❓ The Premier defends his government's actions regarding the finance brokers saga, accusing the opposition of hypocrisy and highlighting the government's efforts to assist victims through legal aid and a judicial inquiry.
AnsweredQoN 84Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
FINANCE BROKERS SAGA
I refer the Premier to the matter of public importance that will be raised by the Liberal Party today following question time and acknowledge in the gallery the presence of a number of victims of the finance broking saga. (1) Does the Premier stand by the statement he made in this house on 10 March 1999 when he stated that there was evidence dating back to 1996 that the Finance Brokers Supervisory Board had not dealt properly with complaints about finance brokers? (2) More than five years after winning office - with extensive support from victims of the finance broking saga - how does the Premier justify his government’s actions that have obstructed and delayed legal action to determine the state’s liability for exactly the same problems he raised in Parliament in 1999? Mr A.J. CARPENTER
I refer the Premier to the matter of public importance that will be raised by the Liberal Party today following question time and acknowledge in the gallery the presence of a number of victims of the finance broking saga. (1) Does the Premier stand by the statement he made in this house on 10 March 1999 when he stated that there was evidence dating back to 1996 that the Finance Brokers Supervisory Board had not dealt properly with complaints about finance brokers? (2) More than five years after winning office - with extensive support from victims of the finance broking saga - how does the Premier justify his government’s actions that have obstructed and delayed legal action to determine the state’s liability for exactly the same problems he raised in Parliament in 1999? Mr A.J. CARPENTER
AnswerView source ↗
(1)-(2) I thank the member for Leschenault for his question. This is a very unfortunate chapter in the history of the state. I do not think that anyone would have anything but extreme concern about the position in which so many investors have found themselves as a result of the finance brokers scandal. I feel a great deal of sympathy for the people who have suffered. I have spoken to many of them individually and I still meet them, along with their family members. Many people around Western Australia have been affected. Issues arise during a political life that are very difficult to deal with. The level of hypocrisy from the person who asked this question and from the other side of the chamber generally is not far short of sickening. The level of hypocrisy is disgraceful. The member for Armadale, as I recall, was pursuing this matter with the then Court government. For four or five years when the Labor Party was sitting on the opposition benches and investors were being ripped off by unscrupulous finance brokers, we received nothing but abuse, opposition and disgraceful intransigence from members opposite. Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : This is the truth of the matter. Over the years that we pursued this issue in this Parliament, when something might have been done for the people who were being ripped off, members opposite stopped us from doing it. They even denied that people were being ripped off. On numerous occasions we put motions before this Parliament to have something done about it. I ask the member for Leschenault, who is famous for his political opportunism and stunts: on all the occasions on which the then opposition raised this issue and the question of whether the government should act was put to a vote, did he ever support us? To those in the public gallery today, we are dealing here with one of the most hypocritical people who have ever walked through the doors of this Parliament. However, they should not simply accept my advice; they should ask some of the people who are sitting next to the member on the opposition front bench. They are on the record saying what they think about him. Let us put this into a bit of context. When we were in opposition, we made some commitments to the people who were being ripped off by the finance brokers. The first commitment was that, if elected to government, we would hold a judicial inquiry with broad terms of reference into the finance broking industry. The then government violently opposed that. Doug Shave, then member for Alfred Cove, refused to engage on the issue, and the then Premier refused to do anything about it. When the Labor Party was elected to government, it established the inquiry, and we know what has happened since. We also said that we would offer legal assistance to the victims of the finance brokers. Legal Aid WA has taken action or entered into negotiations on behalf of 707 investors, and so far 200 investors have recovered their losses. In addition, a claim involving a further 50 investors is to be settled shortly. The rest of the legal claims are ongoing. The state government has provided $1.125 million to fund these actions and indemnify investors against costs awarded in the event that their legal actions are unsuccessful. I almost gasp with awe that a person such as the member for Leschenault is able to sit over there with a straight face and raise these issues in the presence of those in the public gallery. It is just amazing that that sort of person is involved in Western Australia politics. The third commitment was for full disclosure. Did the previous government ever seek to disclose anything? Did any member opposite seek to disclose anything? The member for Cottesloe seems to have found his voice again; did he ever come over and support the then opposition on this issue? He did nothing. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : Tell us what you are doing. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am going through the five commitments. The government has provided to the plaintiffs and their lawyers thousands of documents, including some pieces of legal advice provided to the then Ministry of Fair Trading or to the Finance Brokers Supervisory Board, to assist them in pursuing their legal actions. The government scanned these documents and provided them in electronic form to further assist the plaintiffs. The fourth commitment was to facilitate court action to resolve the liability. A writ commencing legal proceedings against the now defunct Finance Brokers Supervisory Board was filed in February 2002. A substantially amended statement of claim that was 202 pages in length was filed in October 2002. The board filed its defence in 2003, which was within the time frame allowed by the court for filing the defence. There was a subsequent issue. The lawyers representing the people in the gallery today acknowledged that issue in the presentation of their claim, which delayed the issue for up to 18 months. It was not because of the state at all. Our fifth commitment was to pay up when liability was established. The state is defending the litigation because it has been consistently advised - this goes to the question of the member for Leschenault - that the Finance Brokers Supervisory Board has a sound defence to the plaintiff’s actions. Before the government could meet any claim for payment, liability would need to be established. The request that the government compensate people for losses incurred as a result of the dishonest actions of finance brokers cannot be agreed in the absence of a finding of liability against the board. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : You said that the department made a serious error. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have just gone through the issues and outlined the five - Ms S.E. Walker : What are you doing to help them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have just outlined those five initiatives and said that the actions of the Finance Brokers Supervisory Board cannot be agreed in the absence of a finding of liability against the board. Point of Order Mr D.F. BARRON-SULLIVAN : I ask the Premier to table that document. The SPEAKER : If it is an official document, it must be tabled. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am happy to table it. It is a letter I wrote to Mr N. and Mrs A. Horn of 21 Joseph Road, Safety Bay, Western Australia. I am happy to table it at the end of question time. There is nothing secret in it. I have sent the same letter to various other victims of finance brokers. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The member for Leschenault has raised historical issues. On Tuesday, 21 December 1999, when we were in opposition, we raised a matter of public interest, and that is what the current opposition will do today. Our motion in part states - The House calls upon the Government to provide adequate funding to ensure that the mainly elderly self-funded retirees who are losing their life savings through the operation of finance brokers and the Ministry are assisted in recovering their funds. That was the matter of public interest that we put forward when we were in opposition at the time. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : Do you still think that is what should happen? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Did members hear what it was? Point of Order Mr J.H.D. DAY : Mr Speaker, I am particularly conscious that members of the public in the gallery cannot respond, and I draw your attention to standing order 85(3), which states that members will address themselves to the Chair. I think that a great deal of latitude has been shown and it is time to call the Premier to order on that point. The SPEAKER : I think the Premier is addressing the question as asked, and interjections are expanding the answer. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : There is a place in France called the Palace of Versailles. I was very fortunate to visit the Palace of Versailles when I was on holiday with my family at Christmas time. The Palace of Versailles is famous for, among other things, a very long corridor that has mirrors along one side; hence the saying, “Take a walk down the long hall of mirrors.” What members are seeing is the absolute discomfort when the mirror is held up to the hypocrisy of the other side. I will go back. The MPI stated that the government should provide adequate funding to ensure that the mainly elderly self-funded retirees losing their life savings through the operation of finance brokers and the ministry were assisted in recovering their funds. Guess what happened when that motion was put to the vote? Does the member for Leschenault remember what happened? Does he remember whether he voted for or against the motion? Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : Have you noticed which side of the house I am sitting on today? It is one of the reasons I am over here. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : He was one of 26 members who voted no on 21 December 1999. When something could have been done right there and then, when members opposite were in government, the member for Leschenault said no, we will not support them. The problem with being in politics for a long time is that when members are hypocritical, it catches up with them.
(1) Does the Premier stand by the statement he made in this house on 10 March 1999 when he stated that there was evidence dating back to 1996 that the Finance Brokers Supervisory Board had not dealt properly with complaints about finance brokers? (2) More than five years after winning office - with extensive support from victims of the finance broking saga - how does the Premier justify his government’s actions that have obstructed and delayed legal action to determine the state’s liability for exactly the same problems he raised in Parliament in 1999? Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: (1)-(2) I thank the member for Leschenault for his question. This is a very unfortunate chapter in the history of the state. I do not think that anyone would have anything but extreme concern about the position in which so many investors have found themselves as a result of the finance brokers scandal. I feel a great deal of sympathy for the people who have suffered. I have spoken to many of them individually and I still meet them, along with their family members. Many people around Western Australia have been affected. Issues arise during a political life that are very difficult to deal with. The level of hypocrisy from the person who asked this question and from the other side of the chamber generally is not far short of sickening. The level of hypocrisy is disgraceful. The member for Armadale, as I recall, was pursuing this matter with the then Court government. For four or five years when the Labor Party was sitting on the opposition benches and investors were being ripped off by unscrupulous finance brokers, we received nothing but abuse, opposition and disgraceful intransigence from members opposite. Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : This is the truth of the matter. Over the years that we pursued this issue in this Parliament, when something might have been done for the people who were being ripped off, members opposite stopped us from doing it. They even denied that people were being ripped off. On numerous occasions we put motions before this Parliament to have something done about it. I ask the member for Leschenault, who is famous for his political opportunism and stunts: on all the occasions on which the then opposition raised this issue and the question of whether the government should act was put to a vote, did he ever support us? To those in the public gallery today, we are dealing here with one of the most hypocritical people who have ever walked through the doors of this Parliament. However, they should not simply accept my advice; they should ask some of the people who are sitting next to the member on the opposition front bench. They are on the record saying what they think about him. Let us put this into a bit of context. When we were in opposition, we made some commitments to the people who were being ripped off by the finance brokers. The first commitment was that, if elected to government, we would hold a judicial inquiry with broad terms of reference into the finance broking industry. The then government violently opposed that. Doug Shave, then member for Alfred Cove, refused to engage on the issue, and the then Premier refused to do anything about it. When the Labor Party was elected to government, it established the inquiry, and we know what has happened since. We also said that we would offer legal assistance to the victims of the finance brokers. Legal Aid WA has taken action or entered into negotiations on behalf of 707 investors, and so far 200 investors have recovered their losses. In addition, a claim involving a further 50 investors is to be settled shortly. The rest of the legal claims are ongoing. The state government has provided $1.125 million to fund these actions and indemnify investors against costs awarded in the event that their legal actions are unsuccessful. I almost gasp with awe that a person such as the member for Leschenault is able to sit over there with a straight face and raise these issues in the presence of those in the public gallery. It is just amazing that that sort of person is involved in Western Australia politics. The third commitment was for full disclosure. Did the previous government ever seek to disclose anything? Did any member opposite seek to disclose anything? The member for Cottesloe seems to have found his voice again; did he ever come over and support the then opposition on this issue? He did nothing. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : Tell us what you are doing. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am going through the five commitments. The government has provided to the plaintiffs and their lawyers thousands of documents, including some pieces of legal advice provided to the then Ministry of Fair Trading or to the Finance Brokers Supervisory Board, to assist them in pursuing their legal actions. The government scanned these documents and provided them in electronic form to further assist the plaintiffs. The fourth commitment was to facilitate court action to resolve the liability. A writ commencing legal proceedings against the now defunct Finance Brokers Supervisory Board was filed in February 2002. A substantially amended statement of claim that was 202 pages in length was filed in October 2002. The board filed its defence in 2003, which was within the time frame allowed by the court for filing the defence. There was a subsequent issue. The lawyers representing the people in the gallery today acknowledged that issue in the presentation of their claim, which delayed the issue for up to 18 months. It was not because of the state at all. Our fifth commitment was to pay up when liability was established. The state is defending the litigation because it has been consistently advised - this goes to the question of the member for Leschenault - that the Finance Brokers Supervisory Board has a sound defence to the plaintiff’s actions. Before the government could meet any claim for payment, liability would need to be established. The request that the government compensate people for losses incurred as a result of the dishonest actions of finance brokers cannot be agreed in the absence of a finding of liability against the board. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : You said that the department made a serious error. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have just gone through the issues and outlined the five - Ms S.E. Walker : What are you doing to help them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have just outlined those five initiatives and said that the actions of the Finance Brokers Supervisory Board cannot be agreed in the absence of a finding of liability against the board. Point of Order Mr D.F. BARRON-SULLIVAN : I ask the Premier to table that document. The SPEAKER : If it is an official document, it must be tabled. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am happy to table it. It is a letter I wrote to Mr N. and Mrs A. Horn of 21 Joseph Road, Safety Bay, Western Australia. I am happy to table it at the end of question time. There is nothing secret in it. I have sent the same letter to various other victims of finance brokers. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The member for Leschenault has raised historical issues. On Tuesday, 21 December 1999, when we were in opposition, we raised a matter of public interest, and that is what the current opposition will do today. Our motion in part states - The House calls upon the Government to provide adequate funding to ensure that the mainly elderly self-funded retirees who are losing their life savings through the operation of finance brokers and the Ministry are assisted in recovering their funds. That was the matter of public interest that we put forward when we were in opposition at the time. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : Do you still think that is what should happen? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Did members hear what it was? Point of Order Mr J.H.D. DAY : Mr Speaker, I am particularly conscious that members of the public in the gallery cannot respond, and I draw your attention to standing order 85(3), which states that members will address themselves to the Chair. I think that a great deal of latitude has been shown and it is time to call the Premier to order on that point. The SPEAKER : I think the Premier is addressing the question as asked, and interjections are expanding the answer. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : There is a place in France called the Palace of Versailles. I was very fortunate to visit the Palace of Versailles when I was on holiday with my family at Christmas time. The Palace of Versailles is famous for, among other things, a very long corridor that has mirrors along one side; hence the saying, “Take a walk down the long hall of mirrors.” What members are seeing is the absolute discomfort when the mirror is held up to the hypocrisy of the other side. I will go back. The MPI stated that the government should provide adequate funding to ensure that the mainly elderly self-funded retirees losing their life savings through the operation of finance brokers and the ministry were assisted in recovering their funds. Guess what happened when that motion was put to the vote? Does the member for Leschenault remember what happened? Does he remember whether he voted for or against the motion? Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : Have you noticed which side of the house I am sitting on today? It is one of the reasons I am over here. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : He was one of 26 members who voted no on 21 December 1999. When something could have been done right there and then, when members opposite were in government, the member for Leschenault said no, we will not support them. The problem with being in politics for a long time is that when members are hypocritical, it catches up with them.
(2) More than five years after winning office - with extensive support from victims of the finance broking saga - how does the Premier justify his government’s actions that have obstructed and delayed legal action to determine the state’s liability for exactly the same problems he raised in Parliament in 1999? Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: (1)-(2) I thank the member for Leschenault for his question. This is a very unfortunate chapter in the history of the state. I do not think that anyone would have anything but extreme concern about the position in which so many investors have found themselves as a result of the finance brokers scandal. I feel a great deal of sympathy for the people who have suffered. I have spoken to many of them individually and I still meet them, along with their family members. Many people around Western Australia have been affected. Issues arise during a political life that are very difficult to deal with. The level of hypocrisy from the person who asked this question and from the other side of the chamber generally is not far short of sickening. The level of hypocrisy is disgraceful. The member for Armadale, as I recall, was pursuing this matter with the then Court government. For four or five years when the Labor Party was sitting on the opposition benches and investors were being ripped off by unscrupulous finance brokers, we received nothing but abuse, opposition and disgraceful intransigence from members opposite. Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : This is the truth of the matter. Over the years that we pursued this issue in this Parliament, when something might have been done for the people who were being ripped off, members opposite stopped us from doing it. They even denied that people were being ripped off. On numerous occasions we put motions before this Parliament to have something done about it. I ask the member for Leschenault, who is famous for his political opportunism and stunts: on all the occasions on which the then opposition raised this issue and the question of whether the government should act was put to a vote, did he ever support us? To those in the public gallery today, we are dealing here with one of the most hypocritical people who have ever walked through the doors of this Parliament. However, they should not simply accept my advice; they should ask some of the people who are sitting next to the member on the opposition front bench. They are on the record saying what they think about him. Let us put this into a bit of context. When we were in opposition, we made some commitments to the people who were being ripped off by the finance brokers. The first commitment was that, if elected to government, we would hold a judicial inquiry with broad terms of reference into the finance broking industry. The then government violently opposed that. Doug Shave, then member for Alfred Cove, refused to engage on the issue, and the then Premier refused to do anything about it. When the Labor Party was elected to government, it established the inquiry, and we know what has happened since. We also said that we would offer legal assistance to the victims of the finance brokers. Legal Aid WA has taken action or entered into negotiations on behalf of 707 investors, and so far 200 investors have recovered their losses. In addition, a claim involving a further 50 investors is to be settled shortly. The rest of the legal claims are ongoing. The state government has provided $1.125 million to fund these actions and indemnify investors against costs awarded in the event that their legal actions are unsuccessful. I almost gasp with awe that a person such as the member for Leschenault is able to sit over there with a straight face and raise these issues in the presence of those in the public gallery. It is just amazing that that sort of person is involved in Western Australia politics. The third commitment was for full disclosure. Did the previous government ever seek to disclose anything? Did any member opposite seek to disclose anything? The member for Cottesloe seems to have found his voice again; did he ever come over and support the then opposition on this issue? He did nothing. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : Tell us what you are doing. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am going through the five commitments. The government has provided to the plaintiffs and their lawyers thousands of documents, including some pieces of legal advice provided to the then Ministry of Fair Trading or to the Finance Brokers Supervisory Board, to assist them in pursuing their legal actions. The government scanned these documents and provided them in electronic form to further assist the plaintiffs. The fourth commitment was to facilitate court action to resolve the liability. A writ commencing legal proceedings against the now defunct Finance Brokers Supervisory Board was filed in February 2002. A substantially amended statement of claim that was 202 pages in length was filed in October 2002. The board filed its defence in 2003, which was within the time frame allowed by the court for filing the defence. There was a subsequent issue. The lawyers representing the people in the gallery today acknowledged that issue in the presentation of their claim, which delayed the issue for up to 18 months. It was not because of the state at all. Our fifth commitment was to pay up when liability was established. The state is defending the litigation because it has been consistently advised - this goes to the question of the member for Leschenault - that the Finance Brokers Supervisory Board has a sound defence to the plaintiff’s actions. Before the government could meet any claim for payment, liability would need to be established. The request that the government compensate people for losses incurred as a result of the dishonest actions of finance brokers cannot be agreed in the absence of a finding of liability against the board. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : You said that the department made a serious error. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have just gone through the issues and outlined the five - Ms S.E. Walker : What are you doing to help them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have just outlined those five initiatives and said that the actions of the Finance Brokers Supervisory Board cannot be agreed in the absence of a finding of liability against the board. Point of Order Mr D.F. BARRON-SULLIVAN : I ask the Premier to table that document. The SPEAKER : If it is an official document, it must be tabled. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am happy to table it. It is a letter I wrote to Mr N. and Mrs A. Horn of 21 Joseph Road, Safety Bay, Western Australia. I am happy to table it at the end of question time. There is nothing secret in it. I have sent the same letter to various other victims of finance brokers. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The member for Leschenault has raised historical issues. On Tuesday, 21 December 1999, when we were in opposition, we raised a matter of public interest, and that is what the current opposition will do today. Our motion in part states - The House calls upon the Government to provide adequate funding to ensure that the mainly elderly self-funded retirees who are losing their life savings through the operation of finance brokers and the Ministry are assisted in recovering their funds. That was the matter of public interest that we put forward when we were in opposition at the time. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : Do you still think that is what should happen? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Did members hear what it was? Point of Order Mr J.H.D. DAY : Mr Speaker, I am particularly conscious that members of the public in the gallery cannot respond, and I draw your attention to standing order 85(3), which states that members will address themselves to the Chair. I think that a great deal of latitude has been shown and it is time to call the Premier to order on that point. The SPEAKER : I think the Premier is addressing the question as asked, and interjections are expanding the answer. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : There is a place in France called the Palace of Versailles. I was very fortunate to visit the Palace of Versailles when I was on holiday with my family at Christmas time. The Palace of Versailles is famous for, among other things, a very long corridor that has mirrors along one side; hence the saying, “Take a walk down the long hall of mirrors.” What members are seeing is the absolute discomfort when the mirror is held up to the hypocrisy of the other side. I will go back. The MPI stated that the government should provide adequate funding to ensure that the mainly elderly self-funded retirees losing their life savings through the operation of finance brokers and the ministry were assisted in recovering their funds. Guess what happened when that motion was put to the vote? Does the member for Leschenault remember what happened? Does he remember whether he voted for or against the motion? Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : Have you noticed which side of the house I am sitting on today? It is one of the reasons I am over here. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : He was one of 26 members who voted no on 21 December 1999. When something could have been done right there and then, when members opposite were in government, the member for Leschenault said no, we will not support them. The problem with being in politics for a long time is that when members are hypocritical, it catches up with them.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: (1)-(2) I thank the member for Leschenault for his question. This is a very unfortunate chapter in the history of the state. I do not think that anyone would have anything but extreme concern about the position in which so many investors have found themselves as a result of the finance brokers scandal. I feel a great deal of sympathy for the people who have suffered. I have spoken to many of them individually and I still meet them, along with their family members. Many people around Western Australia have been affected. Issues arise during a political life that are very difficult to deal with. The level of hypocrisy from the person who asked this question and from the other side of the chamber generally is not far short of sickening. The level of hypocrisy is disgraceful. The member for Armadale, as I recall, was pursuing this matter with the then Court government. For four or five years when the Labor Party was sitting on the opposition benches and investors were being ripped off by unscrupulous finance brokers, we received nothing but abuse, opposition and disgraceful intransigence from members opposite. Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : This is the truth of the matter. Over the years that we pursued this issue in this Parliament, when something might have been done for the people who were being ripped off, members opposite stopped us from doing it. They even denied that people were being ripped off. On numerous occasions we put motions before this Parliament to have something done about it. I ask the member for Leschenault, who is famous for his political opportunism and stunts: on all the occasions on which the then opposition raised this issue and the question of whether the government should act was put to a vote, did he ever support us? To those in the public gallery today, we are dealing here with one of the most hypocritical people who have ever walked through the doors of this Parliament. However, they should not simply accept my advice; they should ask some of the people who are sitting next to the member on the opposition front bench. They are on the record saying what they think about him. Let us put this into a bit of context. When we were in opposition, we made some commitments to the people who were being ripped off by the finance brokers. The first commitment was that, if elected to government, we would hold a judicial inquiry with broad terms of reference into the finance broking industry. The then government violently opposed that. Doug Shave, then member for Alfred Cove, refused to engage on the issue, and the then Premier refused to do anything about it. When the Labor Party was elected to government, it established the inquiry, and we know what has happened since. We also said that we would offer legal assistance to the victims of the finance brokers. Legal Aid WA has taken action or entered into negotiations on behalf of 707 investors, and so far 200 investors have recovered their losses. In addition, a claim involving a further 50 investors is to be settled shortly. The rest of the legal claims are ongoing. The state government has provided $1.125 million to fund these actions and indemnify investors against costs awarded in the event that their legal actions are unsuccessful. I almost gasp with awe that a person such as the member for Leschenault is able to sit over there with a straight face and raise these issues in the presence of those in the public gallery. It is just amazing that that sort of person is involved in Western Australia politics. The third commitment was for full disclosure. Did the previous government ever seek to disclose anything? Did any member opposite seek to disclose anything? The member for Cottesloe seems to have found his voice again; did he ever come over and support the then opposition on this issue? He did nothing. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : Tell us what you are doing. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am going through the five commitments. The government has provided to the plaintiffs and their lawyers thousands of documents, including some pieces of legal advice provided to the then Ministry of Fair Trading or to the Finance Brokers Supervisory Board, to assist them in pursuing their legal actions. The government scanned these documents and provided them in electronic form to further assist the plaintiffs. The fourth commitment was to facilitate court action to resolve the liability. A writ commencing legal proceedings against the now defunct Finance Brokers Supervisory Board was filed in February 2002. A substantially amended statement of claim that was 202 pages in length was filed in October 2002. The board filed its defence in 2003, which was within the time frame allowed by the court for filing the defence. There was a subsequent issue. The lawyers representing the people in the gallery today acknowledged that issue in the presentation of their claim, which delayed the issue for up to 18 months. It was not because of the state at all. Our fifth commitment was to pay up when liability was established. The state is defending the litigation because it has been consistently advised - this goes to the question of the member for Leschenault - that the Finance Brokers Supervisory Board has a sound defence to the plaintiff’s actions. Before the government could meet any claim for payment, liability would need to be established. The request that the government compensate people for losses incurred as a result of the dishonest actions of finance brokers cannot be agreed in the absence of a finding of liability against the board. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : You said that the department made a serious error. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have just gone through the issues and outlined the five - Ms S.E. Walker : What are you doing to help them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have just outlined those five initiatives and said that the actions of the Finance Brokers Supervisory Board cannot be agreed in the absence of a finding of liability against the board. Point of Order Mr D.F. BARRON-SULLIVAN : I ask the Premier to table that document. The SPEAKER : If it is an official document, it must be tabled. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am happy to table it. It is a letter I wrote to Mr N. and Mrs A. Horn of 21 Joseph Road, Safety Bay, Western Australia. I am happy to table it at the end of question time. There is nothing secret in it. I have sent the same letter to various other victims of finance brokers. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The member for Leschenault has raised historical issues. On Tuesday, 21 December 1999, when we were in opposition, we raised a matter of public interest, and that is what the current opposition will do today. Our motion in part states - The House calls upon the Government to provide adequate funding to ensure that the mainly elderly self-funded retirees who are losing their life savings through the operation of finance brokers and the Ministry are assisted in recovering their funds. That was the matter of public interest that we put forward when we were in opposition at the time. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : Do you still think that is what should happen? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Did members hear what it was? Point of Order Mr J.H.D. DAY : Mr Speaker, I am particularly conscious that members of the public in the gallery cannot respond, and I draw your attention to standing order 85(3), which states that members will address themselves to the Chair. I think that a great deal of latitude has been shown and it is time to call the Premier to order on that point. The SPEAKER : I think the Premier is addressing the question as asked, and interjections are expanding the answer. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : There is a place in France called the Palace of Versailles. I was very fortunate to visit the Palace of Versailles when I was on holiday with my family at Christmas time. The Palace of Versailles is famous for, among other things, a very long corridor that has mirrors along one side; hence the saying, “Take a walk down the long hall of mirrors.” What members are seeing is the absolute discomfort when the mirror is held up to the hypocrisy of the other side. I will go back. The MPI stated that the government should provide adequate funding to ensure that the mainly elderly self-funded retirees losing their life savings through the operation of finance brokers and the ministry were assisted in recovering their funds. Guess what happened when that motion was put to the vote? Does the member for Leschenault remember what happened? Does he remember whether he voted for or against the motion? Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : Have you noticed which side of the house I am sitting on today? It is one of the reasons I am over here. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : He was one of 26 members who voted no on 21 December 1999. When something could have been done right there and then, when members opposite were in government, the member for Leschenault said no, we will not support them. The problem with being in politics for a long time is that when members are hypocritical, it catches up with them.
