❓ Opposition questions the Premier regarding a potential 'staff-for-votes' deal with an independent MP, alleging improper conduct. The Premier denies any impropriety, stating the process was formal and involved cabinet decisions, while also accusing the previous Labor government of similar actions.
AnsweredQoN 668Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
GOVERNMENT RESOURCING — MINOR PARTIES AND INDEPENDENTS
I refer to the Premier’s staff-for-votes deal with the member for Fremantle. (1) Did the member for Vasse play any role in these negotiations? (2) Was the member for Fremantle correct, when in full knowledge, by then, of the serious implications, she said on Channel Nine and ABC news last night, “My view is that those were the conditions that were agreed to and then that would entitle me to an additional staff member”? (3) Does the Premier concede that providing personal benefits to a member of Parliament in exchange for votes is improper and corrupt? Mr C.J. BARNETT
I refer to the Premier’s staff-for-votes deal with the member for Fremantle. (1) Did the member for Vasse play any role in these negotiations? (2) Was the member for Fremantle correct, when in full knowledge, by then, of the serious implications, she said on Channel Nine and ABC news last night, “My view is that those were the conditions that were agreed to and then that would entitle me to an additional staff member”? (3) Does the Premier concede that providing personal benefits to a member of Parliament in exchange for votes is improper and corrupt? Mr C.J. BARNETT
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(3) The member for Vasse played no role at all. The member for Vasse rang me on the Friday night before this item appeared in the media to tell me that journalists had been in contact on an issue relating to the staffing of the member for Fremantle. May I make it very, very clear that the approach to me by the member for Fremantle was direct to me, and in no way involved the member for Vasse or any other member of Parliament. Mr P.B. Watson interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, if you have a contribution, I would prefer it to be a question in this place. I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : When members on either side of the house approach me on issues to do with their electorates or their constituencies, I treat them in confidence and deal with them on the basis on which they are raised with me. The member for Fremantle had approached me to discuss her staffing and office issues, as indeed members opposite have. We met in my office at Parliament House and the issue was discussed. The member for Vasse was not involved. Mr E.S. Ripper : Is the member for Fremantle correct in what she said on the TV news last night? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am trying to answer the Leader of the Opposition’s question. The second part related to conditions. When additional resources were made available to the members for Alfred Cove and Kalgoorlie and, might I add, the Greens (WA), who had repeatedly approached me about extra resources for them, and there is a trail of correspondence to verify that — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am making the point that the member for Fremantle was not alone. Mr E.S. Ripper : This is about linking support to votes. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am trying to answer the Leader of the Opposition’s question. Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s not about support. Don’t muddy the waters. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The idea is that the Leader of the Opposition asks the question and I answer it. With respect to conditions, I do not know how the previous government operated, but this government operates formally and correctly on advice through a cabinet process. Mr E.S. Ripper : She says that you did a deal. Did you? Mr C.J. BARNETT : With respect to the approach made by the member for Alfred Cove, if my memory serves me correctly, the member for Alfred Cove made a very strong case for support to deal with legislation as an Independent. When that issue arose and the request from the Greens was made on several occasions, this government took the issue through the proper public sector process to cabinet for a formal cabinet decision. That cabinet decision was to provide extra resources to the Greens and the two Independents at the time. That cabinet decision contains no condition at all. The reason I raise that is that back in 2005, the then Labor government provided financial resources to the Greens. I ask the question: did the Leader of the Opposition, as then Treasurer, provide those financial resources to the Greens in 2005 and did he do it through a cabinet decision or not? Mr E.S. Ripper : I would have to check the cabinet record. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition would have to check the cabinet record! Let me help him out because I recall the events. I think, members, it was to do with the passage of the one vote, one value legislation. The then Labor government could not get it through the upper house. The former member for Fremantle, Jim McGinty, had discussions with the Greens, and out of those discussions came an agreement, plus a staff position for the Greens. I again ask the Leader of the Opposition: when he was Treasurer, did it go to cabinet and was it a formal cabinet decision? Mr E.S. Ripper : Premier, before I answer your questions, why don’t you answer my question? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have told the Leader of the Opposition what this government does. Mr E.S. Ripper : No; you haven’t answered my question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, I have. Come on! Mr E.S. Ripper : You haven’t answered my question, which is: is the member for Fremantle correct in what she said? Mr C.J. BARNETT : The former chief of staff of former Premier Geoff Gallop is up the back; she will know. The Leader of the Opposition should ask her whether it was a cabinet decision. Mr P. Papalia : You’re really worried about this, aren’t you? Mr C.J. BARNETT : We can pause and have a two-minute time-out so that the Leader of the Opposition can run up to the back bench and ask the former chief of staff to Premier Gallop whether there was a cabinet decision on that. We will pause for a minute. Several members interjected. Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer your question. Don’t try to distract and deflect. Don’t go back five years. Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the question. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’re not answering the question. Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the question. I make the point that there was no condition on the funding to the other members. Mr E.S. Ripper : What about the member for Fremantle? Is she correct in what she told the media last night? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If the government — Mr E.S. Ripper : You won’t answer that question. You’re scared to answer that question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition is not being quiet, polite or courteous. Mr E.S. Ripper : Confront the reality of what she said last night and answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The issue of the staffing — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker, there is no point. Mr P. Papalia interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Warnbro, I formally call you to order for the first time. I will note, members, that we have managed to get through two and a half questions in 20 minutes. It is my impression that the Premier is endeavouring to answer the question, but there seem to be consistent and continual interjections. Mr C.J. BARNETT : So, Mr Speaker — Mr M.P. Whitely interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat Premier. Member for Bassendean, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : There are no conditions on the allocation of staff to the member for Alfred Cove and the member for Kalgoorlie. The issue of staffing for the member for Fremantle has not progressed beyond our discussions in early to mid-October, other than, I think, some correspondence or contact between the member and the Department of the Premier and Cabinet; and there is nothing at all wrong with that. No matter has been prepared or taken to cabinet. No further progress has been made on that. Indeed, I restate: this government, if it chooses to make an allocation on staffing, will do it only formally through a cabinet decision with no conditions attached. If the member for Fremantle succeeds, as other members have, in her claim for extra staffing, which has considerable merit, it will be on the basis of no conditions, but it will be a formal cabinet decision. I repeat, the Leader of the Opposition has obviously spent a lot of time on this. He should now have recalled whether his assistance to the Greens under the Gallop government was a cabinet decision or had conditions. Mr E.S. Ripper : You answer my question first. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered yours. Mr E.S. Ripper : You have not answered my question. You haven’t answered question (2). Was she correct or was she not? Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part of the question — Mr E.S. Ripper : Do not miss out the second part; answer the second part. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered. On the third part — Mr E.S. Ripper : On the second part — The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part, “Providing personal benefits”, does the member realise what he is saying? Mr E.S. Ripper : “Providing personal”—yes, I do realise what I’m saying. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do you seriously see the provision of staffing as a personal benefit? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Unbelievable. You have learnt nothing as a government—nothing at all. Mr E.S. Ripper : Born to rule! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the Leader of the Opposition to describe a proper request for staffing and research assistance, as the Greens and other Independents have made, as a personal benefit is very, very tawdry.
(1) Did the member for Vasse play any role in these negotiations? (2) Was the member for Fremantle correct, when in full knowledge, by then, of the serious implications, she said on Channel Nine and ABC news last night, “My view is that those were the conditions that were agreed to and then that would entitle me to an additional staff member”? (3) Does the Premier concede that providing personal benefits to a member of Parliament in exchange for votes is improper and corrupt? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)–(3) The member for Vasse played no role at all. The member for Vasse rang me on the Friday night before this item appeared in the media to tell me that journalists had been in contact on an issue relating to the staffing of the member for Fremantle. May I make it very, very clear that the approach to me by the member for Fremantle was direct to me, and in no way involved the member for Vasse or any other member of Parliament. Mr P.B. Watson interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, if you have a contribution, I would prefer it to be a question in this place. I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : When members on either side of the house approach me on issues to do with their electorates or their constituencies, I treat them in confidence and deal with them on the basis on which they are raised with me. The member for Fremantle had approached me to discuss her staffing and office issues, as indeed members opposite have. We met in my office at Parliament House and the issue was discussed. The member for Vasse was not involved. Mr E.S. Ripper : Is the member for Fremantle correct in what she said on the TV news last night? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am trying to answer the Leader of the Opposition’s question. The second part related to conditions. When additional resources were made available to the members for Alfred Cove and Kalgoorlie and, might I add, the Greens (WA), who had repeatedly approached me about extra resources for them, and there is a trail of correspondence to verify that — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am making the point that the member for Fremantle was not alone. Mr E.S. Ripper : This is about linking support to votes. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am trying to answer the Leader of the Opposition’s question. Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s not about support. Don’t muddy the waters. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The idea is that the Leader of the Opposition asks the question and I answer it. With respect to conditions, I do not know how the previous government operated, but this government operates formally and correctly on advice through a cabinet process. Mr E.S. Ripper : She says that you did a deal. Did you? Mr C.J. BARNETT : With respect to the approach made by the member for Alfred Cove, if my memory serves me correctly, the member for Alfred Cove made a very strong case for support to deal with legislation as an Independent. When that issue arose and the request from the Greens was made on several occasions, this government took the issue through the proper public sector process to cabinet for a formal cabinet decision. That cabinet decision was to provide extra resources to the Greens and the two Independents at the time. That cabinet decision contains no condition at all. The reason I raise that is that back in 2005, the then Labor government provided financial resources to the Greens. I ask the question: did the Leader of the Opposition, as then Treasurer, provide those financial resources to the Greens in 2005 and did he do it through a cabinet decision or not? Mr E.S. Ripper : I would have to check the cabinet record. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition would have to check the cabinet record! Let me help him out because I recall the events. I think, members, it was to do with the passage of the one vote, one value legislation. The then Labor government could not get it through the upper house. The former member for Fremantle, Jim McGinty, had discussions with the Greens, and out of those discussions came an agreement, plus a staff position for the Greens. I again ask the Leader of the Opposition: when he was Treasurer, did it go to cabinet and was it a formal cabinet decision? Mr E.S. Ripper : Premier, before I answer your questions, why don’t you answer my question? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have told the Leader of the Opposition what this government does. Mr E.S. Ripper : No; you haven’t answered my question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, I have. Come on! Mr E.S. Ripper : You haven’t answered my question, which is: is the member for Fremantle correct in what she said? Mr C.J. BARNETT : The former chief of staff of former Premier Geoff Gallop is up the back; she will know. The Leader of the Opposition should ask her whether it was a cabinet decision. Mr P. Papalia : You’re really worried about this, aren’t you? Mr C.J. BARNETT : We can pause and have a two-minute time-out so that the Leader of the Opposition can run up to the back bench and ask the former chief of staff to Premier Gallop whether there was a cabinet decision on that. We will pause for a minute. Several members interjected. Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer your question. Don’t try to distract and deflect. Don’t go back five years. Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the question. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’re not answering the question. Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the question. I make the point that there was no condition on the funding to the other members. Mr E.S. Ripper : What about the member for Fremantle? Is she correct in what she told the media last night? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If the government — Mr E.S. Ripper : You won’t answer that question. You’re scared to answer that question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition is not being quiet, polite or courteous. Mr E.S. Ripper : Confront the reality of what she said last night and answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The issue of the staffing — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker, there is no point. Mr P. Papalia interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Warnbro, I formally call you to order for the first time. I will note, members, that we have managed to get through two and a half questions in 20 minutes. It is my impression that the Premier is endeavouring to answer the question, but there seem to be consistent and continual interjections. Mr C.J. BARNETT : So, Mr Speaker — Mr M.P. Whitely interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat Premier. Member for Bassendean, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : There are no conditions on the allocation of staff to the member for Alfred Cove and the member for Kalgoorlie. The issue of staffing for the member for Fremantle has not progressed beyond our discussions in early to mid-October, other than, I think, some correspondence or contact between the member and the Department of the Premier and Cabinet; and there is nothing at all wrong with that. No matter has been prepared or taken to cabinet. No further progress has been made on that. Indeed, I restate: this government, if it chooses to make an allocation on staffing, will do it only formally through a cabinet decision with no conditions attached. If the member for Fremantle succeeds, as other members have, in her claim for extra staffing, which has considerable merit, it will be on the basis of no conditions, but it will be a formal cabinet decision. I repeat, the Leader of the Opposition has obviously spent a lot of time on this. He should now have recalled whether his assistance to the Greens under the Gallop government was a cabinet decision or had conditions. Mr E.S. Ripper : You answer my question first. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered yours. Mr E.S. Ripper : You have not answered my question. You haven’t answered question (2). Was she correct or was she not? Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part of the question — Mr E.S. Ripper : Do not miss out the second part; answer the second part. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered. On the third part — Mr E.S. Ripper : On the second part — The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part, “Providing personal benefits”, does the member realise what he is saying? Mr E.S. Ripper : “Providing personal”—yes, I do realise what I’m saying. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do you seriously see the provision of staffing as a personal benefit? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Unbelievable. You have learnt nothing as a government—nothing at all. Mr E.S. Ripper : Born to rule! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the Leader of the Opposition to describe a proper request for staffing and research assistance, as the Greens and other Independents have made, as a personal benefit is very, very tawdry.
(2) Was the member for Fremantle correct, when in full knowledge, by then, of the serious implications, she said on Channel Nine and ABC news last night, “My view is that those were the conditions that were agreed to and then that would entitle me to an additional staff member”? (3) Does the Premier concede that providing personal benefits to a member of Parliament in exchange for votes is improper and corrupt? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)–(3) The member for Vasse played no role at all. The member for Vasse rang me on the Friday night before this item appeared in the media to tell me that journalists had been in contact on an issue relating to the staffing of the member for Fremantle. May I make it very, very clear that the approach to me by the member for Fremantle was direct to me, and in no way involved the member for Vasse or any other member of Parliament. Mr P.B. Watson interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, if you have a contribution, I would prefer it to be a question in this place. I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : When members on either side of the house approach me on issues to do with their electorates or their constituencies, I treat them in confidence and deal with them on the basis on which they are raised with me. The member for Fremantle had approached me to discuss her staffing and office issues, as indeed members opposite have. We met in my office at Parliament House and the issue was discussed. The member for Vasse was not involved. Mr E.S. Ripper : Is the member for Fremantle correct in what she said on the TV news last night? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am trying to answer the Leader of the Opposition’s question. The second part related to conditions. When additional resources were made available to the members for Alfred Cove and Kalgoorlie and, might I add, the Greens (WA), who had repeatedly approached me about extra resources for them, and there is a trail of correspondence to verify that — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am making the point that the member for Fremantle was not alone. Mr E.S. Ripper : This is about linking support to votes. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am trying to answer the Leader of the Opposition’s question. Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s not about support. Don’t muddy the waters. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The idea is that the Leader of the Opposition asks the question and I answer it. With respect to conditions, I do not know how the previous government operated, but this government operates formally and correctly on advice through a cabinet process. Mr E.S. Ripper : She says that you did a deal. Did you? Mr C.J. BARNETT : With respect to the approach made by the member for Alfred Cove, if my memory serves me correctly, the member for Alfred Cove made a very strong case for support to deal with legislation as an Independent. When that issue arose and the request from the Greens was made on several occasions, this government took the issue through the proper public sector process to cabinet for a formal cabinet decision. That cabinet decision was to provide extra resources to the Greens and the two Independents at the time. That cabinet decision contains no condition at all. The reason I raise that is that back in 2005, the then Labor government provided financial resources to the Greens. I ask the question: did the Leader of the Opposition, as then Treasurer, provide those financial resources to the Greens in 2005 and did he do it through a cabinet decision or not? Mr E.S. Ripper : I would have to check the cabinet record. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition would have to check the cabinet record! Let me help him out because I recall the events. I think, members, it was to do with the passage of the one vote, one value legislation. The then Labor government could not get it through the upper house. The former member for Fremantle, Jim McGinty, had discussions with the Greens, and out of those discussions came an agreement, plus a staff position for the Greens. I again ask the Leader of the Opposition: when he was Treasurer, did it go to cabinet and was it a formal cabinet decision? Mr E.S. Ripper : Premier, before I answer your questions, why don’t you answer my question? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have told the Leader of the Opposition what this government does. Mr E.S. Ripper : No; you haven’t answered my question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, I have. Come on! Mr E.S. Ripper : You haven’t answered my question, which is: is the member for Fremantle correct in what she said? Mr C.J. BARNETT : The former chief of staff of former Premier Geoff Gallop is up the back; she will know. The Leader of the Opposition should ask her whether it was a cabinet decision. Mr P. Papalia : You’re really worried about this, aren’t you? Mr C.J. BARNETT : We can pause and have a two-minute time-out so that the Leader of the Opposition can run up to the back bench and ask the former chief of staff to Premier Gallop whether there was a cabinet decision on that. We will pause for a minute. Several members interjected. Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer your question. Don’t try to distract and deflect. Don’t go back five years. Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the question. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’re not answering the question. Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the question. I make the point that there was no condition on the funding to the other members. Mr E.S. Ripper : What about the member for Fremantle? Is she correct in what she told the media last night? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If the government — Mr E.S. Ripper : You won’t answer that question. You’re scared to answer that question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition is not being quiet, polite or courteous. Mr E.S. Ripper : Confront the reality of what she said last night and answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The issue of the staffing — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker, there is no point. Mr P. Papalia interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Warnbro, I formally call you to order for the first time. I will note, members, that we have managed to get through two and a half questions in 20 minutes. It is my impression that the Premier is endeavouring to answer the question, but there seem to be consistent and continual interjections. Mr C.J. BARNETT : So, Mr Speaker — Mr M.P. Whitely interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat Premier. Member for Bassendean, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : There are no conditions on the allocation of staff to the member for Alfred Cove and the member for Kalgoorlie. The issue of staffing for the member for Fremantle has not progressed beyond our discussions in early to mid-October, other than, I think, some correspondence or contact between the member and the Department of the Premier and Cabinet; and there is nothing at all wrong with that. No matter has been prepared or taken to cabinet. No further progress has been made on that. Indeed, I restate: this government, if it chooses to make an allocation on staffing, will do it only formally through a cabinet decision with no conditions attached. If the member for Fremantle succeeds, as other members have, in her claim for extra staffing, which has considerable merit, it will be on the basis of no conditions, but it will be a formal cabinet decision. I repeat, the Leader of the Opposition has obviously spent a lot of time on this. He should now have recalled whether his assistance to the Greens under the Gallop government was a cabinet decision or had conditions. Mr E.S. Ripper : You answer my question first. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered yours. Mr E.S. Ripper : You have not answered my question. You haven’t answered question (2). Was she correct or was she not? Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part of the question — Mr E.S. Ripper : Do not miss out the second part; answer the second part. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered. On the third part — Mr E.S. Ripper : On the second part — The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part, “Providing personal benefits”, does the member realise what he is saying? Mr E.S. Ripper : “Providing personal”—yes, I do realise what I’m saying. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do you seriously see the provision of staffing as a personal benefit? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Unbelievable. You have learnt nothing as a government—nothing at all. Mr E.S. Ripper : Born to rule! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the Leader of the Opposition to describe a proper request for staffing and research assistance, as the Greens and other Independents have made, as a personal benefit is very, very tawdry.
(3) Does the Premier concede that providing personal benefits to a member of Parliament in exchange for votes is improper and corrupt? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)–(3) The member for Vasse played no role at all. The member for Vasse rang me on the Friday night before this item appeared in the media to tell me that journalists had been in contact on an issue relating to the staffing of the member for Fremantle. May I make it very, very clear that the approach to me by the member for Fremantle was direct to me, and in no way involved the member for Vasse or any other member of Parliament. Mr P.B. Watson interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, if you have a contribution, I would prefer it to be a question in this place. I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : When members on either side of the house approach me on issues to do with their electorates or their constituencies, I treat them in confidence and deal with them on the basis on which they are raised with me. The member for Fremantle had approached me to discuss her staffing and office issues, as indeed members opposite have. We met in my office at Parliament House and the issue was discussed. The member for Vasse was not involved. Mr E.S. Ripper : Is the member for Fremantle correct in what she said on the TV news last night? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am trying to answer the Leader of the Opposition’s question. The second part related to conditions. When additional resources were made available to the members for Alfred Cove and Kalgoorlie and, might I add, the Greens (WA), who had repeatedly approached me about extra resources for them, and there is a trail of correspondence to verify that — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am making the point that the member for Fremantle was not alone. Mr E.S. Ripper : This is about linking support to votes. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am trying to answer the Leader of the Opposition’s question. Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s not about support. Don’t muddy the waters. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The idea is that the Leader of the Opposition asks the question and I answer it. With respect to conditions, I do not know how the previous government operated, but this government operates formally and correctly on advice through a cabinet process. Mr E.S. Ripper : She says that you did a deal. Did you? Mr C.J. BARNETT : With respect to the approach made by the member for Alfred Cove, if my memory serves me correctly, the member for Alfred Cove made a very strong case for support to deal with legislation as an Independent. When that issue arose and the request from the Greens was made on several occasions, this government took the issue through the proper public sector process to cabinet for a formal cabinet decision. That cabinet decision was to provide extra resources to the Greens and the two Independents at the time. That cabinet decision contains no condition at all. The reason I raise that is that back in 2005, the then Labor government provided financial resources to the Greens. I ask the question: did the Leader of the Opposition, as then Treasurer, provide those financial resources to the Greens in 2005 and did he do it through a cabinet decision or not? Mr E.S. Ripper : I would have to check the cabinet record. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition would have to check the cabinet record! Let me help him out because I recall the events. I think, members, it was to do with the passage of the one vote, one value legislation. The then Labor government could not get it through the upper house. The former member for Fremantle, Jim McGinty, had discussions with the Greens, and out of those discussions came an agreement, plus a staff position for the Greens. I again ask the Leader of the Opposition: when he was Treasurer, did it go to cabinet and was it a formal cabinet decision? Mr E.S. Ripper : Premier, before I answer your questions, why don’t you answer my question? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have told the Leader of the Opposition what this government does. Mr E.S. Ripper : No; you haven’t answered my question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, I have. Come on! Mr E.S. Ripper : You haven’t answered my question, which is: is the member for Fremantle correct in what she said? Mr C.J. BARNETT : The former chief of staff of former Premier Geoff Gallop is up the back; she will know. The Leader of the Opposition should ask her whether it was a cabinet decision. Mr P. Papalia : You’re really worried about this, aren’t you? Mr C.J. BARNETT : We can pause and have a two-minute time-out so that the Leader of the Opposition can run up to the back bench and ask the former chief of staff to Premier Gallop whether there was a cabinet decision on that. We will pause for a minute. Several members interjected. Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer your question. Don’t try to distract and deflect. Don’t go back five years. Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the question. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’re not answering the question. Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the question. I make the point that there was no condition on the funding to the other members. Mr E.S. Ripper : What about the member for Fremantle? Is she correct in what she told the media last night? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If the government — Mr E.S. Ripper : You won’t answer that question. You’re scared to answer that question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition is not being quiet, polite or courteous. Mr E.S. Ripper : Confront the reality of what she said last night and answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The issue of the staffing — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker, there is no point. Mr P. Papalia interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Warnbro, I formally call you to order for the first time. I will note, members, that we have managed to get through two and a half questions in 20 minutes. It is my impression that the Premier is endeavouring to answer the question, but there seem to be consistent and continual interjections. Mr C.J. BARNETT : So, Mr Speaker — Mr M.P. Whitely interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat Premier. Member for Bassendean, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : There are no conditions on the allocation of staff to the member for Alfred Cove and the member for Kalgoorlie. The issue of staffing for the member for Fremantle has not progressed beyond our discussions in early to mid-October, other than, I think, some correspondence or contact between the member and the Department of the Premier and Cabinet; and there is nothing at all wrong with that. No matter has been prepared or taken to cabinet. No further progress has been made on that. Indeed, I restate: this government, if it chooses to make an allocation on staffing, will do it only formally through a cabinet decision with no conditions attached. If the member for Fremantle succeeds, as other members have, in her claim for extra staffing, which has considerable merit, it will be on the basis of no conditions, but it will be a formal cabinet decision. I repeat, the Leader of the Opposition has obviously spent a lot of time on this. He should now have recalled whether his assistance to the Greens under the Gallop government was a cabinet decision or had conditions. Mr E.S. Ripper : You answer my question first. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered yours. Mr E.S. Ripper : You have not answered my question. You haven’t answered question (2). Was she correct or was she not? Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part of the question — Mr E.S. Ripper : Do not miss out the second part; answer the second part. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered. On the third part — Mr E.S. Ripper : On the second part — The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part, “Providing personal benefits”, does the member realise what he is saying? Mr E.S. Ripper : “Providing personal”—yes, I do realise what I’m saying. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do you seriously see the provision of staffing as a personal benefit? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Unbelievable. You have learnt nothing as a government—nothing at all. Mr E.S. Ripper : Born to rule! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the Leader of the Opposition to describe a proper request for staffing and research assistance, as the Greens and other Independents have made, as a personal benefit is very, very tawdry.
Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)–(3) The member for Vasse played no role at all. The member for Vasse rang me on the Friday night before this item appeared in the media to tell me that journalists had been in contact on an issue relating to the staffing of the member for Fremantle. May I make it very, very clear that the approach to me by the member for Fremantle was direct to me, and in no way involved the member for Vasse or any other member of Parliament. Mr P.B. Watson interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, if you have a contribution, I would prefer it to be a question in this place. I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : When members on either side of the house approach me on issues to do with their electorates or their constituencies, I treat them in confidence and deal with them on the basis on which they are raised with me. The member for Fremantle had approached me to discuss her staffing and office issues, as indeed members opposite have. We met in my office at Parliament House and the issue was discussed. The member for Vasse was not involved. Mr E.S. Ripper : Is the member for Fremantle correct in what she said on the TV news last night? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am trying to answer the Leader of the Opposition’s question. The second part related to conditions. When additional resources were made available to the members for Alfred Cove and Kalgoorlie and, might I add, the Greens (WA), who had repeatedly approached me about extra resources for them, and there is a trail of correspondence to verify that — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am making the point that the member for Fremantle was not alone. Mr E.S. Ripper : This is about linking support to votes. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am trying to answer the Leader of the Opposition’s question. Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s not about support. Don’t muddy the waters. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The idea is that the Leader of the Opposition asks the question and I answer it. With respect to conditions, I do not know how the previous government operated, but this government operates formally and correctly on advice through a cabinet process. Mr E.S. Ripper : She says that you did a deal. Did you? Mr C.J. BARNETT : With respect to the approach made by the member for Alfred Cove, if my memory serves me correctly, the member for Alfred Cove made a very strong case for support to deal with legislation as an Independent. When that issue arose and the request from the Greens was made on several occasions, this government took the issue through the proper public sector process to cabinet for a formal cabinet decision. That cabinet decision was to provide extra resources to the Greens and the two Independents at the time. That cabinet decision contains no condition at all. The reason I raise that is that back in 2005, the then Labor government provided financial resources to the Greens. I ask the question: did the Leader of the Opposition, as then Treasurer, provide those financial resources to the Greens in 2005 and did he do it through a cabinet decision or not? Mr E.S. Ripper : I would have to check the cabinet record. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition would have to check the cabinet record! Let me help him out because I recall the events. I think, members, it was to do with the passage of the one vote, one value legislation. The then Labor government could not get it through the upper house. The former member for Fremantle, Jim McGinty, had discussions with the Greens, and out of those discussions came an agreement, plus a staff position for the Greens. I again ask the Leader of the Opposition: when he was Treasurer, did it go to cabinet and was it a formal cabinet decision? Mr E.S. Ripper : Premier, before I answer your questions, why don’t you answer my question? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have told the Leader of the Opposition what this government does. Mr E.S. Ripper : No; you haven’t answered my question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, I have. Come on! Mr E.S. Ripper : You haven’t answered my question, which is: is the member for Fremantle correct in what she said? Mr C.J. BARNETT : The former chief of staff of former Premier Geoff Gallop is up the back; she will know. The Leader of the Opposition should ask her whether it was a cabinet decision. Mr P. Papalia : You’re really worried about this, aren’t you? Mr C.J. BARNETT : We can pause and have a two-minute time-out so that the Leader of the Opposition can run up to the back bench and ask the former chief of staff to Premier Gallop whether there was a cabinet decision on that. We will pause for a minute. Several members interjected. Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer your question. Don’t try to distract and deflect. Don’t go back five years. Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the question. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’re not answering the question. Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the question. I make the point that there was no condition on the funding to the other members. Mr E.S. Ripper : What about the member for Fremantle? Is she correct in what she told the media last night? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If the government — Mr E.S. Ripper : You won’t answer that question. You’re scared to answer that question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition is not being quiet, polite or courteous. Mr E.S. Ripper : Confront the reality of what she said last night and answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The issue of the staffing — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker, there is no point. Mr P. Papalia interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Warnbro, I formally call you to order for the first time. I will note, members, that we have managed to get through two and a half questions in 20 minutes. It is my impression that the Premier is endeavouring to answer the question, but there seem to be consistent and continual interjections. Mr C.J. BARNETT : So, Mr Speaker — Mr M.P. Whitely interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat Premier. Member for Bassendean, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : There are no conditions on the allocation of staff to the member for Alfred Cove and the member for Kalgoorlie. The issue of staffing for the member for Fremantle has not progressed beyond our discussions in early to mid-October, other than, I think, some correspondence or contact between the member and the Department of the Premier and Cabinet; and there is nothing at all wrong with that. No matter has been prepared or taken to cabinet. No further progress has been made on that. Indeed, I restate: this government, if it chooses to make an allocation on staffing, will do it only formally through a cabinet decision with no conditions attached. If the member for Fremantle succeeds, as other members have, in her claim for extra staffing, which has considerable merit, it will be on the basis of no conditions, but it will be a formal cabinet decision. I repeat, the Leader of the Opposition has obviously spent a lot of time on this. He should now have recalled whether his assistance to the Greens under the Gallop government was a cabinet decision or had conditions. Mr E.S. Ripper : You answer my question first. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered yours. Mr E.S. Ripper : You have not answered my question. You haven’t answered question (2). Was she correct or was she not? Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part of the question — Mr E.S. Ripper : Do not miss out the second part; answer the second part. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered. On the third part — Mr E.S. Ripper : On the second part — The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part, “Providing personal benefits”, does the member realise what he is saying? Mr E.S. Ripper : “Providing personal”—yes, I do realise what I’m saying. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do you seriously see the provision of staffing as a personal benefit? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Unbelievable. You have learnt nothing as a government—nothing at all. Mr E.S. Ripper : Born to rule! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the Leader of the Opposition to describe a proper request for staffing and research assistance, as the Greens and other Independents have made, as a personal benefit is very, very tawdry.
(1)–(3) The member for Vasse played no role at all. The member for Vasse rang me on the Friday night before this item appeared in the media to tell me that journalists had been in contact on an issue relating to the staffing of the member for Fremantle. May I make it very, very clear that the approach to me by the member for Fremantle was direct to me, and in no way involved the member for Vasse or any other member of Parliament. Mr P.B. Watson interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, if you have a contribution, I would prefer it to be a question in this place. I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : When members on either side of the house approach me on issues to do with their electorates or their constituencies, I treat them in confidence and deal with them on the basis on which they are raised with me. The member for Fremantle had approached me to discuss her staffing and office issues, as indeed members opposite have. We met in my office at Parliament House and the issue was discussed. The member for Vasse was not involved. Mr E.S. Ripper : Is the member for Fremantle correct in what she said on the TV news last night? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am trying to answer the Leader of the Opposition’s question. The second part related to conditions. When additional resources were made available to the members for Alfred Cove and Kalgoorlie and, might I add, the Greens (WA), who had repeatedly approached me about extra resources for them, and there is a trail of correspondence to verify that — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am making the point that the member for Fremantle was not alone. Mr E.S. Ripper : This is about linking support to votes. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am trying to answer the Leader of the Opposition’s question. Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s not about support. Don’t muddy the waters. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The idea is that the Leader of the Opposition asks the question and I answer it. With respect to conditions, I do not know how the previous government operated, but this government operates formally and correctly on advice through a cabinet process. Mr E.S. Ripper : She says that you did a deal. Did you? Mr C.J. BARNETT : With respect to the approach made by the member for Alfred Cove, if my memory serves me correctly, the member for Alfred Cove made a very strong case for support to deal with legislation as an Independent. When that issue arose and the request from the Greens was made on several occasions, this government took the issue through the proper public sector process to cabinet for a formal cabinet decision. That cabinet decision was to provide extra resources to the Greens and the two Independents at the time. That cabinet decision contains no condition at all. The reason I raise that is that back in 2005, the then Labor government provided financial resources to the Greens. I ask the question: did the Leader of the Opposition, as then Treasurer, provide those financial resources to the Greens in 2005 and did he do it through a cabinet decision or not? Mr E.S. Ripper : I would have to check the cabinet record. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition would have to check the cabinet record! Let me help him out because I recall the events. I think, members, it was to do with the passage of the one vote, one value legislation. The then Labor government could not get it through the upper house. The former member for Fremantle, Jim McGinty, had discussions with the Greens, and out of those discussions came an agreement, plus a staff position for the Greens. I again ask the Leader of the Opposition: when he was Treasurer, did it go to cabinet and was it a formal cabinet decision? Mr E.S. Ripper : Premier, before I answer your questions, why don’t you answer my question? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have told the Leader of the Opposition what this government does. Mr E.S. Ripper : No; you haven’t answered my question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, I have. Come on! Mr E.S. Ripper : You haven’t answered my question, which is: is the member for Fremantle correct in what she said? Mr C.J. BARNETT : The former chief of staff of former Premier Geoff Gallop is up the back; she will know. The Leader of the Opposition should ask her whether it was a cabinet decision. Mr P. Papalia : You’re really worried about this, aren’t you? Mr C.J. BARNETT : We can pause and have a two-minute time-out so that the Leader of the Opposition can run up to the back bench and ask the former chief of staff to Premier Gallop whether there was a cabinet decision on that. We will pause for a minute. Several members interjected. Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer your question. Don’t try to distract and deflect. Don’t go back five years. Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the question. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’re not answering the question. Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the question. I make the point that there was no condition on the funding to the other members. Mr E.S. Ripper : What about the member for Fremantle? Is she correct in what she told the media last night? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If the government — Mr E.S. Ripper : You won’t answer that question. You’re scared to answer that question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition is not being quiet, polite or courteous. Mr E.S. Ripper : Confront the reality of what she said last night and answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The issue of the staffing — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker, there is no point. Mr P. Papalia interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Warnbro, I formally call you to order for the first time. I will note, members, that we have managed to get through two and a half questions in 20 minutes. It is my impression that the Premier is endeavouring to answer the question, but there seem to be consistent and continual interjections. Mr C.J. BARNETT : So, Mr Speaker — Mr M.P. Whitely interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat Premier. Member for Bassendean, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : There are no conditions on the allocation of staff to the member for Alfred Cove and the member for Kalgoorlie. The issue of staffing for the member for Fremantle has not progressed beyond our discussions in early to mid-October, other than, I think, some correspondence or contact between the member and the Department of the Premier and Cabinet; and there is nothing at all wrong with that. No matter has been prepared or taken to cabinet. No further progress has been made on that. Indeed, I restate: this government, if it chooses to make an allocation on staffing, will do it only formally through a cabinet decision with no conditions attached. If the member for Fremantle succeeds, as other members have, in her claim for extra staffing, which has considerable merit, it will be on the basis of no conditions, but it will be a formal cabinet decision. I repeat, the Leader of the Opposition has obviously spent a lot of time on this. He should now have recalled whether his assistance to the Greens under the Gallop government was a cabinet decision or had conditions. Mr E.S. Ripper : You answer my question first. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered yours. Mr E.S. Ripper : You have not answered my question. You haven’t answered question (2). Was she correct or was she not? Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part of the question — Mr E.S. Ripper : Do not miss out the second part; answer the second part. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered. On the third part — Mr E.S. Ripper : On the second part — The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part, “Providing personal benefits”, does the member realise what he is saying? Mr E.S. Ripper : “Providing personal”—yes, I do realise what I’m saying. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do you seriously see the provision of staffing as a personal benefit? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Unbelievable. You have learnt nothing as a government—nothing at all. Mr E.S. Ripper : Born to rule! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the Leader of the Opposition to describe a proper request for staffing and research assistance, as the Greens and other Independents have made, as a personal benefit is very, very tawdry.
Mr P.B. Watson interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, if you have a contribution, I would prefer it to be a question in this place. I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : When members on either side of the house approach me on issues to do with their electorates or their constituencies, I treat them in confidence and deal with them on the basis on which they are raised with me. The member for Fremantle had approached me to discuss her staffing and office issues, as indeed members opposite have. We met in my office at Parliament House and the issue was discussed. The member for Vasse was not involved. Mr E.S. Ripper : Is the member for Fremantle correct in what she said on the TV news last night? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am trying to answer the Leader of the Opposition’s question. The second part related to conditions. When additional resources were made available to the members for Alfred Cove and Kalgoorlie and, might I add, the Greens (WA), who had repeatedly approached me about extra resources for them, and there is a trail of correspondence to verify that — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am making the point that the member for Fremantle was not alone. Mr E.S. Ripper : This is about linking support to votes. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am trying to answer the Leader of the Opposition’s question. Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s not about support. Don’t muddy the waters. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The idea is that the Leader of the Opposition asks the question and I answer it. With respect to conditions, I do not know how the previous government operated, but this government operates formally and correctly on advice through a cabinet process. Mr E.S. Ripper : She says that you did a deal. Did you? Mr C.J. BARNETT : With respect to the approach made by the member for Alfred Cove, if my memory serves me correctly, the member for Alfred Cove made a very strong case for support to deal with legislation as an Independent. When that issue arose and the request from the Greens was made on several occasions, this government took the issue through the proper public sector process to cabinet for a formal cabinet decision. That cabinet decision was to provide extra resources to the Greens and the two Independents at the time. That cabinet decision contains no condition at all. The reason I raise that is that back in 2005, the then Labor government provided financial resources to the Greens. I ask the question: did the Leader of the Opposition, as then Treasurer, provide those financial resources to the Greens in 2005 and did he do it through a cabinet decision or not? Mr E.S. Ripper : I would have to check the cabinet record. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition would have to check the cabinet record! Let me help him out because I recall the events. I think, members, it was to do with the passage of the one vote, one value legislation. The then Labor government could not get it through the upper house. The former member for Fremantle, Jim McGinty, had discussions with the Greens, and out of those discussions came an agreement, plus a staff position for the Greens. I again ask the Leader of the Opposition: when he was Treasurer, did it go to cabinet and was it a formal cabinet decision? Mr E.S. Ripper : Premier, before I answer your questions, why don’t you answer my question? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have told the Leader of the Opposition what this government does. Mr E.S. Ripper : No; you haven’t answered my question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, I have. Come on! Mr E.S. Ripper : You haven’t answered my question, which is: is the member for Fremantle correct in what she said? Mr C.J. BARNETT : The former chief of staff of former Premier Geoff Gallop is up the back; she will know. The Leader of the Opposition should ask her whether it was a cabinet decision. Mr P. Papalia : You’re really worried about this, aren’t you? Mr C.J. BARNETT : We can pause and have a two-minute time-out so that the Leader of the Opposition can run up to the back bench and ask the former chief of staff to Premier Gallop whether there was a cabinet decision on that. We will pause for a minute. Several members interjected. Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer your question. Don’t try to distract and deflect. Don’t go back five years. Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the question. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’re not answering the question. Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the question. I make the point that there was no condition on the funding to the other members. Mr E.S. Ripper : What about the member for Fremantle? Is she correct in what she told the media last night? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If the government — Mr E.S. Ripper : You won’t answer that question. You’re scared to answer that question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition is not being quiet, polite or courteous. Mr E.S. Ripper : Confront the reality of what she said last night and answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The issue of the staffing — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker, there is no point. Mr P. Papalia interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Warnbro, I formally call you to order for the first time. I will note, members, that we have managed to get through two and a half questions in 20 minutes. It is my impression that the Premier is endeavouring to answer the question, but there seem to be consistent and continual interjections. Mr C.J. BARNETT : So, Mr Speaker — Mr M.P. Whitely interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat Premier. Member for Bassendean, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : There are no conditions on the allocation of staff to the member for Alfred Cove and the member for Kalgoorlie. The issue of staffing for the member for Fremantle has not progressed beyond our discussions in early to mid-October, other than, I think, some correspondence or contact between the member and the Department of the Premier and Cabinet; and there is nothing at all wrong with that. No matter has been prepared or taken to cabinet. No further progress has been made on that. Indeed, I restate: this government, if it chooses to make an allocation on staffing, will do it only formally through a cabinet decision with no conditions attached. If the member for Fremantle succeeds, as other members have, in her claim for extra staffing, which has considerable merit, it will be on the basis of no conditions, but it will be a formal cabinet decision. I repeat, the Leader of the Opposition has obviously spent a lot of time on this. He should now have recalled whether his assistance to the Greens under the Gallop government was a cabinet decision or had conditions. Mr E.S. Ripper : You answer my question first. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered yours. Mr E.S. Ripper : You have not answered my question. You haven’t answered question (2). Was she correct or was she not? Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part of the question — Mr E.S. Ripper : Do not miss out the second part; answer the second part. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered. On the third part — Mr E.S. Ripper : On the second part — The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part, “Providing personal benefits”, does the member realise what he is saying? Mr E.S. Ripper : “Providing personal”—yes, I do realise what I’m saying. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do you seriously see the provision of staffing as a personal benefit? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Unbelievable. You have learnt nothing as a government—nothing at all. Mr E.S. Ripper : Born to rule! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the Leader of the Opposition to describe a proper request for staffing and research assistance, as the Greens and other Independents have made, as a personal benefit is very, very tawdry.
