.
Hon Norman Moore: You are giving the $2 million back for Cockburn and now the chickens are coming home to roost. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I am saying that it is time to look closely at this area and ensure that if there is a proliferation of these inquiries, each can be considered as it arises.
Hon TOM STEPHENS: I am saying that it is time to look closely at this area and ensure that if there is a proliferation of these inquiries, each can be considered as it arises.
Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: The total costs, which I identified in the ministerial statement yesterday, will be borne by the State Government. The resources allocated to the Department of Local Government and Regional Development may not be sufficient to withstand the full cost of that inquiry, and it may need supplementary funding. This is an internal matter only. This is a small department and the cost of conducting inquiries of this sort is high. To this point the State Government has shown a commitment to wear the cost of the South Perth inquiry and, as the member would know, it paid for the cost that was to be borne by the City of Cockburn for the inquiry conducted into its affairs by the previous Government. I do not know that the taxpayers of Western Australia or the Government could withstand the full cost of inquiries under this legislation for ever and a day. I cannot give any assurance that the cost of any future inquiries will be borne by the taxpayers through the Government of Western Australia. Hon Norman Moore: Unless there is an election just around the corner. Hon TOM STEPHENS: We have made a commitment to fully cover the costs of the South Perth inquiry. We will not be turning to the City of South Perth seeking reimbursement. I am seeking a change in the Local Government Act that would place local government in a more respectful partnership with the State Government, with an independent tribunal process available to it, so that rather than complaints being investigated by the Minister for Local Government and his department at the expense of the taxpayers of Western Australia, the third tier of government would establish and resource that process. Hon Barry House: It sounds like you do not want any responsibility. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I accept the responsibilities of the statute. Hon Norman Moore: You are giving the $2 million back for Cockburn and now the chickens are coming home to roost. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I am saying that it is time to look closely at this area and ensure that if there is a proliferation of these inquiries, each can be considered as it arises.
The total costs, which I identified in the ministerial statement yesterday, will be borne by the State Government. The resources allocated to the Department of Local Government and Regional Development may not be sufficient to withstand the full cost of that inquiry, and it may need supplementary funding. This is an internal matter only. This is a small department and the cost of conducting inquiries of this sort is high. To this point the State Government has shown a commitment to wear the cost of the South Perth inquiry and, as the member would know, it paid for the cost that was to be borne by the City of Cockburn for the inquiry conducted into its affairs by the previous Government. I do not know that the taxpayers of Western Australia or the Government could withstand the full cost of inquiries under this legislation for ever and a day. I cannot give any assurance that the cost of any future inquiries will be borne by the taxpayers through the Government of Western Australia. Hon Norman Moore: Unless there is an election just around the corner. Hon TOM STEPHENS: We have made a commitment to fully cover the costs of the South Perth inquiry. We will not be turning to the City of South Perth seeking reimbursement. I am seeking a change in the Local Government Act that would place local government in a more respectful partnership with the State Government, with an independent tribunal process available to it, so that rather than complaints being investigated by the Minister for Local Government and his department at the expense of the taxpayers of Western Australia, the third tier of government would establish and resource that process. Hon Barry House: It sounds like you do not want any responsibility. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I accept the responsibilities of the statute. Hon Norman Moore: You are giving the $2 million back for Cockburn and now the chickens are coming home to roost. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I am saying that it is time to look closely at this area and ensure that if there is a proliferation of these inquiries, each can be considered as it arises.
Hon Norman Moore: Unless there is an election just around the corner. Hon TOM STEPHENS: We have made a commitment to fully cover the costs of the South Perth inquiry. We will not be turning to the City of South Perth seeking reimbursement. I am seeking a change in the Local Government Act that would place local government in a more respectful partnership with the State Government, with an independent tribunal process available to it, so that rather than complaints being investigated by the Minister for Local Government and his department at the expense of the taxpayers of Western Australia, the third tier of government would establish and resource that process. Hon Barry House: It sounds like you do not want any responsibility. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I accept the responsibilities of the statute. Hon Norman Moore: You are giving the $2 million back for Cockburn and now the chickens are coming home to roost. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I am saying that it is time to look closely at this area and ensure that if there is a proliferation of these inquiries, each can be considered as it arises.
Hon TOM STEPHENS: We have made a commitment to fully cover the costs of the South Perth inquiry. We will not be turning to the City of South Perth seeking reimbursement. I am seeking a change in the Local Government Act that would place local government in a more respectful partnership with the State Government, with an independent tribunal process available to it, so that rather than complaints being investigated by the Minister for Local Government and his department at the expense of the taxpayers of Western Australia, the third tier of government would establish and resource that process. Hon Barry House: It sounds like you do not want any responsibility. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I accept the responsibilities of the statute. Hon Norman Moore: You are giving the $2 million back for Cockburn and now the chickens are coming home to roost. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I am saying that it is time to look closely at this area and ensure that if there is a proliferation of these inquiries, each can be considered as it arises.
Hon Barry House: It sounds like you do not want any responsibility. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I accept the responsibilities of the statute. Hon Norman Moore: You are giving the $2 million back for Cockburn and now the chickens are coming home to roost. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I am saying that it is time to look closely at this area and ensure that if there is a proliferation of these inquiries, each can be considered as it arises.
Hon TOM STEPHENS: I accept the responsibilities of the statute. Hon Norman Moore: You are giving the $2 million back for Cockburn and now the chickens are coming home to roost. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I am saying that it is time to look closely at this area and ensure that if there is a proliferation of these inquiries, each can be considered as it arises.
Hon Norman Moore: You are giving the $2 million back for Cockburn and now the chickens are coming home to roost. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I am saying that it is time to look closely at this area and ensure that if there is a proliferation of these inquiries, each can be considered as it arises.
Hon TOM STEPHENS: I am saying that it is time to look closely at this area and ensure that if there is a proliferation of these inquiries, each can be considered as it arises.
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