(1)-(2) I thank the member for Leschenault for his question. This is a very unfortunate chapter in the history of the state. I do not think that anyone would have anything but extreme concern about the position in which so many investors have found themselves as a result of the finance brokers scandal. I feel a great deal of sympathy for the people who have suffered. I have spoken to many of them individually and I still meet them, along with their family members. Many people around Western Australia have been affected. Issues arise during a political life that are very difficult to deal with. The level of hypocrisy from the person who asked this question and from the other side of the chamber generally is not far short of sickening. The level of hypocrisy is disgraceful. The member for Armadale, as I recall, was pursuing this matter with the then Court government. For four or five years when the Labor Party was sitting on the opposition benches and investors were being ripped off by unscrupulous finance brokers, we received nothing but abuse, opposition and disgraceful intransigence from members opposite. Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : This is the truth of the matter. Over the years that we pursued this issue in this Parliament, when something might have been done for the people who were being ripped off, members opposite stopped us from doing it. They even denied that people were being ripped off. On numerous occasions we put motions before this Parliament to have something done about it. I ask the member for Leschenault, who is famous for his political opportunism and stunts: on all the occasions on which the then opposition raised this issue and the question of whether the government should act was put to a vote, did he ever support us? To those in the public gallery today, we are dealing here with one of the most hypocritical people who have ever walked through the doors of this Parliament. However, they should not simply accept my advice; they should ask some of the people who are sitting next to the member on the opposition front bench. They are on the record saying what they think about him. Let us put this into a bit of context. When we were in opposition, we made some commitments to the people who were being ripped off by the finance brokers. The first commitment was that, if elected to government, we would hold a judicial inquiry with broad terms of reference into the finance broking industry. The then government violently opposed that. Doug Shave, then member for Alfred Cove, refused to engage on the issue, and the then Premier refused to do anything about it. When the Labor Party was elected to government, it established the inquiry, and we know what has happened since. We also said that we would offer legal assistance to the victims of the finance brokers. Legal Aid WA has taken action or entered into negotiations on behalf of 707 investors, and so far 200 investors have recovered their losses. In addition, a claim involving a further 50 investors is to be settled shortly. The rest of the legal claims are ongoing. The state government has provided $1.125 million to fund these actions and indemnify investors against costs awarded in the event that their legal actions are unsuccessful. I almost gasp with awe that a person such as the member for Leschenault is able to sit over there with a straight face and raise these issues in the presence of those in the public gallery. It is just amazing that that sort of person is involved in Western Australia politics. The third commitment was for full disclosure. Did the previous government ever seek to disclose anything? Did any member opposite seek to disclose anything? The member for Cottesloe seems to have found his voice again; did he ever come over and support the then opposition on this issue? He did nothing. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : Tell us what you are doing. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am going through the five commitments. The government has provided to the plaintiffs and their lawyers thousands of documents, including some pieces of legal advice provided to the then Ministry of Fair Trading or to the Finance Brokers Supervisory Board, to assist them in pursuing their legal actions. The government scanned these documents and provided them in electronic form to further assist the plaintiffs. The fourth commitment was to facilitate court action to resolve the liability. A writ commencing legal proceedings against the now defunct Finance Brokers Supervisory Board was filed in February 2002. A substantially amended statement of claim that was 202 pages in length was filed in October 2002. The board filed its defence in 2003, which was within the time frame allowed by the court for filing the defence. There was a subsequent issue. The lawyers representing the people in the gallery today acknowledged that issue in the presentation of their claim, which delayed the issue for up to 18 months. It was not because of the state at all. Our fifth commitment was to pay up when liability was established. The state is defending the litigation because it has been consistently advised - this goes to the question of the member for Leschenault - that the Finance Brokers Supervisory Board has a sound defence to the plaintiff’s actions. Before the government could meet any claim for payment, liability would need to be established. The request that the government compensate people for losses incurred as a result of the dishonest actions of finance brokers cannot be agreed in the absence of a finding of liability against the board. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : You said that the department made a serious error. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have just gone through the issues and outlined the five - Ms S.E. Walker : What are you doing to help them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have just outlined those five initiatives and said that the actions of the Finance Brokers Supervisory Board cannot be agreed in the absence of a finding of liability against the board. Point of Order Mr D.F. BARRON-SULLIVAN : I ask the Premier to table that document. The SPEAKER : If it is an official document, it must be tabled. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am happy to table it. It is a letter I wrote to Mr N. and Mrs A. Horn of 21 Joseph Road, Safety Bay, Western Australia. I am happy to table it at the end of question time. There is nothing secret in it. I have sent the same letter to various other victims of finance brokers. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The member for Leschenault has raised historical issues. On Tuesday, 21 December 1999, when we were in opposition, we raised a matter of public interest, and that is what the current opposition will do today. Our motion in part states - The House calls upon the Government to provide adequate funding to ensure that the mainly elderly self-funded retirees who are losing their life savings through the operation of finance brokers and the Ministry are assisted in recovering their funds. That was the matter of public interest that we put forward when we were in opposition at the time. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : Do you still think that is what should happen? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Did members hear what it was? Point of Order Mr J.H.D. DAY : Mr Speaker, I am particularly conscious that members of the public in the gallery cannot respond, and I draw your attention to standing order 85(3), which states that members will address themselves to the Chair. I think that a great deal of latitude has been shown and it is time to call the Premier to order on that point. The SPEAKER : I think the Premier is addressing the question as asked, and interjections are expanding the answer. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : There is a place in France called the Palace of Versailles. I was very fortunate to visit the Palace of Versailles when I was on holiday with my family at Christmas time. The Palace of Versailles is famous for, among other things, a very long corridor that has mirrors along one side; hence the saying, “Take a walk down the long hall of mirrors.” What members are seeing is the absolute discomfort when the mirror is held up to the hypocrisy of the other side. I will go back. The MPI stated that the government should provide adequate funding to ensure that the mainly elderly self-funded retirees losing their life savings through the operation of finance brokers and the ministry were assisted in recovering their funds. Guess what happened when that motion was put to the vote? Does the member for Leschenault remember what happened? Does he remember whether he voted for or against the motion? Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : Have you noticed which side of the house I am sitting on today? It is one of the reasons I am over here. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : He was one of 26 members who voted no on 21 December 1999. When something could have been done right there and then, when members opposite were in government, the member for Leschenault said no, we will not support them. The problem with being in politics for a long time is that when members are hypocritical, it catches up with them.
Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : This is the truth of the matter. Over the years that we pursued this issue in this Parliament, when something might have been done for the people who were being ripped off, members opposite stopped us from doing it. They even denied that people were being ripped off. On numerous occasions we put motions before this Parliament to have something done about it. I ask the member for Leschenault, who is famous for his political opportunism and stunts: on all the occasions on which the then opposition raised this issue and the question of whether the government should act was put to a vote, did he ever support us? To those in the public gallery today, we are dealing here with one of the most hypocritical people who have ever walked through the doors of this Parliament. However, they should not simply accept my advice; they should ask some of the people who are sitting next to the member on the opposition front bench. They are on the record saying what they think about him. Let us put this into a bit of context. When we were in opposition, we made some commitments to the people who were being ripped off by the finance brokers. The first commitment was that, if elected to government, we would hold a judicial inquiry with broad terms of reference into the finance broking industry. The then government violently opposed that. Doug Shave, then member for Alfred Cove, refused to engage on the issue, and the then Premier refused to do anything about it. When the Labor Party was elected to government, it established the inquiry, and we know what has happened since. We also said that we would offer legal assistance to the victims of the finance brokers. Legal Aid WA has taken action or entered into negotiations on behalf of 707 investors, and so far 200 investors have recovered their losses. In addition, a claim involving a further 50 investors is to be settled shortly. The rest of the legal claims are ongoing. The state government has provided $1.125 million to fund these actions and indemnify investors against costs awarded in the event that their legal actions are unsuccessful. I almost gasp with awe that a person such as the member for Leschenault is able to sit over there with a straight face and raise these issues in the presence of those in the public gallery. It is just amazing that that sort of person is involved in Western Australia politics. The third commitment was for full disclosure. Did the previous government ever seek to disclose anything? Did any member opposite seek to disclose anything? The member for Cottesloe seems to have found his voice again; did he ever come over and support the then opposition on this issue? He did nothing. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : Tell us what you are doing. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am going through the five commitments. The government has provided to the plaintiffs and their lawyers thousands of documents, including some pieces of legal advice provided to the then Ministry of Fair Trading or to the Finance Brokers Supervisory Board, to assist them in pursuing their legal actions. The government scanned these documents and provided them in electronic form to further assist the plaintiffs. The fourth commitment was to facilitate court action to resolve the liability. A writ commencing legal proceedings against the now defunct Finance Brokers Supervisory Board was filed in February 2002. A substantially amended statement of claim that was 202 pages in length was filed in October 2002. The board filed its defence in 2003, which was within the time frame allowed by the court for filing the defence. There was a subsequent issue. The lawyers representing the people in the gallery today acknowledged that issue in the presentation of their claim, which delayed the issue for up to 18 months. It was not because of the state at all. Our fifth commitment was to pay up when liability was established. The state is defending the litigation because it has been consistently advised - this goes to the question of the member for Leschenault - that the Finance Brokers Supervisory Board has a sound defence to the plaintiff’s actions. Before the government could meet any claim for payment, liability would need to be established. The request that the government compensate people for losses incurred as a result of the dishonest actions of finance brokers cannot be agreed in the absence of a finding of liability against the board. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : You said that the department made a serious error. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have just gone through the issues and outlined the five - Ms S.E. Walker : What are you doing to help them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have just outlined those five initiatives and said that the actions of the Finance Brokers Supervisory Board cannot be agreed in the absence of a finding of liability against the board. Point of Order Mr D.F. BARRON-SULLIVAN : I ask the Premier to table that document. The SPEAKER : If it is an official document, it must be tabled. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am happy to table it. It is a letter I wrote to Mr N. and Mrs A. Horn of 21 Joseph Road, Safety Bay, Western Australia. I am happy to table it at the end of question time. There is nothing secret in it. I have sent the same letter to various other victims of finance brokers. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The member for Leschenault has raised historical issues. On Tuesday, 21 December 1999, when we were in opposition, we raised a matter of public interest, and that is what the current opposition will do today. Our motion in part states - The House calls upon the Government to provide adequate funding to ensure that the mainly elderly self-funded retirees who are losing their life savings through the operation of finance brokers and the Ministry are assisted in recovering their funds. That was the matter of public interest that we put forward when we were in opposition at the time. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : Do you still think that is what should happen? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Did members hear what it was? Point of Order Mr J.H.D. DAY : Mr Speaker, I am particularly conscious that members of the public in the gallery cannot respond, and I draw your attention to standing order 85(3), which states that members will address themselves to the Chair. I think that a great deal of latitude has been shown and it is time to call the Premier to order on that point. The SPEAKER : I think the Premier is addressing the question as asked, and interjections are expanding the answer. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : There is a place in France called the Palace of Versailles. I was very fortunate to visit the Palace of Versailles when I was on holiday with my family at Christmas time. The Palace of Versailles is famous for, among other things, a very long corridor that has mirrors along one side; hence the saying, “Take a walk down the long hall of mirrors.” What members are seeing is the absolute discomfort when the mirror is held up to the hypocrisy of the other side. I will go back. The MPI stated that the government should provide adequate funding to ensure that the mainly elderly self-funded retirees losing their life savings through the operation of finance brokers and the ministry were assisted in recovering their funds. Guess what happened when that motion was put to the vote? Does the member for Leschenault remember what happened? Does he remember whether he voted for or against the motion? Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : Have you noticed which side of the house I am sitting on today? It is one of the reasons I am over here. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : He was one of 26 members who voted no on 21 December 1999. When something could have been done right there and then, when members opposite were in government, the member for Leschenault said no, we will not support them. The problem with being in politics for a long time is that when members are hypocritical, it catches up with them.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : This is the truth of the matter. Over the years that we pursued this issue in this Parliament, when something might have been done for the people who were being ripped off, members opposite stopped us from doing it. They even denied that people were being ripped off. On numerous occasions we put motions before this Parliament to have something done about it. I ask the member for Leschenault, who is famous for his political opportunism and stunts: on all the occasions on which the then opposition raised this issue and the question of whether the government should act was put to a vote, did he ever support us? To those in the public gallery today, we are dealing here with one of the most hypocritical people who have ever walked through the doors of this Parliament. However, they should not simply accept my advice; they should ask some of the people who are sitting next to the member on the opposition front bench. They are on the record saying what they think about him. Let us put this into a bit of context. When we were in opposition, we made some commitments to the people who were being ripped off by the finance brokers. The first commitment was that, if elected to government, we would hold a judicial inquiry with broad terms of reference into the finance broking industry. The then government violently opposed that. Doug Shave, then member for Alfred Cove, refused to engage on the issue, and the then Premier refused to do anything about it. When the Labor Party was elected to government, it established the inquiry, and we know what has happened since. We also said that we would offer legal assistance to the victims of the finance brokers. Legal Aid WA has taken action or entered into negotiations on behalf of 707 investors, and so far 200 investors have recovered their losses. In addition, a claim involving a further 50 investors is to be settled shortly. The rest of the legal claims are ongoing. The state government has provided $1.125 million to fund these actions and indemnify investors against costs awarded in the event that their legal actions are unsuccessful. I almost gasp with awe that a person such as the member for Leschenault is able to sit over there with a straight face and raise these issues in the presence of those in the public gallery. It is just amazing that that sort of person is involved in Western Australia politics. The third commitment was for full disclosure. Did the previous government ever seek to disclose anything? Did any member opposite seek to disclose anything? The member for Cottesloe seems to have found his voice again; did he ever come over and support the then opposition on this issue? He did nothing. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : Tell us what you are doing. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am going through the five commitments. The government has provided to the plaintiffs and their lawyers thousands of documents, including some pieces of legal advice provided to the then Ministry of Fair Trading or to the Finance Brokers Supervisory Board, to assist them in pursuing their legal actions. The government scanned these documents and provided them in electronic form to further assist the plaintiffs. The fourth commitment was to facilitate court action to resolve the liability. A writ commencing legal proceedings against the now defunct Finance Brokers Supervisory Board was filed in February 2002. A substantially amended statement of claim that was 202 pages in length was filed in October 2002. The board filed its defence in 2003, which was within the time frame allowed by the court for filing the defence. There was a subsequent issue. The lawyers representing the people in the gallery today acknowledged that issue in the presentation of their claim, which delayed the issue for up to 18 months. It was not because of the state at all. Our fifth commitment was to pay up when liability was established. The state is defending the litigation because it has been consistently advised - this goes to the question of the member for Leschenault - that the Finance Brokers Supervisory Board has a sound defence to the plaintiff’s actions. Before the government could meet any claim for payment, liability would need to be established. The request that the government compensate people for losses incurred as a result of the dishonest actions of finance brokers cannot be agreed in the absence of a finding of liability against the board. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : You said that the department made a serious error. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have just gone through the issues and outlined the five - Ms S.E. Walker : What are you doing to help them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have just outlined those five initiatives and said that the actions of the Finance Brokers Supervisory Board cannot be agreed in the absence of a finding of liability against the board. Point of Order Mr D.F. BARRON-SULLIVAN : I ask the Premier to table that document. The SPEAKER : If it is an official document, it must be tabled. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am happy to table it. It is a letter I wrote to Mr N. and Mrs A. Horn of 21 Joseph Road, Safety Bay, Western Australia. I am happy to table it at the end of question time. There is nothing secret in it. I have sent the same letter to various other victims of finance brokers. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The member for Leschenault has raised historical issues. On Tuesday, 21 December 1999, when we were in opposition, we raised a matter of public interest, and that is what the current opposition will do today. Our motion in part states - The House calls upon the Government to provide adequate funding to ensure that the mainly elderly self-funded retirees who are losing their life savings through the operation of finance brokers and the Ministry are assisted in recovering their funds. That was the matter of public interest that we put forward when we were in opposition at the time. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : Do you still think that is what should happen? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Did members hear what it was? Point of Order Mr J.H.D. DAY : Mr Speaker, I am particularly conscious that members of the public in the gallery cannot respond, and I draw your attention to standing order 85(3), which states that members will address themselves to the Chair. I think that a great deal of latitude has been shown and it is time to call the Premier to order on that point. The SPEAKER : I think the Premier is addressing the question as asked, and interjections are expanding the answer. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : There is a place in France called the Palace of Versailles. I was very fortunate to visit the Palace of Versailles when I was on holiday with my family at Christmas time. The Palace of Versailles is famous for, among other things, a very long corridor that has mirrors along one side; hence the saying, “Take a walk down the long hall of mirrors.” What members are seeing is the absolute discomfort when the mirror is held up to the hypocrisy of the other side. I will go back. The MPI stated that the government should provide adequate funding to ensure that the mainly elderly self-funded retirees losing their life savings through the operation of finance brokers and the ministry were assisted in recovering their funds. Guess what happened when that motion was put to the vote? Does the member for Leschenault remember what happened? Does he remember whether he voted for or against the motion? Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : Have you noticed which side of the house I am sitting on today? It is one of the reasons I am over here. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : He was one of 26 members who voted no on 21 December 1999. When something could have been done right there and then, when members opposite were in government, the member for Leschenault said no, we will not support them. The problem with being in politics for a long time is that when members are hypocritical, it catches up with them.