The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, if you have a contribution, I would prefer it to be a question in this place. I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : When members on either side of the house approach me on issues to do with their electorates or their constituencies, I treat them in confidence and deal with them on the basis on which they are raised with me. The member for Fremantle had approached me to discuss her staffing and office issues, as indeed members opposite have. We met in my office at Parliament House and the issue was discussed. The member for Vasse was not involved. Mr E.S. Ripper : Is the member for Fremantle correct in what she said on the TV news last night? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am trying to answer the Leader of the Opposition’s question. The second part related to conditions. When additional resources were made available to the members for Alfred Cove and Kalgoorlie and, might I add, the Greens (WA), who had repeatedly approached me about extra resources for them, and there is a trail of correspondence to verify that — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am making the point that the member for Fremantle was not alone. Mr E.S. Ripper : This is about linking support to votes. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am trying to answer the Leader of the Opposition’s question. Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s not about support. Don’t muddy the waters. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The idea is that the Leader of the Opposition asks the question and I answer it. With respect to conditions, I do not know how the previous government operated, but this government operates formally and correctly on advice through a cabinet process. Mr E.S. Ripper : She says that you did a deal. Did you? Mr C.J. BARNETT : With respect to the approach made by the member for Alfred Cove, if my memory serves me correctly, the member for Alfred Cove made a very strong case for support to deal with legislation as an Independent. When that issue arose and the request from the Greens was made on several occasions, this government took the issue through the proper public sector process to cabinet for a formal cabinet decision. That cabinet decision was to provide extra resources to the Greens and the two Independents at the time. That cabinet decision contains no condition at all. The reason I raise that is that back in 2005, the then Labor government provided financial resources to the Greens. I ask the question: did the Leader of the Opposition, as then Treasurer, provide those financial resources to the Greens in 2005 and did he do it through a cabinet decision or not? Mr E.S. Ripper : I would have to check the cabinet record. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition would have to check the cabinet record! Let me help him out because I recall the events. I think, members, it was to do with the passage of the one vote, one value legislation. The then Labor government could not get it through the upper house. The former member for Fremantle, Jim McGinty, had discussions with the Greens, and out of those discussions came an agreement, plus a staff position for the Greens. I again ask the Leader of the Opposition: when he was Treasurer, did it go to cabinet and was it a formal cabinet decision? Mr E.S. Ripper : Premier, before I answer your questions, why don’t you answer my question? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have told the Leader of the Opposition what this government does. Mr E.S. Ripper : No; you haven’t answered my question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, I have. Come on! Mr E.S. Ripper : You haven’t answered my question, which is: is the member for Fremantle correct in what she said? Mr C.J. BARNETT : The former chief of staff of former Premier Geoff Gallop is up the back; she will know. The Leader of the Opposition should ask her whether it was a cabinet decision. Mr P. Papalia : You’re really worried about this, aren’t you? Mr C.J. BARNETT : We can pause and have a two-minute time-out so that the Leader of the Opposition can run up to the back bench and ask the former chief of staff to Premier Gallop whether there was a cabinet decision on that. We will pause for a minute. Several members interjected. Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer your question. Don’t try to distract and deflect. Don’t go back five years. Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the question. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’re not answering the question. Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the question. I make the point that there was no condition on the funding to the other members. Mr E.S. Ripper : What about the member for Fremantle? Is she correct in what she told the media last night? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If the government — Mr E.S. Ripper : You won’t answer that question. You’re scared to answer that question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition is not being quiet, polite or courteous. Mr E.S. Ripper : Confront the reality of what she said last night and answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The issue of the staffing — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker, there is no point. Mr P. Papalia interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Warnbro, I formally call you to order for the first time. I will note, members, that we have managed to get through two and a half questions in 20 minutes. It is my impression that the Premier is endeavouring to answer the question, but there seem to be consistent and continual interjections. Mr C.J. BARNETT : So, Mr Speaker — Mr M.P. Whitely interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat Premier. Member for Bassendean, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : There are no conditions on the allocation of staff to the member for Alfred Cove and the member for Kalgoorlie. The issue of staffing for the member for Fremantle has not progressed beyond our discussions in early to mid-October, other than, I think, some correspondence or contact between the member and the Department of the Premier and Cabinet; and there is nothing at all wrong with that. No matter has been prepared or taken to cabinet. No further progress has been made on that. Indeed, I restate: this government, if it chooses to make an allocation on staffing, will do it only formally through a cabinet decision with no conditions attached. If the member for Fremantle succeeds, as other members have, in her claim for extra staffing, which has considerable merit, it will be on the basis of no conditions, but it will be a formal cabinet decision. I repeat, the Leader of the Opposition has obviously spent a lot of time on this. He should now have recalled whether his assistance to the Greens under the Gallop government was a cabinet decision or had conditions. Mr E.S. Ripper : You answer my question first. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered yours. Mr E.S. Ripper : You have not answered my question. You haven’t answered question (2). Was she correct or was she not? Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part of the question — Mr E.S. Ripper : Do not miss out the second part; answer the second part. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered. On the third part — Mr E.S. Ripper : On the second part — The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part, “Providing personal benefits”, does the member realise what he is saying? Mr E.S. Ripper : “Providing personal”—yes, I do realise what I’m saying. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do you seriously see the provision of staffing as a personal benefit? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Unbelievable. You have learnt nothing as a government—nothing at all. Mr E.S. Ripper : Born to rule! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the Leader of the Opposition to describe a proper request for staffing and research assistance, as the Greens and other Independents have made, as a personal benefit is very, very tawdry.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : When members on either side of the house approach me on issues to do with their electorates or their constituencies, I treat them in confidence and deal with them on the basis on which they are raised with me. The member for Fremantle had approached me to discuss her staffing and office issues, as indeed members opposite have. We met in my office at Parliament House and the issue was discussed. The member for Vasse was not involved. Mr E.S. Ripper : Is the member for Fremantle correct in what she said on the TV news last night? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am trying to answer the Leader of the Opposition’s question. The second part related to conditions. When additional resources were made available to the members for Alfred Cove and Kalgoorlie and, might I add, the Greens (WA), who had repeatedly approached me about extra resources for them, and there is a trail of correspondence to verify that — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am making the point that the member for Fremantle was not alone. Mr E.S. Ripper : This is about linking support to votes. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am trying to answer the Leader of the Opposition’s question. Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s not about support. Don’t muddy the waters. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The idea is that the Leader of the Opposition asks the question and I answer it. With respect to conditions, I do not know how the previous government operated, but this government operates formally and correctly on advice through a cabinet process. Mr E.S. Ripper : She says that you did a deal. Did you? Mr C.J. BARNETT : With respect to the approach made by the member for Alfred Cove, if my memory serves me correctly, the member for Alfred Cove made a very strong case for support to deal with legislation as an Independent. When that issue arose and the request from the Greens was made on several occasions, this government took the issue through the proper public sector process to cabinet for a formal cabinet decision. That cabinet decision was to provide extra resources to the Greens and the two Independents at the time. That cabinet decision contains no condition at all. The reason I raise that is that back in 2005, the then Labor government provided financial resources to the Greens. I ask the question: did the Leader of the Opposition, as then Treasurer, provide those financial resources to the Greens in 2005 and did he do it through a cabinet decision or not? Mr E.S. Ripper : I would have to check the cabinet record. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition would have to check the cabinet record! Let me help him out because I recall the events. I think, members, it was to do with the passage of the one vote, one value legislation. The then Labor government could not get it through the upper house. The former member for Fremantle, Jim McGinty, had discussions with the Greens, and out of those discussions came an agreement, plus a staff position for the Greens. I again ask the Leader of the Opposition: when he was Treasurer, did it go to cabinet and was it a formal cabinet decision? Mr E.S. Ripper : Premier, before I answer your questions, why don’t you answer my question? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have told the Leader of the Opposition what this government does. Mr E.S. Ripper : No; you haven’t answered my question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, I have. Come on! Mr E.S. Ripper : You haven’t answered my question, which is: is the member for Fremantle correct in what she said? Mr C.J. BARNETT : The former chief of staff of former Premier Geoff Gallop is up the back; she will know. The Leader of the Opposition should ask her whether it was a cabinet decision. Mr P. Papalia : You’re really worried about this, aren’t you? Mr C.J. BARNETT : We can pause and have a two-minute time-out so that the Leader of the Opposition can run up to the back bench and ask the former chief of staff to Premier Gallop whether there was a cabinet decision on that. We will pause for a minute. Several members interjected. Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer your question. Don’t try to distract and deflect. Don’t go back five years. Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the question. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’re not answering the question. Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the question. I make the point that there was no condition on the funding to the other members. Mr E.S. Ripper : What about the member for Fremantle? Is she correct in what she told the media last night? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If the government — Mr E.S. Ripper : You won’t answer that question. You’re scared to answer that question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition is not being quiet, polite or courteous. Mr E.S. Ripper : Confront the reality of what she said last night and answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The issue of the staffing — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker, there is no point. Mr P. Papalia interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Warnbro, I formally call you to order for the first time. I will note, members, that we have managed to get through two and a half questions in 20 minutes. It is my impression that the Premier is endeavouring to answer the question, but there seem to be consistent and continual interjections. Mr C.J. BARNETT : So, Mr Speaker — Mr M.P. Whitely interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat Premier. Member for Bassendean, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : There are no conditions on the allocation of staff to the member for Alfred Cove and the member for Kalgoorlie. The issue of staffing for the member for Fremantle has not progressed beyond our discussions in early to mid-October, other than, I think, some correspondence or contact between the member and the Department of the Premier and Cabinet; and there is nothing at all wrong with that. No matter has been prepared or taken to cabinet. No further progress has been made on that. Indeed, I restate: this government, if it chooses to make an allocation on staffing, will do it only formally through a cabinet decision with no conditions attached. If the member for Fremantle succeeds, as other members have, in her claim for extra staffing, which has considerable merit, it will be on the basis of no conditions, but it will be a formal cabinet decision. I repeat, the Leader of the Opposition has obviously spent a lot of time on this. He should now have recalled whether his assistance to the Greens under the Gallop government was a cabinet decision or had conditions. Mr E.S. Ripper : You answer my question first. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered yours. Mr E.S. Ripper : You have not answered my question. You haven’t answered question (2). Was she correct or was she not? Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part of the question — Mr E.S. Ripper : Do not miss out the second part; answer the second part. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered. On the third part — Mr E.S. Ripper : On the second part — The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part, “Providing personal benefits”, does the member realise what he is saying? Mr E.S. Ripper : “Providing personal”—yes, I do realise what I’m saying. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do you seriously see the provision of staffing as a personal benefit? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Unbelievable. You have learnt nothing as a government—nothing at all. Mr E.S. Ripper : Born to rule! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the Leader of the Opposition to describe a proper request for staffing and research assistance, as the Greens and other Independents have made, as a personal benefit is very, very tawdry.
Mr E.S. Ripper : Is the member for Fremantle correct in what she said on the TV news last night? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am trying to answer the Leader of the Opposition’s question. The second part related to conditions. When additional resources were made available to the members for Alfred Cove and Kalgoorlie and, might I add, the Greens (WA), who had repeatedly approached me about extra resources for them, and there is a trail of correspondence to verify that — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am making the point that the member for Fremantle was not alone. Mr E.S. Ripper : This is about linking support to votes. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am trying to answer the Leader of the Opposition’s question. Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s not about support. Don’t muddy the waters. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The idea is that the Leader of the Opposition asks the question and I answer it. With respect to conditions, I do not know how the previous government operated, but this government operates formally and correctly on advice through a cabinet process. Mr E.S. Ripper : She says that you did a deal. Did you? Mr C.J. BARNETT : With respect to the approach made by the member for Alfred Cove, if my memory serves me correctly, the member for Alfred Cove made a very strong case for support to deal with legislation as an Independent. When that issue arose and the request from the Greens was made on several occasions, this government took the issue through the proper public sector process to cabinet for a formal cabinet decision. That cabinet decision was to provide extra resources to the Greens and the two Independents at the time. That cabinet decision contains no condition at all. The reason I raise that is that back in 2005, the then Labor government provided financial resources to the Greens. I ask the question: did the Leader of the Opposition, as then Treasurer, provide those financial resources to the Greens in 2005 and did he do it through a cabinet decision or not? Mr E.S. Ripper : I would have to check the cabinet record. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition would have to check the cabinet record! Let me help him out because I recall the events. I think, members, it was to do with the passage of the one vote, one value legislation. The then Labor government could not get it through the upper house. The former member for Fremantle, Jim McGinty, had discussions with the Greens, and out of those discussions came an agreement, plus a staff position for the Greens. I again ask the Leader of the Opposition: when he was Treasurer, did it go to cabinet and was it a formal cabinet decision? Mr E.S. Ripper : Premier, before I answer your questions, why don’t you answer my question? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have told the Leader of the Opposition what this government does. Mr E.S. Ripper : No; you haven’t answered my question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, I have. Come on! Mr E.S. Ripper : You haven’t answered my question, which is: is the member for Fremantle correct in what she said? Mr C.J. BARNETT : The former chief of staff of former Premier Geoff Gallop is up the back; she will know. The Leader of the Opposition should ask her whether it was a cabinet decision. Mr P. Papalia : You’re really worried about this, aren’t you? Mr C.J. BARNETT : We can pause and have a two-minute time-out so that the Leader of the Opposition can run up to the back bench and ask the former chief of staff to Premier Gallop whether there was a cabinet decision on that. We will pause for a minute. Several members interjected. Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer your question. Don’t try to distract and deflect. Don’t go back five years. Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the question. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’re not answering the question. Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the question. I make the point that there was no condition on the funding to the other members. Mr E.S. Ripper : What about the member for Fremantle? Is she correct in what she told the media last night? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If the government — Mr E.S. Ripper : You won’t answer that question. You’re scared to answer that question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition is not being quiet, polite or courteous. Mr E.S. Ripper : Confront the reality of what she said last night and answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The issue of the staffing — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker, there is no point. Mr P. Papalia interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Warnbro, I formally call you to order for the first time. I will note, members, that we have managed to get through two and a half questions in 20 minutes. It is my impression that the Premier is endeavouring to answer the question, but there seem to be consistent and continual interjections. Mr C.J. BARNETT : So, Mr Speaker — Mr M.P. Whitely interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat Premier. Member for Bassendean, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : There are no conditions on the allocation of staff to the member for Alfred Cove and the member for Kalgoorlie. The issue of staffing for the member for Fremantle has not progressed beyond our discussions in early to mid-October, other than, I think, some correspondence or contact between the member and the Department of the Premier and Cabinet; and there is nothing at all wrong with that. No matter has been prepared or taken to cabinet. No further progress has been made on that. Indeed, I restate: this government, if it chooses to make an allocation on staffing, will do it only formally through a cabinet decision with no conditions attached. If the member for Fremantle succeeds, as other members have, in her claim for extra staffing, which has considerable merit, it will be on the basis of no conditions, but it will be a formal cabinet decision. I repeat, the Leader of the Opposition has obviously spent a lot of time on this. He should now have recalled whether his assistance to the Greens under the Gallop government was a cabinet decision or had conditions. Mr E.S. Ripper : You answer my question first. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered yours. Mr E.S. Ripper : You have not answered my question. You haven’t answered question (2). Was she correct or was she not? Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part of the question — Mr E.S. Ripper : Do not miss out the second part; answer the second part. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered. On the third part — Mr E.S. Ripper : On the second part — The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part, “Providing personal benefits”, does the member realise what he is saying? Mr E.S. Ripper : “Providing personal”—yes, I do realise what I’m saying. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do you seriously see the provision of staffing as a personal benefit? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Unbelievable. You have learnt nothing as a government—nothing at all. Mr E.S. Ripper : Born to rule! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the Leader of the Opposition to describe a proper request for staffing and research assistance, as the Greens and other Independents have made, as a personal benefit is very, very tawdry.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am trying to answer the Leader of the Opposition’s question. The second part related to conditions. When additional resources were made available to the members for Alfred Cove and Kalgoorlie and, might I add, the Greens (WA), who had repeatedly approached me about extra resources for them, and there is a trail of correspondence to verify that — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am making the point that the member for Fremantle was not alone. Mr E.S. Ripper : This is about linking support to votes. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am trying to answer the Leader of the Opposition’s question. Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s not about support. Don’t muddy the waters. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The idea is that the Leader of the Opposition asks the question and I answer it. With respect to conditions, I do not know how the previous government operated, but this government operates formally and correctly on advice through a cabinet process. Mr E.S. Ripper : She says that you did a deal. Did you? Mr C.J. BARNETT : With respect to the approach made by the member for Alfred Cove, if my memory serves me correctly, the member for Alfred Cove made a very strong case for support to deal with legislation as an Independent. When that issue arose and the request from the Greens was made on several occasions, this government took the issue through the proper public sector process to cabinet for a formal cabinet decision. That cabinet decision was to provide extra resources to the Greens and the two Independents at the time. That cabinet decision contains no condition at all. The reason I raise that is that back in 2005, the then Labor government provided financial resources to the Greens. I ask the question: did the Leader of the Opposition, as then Treasurer, provide those financial resources to the Greens in 2005 and did he do it through a cabinet decision or not? Mr E.S. Ripper : I would have to check the cabinet record. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition would have to check the cabinet record! Let me help him out because I recall the events. I think, members, it was to do with the passage of the one vote, one value legislation. The then Labor government could not get it through the upper house. The former member for Fremantle, Jim McGinty, had discussions with the Greens, and out of those discussions came an agreement, plus a staff position for the Greens. I again ask the Leader of the Opposition: when he was Treasurer, did it go to cabinet and was it a formal cabinet decision? Mr E.S. Ripper : Premier, before I answer your questions, why don’t you answer my question? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have told the Leader of the Opposition what this government does. Mr E.S. Ripper : No; you haven’t answered my question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, I have. Come on! Mr E.S. Ripper : You haven’t answered my question, which is: is the member for Fremantle correct in what she said? Mr C.J. BARNETT : The former chief of staff of former Premier Geoff Gallop is up the back; she will know. The Leader of the Opposition should ask her whether it was a cabinet decision. Mr P. Papalia : You’re really worried about this, aren’t you? Mr C.J. BARNETT : We can pause and have a two-minute time-out so that the Leader of the Opposition can run up to the back bench and ask the former chief of staff to Premier Gallop whether there was a cabinet decision on that. We will pause for a minute. Several members interjected. Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer your question. Don’t try to distract and deflect. Don’t go back five years. Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the question. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’re not answering the question. Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the question. I make the point that there was no condition on the funding to the other members. Mr E.S. Ripper : What about the member for Fremantle? Is she correct in what she told the media last night? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If the government — Mr E.S. Ripper : You won’t answer that question. You’re scared to answer that question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition is not being quiet, polite or courteous. Mr E.S. Ripper : Confront the reality of what she said last night and answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The issue of the staffing — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker, there is no point. Mr P. Papalia interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Warnbro, I formally call you to order for the first time. I will note, members, that we have managed to get through two and a half questions in 20 minutes. It is my impression that the Premier is endeavouring to answer the question, but there seem to be consistent and continual interjections. Mr C.J. BARNETT : So, Mr Speaker — Mr M.P. Whitely interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat Premier. Member for Bassendean, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : There are no conditions on the allocation of staff to the member for Alfred Cove and the member for Kalgoorlie. The issue of staffing for the member for Fremantle has not progressed beyond our discussions in early to mid-October, other than, I think, some correspondence or contact between the member and the Department of the Premier and Cabinet; and there is nothing at all wrong with that. No matter has been prepared or taken to cabinet. No further progress has been made on that. Indeed, I restate: this government, if it chooses to make an allocation on staffing, will do it only formally through a cabinet decision with no conditions attached. If the member for Fremantle succeeds, as other members have, in her claim for extra staffing, which has considerable merit, it will be on the basis of no conditions, but it will be a formal cabinet decision. I repeat, the Leader of the Opposition has obviously spent a lot of time on this. He should now have recalled whether his assistance to the Greens under the Gallop government was a cabinet decision or had conditions. Mr E.S. Ripper : You answer my question first. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered yours. Mr E.S. Ripper : You have not answered my question. You haven’t answered question (2). Was she correct or was she not? Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part of the question — Mr E.S. Ripper : Do not miss out the second part; answer the second part. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered. On the third part — Mr E.S. Ripper : On the second part — The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part, “Providing personal benefits”, does the member realise what he is saying? Mr E.S. Ripper : “Providing personal”—yes, I do realise what I’m saying. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do you seriously see the provision of staffing as a personal benefit? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Unbelievable. You have learnt nothing as a government—nothing at all. Mr E.S. Ripper : Born to rule! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the Leader of the Opposition to describe a proper request for staffing and research assistance, as the Greens and other Independents have made, as a personal benefit is very, very tawdry.
Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am making the point that the member for Fremantle was not alone. Mr E.S. Ripper : This is about linking support to votes. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am trying to answer the Leader of the Opposition’s question. Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s not about support. Don’t muddy the waters. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The idea is that the Leader of the Opposition asks the question and I answer it. With respect to conditions, I do not know how the previous government operated, but this government operates formally and correctly on advice through a cabinet process. Mr E.S. Ripper : She says that you did a deal. Did you? Mr C.J. BARNETT : With respect to the approach made by the member for Alfred Cove, if my memory serves me correctly, the member for Alfred Cove made a very strong case for support to deal with legislation as an Independent. When that issue arose and the request from the Greens was made on several occasions, this government took the issue through the proper public sector process to cabinet for a formal cabinet decision. That cabinet decision was to provide extra resources to the Greens and the two Independents at the time. That cabinet decision contains no condition at all. The reason I raise that is that back in 2005, the then Labor government provided financial resources to the Greens. I ask the question: did the Leader of the Opposition, as then Treasurer, provide those financial resources to the Greens in 2005 and did he do it through a cabinet decision or not? Mr E.S. Ripper : I would have to check the cabinet record. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition would have to check the cabinet record! Let me help him out because I recall the events. I think, members, it was to do with the passage of the one vote, one value legislation. The then Labor government could not get it through the upper house. The former member for Fremantle, Jim McGinty, had discussions with the Greens, and out of those discussions came an agreement, plus a staff position for the Greens. I again ask the Leader of the Opposition: when he was Treasurer, did it go to cabinet and was it a formal cabinet decision? Mr E.S. Ripper : Premier, before I answer your questions, why don’t you answer my question? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have told the Leader of the Opposition what this government does. Mr E.S. Ripper : No; you haven’t answered my question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, I have. Come on! Mr E.S. Ripper : You haven’t answered my question, which is: is the member for Fremantle correct in what she said? Mr C.J. BARNETT : The former chief of staff of former Premier Geoff Gallop is up the back; she will know. The Leader of the Opposition should ask her whether it was a cabinet decision. Mr P. Papalia : You’re really worried about this, aren’t you? Mr C.J. BARNETT : We can pause and have a two-minute time-out so that the Leader of the Opposition can run up to the back bench and ask the former chief of staff to Premier Gallop whether there was a cabinet decision on that. We will pause for a minute. Several members interjected. Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer your question. Don’t try to distract and deflect. Don’t go back five years. Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the question. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’re not answering the question. Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the question. I make the point that there was no condition on the funding to the other members. Mr E.S. Ripper : What about the member for Fremantle? Is she correct in what she told the media last night? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If the government — Mr E.S. Ripper : You won’t answer that question. You’re scared to answer that question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition is not being quiet, polite or courteous. Mr E.S. Ripper : Confront the reality of what she said last night and answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The issue of the staffing — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker, there is no point. Mr P. Papalia interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Warnbro, I formally call you to order for the first time. I will note, members, that we have managed to get through two and a half questions in 20 minutes. It is my impression that the Premier is endeavouring to answer the question, but there seem to be consistent and continual interjections. Mr C.J. BARNETT : So, Mr Speaker — Mr M.P. Whitely interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat Premier. Member for Bassendean, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : There are no conditions on the allocation of staff to the member for Alfred Cove and the member for Kalgoorlie. The issue of staffing for the member for Fremantle has not progressed beyond our discussions in early to mid-October, other than, I think, some correspondence or contact between the member and the Department of the Premier and Cabinet; and there is nothing at all wrong with that. No matter has been prepared or taken to cabinet. No further progress has been made on that. Indeed, I restate: this government, if it chooses to make an allocation on staffing, will do it only formally through a cabinet decision with no conditions attached. If the member for Fremantle succeeds, as other members have, in her claim for extra staffing, which has considerable merit, it will be on the basis of no conditions, but it will be a formal cabinet decision. I repeat, the Leader of the Opposition has obviously spent a lot of time on this. He should now have recalled whether his assistance to the Greens under the Gallop government was a cabinet decision or had conditions. Mr E.S. Ripper : You answer my question first. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered yours. Mr E.S. Ripper : You have not answered my question. You haven’t answered question (2). Was she correct or was she not? Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part of the question — Mr E.S. Ripper : Do not miss out the second part; answer the second part. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered. On the third part — Mr E.S. Ripper : On the second part — The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part, “Providing personal benefits”, does the member realise what he is saying? Mr E.S. Ripper : “Providing personal”—yes, I do realise what I’m saying. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do you seriously see the provision of staffing as a personal benefit? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Unbelievable. You have learnt nothing as a government—nothing at all. Mr E.S. Ripper : Born to rule! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the Leader of the Opposition to describe a proper request for staffing and research assistance, as the Greens and other Independents have made, as a personal benefit is very, very tawdry.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am making the point that the member for Fremantle was not alone. Mr E.S. Ripper : This is about linking support to votes. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am trying to answer the Leader of the Opposition’s question. Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s not about support. Don’t muddy the waters. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The idea is that the Leader of the Opposition asks the question and I answer it. With respect to conditions, I do not know how the previous government operated, but this government operates formally and correctly on advice through a cabinet process. Mr E.S. Ripper : She says that you did a deal. Did you? Mr C.J. BARNETT : With respect to the approach made by the member for Alfred Cove, if my memory serves me correctly, the member for Alfred Cove made a very strong case for support to deal with legislation as an Independent. When that issue arose and the request from the Greens was made on several occasions, this government took the issue through the proper public sector process to cabinet for a formal cabinet decision. That cabinet decision was to provide extra resources to the Greens and the two Independents at the time. That cabinet decision contains no condition at all. The reason I raise that is that back in 2005, the then Labor government provided financial resources to the Greens. I ask the question: did the Leader of the Opposition, as then Treasurer, provide those financial resources to the Greens in 2005 and did he do it through a cabinet decision or not? Mr E.S. Ripper : I would have to check the cabinet record. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition would have to check the cabinet record! Let me help him out because I recall the events. I think, members, it was to do with the passage of the one vote, one value legislation. The then Labor government could not get it through the upper house. The former member for Fremantle, Jim McGinty, had discussions with the Greens, and out of those discussions came an agreement, plus a staff position for the Greens. I again ask the Leader of the Opposition: when he was Treasurer, did it go to cabinet and was it a formal cabinet decision? Mr E.S. Ripper : Premier, before I answer your questions, why don’t you answer my question? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have told the Leader of the Opposition what this government does. Mr E.S. Ripper : No; you haven’t answered my question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, I have. Come on! Mr E.S. Ripper : You haven’t answered my question, which is: is the member for Fremantle correct in what she said? Mr C.J. BARNETT : The former chief of staff of former Premier Geoff Gallop is up the back; she will know. The Leader of the Opposition should ask her whether it was a cabinet decision. Mr P. Papalia : You’re really worried about this, aren’t you? Mr C.J. BARNETT : We can pause and have a two-minute time-out so that the Leader of the Opposition can run up to the back bench and ask the former chief of staff to Premier Gallop whether there was a cabinet decision on that. We will pause for a minute. Several members interjected. Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer your question. Don’t try to distract and deflect. Don’t go back five years. Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the question. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’re not answering the question. Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the question. I make the point that there was no condition on the funding to the other members. Mr E.S. Ripper : What about the member for Fremantle? Is she correct in what she told the media last night? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If the government — Mr E.S. Ripper : You won’t answer that question. You’re scared to answer that question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition is not being quiet, polite or courteous. Mr E.S. Ripper : Confront the reality of what she said last night and answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The issue of the staffing — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker, there is no point. Mr P. Papalia interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Warnbro, I formally call you to order for the first time. I will note, members, that we have managed to get through two and a half questions in 20 minutes. It is my impression that the Premier is endeavouring to answer the question, but there seem to be consistent and continual interjections. Mr C.J. BARNETT : So, Mr Speaker — Mr M.P. Whitely interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat Premier. Member for Bassendean, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : There are no conditions on the allocation of staff to the member for Alfred Cove and the member for Kalgoorlie. The issue of staffing for the member for Fremantle has not progressed beyond our discussions in early to mid-October, other than, I think, some correspondence or contact between the member and the Department of the Premier and Cabinet; and there is nothing at all wrong with that. No matter has been prepared or taken to cabinet. No further progress has been made on that. Indeed, I restate: this government, if it chooses to make an allocation on staffing, will do it only formally through a cabinet decision with no conditions attached. If the member for Fremantle succeeds, as other members have, in her claim for extra staffing, which has considerable merit, it will be on the basis of no conditions, but it will be a formal cabinet decision. I repeat, the Leader of the Opposition has obviously spent a lot of time on this. He should now have recalled whether his assistance to the Greens under the Gallop government was a cabinet decision or had conditions. Mr E.S. Ripper : You answer my question first. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered yours. Mr E.S. Ripper : You have not answered my question. You haven’t answered question (2). Was she correct or was she not? Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part of the question — Mr E.S. Ripper : Do not miss out the second part; answer the second part. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered. On the third part — Mr E.S. Ripper : On the second part — The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part, “Providing personal benefits”, does the member realise what he is saying? Mr E.S. Ripper : “Providing personal”—yes, I do realise what I’m saying. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do you seriously see the provision of staffing as a personal benefit? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Unbelievable. You have learnt nothing as a government—nothing at all. Mr E.S. Ripper : Born to rule! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the Leader of the Opposition to describe a proper request for staffing and research assistance, as the Greens and other Independents have made, as a personal benefit is very, very tawdry.
