❓ Question regarding Premier's actions on potential conflict of interest in the Dampier to Bunbury gas pipeline sale. Premier Gallop defends his government's integrity and deflects by referencing past opposition issues.
AnsweredQoN 607Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
(1) Given that the Premier knew that serious questions were being asked about a potential conflict of interest with regard to the Dampier to Bunbury gas pipeline sale long before I raised it in Parliament yesterday, did the Premier - (a) raise this matter in cabinet; (b) investigate the pecuniary interests or shareholdings of cabinet members or ask any of his staff or ministers to do so; or (c) raise this matter with the Minister for Energy? (2) If the Premier did none of the above, what exactly did he do to investigate any potential conflict of interest within his cabinet? Dr G.I. GALLOP
AnswerView source ↗
(1)-(2) In respect of the first part of the question, matters within cabinet are matters for cabinet. That is always the case. That is certainly the principle under which I operate; indeed, the High Court has confirmed the principle of cabinet confidentiality. I indicated that when I was down south in early August I had a call from the media officer informing me that the ABC was making inquiries about the desegregation question on Western Power. I was told that there were no matters that needed to concern me. In late August, we answered a question in Parliament about the Dampier to Bunbury natural gas pipeline. We answered it truthfully and properly. Questions about these matters were asked of my government yesterday in this Parliament. I sat down, focused on the issue, went through all the questions that were important to the issue and reached the conclusion, along with the member for Yokine, that we needed to take action on this matter. The government of Western Australia and, in particular, the member for Yokine, have acted with absolute integrity on this question. When did a Liberal Party minister resign over matters such as this? Should we go through the finance brokers crisis or the efforts of the Deputy Leader of the Opposition in land clearing on his property? Do we want to look at the actions of the former Deputy Leader of the National Party or Hon Murray Criddle and all those things? They are the standards that members opposite set. The standards that we have been set were outlined in the Parliament this morning, and they relate to the maintenance, defence and promotion of good government in Western Australia.
(b) investigate the pecuniary interests or shareholdings of cabinet members or ask any of his staff or ministers to do so; or (c) raise this matter with the Minister for Energy?
(c) raise this matter with the Minister for Energy?
Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: (1)-(2) In respect of the first part of the question, matters within cabinet are matters for cabinet. That is always the case. That is certainly the principle under which I operate; indeed, the High Court has confirmed the principle of cabinet confidentiality. I indicated that when I was down south in early August I had a call from the media officer informing me that the ABC was making inquiries about the desegregation question on Western Power. I was told that there were no matters that needed to concern me. In late August, we answered a question in Parliament about the Dampier to Bunbury natural gas pipeline. We answered it truthfully and properly. Questions about these matters were asked of my government yesterday in this Parliament. I sat down, focused on the issue, went through all the questions that were important to the issue and reached the conclusion, along with the member for Yokine, that we needed to take action on this matter. The government of Western Australia and, in particular, the member for Yokine, have acted with absolute integrity on this question. When did a Liberal Party minister resign over matters such as this? Should we go through the finance brokers crisis or the efforts of the Deputy Leader of the Opposition in land clearing on his property? Do we want to look at the actions of the former Deputy Leader of the National Party or Hon Murray Criddle and all those things? They are the standards that members opposite set. The standards that we have been set were outlined in the Parliament this morning, and they relate to the maintenance, defence and promotion of good government in Western Australia.
(1)-(2) In respect of the first part of the question, matters within cabinet are matters for cabinet. That is always the case. That is certainly the principle under which I operate; indeed, the High Court has confirmed the principle of cabinet confidentiality. I indicated that when I was down south in early August I had a call from the media officer informing me that the ABC was making inquiries about the desegregation question on Western Power. I was told that there were no matters that needed to concern me. In late August, we answered a question in Parliament about the Dampier to Bunbury natural gas pipeline. We answered it truthfully and properly. Questions about these matters were asked of my government yesterday in this Parliament. I sat down, focused on the issue, went through all the questions that were important to the issue and reached the conclusion, along with the member for Yokine, that we needed to take action on this matter. The government of Western Australia and, in particular, the member for Yokine, have acted with absolute integrity on this question. When did a Liberal Party minister resign over matters such as this? Should we go through the finance brokers crisis or the efforts of the Deputy Leader of the Opposition in land clearing on his property? Do we want to look at the actions of the former Deputy Leader of the National Party or Hon Murray Criddle and all those things? They are the standards that members opposite set. The standards that we have been set were outlined in the Parliament this morning, and they relate to the maintenance, defence and promotion of good government in Western Australia.
(b) investigate the pecuniary interests or shareholdings of cabinet members or ask any of his staff or ministers to do so; or (c) raise this matter with the Minister for Energy?
(c) raise this matter with the Minister for Energy?
Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: (1)-(2) In respect of the first part of the question, matters within cabinet are matters for cabinet. That is always the case. That is certainly the principle under which I operate; indeed, the High Court has confirmed the principle of cabinet confidentiality. I indicated that when I was down south in early August I had a call from the media officer informing me that the ABC was making inquiries about the desegregation question on Western Power. I was told that there were no matters that needed to concern me. In late August, we answered a question in Parliament about the Dampier to Bunbury natural gas pipeline. We answered it truthfully and properly. Questions about these matters were asked of my government yesterday in this Parliament. I sat down, focused on the issue, went through all the questions that were important to the issue and reached the conclusion, along with the member for Yokine, that we needed to take action on this matter. The government of Western Australia and, in particular, the member for Yokine, have acted with absolute integrity on this question. When did a Liberal Party minister resign over matters such as this? Should we go through the finance brokers crisis or the efforts of the Deputy Leader of the Opposition in land clearing on his property? Do we want to look at the actions of the former Deputy Leader of the National Party or Hon Murray Criddle and all those things? They are the standards that members opposite set. The standards that we have been set were outlined in the Parliament this morning, and they relate to the maintenance, defence and promotion of good government in Western Australia.
(1)-(2) In respect of the first part of the question, matters within cabinet are matters for cabinet. That is always the case. That is certainly the principle under which I operate; indeed, the High Court has confirmed the principle of cabinet confidentiality. I indicated that when I was down south in early August I had a call from the media officer informing me that the ABC was making inquiries about the desegregation question on Western Power. I was told that there were no matters that needed to concern me. In late August, we answered a question in Parliament about the Dampier to Bunbury natural gas pipeline. We answered it truthfully and properly. Questions about these matters were asked of my government yesterday in this Parliament. I sat down, focused on the issue, went through all the questions that were important to the issue and reached the conclusion, along with the member for Yokine, that we needed to take action on this matter. The government of Western Australia and, in particular, the member for Yokine, have acted with absolute integrity on this question. When did a Liberal Party minister resign over matters such as this? Should we go through the finance brokers crisis or the efforts of the Deputy Leader of the Opposition in land clearing on his property? Do we want to look at the actions of the former Deputy Leader of the National Party or Hon Murray Criddle and all those things? They are the standards that members opposite set. The standards that we have been set were outlined in the Parliament this morning, and they relate to the maintenance, defence and promotion of good government in Western Australia.
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