Let us put this into a bit of context. When we were in opposition, we made some commitments to the people who were being ripped off by the finance brokers. The first commitment was that, if elected to government, we would hold a judicial inquiry with broad terms of reference into the finance broking industry. The then government violently opposed that. Doug Shave, then member for Alfred Cove, refused to engage on the issue, and the then Premier refused to do anything about it. When the Labor Party was elected to government, it established the inquiry, and we know what has happened since. We also said that we would offer legal assistance to the victims of the finance brokers. Legal Aid WA has taken action or entered into negotiations on behalf of 707 investors, and so far 200 investors have recovered their losses. In addition, a claim involving a further 50 investors is to be settled shortly. The rest of the legal claims are ongoing. The state government has provided $1.125 million to fund these actions and indemnify investors against costs awarded in the event that their legal actions are unsuccessful. I almost gasp with awe that a person such as the member for Leschenault is able to sit over there with a straight face and raise these issues in the presence of those in the public gallery. It is just amazing that that sort of person is involved in Western Australia politics. The third commitment was for full disclosure. Did the previous government ever seek to disclose anything? Did any member opposite seek to disclose anything? The member for Cottesloe seems to have found his voice again; did he ever come over and support the then opposition on this issue? He did nothing. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : Tell us what you are doing. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am going through the five commitments. The government has provided to the plaintiffs and their lawyers thousands of documents, including some pieces of legal advice provided to the then Ministry of Fair Trading or to the Finance Brokers Supervisory Board, to assist them in pursuing their legal actions. The government scanned these documents and provided them in electronic form to further assist the plaintiffs. The fourth commitment was to facilitate court action to resolve the liability. A writ commencing legal proceedings against the now defunct Finance Brokers Supervisory Board was filed in February 2002. A substantially amended statement of claim that was 202 pages in length was filed in October 2002. The board filed its defence in 2003, which was within the time frame allowed by the court for filing the defence. There was a subsequent issue. The lawyers representing the people in the gallery today acknowledged that issue in the presentation of their claim, which delayed the issue for up to 18 months. It was not because of the state at all. Our fifth commitment was to pay up when liability was established. The state is defending the litigation because it has been consistently advised - this goes to the question of the member for Leschenault - that the Finance Brokers Supervisory Board has a sound defence to the plaintiff’s actions. Before the government could meet any claim for payment, liability would need to be established. The request that the government compensate people for losses incurred as a result of the dishonest actions of finance brokers cannot be agreed in the absence of a finding of liability against the board. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : You said that the department made a serious error. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have just gone through the issues and outlined the five - Ms S.E. Walker : What are you doing to help them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have just outlined those five initiatives and said that the actions of the Finance Brokers Supervisory Board cannot be agreed in the absence of a finding of liability against the board. Point of Order Mr D.F. BARRON-SULLIVAN : I ask the Premier to table that document. The SPEAKER : If it is an official document, it must be tabled. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am happy to table it. It is a letter I wrote to Mr N. and Mrs A. Horn of 21 Joseph Road, Safety Bay, Western Australia. I am happy to table it at the end of question time. There is nothing secret in it. I have sent the same letter to various other victims of finance brokers. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The member for Leschenault has raised historical issues. On Tuesday, 21 December 1999, when we were in opposition, we raised a matter of public interest, and that is what the current opposition will do today. Our motion in part states - The House calls upon the Government to provide adequate funding to ensure that the mainly elderly self-funded retirees who are losing their life savings through the operation of finance brokers and the Ministry are assisted in recovering their funds. That was the matter of public interest that we put forward when we were in opposition at the time. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : Do you still think that is what should happen? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Did members hear what it was? Point of Order Mr J.H.D. DAY : Mr Speaker, I am particularly conscious that members of the public in the gallery cannot respond, and I draw your attention to standing order 85(3), which states that members will address themselves to the Chair. I think that a great deal of latitude has been shown and it is time to call the Premier to order on that point. The SPEAKER : I think the Premier is addressing the question as asked, and interjections are expanding the answer. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : There is a place in France called the Palace of Versailles. I was very fortunate to visit the Palace of Versailles when I was on holiday with my family at Christmas time. The Palace of Versailles is famous for, among other things, a very long corridor that has mirrors along one side; hence the saying, “Take a walk down the long hall of mirrors.” What members are seeing is the absolute discomfort when the mirror is held up to the hypocrisy of the other side. I will go back. The MPI stated that the government should provide adequate funding to ensure that the mainly elderly self-funded retirees losing their life savings through the operation of finance brokers and the ministry were assisted in recovering their funds. Guess what happened when that motion was put to the vote? Does the member for Leschenault remember what happened? Does he remember whether he voted for or against the motion? Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : Have you noticed which side of the house I am sitting on today? It is one of the reasons I am over here. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : He was one of 26 members who voted no on 21 December 1999. When something could have been done right there and then, when members opposite were in government, the member for Leschenault said no, we will not support them. The problem with being in politics for a long time is that when members are hypocritical, it catches up with them.
I almost gasp with awe that a person such as the member for Leschenault is able to sit over there with a straight face and raise these issues in the presence of those in the public gallery. It is just amazing that that sort of person is involved in Western Australia politics. The third commitment was for full disclosure. Did the previous government ever seek to disclose anything? Did any member opposite seek to disclose anything? The member for Cottesloe seems to have found his voice again; did he ever come over and support the then opposition on this issue? He did nothing. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : Tell us what you are doing. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am going through the five commitments. The government has provided to the plaintiffs and their lawyers thousands of documents, including some pieces of legal advice provided to the then Ministry of Fair Trading or to the Finance Brokers Supervisory Board, to assist them in pursuing their legal actions. The government scanned these documents and provided them in electronic form to further assist the plaintiffs. The fourth commitment was to facilitate court action to resolve the liability. A writ commencing legal proceedings against the now defunct Finance Brokers Supervisory Board was filed in February 2002. A substantially amended statement of claim that was 202 pages in length was filed in October 2002. The board filed its defence in 2003, which was within the time frame allowed by the court for filing the defence. There was a subsequent issue. The lawyers representing the people in the gallery today acknowledged that issue in the presentation of their claim, which delayed the issue for up to 18 months. It was not because of the state at all. Our fifth commitment was to pay up when liability was established. The state is defending the litigation because it has been consistently advised - this goes to the question of the member for Leschenault - that the Finance Brokers Supervisory Board has a sound defence to the plaintiff’s actions. Before the government could meet any claim for payment, liability would need to be established. The request that the government compensate people for losses incurred as a result of the dishonest actions of finance brokers cannot be agreed in the absence of a finding of liability against the board. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : You said that the department made a serious error. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have just gone through the issues and outlined the five - Ms S.E. Walker : What are you doing to help them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have just outlined those five initiatives and said that the actions of the Finance Brokers Supervisory Board cannot be agreed in the absence of a finding of liability against the board. Point of Order Mr D.F. BARRON-SULLIVAN : I ask the Premier to table that document. The SPEAKER : If it is an official document, it must be tabled. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am happy to table it. It is a letter I wrote to Mr N. and Mrs A. Horn of 21 Joseph Road, Safety Bay, Western Australia. I am happy to table it at the end of question time. There is nothing secret in it. I have sent the same letter to various other victims of finance brokers. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The member for Leschenault has raised historical issues. On Tuesday, 21 December 1999, when we were in opposition, we raised a matter of public interest, and that is what the current opposition will do today. Our motion in part states - The House calls upon the Government to provide adequate funding to ensure that the mainly elderly self-funded retirees who are losing their life savings through the operation of finance brokers and the Ministry are assisted in recovering their funds. That was the matter of public interest that we put forward when we were in opposition at the time. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : Do you still think that is what should happen? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Did members hear what it was? Point of Order Mr J.H.D. DAY : Mr Speaker, I am particularly conscious that members of the public in the gallery cannot respond, and I draw your attention to standing order 85(3), which states that members will address themselves to the Chair. I think that a great deal of latitude has been shown and it is time to call the Premier to order on that point. The SPEAKER : I think the Premier is addressing the question as asked, and interjections are expanding the answer. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : There is a place in France called the Palace of Versailles. I was very fortunate to visit the Palace of Versailles when I was on holiday with my family at Christmas time. The Palace of Versailles is famous for, among other things, a very long corridor that has mirrors along one side; hence the saying, “Take a walk down the long hall of mirrors.” What members are seeing is the absolute discomfort when the mirror is held up to the hypocrisy of the other side. I will go back. The MPI stated that the government should provide adequate funding to ensure that the mainly elderly self-funded retirees losing their life savings through the operation of finance brokers and the ministry were assisted in recovering their funds. Guess what happened when that motion was put to the vote? Does the member for Leschenault remember what happened? Does he remember whether he voted for or against the motion? Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : Have you noticed which side of the house I am sitting on today? It is one of the reasons I am over here. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : He was one of 26 members who voted no on 21 December 1999. When something could have been done right there and then, when members opposite were in government, the member for Leschenault said no, we will not support them. The problem with being in politics for a long time is that when members are hypocritical, it catches up with them.
The third commitment was for full disclosure. Did the previous government ever seek to disclose anything? Did any member opposite seek to disclose anything? The member for Cottesloe seems to have found his voice again; did he ever come over and support the then opposition on this issue? He did nothing. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : Tell us what you are doing. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am going through the five commitments. The government has provided to the plaintiffs and their lawyers thousands of documents, including some pieces of legal advice provided to the then Ministry of Fair Trading or to the Finance Brokers Supervisory Board, to assist them in pursuing their legal actions. The government scanned these documents and provided them in electronic form to further assist the plaintiffs. The fourth commitment was to facilitate court action to resolve the liability. A writ commencing legal proceedings against the now defunct Finance Brokers Supervisory Board was filed in February 2002. A substantially amended statement of claim that was 202 pages in length was filed in October 2002. The board filed its defence in 2003, which was within the time frame allowed by the court for filing the defence. There was a subsequent issue. The lawyers representing the people in the gallery today acknowledged that issue in the presentation of their claim, which delayed the issue for up to 18 months. It was not because of the state at all. Our fifth commitment was to pay up when liability was established. The state is defending the litigation because it has been consistently advised - this goes to the question of the member for Leschenault - that the Finance Brokers Supervisory Board has a sound defence to the plaintiff’s actions. Before the government could meet any claim for payment, liability would need to be established. The request that the government compensate people for losses incurred as a result of the dishonest actions of finance brokers cannot be agreed in the absence of a finding of liability against the board. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : You said that the department made a serious error. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have just gone through the issues and outlined the five - Ms S.E. Walker : What are you doing to help them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have just outlined those five initiatives and said that the actions of the Finance Brokers Supervisory Board cannot be agreed in the absence of a finding of liability against the board. Point of Order Mr D.F. BARRON-SULLIVAN : I ask the Premier to table that document. The SPEAKER : If it is an official document, it must be tabled. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am happy to table it. It is a letter I wrote to Mr N. and Mrs A. Horn of 21 Joseph Road, Safety Bay, Western Australia. I am happy to table it at the end of question time. There is nothing secret in it. I have sent the same letter to various other victims of finance brokers. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The member for Leschenault has raised historical issues. On Tuesday, 21 December 1999, when we were in opposition, we raised a matter of public interest, and that is what the current opposition will do today. Our motion in part states - The House calls upon the Government to provide adequate funding to ensure that the mainly elderly self-funded retirees who are losing their life savings through the operation of finance brokers and the Ministry are assisted in recovering their funds. That was the matter of public interest that we put forward when we were in opposition at the time. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : Do you still think that is what should happen? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Did members hear what it was? Point of Order Mr J.H.D. DAY : Mr Speaker, I am particularly conscious that members of the public in the gallery cannot respond, and I draw your attention to standing order 85(3), which states that members will address themselves to the Chair. I think that a great deal of latitude has been shown and it is time to call the Premier to order on that point. The SPEAKER : I think the Premier is addressing the question as asked, and interjections are expanding the answer. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : There is a place in France called the Palace of Versailles. I was very fortunate to visit the Palace of Versailles when I was on holiday with my family at Christmas time. The Palace of Versailles is famous for, among other things, a very long corridor that has mirrors along one side; hence the saying, “Take a walk down the long hall of mirrors.” What members are seeing is the absolute discomfort when the mirror is held up to the hypocrisy of the other side. I will go back. The MPI stated that the government should provide adequate funding to ensure that the mainly elderly self-funded retirees losing their life savings through the operation of finance brokers and the ministry were assisted in recovering their funds. Guess what happened when that motion was put to the vote? Does the member for Leschenault remember what happened? Does he remember whether he voted for or against the motion? Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : Have you noticed which side of the house I am sitting on today? It is one of the reasons I am over here. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : He was one of 26 members who voted no on 21 December 1999. When something could have been done right there and then, when members opposite were in government, the member for Leschenault said no, we will not support them. The problem with being in politics for a long time is that when members are hypocritical, it catches up with them.
Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : Tell us what you are doing. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am going through the five commitments. The government has provided to the plaintiffs and their lawyers thousands of documents, including some pieces of legal advice provided to the then Ministry of Fair Trading or to the Finance Brokers Supervisory Board, to assist them in pursuing their legal actions. The government scanned these documents and provided them in electronic form to further assist the plaintiffs. The fourth commitment was to facilitate court action to resolve the liability. A writ commencing legal proceedings against the now defunct Finance Brokers Supervisory Board was filed in February 2002. A substantially amended statement of claim that was 202 pages in length was filed in October 2002. The board filed its defence in 2003, which was within the time frame allowed by the court for filing the defence. There was a subsequent issue. The lawyers representing the people in the gallery today acknowledged that issue in the presentation of their claim, which delayed the issue for up to 18 months. It was not because of the state at all. Our fifth commitment was to pay up when liability was established. The state is defending the litigation because it has been consistently advised - this goes to the question of the member for Leschenault - that the Finance Brokers Supervisory Board has a sound defence to the plaintiff’s actions. Before the government could meet any claim for payment, liability would need to be established. The request that the government compensate people for losses incurred as a result of the dishonest actions of finance brokers cannot be agreed in the absence of a finding of liability against the board. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : You said that the department made a serious error. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have just gone through the issues and outlined the five - Ms S.E. Walker : What are you doing to help them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have just outlined those five initiatives and said that the actions of the Finance Brokers Supervisory Board cannot be agreed in the absence of a finding of liability against the board. Point of Order Mr D.F. BARRON-SULLIVAN : I ask the Premier to table that document. The SPEAKER : If it is an official document, it must be tabled. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am happy to table it. It is a letter I wrote to Mr N. and Mrs A. Horn of 21 Joseph Road, Safety Bay, Western Australia. I am happy to table it at the end of question time. There is nothing secret in it. I have sent the same letter to various other victims of finance brokers. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The member for Leschenault has raised historical issues. On Tuesday, 21 December 1999, when we were in opposition, we raised a matter of public interest, and that is what the current opposition will do today. Our motion in part states - The House calls upon the Government to provide adequate funding to ensure that the mainly elderly self-funded retirees who are losing their life savings through the operation of finance brokers and the Ministry are assisted in recovering their funds. That was the matter of public interest that we put forward when we were in opposition at the time. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : Do you still think that is what should happen? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Did members hear what it was? Point of Order Mr J.H.D. DAY : Mr Speaker, I am particularly conscious that members of the public in the gallery cannot respond, and I draw your attention to standing order 85(3), which states that members will address themselves to the Chair. I think that a great deal of latitude has been shown and it is time to call the Premier to order on that point. The SPEAKER : I think the Premier is addressing the question as asked, and interjections are expanding the answer. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : There is a place in France called the Palace of Versailles. I was very fortunate to visit the Palace of Versailles when I was on holiday with my family at Christmas time. The Palace of Versailles is famous for, among other things, a very long corridor that has mirrors along one side; hence the saying, “Take a walk down the long hall of mirrors.” What members are seeing is the absolute discomfort when the mirror is held up to the hypocrisy of the other side. I will go back. The MPI stated that the government should provide adequate funding to ensure that the mainly elderly self-funded retirees losing their life savings through the operation of finance brokers and the ministry were assisted in recovering their funds. Guess what happened when that motion was put to the vote? Does the member for Leschenault remember what happened? Does he remember whether he voted for or against the motion? Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : Have you noticed which side of the house I am sitting on today? It is one of the reasons I am over here. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : He was one of 26 members who voted no on 21 December 1999. When something could have been done right there and then, when members opposite were in government, the member for Leschenault said no, we will not support them. The problem with being in politics for a long time is that when members are hypocritical, it catches up with them.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am going through the five commitments. The government has provided to the plaintiffs and their lawyers thousands of documents, including some pieces of legal advice provided to the then Ministry of Fair Trading or to the Finance Brokers Supervisory Board, to assist them in pursuing their legal actions. The government scanned these documents and provided them in electronic form to further assist the plaintiffs. The fourth commitment was to facilitate court action to resolve the liability. A writ commencing legal proceedings against the now defunct Finance Brokers Supervisory Board was filed in February 2002. A substantially amended statement of claim that was 202 pages in length was filed in October 2002. The board filed its defence in 2003, which was within the time frame allowed by the court for filing the defence. There was a subsequent issue. The lawyers representing the people in the gallery today acknowledged that issue in the presentation of their claim, which delayed the issue for up to 18 months. It was not because of the state at all. Our fifth commitment was to pay up when liability was established. The state is defending the litigation because it has been consistently advised - this goes to the question of the member for Leschenault - that the Finance Brokers Supervisory Board has a sound defence to the plaintiff’s actions. Before the government could meet any claim for payment, liability would need to be established. The request that the government compensate people for losses incurred as a result of the dishonest actions of finance brokers cannot be agreed in the absence of a finding of liability against the board. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : You said that the department made a serious error. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have just gone through the issues and outlined the five - Ms S.E. Walker : What are you doing to help them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have just outlined those five initiatives and said that the actions of the Finance Brokers Supervisory Board cannot be agreed in the absence of a finding of liability against the board. Point of Order Mr D.F. BARRON-SULLIVAN : I ask the Premier to table that document. The SPEAKER : If it is an official document, it must be tabled. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am happy to table it. It is a letter I wrote to Mr N. and Mrs A. Horn of 21 Joseph Road, Safety Bay, Western Australia. I am happy to table it at the end of question time. There is nothing secret in it. I have sent the same letter to various other victims of finance brokers. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The member for Leschenault has raised historical issues. On Tuesday, 21 December 1999, when we were in opposition, we raised a matter of public interest, and that is what the current opposition will do today. Our motion in part states - The House calls upon the Government to provide adequate funding to ensure that the mainly elderly self-funded retirees who are losing their life savings through the operation of finance brokers and the Ministry are assisted in recovering their funds. That was the matter of public interest that we put forward when we were in opposition at the time. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : Do you still think that is what should happen? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Did members hear what it was? Point of Order Mr J.H.D. DAY : Mr Speaker, I am particularly conscious that members of the public in the gallery cannot respond, and I draw your attention to standing order 85(3), which states that members will address themselves to the Chair. I think that a great deal of latitude has been shown and it is time to call the Premier to order on that point. The SPEAKER : I think the Premier is addressing the question as asked, and interjections are expanding the answer. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : There is a place in France called the Palace of Versailles. I was very fortunate to visit the Palace of Versailles when I was on holiday with my family at Christmas time. The Palace of Versailles is famous for, among other things, a very long corridor that has mirrors along one side; hence the saying, “Take a walk down the long hall of mirrors.” What members are seeing is the absolute discomfort when the mirror is held up to the hypocrisy of the other side. I will go back. The MPI stated that the government should provide adequate funding to ensure that the mainly elderly self-funded retirees losing their life savings through the operation of finance brokers and the ministry were assisted in recovering their funds. Guess what happened when that motion was put to the vote? Does the member for Leschenault remember what happened? Does he remember whether he voted for or against the motion? Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : Have you noticed which side of the house I am sitting on today? It is one of the reasons I am over here. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : He was one of 26 members who voted no on 21 December 1999. When something could have been done right there and then, when members opposite were in government, the member for Leschenault said no, we will not support them. The problem with being in politics for a long time is that when members are hypocritical, it catches up with them.