Mr E.S. Ripper : This is about linking support to votes. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am trying to answer the Leader of the Opposition’s question. Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s not about support. Don’t muddy the waters. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The idea is that the Leader of the Opposition asks the question and I answer it. With respect to conditions, I do not know how the previous government operated, but this government operates formally and correctly on advice through a cabinet process. Mr E.S. Ripper : She says that you did a deal. Did you? Mr C.J. BARNETT : With respect to the approach made by the member for Alfred Cove, if my memory serves me correctly, the member for Alfred Cove made a very strong case for support to deal with legislation as an Independent. When that issue arose and the request from the Greens was made on several occasions, this government took the issue through the proper public sector process to cabinet for a formal cabinet decision. That cabinet decision was to provide extra resources to the Greens and the two Independents at the time. That cabinet decision contains no condition at all. The reason I raise that is that back in 2005, the then Labor government provided financial resources to the Greens. I ask the question: did the Leader of the Opposition, as then Treasurer, provide those financial resources to the Greens in 2005 and did he do it through a cabinet decision or not? Mr E.S. Ripper : I would have to check the cabinet record. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition would have to check the cabinet record! Let me help him out because I recall the events. I think, members, it was to do with the passage of the one vote, one value legislation. The then Labor government could not get it through the upper house. The former member for Fremantle, Jim McGinty, had discussions with the Greens, and out of those discussions came an agreement, plus a staff position for the Greens. I again ask the Leader of the Opposition: when he was Treasurer, did it go to cabinet and was it a formal cabinet decision? Mr E.S. Ripper : Premier, before I answer your questions, why don’t you answer my question? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have told the Leader of the Opposition what this government does. Mr E.S. Ripper : No; you haven’t answered my question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, I have. Come on! Mr E.S. Ripper : You haven’t answered my question, which is: is the member for Fremantle correct in what she said? Mr C.J. BARNETT : The former chief of staff of former Premier Geoff Gallop is up the back; she will know. The Leader of the Opposition should ask her whether it was a cabinet decision. Mr P. Papalia : You’re really worried about this, aren’t you? Mr C.J. BARNETT : We can pause and have a two-minute time-out so that the Leader of the Opposition can run up to the back bench and ask the former chief of staff to Premier Gallop whether there was a cabinet decision on that. We will pause for a minute. Several members interjected. Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer your question. Don’t try to distract and deflect. Don’t go back five years. Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the question. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’re not answering the question. Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the question. I make the point that there was no condition on the funding to the other members. Mr E.S. Ripper : What about the member for Fremantle? Is she correct in what she told the media last night? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If the government — Mr E.S. Ripper : You won’t answer that question. You’re scared to answer that question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition is not being quiet, polite or courteous. Mr E.S. Ripper : Confront the reality of what she said last night and answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The issue of the staffing — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker, there is no point. Mr P. Papalia interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Warnbro, I formally call you to order for the first time. I will note, members, that we have managed to get through two and a half questions in 20 minutes. It is my impression that the Premier is endeavouring to answer the question, but there seem to be consistent and continual interjections. Mr C.J. BARNETT : So, Mr Speaker — Mr M.P. Whitely interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat Premier. Member for Bassendean, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : There are no conditions on the allocation of staff to the member for Alfred Cove and the member for Kalgoorlie. The issue of staffing for the member for Fremantle has not progressed beyond our discussions in early to mid-October, other than, I think, some correspondence or contact between the member and the Department of the Premier and Cabinet; and there is nothing at all wrong with that. No matter has been prepared or taken to cabinet. No further progress has been made on that. Indeed, I restate: this government, if it chooses to make an allocation on staffing, will do it only formally through a cabinet decision with no conditions attached. If the member for Fremantle succeeds, as other members have, in her claim for extra staffing, which has considerable merit, it will be on the basis of no conditions, but it will be a formal cabinet decision. I repeat, the Leader of the Opposition has obviously spent a lot of time on this. He should now have recalled whether his assistance to the Greens under the Gallop government was a cabinet decision or had conditions. Mr E.S. Ripper : You answer my question first. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered yours. Mr E.S. Ripper : You have not answered my question. You haven’t answered question (2). Was she correct or was she not? Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part of the question — Mr E.S. Ripper : Do not miss out the second part; answer the second part. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered. On the third part — Mr E.S. Ripper : On the second part — The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part, “Providing personal benefits”, does the member realise what he is saying? Mr E.S. Ripper : “Providing personal”—yes, I do realise what I’m saying. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do you seriously see the provision of staffing as a personal benefit? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Unbelievable. You have learnt nothing as a government—nothing at all. Mr E.S. Ripper : Born to rule! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the Leader of the Opposition to describe a proper request for staffing and research assistance, as the Greens and other Independents have made, as a personal benefit is very, very tawdry.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am trying to answer the Leader of the Opposition’s question. Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s not about support. Don’t muddy the waters. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The idea is that the Leader of the Opposition asks the question and I answer it. With respect to conditions, I do not know how the previous government operated, but this government operates formally and correctly on advice through a cabinet process. Mr E.S. Ripper : She says that you did a deal. Did you? Mr C.J. BARNETT : With respect to the approach made by the member for Alfred Cove, if my memory serves me correctly, the member for Alfred Cove made a very strong case for support to deal with legislation as an Independent. When that issue arose and the request from the Greens was made on several occasions, this government took the issue through the proper public sector process to cabinet for a formal cabinet decision. That cabinet decision was to provide extra resources to the Greens and the two Independents at the time. That cabinet decision contains no condition at all. The reason I raise that is that back in 2005, the then Labor government provided financial resources to the Greens. I ask the question: did the Leader of the Opposition, as then Treasurer, provide those financial resources to the Greens in 2005 and did he do it through a cabinet decision or not? Mr E.S. Ripper : I would have to check the cabinet record. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition would have to check the cabinet record! Let me help him out because I recall the events. I think, members, it was to do with the passage of the one vote, one value legislation. The then Labor government could not get it through the upper house. The former member for Fremantle, Jim McGinty, had discussions with the Greens, and out of those discussions came an agreement, plus a staff position for the Greens. I again ask the Leader of the Opposition: when he was Treasurer, did it go to cabinet and was it a formal cabinet decision? Mr E.S. Ripper : Premier, before I answer your questions, why don’t you answer my question? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have told the Leader of the Opposition what this government does. Mr E.S. Ripper : No; you haven’t answered my question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, I have. Come on! Mr E.S. Ripper : You haven’t answered my question, which is: is the member for Fremantle correct in what she said? Mr C.J. BARNETT : The former chief of staff of former Premier Geoff Gallop is up the back; she will know. The Leader of the Opposition should ask her whether it was a cabinet decision. Mr P. Papalia : You’re really worried about this, aren’t you? Mr C.J. BARNETT : We can pause and have a two-minute time-out so that the Leader of the Opposition can run up to the back bench and ask the former chief of staff to Premier Gallop whether there was a cabinet decision on that. We will pause for a minute. Several members interjected. Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer your question. Don’t try to distract and deflect. Don’t go back five years. Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the question. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’re not answering the question. Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the question. I make the point that there was no condition on the funding to the other members. Mr E.S. Ripper : What about the member for Fremantle? Is she correct in what she told the media last night? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If the government — Mr E.S. Ripper : You won’t answer that question. You’re scared to answer that question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition is not being quiet, polite or courteous. Mr E.S. Ripper : Confront the reality of what she said last night and answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The issue of the staffing — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker, there is no point. Mr P. Papalia interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Warnbro, I formally call you to order for the first time. I will note, members, that we have managed to get through two and a half questions in 20 minutes. It is my impression that the Premier is endeavouring to answer the question, but there seem to be consistent and continual interjections. Mr C.J. BARNETT : So, Mr Speaker — Mr M.P. Whitely interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat Premier. Member for Bassendean, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : There are no conditions on the allocation of staff to the member for Alfred Cove and the member for Kalgoorlie. The issue of staffing for the member for Fremantle has not progressed beyond our discussions in early to mid-October, other than, I think, some correspondence or contact between the member and the Department of the Premier and Cabinet; and there is nothing at all wrong with that. No matter has been prepared or taken to cabinet. No further progress has been made on that. Indeed, I restate: this government, if it chooses to make an allocation on staffing, will do it only formally through a cabinet decision with no conditions attached. If the member for Fremantle succeeds, as other members have, in her claim for extra staffing, which has considerable merit, it will be on the basis of no conditions, but it will be a formal cabinet decision. I repeat, the Leader of the Opposition has obviously spent a lot of time on this. He should now have recalled whether his assistance to the Greens under the Gallop government was a cabinet decision or had conditions. Mr E.S. Ripper : You answer my question first. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered yours. Mr E.S. Ripper : You have not answered my question. You haven’t answered question (2). Was she correct or was she not? Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part of the question — Mr E.S. Ripper : Do not miss out the second part; answer the second part. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered. On the third part — Mr E.S. Ripper : On the second part — The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part, “Providing personal benefits”, does the member realise what he is saying? Mr E.S. Ripper : “Providing personal”—yes, I do realise what I’m saying. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do you seriously see the provision of staffing as a personal benefit? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Unbelievable. You have learnt nothing as a government—nothing at all. Mr E.S. Ripper : Born to rule! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the Leader of the Opposition to describe a proper request for staffing and research assistance, as the Greens and other Independents have made, as a personal benefit is very, very tawdry.
Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s not about support. Don’t muddy the waters. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The idea is that the Leader of the Opposition asks the question and I answer it. With respect to conditions, I do not know how the previous government operated, but this government operates formally and correctly on advice through a cabinet process. Mr E.S. Ripper : She says that you did a deal. Did you? Mr C.J. BARNETT : With respect to the approach made by the member for Alfred Cove, if my memory serves me correctly, the member for Alfred Cove made a very strong case for support to deal with legislation as an Independent. When that issue arose and the request from the Greens was made on several occasions, this government took the issue through the proper public sector process to cabinet for a formal cabinet decision. That cabinet decision was to provide extra resources to the Greens and the two Independents at the time. That cabinet decision contains no condition at all. The reason I raise that is that back in 2005, the then Labor government provided financial resources to the Greens. I ask the question: did the Leader of the Opposition, as then Treasurer, provide those financial resources to the Greens in 2005 and did he do it through a cabinet decision or not? Mr E.S. Ripper : I would have to check the cabinet record. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition would have to check the cabinet record! Let me help him out because I recall the events. I think, members, it was to do with the passage of the one vote, one value legislation. The then Labor government could not get it through the upper house. The former member for Fremantle, Jim McGinty, had discussions with the Greens, and out of those discussions came an agreement, plus a staff position for the Greens. I again ask the Leader of the Opposition: when he was Treasurer, did it go to cabinet and was it a formal cabinet decision? Mr E.S. Ripper : Premier, before I answer your questions, why don’t you answer my question? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have told the Leader of the Opposition what this government does. Mr E.S. Ripper : No; you haven’t answered my question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, I have. Come on! Mr E.S. Ripper : You haven’t answered my question, which is: is the member for Fremantle correct in what she said? Mr C.J. BARNETT : The former chief of staff of former Premier Geoff Gallop is up the back; she will know. The Leader of the Opposition should ask her whether it was a cabinet decision. Mr P. Papalia : You’re really worried about this, aren’t you? Mr C.J. BARNETT : We can pause and have a two-minute time-out so that the Leader of the Opposition can run up to the back bench and ask the former chief of staff to Premier Gallop whether there was a cabinet decision on that. We will pause for a minute. Several members interjected. Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer your question. Don’t try to distract and deflect. Don’t go back five years. Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the question. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’re not answering the question. Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the question. I make the point that there was no condition on the funding to the other members. Mr E.S. Ripper : What about the member for Fremantle? Is she correct in what she told the media last night? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If the government — Mr E.S. Ripper : You won’t answer that question. You’re scared to answer that question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition is not being quiet, polite or courteous. Mr E.S. Ripper : Confront the reality of what she said last night and answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The issue of the staffing — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker, there is no point. Mr P. Papalia interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Warnbro, I formally call you to order for the first time. I will note, members, that we have managed to get through two and a half questions in 20 minutes. It is my impression that the Premier is endeavouring to answer the question, but there seem to be consistent and continual interjections. Mr C.J. BARNETT : So, Mr Speaker — Mr M.P. Whitely interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat Premier. Member for Bassendean, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : There are no conditions on the allocation of staff to the member for Alfred Cove and the member for Kalgoorlie. The issue of staffing for the member for Fremantle has not progressed beyond our discussions in early to mid-October, other than, I think, some correspondence or contact between the member and the Department of the Premier and Cabinet; and there is nothing at all wrong with that. No matter has been prepared or taken to cabinet. No further progress has been made on that. Indeed, I restate: this government, if it chooses to make an allocation on staffing, will do it only formally through a cabinet decision with no conditions attached. If the member for Fremantle succeeds, as other members have, in her claim for extra staffing, which has considerable merit, it will be on the basis of no conditions, but it will be a formal cabinet decision. I repeat, the Leader of the Opposition has obviously spent a lot of time on this. He should now have recalled whether his assistance to the Greens under the Gallop government was a cabinet decision or had conditions. Mr E.S. Ripper : You answer my question first. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered yours. Mr E.S. Ripper : You have not answered my question. You haven’t answered question (2). Was she correct or was she not? Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part of the question — Mr E.S. Ripper : Do not miss out the second part; answer the second part. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered. On the third part — Mr E.S. Ripper : On the second part — The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part, “Providing personal benefits”, does the member realise what he is saying? Mr E.S. Ripper : “Providing personal”—yes, I do realise what I’m saying. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do you seriously see the provision of staffing as a personal benefit? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Unbelievable. You have learnt nothing as a government—nothing at all. Mr E.S. Ripper : Born to rule! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the Leader of the Opposition to describe a proper request for staffing and research assistance, as the Greens and other Independents have made, as a personal benefit is very, very tawdry.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : The idea is that the Leader of the Opposition asks the question and I answer it. With respect to conditions, I do not know how the previous government operated, but this government operates formally and correctly on advice through a cabinet process. Mr E.S. Ripper : She says that you did a deal. Did you? Mr C.J. BARNETT : With respect to the approach made by the member for Alfred Cove, if my memory serves me correctly, the member for Alfred Cove made a very strong case for support to deal with legislation as an Independent. When that issue arose and the request from the Greens was made on several occasions, this government took the issue through the proper public sector process to cabinet for a formal cabinet decision. That cabinet decision was to provide extra resources to the Greens and the two Independents at the time. That cabinet decision contains no condition at all. The reason I raise that is that back in 2005, the then Labor government provided financial resources to the Greens. I ask the question: did the Leader of the Opposition, as then Treasurer, provide those financial resources to the Greens in 2005 and did he do it through a cabinet decision or not? Mr E.S. Ripper : I would have to check the cabinet record. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition would have to check the cabinet record! Let me help him out because I recall the events. I think, members, it was to do with the passage of the one vote, one value legislation. The then Labor government could not get it through the upper house. The former member for Fremantle, Jim McGinty, had discussions with the Greens, and out of those discussions came an agreement, plus a staff position for the Greens. I again ask the Leader of the Opposition: when he was Treasurer, did it go to cabinet and was it a formal cabinet decision? Mr E.S. Ripper : Premier, before I answer your questions, why don’t you answer my question? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have told the Leader of the Opposition what this government does. Mr E.S. Ripper : No; you haven’t answered my question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, I have. Come on! Mr E.S. Ripper : You haven’t answered my question, which is: is the member for Fremantle correct in what she said? Mr C.J. BARNETT : The former chief of staff of former Premier Geoff Gallop is up the back; she will know. The Leader of the Opposition should ask her whether it was a cabinet decision. Mr P. Papalia : You’re really worried about this, aren’t you? Mr C.J. BARNETT : We can pause and have a two-minute time-out so that the Leader of the Opposition can run up to the back bench and ask the former chief of staff to Premier Gallop whether there was a cabinet decision on that. We will pause for a minute. Several members interjected. Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer your question. Don’t try to distract and deflect. Don’t go back five years. Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the question. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’re not answering the question. Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the question. I make the point that there was no condition on the funding to the other members. Mr E.S. Ripper : What about the member for Fremantle? Is she correct in what she told the media last night? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If the government — Mr E.S. Ripper : You won’t answer that question. You’re scared to answer that question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition is not being quiet, polite or courteous. Mr E.S. Ripper : Confront the reality of what she said last night and answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The issue of the staffing — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker, there is no point. Mr P. Papalia interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Warnbro, I formally call you to order for the first time. I will note, members, that we have managed to get through two and a half questions in 20 minutes. It is my impression that the Premier is endeavouring to answer the question, but there seem to be consistent and continual interjections. Mr C.J. BARNETT : So, Mr Speaker — Mr M.P. Whitely interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat Premier. Member for Bassendean, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : There are no conditions on the allocation of staff to the member for Alfred Cove and the member for Kalgoorlie. The issue of staffing for the member for Fremantle has not progressed beyond our discussions in early to mid-October, other than, I think, some correspondence or contact between the member and the Department of the Premier and Cabinet; and there is nothing at all wrong with that. No matter has been prepared or taken to cabinet. No further progress has been made on that. Indeed, I restate: this government, if it chooses to make an allocation on staffing, will do it only formally through a cabinet decision with no conditions attached. If the member for Fremantle succeeds, as other members have, in her claim for extra staffing, which has considerable merit, it will be on the basis of no conditions, but it will be a formal cabinet decision. I repeat, the Leader of the Opposition has obviously spent a lot of time on this. He should now have recalled whether his assistance to the Greens under the Gallop government was a cabinet decision or had conditions. Mr E.S. Ripper : You answer my question first. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered yours. Mr E.S. Ripper : You have not answered my question. You haven’t answered question (2). Was she correct or was she not? Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part of the question — Mr E.S. Ripper : Do not miss out the second part; answer the second part. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered. On the third part — Mr E.S. Ripper : On the second part — The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part, “Providing personal benefits”, does the member realise what he is saying? Mr E.S. Ripper : “Providing personal”—yes, I do realise what I’m saying. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do you seriously see the provision of staffing as a personal benefit? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Unbelievable. You have learnt nothing as a government—nothing at all. Mr E.S. Ripper : Born to rule! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the Leader of the Opposition to describe a proper request for staffing and research assistance, as the Greens and other Independents have made, as a personal benefit is very, very tawdry.
With respect to conditions, I do not know how the previous government operated, but this government operates formally and correctly on advice through a cabinet process. Mr E.S. Ripper : She says that you did a deal. Did you? Mr C.J. BARNETT : With respect to the approach made by the member for Alfred Cove, if my memory serves me correctly, the member for Alfred Cove made a very strong case for support to deal with legislation as an Independent. When that issue arose and the request from the Greens was made on several occasions, this government took the issue through the proper public sector process to cabinet for a formal cabinet decision. That cabinet decision was to provide extra resources to the Greens and the two Independents at the time. That cabinet decision contains no condition at all. The reason I raise that is that back in 2005, the then Labor government provided financial resources to the Greens. I ask the question: did the Leader of the Opposition, as then Treasurer, provide those financial resources to the Greens in 2005 and did he do it through a cabinet decision or not? Mr E.S. Ripper : I would have to check the cabinet record. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition would have to check the cabinet record! Let me help him out because I recall the events. I think, members, it was to do with the passage of the one vote, one value legislation. The then Labor government could not get it through the upper house. The former member for Fremantle, Jim McGinty, had discussions with the Greens, and out of those discussions came an agreement, plus a staff position for the Greens. I again ask the Leader of the Opposition: when he was Treasurer, did it go to cabinet and was it a formal cabinet decision? Mr E.S. Ripper : Premier, before I answer your questions, why don’t you answer my question? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have told the Leader of the Opposition what this government does. Mr E.S. Ripper : No; you haven’t answered my question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, I have. Come on! Mr E.S. Ripper : You haven’t answered my question, which is: is the member for Fremantle correct in what she said? Mr C.J. BARNETT : The former chief of staff of former Premier Geoff Gallop is up the back; she will know. The Leader of the Opposition should ask her whether it was a cabinet decision. Mr P. Papalia : You’re really worried about this, aren’t you? Mr C.J. BARNETT : We can pause and have a two-minute time-out so that the Leader of the Opposition can run up to the back bench and ask the former chief of staff to Premier Gallop whether there was a cabinet decision on that. We will pause for a minute. Several members interjected. Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer your question. Don’t try to distract and deflect. Don’t go back five years. Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the question. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’re not answering the question. Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the question. I make the point that there was no condition on the funding to the other members. Mr E.S. Ripper : What about the member for Fremantle? Is she correct in what she told the media last night? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If the government — Mr E.S. Ripper : You won’t answer that question. You’re scared to answer that question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition is not being quiet, polite or courteous. Mr E.S. Ripper : Confront the reality of what she said last night and answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The issue of the staffing — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker, there is no point. Mr P. Papalia interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Warnbro, I formally call you to order for the first time. I will note, members, that we have managed to get through two and a half questions in 20 minutes. It is my impression that the Premier is endeavouring to answer the question, but there seem to be consistent and continual interjections. Mr C.J. BARNETT : So, Mr Speaker — Mr M.P. Whitely interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat Premier. Member for Bassendean, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : There are no conditions on the allocation of staff to the member for Alfred Cove and the member for Kalgoorlie. The issue of staffing for the member for Fremantle has not progressed beyond our discussions in early to mid-October, other than, I think, some correspondence or contact between the member and the Department of the Premier and Cabinet; and there is nothing at all wrong with that. No matter has been prepared or taken to cabinet. No further progress has been made on that. Indeed, I restate: this government, if it chooses to make an allocation on staffing, will do it only formally through a cabinet decision with no conditions attached. If the member for Fremantle succeeds, as other members have, in her claim for extra staffing, which has considerable merit, it will be on the basis of no conditions, but it will be a formal cabinet decision. I repeat, the Leader of the Opposition has obviously spent a lot of time on this. He should now have recalled whether his assistance to the Greens under the Gallop government was a cabinet decision or had conditions. Mr E.S. Ripper : You answer my question first. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered yours. Mr E.S. Ripper : You have not answered my question. You haven’t answered question (2). Was she correct or was she not? Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part of the question — Mr E.S. Ripper : Do not miss out the second part; answer the second part. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered. On the third part — Mr E.S. Ripper : On the second part — The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part, “Providing personal benefits”, does the member realise what he is saying? Mr E.S. Ripper : “Providing personal”—yes, I do realise what I’m saying. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do you seriously see the provision of staffing as a personal benefit? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Unbelievable. You have learnt nothing as a government—nothing at all. Mr E.S. Ripper : Born to rule! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the Leader of the Opposition to describe a proper request for staffing and research assistance, as the Greens and other Independents have made, as a personal benefit is very, very tawdry.
Mr E.S. Ripper : She says that you did a deal. Did you? Mr C.J. BARNETT : With respect to the approach made by the member for Alfred Cove, if my memory serves me correctly, the member for Alfred Cove made a very strong case for support to deal with legislation as an Independent. When that issue arose and the request from the Greens was made on several occasions, this government took the issue through the proper public sector process to cabinet for a formal cabinet decision. That cabinet decision was to provide extra resources to the Greens and the two Independents at the time. That cabinet decision contains no condition at all. The reason I raise that is that back in 2005, the then Labor government provided financial resources to the Greens. I ask the question: did the Leader of the Opposition, as then Treasurer, provide those financial resources to the Greens in 2005 and did he do it through a cabinet decision or not? Mr E.S. Ripper : I would have to check the cabinet record. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition would have to check the cabinet record! Let me help him out because I recall the events. I think, members, it was to do with the passage of the one vote, one value legislation. The then Labor government could not get it through the upper house. The former member for Fremantle, Jim McGinty, had discussions with the Greens, and out of those discussions came an agreement, plus a staff position for the Greens. I again ask the Leader of the Opposition: when he was Treasurer, did it go to cabinet and was it a formal cabinet decision? Mr E.S. Ripper : Premier, before I answer your questions, why don’t you answer my question? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have told the Leader of the Opposition what this government does. Mr E.S. Ripper : No; you haven’t answered my question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, I have. Come on! Mr E.S. Ripper : You haven’t answered my question, which is: is the member for Fremantle correct in what she said? Mr C.J. BARNETT : The former chief of staff of former Premier Geoff Gallop is up the back; she will know. The Leader of the Opposition should ask her whether it was a cabinet decision. Mr P. Papalia : You’re really worried about this, aren’t you? Mr C.J. BARNETT : We can pause and have a two-minute time-out so that the Leader of the Opposition can run up to the back bench and ask the former chief of staff to Premier Gallop whether there was a cabinet decision on that. We will pause for a minute. Several members interjected. Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer your question. Don’t try to distract and deflect. Don’t go back five years. Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the question. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’re not answering the question. Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the question. I make the point that there was no condition on the funding to the other members. Mr E.S. Ripper : What about the member for Fremantle? Is she correct in what she told the media last night? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If the government — Mr E.S. Ripper : You won’t answer that question. You’re scared to answer that question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition is not being quiet, polite or courteous. Mr E.S. Ripper : Confront the reality of what she said last night and answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The issue of the staffing — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker, there is no point. Mr P. Papalia interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Warnbro, I formally call you to order for the first time. I will note, members, that we have managed to get through two and a half questions in 20 minutes. It is my impression that the Premier is endeavouring to answer the question, but there seem to be consistent and continual interjections. Mr C.J. BARNETT : So, Mr Speaker — Mr M.P. Whitely interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat Premier. Member for Bassendean, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : There are no conditions on the allocation of staff to the member for Alfred Cove and the member for Kalgoorlie. The issue of staffing for the member for Fremantle has not progressed beyond our discussions in early to mid-October, other than, I think, some correspondence or contact between the member and the Department of the Premier and Cabinet; and there is nothing at all wrong with that. No matter has been prepared or taken to cabinet. No further progress has been made on that. Indeed, I restate: this government, if it chooses to make an allocation on staffing, will do it only formally through a cabinet decision with no conditions attached. If the member for Fremantle succeeds, as other members have, in her claim for extra staffing, which has considerable merit, it will be on the basis of no conditions, but it will be a formal cabinet decision. I repeat, the Leader of the Opposition has obviously spent a lot of time on this. He should now have recalled whether his assistance to the Greens under the Gallop government was a cabinet decision or had conditions. Mr E.S. Ripper : You answer my question first. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered yours. Mr E.S. Ripper : You have not answered my question. You haven’t answered question (2). Was she correct or was she not? Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part of the question — Mr E.S. Ripper : Do not miss out the second part; answer the second part. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered. On the third part — Mr E.S. Ripper : On the second part — The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part, “Providing personal benefits”, does the member realise what he is saying? Mr E.S. Ripper : “Providing personal”—yes, I do realise what I’m saying. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do you seriously see the provision of staffing as a personal benefit? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Unbelievable. You have learnt nothing as a government—nothing at all. Mr E.S. Ripper : Born to rule! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the Leader of the Opposition to describe a proper request for staffing and research assistance, as the Greens and other Independents have made, as a personal benefit is very, very tawdry.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : With respect to the approach made by the member for Alfred Cove, if my memory serves me correctly, the member for Alfred Cove made a very strong case for support to deal with legislation as an Independent. When that issue arose and the request from the Greens was made on several occasions, this government took the issue through the proper public sector process to cabinet for a formal cabinet decision. That cabinet decision was to provide extra resources to the Greens and the two Independents at the time. That cabinet decision contains no condition at all. The reason I raise that is that back in 2005, the then Labor government provided financial resources to the Greens. I ask the question: did the Leader of the Opposition, as then Treasurer, provide those financial resources to the Greens in 2005 and did he do it through a cabinet decision or not? Mr E.S. Ripper : I would have to check the cabinet record. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition would have to check the cabinet record! Let me help him out because I recall the events. I think, members, it was to do with the passage of the one vote, one value legislation. The then Labor government could not get it through the upper house. The former member for Fremantle, Jim McGinty, had discussions with the Greens, and out of those discussions came an agreement, plus a staff position for the Greens. I again ask the Leader of the Opposition: when he was Treasurer, did it go to cabinet and was it a formal cabinet decision? Mr E.S. Ripper : Premier, before I answer your questions, why don’t you answer my question? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have told the Leader of the Opposition what this government does. Mr E.S. Ripper : No; you haven’t answered my question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, I have. Come on! Mr E.S. Ripper : You haven’t answered my question, which is: is the member for Fremantle correct in what she said? Mr C.J. BARNETT : The former chief of staff of former Premier Geoff Gallop is up the back; she will know. The Leader of the Opposition should ask her whether it was a cabinet decision. Mr P. Papalia : You’re really worried about this, aren’t you? Mr C.J. BARNETT : We can pause and have a two-minute time-out so that the Leader of the Opposition can run up to the back bench and ask the former chief of staff to Premier Gallop whether there was a cabinet decision on that. We will pause for a minute. Several members interjected. Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer your question. Don’t try to distract and deflect. Don’t go back five years. Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the question. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’re not answering the question. Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the question. I make the point that there was no condition on the funding to the other members. Mr E.S. Ripper : What about the member for Fremantle? Is she correct in what she told the media last night? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If the government — Mr E.S. Ripper : You won’t answer that question. You’re scared to answer that question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition is not being quiet, polite or courteous. Mr E.S. Ripper : Confront the reality of what she said last night and answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The issue of the staffing — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker, there is no point. Mr P. Papalia interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Warnbro, I formally call you to order for the first time. I will note, members, that we have managed to get through two and a half questions in 20 minutes. It is my impression that the Premier is endeavouring to answer the question, but there seem to be consistent and continual interjections. Mr C.J. BARNETT : So, Mr Speaker — Mr M.P. Whitely interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat Premier. Member for Bassendean, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : There are no conditions on the allocation of staff to the member for Alfred Cove and the member for Kalgoorlie. The issue of staffing for the member for Fremantle has not progressed beyond our discussions in early to mid-October, other than, I think, some correspondence or contact between the member and the Department of the Premier and Cabinet; and there is nothing at all wrong with that. No matter has been prepared or taken to cabinet. No further progress has been made on that. Indeed, I restate: this government, if it chooses to make an allocation on staffing, will do it only formally through a cabinet decision with no conditions attached. If the member for Fremantle succeeds, as other members have, in her claim for extra staffing, which has considerable merit, it will be on the basis of no conditions, but it will be a formal cabinet decision. I repeat, the Leader of the Opposition has obviously spent a lot of time on this. He should now have recalled whether his assistance to the Greens under the Gallop government was a cabinet decision or had conditions. Mr E.S. Ripper : You answer my question first. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered yours. Mr E.S. Ripper : You have not answered my question. You haven’t answered question (2). Was she correct or was she not? Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part of the question — Mr E.S. Ripper : Do not miss out the second part; answer the second part. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered. On the third part — Mr E.S. Ripper : On the second part — The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part, “Providing personal benefits”, does the member realise what he is saying? Mr E.S. Ripper : “Providing personal”—yes, I do realise what I’m saying. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do you seriously see the provision of staffing as a personal benefit? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Unbelievable. You have learnt nothing as a government—nothing at all. Mr E.S. Ripper : Born to rule! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the Leader of the Opposition to describe a proper request for staffing and research assistance, as the Greens and other Independents have made, as a personal benefit is very, very tawdry.
Mr E.S. Ripper : I would have to check the cabinet record. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition would have to check the cabinet record! Let me help him out because I recall the events. I think, members, it was to do with the passage of the one vote, one value legislation. The then Labor government could not get it through the upper house. The former member for Fremantle, Jim McGinty, had discussions with the Greens, and out of those discussions came an agreement, plus a staff position for the Greens. I again ask the Leader of the Opposition: when he was Treasurer, did it go to cabinet and was it a formal cabinet decision? Mr E.S. Ripper : Premier, before I answer your questions, why don’t you answer my question? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have told the Leader of the Opposition what this government does. Mr E.S. Ripper : No; you haven’t answered my question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, I have. Come on! Mr E.S. Ripper : You haven’t answered my question, which is: is the member for Fremantle correct in what she said? Mr C.J. BARNETT : The former chief of staff of former Premier Geoff Gallop is up the back; she will know. The Leader of the Opposition should ask her whether it was a cabinet decision. Mr P. Papalia : You’re really worried about this, aren’t you? Mr C.J. BARNETT : We can pause and have a two-minute time-out so that the Leader of the Opposition can run up to the back bench and ask the former chief of staff to Premier Gallop whether there was a cabinet decision on that. We will pause for a minute. Several members interjected. Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer your question. Don’t try to distract and deflect. Don’t go back five years. Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the question. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’re not answering the question. Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the question. I make the point that there was no condition on the funding to the other members. Mr E.S. Ripper : What about the member for Fremantle? Is she correct in what she told the media last night? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If the government — Mr E.S. Ripper : You won’t answer that question. You’re scared to answer that question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition is not being quiet, polite or courteous. Mr E.S. Ripper : Confront the reality of what she said last night and answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The issue of the staffing — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker, there is no point. Mr P. Papalia interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Warnbro, I formally call you to order for the first time. I will note, members, that we have managed to get through two and a half questions in 20 minutes. It is my impression that the Premier is endeavouring to answer the question, but there seem to be consistent and continual interjections. Mr C.J. BARNETT : So, Mr Speaker — Mr M.P. Whitely interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat Premier. Member for Bassendean, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : There are no conditions on the allocation of staff to the member for Alfred Cove and the member for Kalgoorlie. The issue of staffing for the member for Fremantle has not progressed beyond our discussions in early to mid-October, other than, I think, some correspondence or contact between the member and the Department of the Premier and Cabinet; and there is nothing at all wrong with that. No matter has been prepared or taken to cabinet. No further progress has been made on that. Indeed, I restate: this government, if it chooses to make an allocation on staffing, will do it only formally through a cabinet decision with no conditions attached. If the member for Fremantle succeeds, as other members have, in her claim for extra staffing, which has considerable merit, it will be on the basis of no conditions, but it will be a formal cabinet decision. I repeat, the Leader of the Opposition has obviously spent a lot of time on this. He should now have recalled whether his assistance to the Greens under the Gallop government was a cabinet decision or had conditions. Mr E.S. Ripper : You answer my question first. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered yours. Mr E.S. Ripper : You have not answered my question. You haven’t answered question (2). Was she correct or was she not? Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part of the question — Mr E.S. Ripper : Do not miss out the second part; answer the second part. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered. On the third part — Mr E.S. Ripper : On the second part — The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part, “Providing personal benefits”, does the member realise what he is saying? Mr E.S. Ripper : “Providing personal”—yes, I do realise what I’m saying. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do you seriously see the provision of staffing as a personal benefit? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Unbelievable. You have learnt nothing as a government—nothing at all. Mr E.S. Ripper : Born to rule! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the Leader of the Opposition to describe a proper request for staffing and research assistance, as the Greens and other Independents have made, as a personal benefit is very, very tawdry.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition would have to check the cabinet record! Let me help him out because I recall the events. I think, members, it was to do with the passage of the one vote, one value legislation. The then Labor government could not get it through the upper house. The former member for Fremantle, Jim McGinty, had discussions with the Greens, and out of those discussions came an agreement, plus a staff position for the Greens. I again ask the Leader of the Opposition: when he was Treasurer, did it go to cabinet and was it a formal cabinet decision? Mr E.S. Ripper : Premier, before I answer your questions, why don’t you answer my question? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have told the Leader of the Opposition what this government does. Mr E.S. Ripper : No; you haven’t answered my question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, I have. Come on! Mr E.S. Ripper : You haven’t answered my question, which is: is the member for Fremantle correct in what she said? Mr C.J. BARNETT : The former chief of staff of former Premier Geoff Gallop is up the back; she will know. The Leader of the Opposition should ask her whether it was a cabinet decision. Mr P. Papalia : You’re really worried about this, aren’t you? Mr C.J. BARNETT : We can pause and have a two-minute time-out so that the Leader of the Opposition can run up to the back bench and ask the former chief of staff to Premier Gallop whether there was a cabinet decision on that. We will pause for a minute. Several members interjected. Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer your question. Don’t try to distract and deflect. Don’t go back five years. Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the question. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’re not answering the question. Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the question. I make the point that there was no condition on the funding to the other members. Mr E.S. Ripper : What about the member for Fremantle? Is she correct in what she told the media last night? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If the government — Mr E.S. Ripper : You won’t answer that question. You’re scared to answer that question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition is not being quiet, polite or courteous. Mr E.S. Ripper : Confront the reality of what she said last night and answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The issue of the staffing — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker, there is no point. Mr P. Papalia interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Warnbro, I formally call you to order for the first time. I will note, members, that we have managed to get through two and a half questions in 20 minutes. It is my impression that the Premier is endeavouring to answer the question, but there seem to be consistent and continual interjections. Mr C.J. BARNETT : So, Mr Speaker — Mr M.P. Whitely interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat Premier. Member for Bassendean, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : There are no conditions on the allocation of staff to the member for Alfred Cove and the member for Kalgoorlie. The issue of staffing for the member for Fremantle has not progressed beyond our discussions in early to mid-October, other than, I think, some correspondence or contact between the member and the Department of the Premier and Cabinet; and there is nothing at all wrong with that. No matter has been prepared or taken to cabinet. No further progress has been made on that. Indeed, I restate: this government, if it chooses to make an allocation on staffing, will do it only formally through a cabinet decision with no conditions attached. If the member for Fremantle succeeds, as other members have, in her claim for extra staffing, which has considerable merit, it will be on the basis of no conditions, but it will be a formal cabinet decision. I repeat, the Leader of the Opposition has obviously spent a lot of time on this. He should now have recalled whether his assistance to the Greens under the Gallop government was a cabinet decision or had conditions. Mr E.S. Ripper : You answer my question first. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered yours. Mr E.S. Ripper : You have not answered my question. You haven’t answered question (2). Was she correct or was she not? Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part of the question — Mr E.S. Ripper : Do not miss out the second part; answer the second part. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered. On the third part — Mr E.S. Ripper : On the second part — The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part, “Providing personal benefits”, does the member realise what he is saying? Mr E.S. Ripper : “Providing personal”—yes, I do realise what I’m saying. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do you seriously see the provision of staffing as a personal benefit? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Unbelievable. You have learnt nothing as a government—nothing at all. Mr E.S. Ripper : Born to rule! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the Leader of the Opposition to describe a proper request for staffing and research assistance, as the Greens and other Independents have made, as a personal benefit is very, very tawdry.
Mr E.S. Ripper : Premier, before I answer your questions, why don’t you answer my question? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have told the Leader of the Opposition what this government does. Mr E.S. Ripper : No; you haven’t answered my question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, I have. Come on! Mr E.S. Ripper : You haven’t answered my question, which is: is the member for Fremantle correct in what she said? Mr C.J. BARNETT : The former chief of staff of former Premier Geoff Gallop is up the back; she will know. The Leader of the Opposition should ask her whether it was a cabinet decision. Mr P. Papalia : You’re really worried about this, aren’t you? Mr C.J. BARNETT : We can pause and have a two-minute time-out so that the Leader of the Opposition can run up to the back bench and ask the former chief of staff to Premier Gallop whether there was a cabinet decision on that. We will pause for a minute. Several members interjected. Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer your question. Don’t try to distract and deflect. Don’t go back five years. Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the question. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’re not answering the question. Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the question. I make the point that there was no condition on the funding to the other members. Mr E.S. Ripper : What about the member for Fremantle? Is she correct in what she told the media last night? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If the government — Mr E.S. Ripper : You won’t answer that question. You’re scared to answer that question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition is not being quiet, polite or courteous. Mr E.S. Ripper : Confront the reality of what she said last night and answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The issue of the staffing — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker, there is no point. Mr P. Papalia interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Warnbro, I formally call you to order for the first time. I will note, members, that we have managed to get through two and a half questions in 20 minutes. It is my impression that the Premier is endeavouring to answer the question, but there seem to be consistent and continual interjections. Mr C.J. BARNETT : So, Mr Speaker — Mr M.P. Whitely interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat Premier. Member for Bassendean, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : There are no conditions on the allocation of staff to the member for Alfred Cove and the member for Kalgoorlie. The issue of staffing for the member for Fremantle has not progressed beyond our discussions in early to mid-October, other than, I think, some correspondence or contact between the member and the Department of the Premier and Cabinet; and there is nothing at all wrong with that. No matter has been prepared or taken to cabinet. No further progress has been made on that. Indeed, I restate: this government, if it chooses to make an allocation on staffing, will do it only formally through a cabinet decision with no conditions attached. If the member for Fremantle succeeds, as other members have, in her claim for extra staffing, which has considerable merit, it will be on the basis of no conditions, but it will be a formal cabinet decision. I repeat, the Leader of the Opposition has obviously spent a lot of time on this. He should now have recalled whether his assistance to the Greens under the Gallop government was a cabinet decision or had conditions. Mr E.S. Ripper : You answer my question first. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered yours. Mr E.S. Ripper : You have not answered my question. You haven’t answered question (2). Was she correct or was she not? Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part of the question — Mr E.S. Ripper : Do not miss out the second part; answer the second part. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered. On the third part — Mr E.S. Ripper : On the second part — The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part, “Providing personal benefits”, does the member realise what he is saying? Mr E.S. Ripper : “Providing personal”—yes, I do realise what I’m saying. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do you seriously see the provision of staffing as a personal benefit? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Unbelievable. You have learnt nothing as a government—nothing at all. Mr E.S. Ripper : Born to rule! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the Leader of the Opposition to describe a proper request for staffing and research assistance, as the Greens and other Independents have made, as a personal benefit is very, very tawdry.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have told the Leader of the Opposition what this government does. Mr E.S. Ripper : No; you haven’t answered my question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, I have. Come on! Mr E.S. Ripper : You haven’t answered my question, which is: is the member for Fremantle correct in what she said? Mr C.J. BARNETT : The former chief of staff of former Premier Geoff Gallop is up the back; she will know. The Leader of the Opposition should ask her whether it was a cabinet decision. Mr P. Papalia : You’re really worried about this, aren’t you? Mr C.J. BARNETT : We can pause and have a two-minute time-out so that the Leader of the Opposition can run up to the back bench and ask the former chief of staff to Premier Gallop whether there was a cabinet decision on that. We will pause for a minute. Several members interjected. Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer your question. Don’t try to distract and deflect. Don’t go back five years. Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the question. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’re not answering the question. Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the question. I make the point that there was no condition on the funding to the other members. Mr E.S. Ripper : What about the member for Fremantle? Is she correct in what she told the media last night? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If the government — Mr E.S. Ripper : You won’t answer that question. You’re scared to answer that question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition is not being quiet, polite or courteous. Mr E.S. Ripper : Confront the reality of what she said last night and answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The issue of the staffing — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker, there is no point. Mr P. Papalia interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Warnbro, I formally call you to order for the first time. I will note, members, that we have managed to get through two and a half questions in 20 minutes. It is my impression that the Premier is endeavouring to answer the question, but there seem to be consistent and continual interjections. Mr C.J. BARNETT : So, Mr Speaker — Mr M.P. Whitely interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat Premier. Member for Bassendean, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : There are no conditions on the allocation of staff to the member for Alfred Cove and the member for Kalgoorlie. The issue of staffing for the member for Fremantle has not progressed beyond our discussions in early to mid-October, other than, I think, some correspondence or contact between the member and the Department of the Premier and Cabinet; and there is nothing at all wrong with that. No matter has been prepared or taken to cabinet. No further progress has been made on that. Indeed, I restate: this government, if it chooses to make an allocation on staffing, will do it only formally through a cabinet decision with no conditions attached. If the member for Fremantle succeeds, as other members have, in her claim for extra staffing, which has considerable merit, it will be on the basis of no conditions, but it will be a formal cabinet decision. I repeat, the Leader of the Opposition has obviously spent a lot of time on this. He should now have recalled whether his assistance to the Greens under the Gallop government was a cabinet decision or had conditions. Mr E.S. Ripper : You answer my question first. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered yours. Mr E.S. Ripper : You have not answered my question. You haven’t answered question (2). Was she correct or was she not? Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part of the question — Mr E.S. Ripper : Do not miss out the second part; answer the second part. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered. On the third part — Mr E.S. Ripper : On the second part — The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part, “Providing personal benefits”, does the member realise what he is saying? Mr E.S. Ripper : “Providing personal”—yes, I do realise what I’m saying. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do you seriously see the provision of staffing as a personal benefit? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Unbelievable. You have learnt nothing as a government—nothing at all. Mr E.S. Ripper : Born to rule! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the Leader of the Opposition to describe a proper request for staffing and research assistance, as the Greens and other Independents have made, as a personal benefit is very, very tawdry.