The fourth commitment was to facilitate court action to resolve the liability. A writ commencing legal proceedings against the now defunct Finance Brokers Supervisory Board was filed in February 2002. A substantially amended statement of claim that was 202 pages in length was filed in October 2002. The board filed its defence in 2003, which was within the time frame allowed by the court for filing the defence. There was a subsequent issue. The lawyers representing the people in the gallery today acknowledged that issue in the presentation of their claim, which delayed the issue for up to 18 months. It was not because of the state at all. Our fifth commitment was to pay up when liability was established. The state is defending the litigation because it has been consistently advised - this goes to the question of the member for Leschenault - that the Finance Brokers Supervisory Board has a sound defence to the plaintiff’s actions. Before the government could meet any claim for payment, liability would need to be established. The request that the government compensate people for losses incurred as a result of the dishonest actions of finance brokers cannot be agreed in the absence of a finding of liability against the board. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : You said that the department made a serious error. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have just gone through the issues and outlined the five - Ms S.E. Walker : What are you doing to help them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have just outlined those five initiatives and said that the actions of the Finance Brokers Supervisory Board cannot be agreed in the absence of a finding of liability against the board. Point of Order Mr D.F. BARRON-SULLIVAN : I ask the Premier to table that document. The SPEAKER : If it is an official document, it must be tabled. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am happy to table it. It is a letter I wrote to Mr N. and Mrs A. Horn of 21 Joseph Road, Safety Bay, Western Australia. I am happy to table it at the end of question time. There is nothing secret in it. I have sent the same letter to various other victims of finance brokers. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The member for Leschenault has raised historical issues. On Tuesday, 21 December 1999, when we were in opposition, we raised a matter of public interest, and that is what the current opposition will do today. Our motion in part states - The House calls upon the Government to provide adequate funding to ensure that the mainly elderly self-funded retirees who are losing their life savings through the operation of finance brokers and the Ministry are assisted in recovering their funds. That was the matter of public interest that we put forward when we were in opposition at the time. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : Do you still think that is what should happen? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Did members hear what it was? Point of Order Mr J.H.D. DAY : Mr Speaker, I am particularly conscious that members of the public in the gallery cannot respond, and I draw your attention to standing order 85(3), which states that members will address themselves to the Chair. I think that a great deal of latitude has been shown and it is time to call the Premier to order on that point. The SPEAKER : I think the Premier is addressing the question as asked, and interjections are expanding the answer. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : There is a place in France called the Palace of Versailles. I was very fortunate to visit the Palace of Versailles when I was on holiday with my family at Christmas time. The Palace of Versailles is famous for, among other things, a very long corridor that has mirrors along one side; hence the saying, “Take a walk down the long hall of mirrors.” What members are seeing is the absolute discomfort when the mirror is held up to the hypocrisy of the other side. I will go back. The MPI stated that the government should provide adequate funding to ensure that the mainly elderly self-funded retirees losing their life savings through the operation of finance brokers and the ministry were assisted in recovering their funds. Guess what happened when that motion was put to the vote? Does the member for Leschenault remember what happened? Does he remember whether he voted for or against the motion? Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : Have you noticed which side of the house I am sitting on today? It is one of the reasons I am over here. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : He was one of 26 members who voted no on 21 December 1999. When something could have been done right there and then, when members opposite were in government, the member for Leschenault said no, we will not support them. The problem with being in politics for a long time is that when members are hypocritical, it catches up with them.
Our fifth commitment was to pay up when liability was established. The state is defending the litigation because it has been consistently advised - this goes to the question of the member for Leschenault - that the Finance Brokers Supervisory Board has a sound defence to the plaintiff’s actions. Before the government could meet any claim for payment, liability would need to be established. The request that the government compensate people for losses incurred as a result of the dishonest actions of finance brokers cannot be agreed in the absence of a finding of liability against the board. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : You said that the department made a serious error. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have just gone through the issues and outlined the five - Ms S.E. Walker : What are you doing to help them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have just outlined those five initiatives and said that the actions of the Finance Brokers Supervisory Board cannot be agreed in the absence of a finding of liability against the board. Point of Order Mr D.F. BARRON-SULLIVAN : I ask the Premier to table that document. The SPEAKER : If it is an official document, it must be tabled. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am happy to table it. It is a letter I wrote to Mr N. and Mrs A. Horn of 21 Joseph Road, Safety Bay, Western Australia. I am happy to table it at the end of question time. There is nothing secret in it. I have sent the same letter to various other victims of finance brokers. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The member for Leschenault has raised historical issues. On Tuesday, 21 December 1999, when we were in opposition, we raised a matter of public interest, and that is what the current opposition will do today. Our motion in part states - The House calls upon the Government to provide adequate funding to ensure that the mainly elderly self-funded retirees who are losing their life savings through the operation of finance brokers and the Ministry are assisted in recovering their funds. That was the matter of public interest that we put forward when we were in opposition at the time. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : Do you still think that is what should happen? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Did members hear what it was? Point of Order Mr J.H.D. DAY : Mr Speaker, I am particularly conscious that members of the public in the gallery cannot respond, and I draw your attention to standing order 85(3), which states that members will address themselves to the Chair. I think that a great deal of latitude has been shown and it is time to call the Premier to order on that point. The SPEAKER : I think the Premier is addressing the question as asked, and interjections are expanding the answer. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : There is a place in France called the Palace of Versailles. I was very fortunate to visit the Palace of Versailles when I was on holiday with my family at Christmas time. The Palace of Versailles is famous for, among other things, a very long corridor that has mirrors along one side; hence the saying, “Take a walk down the long hall of mirrors.” What members are seeing is the absolute discomfort when the mirror is held up to the hypocrisy of the other side. I will go back. The MPI stated that the government should provide adequate funding to ensure that the mainly elderly self-funded retirees losing their life savings through the operation of finance brokers and the ministry were assisted in recovering their funds. Guess what happened when that motion was put to the vote? Does the member for Leschenault remember what happened? Does he remember whether he voted for or against the motion? Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : Have you noticed which side of the house I am sitting on today? It is one of the reasons I am over here. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : He was one of 26 members who voted no on 21 December 1999. When something could have been done right there and then, when members opposite were in government, the member for Leschenault said no, we will not support them. The problem with being in politics for a long time is that when members are hypocritical, it catches up with them.
Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : You said that the department made a serious error. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have just gone through the issues and outlined the five - Ms S.E. Walker : What are you doing to help them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have just outlined those five initiatives and said that the actions of the Finance Brokers Supervisory Board cannot be agreed in the absence of a finding of liability against the board. Point of Order Mr D.F. BARRON-SULLIVAN : I ask the Premier to table that document. The SPEAKER : If it is an official document, it must be tabled. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am happy to table it. It is a letter I wrote to Mr N. and Mrs A. Horn of 21 Joseph Road, Safety Bay, Western Australia. I am happy to table it at the end of question time. There is nothing secret in it. I have sent the same letter to various other victims of finance brokers. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The member for Leschenault has raised historical issues. On Tuesday, 21 December 1999, when we were in opposition, we raised a matter of public interest, and that is what the current opposition will do today. Our motion in part states - The House calls upon the Government to provide adequate funding to ensure that the mainly elderly self-funded retirees who are losing their life savings through the operation of finance brokers and the Ministry are assisted in recovering their funds. That was the matter of public interest that we put forward when we were in opposition at the time. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : Do you still think that is what should happen? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Did members hear what it was? Point of Order Mr J.H.D. DAY : Mr Speaker, I am particularly conscious that members of the public in the gallery cannot respond, and I draw your attention to standing order 85(3), which states that members will address themselves to the Chair. I think that a great deal of latitude has been shown and it is time to call the Premier to order on that point. The SPEAKER : I think the Premier is addressing the question as asked, and interjections are expanding the answer. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : There is a place in France called the Palace of Versailles. I was very fortunate to visit the Palace of Versailles when I was on holiday with my family at Christmas time. The Palace of Versailles is famous for, among other things, a very long corridor that has mirrors along one side; hence the saying, “Take a walk down the long hall of mirrors.” What members are seeing is the absolute discomfort when the mirror is held up to the hypocrisy of the other side. I will go back. The MPI stated that the government should provide adequate funding to ensure that the mainly elderly self-funded retirees losing their life savings through the operation of finance brokers and the ministry were assisted in recovering their funds. Guess what happened when that motion was put to the vote? Does the member for Leschenault remember what happened? Does he remember whether he voted for or against the motion? Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : Have you noticed which side of the house I am sitting on today? It is one of the reasons I am over here. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : He was one of 26 members who voted no on 21 December 1999. When something could have been done right there and then, when members opposite were in government, the member for Leschenault said no, we will not support them. The problem with being in politics for a long time is that when members are hypocritical, it catches up with them.
The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have just gone through the issues and outlined the five - Ms S.E. Walker : What are you doing to help them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have just outlined those five initiatives and said that the actions of the Finance Brokers Supervisory Board cannot be agreed in the absence of a finding of liability against the board. Point of Order Mr D.F. BARRON-SULLIVAN : I ask the Premier to table that document. The SPEAKER : If it is an official document, it must be tabled. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am happy to table it. It is a letter I wrote to Mr N. and Mrs A. Horn of 21 Joseph Road, Safety Bay, Western Australia. I am happy to table it at the end of question time. There is nothing secret in it. I have sent the same letter to various other victims of finance brokers. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The member for Leschenault has raised historical issues. On Tuesday, 21 December 1999, when we were in opposition, we raised a matter of public interest, and that is what the current opposition will do today. Our motion in part states - The House calls upon the Government to provide adequate funding to ensure that the mainly elderly self-funded retirees who are losing their life savings through the operation of finance brokers and the Ministry are assisted in recovering their funds. That was the matter of public interest that we put forward when we were in opposition at the time. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : Do you still think that is what should happen? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Did members hear what it was? Point of Order Mr J.H.D. DAY : Mr Speaker, I am particularly conscious that members of the public in the gallery cannot respond, and I draw your attention to standing order 85(3), which states that members will address themselves to the Chair. I think that a great deal of latitude has been shown and it is time to call the Premier to order on that point. The SPEAKER : I think the Premier is addressing the question as asked, and interjections are expanding the answer. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : There is a place in France called the Palace of Versailles. I was very fortunate to visit the Palace of Versailles when I was on holiday with my family at Christmas time. The Palace of Versailles is famous for, among other things, a very long corridor that has mirrors along one side; hence the saying, “Take a walk down the long hall of mirrors.” What members are seeing is the absolute discomfort when the mirror is held up to the hypocrisy of the other side. I will go back. The MPI stated that the government should provide adequate funding to ensure that the mainly elderly self-funded retirees losing their life savings through the operation of finance brokers and the ministry were assisted in recovering their funds. Guess what happened when that motion was put to the vote? Does the member for Leschenault remember what happened? Does he remember whether he voted for or against the motion? Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : Have you noticed which side of the house I am sitting on today? It is one of the reasons I am over here. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : He was one of 26 members who voted no on 21 December 1999. When something could have been done right there and then, when members opposite were in government, the member for Leschenault said no, we will not support them. The problem with being in politics for a long time is that when members are hypocritical, it catches up with them.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have just gone through the issues and outlined the five - Ms S.E. Walker : What are you doing to help them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have just outlined those five initiatives and said that the actions of the Finance Brokers Supervisory Board cannot be agreed in the absence of a finding of liability against the board. Point of Order Mr D.F. BARRON-SULLIVAN : I ask the Premier to table that document. The SPEAKER : If it is an official document, it must be tabled. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am happy to table it. It is a letter I wrote to Mr N. and Mrs A. Horn of 21 Joseph Road, Safety Bay, Western Australia. I am happy to table it at the end of question time. There is nothing secret in it. I have sent the same letter to various other victims of finance brokers. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The member for Leschenault has raised historical issues. On Tuesday, 21 December 1999, when we were in opposition, we raised a matter of public interest, and that is what the current opposition will do today. Our motion in part states - The House calls upon the Government to provide adequate funding to ensure that the mainly elderly self-funded retirees who are losing their life savings through the operation of finance brokers and the Ministry are assisted in recovering their funds. That was the matter of public interest that we put forward when we were in opposition at the time. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : Do you still think that is what should happen? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Did members hear what it was? Point of Order Mr J.H.D. DAY : Mr Speaker, I am particularly conscious that members of the public in the gallery cannot respond, and I draw your attention to standing order 85(3), which states that members will address themselves to the Chair. I think that a great deal of latitude has been shown and it is time to call the Premier to order on that point. The SPEAKER : I think the Premier is addressing the question as asked, and interjections are expanding the answer. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : There is a place in France called the Palace of Versailles. I was very fortunate to visit the Palace of Versailles when I was on holiday with my family at Christmas time. The Palace of Versailles is famous for, among other things, a very long corridor that has mirrors along one side; hence the saying, “Take a walk down the long hall of mirrors.” What members are seeing is the absolute discomfort when the mirror is held up to the hypocrisy of the other side. I will go back. The MPI stated that the government should provide adequate funding to ensure that the mainly elderly self-funded retirees losing their life savings through the operation of finance brokers and the ministry were assisted in recovering their funds. Guess what happened when that motion was put to the vote? Does the member for Leschenault remember what happened? Does he remember whether he voted for or against the motion? Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : Have you noticed which side of the house I am sitting on today? It is one of the reasons I am over here. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : He was one of 26 members who voted no on 21 December 1999. When something could have been done right there and then, when members opposite were in government, the member for Leschenault said no, we will not support them. The problem with being in politics for a long time is that when members are hypocritical, it catches up with them.
Ms S.E. Walker : What are you doing to help them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have just outlined those five initiatives and said that the actions of the Finance Brokers Supervisory Board cannot be agreed in the absence of a finding of liability against the board. Point of Order Mr D.F. BARRON-SULLIVAN : I ask the Premier to table that document. The SPEAKER : If it is an official document, it must be tabled. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am happy to table it. It is a letter I wrote to Mr N. and Mrs A. Horn of 21 Joseph Road, Safety Bay, Western Australia. I am happy to table it at the end of question time. There is nothing secret in it. I have sent the same letter to various other victims of finance brokers. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The member for Leschenault has raised historical issues. On Tuesday, 21 December 1999, when we were in opposition, we raised a matter of public interest, and that is what the current opposition will do today. Our motion in part states - The House calls upon the Government to provide adequate funding to ensure that the mainly elderly self-funded retirees who are losing their life savings through the operation of finance brokers and the Ministry are assisted in recovering their funds. That was the matter of public interest that we put forward when we were in opposition at the time. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : Do you still think that is what should happen? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Did members hear what it was? Point of Order Mr J.H.D. DAY : Mr Speaker, I am particularly conscious that members of the public in the gallery cannot respond, and I draw your attention to standing order 85(3), which states that members will address themselves to the Chair. I think that a great deal of latitude has been shown and it is time to call the Premier to order on that point. The SPEAKER : I think the Premier is addressing the question as asked, and interjections are expanding the answer. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : There is a place in France called the Palace of Versailles. I was very fortunate to visit the Palace of Versailles when I was on holiday with my family at Christmas time. The Palace of Versailles is famous for, among other things, a very long corridor that has mirrors along one side; hence the saying, “Take a walk down the long hall of mirrors.” What members are seeing is the absolute discomfort when the mirror is held up to the hypocrisy of the other side. I will go back. The MPI stated that the government should provide adequate funding to ensure that the mainly elderly self-funded retirees losing their life savings through the operation of finance brokers and the ministry were assisted in recovering their funds. Guess what happened when that motion was put to the vote? Does the member for Leschenault remember what happened? Does he remember whether he voted for or against the motion? Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : Have you noticed which side of the house I am sitting on today? It is one of the reasons I am over here. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : He was one of 26 members who voted no on 21 December 1999. When something could have been done right there and then, when members opposite were in government, the member for Leschenault said no, we will not support them. The problem with being in politics for a long time is that when members are hypocritical, it catches up with them.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have just outlined those five initiatives and said that the actions of the Finance Brokers Supervisory Board cannot be agreed in the absence of a finding of liability against the board. Point of Order Mr D.F. BARRON-SULLIVAN : I ask the Premier to table that document. The SPEAKER : If it is an official document, it must be tabled. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am happy to table it. It is a letter I wrote to Mr N. and Mrs A. Horn of 21 Joseph Road, Safety Bay, Western Australia. I am happy to table it at the end of question time. There is nothing secret in it. I have sent the same letter to various other victims of finance brokers. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The member for Leschenault has raised historical issues. On Tuesday, 21 December 1999, when we were in opposition, we raised a matter of public interest, and that is what the current opposition will do today. Our motion in part states - The House calls upon the Government to provide adequate funding to ensure that the mainly elderly self-funded retirees who are losing their life savings through the operation of finance brokers and the Ministry are assisted in recovering their funds. That was the matter of public interest that we put forward when we were in opposition at the time. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : Do you still think that is what should happen? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Did members hear what it was? Point of Order Mr J.H.D. DAY : Mr Speaker, I am particularly conscious that members of the public in the gallery cannot respond, and I draw your attention to standing order 85(3), which states that members will address themselves to the Chair. I think that a great deal of latitude has been shown and it is time to call the Premier to order on that point. The SPEAKER : I think the Premier is addressing the question as asked, and interjections are expanding the answer. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : There is a place in France called the Palace of Versailles. I was very fortunate to visit the Palace of Versailles when I was on holiday with my family at Christmas time. The Palace of Versailles is famous for, among other things, a very long corridor that has mirrors along one side; hence the saying, “Take a walk down the long hall of mirrors.” What members are seeing is the absolute discomfort when the mirror is held up to the hypocrisy of the other side. I will go back. The MPI stated that the government should provide adequate funding to ensure that the mainly elderly self-funded retirees losing their life savings through the operation of finance brokers and the ministry were assisted in recovering their funds. Guess what happened when that motion was put to the vote? Does the member for Leschenault remember what happened? Does he remember whether he voted for or against the motion? Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : Have you noticed which side of the house I am sitting on today? It is one of the reasons I am over here. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : He was one of 26 members who voted no on 21 December 1999. When something could have been done right there and then, when members opposite were in government, the member for Leschenault said no, we will not support them. The problem with being in politics for a long time is that when members are hypocritical, it catches up with them.
The SPEAKER : If it is an official document, it must be tabled. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am happy to table it. It is a letter I wrote to Mr N. and Mrs A. Horn of 21 Joseph Road, Safety Bay, Western Australia. I am happy to table it at the end of question time. There is nothing secret in it. I have sent the same letter to various other victims of finance brokers. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The member for Leschenault has raised historical issues. On Tuesday, 21 December 1999, when we were in opposition, we raised a matter of public interest, and that is what the current opposition will do today. Our motion in part states - The House calls upon the Government to provide adequate funding to ensure that the mainly elderly self-funded retirees who are losing their life savings through the operation of finance brokers and the Ministry are assisted in recovering their funds. That was the matter of public interest that we put forward when we were in opposition at the time. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : Do you still think that is what should happen? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Did members hear what it was? Point of Order Mr J.H.D. DAY : Mr Speaker, I am particularly conscious that members of the public in the gallery cannot respond, and I draw your attention to standing order 85(3), which states that members will address themselves to the Chair. I think that a great deal of latitude has been shown and it is time to call the Premier to order on that point. The SPEAKER : I think the Premier is addressing the question as asked, and interjections are expanding the answer. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : There is a place in France called the Palace of Versailles. I was very fortunate to visit the Palace of Versailles when I was on holiday with my family at Christmas time. The Palace of Versailles is famous for, among other things, a very long corridor that has mirrors along one side; hence the saying, “Take a walk down the long hall of mirrors.” What members are seeing is the absolute discomfort when the mirror is held up to the hypocrisy of the other side. I will go back. The MPI stated that the government should provide adequate funding to ensure that the mainly elderly self-funded retirees losing their life savings through the operation of finance brokers and the ministry were assisted in recovering their funds. Guess what happened when that motion was put to the vote? Does the member for Leschenault remember what happened? Does he remember whether he voted for or against the motion? Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : Have you noticed which side of the house I am sitting on today? It is one of the reasons I am over here. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : He was one of 26 members who voted no on 21 December 1999. When something could have been done right there and then, when members opposite were in government, the member for Leschenault said no, we will not support them. The problem with being in politics for a long time is that when members are hypocritical, it catches up with them.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am happy to table it. It is a letter I wrote to Mr N. and Mrs A. Horn of 21 Joseph Road, Safety Bay, Western Australia. I am happy to table it at the end of question time. There is nothing secret in it. I have sent the same letter to various other victims of finance brokers. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The member for Leschenault has raised historical issues. On Tuesday, 21 December 1999, when we were in opposition, we raised a matter of public interest, and that is what the current opposition will do today. Our motion in part states - The House calls upon the Government to provide adequate funding to ensure that the mainly elderly self-funded retirees who are losing their life savings through the operation of finance brokers and the Ministry are assisted in recovering their funds. That was the matter of public interest that we put forward when we were in opposition at the time. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : Do you still think that is what should happen? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Did members hear what it was? Point of Order Mr J.H.D. DAY : Mr Speaker, I am particularly conscious that members of the public in the gallery cannot respond, and I draw your attention to standing order 85(3), which states that members will address themselves to the Chair. I think that a great deal of latitude has been shown and it is time to call the Premier to order on that point. The SPEAKER : I think the Premier is addressing the question as asked, and interjections are expanding the answer. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : There is a place in France called the Palace of Versailles. I was very fortunate to visit the Palace of Versailles when I was on holiday with my family at Christmas time. The Palace of Versailles is famous for, among other things, a very long corridor that has mirrors along one side; hence the saying, “Take a walk down the long hall of mirrors.” What members are seeing is the absolute discomfort when the mirror is held up to the hypocrisy of the other side. I will go back. The MPI stated that the government should provide adequate funding to ensure that the mainly elderly self-funded retirees losing their life savings through the operation of finance brokers and the ministry were assisted in recovering their funds. Guess what happened when that motion was put to the vote? Does the member for Leschenault remember what happened? Does he remember whether he voted for or against the motion? Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : Have you noticed which side of the house I am sitting on today? It is one of the reasons I am over here. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : He was one of 26 members who voted no on 21 December 1999. When something could have been done right there and then, when members opposite were in government, the member for Leschenault said no, we will not support them. The problem with being in politics for a long time is that when members are hypocritical, it catches up with them.
Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : Do you still think that is what should happen? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Did members hear what it was? Point of Order Mr J.H.D. DAY : Mr Speaker, I am particularly conscious that members of the public in the gallery cannot respond, and I draw your attention to standing order 85(3), which states that members will address themselves to the Chair. I think that a great deal of latitude has been shown and it is time to call the Premier to order on that point. The SPEAKER : I think the Premier is addressing the question as asked, and interjections are expanding the answer. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : There is a place in France called the Palace of Versailles. I was very fortunate to visit the Palace of Versailles when I was on holiday with my family at Christmas time. The Palace of Versailles is famous for, among other things, a very long corridor that has mirrors along one side; hence the saying, “Take a walk down the long hall of mirrors.” What members are seeing is the absolute discomfort when the mirror is held up to the hypocrisy of the other side. I will go back. The MPI stated that the government should provide adequate funding to ensure that the mainly elderly self-funded retirees losing their life savings through the operation of finance brokers and the ministry were assisted in recovering their funds. Guess what happened when that motion was put to the vote? Does the member for Leschenault remember what happened? Does he remember whether he voted for or against the motion? Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : Have you noticed which side of the house I am sitting on today? It is one of the reasons I am over here. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : He was one of 26 members who voted no on 21 December 1999. When something could have been done right there and then, when members opposite were in government, the member for Leschenault said no, we will not support them. The problem with being in politics for a long time is that when members are hypocritical, it catches up with them.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Did members hear what it was? Point of Order Mr J.H.D. DAY : Mr Speaker, I am particularly conscious that members of the public in the gallery cannot respond, and I draw your attention to standing order 85(3), which states that members will address themselves to the Chair. I think that a great deal of latitude has been shown and it is time to call the Premier to order on that point. The SPEAKER : I think the Premier is addressing the question as asked, and interjections are expanding the answer. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : There is a place in France called the Palace of Versailles. I was very fortunate to visit the Palace of Versailles when I was on holiday with my family at Christmas time. The Palace of Versailles is famous for, among other things, a very long corridor that has mirrors along one side; hence the saying, “Take a walk down the long hall of mirrors.” What members are seeing is the absolute discomfort when the mirror is held up to the hypocrisy of the other side. I will go back. The MPI stated that the government should provide adequate funding to ensure that the mainly elderly self-funded retirees losing their life savings through the operation of finance brokers and the ministry were assisted in recovering their funds. Guess what happened when that motion was put to the vote? Does the member for Leschenault remember what happened? Does he remember whether he voted for or against the motion? Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : Have you noticed which side of the house I am sitting on today? It is one of the reasons I am over here. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : He was one of 26 members who voted no on 21 December 1999. When something could have been done right there and then, when members opposite were in government, the member for Leschenault said no, we will not support them. The problem with being in politics for a long time is that when members are hypocritical, it catches up with them.
The SPEAKER : I think the Premier is addressing the question as asked, and interjections are expanding the answer. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : There is a place in France called the Palace of Versailles. I was very fortunate to visit the Palace of Versailles when I was on holiday with my family at Christmas time. The Palace of Versailles is famous for, among other things, a very long corridor that has mirrors along one side; hence the saying, “Take a walk down the long hall of mirrors.” What members are seeing is the absolute discomfort when the mirror is held up to the hypocrisy of the other side. I will go back. The MPI stated that the government should provide adequate funding to ensure that the mainly elderly self-funded retirees losing their life savings through the operation of finance brokers and the ministry were assisted in recovering their funds. Guess what happened when that motion was put to the vote? Does the member for Leschenault remember what happened? Does he remember whether he voted for or against the motion? Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : Have you noticed which side of the house I am sitting on today? It is one of the reasons I am over here. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : He was one of 26 members who voted no on 21 December 1999. When something could have been done right there and then, when members opposite were in government, the member for Leschenault said no, we will not support them. The problem with being in politics for a long time is that when members are hypocritical, it catches up with them.
I will go back. The MPI stated that the government should provide adequate funding to ensure that the mainly elderly self-funded retirees losing their life savings through the operation of finance brokers and the ministry were assisted in recovering their funds. Guess what happened when that motion was put to the vote? Does the member for Leschenault remember what happened? Does he remember whether he voted for or against the motion? Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : Have you noticed which side of the house I am sitting on today? It is one of the reasons I am over here. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : He was one of 26 members who voted no on 21 December 1999. When something could have been done right there and then, when members opposite were in government, the member for Leschenault said no, we will not support them. The problem with being in politics for a long time is that when members are hypocritical, it catches up with them.
Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : Have you noticed which side of the house I am sitting on today? It is one of the reasons I am over here. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : He was one of 26 members who voted no on 21 December 1999. When something could have been done right there and then, when members opposite were in government, the member for Leschenault said no, we will not support them. The problem with being in politics for a long time is that when members are hypocritical, it catches up with them.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : He was one of 26 members who voted no on 21 December 1999. When something could have been done right there and then, when members opposite were in government, the member for Leschenault said no, we will not support them. The problem with being in politics for a long time is that when members are hypocritical, it catches up with them.
(1) Does the Premier stand by the statement he made in this house on 10 March 1999 when he stated that there was evidence dating back to 1996 that the Finance Brokers Supervisory Board had not dealt properly with complaints about finance brokers? (2) More than five years after winning office - with extensive support from victims of the finance broking saga - how does the Premier justify his government’s actions that have obstructed and delayed legal action to determine the state’s liability for exactly the same problems he raised in Parliament in 1999? Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: (1)-(2) I thank the member for Leschenault for his question. This is a very unfortunate chapter in the history of the state. I do not think that anyone would have anything but extreme concern about the position in which so many investors have found themselves as a result of the finance brokers scandal. I feel a great deal of sympathy for the people who have suffered. I have spoken to many of them individually and I still meet them, along with their family members. Many people around Western Australia have been affected. Issues arise during a political life that are very difficult to deal with. The level of hypocrisy from the person who asked this question and from the other side of the chamber generally is not far short of sickening. The level of hypocrisy is disgraceful. The member for Armadale, as I recall, was pursuing this matter with the then Court government. For four or five years when the Labor Party was sitting on the opposition benches and investors were being ripped off by unscrupulous finance brokers, we received nothing but abuse, opposition and disgraceful intransigence from members opposite. Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : This is the truth of the matter. Over the years that we pursued this issue in this Parliament, when something might have been done for the people who were being ripped off, members opposite stopped us from doing it. They even denied that people were being ripped off. On numerous occasions we put motions before this Parliament to have something done about it. I ask the member for Leschenault, who is famous for his political opportunism and stunts: on all the occasions on which the then opposition raised this issue and the question of whether the government should act was put to a vote, did he ever support us? To those in the public gallery today, we are dealing here with one of the most hypocritical people who have ever walked through the doors of this Parliament. However, they should not simply accept my advice; they should ask some of the people who are sitting next to the member on the opposition front bench. They are on the record saying what they think about him. Let us put this into a bit of context. When we were in opposition, we made some commitments to the people who were being ripped off by the finance brokers. The first commitment was that, if elected to government, we would hold a judicial inquiry with broad terms of reference into the finance broking industry. The then government violently opposed that. Doug Shave, then member for Alfred Cove, refused to engage on the issue, and the then Premier refused to do anything about it. When the Labor Party was elected to government, it established the inquiry, and we know what has happened since. We also said that we would offer legal assistance to the victims of the finance brokers. Legal Aid WA has taken action or entered into negotiations on behalf of 707 investors, and so far 200 investors have recovered their losses. In addition, a claim involving a further 50 investors is to be settled shortly. The rest of the legal claims are ongoing. The state government has provided $1.125 million to fund these actions and indemnify investors against costs awarded in the event that their legal actions are unsuccessful. I almost gasp with awe that a person such as the member for Leschenault is able to sit over there with a straight face and raise these issues in the presence of those in the public gallery. It is just amazing that that sort of person is involved in Western Australia politics. The third commitment was for full disclosure. Did the previous government ever seek to disclose anything? Did any member opposite seek to disclose anything? The member for Cottesloe seems to have found his voice again; did he ever come over and support the then opposition on this issue? He did nothing. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : Tell us what you are doing. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am going through the five commitments. The government has provided to the plaintiffs and their lawyers thousands of documents, including some pieces of legal advice provided to the then Ministry of Fair Trading or to the Finance Brokers Supervisory Board, to assist them in pursuing their legal actions. The government scanned these documents and provided them in electronic form to further assist the plaintiffs. The fourth commitment was to facilitate court action to resolve the liability. A writ commencing legal proceedings against the now defunct Finance Brokers Supervisory Board was filed in February 2002. A substantially amended statement of claim that was 202 pages in length was filed in October 2002. The board filed its defence in 2003, which was within the time frame allowed by the court for filing the defence. There was a subsequent issue. The lawyers representing the people in the gallery today acknowledged that issue in the presentation of their claim, which delayed the issue for up to 18 months. It was not because of the state at all. Our fifth commitment was to pay up when liability was established. The state is defending the litigation because it has been consistently advised - this goes to the question of the member for Leschenault - that the Finance Brokers Supervisory Board has a sound defence to the plaintiff’s actions. Before the government could meet any claim for payment, liability would need to be established. The request that the government compensate people for losses incurred as a result of the dishonest actions of finance brokers cannot be agreed in the absence of a finding of liability against the board. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : You said that the department made a serious error. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have just gone through the issues and outlined the five - Ms S.E. Walker : What are you doing to help them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have just outlined those five initiatives and said that the actions of the Finance Brokers Supervisory Board cannot be agreed in the absence of a finding of liability against the board. Point of Order Mr D.F. BARRON-SULLIVAN : I ask the Premier to table that document. The SPEAKER : If it is an official document, it must be tabled. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am happy to table it. It is a letter I wrote to Mr N. and Mrs A. Horn of 21 Joseph Road, Safety Bay, Western Australia. I am happy to table it at the end of question time. There is nothing secret in it. I have sent the same letter to various other victims of finance brokers. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The member for Leschenault has raised historical issues. On Tuesday, 21 December 1999, when we were in opposition, we raised a matter of public interest, and that is what the current opposition will do today. Our motion in part states - The House calls upon the Government to provide adequate funding to ensure that the mainly elderly self-funded retirees who are losing their life savings through the operation of finance brokers and the Ministry are assisted in recovering their funds. That was the matter of public interest that we put forward when we were in opposition at the time. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : Do you still think that is what should happen? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Did members hear what it was? Point of Order Mr J.H.D. DAY : Mr Speaker, I am particularly conscious that members of the public in the gallery cannot respond, and I draw your attention to standing order 85(3), which states that members will address themselves to the Chair. I think that a great deal of latitude has been shown and it is time to call the Premier to order on that point. The SPEAKER : I think the Premier is addressing the question as asked, and interjections are expanding the answer. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : There is a place in France called the Palace of Versailles. I was very fortunate to visit the Palace of Versailles when I was on holiday with my family at Christmas time. The Palace of Versailles is famous for, among other things, a very long corridor that has mirrors along one side; hence the saying, “Take a walk down the long hall of mirrors.” What members are seeing is the absolute discomfort when the mirror is held up to the hypocrisy of the other side. I will go back. The MPI stated that the government should provide adequate funding to ensure that the mainly elderly self-funded retirees losing their life savings through the operation of finance brokers and the ministry were assisted in recovering their funds. Guess what happened when that motion was put to the vote? Does the member for Leschenault remember what happened? Does he remember whether he voted for or against the motion? Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : Have you noticed which side of the house I am sitting on today? It is one of the reasons I am over here. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : He was one of 26 members who voted no on 21 December 1999. When something could have been done right there and then, when members opposite were in government, the member for Leschenault said no, we will not support them. The problem with being in politics for a long time is that when members are hypocritical, it catches up with them.
(2) More than five years after winning office - with extensive support from victims of the finance broking saga - how does the Premier justify his government’s actions that have obstructed and delayed legal action to determine the state’s liability for exactly the same problems he raised in Parliament in 1999? Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: (1)-(2) I thank the member for Leschenault for his question. This is a very unfortunate chapter in the history of the state. I do not think that anyone would have anything but extreme concern about the position in which so many investors have found themselves as a result of the finance brokers scandal. I feel a great deal of sympathy for the people who have suffered. I have spoken to many of them individually and I still meet them, along with their family members. Many people around Western Australia have been affected. Issues arise during a political life that are very difficult to deal with. The level of hypocrisy from the person who asked this question and from the other side of the chamber generally is not far short of sickening. The level of hypocrisy is disgraceful. The member for Armadale, as I recall, was pursuing this matter with the then Court government. For four or five years when the Labor Party was sitting on the opposition benches and investors were being ripped off by unscrupulous finance brokers, we received nothing but abuse, opposition and disgraceful intransigence from members opposite. Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : This is the truth of the matter. Over the years that we pursued this issue in this Parliament, when something might have been done for the people who were being ripped off, members opposite stopped us from doing it. They even denied that people were being ripped off. On numerous occasions we put motions before this Parliament to have something done about it. I ask the member for Leschenault, who is famous for his political opportunism and stunts: on all the occasions on which the then opposition raised this issue and the question of whether the government should act was put to a vote, did he ever support us? To those in the public gallery today, we are dealing here with one of the most hypocritical people who have ever walked through the doors of this Parliament. However, they should not simply accept my advice; they should ask some of the people who are sitting next to the member on the opposition front bench. They are on the record saying what they think about him. Let us put this into a bit of context. When we were in opposition, we made some commitments to the people who were being ripped off by the finance brokers. The first commitment was that, if elected to government, we would hold a judicial inquiry with broad terms of reference into the finance broking industry. The then government violently opposed that. Doug Shave, then member for Alfred Cove, refused to engage on the issue, and the then Premier refused to do anything about it. When the Labor Party was elected to government, it established the inquiry, and we know what has happened since. We also said that we would offer legal assistance to the victims of the finance brokers. Legal Aid WA has taken action or entered into negotiations on behalf of 707 investors, and so far 200 investors have recovered their losses. In addition, a claim involving a further 50 investors is to be settled shortly. The rest of the legal claims are ongoing. The state government has provided $1.125 million to fund these actions and indemnify investors against costs awarded in the event that their legal actions are unsuccessful. I almost gasp with awe that a person such as the member for Leschenault is able to sit over there with a straight face and raise these issues in the presence of those in the public gallery. It is just amazing that that sort of person is involved in Western Australia politics. The third commitment was for full disclosure. Did the previous government ever seek to disclose anything? Did any member opposite seek to disclose anything? The member for Cottesloe seems to have found his voice again; did he ever come over and support the then opposition on this issue? He did nothing. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : Tell us what you are doing. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am going through the five commitments. The government has provided to the plaintiffs and their lawyers thousands of documents, including some pieces of legal advice provided to the then Ministry of Fair Trading or to the Finance Brokers Supervisory Board, to assist them in pursuing their legal actions. The government scanned these documents and provided them in electronic form to further assist the plaintiffs. The fourth commitment was to facilitate court action to resolve the liability. A writ commencing legal proceedings against the now defunct Finance Brokers Supervisory Board was filed in February 2002. A substantially amended statement of claim that was 202 pages in length was filed in October 2002. The board filed its defence in 2003, which was within the time frame allowed by the court for filing the defence. There was a subsequent issue. The lawyers representing the people in the gallery today acknowledged that issue in the presentation of their claim, which delayed the issue for up to 18 months. It was not because of the state at all. Our fifth commitment was to pay up when liability was established. The state is defending the litigation because it has been consistently advised - this goes to the question of the member for Leschenault - that the Finance Brokers Supervisory Board has a sound defence to the plaintiff’s actions. Before the government could meet any claim for payment, liability would need to be established. The request that the government compensate people for losses incurred as a result of the dishonest actions of finance brokers cannot be agreed in the absence of a finding of liability against the board. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : You said that the department made a serious error. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have just gone through the issues and outlined the five - Ms S.E. Walker : What are you doing to help them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have just outlined those five initiatives and said that the actions of the Finance Brokers Supervisory Board cannot be agreed in the absence of a finding of liability against the board. Point of Order Mr D.F. BARRON-SULLIVAN : I ask the Premier to table that document. The SPEAKER : If it is an official document, it must be tabled. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am happy to table it. It is a letter I wrote to Mr N. and Mrs A. Horn of 21 Joseph Road, Safety Bay, Western Australia. I am happy to table it at the end of question time. There is nothing secret in it. I have sent the same letter to various other victims of finance brokers. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The member for Leschenault has raised historical issues. On Tuesday, 21 December 1999, when we were in opposition, we raised a matter of public interest, and that is what the current opposition will do today. Our motion in part states - The House calls upon the Government to provide adequate funding to ensure that the mainly elderly self-funded retirees who are losing their life savings through the operation of finance brokers and the Ministry are assisted in recovering their funds. That was the matter of public interest that we put forward when we were in opposition at the time. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : Do you still think that is what should happen? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Did members hear what it was? Point of Order Mr J.H.D. DAY : Mr Speaker, I am particularly conscious that members of the public in the gallery cannot respond, and I draw your attention to standing order 85(3), which states that members will address themselves to the Chair. I think that a great deal of latitude has been shown and it is time to call the Premier to order on that point. The SPEAKER : I think the Premier is addressing the question as asked, and interjections are expanding the answer. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : There is a place in France called the Palace of Versailles. I was very fortunate to visit the Palace of Versailles when I was on holiday with my family at Christmas time. The Palace of Versailles is famous for, among other things, a very long corridor that has mirrors along one side; hence the saying, “Take a walk down the long hall of mirrors.” What members are seeing is the absolute discomfort when the mirror is held up to the hypocrisy of the other side. I will go back. The MPI stated that the government should provide adequate funding to ensure that the mainly elderly self-funded retirees losing their life savings through the operation of finance brokers and the ministry were assisted in recovering their funds. Guess what happened when that motion was put to the vote? Does the member for Leschenault remember what happened? Does he remember whether he voted for or against the motion? Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : Have you noticed which side of the house I am sitting on today? It is one of the reasons I am over here. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : He was one of 26 members who voted no on 21 December 1999. When something could have been done right there and then, when members opposite were in government, the member for Leschenault said no, we will not support them. The problem with being in politics for a long time is that when members are hypocritical, it catches up with them.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: (1)-(2) I thank the member for Leschenault for his question. This is a very unfortunate chapter in the history of the state. I do not think that anyone would have anything but extreme concern about the position in which so many investors have found themselves as a result of the finance brokers scandal. I feel a great deal of sympathy for the people who have suffered. I have spoken to many of them individually and I still meet them, along with their family members. Many people around Western Australia have been affected. Issues arise during a political life that are very difficult to deal with. The level of hypocrisy from the person who asked this question and from the other side of the chamber generally is not far short of sickening. The level of hypocrisy is disgraceful. The member for Armadale, as I recall, was pursuing this matter with the then Court government. For four or five years when the Labor Party was sitting on the opposition benches and investors were being ripped off by unscrupulous finance brokers, we received nothing but abuse, opposition and disgraceful intransigence from members opposite. Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : This is the truth of the matter. Over the years that we pursued this issue in this Parliament, when something might have been done for the people who were being ripped off, members opposite stopped us from doing it. They even denied that people were being ripped off. On numerous occasions we put motions before this Parliament to have something done about it. I ask the member for Leschenault, who is famous for his political opportunism and stunts: on all the occasions on which the then opposition raised this issue and the question of whether the government should act was put to a vote, did he ever support us? To those in the public gallery today, we are dealing here with one of the most hypocritical people who have ever walked through the doors of this Parliament. However, they should not simply accept my advice; they should ask some of the people who are sitting next to the member on the opposition front bench. They are on the record saying what they think about him. Let us put this into a bit of context. When we were in opposition, we made some commitments to the people who were being ripped off by the finance brokers. The first commitment was that, if elected to government, we would hold a judicial inquiry with broad terms of reference into the finance broking industry. The then government violently opposed that. Doug Shave, then member for Alfred Cove, refused to engage on the issue, and the then Premier refused to do anything about it. When the Labor Party was elected to government, it established the inquiry, and we know what has happened since. We also said that we would offer legal assistance to the victims of the finance brokers. Legal Aid WA has taken action or entered into negotiations on behalf of 707 investors, and so far 200 investors have recovered their losses. In addition, a claim involving a further 50 investors is to be settled shortly. The rest of the legal claims are ongoing. The state government has provided $1.125 million to fund these actions and indemnify investors against costs awarded in the event that their legal actions are unsuccessful. I almost gasp with awe that a person such as the member for Leschenault is able to sit over there with a straight face and raise these issues in the presence of those in the public gallery. It is just amazing that that sort of person is involved in Western Australia politics. The third commitment was for full disclosure. Did the previous government ever seek to disclose anything? Did any member opposite seek to disclose anything? The member for Cottesloe seems to have found his voice again; did he ever come over and support the then opposition on this issue? He did nothing. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : Tell us what you are doing. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am going through the five commitments. The government has provided to the plaintiffs and their lawyers thousands of documents, including some pieces of legal advice provided to the then Ministry of Fair Trading or to the Finance Brokers Supervisory Board, to assist them in pursuing their legal actions. The government scanned these documents and provided them in electronic form to further assist the plaintiffs. The fourth commitment was to facilitate court action to resolve the liability. A writ commencing legal proceedings against the now defunct Finance Brokers Supervisory Board was filed in February 2002. A substantially amended statement of claim that was 202 pages in length was filed in October 2002. The board filed its defence in 2003, which was within the time frame allowed by the court for filing the defence. There was a subsequent issue. The lawyers representing the people in the gallery today acknowledged that issue in the presentation of their claim, which delayed the issue for up to 18 months. It was not because of the state at all. Our fifth commitment was to pay up when liability was established. The state is defending the litigation because it has been consistently advised - this goes to the question of the member for Leschenault - that the Finance Brokers Supervisory Board has a sound defence to the plaintiff’s actions. Before the government could meet any claim for payment, liability would need to be established. The request that the government compensate people for losses incurred as a result of the dishonest actions of finance brokers cannot be agreed in the absence of a finding of liability against the board. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : You said that the department made a serious error. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have just gone through the issues and outlined the five - Ms S.E. Walker : What are you doing to help them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have just outlined those five initiatives and said that the actions of the Finance Brokers Supervisory Board cannot be agreed in the absence of a finding of liability against the board. Point of Order Mr D.F. BARRON-SULLIVAN : I ask the Premier to table that document. The SPEAKER : If it is an official document, it must be tabled. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am happy to table it. It is a letter I wrote to Mr N. and Mrs A. Horn of 21 Joseph Road, Safety Bay, Western Australia. I am happy to table it at the end of question time. There is nothing secret in it. I have sent the same letter to various other victims of finance brokers. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The member for Leschenault has raised historical issues. On Tuesday, 21 December 1999, when we were in opposition, we raised a matter of public interest, and that is what the current opposition will do today. Our motion in part states - The House calls upon the Government to provide adequate funding to ensure that the mainly elderly self-funded retirees who are losing their life savings through the operation of finance brokers and the Ministry are assisted in recovering their funds. That was the matter of public interest that we put forward when we were in opposition at the time. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : Do you still think that is what should happen? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Did members hear what it was? Point of Order Mr J.H.D. DAY : Mr Speaker, I am particularly conscious that members of the public in the gallery cannot respond, and I draw your attention to standing order 85(3), which states that members will address themselves to the Chair. I think that a great deal of latitude has been shown and it is time to call the Premier to order on that point. The SPEAKER : I think the Premier is addressing the question as asked, and interjections are expanding the answer. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : There is a place in France called the Palace of Versailles. I was very fortunate to visit the Palace of Versailles when I was on holiday with my family at Christmas time. The Palace of Versailles is famous for, among other things, a very long corridor that has mirrors along one side; hence the saying, “Take a walk down the long hall of mirrors.” What members are seeing is the absolute discomfort when the mirror is held up to the hypocrisy of the other side. I will go back. The MPI stated that the government should provide adequate funding to ensure that the mainly elderly self-funded retirees losing their life savings through the operation of finance brokers and the ministry were assisted in recovering their funds. Guess what happened when that motion was put to the vote? Does the member for Leschenault remember what happened? Does he remember whether he voted for or against the motion? Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : Have you noticed which side of the house I am sitting on today? It is one of the reasons I am over here. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : He was one of 26 members who voted no on 21 December 1999. When something could have been done right there and then, when members opposite were in government, the member for Leschenault said no, we will not support them. The problem with being in politics for a long time is that when members are hypocritical, it catches up with them.
(1)-(2) I thank the member for Leschenault for his question. This is a very unfortunate chapter in the history of the state. I do not think that anyone would have anything but extreme concern about the position in which so many investors have found themselves as a result of the finance brokers scandal. I feel a great deal of sympathy for the people who have suffered. I have spoken to many of them individually and I still meet them, along with their family members. Many people around Western Australia have been affected. Issues arise during a political life that are very difficult to deal with. The level of hypocrisy from the person who asked this question and from the other side of the chamber generally is not far short of sickening. The level of hypocrisy is disgraceful. The member for Armadale, as I recall, was pursuing this matter with the then Court government. For four or five years when the Labor Party was sitting on the opposition benches and investors were being ripped off by unscrupulous finance brokers, we received nothing but abuse, opposition and disgraceful intransigence from members opposite. Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : This is the truth of the matter. Over the years that we pursued this issue in this Parliament, when something might have been done for the people who were being ripped off, members opposite stopped us from doing it. They even denied that people were being ripped off. On numerous occasions we put motions before this Parliament to have something done about it. I ask the member for Leschenault, who is famous for his political opportunism and stunts: on all the occasions on which the then opposition raised this issue and the question of whether the government should act was put to a vote, did he ever support us? To those in the public gallery today, we are dealing here with one of the most hypocritical people who have ever walked through the doors of this Parliament. However, they should not simply accept my advice; they should ask some of the people who are sitting next to the member on the opposition front bench. They are on the record saying what they think about him. Let us put this into a bit of context. When we were in opposition, we made some commitments to the people who were being ripped off by the finance brokers. The first commitment was that, if elected to government, we would hold a judicial inquiry with broad terms of reference into the finance broking industry. The then government violently opposed that. Doug Shave, then member for Alfred Cove, refused to engage on the issue, and the then Premier refused to do anything about it. When the Labor Party was elected to government, it established the inquiry, and we know what has happened since. We also said that we would offer legal assistance to the victims of the finance brokers. Legal Aid WA has taken action or entered into negotiations on behalf of 707 investors, and so far 200 investors have recovered their losses. In addition, a claim involving a further 50 investors is to be settled shortly. The rest of the legal claims are ongoing. The state government has provided $1.125 million to fund these actions and indemnify investors against costs awarded in the event that their legal actions are unsuccessful. I almost gasp with awe that a person such as the member for Leschenault is able to sit over there with a straight face and raise these issues in the presence of those in the public gallery. It is just amazing that that sort of person is involved in Western Australia politics. The third commitment was for full disclosure. Did the previous government ever seek to disclose anything? Did any member opposite seek to disclose anything? The member for Cottesloe seems to have found his voice again; did he ever come over and support the then opposition on this issue? He did nothing. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : Tell us what you are doing. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am going through the five commitments. The government has provided to the plaintiffs and their lawyers thousands of documents, including some pieces of legal advice provided to the then Ministry of Fair Trading or to the Finance Brokers Supervisory Board, to assist them in pursuing their legal actions. The government scanned these documents and provided them in electronic form to further assist the plaintiffs. The fourth commitment was to facilitate court action to resolve the liability. A writ commencing legal proceedings against the now defunct Finance Brokers Supervisory Board was filed in February 2002. A substantially amended statement of claim that was 202 pages in length was filed in October 2002. The board filed its defence in 2003, which was within the time frame allowed by the court for filing the defence. There was a subsequent issue. The lawyers representing the people in the gallery today acknowledged that issue in the presentation of their claim, which delayed the issue for up to 18 months. It was not because of the state at all. Our fifth commitment was to pay up when liability was established. The state is defending the litigation because it has been consistently advised - this goes to the question of the member for Leschenault - that the Finance Brokers Supervisory Board has a sound defence to the plaintiff’s actions. Before the government could meet any claim for payment, liability would need to be established. The request that the government compensate people for losses incurred as a result of the dishonest actions of finance brokers cannot be agreed in the absence of a finding of liability against the board. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : You said that the department made a serious error. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have just gone through the issues and outlined the five - Ms S.E. Walker : What are you doing to help them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have just outlined those five initiatives and said that the actions of the Finance Brokers Supervisory Board cannot be agreed in the absence of a finding of liability against the board. Point of Order Mr D.F. BARRON-SULLIVAN : I ask the Premier to table that document. The SPEAKER : If it is an official document, it must be tabled. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am happy to table it. It is a letter I wrote to Mr N. and Mrs A. Horn of 21 Joseph Road, Safety Bay, Western Australia. I am happy to table it at the end of question time. There is nothing secret in it. I have sent the same letter to various other victims of finance brokers. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The member for Leschenault has raised historical issues. On Tuesday, 21 December 1999, when we were in opposition, we raised a matter of public interest, and that is what the current opposition will do today. Our motion in part states - The House calls upon the Government to provide adequate funding to ensure that the mainly elderly self-funded retirees who are losing their life savings through the operation of finance brokers and the Ministry are assisted in recovering their funds. That was the matter of public interest that we put forward when we were in opposition at the time. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : Do you still think that is what should happen? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Did members hear what it was? Point of Order Mr J.H.D. DAY : Mr Speaker, I am particularly conscious that members of the public in the gallery cannot respond, and I draw your attention to standing order 85(3), which states that members will address themselves to the Chair. I think that a great deal of latitude has been shown and it is time to call the Premier to order on that point. The SPEAKER : I think the Premier is addressing the question as asked, and interjections are expanding the answer. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : There is a place in France called the Palace of Versailles. I was very fortunate to visit the Palace of Versailles when I was on holiday with my family at Christmas time. The Palace of Versailles is famous for, among other things, a very long corridor that has mirrors along one side; hence the saying, “Take a walk down the long hall of mirrors.” What members are seeing is the absolute discomfort when the mirror is held up to the hypocrisy of the other side. I will go back. The MPI stated that the government should provide adequate funding to ensure that the mainly elderly self-funded retirees losing their life savings through the operation of finance brokers and the ministry were assisted in recovering their funds. Guess what happened when that motion was put to the vote? Does the member for Leschenault remember what happened? Does he remember whether he voted for or against the motion? Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : Have you noticed which side of the house I am sitting on today? It is one of the reasons I am over here. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : He was one of 26 members who voted no on 21 December 1999. When something could have been done right there and then, when members opposite were in government, the member for Leschenault said no, we will not support them. The problem with being in politics for a long time is that when members are hypocritical, it catches up with them.
Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : This is the truth of the matter. Over the years that we pursued this issue in this Parliament, when something might have been done for the people who were being ripped off, members opposite stopped us from doing it. They even denied that people were being ripped off. On numerous occasions we put motions before this Parliament to have something done about it. I ask the member for Leschenault, who is famous for his political opportunism and stunts: on all the occasions on which the then opposition raised this issue and the question of whether the government should act was put to a vote, did he ever support us? To those in the public gallery today, we are dealing here with one of the most hypocritical people who have ever walked through the doors of this Parliament. However, they should not simply accept my advice; they should ask some of the people who are sitting next to the member on the opposition front bench. They are on the record saying what they think about him. Let us put this into a bit of context. When we were in opposition, we made some commitments to the people who were being ripped off by the finance brokers. The first commitment was that, if elected to government, we would hold a judicial inquiry with broad terms of reference into the finance broking industry. The then government violently opposed that. Doug Shave, then member for Alfred Cove, refused to engage on the issue, and the then Premier refused to do anything about it. When the Labor Party was elected to government, it established the inquiry, and we know what has happened since. We also said that we would offer legal assistance to the victims of the finance brokers. Legal Aid WA has taken action or entered into negotiations on behalf of 707 investors, and so far 200 investors have recovered their losses. In addition, a claim involving a further 50 investors is to be settled shortly. The rest of the legal claims are ongoing. The state government has provided $1.125 million to fund these actions and indemnify investors against costs awarded in the event that their legal actions are unsuccessful. I almost gasp with awe that a person such as the member for Leschenault is able to sit over there with a straight face and raise these issues in the presence of those in the public gallery. It is just amazing that that sort of person is involved in Western Australia politics. The third commitment was for full disclosure. Did the previous government ever seek to disclose anything? Did any member opposite seek to disclose anything? The member for Cottesloe seems to have found his voice again; did he ever come over and support the then opposition on this issue? He did nothing. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : Tell us what you are doing. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am going through the five commitments. The government has provided to the plaintiffs and their lawyers thousands of documents, including some pieces of legal advice provided to the then Ministry of Fair Trading or to the Finance Brokers Supervisory Board, to assist them in pursuing their legal actions. The government scanned these documents and provided them in electronic form to further assist the plaintiffs. The fourth commitment was to facilitate court action to resolve the liability. A writ commencing legal proceedings against the now defunct Finance Brokers Supervisory Board was filed in February 2002. A substantially amended statement of claim that was 202 pages in length was filed in October 2002. The board filed its defence in 2003, which was within the time frame allowed by the court for filing the defence. There was a subsequent issue. The lawyers representing the people in the gallery today acknowledged that issue in the presentation of their claim, which delayed the issue for up to 18 months. It was not because of the state at all. Our fifth commitment was to pay up when liability was established. The state is defending the litigation because it has been consistently advised - this goes to the question of the member for Leschenault - that the Finance Brokers Supervisory Board has a sound defence to the plaintiff’s actions. Before the government could meet any claim for payment, liability would need to be established. The request that the government compensate people for losses incurred as a result of the dishonest actions of finance brokers cannot be agreed in the absence of a finding of liability against the board. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : You said that the department made a serious error. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have just gone through the issues and outlined the five - Ms S.E. Walker : What are you doing to help them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have just outlined those five initiatives and said that the actions of the Finance Brokers Supervisory Board cannot be agreed in the absence of a finding of liability against the board. Point of Order Mr D.F. BARRON-SULLIVAN : I ask the Premier to table that document. The SPEAKER : If it is an official document, it must be tabled. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am happy to table it. It is a letter I wrote to Mr N. and Mrs A. Horn of 21 Joseph Road, Safety Bay, Western Australia. I am happy to table it at the end of question time. There is nothing secret in it. I have sent the same letter to various other victims of finance brokers. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The member for Leschenault has raised historical issues. On Tuesday, 21 December 1999, when we were in opposition, we raised a matter of public interest, and that is what the current opposition will do today. Our motion in part states - The House calls upon the Government to provide adequate funding to ensure that the mainly elderly self-funded retirees who are losing their life savings through the operation of finance brokers and the Ministry are assisted in recovering their funds. That was the matter of public interest that we put forward when we were in opposition at the time. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : Do you still think that is what should happen? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Did members hear what it was? Point of Order Mr J.H.D. DAY : Mr Speaker, I am particularly conscious that members of the public in the gallery cannot respond, and I draw your attention to standing order 85(3), which states that members will address themselves to the Chair. I think that a great deal of latitude has been shown and it is time to call the Premier to order on that point. The SPEAKER : I think the Premier is addressing the question as asked, and interjections are expanding the answer. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : There is a place in France called the Palace of Versailles. I was very fortunate to visit the Palace of Versailles when I was on holiday with my family at Christmas time. The Palace of Versailles is famous for, among other things, a very long corridor that has mirrors along one side; hence the saying, “Take a walk down the long hall of mirrors.” What members are seeing is the absolute discomfort when the mirror is held up to the hypocrisy of the other side. I will go back. The MPI stated that the government should provide adequate funding to ensure that the mainly elderly self-funded retirees losing their life savings through the operation of finance brokers and the ministry were assisted in recovering their funds. Guess what happened when that motion was put to the vote? Does the member for Leschenault remember what happened? Does he remember whether he voted for or against the motion? Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : Have you noticed which side of the house I am sitting on today? It is one of the reasons I am over here. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : He was one of 26 members who voted no on 21 December 1999. When something could have been done right there and then, when members opposite were in government, the member for Leschenault said no, we will not support them. The problem with being in politics for a long time is that when members are hypocritical, it catches up with them.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : This is the truth of the matter. Over the years that we pursued this issue in this Parliament, when something might have been done for the people who were being ripped off, members opposite stopped us from doing it. They even denied that people were being ripped off. On numerous occasions we put motions before this Parliament to have something done about it. I ask the member for Leschenault, who is famous for his political opportunism and stunts: on all the occasions on which the then opposition raised this issue and the question of whether the government should act was put to a vote, did he ever support us? To those in the public gallery today, we are dealing here with one of the most hypocritical people who have ever walked through the doors of this Parliament. However, they should not simply accept my advice; they should ask some of the people who are sitting next to the member on the opposition front bench. They are on the record saying what they think about him. Let us put this into a bit of context. When we were in opposition, we made some commitments to the people who were being ripped off by the finance brokers. The first commitment was that, if elected to government, we would hold a judicial inquiry with broad terms of reference into the finance broking industry. The then government violently opposed that. Doug Shave, then member for Alfred Cove, refused to engage on the issue, and the then Premier refused to do anything about it. When the Labor Party was elected to government, it established the inquiry, and we know what has happened since. We also said that we would offer legal assistance to the victims of the finance brokers. Legal Aid WA has taken action or entered into negotiations on behalf of 707 investors, and so far 200 investors have recovered their losses. In addition, a claim involving a further 50 investors is to be settled shortly. The rest of the legal claims are ongoing. The state government has provided $1.125 million to fund these actions and indemnify investors against costs awarded in the event that their legal actions are unsuccessful. I almost gasp with awe that a person such as the member for Leschenault is able to sit over there with a straight face and raise these issues in the presence of those in the public gallery. It is just amazing that that sort of person is involved in Western Australia politics. The third commitment was for full disclosure. Did the previous government ever seek to disclose anything? Did any member opposite seek to disclose anything? The member for Cottesloe seems to have found his voice again; did he ever come over and support the then opposition on this issue? He did nothing. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : Tell us what you are doing. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am going through the five commitments. The government has provided to the plaintiffs and their lawyers thousands of documents, including some pieces of legal advice provided to the then Ministry of Fair Trading or to the Finance Brokers Supervisory Board, to assist them in pursuing their legal actions. The government scanned these documents and provided them in electronic form to further assist the plaintiffs. The fourth commitment was to facilitate court action to resolve the liability. A writ commencing legal proceedings against the now defunct Finance Brokers Supervisory Board was filed in February 2002. A substantially amended statement of claim that was 202 pages in length was filed in October 2002. The board filed its defence in 2003, which was within the time frame allowed by the court for filing the defence. There was a subsequent issue. The lawyers representing the people in the gallery today acknowledged that issue in the presentation of their claim, which delayed the issue for up to 18 months. It was not because of the state at all. Our fifth commitment was to pay up when liability was established. The state is defending the litigation because it has been consistently advised - this goes to the question of the member for Leschenault - that the Finance Brokers Supervisory Board has a sound defence to the plaintiff’s actions. Before the government could meet any claim for payment, liability would need to be established. The request that the government compensate people for losses incurred as a result of the dishonest actions of finance brokers cannot be agreed in the absence of a finding of liability against the board. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : You said that the department made a serious error. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have just gone through the issues and outlined the five - Ms S.E. Walker : What are you doing to help them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have just outlined those five initiatives and said that the actions of the Finance Brokers Supervisory Board cannot be agreed in the absence of a finding of liability against the board. Point of Order Mr D.F. BARRON-SULLIVAN : I ask the Premier to table that document. The SPEAKER : If it is an official document, it must be tabled. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am happy to table it. It is a letter I wrote to Mr N. and Mrs A. Horn of 21 Joseph Road, Safety Bay, Western Australia. I am happy to table it at the end of question time. There is nothing secret in it. I have sent the same letter to various other victims of finance brokers. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The member for Leschenault has raised historical issues. On Tuesday, 21 December 1999, when we were in opposition, we raised a matter of public interest, and that is what the current opposition will do today. Our motion in part states - The House calls upon the Government to provide adequate funding to ensure that the mainly elderly self-funded retirees who are losing their life savings through the operation of finance brokers and the Ministry are assisted in recovering their funds. That was the matter of public interest that we put forward when we were in opposition at the time. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : Do you still think that is what should happen? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Did members hear what it was? Point of Order Mr J.H.D. DAY : Mr Speaker, I am particularly conscious that members of the public in the gallery cannot respond, and I draw your attention to standing order 85(3), which states that members will address themselves to the Chair. I think that a great deal of latitude has been shown and it is time to call the Premier to order on that point. The SPEAKER : I think the Premier is addressing the question as asked, and interjections are expanding the answer. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : There is a place in France called the Palace of Versailles. I was very fortunate to visit the Palace of Versailles when I was on holiday with my family at Christmas time. The Palace of Versailles is famous for, among other things, a very long corridor that has mirrors along one side; hence the saying, “Take a walk down the long hall of mirrors.” What members are seeing is the absolute discomfort when the mirror is held up to the hypocrisy of the other side. I will go back. The MPI stated that the government should provide adequate funding to ensure that the mainly elderly self-funded retirees losing their life savings through the operation of finance brokers and the ministry were assisted in recovering their funds. Guess what happened when that motion was put to the vote? Does the member for Leschenault remember what happened? Does he remember whether he voted for or against the motion? Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : Have you noticed which side of the house I am sitting on today? It is one of the reasons I am over here. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : He was one of 26 members who voted no on 21 December 1999. When something could have been done right there and then, when members opposite were in government, the member for Leschenault said no, we will not support them. The problem with being in politics for a long time is that when members are hypocritical, it catches up with them.
Let us put this into a bit of context. When we were in opposition, we made some commitments to the people who were being ripped off by the finance brokers. The first commitment was that, if elected to government, we would hold a judicial inquiry with broad terms of reference into the finance broking industry. The then government violently opposed that. Doug Shave, then member for Alfred Cove, refused to engage on the issue, and the then Premier refused to do anything about it. When the Labor Party was elected to government, it established the inquiry, and we know what has happened since. We also said that we would offer legal assistance to the victims of the finance brokers. Legal Aid WA has taken action or entered into negotiations on behalf of 707 investors, and so far 200 investors have recovered their losses. In addition, a claim involving a further 50 investors is to be settled shortly. The rest of the legal claims are ongoing. The state government has provided $1.125 million to fund these actions and indemnify investors against costs awarded in the event that their legal actions are unsuccessful. I almost gasp with awe that a person such as the member for Leschenault is able to sit over there with a straight face and raise these issues in the presence of those in the public gallery. It is just amazing that that sort of person is involved in Western Australia politics. The third commitment was for full disclosure. Did the previous government ever seek to disclose anything? Did any member opposite seek to disclose anything? The member for Cottesloe seems to have found his voice again; did he ever come over and support the then opposition on this issue? He did nothing. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : Tell us what you are doing. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am going through the five commitments. The government has provided to the plaintiffs and their lawyers thousands of documents, including some pieces of legal advice provided to the then Ministry of Fair Trading or to the Finance Brokers Supervisory Board, to assist them in pursuing their legal actions. The government scanned these documents and provided them in electronic form to further assist the plaintiffs. The fourth commitment was to facilitate court action to resolve the liability. A writ commencing legal proceedings against the now defunct Finance Brokers Supervisory Board was filed in February 2002. A substantially amended statement of claim that was 202 pages in length was filed in October 2002. The board filed its defence in 2003, which was within the time frame allowed by the court for filing the defence. There was a subsequent issue. The lawyers representing the people in the gallery today acknowledged that issue in the presentation of their claim, which delayed the issue for up to 18 months. It was not because of the state at all. Our fifth commitment was to pay up when liability was established. The state is defending the litigation because it has been consistently advised - this goes to the question of the member for Leschenault - that the Finance Brokers Supervisory Board has a sound defence to the plaintiff’s actions. Before the government could meet any claim for payment, liability would need to be established. The request that the government compensate people for losses incurred as a result of the dishonest actions of finance brokers cannot be agreed in the absence of a finding of liability against the board. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : You said that the department made a serious error. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have just gone through the issues and outlined the five - Ms S.E. Walker : What are you doing to help them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have just outlined those five initiatives and said that the actions of the Finance Brokers Supervisory Board cannot be agreed in the absence of a finding of liability against the board. Point of Order Mr D.F. BARRON-SULLIVAN : I ask the Premier to table that document. The SPEAKER : If it is an official document, it must be tabled. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am happy to table it. It is a letter I wrote to Mr N. and Mrs A. Horn of 21 Joseph Road, Safety Bay, Western Australia. I am happy to table it at the end of question time. There is nothing secret in it. I have sent the same letter to various other victims of finance brokers. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The member for Leschenault has raised historical issues. On Tuesday, 21 December 1999, when we were in opposition, we raised a matter of public interest, and that is what the current opposition will do today. Our motion in part states - The House calls upon the Government to provide adequate funding to ensure that the mainly elderly self-funded retirees who are losing their life savings through the operation of finance brokers and the Ministry are assisted in recovering their funds. That was the matter of public interest that we put forward when we were in opposition at the time. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : Do you still think that is what should happen? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Did members hear what it was? Point of Order Mr J.H.D. DAY : Mr Speaker, I am particularly conscious that members of the public in the gallery cannot respond, and I draw your attention to standing order 85(3), which states that members will address themselves to the Chair. I think that a great deal of latitude has been shown and it is time to call the Premier to order on that point. The SPEAKER : I think the Premier is addressing the question as asked, and interjections are expanding the answer. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : There is a place in France called the Palace of Versailles. I was very fortunate to visit the Palace of Versailles when I was on holiday with my family at Christmas time. The Palace of Versailles is famous for, among other things, a very long corridor that has mirrors along one side; hence the saying, “Take a walk down the long hall of mirrors.” What members are seeing is the absolute discomfort when the mirror is held up to the hypocrisy of the other side. I will go back. The MPI stated that the government should provide adequate funding to ensure that the mainly elderly self-funded retirees losing their life savings through the operation of finance brokers and the ministry were assisted in recovering their funds. Guess what happened when that motion was put to the vote? Does the member for Leschenault remember what happened? Does he remember whether he voted for or against the motion? Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : Have you noticed which side of the house I am sitting on today? It is one of the reasons I am over here. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : He was one of 26 members who voted no on 21 December 1999. When something could have been done right there and then, when members opposite were in government, the member for Leschenault said no, we will not support them. The problem with being in politics for a long time is that when members are hypocritical, it catches up with them.