Mr E.S. Ripper : No; you haven’t answered my question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, I have. Come on! Mr E.S. Ripper : You haven’t answered my question, which is: is the member for Fremantle correct in what she said? Mr C.J. BARNETT : The former chief of staff of former Premier Geoff Gallop is up the back; she will know. The Leader of the Opposition should ask her whether it was a cabinet decision. Mr P. Papalia : You’re really worried about this, aren’t you? Mr C.J. BARNETT : We can pause and have a two-minute time-out so that the Leader of the Opposition can run up to the back bench and ask the former chief of staff to Premier Gallop whether there was a cabinet decision on that. We will pause for a minute. Several members interjected. Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer your question. Don’t try to distract and deflect. Don’t go back five years. Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the question. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’re not answering the question. Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the question. I make the point that there was no condition on the funding to the other members. Mr E.S. Ripper : What about the member for Fremantle? Is she correct in what she told the media last night? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If the government — Mr E.S. Ripper : You won’t answer that question. You’re scared to answer that question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition is not being quiet, polite or courteous. Mr E.S. Ripper : Confront the reality of what she said last night and answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The issue of the staffing — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker, there is no point. Mr P. Papalia interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Warnbro, I formally call you to order for the first time. I will note, members, that we have managed to get through two and a half questions in 20 minutes. It is my impression that the Premier is endeavouring to answer the question, but there seem to be consistent and continual interjections. Mr C.J. BARNETT : So, Mr Speaker — Mr M.P. Whitely interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat Premier. Member for Bassendean, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : There are no conditions on the allocation of staff to the member for Alfred Cove and the member for Kalgoorlie. The issue of staffing for the member for Fremantle has not progressed beyond our discussions in early to mid-October, other than, I think, some correspondence or contact between the member and the Department of the Premier and Cabinet; and there is nothing at all wrong with that. No matter has been prepared or taken to cabinet. No further progress has been made on that. Indeed, I restate: this government, if it chooses to make an allocation on staffing, will do it only formally through a cabinet decision with no conditions attached. If the member for Fremantle succeeds, as other members have, in her claim for extra staffing, which has considerable merit, it will be on the basis of no conditions, but it will be a formal cabinet decision. I repeat, the Leader of the Opposition has obviously spent a lot of time on this. He should now have recalled whether his assistance to the Greens under the Gallop government was a cabinet decision or had conditions. Mr E.S. Ripper : You answer my question first. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered yours. Mr E.S. Ripper : You have not answered my question. You haven’t answered question (2). Was she correct or was she not? Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part of the question — Mr E.S. Ripper : Do not miss out the second part; answer the second part. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered. On the third part — Mr E.S. Ripper : On the second part — The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part, “Providing personal benefits”, does the member realise what he is saying? Mr E.S. Ripper : “Providing personal”—yes, I do realise what I’m saying. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do you seriously see the provision of staffing as a personal benefit? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Unbelievable. You have learnt nothing as a government—nothing at all. Mr E.S. Ripper : Born to rule! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the Leader of the Opposition to describe a proper request for staffing and research assistance, as the Greens and other Independents have made, as a personal benefit is very, very tawdry.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, I have. Come on! Mr E.S. Ripper : You haven’t answered my question, which is: is the member for Fremantle correct in what she said? Mr C.J. BARNETT : The former chief of staff of former Premier Geoff Gallop is up the back; she will know. The Leader of the Opposition should ask her whether it was a cabinet decision. Mr P. Papalia : You’re really worried about this, aren’t you? Mr C.J. BARNETT : We can pause and have a two-minute time-out so that the Leader of the Opposition can run up to the back bench and ask the former chief of staff to Premier Gallop whether there was a cabinet decision on that. We will pause for a minute. Several members interjected. Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer your question. Don’t try to distract and deflect. Don’t go back five years. Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the question. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’re not answering the question. Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the question. I make the point that there was no condition on the funding to the other members. Mr E.S. Ripper : What about the member for Fremantle? Is she correct in what she told the media last night? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If the government — Mr E.S. Ripper : You won’t answer that question. You’re scared to answer that question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition is not being quiet, polite or courteous. Mr E.S. Ripper : Confront the reality of what she said last night and answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The issue of the staffing — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker, there is no point. Mr P. Papalia interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Warnbro, I formally call you to order for the first time. I will note, members, that we have managed to get through two and a half questions in 20 minutes. It is my impression that the Premier is endeavouring to answer the question, but there seem to be consistent and continual interjections. Mr C.J. BARNETT : So, Mr Speaker — Mr M.P. Whitely interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat Premier. Member for Bassendean, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : There are no conditions on the allocation of staff to the member for Alfred Cove and the member for Kalgoorlie. The issue of staffing for the member for Fremantle has not progressed beyond our discussions in early to mid-October, other than, I think, some correspondence or contact between the member and the Department of the Premier and Cabinet; and there is nothing at all wrong with that. No matter has been prepared or taken to cabinet. No further progress has been made on that. Indeed, I restate: this government, if it chooses to make an allocation on staffing, will do it only formally through a cabinet decision with no conditions attached. If the member for Fremantle succeeds, as other members have, in her claim for extra staffing, which has considerable merit, it will be on the basis of no conditions, but it will be a formal cabinet decision. I repeat, the Leader of the Opposition has obviously spent a lot of time on this. He should now have recalled whether his assistance to the Greens under the Gallop government was a cabinet decision or had conditions. Mr E.S. Ripper : You answer my question first. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered yours. Mr E.S. Ripper : You have not answered my question. You haven’t answered question (2). Was she correct or was she not? Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part of the question — Mr E.S. Ripper : Do not miss out the second part; answer the second part. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered. On the third part — Mr E.S. Ripper : On the second part — The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part, “Providing personal benefits”, does the member realise what he is saying? Mr E.S. Ripper : “Providing personal”—yes, I do realise what I’m saying. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do you seriously see the provision of staffing as a personal benefit? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Unbelievable. You have learnt nothing as a government—nothing at all. Mr E.S. Ripper : Born to rule! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the Leader of the Opposition to describe a proper request for staffing and research assistance, as the Greens and other Independents have made, as a personal benefit is very, very tawdry.
Mr E.S. Ripper : You haven’t answered my question, which is: is the member for Fremantle correct in what she said? Mr C.J. BARNETT : The former chief of staff of former Premier Geoff Gallop is up the back; she will know. The Leader of the Opposition should ask her whether it was a cabinet decision. Mr P. Papalia : You’re really worried about this, aren’t you? Mr C.J. BARNETT : We can pause and have a two-minute time-out so that the Leader of the Opposition can run up to the back bench and ask the former chief of staff to Premier Gallop whether there was a cabinet decision on that. We will pause for a minute. Several members interjected. Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer your question. Don’t try to distract and deflect. Don’t go back five years. Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the question. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’re not answering the question. Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the question. I make the point that there was no condition on the funding to the other members. Mr E.S. Ripper : What about the member for Fremantle? Is she correct in what she told the media last night? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If the government — Mr E.S. Ripper : You won’t answer that question. You’re scared to answer that question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition is not being quiet, polite or courteous. Mr E.S. Ripper : Confront the reality of what she said last night and answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The issue of the staffing — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker, there is no point. Mr P. Papalia interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Warnbro, I formally call you to order for the first time. I will note, members, that we have managed to get through two and a half questions in 20 minutes. It is my impression that the Premier is endeavouring to answer the question, but there seem to be consistent and continual interjections. Mr C.J. BARNETT : So, Mr Speaker — Mr M.P. Whitely interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat Premier. Member for Bassendean, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : There are no conditions on the allocation of staff to the member for Alfred Cove and the member for Kalgoorlie. The issue of staffing for the member for Fremantle has not progressed beyond our discussions in early to mid-October, other than, I think, some correspondence or contact between the member and the Department of the Premier and Cabinet; and there is nothing at all wrong with that. No matter has been prepared or taken to cabinet. No further progress has been made on that. Indeed, I restate: this government, if it chooses to make an allocation on staffing, will do it only formally through a cabinet decision with no conditions attached. If the member for Fremantle succeeds, as other members have, in her claim for extra staffing, which has considerable merit, it will be on the basis of no conditions, but it will be a formal cabinet decision. I repeat, the Leader of the Opposition has obviously spent a lot of time on this. He should now have recalled whether his assistance to the Greens under the Gallop government was a cabinet decision or had conditions. Mr E.S. Ripper : You answer my question first. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered yours. Mr E.S. Ripper : You have not answered my question. You haven’t answered question (2). Was she correct or was she not? Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part of the question — Mr E.S. Ripper : Do not miss out the second part; answer the second part. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered. On the third part — Mr E.S. Ripper : On the second part — The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part, “Providing personal benefits”, does the member realise what he is saying? Mr E.S. Ripper : “Providing personal”—yes, I do realise what I’m saying. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do you seriously see the provision of staffing as a personal benefit? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Unbelievable. You have learnt nothing as a government—nothing at all. Mr E.S. Ripper : Born to rule! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the Leader of the Opposition to describe a proper request for staffing and research assistance, as the Greens and other Independents have made, as a personal benefit is very, very tawdry.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : The former chief of staff of former Premier Geoff Gallop is up the back; she will know. The Leader of the Opposition should ask her whether it was a cabinet decision. Mr P. Papalia : You’re really worried about this, aren’t you? Mr C.J. BARNETT : We can pause and have a two-minute time-out so that the Leader of the Opposition can run up to the back bench and ask the former chief of staff to Premier Gallop whether there was a cabinet decision on that. We will pause for a minute. Several members interjected. Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer your question. Don’t try to distract and deflect. Don’t go back five years. Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the question. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’re not answering the question. Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the question. I make the point that there was no condition on the funding to the other members. Mr E.S. Ripper : What about the member for Fremantle? Is she correct in what she told the media last night? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If the government — Mr E.S. Ripper : You won’t answer that question. You’re scared to answer that question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition is not being quiet, polite or courteous. Mr E.S. Ripper : Confront the reality of what she said last night and answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The issue of the staffing — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker, there is no point. Mr P. Papalia interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Warnbro, I formally call you to order for the first time. I will note, members, that we have managed to get through two and a half questions in 20 minutes. It is my impression that the Premier is endeavouring to answer the question, but there seem to be consistent and continual interjections. Mr C.J. BARNETT : So, Mr Speaker — Mr M.P. Whitely interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat Premier. Member for Bassendean, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : There are no conditions on the allocation of staff to the member for Alfred Cove and the member for Kalgoorlie. The issue of staffing for the member for Fremantle has not progressed beyond our discussions in early to mid-October, other than, I think, some correspondence or contact between the member and the Department of the Premier and Cabinet; and there is nothing at all wrong with that. No matter has been prepared or taken to cabinet. No further progress has been made on that. Indeed, I restate: this government, if it chooses to make an allocation on staffing, will do it only formally through a cabinet decision with no conditions attached. If the member for Fremantle succeeds, as other members have, in her claim for extra staffing, which has considerable merit, it will be on the basis of no conditions, but it will be a formal cabinet decision. I repeat, the Leader of the Opposition has obviously spent a lot of time on this. He should now have recalled whether his assistance to the Greens under the Gallop government was a cabinet decision or had conditions. Mr E.S. Ripper : You answer my question first. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered yours. Mr E.S. Ripper : You have not answered my question. You haven’t answered question (2). Was she correct or was she not? Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part of the question — Mr E.S. Ripper : Do not miss out the second part; answer the second part. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered. On the third part — Mr E.S. Ripper : On the second part — The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part, “Providing personal benefits”, does the member realise what he is saying? Mr E.S. Ripper : “Providing personal”—yes, I do realise what I’m saying. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do you seriously see the provision of staffing as a personal benefit? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Unbelievable. You have learnt nothing as a government—nothing at all. Mr E.S. Ripper : Born to rule! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the Leader of the Opposition to describe a proper request for staffing and research assistance, as the Greens and other Independents have made, as a personal benefit is very, very tawdry.
Mr P. Papalia : You’re really worried about this, aren’t you? Mr C.J. BARNETT : We can pause and have a two-minute time-out so that the Leader of the Opposition can run up to the back bench and ask the former chief of staff to Premier Gallop whether there was a cabinet decision on that. We will pause for a minute. Several members interjected. Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer your question. Don’t try to distract and deflect. Don’t go back five years. Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the question. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’re not answering the question. Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the question. I make the point that there was no condition on the funding to the other members. Mr E.S. Ripper : What about the member for Fremantle? Is she correct in what she told the media last night? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If the government — Mr E.S. Ripper : You won’t answer that question. You’re scared to answer that question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition is not being quiet, polite or courteous. Mr E.S. Ripper : Confront the reality of what she said last night and answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The issue of the staffing — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker, there is no point. Mr P. Papalia interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Warnbro, I formally call you to order for the first time. I will note, members, that we have managed to get through two and a half questions in 20 minutes. It is my impression that the Premier is endeavouring to answer the question, but there seem to be consistent and continual interjections. Mr C.J. BARNETT : So, Mr Speaker — Mr M.P. Whitely interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat Premier. Member for Bassendean, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : There are no conditions on the allocation of staff to the member for Alfred Cove and the member for Kalgoorlie. The issue of staffing for the member for Fremantle has not progressed beyond our discussions in early to mid-October, other than, I think, some correspondence or contact between the member and the Department of the Premier and Cabinet; and there is nothing at all wrong with that. No matter has been prepared or taken to cabinet. No further progress has been made on that. Indeed, I restate: this government, if it chooses to make an allocation on staffing, will do it only formally through a cabinet decision with no conditions attached. If the member for Fremantle succeeds, as other members have, in her claim for extra staffing, which has considerable merit, it will be on the basis of no conditions, but it will be a formal cabinet decision. I repeat, the Leader of the Opposition has obviously spent a lot of time on this. He should now have recalled whether his assistance to the Greens under the Gallop government was a cabinet decision or had conditions. Mr E.S. Ripper : You answer my question first. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered yours. Mr E.S. Ripper : You have not answered my question. You haven’t answered question (2). Was she correct or was she not? Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part of the question — Mr E.S. Ripper : Do not miss out the second part; answer the second part. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered. On the third part — Mr E.S. Ripper : On the second part — The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part, “Providing personal benefits”, does the member realise what he is saying? Mr E.S. Ripper : “Providing personal”—yes, I do realise what I’m saying. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do you seriously see the provision of staffing as a personal benefit? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Unbelievable. You have learnt nothing as a government—nothing at all. Mr E.S. Ripper : Born to rule! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the Leader of the Opposition to describe a proper request for staffing and research assistance, as the Greens and other Independents have made, as a personal benefit is very, very tawdry.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : We can pause and have a two-minute time-out so that the Leader of the Opposition can run up to the back bench and ask the former chief of staff to Premier Gallop whether there was a cabinet decision on that. We will pause for a minute. Several members interjected. Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer your question. Don’t try to distract and deflect. Don’t go back five years. Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the question. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’re not answering the question. Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the question. I make the point that there was no condition on the funding to the other members. Mr E.S. Ripper : What about the member for Fremantle? Is she correct in what she told the media last night? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If the government — Mr E.S. Ripper : You won’t answer that question. You’re scared to answer that question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition is not being quiet, polite or courteous. Mr E.S. Ripper : Confront the reality of what she said last night and answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The issue of the staffing — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker, there is no point. Mr P. Papalia interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Warnbro, I formally call you to order for the first time. I will note, members, that we have managed to get through two and a half questions in 20 minutes. It is my impression that the Premier is endeavouring to answer the question, but there seem to be consistent and continual interjections. Mr C.J. BARNETT : So, Mr Speaker — Mr M.P. Whitely interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat Premier. Member for Bassendean, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : There are no conditions on the allocation of staff to the member for Alfred Cove and the member for Kalgoorlie. The issue of staffing for the member for Fremantle has not progressed beyond our discussions in early to mid-October, other than, I think, some correspondence or contact between the member and the Department of the Premier and Cabinet; and there is nothing at all wrong with that. No matter has been prepared or taken to cabinet. No further progress has been made on that. Indeed, I restate: this government, if it chooses to make an allocation on staffing, will do it only formally through a cabinet decision with no conditions attached. If the member for Fremantle succeeds, as other members have, in her claim for extra staffing, which has considerable merit, it will be on the basis of no conditions, but it will be a formal cabinet decision. I repeat, the Leader of the Opposition has obviously spent a lot of time on this. He should now have recalled whether his assistance to the Greens under the Gallop government was a cabinet decision or had conditions. Mr E.S. Ripper : You answer my question first. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered yours. Mr E.S. Ripper : You have not answered my question. You haven’t answered question (2). Was she correct or was she not? Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part of the question — Mr E.S. Ripper : Do not miss out the second part; answer the second part. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered. On the third part — Mr E.S. Ripper : On the second part — The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part, “Providing personal benefits”, does the member realise what he is saying? Mr E.S. Ripper : “Providing personal”—yes, I do realise what I’m saying. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do you seriously see the provision of staffing as a personal benefit? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Unbelievable. You have learnt nothing as a government—nothing at all. Mr E.S. Ripper : Born to rule! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the Leader of the Opposition to describe a proper request for staffing and research assistance, as the Greens and other Independents have made, as a personal benefit is very, very tawdry.
Several members interjected. Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer your question. Don’t try to distract and deflect. Don’t go back five years. Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the question. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’re not answering the question. Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the question. I make the point that there was no condition on the funding to the other members. Mr E.S. Ripper : What about the member for Fremantle? Is she correct in what she told the media last night? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If the government — Mr E.S. Ripper : You won’t answer that question. You’re scared to answer that question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition is not being quiet, polite or courteous. Mr E.S. Ripper : Confront the reality of what she said last night and answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The issue of the staffing — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker, there is no point. Mr P. Papalia interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Warnbro, I formally call you to order for the first time. I will note, members, that we have managed to get through two and a half questions in 20 minutes. It is my impression that the Premier is endeavouring to answer the question, but there seem to be consistent and continual interjections. Mr C.J. BARNETT : So, Mr Speaker — Mr M.P. Whitely interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat Premier. Member for Bassendean, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : There are no conditions on the allocation of staff to the member for Alfred Cove and the member for Kalgoorlie. The issue of staffing for the member for Fremantle has not progressed beyond our discussions in early to mid-October, other than, I think, some correspondence or contact between the member and the Department of the Premier and Cabinet; and there is nothing at all wrong with that. No matter has been prepared or taken to cabinet. No further progress has been made on that. Indeed, I restate: this government, if it chooses to make an allocation on staffing, will do it only formally through a cabinet decision with no conditions attached. If the member for Fremantle succeeds, as other members have, in her claim for extra staffing, which has considerable merit, it will be on the basis of no conditions, but it will be a formal cabinet decision. I repeat, the Leader of the Opposition has obviously spent a lot of time on this. He should now have recalled whether his assistance to the Greens under the Gallop government was a cabinet decision or had conditions. Mr E.S. Ripper : You answer my question first. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered yours. Mr E.S. Ripper : You have not answered my question. You haven’t answered question (2). Was she correct or was she not? Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part of the question — Mr E.S. Ripper : Do not miss out the second part; answer the second part. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered. On the third part — Mr E.S. Ripper : On the second part — The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part, “Providing personal benefits”, does the member realise what he is saying? Mr E.S. Ripper : “Providing personal”—yes, I do realise what I’m saying. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do you seriously see the provision of staffing as a personal benefit? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Unbelievable. You have learnt nothing as a government—nothing at all. Mr E.S. Ripper : Born to rule! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the Leader of the Opposition to describe a proper request for staffing and research assistance, as the Greens and other Independents have made, as a personal benefit is very, very tawdry.
Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer your question. Don’t try to distract and deflect. Don’t go back five years. Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the question. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’re not answering the question. Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the question. I make the point that there was no condition on the funding to the other members. Mr E.S. Ripper : What about the member for Fremantle? Is she correct in what she told the media last night? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If the government — Mr E.S. Ripper : You won’t answer that question. You’re scared to answer that question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition is not being quiet, polite or courteous. Mr E.S. Ripper : Confront the reality of what she said last night and answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The issue of the staffing — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker, there is no point. Mr P. Papalia interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Warnbro, I formally call you to order for the first time. I will note, members, that we have managed to get through two and a half questions in 20 minutes. It is my impression that the Premier is endeavouring to answer the question, but there seem to be consistent and continual interjections. Mr C.J. BARNETT : So, Mr Speaker — Mr M.P. Whitely interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat Premier. Member for Bassendean, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : There are no conditions on the allocation of staff to the member for Alfred Cove and the member for Kalgoorlie. The issue of staffing for the member for Fremantle has not progressed beyond our discussions in early to mid-October, other than, I think, some correspondence or contact between the member and the Department of the Premier and Cabinet; and there is nothing at all wrong with that. No matter has been prepared or taken to cabinet. No further progress has been made on that. Indeed, I restate: this government, if it chooses to make an allocation on staffing, will do it only formally through a cabinet decision with no conditions attached. If the member for Fremantle succeeds, as other members have, in her claim for extra staffing, which has considerable merit, it will be on the basis of no conditions, but it will be a formal cabinet decision. I repeat, the Leader of the Opposition has obviously spent a lot of time on this. He should now have recalled whether his assistance to the Greens under the Gallop government was a cabinet decision or had conditions. Mr E.S. Ripper : You answer my question first. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered yours. Mr E.S. Ripper : You have not answered my question. You haven’t answered question (2). Was she correct or was she not? Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part of the question — Mr E.S. Ripper : Do not miss out the second part; answer the second part. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered. On the third part — Mr E.S. Ripper : On the second part — The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part, “Providing personal benefits”, does the member realise what he is saying? Mr E.S. Ripper : “Providing personal”—yes, I do realise what I’m saying. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do you seriously see the provision of staffing as a personal benefit? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Unbelievable. You have learnt nothing as a government—nothing at all. Mr E.S. Ripper : Born to rule! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the Leader of the Opposition to describe a proper request for staffing and research assistance, as the Greens and other Independents have made, as a personal benefit is very, very tawdry.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the question. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’re not answering the question. Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the question. I make the point that there was no condition on the funding to the other members. Mr E.S. Ripper : What about the member for Fremantle? Is she correct in what she told the media last night? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If the government — Mr E.S. Ripper : You won’t answer that question. You’re scared to answer that question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition is not being quiet, polite or courteous. Mr E.S. Ripper : Confront the reality of what she said last night and answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The issue of the staffing — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker, there is no point. Mr P. Papalia interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Warnbro, I formally call you to order for the first time. I will note, members, that we have managed to get through two and a half questions in 20 minutes. It is my impression that the Premier is endeavouring to answer the question, but there seem to be consistent and continual interjections. Mr C.J. BARNETT : So, Mr Speaker — Mr M.P. Whitely interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat Premier. Member for Bassendean, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : There are no conditions on the allocation of staff to the member for Alfred Cove and the member for Kalgoorlie. The issue of staffing for the member for Fremantle has not progressed beyond our discussions in early to mid-October, other than, I think, some correspondence or contact between the member and the Department of the Premier and Cabinet; and there is nothing at all wrong with that. No matter has been prepared or taken to cabinet. No further progress has been made on that. Indeed, I restate: this government, if it chooses to make an allocation on staffing, will do it only formally through a cabinet decision with no conditions attached. If the member for Fremantle succeeds, as other members have, in her claim for extra staffing, which has considerable merit, it will be on the basis of no conditions, but it will be a formal cabinet decision. I repeat, the Leader of the Opposition has obviously spent a lot of time on this. He should now have recalled whether his assistance to the Greens under the Gallop government was a cabinet decision or had conditions. Mr E.S. Ripper : You answer my question first. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered yours. Mr E.S. Ripper : You have not answered my question. You haven’t answered question (2). Was she correct or was she not? Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part of the question — Mr E.S. Ripper : Do not miss out the second part; answer the second part. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered. On the third part — Mr E.S. Ripper : On the second part — The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part, “Providing personal benefits”, does the member realise what he is saying? Mr E.S. Ripper : “Providing personal”—yes, I do realise what I’m saying. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do you seriously see the provision of staffing as a personal benefit? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Unbelievable. You have learnt nothing as a government—nothing at all. Mr E.S. Ripper : Born to rule! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the Leader of the Opposition to describe a proper request for staffing and research assistance, as the Greens and other Independents have made, as a personal benefit is very, very tawdry.
Mr E.S. Ripper : You’re not answering the question. Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the question. I make the point that there was no condition on the funding to the other members. Mr E.S. Ripper : What about the member for Fremantle? Is she correct in what she told the media last night? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If the government — Mr E.S. Ripper : You won’t answer that question. You’re scared to answer that question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition is not being quiet, polite or courteous. Mr E.S. Ripper : Confront the reality of what she said last night and answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The issue of the staffing — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker, there is no point. Mr P. Papalia interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Warnbro, I formally call you to order for the first time. I will note, members, that we have managed to get through two and a half questions in 20 minutes. It is my impression that the Premier is endeavouring to answer the question, but there seem to be consistent and continual interjections. Mr C.J. BARNETT : So, Mr Speaker — Mr M.P. Whitely interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat Premier. Member for Bassendean, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : There are no conditions on the allocation of staff to the member for Alfred Cove and the member for Kalgoorlie. The issue of staffing for the member for Fremantle has not progressed beyond our discussions in early to mid-October, other than, I think, some correspondence or contact between the member and the Department of the Premier and Cabinet; and there is nothing at all wrong with that. No matter has been prepared or taken to cabinet. No further progress has been made on that. Indeed, I restate: this government, if it chooses to make an allocation on staffing, will do it only formally through a cabinet decision with no conditions attached. If the member for Fremantle succeeds, as other members have, in her claim for extra staffing, which has considerable merit, it will be on the basis of no conditions, but it will be a formal cabinet decision. I repeat, the Leader of the Opposition has obviously spent a lot of time on this. He should now have recalled whether his assistance to the Greens under the Gallop government was a cabinet decision or had conditions. Mr E.S. Ripper : You answer my question first. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered yours. Mr E.S. Ripper : You have not answered my question. You haven’t answered question (2). Was she correct or was she not? Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part of the question — Mr E.S. Ripper : Do not miss out the second part; answer the second part. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered. On the third part — Mr E.S. Ripper : On the second part — The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part, “Providing personal benefits”, does the member realise what he is saying? Mr E.S. Ripper : “Providing personal”—yes, I do realise what I’m saying. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do you seriously see the provision of staffing as a personal benefit? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Unbelievable. You have learnt nothing as a government—nothing at all. Mr E.S. Ripper : Born to rule! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the Leader of the Opposition to describe a proper request for staffing and research assistance, as the Greens and other Independents have made, as a personal benefit is very, very tawdry.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the question. I make the point that there was no condition on the funding to the other members. Mr E.S. Ripper : What about the member for Fremantle? Is she correct in what she told the media last night? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If the government — Mr E.S. Ripper : You won’t answer that question. You’re scared to answer that question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition is not being quiet, polite or courteous. Mr E.S. Ripper : Confront the reality of what she said last night and answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The issue of the staffing — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker, there is no point. Mr P. Papalia interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Warnbro, I formally call you to order for the first time. I will note, members, that we have managed to get through two and a half questions in 20 minutes. It is my impression that the Premier is endeavouring to answer the question, but there seem to be consistent and continual interjections. Mr C.J. BARNETT : So, Mr Speaker — Mr M.P. Whitely interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat Premier. Member for Bassendean, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : There are no conditions on the allocation of staff to the member for Alfred Cove and the member for Kalgoorlie. The issue of staffing for the member for Fremantle has not progressed beyond our discussions in early to mid-October, other than, I think, some correspondence or contact between the member and the Department of the Premier and Cabinet; and there is nothing at all wrong with that. No matter has been prepared or taken to cabinet. No further progress has been made on that. Indeed, I restate: this government, if it chooses to make an allocation on staffing, will do it only formally through a cabinet decision with no conditions attached. If the member for Fremantle succeeds, as other members have, in her claim for extra staffing, which has considerable merit, it will be on the basis of no conditions, but it will be a formal cabinet decision. I repeat, the Leader of the Opposition has obviously spent a lot of time on this. He should now have recalled whether his assistance to the Greens under the Gallop government was a cabinet decision or had conditions. Mr E.S. Ripper : You answer my question first. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered yours. Mr E.S. Ripper : You have not answered my question. You haven’t answered question (2). Was she correct or was she not? Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part of the question — Mr E.S. Ripper : Do not miss out the second part; answer the second part. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered. On the third part — Mr E.S. Ripper : On the second part — The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part, “Providing personal benefits”, does the member realise what he is saying? Mr E.S. Ripper : “Providing personal”—yes, I do realise what I’m saying. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do you seriously see the provision of staffing as a personal benefit? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Unbelievable. You have learnt nothing as a government—nothing at all. Mr E.S. Ripper : Born to rule! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the Leader of the Opposition to describe a proper request for staffing and research assistance, as the Greens and other Independents have made, as a personal benefit is very, very tawdry.
Mr E.S. Ripper : What about the member for Fremantle? Is she correct in what she told the media last night? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If the government — Mr E.S. Ripper : You won’t answer that question. You’re scared to answer that question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition is not being quiet, polite or courteous. Mr E.S. Ripper : Confront the reality of what she said last night and answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The issue of the staffing — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker, there is no point. Mr P. Papalia interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Warnbro, I formally call you to order for the first time. I will note, members, that we have managed to get through two and a half questions in 20 minutes. It is my impression that the Premier is endeavouring to answer the question, but there seem to be consistent and continual interjections. Mr C.J. BARNETT : So, Mr Speaker — Mr M.P. Whitely interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat Premier. Member for Bassendean, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : There are no conditions on the allocation of staff to the member for Alfred Cove and the member for Kalgoorlie. The issue of staffing for the member for Fremantle has not progressed beyond our discussions in early to mid-October, other than, I think, some correspondence or contact between the member and the Department of the Premier and Cabinet; and there is nothing at all wrong with that. No matter has been prepared or taken to cabinet. No further progress has been made on that. Indeed, I restate: this government, if it chooses to make an allocation on staffing, will do it only formally through a cabinet decision with no conditions attached. If the member for Fremantle succeeds, as other members have, in her claim for extra staffing, which has considerable merit, it will be on the basis of no conditions, but it will be a formal cabinet decision. I repeat, the Leader of the Opposition has obviously spent a lot of time on this. He should now have recalled whether his assistance to the Greens under the Gallop government was a cabinet decision or had conditions. Mr E.S. Ripper : You answer my question first. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered yours. Mr E.S. Ripper : You have not answered my question. You haven’t answered question (2). Was she correct or was she not? Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part of the question — Mr E.S. Ripper : Do not miss out the second part; answer the second part. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered. On the third part — Mr E.S. Ripper : On the second part — The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part, “Providing personal benefits”, does the member realise what he is saying? Mr E.S. Ripper : “Providing personal”—yes, I do realise what I’m saying. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do you seriously see the provision of staffing as a personal benefit? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Unbelievable. You have learnt nothing as a government—nothing at all. Mr E.S. Ripper : Born to rule! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the Leader of the Opposition to describe a proper request for staffing and research assistance, as the Greens and other Independents have made, as a personal benefit is very, very tawdry.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : If the government — Mr E.S. Ripper : You won’t answer that question. You’re scared to answer that question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition is not being quiet, polite or courteous. Mr E.S. Ripper : Confront the reality of what she said last night and answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The issue of the staffing — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker, there is no point. Mr P. Papalia interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Warnbro, I formally call you to order for the first time. I will note, members, that we have managed to get through two and a half questions in 20 minutes. It is my impression that the Premier is endeavouring to answer the question, but there seem to be consistent and continual interjections. Mr C.J. BARNETT : So, Mr Speaker — Mr M.P. Whitely interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat Premier. Member for Bassendean, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : There are no conditions on the allocation of staff to the member for Alfred Cove and the member for Kalgoorlie. The issue of staffing for the member for Fremantle has not progressed beyond our discussions in early to mid-October, other than, I think, some correspondence or contact between the member and the Department of the Premier and Cabinet; and there is nothing at all wrong with that. No matter has been prepared or taken to cabinet. No further progress has been made on that. Indeed, I restate: this government, if it chooses to make an allocation on staffing, will do it only formally through a cabinet decision with no conditions attached. If the member for Fremantle succeeds, as other members have, in her claim for extra staffing, which has considerable merit, it will be on the basis of no conditions, but it will be a formal cabinet decision. I repeat, the Leader of the Opposition has obviously spent a lot of time on this. He should now have recalled whether his assistance to the Greens under the Gallop government was a cabinet decision or had conditions. Mr E.S. Ripper : You answer my question first. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered yours. Mr E.S. Ripper : You have not answered my question. You haven’t answered question (2). Was she correct or was she not? Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part of the question — Mr E.S. Ripper : Do not miss out the second part; answer the second part. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered. On the third part — Mr E.S. Ripper : On the second part — The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part, “Providing personal benefits”, does the member realise what he is saying? Mr E.S. Ripper : “Providing personal”—yes, I do realise what I’m saying. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do you seriously see the provision of staffing as a personal benefit? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Unbelievable. You have learnt nothing as a government—nothing at all. Mr E.S. Ripper : Born to rule! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the Leader of the Opposition to describe a proper request for staffing and research assistance, as the Greens and other Independents have made, as a personal benefit is very, very tawdry.
Mr E.S. Ripper : You won’t answer that question. You’re scared to answer that question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition is not being quiet, polite or courteous. Mr E.S. Ripper : Confront the reality of what she said last night and answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The issue of the staffing — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker, there is no point. Mr P. Papalia interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Warnbro, I formally call you to order for the first time. I will note, members, that we have managed to get through two and a half questions in 20 minutes. It is my impression that the Premier is endeavouring to answer the question, but there seem to be consistent and continual interjections. Mr C.J. BARNETT : So, Mr Speaker — Mr M.P. Whitely interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat Premier. Member for Bassendean, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : There are no conditions on the allocation of staff to the member for Alfred Cove and the member for Kalgoorlie. The issue of staffing for the member for Fremantle has not progressed beyond our discussions in early to mid-October, other than, I think, some correspondence or contact between the member and the Department of the Premier and Cabinet; and there is nothing at all wrong with that. No matter has been prepared or taken to cabinet. No further progress has been made on that. Indeed, I restate: this government, if it chooses to make an allocation on staffing, will do it only formally through a cabinet decision with no conditions attached. If the member for Fremantle succeeds, as other members have, in her claim for extra staffing, which has considerable merit, it will be on the basis of no conditions, but it will be a formal cabinet decision. I repeat, the Leader of the Opposition has obviously spent a lot of time on this. He should now have recalled whether his assistance to the Greens under the Gallop government was a cabinet decision or had conditions. Mr E.S. Ripper : You answer my question first. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered yours. Mr E.S. Ripper : You have not answered my question. You haven’t answered question (2). Was she correct or was she not? Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part of the question — Mr E.S. Ripper : Do not miss out the second part; answer the second part. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered. On the third part — Mr E.S. Ripper : On the second part — The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part, “Providing personal benefits”, does the member realise what he is saying? Mr E.S. Ripper : “Providing personal”—yes, I do realise what I’m saying. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do you seriously see the provision of staffing as a personal benefit? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Unbelievable. You have learnt nothing as a government—nothing at all. Mr E.S. Ripper : Born to rule! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the Leader of the Opposition to describe a proper request for staffing and research assistance, as the Greens and other Independents have made, as a personal benefit is very, very tawdry.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition is not being quiet, polite or courteous. Mr E.S. Ripper : Confront the reality of what she said last night and answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The issue of the staffing — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker, there is no point. Mr P. Papalia interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Warnbro, I formally call you to order for the first time. I will note, members, that we have managed to get through two and a half questions in 20 minutes. It is my impression that the Premier is endeavouring to answer the question, but there seem to be consistent and continual interjections. Mr C.J. BARNETT : So, Mr Speaker — Mr M.P. Whitely interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat Premier. Member for Bassendean, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : There are no conditions on the allocation of staff to the member for Alfred Cove and the member for Kalgoorlie. The issue of staffing for the member for Fremantle has not progressed beyond our discussions in early to mid-October, other than, I think, some correspondence or contact between the member and the Department of the Premier and Cabinet; and there is nothing at all wrong with that. No matter has been prepared or taken to cabinet. No further progress has been made on that. Indeed, I restate: this government, if it chooses to make an allocation on staffing, will do it only formally through a cabinet decision with no conditions attached. If the member for Fremantle succeeds, as other members have, in her claim for extra staffing, which has considerable merit, it will be on the basis of no conditions, but it will be a formal cabinet decision. I repeat, the Leader of the Opposition has obviously spent a lot of time on this. He should now have recalled whether his assistance to the Greens under the Gallop government was a cabinet decision or had conditions. Mr E.S. Ripper : You answer my question first. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered yours. Mr E.S. Ripper : You have not answered my question. You haven’t answered question (2). Was she correct or was she not? Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part of the question — Mr E.S. Ripper : Do not miss out the second part; answer the second part. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered. On the third part — Mr E.S. Ripper : On the second part — The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part, “Providing personal benefits”, does the member realise what he is saying? Mr E.S. Ripper : “Providing personal”—yes, I do realise what I’m saying. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do you seriously see the provision of staffing as a personal benefit? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Unbelievable. You have learnt nothing as a government—nothing at all. Mr E.S. Ripper : Born to rule! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the Leader of the Opposition to describe a proper request for staffing and research assistance, as the Greens and other Independents have made, as a personal benefit is very, very tawdry.
Mr E.S. Ripper : Confront the reality of what she said last night and answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The issue of the staffing — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker, there is no point. Mr P. Papalia interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Warnbro, I formally call you to order for the first time. I will note, members, that we have managed to get through two and a half questions in 20 minutes. It is my impression that the Premier is endeavouring to answer the question, but there seem to be consistent and continual interjections. Mr C.J. BARNETT : So, Mr Speaker — Mr M.P. Whitely interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat Premier. Member for Bassendean, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : There are no conditions on the allocation of staff to the member for Alfred Cove and the member for Kalgoorlie. The issue of staffing for the member for Fremantle has not progressed beyond our discussions in early to mid-October, other than, I think, some correspondence or contact between the member and the Department of the Premier and Cabinet; and there is nothing at all wrong with that. No matter has been prepared or taken to cabinet. No further progress has been made on that. Indeed, I restate: this government, if it chooses to make an allocation on staffing, will do it only formally through a cabinet decision with no conditions attached. If the member for Fremantle succeeds, as other members have, in her claim for extra staffing, which has considerable merit, it will be on the basis of no conditions, but it will be a formal cabinet decision. I repeat, the Leader of the Opposition has obviously spent a lot of time on this. He should now have recalled whether his assistance to the Greens under the Gallop government was a cabinet decision or had conditions. Mr E.S. Ripper : You answer my question first. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered yours. Mr E.S. Ripper : You have not answered my question. You haven’t answered question (2). Was she correct or was she not? Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part of the question — Mr E.S. Ripper : Do not miss out the second part; answer the second part. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered. On the third part — Mr E.S. Ripper : On the second part — The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part, “Providing personal benefits”, does the member realise what he is saying? Mr E.S. Ripper : “Providing personal”—yes, I do realise what I’m saying. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do you seriously see the provision of staffing as a personal benefit? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Unbelievable. You have learnt nothing as a government—nothing at all. Mr E.S. Ripper : Born to rule! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the Leader of the Opposition to describe a proper request for staffing and research assistance, as the Greens and other Independents have made, as a personal benefit is very, very tawdry.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : The issue of the staffing — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker, there is no point. Mr P. Papalia interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Warnbro, I formally call you to order for the first time. I will note, members, that we have managed to get through two and a half questions in 20 minutes. It is my impression that the Premier is endeavouring to answer the question, but there seem to be consistent and continual interjections. Mr C.J. BARNETT : So, Mr Speaker — Mr M.P. Whitely interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat Premier. Member for Bassendean, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : There are no conditions on the allocation of staff to the member for Alfred Cove and the member for Kalgoorlie. The issue of staffing for the member for Fremantle has not progressed beyond our discussions in early to mid-October, other than, I think, some correspondence or contact between the member and the Department of the Premier and Cabinet; and there is nothing at all wrong with that. No matter has been prepared or taken to cabinet. No further progress has been made on that. Indeed, I restate: this government, if it chooses to make an allocation on staffing, will do it only formally through a cabinet decision with no conditions attached. If the member for Fremantle succeeds, as other members have, in her claim for extra staffing, which has considerable merit, it will be on the basis of no conditions, but it will be a formal cabinet decision. I repeat, the Leader of the Opposition has obviously spent a lot of time on this. He should now have recalled whether his assistance to the Greens under the Gallop government was a cabinet decision or had conditions. Mr E.S. Ripper : You answer my question first. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered yours. Mr E.S. Ripper : You have not answered my question. You haven’t answered question (2). Was she correct or was she not? Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part of the question — Mr E.S. Ripper : Do not miss out the second part; answer the second part. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered. On the third part — Mr E.S. Ripper : On the second part — The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part, “Providing personal benefits”, does the member realise what he is saying? Mr E.S. Ripper : “Providing personal”—yes, I do realise what I’m saying. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do you seriously see the provision of staffing as a personal benefit? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Unbelievable. You have learnt nothing as a government—nothing at all. Mr E.S. Ripper : Born to rule! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the Leader of the Opposition to describe a proper request for staffing and research assistance, as the Greens and other Independents have made, as a personal benefit is very, very tawdry.
Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker, there is no point. Mr P. Papalia interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Warnbro, I formally call you to order for the first time. I will note, members, that we have managed to get through two and a half questions in 20 minutes. It is my impression that the Premier is endeavouring to answer the question, but there seem to be consistent and continual interjections. Mr C.J. BARNETT : So, Mr Speaker — Mr M.P. Whitely interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat Premier. Member for Bassendean, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : There are no conditions on the allocation of staff to the member for Alfred Cove and the member for Kalgoorlie. The issue of staffing for the member for Fremantle has not progressed beyond our discussions in early to mid-October, other than, I think, some correspondence or contact between the member and the Department of the Premier and Cabinet; and there is nothing at all wrong with that. No matter has been prepared or taken to cabinet. No further progress has been made on that. Indeed, I restate: this government, if it chooses to make an allocation on staffing, will do it only formally through a cabinet decision with no conditions attached. If the member for Fremantle succeeds, as other members have, in her claim for extra staffing, which has considerable merit, it will be on the basis of no conditions, but it will be a formal cabinet decision. I repeat, the Leader of the Opposition has obviously spent a lot of time on this. He should now have recalled whether his assistance to the Greens under the Gallop government was a cabinet decision or had conditions. Mr E.S. Ripper : You answer my question first. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered yours. Mr E.S. Ripper : You have not answered my question. You haven’t answered question (2). Was she correct or was she not? Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part of the question — Mr E.S. Ripper : Do not miss out the second part; answer the second part. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered. On the third part — Mr E.S. Ripper : On the second part — The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part, “Providing personal benefits”, does the member realise what he is saying? Mr E.S. Ripper : “Providing personal”—yes, I do realise what I’m saying. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do you seriously see the provision of staffing as a personal benefit? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Unbelievable. You have learnt nothing as a government—nothing at all. Mr E.S. Ripper : Born to rule! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the Leader of the Opposition to describe a proper request for staffing and research assistance, as the Greens and other Independents have made, as a personal benefit is very, very tawdry.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker, there is no point. Mr P. Papalia interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Warnbro, I formally call you to order for the first time. I will note, members, that we have managed to get through two and a half questions in 20 minutes. It is my impression that the Premier is endeavouring to answer the question, but there seem to be consistent and continual interjections. Mr C.J. BARNETT : So, Mr Speaker — Mr M.P. Whitely interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat Premier. Member for Bassendean, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : There are no conditions on the allocation of staff to the member for Alfred Cove and the member for Kalgoorlie. The issue of staffing for the member for Fremantle has not progressed beyond our discussions in early to mid-October, other than, I think, some correspondence or contact between the member and the Department of the Premier and Cabinet; and there is nothing at all wrong with that. No matter has been prepared or taken to cabinet. No further progress has been made on that. Indeed, I restate: this government, if it chooses to make an allocation on staffing, will do it only formally through a cabinet decision with no conditions attached. If the member for Fremantle succeeds, as other members have, in her claim for extra staffing, which has considerable merit, it will be on the basis of no conditions, but it will be a formal cabinet decision. I repeat, the Leader of the Opposition has obviously spent a lot of time on this. He should now have recalled whether his assistance to the Greens under the Gallop government was a cabinet decision or had conditions. Mr E.S. Ripper : You answer my question first. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered yours. Mr E.S. Ripper : You have not answered my question. You haven’t answered question (2). Was she correct or was she not? Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part of the question — Mr E.S. Ripper : Do not miss out the second part; answer the second part. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered. On the third part — Mr E.S. Ripper : On the second part — The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part, “Providing personal benefits”, does the member realise what he is saying? Mr E.S. Ripper : “Providing personal”—yes, I do realise what I’m saying. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do you seriously see the provision of staffing as a personal benefit? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Unbelievable. You have learnt nothing as a government—nothing at all. Mr E.S. Ripper : Born to rule! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the Leader of the Opposition to describe a proper request for staffing and research assistance, as the Greens and other Independents have made, as a personal benefit is very, very tawdry.