I almost gasp with awe that a person such as the member for Leschenault is able to sit over there with a straight face and raise these issues in the presence of those in the public gallery. It is just amazing that that sort of person is involved in Western Australia politics. The third commitment was for full disclosure. Did the previous government ever seek to disclose anything? Did any member opposite seek to disclose anything? The member for Cottesloe seems to have found his voice again; did he ever come over and support the then opposition on this issue? He did nothing. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : Tell us what you are doing. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am going through the five commitments. The government has provided to the plaintiffs and their lawyers thousands of documents, including some pieces of legal advice provided to the then Ministry of Fair Trading or to the Finance Brokers Supervisory Board, to assist them in pursuing their legal actions. The government scanned these documents and provided them in electronic form to further assist the plaintiffs. The fourth commitment was to facilitate court action to resolve the liability. A writ commencing legal proceedings against the now defunct Finance Brokers Supervisory Board was filed in February 2002. A substantially amended statement of claim that was 202 pages in length was filed in October 2002. The board filed its defence in 2003, which was within the time frame allowed by the court for filing the defence. There was a subsequent issue. The lawyers representing the people in the gallery today acknowledged that issue in the presentation of their claim, which delayed the issue for up to 18 months. It was not because of the state at all. Our fifth commitment was to pay up when liability was established. The state is defending the litigation because it has been consistently advised - this goes to the question of the member for Leschenault - that the Finance Brokers Supervisory Board has a sound defence to the plaintiff’s actions. Before the government could meet any claim for payment, liability would need to be established. The request that the government compensate people for losses incurred as a result of the dishonest actions of finance brokers cannot be agreed in the absence of a finding of liability against the board. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : You said that the department made a serious error. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have just gone through the issues and outlined the five - Ms S.E. Walker : What are you doing to help them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have just outlined those five initiatives and said that the actions of the Finance Brokers Supervisory Board cannot be agreed in the absence of a finding of liability against the board. Point of Order Mr D.F. BARRON-SULLIVAN : I ask the Premier to table that document. The SPEAKER : If it is an official document, it must be tabled. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am happy to table it. It is a letter I wrote to Mr N. and Mrs A. Horn of 21 Joseph Road, Safety Bay, Western Australia. I am happy to table it at the end of question time. There is nothing secret in it. I have sent the same letter to various other victims of finance brokers. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The member for Leschenault has raised historical issues. On Tuesday, 21 December 1999, when we were in opposition, we raised a matter of public interest, and that is what the current opposition will do today. Our motion in part states - The House calls upon the Government to provide adequate funding to ensure that the mainly elderly self-funded retirees who are losing their life savings through the operation of finance brokers and the Ministry are assisted in recovering their funds. That was the matter of public interest that we put forward when we were in opposition at the time. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : Do you still think that is what should happen? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Did members hear what it was? Point of Order Mr J.H.D. DAY : Mr Speaker, I am particularly conscious that members of the public in the gallery cannot respond, and I draw your attention to standing order 85(3), which states that members will address themselves to the Chair. I think that a great deal of latitude has been shown and it is time to call the Premier to order on that point. The SPEAKER : I think the Premier is addressing the question as asked, and interjections are expanding the answer. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : There is a place in France called the Palace of Versailles. I was very fortunate to visit the Palace of Versailles when I was on holiday with my family at Christmas time. The Palace of Versailles is famous for, among other things, a very long corridor that has mirrors along one side; hence the saying, “Take a walk down the long hall of mirrors.” What members are seeing is the absolute discomfort when the mirror is held up to the hypocrisy of the other side. I will go back. The MPI stated that the government should provide adequate funding to ensure that the mainly elderly self-funded retirees losing their life savings through the operation of finance brokers and the ministry were assisted in recovering their funds. Guess what happened when that motion was put to the vote? Does the member for Leschenault remember what happened? Does he remember whether he voted for or against the motion? Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : Have you noticed which side of the house I am sitting on today? It is one of the reasons I am over here. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : He was one of 26 members who voted no on 21 December 1999. When something could have been done right there and then, when members opposite were in government, the member for Leschenault said no, we will not support them. The problem with being in politics for a long time is that when members are hypocritical, it catches up with them.
The third commitment was for full disclosure. Did the previous government ever seek to disclose anything? Did any member opposite seek to disclose anything? The member for Cottesloe seems to have found his voice again; did he ever come over and support the then opposition on this issue? He did nothing. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : Tell us what you are doing. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am going through the five commitments. The government has provided to the plaintiffs and their lawyers thousands of documents, including some pieces of legal advice provided to the then Ministry of Fair Trading or to the Finance Brokers Supervisory Board, to assist them in pursuing their legal actions. The government scanned these documents and provided them in electronic form to further assist the plaintiffs. The fourth commitment was to facilitate court action to resolve the liability. A writ commencing legal proceedings against the now defunct Finance Brokers Supervisory Board was filed in February 2002. A substantially amended statement of claim that was 202 pages in length was filed in October 2002. The board filed its defence in 2003, which was within the time frame allowed by the court for filing the defence. There was a subsequent issue. The lawyers representing the people in the gallery today acknowledged that issue in the presentation of their claim, which delayed the issue for up to 18 months. It was not because of the state at all. Our fifth commitment was to pay up when liability was established. The state is defending the litigation because it has been consistently advised - this goes to the question of the member for Leschenault - that the Finance Brokers Supervisory Board has a sound defence to the plaintiff’s actions. Before the government could meet any claim for payment, liability would need to be established. The request that the government compensate people for losses incurred as a result of the dishonest actions of finance brokers cannot be agreed in the absence of a finding of liability against the board. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : You said that the department made a serious error. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have just gone through the issues and outlined the five - Ms S.E. Walker : What are you doing to help them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have just outlined those five initiatives and said that the actions of the Finance Brokers Supervisory Board cannot be agreed in the absence of a finding of liability against the board. Point of Order Mr D.F. BARRON-SULLIVAN : I ask the Premier to table that document. The SPEAKER : If it is an official document, it must be tabled. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am happy to table it. It is a letter I wrote to Mr N. and Mrs A. Horn of 21 Joseph Road, Safety Bay, Western Australia. I am happy to table it at the end of question time. There is nothing secret in it. I have sent the same letter to various other victims of finance brokers. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The member for Leschenault has raised historical issues. On Tuesday, 21 December 1999, when we were in opposition, we raised a matter of public interest, and that is what the current opposition will do today. Our motion in part states - The House calls upon the Government to provide adequate funding to ensure that the mainly elderly self-funded retirees who are losing their life savings through the operation of finance brokers and the Ministry are assisted in recovering their funds. That was the matter of public interest that we put forward when we were in opposition at the time. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : Do you still think that is what should happen? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Did members hear what it was? Point of Order Mr J.H.D. DAY : Mr Speaker, I am particularly conscious that members of the public in the gallery cannot respond, and I draw your attention to standing order 85(3), which states that members will address themselves to the Chair. I think that a great deal of latitude has been shown and it is time to call the Premier to order on that point. The SPEAKER : I think the Premier is addressing the question as asked, and interjections are expanding the answer. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : There is a place in France called the Palace of Versailles. I was very fortunate to visit the Palace of Versailles when I was on holiday with my family at Christmas time. The Palace of Versailles is famous for, among other things, a very long corridor that has mirrors along one side; hence the saying, “Take a walk down the long hall of mirrors.” What members are seeing is the absolute discomfort when the mirror is held up to the hypocrisy of the other side. I will go back. The MPI stated that the government should provide adequate funding to ensure that the mainly elderly self-funded retirees losing their life savings through the operation of finance brokers and the ministry were assisted in recovering their funds. Guess what happened when that motion was put to the vote? Does the member for Leschenault remember what happened? Does he remember whether he voted for or against the motion? Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : Have you noticed which side of the house I am sitting on today? It is one of the reasons I am over here. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : He was one of 26 members who voted no on 21 December 1999. When something could have been done right there and then, when members opposite were in government, the member for Leschenault said no, we will not support them. The problem with being in politics for a long time is that when members are hypocritical, it catches up with them.
Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : Tell us what you are doing. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am going through the five commitments. The government has provided to the plaintiffs and their lawyers thousands of documents, including some pieces of legal advice provided to the then Ministry of Fair Trading or to the Finance Brokers Supervisory Board, to assist them in pursuing their legal actions. The government scanned these documents and provided them in electronic form to further assist the plaintiffs. The fourth commitment was to facilitate court action to resolve the liability. A writ commencing legal proceedings against the now defunct Finance Brokers Supervisory Board was filed in February 2002. A substantially amended statement of claim that was 202 pages in length was filed in October 2002. The board filed its defence in 2003, which was within the time frame allowed by the court for filing the defence. There was a subsequent issue. The lawyers representing the people in the gallery today acknowledged that issue in the presentation of their claim, which delayed the issue for up to 18 months. It was not because of the state at all. Our fifth commitment was to pay up when liability was established. The state is defending the litigation because it has been consistently advised - this goes to the question of the member for Leschenault - that the Finance Brokers Supervisory Board has a sound defence to the plaintiff’s actions. Before the government could meet any claim for payment, liability would need to be established. The request that the government compensate people for losses incurred as a result of the dishonest actions of finance brokers cannot be agreed in the absence of a finding of liability against the board. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : You said that the department made a serious error. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have just gone through the issues and outlined the five - Ms S.E. Walker : What are you doing to help them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have just outlined those five initiatives and said that the actions of the Finance Brokers Supervisory Board cannot be agreed in the absence of a finding of liability against the board. Point of Order Mr D.F. BARRON-SULLIVAN : I ask the Premier to table that document. The SPEAKER : If it is an official document, it must be tabled. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am happy to table it. It is a letter I wrote to Mr N. and Mrs A. Horn of 21 Joseph Road, Safety Bay, Western Australia. I am happy to table it at the end of question time. There is nothing secret in it. I have sent the same letter to various other victims of finance brokers. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The member for Leschenault has raised historical issues. On Tuesday, 21 December 1999, when we were in opposition, we raised a matter of public interest, and that is what the current opposition will do today. Our motion in part states - The House calls upon the Government to provide adequate funding to ensure that the mainly elderly self-funded retirees who are losing their life savings through the operation of finance brokers and the Ministry are assisted in recovering their funds. That was the matter of public interest that we put forward when we were in opposition at the time. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : Do you still think that is what should happen? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Did members hear what it was? Point of Order Mr J.H.D. DAY : Mr Speaker, I am particularly conscious that members of the public in the gallery cannot respond, and I draw your attention to standing order 85(3), which states that members will address themselves to the Chair. I think that a great deal of latitude has been shown and it is time to call the Premier to order on that point. The SPEAKER : I think the Premier is addressing the question as asked, and interjections are expanding the answer. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : There is a place in France called the Palace of Versailles. I was very fortunate to visit the Palace of Versailles when I was on holiday with my family at Christmas time. The Palace of Versailles is famous for, among other things, a very long corridor that has mirrors along one side; hence the saying, “Take a walk down the long hall of mirrors.” What members are seeing is the absolute discomfort when the mirror is held up to the hypocrisy of the other side. I will go back. The MPI stated that the government should provide adequate funding to ensure that the mainly elderly self-funded retirees losing their life savings through the operation of finance brokers and the ministry were assisted in recovering their funds. Guess what happened when that motion was put to the vote? Does the member for Leschenault remember what happened? Does he remember whether he voted for or against the motion? Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : Have you noticed which side of the house I am sitting on today? It is one of the reasons I am over here. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : He was one of 26 members who voted no on 21 December 1999. When something could have been done right there and then, when members opposite were in government, the member for Leschenault said no, we will not support them. The problem with being in politics for a long time is that when members are hypocritical, it catches up with them.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am going through the five commitments. The government has provided to the plaintiffs and their lawyers thousands of documents, including some pieces of legal advice provided to the then Ministry of Fair Trading or to the Finance Brokers Supervisory Board, to assist them in pursuing their legal actions. The government scanned these documents and provided them in electronic form to further assist the plaintiffs. The fourth commitment was to facilitate court action to resolve the liability. A writ commencing legal proceedings against the now defunct Finance Brokers Supervisory Board was filed in February 2002. A substantially amended statement of claim that was 202 pages in length was filed in October 2002. The board filed its defence in 2003, which was within the time frame allowed by the court for filing the defence. There was a subsequent issue. The lawyers representing the people in the gallery today acknowledged that issue in the presentation of their claim, which delayed the issue for up to 18 months. It was not because of the state at all. Our fifth commitment was to pay up when liability was established. The state is defending the litigation because it has been consistently advised - this goes to the question of the member for Leschenault - that the Finance Brokers Supervisory Board has a sound defence to the plaintiff’s actions. Before the government could meet any claim for payment, liability would need to be established. The request that the government compensate people for losses incurred as a result of the dishonest actions of finance brokers cannot be agreed in the absence of a finding of liability against the board. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : You said that the department made a serious error. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have just gone through the issues and outlined the five - Ms S.E. Walker : What are you doing to help them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have just outlined those five initiatives and said that the actions of the Finance Brokers Supervisory Board cannot be agreed in the absence of a finding of liability against the board. Point of Order Mr D.F. BARRON-SULLIVAN : I ask the Premier to table that document. The SPEAKER : If it is an official document, it must be tabled. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am happy to table it. It is a letter I wrote to Mr N. and Mrs A. Horn of 21 Joseph Road, Safety Bay, Western Australia. I am happy to table it at the end of question time. There is nothing secret in it. I have sent the same letter to various other victims of finance brokers. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The member for Leschenault has raised historical issues. On Tuesday, 21 December 1999, when we were in opposition, we raised a matter of public interest, and that is what the current opposition will do today. Our motion in part states - The House calls upon the Government to provide adequate funding to ensure that the mainly elderly self-funded retirees who are losing their life savings through the operation of finance brokers and the Ministry are assisted in recovering their funds. That was the matter of public interest that we put forward when we were in opposition at the time. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : Do you still think that is what should happen? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Did members hear what it was? Point of Order Mr J.H.D. DAY : Mr Speaker, I am particularly conscious that members of the public in the gallery cannot respond, and I draw your attention to standing order 85(3), which states that members will address themselves to the Chair. I think that a great deal of latitude has been shown and it is time to call the Premier to order on that point. The SPEAKER : I think the Premier is addressing the question as asked, and interjections are expanding the answer. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : There is a place in France called the Palace of Versailles. I was very fortunate to visit the Palace of Versailles when I was on holiday with my family at Christmas time. The Palace of Versailles is famous for, among other things, a very long corridor that has mirrors along one side; hence the saying, “Take a walk down the long hall of mirrors.” What members are seeing is the absolute discomfort when the mirror is held up to the hypocrisy of the other side. I will go back. The MPI stated that the government should provide adequate funding to ensure that the mainly elderly self-funded retirees losing their life savings through the operation of finance brokers and the ministry were assisted in recovering their funds. Guess what happened when that motion was put to the vote? Does the member for Leschenault remember what happened? Does he remember whether he voted for or against the motion? Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : Have you noticed which side of the house I am sitting on today? It is one of the reasons I am over here. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : He was one of 26 members who voted no on 21 December 1999. When something could have been done right there and then, when members opposite were in government, the member for Leschenault said no, we will not support them. The problem with being in politics for a long time is that when members are hypocritical, it catches up with them.
The fourth commitment was to facilitate court action to resolve the liability. A writ commencing legal proceedings against the now defunct Finance Brokers Supervisory Board was filed in February 2002. A substantially amended statement of claim that was 202 pages in length was filed in October 2002. The board filed its defence in 2003, which was within the time frame allowed by the court for filing the defence. There was a subsequent issue. The lawyers representing the people in the gallery today acknowledged that issue in the presentation of their claim, which delayed the issue for up to 18 months. It was not because of the state at all. Our fifth commitment was to pay up when liability was established. The state is defending the litigation because it has been consistently advised - this goes to the question of the member for Leschenault - that the Finance Brokers Supervisory Board has a sound defence to the plaintiff’s actions. Before the government could meet any claim for payment, liability would need to be established. The request that the government compensate people for losses incurred as a result of the dishonest actions of finance brokers cannot be agreed in the absence of a finding of liability against the board. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : You said that the department made a serious error. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have just gone through the issues and outlined the five - Ms S.E. Walker : What are you doing to help them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have just outlined those five initiatives and said that the actions of the Finance Brokers Supervisory Board cannot be agreed in the absence of a finding of liability against the board. Point of Order Mr D.F. BARRON-SULLIVAN : I ask the Premier to table that document. The SPEAKER : If it is an official document, it must be tabled. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am happy to table it. It is a letter I wrote to Mr N. and Mrs A. Horn of 21 Joseph Road, Safety Bay, Western Australia. I am happy to table it at the end of question time. There is nothing secret in it. I have sent the same letter to various other victims of finance brokers. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The member for Leschenault has raised historical issues. On Tuesday, 21 December 1999, when we were in opposition, we raised a matter of public interest, and that is what the current opposition will do today. Our motion in part states - The House calls upon the Government to provide adequate funding to ensure that the mainly elderly self-funded retirees who are losing their life savings through the operation of finance brokers and the Ministry are assisted in recovering their funds. That was the matter of public interest that we put forward when we were in opposition at the time. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : Do you still think that is what should happen? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Did members hear what it was? Point of Order Mr J.H.D. DAY : Mr Speaker, I am particularly conscious that members of the public in the gallery cannot respond, and I draw your attention to standing order 85(3), which states that members will address themselves to the Chair. I think that a great deal of latitude has been shown and it is time to call the Premier to order on that point. The SPEAKER : I think the Premier is addressing the question as asked, and interjections are expanding the answer. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : There is a place in France called the Palace of Versailles. I was very fortunate to visit the Palace of Versailles when I was on holiday with my family at Christmas time. The Palace of Versailles is famous for, among other things, a very long corridor that has mirrors along one side; hence the saying, “Take a walk down the long hall of mirrors.” What members are seeing is the absolute discomfort when the mirror is held up to the hypocrisy of the other side. I will go back. The MPI stated that the government should provide adequate funding to ensure that the mainly elderly self-funded retirees losing their life savings through the operation of finance brokers and the ministry were assisted in recovering their funds. Guess what happened when that motion was put to the vote? Does the member for Leschenault remember what happened? Does he remember whether he voted for or against the motion? Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : Have you noticed which side of the house I am sitting on today? It is one of the reasons I am over here. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : He was one of 26 members who voted no on 21 December 1999. When something could have been done right there and then, when members opposite were in government, the member for Leschenault said no, we will not support them. The problem with being in politics for a long time is that when members are hypocritical, it catches up with them.
Our fifth commitment was to pay up when liability was established. The state is defending the litigation because it has been consistently advised - this goes to the question of the member for Leschenault - that the Finance Brokers Supervisory Board has a sound defence to the plaintiff’s actions. Before the government could meet any claim for payment, liability would need to be established. The request that the government compensate people for losses incurred as a result of the dishonest actions of finance brokers cannot be agreed in the absence of a finding of liability against the board. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : You said that the department made a serious error. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have just gone through the issues and outlined the five - Ms S.E. Walker : What are you doing to help them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have just outlined those five initiatives and said that the actions of the Finance Brokers Supervisory Board cannot be agreed in the absence of a finding of liability against the board. Point of Order Mr D.F. BARRON-SULLIVAN : I ask the Premier to table that document. The SPEAKER : If it is an official document, it must be tabled. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am happy to table it. It is a letter I wrote to Mr N. and Mrs A. Horn of 21 Joseph Road, Safety Bay, Western Australia. I am happy to table it at the end of question time. There is nothing secret in it. I have sent the same letter to various other victims of finance brokers. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The member for Leschenault has raised historical issues. On Tuesday, 21 December 1999, when we were in opposition, we raised a matter of public interest, and that is what the current opposition will do today. Our motion in part states - The House calls upon the Government to provide adequate funding to ensure that the mainly elderly self-funded retirees who are losing their life savings through the operation of finance brokers and the Ministry are assisted in recovering their funds. That was the matter of public interest that we put forward when we were in opposition at the time. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : Do you still think that is what should happen? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Did members hear what it was? Point of Order Mr J.H.D. DAY : Mr Speaker, I am particularly conscious that members of the public in the gallery cannot respond, and I draw your attention to standing order 85(3), which states that members will address themselves to the Chair. I think that a great deal of latitude has been shown and it is time to call the Premier to order on that point. The SPEAKER : I think the Premier is addressing the question as asked, and interjections are expanding the answer. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : There is a place in France called the Palace of Versailles. I was very fortunate to visit the Palace of Versailles when I was on holiday with my family at Christmas time. The Palace of Versailles is famous for, among other things, a very long corridor that has mirrors along one side; hence the saying, “Take a walk down the long hall of mirrors.” What members are seeing is the absolute discomfort when the mirror is held up to the hypocrisy of the other side. I will go back. The MPI stated that the government should provide adequate funding to ensure that the mainly elderly self-funded retirees losing their life savings through the operation of finance brokers and the ministry were assisted in recovering their funds. Guess what happened when that motion was put to the vote? Does the member for Leschenault remember what happened? Does he remember whether he voted for or against the motion? Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : Have you noticed which side of the house I am sitting on today? It is one of the reasons I am over here. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : He was one of 26 members who voted no on 21 December 1999. When something could have been done right there and then, when members opposite were in government, the member for Leschenault said no, we will not support them. The problem with being in politics for a long time is that when members are hypocritical, it catches up with them.
Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : You said that the department made a serious error. The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have just gone through the issues and outlined the five - Ms S.E. Walker : What are you doing to help them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have just outlined those five initiatives and said that the actions of the Finance Brokers Supervisory Board cannot be agreed in the absence of a finding of liability against the board. Point of Order Mr D.F. BARRON-SULLIVAN : I ask the Premier to table that document. The SPEAKER : If it is an official document, it must be tabled. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am happy to table it. It is a letter I wrote to Mr N. and Mrs A. Horn of 21 Joseph Road, Safety Bay, Western Australia. I am happy to table it at the end of question time. There is nothing secret in it. I have sent the same letter to various other victims of finance brokers. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The member for Leschenault has raised historical issues. On Tuesday, 21 December 1999, when we were in opposition, we raised a matter of public interest, and that is what the current opposition will do today. Our motion in part states - The House calls upon the Government to provide adequate funding to ensure that the mainly elderly self-funded retirees who are losing their life savings through the operation of finance brokers and the Ministry are assisted in recovering their funds. That was the matter of public interest that we put forward when we were in opposition at the time. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : Do you still think that is what should happen? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Did members hear what it was? Point of Order Mr J.H.D. DAY : Mr Speaker, I am particularly conscious that members of the public in the gallery cannot respond, and I draw your attention to standing order 85(3), which states that members will address themselves to the Chair. I think that a great deal of latitude has been shown and it is time to call the Premier to order on that point. The SPEAKER : I think the Premier is addressing the question as asked, and interjections are expanding the answer. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : There is a place in France called the Palace of Versailles. I was very fortunate to visit the Palace of Versailles when I was on holiday with my family at Christmas time. The Palace of Versailles is famous for, among other things, a very long corridor that has mirrors along one side; hence the saying, “Take a walk down the long hall of mirrors.” What members are seeing is the absolute discomfort when the mirror is held up to the hypocrisy of the other side. I will go back. The MPI stated that the government should provide adequate funding to ensure that the mainly elderly self-funded retirees losing their life savings through the operation of finance brokers and the ministry were assisted in recovering their funds. Guess what happened when that motion was put to the vote? Does the member for Leschenault remember what happened? Does he remember whether he voted for or against the motion? Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : Have you noticed which side of the house I am sitting on today? It is one of the reasons I am over here. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : He was one of 26 members who voted no on 21 December 1999. When something could have been done right there and then, when members opposite were in government, the member for Leschenault said no, we will not support them. The problem with being in politics for a long time is that when members are hypocritical, it catches up with them.
The SPEAKER : Order, members! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have just gone through the issues and outlined the five - Ms S.E. Walker : What are you doing to help them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have just outlined those five initiatives and said that the actions of the Finance Brokers Supervisory Board cannot be agreed in the absence of a finding of liability against the board. Point of Order Mr D.F. BARRON-SULLIVAN : I ask the Premier to table that document. The SPEAKER : If it is an official document, it must be tabled. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am happy to table it. It is a letter I wrote to Mr N. and Mrs A. Horn of 21 Joseph Road, Safety Bay, Western Australia. I am happy to table it at the end of question time. There is nothing secret in it. I have sent the same letter to various other victims of finance brokers. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The member for Leschenault has raised historical issues. On Tuesday, 21 December 1999, when we were in opposition, we raised a matter of public interest, and that is what the current opposition will do today. Our motion in part states - The House calls upon the Government to provide adequate funding to ensure that the mainly elderly self-funded retirees who are losing their life savings through the operation of finance brokers and the Ministry are assisted in recovering their funds. That was the matter of public interest that we put forward when we were in opposition at the time. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : Do you still think that is what should happen? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Did members hear what it was? Point of Order Mr J.H.D. DAY : Mr Speaker, I am particularly conscious that members of the public in the gallery cannot respond, and I draw your attention to standing order 85(3), which states that members will address themselves to the Chair. I think that a great deal of latitude has been shown and it is time to call the Premier to order on that point. The SPEAKER : I think the Premier is addressing the question as asked, and interjections are expanding the answer. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : There is a place in France called the Palace of Versailles. I was very fortunate to visit the Palace of Versailles when I was on holiday with my family at Christmas time. The Palace of Versailles is famous for, among other things, a very long corridor that has mirrors along one side; hence the saying, “Take a walk down the long hall of mirrors.” What members are seeing is the absolute discomfort when the mirror is held up to the hypocrisy of the other side. I will go back. The MPI stated that the government should provide adequate funding to ensure that the mainly elderly self-funded retirees losing their life savings through the operation of finance brokers and the ministry were assisted in recovering their funds. Guess what happened when that motion was put to the vote? Does the member for Leschenault remember what happened? Does he remember whether he voted for or against the motion? Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : Have you noticed which side of the house I am sitting on today? It is one of the reasons I am over here. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : He was one of 26 members who voted no on 21 December 1999. When something could have been done right there and then, when members opposite were in government, the member for Leschenault said no, we will not support them. The problem with being in politics for a long time is that when members are hypocritical, it catches up with them.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have just gone through the issues and outlined the five - Ms S.E. Walker : What are you doing to help them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have just outlined those five initiatives and said that the actions of the Finance Brokers Supervisory Board cannot be agreed in the absence of a finding of liability against the board. Point of Order Mr D.F. BARRON-SULLIVAN : I ask the Premier to table that document. The SPEAKER : If it is an official document, it must be tabled. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am happy to table it. It is a letter I wrote to Mr N. and Mrs A. Horn of 21 Joseph Road, Safety Bay, Western Australia. I am happy to table it at the end of question time. There is nothing secret in it. I have sent the same letter to various other victims of finance brokers. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The member for Leschenault has raised historical issues. On Tuesday, 21 December 1999, when we were in opposition, we raised a matter of public interest, and that is what the current opposition will do today. Our motion in part states - The House calls upon the Government to provide adequate funding to ensure that the mainly elderly self-funded retirees who are losing their life savings through the operation of finance brokers and the Ministry are assisted in recovering their funds. That was the matter of public interest that we put forward when we were in opposition at the time. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : Do you still think that is what should happen? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Did members hear what it was? Point of Order Mr J.H.D. DAY : Mr Speaker, I am particularly conscious that members of the public in the gallery cannot respond, and I draw your attention to standing order 85(3), which states that members will address themselves to the Chair. I think that a great deal of latitude has been shown and it is time to call the Premier to order on that point. The SPEAKER : I think the Premier is addressing the question as asked, and interjections are expanding the answer. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : There is a place in France called the Palace of Versailles. I was very fortunate to visit the Palace of Versailles when I was on holiday with my family at Christmas time. The Palace of Versailles is famous for, among other things, a very long corridor that has mirrors along one side; hence the saying, “Take a walk down the long hall of mirrors.” What members are seeing is the absolute discomfort when the mirror is held up to the hypocrisy of the other side. I will go back. The MPI stated that the government should provide adequate funding to ensure that the mainly elderly self-funded retirees losing their life savings through the operation of finance brokers and the ministry were assisted in recovering their funds. Guess what happened when that motion was put to the vote? Does the member for Leschenault remember what happened? Does he remember whether he voted for or against the motion? Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : Have you noticed which side of the house I am sitting on today? It is one of the reasons I am over here. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : He was one of 26 members who voted no on 21 December 1999. When something could have been done right there and then, when members opposite were in government, the member for Leschenault said no, we will not support them. The problem with being in politics for a long time is that when members are hypocritical, it catches up with them.
Ms S.E. Walker : What are you doing to help them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have just outlined those five initiatives and said that the actions of the Finance Brokers Supervisory Board cannot be agreed in the absence of a finding of liability against the board. Point of Order Mr D.F. BARRON-SULLIVAN : I ask the Premier to table that document. The SPEAKER : If it is an official document, it must be tabled. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am happy to table it. It is a letter I wrote to Mr N. and Mrs A. Horn of 21 Joseph Road, Safety Bay, Western Australia. I am happy to table it at the end of question time. There is nothing secret in it. I have sent the same letter to various other victims of finance brokers. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The member for Leschenault has raised historical issues. On Tuesday, 21 December 1999, when we were in opposition, we raised a matter of public interest, and that is what the current opposition will do today. Our motion in part states - The House calls upon the Government to provide adequate funding to ensure that the mainly elderly self-funded retirees who are losing their life savings through the operation of finance brokers and the Ministry are assisted in recovering their funds. That was the matter of public interest that we put forward when we were in opposition at the time. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : Do you still think that is what should happen? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Did members hear what it was? Point of Order Mr J.H.D. DAY : Mr Speaker, I am particularly conscious that members of the public in the gallery cannot respond, and I draw your attention to standing order 85(3), which states that members will address themselves to the Chair. I think that a great deal of latitude has been shown and it is time to call the Premier to order on that point. The SPEAKER : I think the Premier is addressing the question as asked, and interjections are expanding the answer. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : There is a place in France called the Palace of Versailles. I was very fortunate to visit the Palace of Versailles when I was on holiday with my family at Christmas time. The Palace of Versailles is famous for, among other things, a very long corridor that has mirrors along one side; hence the saying, “Take a walk down the long hall of mirrors.” What members are seeing is the absolute discomfort when the mirror is held up to the hypocrisy of the other side. I will go back. The MPI stated that the government should provide adequate funding to ensure that the mainly elderly self-funded retirees losing their life savings through the operation of finance brokers and the ministry were assisted in recovering their funds. Guess what happened when that motion was put to the vote? Does the member for Leschenault remember what happened? Does he remember whether he voted for or against the motion? Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : Have you noticed which side of the house I am sitting on today? It is one of the reasons I am over here. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : He was one of 26 members who voted no on 21 December 1999. When something could have been done right there and then, when members opposite were in government, the member for Leschenault said no, we will not support them. The problem with being in politics for a long time is that when members are hypocritical, it catches up with them.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have just outlined those five initiatives and said that the actions of the Finance Brokers Supervisory Board cannot be agreed in the absence of a finding of liability against the board. Point of Order Mr D.F. BARRON-SULLIVAN : I ask the Premier to table that document. The SPEAKER : If it is an official document, it must be tabled. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am happy to table it. It is a letter I wrote to Mr N. and Mrs A. Horn of 21 Joseph Road, Safety Bay, Western Australia. I am happy to table it at the end of question time. There is nothing secret in it. I have sent the same letter to various other victims of finance brokers. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The member for Leschenault has raised historical issues. On Tuesday, 21 December 1999, when we were in opposition, we raised a matter of public interest, and that is what the current opposition will do today. Our motion in part states - The House calls upon the Government to provide adequate funding to ensure that the mainly elderly self-funded retirees who are losing their life savings through the operation of finance brokers and the Ministry are assisted in recovering their funds. That was the matter of public interest that we put forward when we were in opposition at the time. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : Do you still think that is what should happen? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Did members hear what it was? Point of Order Mr J.H.D. DAY : Mr Speaker, I am particularly conscious that members of the public in the gallery cannot respond, and I draw your attention to standing order 85(3), which states that members will address themselves to the Chair. I think that a great deal of latitude has been shown and it is time to call the Premier to order on that point. The SPEAKER : I think the Premier is addressing the question as asked, and interjections are expanding the answer. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : There is a place in France called the Palace of Versailles. I was very fortunate to visit the Palace of Versailles when I was on holiday with my family at Christmas time. The Palace of Versailles is famous for, among other things, a very long corridor that has mirrors along one side; hence the saying, “Take a walk down the long hall of mirrors.” What members are seeing is the absolute discomfort when the mirror is held up to the hypocrisy of the other side. I will go back. The MPI stated that the government should provide adequate funding to ensure that the mainly elderly self-funded retirees losing their life savings through the operation of finance brokers and the ministry were assisted in recovering their funds. Guess what happened when that motion was put to the vote? Does the member for Leschenault remember what happened? Does he remember whether he voted for or against the motion? Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : Have you noticed which side of the house I am sitting on today? It is one of the reasons I am over here. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : He was one of 26 members who voted no on 21 December 1999. When something could have been done right there and then, when members opposite were in government, the member for Leschenault said no, we will not support them. The problem with being in politics for a long time is that when members are hypocritical, it catches up with them.
The SPEAKER : If it is an official document, it must be tabled. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am happy to table it. It is a letter I wrote to Mr N. and Mrs A. Horn of 21 Joseph Road, Safety Bay, Western Australia. I am happy to table it at the end of question time. There is nothing secret in it. I have sent the same letter to various other victims of finance brokers. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The member for Leschenault has raised historical issues. On Tuesday, 21 December 1999, when we were in opposition, we raised a matter of public interest, and that is what the current opposition will do today. Our motion in part states - The House calls upon the Government to provide adequate funding to ensure that the mainly elderly self-funded retirees who are losing their life savings through the operation of finance brokers and the Ministry are assisted in recovering their funds. That was the matter of public interest that we put forward when we were in opposition at the time. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : Do you still think that is what should happen? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Did members hear what it was? Point of Order Mr J.H.D. DAY : Mr Speaker, I am particularly conscious that members of the public in the gallery cannot respond, and I draw your attention to standing order 85(3), which states that members will address themselves to the Chair. I think that a great deal of latitude has been shown and it is time to call the Premier to order on that point. The SPEAKER : I think the Premier is addressing the question as asked, and interjections are expanding the answer. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : There is a place in France called the Palace of Versailles. I was very fortunate to visit the Palace of Versailles when I was on holiday with my family at Christmas time. The Palace of Versailles is famous for, among other things, a very long corridor that has mirrors along one side; hence the saying, “Take a walk down the long hall of mirrors.” What members are seeing is the absolute discomfort when the mirror is held up to the hypocrisy of the other side. I will go back. The MPI stated that the government should provide adequate funding to ensure that the mainly elderly self-funded retirees losing their life savings through the operation of finance brokers and the ministry were assisted in recovering their funds. Guess what happened when that motion was put to the vote? Does the member for Leschenault remember what happened? Does he remember whether he voted for or against the motion? Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : Have you noticed which side of the house I am sitting on today? It is one of the reasons I am over here. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : He was one of 26 members who voted no on 21 December 1999. When something could have been done right there and then, when members opposite were in government, the member for Leschenault said no, we will not support them. The problem with being in politics for a long time is that when members are hypocritical, it catches up with them.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am happy to table it. It is a letter I wrote to Mr N. and Mrs A. Horn of 21 Joseph Road, Safety Bay, Western Australia. I am happy to table it at the end of question time. There is nothing secret in it. I have sent the same letter to various other victims of finance brokers. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The member for Leschenault has raised historical issues. On Tuesday, 21 December 1999, when we were in opposition, we raised a matter of public interest, and that is what the current opposition will do today. Our motion in part states - The House calls upon the Government to provide adequate funding to ensure that the mainly elderly self-funded retirees who are losing their life savings through the operation of finance brokers and the Ministry are assisted in recovering their funds. That was the matter of public interest that we put forward when we were in opposition at the time. Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : Do you still think that is what should happen? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Did members hear what it was? Point of Order Mr J.H.D. DAY : Mr Speaker, I am particularly conscious that members of the public in the gallery cannot respond, and I draw your attention to standing order 85(3), which states that members will address themselves to the Chair. I think that a great deal of latitude has been shown and it is time to call the Premier to order on that point. The SPEAKER : I think the Premier is addressing the question as asked, and interjections are expanding the answer. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : There is a place in France called the Palace of Versailles. I was very fortunate to visit the Palace of Versailles when I was on holiday with my family at Christmas time. The Palace of Versailles is famous for, among other things, a very long corridor that has mirrors along one side; hence the saying, “Take a walk down the long hall of mirrors.” What members are seeing is the absolute discomfort when the mirror is held up to the hypocrisy of the other side. I will go back. The MPI stated that the government should provide adequate funding to ensure that the mainly elderly self-funded retirees losing their life savings through the operation of finance brokers and the ministry were assisted in recovering their funds. Guess what happened when that motion was put to the vote? Does the member for Leschenault remember what happened? Does he remember whether he voted for or against the motion? Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : Have you noticed which side of the house I am sitting on today? It is one of the reasons I am over here. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : He was one of 26 members who voted no on 21 December 1999. When something could have been done right there and then, when members opposite were in government, the member for Leschenault said no, we will not support them. The problem with being in politics for a long time is that when members are hypocritical, it catches up with them.
Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : Do you still think that is what should happen? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Did members hear what it was? Point of Order Mr J.H.D. DAY : Mr Speaker, I am particularly conscious that members of the public in the gallery cannot respond, and I draw your attention to standing order 85(3), which states that members will address themselves to the Chair. I think that a great deal of latitude has been shown and it is time to call the Premier to order on that point. The SPEAKER : I think the Premier is addressing the question as asked, and interjections are expanding the answer. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : There is a place in France called the Palace of Versailles. I was very fortunate to visit the Palace of Versailles when I was on holiday with my family at Christmas time. The Palace of Versailles is famous for, among other things, a very long corridor that has mirrors along one side; hence the saying, “Take a walk down the long hall of mirrors.” What members are seeing is the absolute discomfort when the mirror is held up to the hypocrisy of the other side. I will go back. The MPI stated that the government should provide adequate funding to ensure that the mainly elderly self-funded retirees losing their life savings through the operation of finance brokers and the ministry were assisted in recovering their funds. Guess what happened when that motion was put to the vote? Does the member for Leschenault remember what happened? Does he remember whether he voted for or against the motion? Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : Have you noticed which side of the house I am sitting on today? It is one of the reasons I am over here. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : He was one of 26 members who voted no on 21 December 1999. When something could have been done right there and then, when members opposite were in government, the member for Leschenault said no, we will not support them. The problem with being in politics for a long time is that when members are hypocritical, it catches up with them.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Did members hear what it was? Point of Order Mr J.H.D. DAY : Mr Speaker, I am particularly conscious that members of the public in the gallery cannot respond, and I draw your attention to standing order 85(3), which states that members will address themselves to the Chair. I think that a great deal of latitude has been shown and it is time to call the Premier to order on that point. The SPEAKER : I think the Premier is addressing the question as asked, and interjections are expanding the answer. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : There is a place in France called the Palace of Versailles. I was very fortunate to visit the Palace of Versailles when I was on holiday with my family at Christmas time. The Palace of Versailles is famous for, among other things, a very long corridor that has mirrors along one side; hence the saying, “Take a walk down the long hall of mirrors.” What members are seeing is the absolute discomfort when the mirror is held up to the hypocrisy of the other side. I will go back. The MPI stated that the government should provide adequate funding to ensure that the mainly elderly self-funded retirees losing their life savings through the operation of finance brokers and the ministry were assisted in recovering their funds. Guess what happened when that motion was put to the vote? Does the member for Leschenault remember what happened? Does he remember whether he voted for or against the motion? Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : Have you noticed which side of the house I am sitting on today? It is one of the reasons I am over here. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : He was one of 26 members who voted no on 21 December 1999. When something could have been done right there and then, when members opposite were in government, the member for Leschenault said no, we will not support them. The problem with being in politics for a long time is that when members are hypocritical, it catches up with them.
The SPEAKER : I think the Premier is addressing the question as asked, and interjections are expanding the answer. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : There is a place in France called the Palace of Versailles. I was very fortunate to visit the Palace of Versailles when I was on holiday with my family at Christmas time. The Palace of Versailles is famous for, among other things, a very long corridor that has mirrors along one side; hence the saying, “Take a walk down the long hall of mirrors.” What members are seeing is the absolute discomfort when the mirror is held up to the hypocrisy of the other side. I will go back. The MPI stated that the government should provide adequate funding to ensure that the mainly elderly self-funded retirees losing their life savings through the operation of finance brokers and the ministry were assisted in recovering their funds. Guess what happened when that motion was put to the vote? Does the member for Leschenault remember what happened? Does he remember whether he voted for or against the motion? Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : Have you noticed which side of the house I am sitting on today? It is one of the reasons I am over here. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : He was one of 26 members who voted no on 21 December 1999. When something could have been done right there and then, when members opposite were in government, the member for Leschenault said no, we will not support them. The problem with being in politics for a long time is that when members are hypocritical, it catches up with them.
I will go back. The MPI stated that the government should provide adequate funding to ensure that the mainly elderly self-funded retirees losing their life savings through the operation of finance brokers and the ministry were assisted in recovering their funds. Guess what happened when that motion was put to the vote? Does the member for Leschenault remember what happened? Does he remember whether he voted for or against the motion? Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : Have you noticed which side of the house I am sitting on today? It is one of the reasons I am over here. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : He was one of 26 members who voted no on 21 December 1999. When something could have been done right there and then, when members opposite were in government, the member for Leschenault said no, we will not support them. The problem with being in politics for a long time is that when members are hypocritical, it catches up with them.
Mr D.F. Barron-Sullivan : Have you noticed which side of the house I am sitting on today? It is one of the reasons I am over here. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : He was one of 26 members who voted no on 21 December 1999. When something could have been done right there and then, when members opposite were in government, the member for Leschenault said no, we will not support them. The problem with being in politics for a long time is that when members are hypocritical, it catches up with them.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : He was one of 26 members who voted no on 21 December 1999. When something could have been done right there and then, when members opposite were in government, the member for Leschenault said no, we will not support them. The problem with being in politics for a long time is that when members are hypocritical, it catches up with them.
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