Mr P. Papalia interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Warnbro, I formally call you to order for the first time. I will note, members, that we have managed to get through two and a half questions in 20 minutes. It is my impression that the Premier is endeavouring to answer the question, but there seem to be consistent and continual interjections. Mr C.J. BARNETT : So, Mr Speaker — Mr M.P. Whitely interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat Premier. Member for Bassendean, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : There are no conditions on the allocation of staff to the member for Alfred Cove and the member for Kalgoorlie. The issue of staffing for the member for Fremantle has not progressed beyond our discussions in early to mid-October, other than, I think, some correspondence or contact between the member and the Department of the Premier and Cabinet; and there is nothing at all wrong with that. No matter has been prepared or taken to cabinet. No further progress has been made on that. Indeed, I restate: this government, if it chooses to make an allocation on staffing, will do it only formally through a cabinet decision with no conditions attached. If the member for Fremantle succeeds, as other members have, in her claim for extra staffing, which has considerable merit, it will be on the basis of no conditions, but it will be a formal cabinet decision. I repeat, the Leader of the Opposition has obviously spent a lot of time on this. He should now have recalled whether his assistance to the Greens under the Gallop government was a cabinet decision or had conditions. Mr E.S. Ripper : You answer my question first. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered yours. Mr E.S. Ripper : You have not answered my question. You haven’t answered question (2). Was she correct or was she not? Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part of the question — Mr E.S. Ripper : Do not miss out the second part; answer the second part. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered. On the third part — Mr E.S. Ripper : On the second part — The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part, “Providing personal benefits”, does the member realise what he is saying? Mr E.S. Ripper : “Providing personal”—yes, I do realise what I’m saying. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do you seriously see the provision of staffing as a personal benefit? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Unbelievable. You have learnt nothing as a government—nothing at all. Mr E.S. Ripper : Born to rule! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the Leader of the Opposition to describe a proper request for staffing and research assistance, as the Greens and other Independents have made, as a personal benefit is very, very tawdry.
The SPEAKER : Member for Warnbro, I formally call you to order for the first time. I will note, members, that we have managed to get through two and a half questions in 20 minutes. It is my impression that the Premier is endeavouring to answer the question, but there seem to be consistent and continual interjections. Mr C.J. BARNETT : So, Mr Speaker — Mr M.P. Whitely interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat Premier. Member for Bassendean, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : There are no conditions on the allocation of staff to the member for Alfred Cove and the member for Kalgoorlie. The issue of staffing for the member for Fremantle has not progressed beyond our discussions in early to mid-October, other than, I think, some correspondence or contact between the member and the Department of the Premier and Cabinet; and there is nothing at all wrong with that. No matter has been prepared or taken to cabinet. No further progress has been made on that. Indeed, I restate: this government, if it chooses to make an allocation on staffing, will do it only formally through a cabinet decision with no conditions attached. If the member for Fremantle succeeds, as other members have, in her claim for extra staffing, which has considerable merit, it will be on the basis of no conditions, but it will be a formal cabinet decision. I repeat, the Leader of the Opposition has obviously spent a lot of time on this. He should now have recalled whether his assistance to the Greens under the Gallop government was a cabinet decision or had conditions. Mr E.S. Ripper : You answer my question first. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered yours. Mr E.S. Ripper : You have not answered my question. You haven’t answered question (2). Was she correct or was she not? Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part of the question — Mr E.S. Ripper : Do not miss out the second part; answer the second part. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered. On the third part — Mr E.S. Ripper : On the second part — The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part, “Providing personal benefits”, does the member realise what he is saying? Mr E.S. Ripper : “Providing personal”—yes, I do realise what I’m saying. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do you seriously see the provision of staffing as a personal benefit? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Unbelievable. You have learnt nothing as a government—nothing at all. Mr E.S. Ripper : Born to rule! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the Leader of the Opposition to describe a proper request for staffing and research assistance, as the Greens and other Independents have made, as a personal benefit is very, very tawdry.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : So, Mr Speaker — Mr M.P. Whitely interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat Premier. Member for Bassendean, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : There are no conditions on the allocation of staff to the member for Alfred Cove and the member for Kalgoorlie. The issue of staffing for the member for Fremantle has not progressed beyond our discussions in early to mid-October, other than, I think, some correspondence or contact between the member and the Department of the Premier and Cabinet; and there is nothing at all wrong with that. No matter has been prepared or taken to cabinet. No further progress has been made on that. Indeed, I restate: this government, if it chooses to make an allocation on staffing, will do it only formally through a cabinet decision with no conditions attached. If the member for Fremantle succeeds, as other members have, in her claim for extra staffing, which has considerable merit, it will be on the basis of no conditions, but it will be a formal cabinet decision. I repeat, the Leader of the Opposition has obviously spent a lot of time on this. He should now have recalled whether his assistance to the Greens under the Gallop government was a cabinet decision or had conditions. Mr E.S. Ripper : You answer my question first. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered yours. Mr E.S. Ripper : You have not answered my question. You haven’t answered question (2). Was she correct or was she not? Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part of the question — Mr E.S. Ripper : Do not miss out the second part; answer the second part. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered. On the third part — Mr E.S. Ripper : On the second part — The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part, “Providing personal benefits”, does the member realise what he is saying? Mr E.S. Ripper : “Providing personal”—yes, I do realise what I’m saying. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do you seriously see the provision of staffing as a personal benefit? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Unbelievable. You have learnt nothing as a government—nothing at all. Mr E.S. Ripper : Born to rule! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the Leader of the Opposition to describe a proper request for staffing and research assistance, as the Greens and other Independents have made, as a personal benefit is very, very tawdry.
Mr M.P. Whitely interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat Premier. Member for Bassendean, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : There are no conditions on the allocation of staff to the member for Alfred Cove and the member for Kalgoorlie. The issue of staffing for the member for Fremantle has not progressed beyond our discussions in early to mid-October, other than, I think, some correspondence or contact between the member and the Department of the Premier and Cabinet; and there is nothing at all wrong with that. No matter has been prepared or taken to cabinet. No further progress has been made on that. Indeed, I restate: this government, if it chooses to make an allocation on staffing, will do it only formally through a cabinet decision with no conditions attached. If the member for Fremantle succeeds, as other members have, in her claim for extra staffing, which has considerable merit, it will be on the basis of no conditions, but it will be a formal cabinet decision. I repeat, the Leader of the Opposition has obviously spent a lot of time on this. He should now have recalled whether his assistance to the Greens under the Gallop government was a cabinet decision or had conditions. Mr E.S. Ripper : You answer my question first. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered yours. Mr E.S. Ripper : You have not answered my question. You haven’t answered question (2). Was she correct or was she not? Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part of the question — Mr E.S. Ripper : Do not miss out the second part; answer the second part. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered. On the third part — Mr E.S. Ripper : On the second part — The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part, “Providing personal benefits”, does the member realise what he is saying? Mr E.S. Ripper : “Providing personal”—yes, I do realise what I’m saying. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do you seriously see the provision of staffing as a personal benefit? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Unbelievable. You have learnt nothing as a government—nothing at all. Mr E.S. Ripper : Born to rule! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the Leader of the Opposition to describe a proper request for staffing and research assistance, as the Greens and other Independents have made, as a personal benefit is very, very tawdry.
The SPEAKER : Take a seat Premier. Member for Bassendean, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : There are no conditions on the allocation of staff to the member for Alfred Cove and the member for Kalgoorlie. The issue of staffing for the member for Fremantle has not progressed beyond our discussions in early to mid-October, other than, I think, some correspondence or contact between the member and the Department of the Premier and Cabinet; and there is nothing at all wrong with that. No matter has been prepared or taken to cabinet. No further progress has been made on that. Indeed, I restate: this government, if it chooses to make an allocation on staffing, will do it only formally through a cabinet decision with no conditions attached. If the member for Fremantle succeeds, as other members have, in her claim for extra staffing, which has considerable merit, it will be on the basis of no conditions, but it will be a formal cabinet decision. I repeat, the Leader of the Opposition has obviously spent a lot of time on this. He should now have recalled whether his assistance to the Greens under the Gallop government was a cabinet decision or had conditions. Mr E.S. Ripper : You answer my question first. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered yours. Mr E.S. Ripper : You have not answered my question. You haven’t answered question (2). Was she correct or was she not? Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part of the question — Mr E.S. Ripper : Do not miss out the second part; answer the second part. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered. On the third part — Mr E.S. Ripper : On the second part — The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part, “Providing personal benefits”, does the member realise what he is saying? Mr E.S. Ripper : “Providing personal”—yes, I do realise what I’m saying. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do you seriously see the provision of staffing as a personal benefit? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Unbelievable. You have learnt nothing as a government—nothing at all. Mr E.S. Ripper : Born to rule! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the Leader of the Opposition to describe a proper request for staffing and research assistance, as the Greens and other Independents have made, as a personal benefit is very, very tawdry.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : There are no conditions on the allocation of staff to the member for Alfred Cove and the member for Kalgoorlie. The issue of staffing for the member for Fremantle has not progressed beyond our discussions in early to mid-October, other than, I think, some correspondence or contact between the member and the Department of the Premier and Cabinet; and there is nothing at all wrong with that. No matter has been prepared or taken to cabinet. No further progress has been made on that. Indeed, I restate: this government, if it chooses to make an allocation on staffing, will do it only formally through a cabinet decision with no conditions attached. If the member for Fremantle succeeds, as other members have, in her claim for extra staffing, which has considerable merit, it will be on the basis of no conditions, but it will be a formal cabinet decision. I repeat, the Leader of the Opposition has obviously spent a lot of time on this. He should now have recalled whether his assistance to the Greens under the Gallop government was a cabinet decision or had conditions. Mr E.S. Ripper : You answer my question first. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered yours. Mr E.S. Ripper : You have not answered my question. You haven’t answered question (2). Was she correct or was she not? Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part of the question — Mr E.S. Ripper : Do not miss out the second part; answer the second part. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered. On the third part — Mr E.S. Ripper : On the second part — The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part, “Providing personal benefits”, does the member realise what he is saying? Mr E.S. Ripper : “Providing personal”—yes, I do realise what I’m saying. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do you seriously see the provision of staffing as a personal benefit? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Unbelievable. You have learnt nothing as a government—nothing at all. Mr E.S. Ripper : Born to rule! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the Leader of the Opposition to describe a proper request for staffing and research assistance, as the Greens and other Independents have made, as a personal benefit is very, very tawdry.
Mr E.S. Ripper : You answer my question first. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered yours. Mr E.S. Ripper : You have not answered my question. You haven’t answered question (2). Was she correct or was she not? Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part of the question — Mr E.S. Ripper : Do not miss out the second part; answer the second part. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered. On the third part — Mr E.S. Ripper : On the second part — The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part, “Providing personal benefits”, does the member realise what he is saying? Mr E.S. Ripper : “Providing personal”—yes, I do realise what I’m saying. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do you seriously see the provision of staffing as a personal benefit? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Unbelievable. You have learnt nothing as a government—nothing at all. Mr E.S. Ripper : Born to rule! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the Leader of the Opposition to describe a proper request for staffing and research assistance, as the Greens and other Independents have made, as a personal benefit is very, very tawdry.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered yours. Mr E.S. Ripper : You have not answered my question. You haven’t answered question (2). Was she correct or was she not? Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part of the question — Mr E.S. Ripper : Do not miss out the second part; answer the second part. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered. On the third part — Mr E.S. Ripper : On the second part — The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part, “Providing personal benefits”, does the member realise what he is saying? Mr E.S. Ripper : “Providing personal”—yes, I do realise what I’m saying. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do you seriously see the provision of staffing as a personal benefit? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Unbelievable. You have learnt nothing as a government—nothing at all. Mr E.S. Ripper : Born to rule! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the Leader of the Opposition to describe a proper request for staffing and research assistance, as the Greens and other Independents have made, as a personal benefit is very, very tawdry.
Mr E.S. Ripper : You have not answered my question. You haven’t answered question (2). Was she correct or was she not? Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part of the question — Mr E.S. Ripper : Do not miss out the second part; answer the second part. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered. On the third part — Mr E.S. Ripper : On the second part — The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part, “Providing personal benefits”, does the member realise what he is saying? Mr E.S. Ripper : “Providing personal”—yes, I do realise what I’m saying. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do you seriously see the provision of staffing as a personal benefit? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Unbelievable. You have learnt nothing as a government—nothing at all. Mr E.S. Ripper : Born to rule! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the Leader of the Opposition to describe a proper request for staffing and research assistance, as the Greens and other Independents have made, as a personal benefit is very, very tawdry.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part of the question — Mr E.S. Ripper : Do not miss out the second part; answer the second part. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered. On the third part — Mr E.S. Ripper : On the second part — The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part, “Providing personal benefits”, does the member realise what he is saying? Mr E.S. Ripper : “Providing personal”—yes, I do realise what I’m saying. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do you seriously see the provision of staffing as a personal benefit? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Unbelievable. You have learnt nothing as a government—nothing at all. Mr E.S. Ripper : Born to rule! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the Leader of the Opposition to describe a proper request for staffing and research assistance, as the Greens and other Independents have made, as a personal benefit is very, very tawdry.
Mr E.S. Ripper : Do not miss out the second part; answer the second part. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered. On the third part — Mr E.S. Ripper : On the second part — The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part, “Providing personal benefits”, does the member realise what he is saying? Mr E.S. Ripper : “Providing personal”—yes, I do realise what I’m saying. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do you seriously see the provision of staffing as a personal benefit? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Unbelievable. You have learnt nothing as a government—nothing at all. Mr E.S. Ripper : Born to rule! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the Leader of the Opposition to describe a proper request for staffing and research assistance, as the Greens and other Independents have made, as a personal benefit is very, very tawdry.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered. On the third part — Mr E.S. Ripper : On the second part — The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part, “Providing personal benefits”, does the member realise what he is saying? Mr E.S. Ripper : “Providing personal”—yes, I do realise what I’m saying. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do you seriously see the provision of staffing as a personal benefit? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Unbelievable. You have learnt nothing as a government—nothing at all. Mr E.S. Ripper : Born to rule! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the Leader of the Opposition to describe a proper request for staffing and research assistance, as the Greens and other Independents have made, as a personal benefit is very, very tawdry.
Mr E.S. Ripper : On the second part — The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part, “Providing personal benefits”, does the member realise what he is saying? Mr E.S. Ripper : “Providing personal”—yes, I do realise what I’m saying. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do you seriously see the provision of staffing as a personal benefit? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Unbelievable. You have learnt nothing as a government—nothing at all. Mr E.S. Ripper : Born to rule! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the Leader of the Opposition to describe a proper request for staffing and research assistance, as the Greens and other Independents have made, as a personal benefit is very, very tawdry.
The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part, “Providing personal benefits”, does the member realise what he is saying? Mr E.S. Ripper : “Providing personal”—yes, I do realise what I’m saying. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do you seriously see the provision of staffing as a personal benefit? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Unbelievable. You have learnt nothing as a government—nothing at all. Mr E.S. Ripper : Born to rule! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the Leader of the Opposition to describe a proper request for staffing and research assistance, as the Greens and other Independents have made, as a personal benefit is very, very tawdry.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part, “Providing personal benefits”, does the member realise what he is saying? Mr E.S. Ripper : “Providing personal”—yes, I do realise what I’m saying. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do you seriously see the provision of staffing as a personal benefit? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Unbelievable. You have learnt nothing as a government—nothing at all. Mr E.S. Ripper : Born to rule! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the Leader of the Opposition to describe a proper request for staffing and research assistance, as the Greens and other Independents have made, as a personal benefit is very, very tawdry.
Mr E.S. Ripper : “Providing personal”—yes, I do realise what I’m saying. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do you seriously see the provision of staffing as a personal benefit? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Unbelievable. You have learnt nothing as a government—nothing at all. Mr E.S. Ripper : Born to rule! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the Leader of the Opposition to describe a proper request for staffing and research assistance, as the Greens and other Independents have made, as a personal benefit is very, very tawdry.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do you seriously see the provision of staffing as a personal benefit? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Unbelievable. You have learnt nothing as a government—nothing at all. Mr E.S. Ripper : Born to rule! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the Leader of the Opposition to describe a proper request for staffing and research assistance, as the Greens and other Independents have made, as a personal benefit is very, very tawdry.
Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Unbelievable. You have learnt nothing as a government—nothing at all. Mr E.S. Ripper : Born to rule! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the Leader of the Opposition to describe a proper request for staffing and research assistance, as the Greens and other Independents have made, as a personal benefit is very, very tawdry.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Unbelievable. You have learnt nothing as a government—nothing at all. Mr E.S. Ripper : Born to rule! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the Leader of the Opposition to describe a proper request for staffing and research assistance, as the Greens and other Independents have made, as a personal benefit is very, very tawdry.
Mr E.S. Ripper : Born to rule! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the Leader of the Opposition to describe a proper request for staffing and research assistance, as the Greens and other Independents have made, as a personal benefit is very, very tawdry.
Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the Leader of the Opposition to describe a proper request for staffing and research assistance, as the Greens and other Independents have made, as a personal benefit is very, very tawdry.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the Leader of the Opposition to describe a proper request for staffing and research assistance, as the Greens and other Independents have made, as a personal benefit is very, very tawdry.
(1) Did the member for Vasse play any role in these negotiations? (2) Was the member for Fremantle correct, when in full knowledge, by then, of the serious implications, she said on Channel Nine and ABC news last night, “My view is that those were the conditions that were agreed to and then that would entitle me to an additional staff member”? (3) Does the Premier concede that providing personal benefits to a member of Parliament in exchange for votes is improper and corrupt? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)–(3) The member for Vasse played no role at all. The member for Vasse rang me on the Friday night before this item appeared in the media to tell me that journalists had been in contact on an issue relating to the staffing of the member for Fremantle. May I make it very, very clear that the approach to me by the member for Fremantle was direct to me, and in no way involved the member for Vasse or any other member of Parliament. Mr P.B. Watson interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, if you have a contribution, I would prefer it to be a question in this place. I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : When members on either side of the house approach me on issues to do with their electorates or their constituencies, I treat them in confidence and deal with them on the basis on which they are raised with me. The member for Fremantle had approached me to discuss her staffing and office issues, as indeed members opposite have. We met in my office at Parliament House and the issue was discussed. The member for Vasse was not involved. Mr E.S. Ripper : Is the member for Fremantle correct in what she said on the TV news last night? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am trying to answer the Leader of the Opposition’s question. The second part related to conditions. When additional resources were made available to the members for Alfred Cove and Kalgoorlie and, might I add, the Greens (WA), who had repeatedly approached me about extra resources for them, and there is a trail of correspondence to verify that — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am making the point that the member for Fremantle was not alone. Mr E.S. Ripper : This is about linking support to votes. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am trying to answer the Leader of the Opposition’s question. Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s not about support. Don’t muddy the waters. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The idea is that the Leader of the Opposition asks the question and I answer it. With respect to conditions, I do not know how the previous government operated, but this government operates formally and correctly on advice through a cabinet process. Mr E.S. Ripper : She says that you did a deal. Did you? Mr C.J. BARNETT : With respect to the approach made by the member for Alfred Cove, if my memory serves me correctly, the member for Alfred Cove made a very strong case for support to deal with legislation as an Independent. When that issue arose and the request from the Greens was made on several occasions, this government took the issue through the proper public sector process to cabinet for a formal cabinet decision. That cabinet decision was to provide extra resources to the Greens and the two Independents at the time. That cabinet decision contains no condition at all. The reason I raise that is that back in 2005, the then Labor government provided financial resources to the Greens. I ask the question: did the Leader of the Opposition, as then Treasurer, provide those financial resources to the Greens in 2005 and did he do it through a cabinet decision or not? Mr E.S. Ripper : I would have to check the cabinet record. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition would have to check the cabinet record! Let me help him out because I recall the events. I think, members, it was to do with the passage of the one vote, one value legislation. The then Labor government could not get it through the upper house. The former member for Fremantle, Jim McGinty, had discussions with the Greens, and out of those discussions came an agreement, plus a staff position for the Greens. I again ask the Leader of the Opposition: when he was Treasurer, did it go to cabinet and was it a formal cabinet decision? Mr E.S. Ripper : Premier, before I answer your questions, why don’t you answer my question? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have told the Leader of the Opposition what this government does. Mr E.S. Ripper : No; you haven’t answered my question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, I have. Come on! Mr E.S. Ripper : You haven’t answered my question, which is: is the member for Fremantle correct in what she said? Mr C.J. BARNETT : The former chief of staff of former Premier Geoff Gallop is up the back; she will know. The Leader of the Opposition should ask her whether it was a cabinet decision. Mr P. Papalia : You’re really worried about this, aren’t you? Mr C.J. BARNETT : We can pause and have a two-minute time-out so that the Leader of the Opposition can run up to the back bench and ask the former chief of staff to Premier Gallop whether there was a cabinet decision on that. We will pause for a minute. Several members interjected. Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer your question. Don’t try to distract and deflect. Don’t go back five years. Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the question. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’re not answering the question. Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the question. I make the point that there was no condition on the funding to the other members. Mr E.S. Ripper : What about the member for Fremantle? Is she correct in what she told the media last night? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If the government — Mr E.S. Ripper : You won’t answer that question. You’re scared to answer that question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition is not being quiet, polite or courteous. Mr E.S. Ripper : Confront the reality of what she said last night and answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The issue of the staffing — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker, there is no point. Mr P. Papalia interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Warnbro, I formally call you to order for the first time. I will note, members, that we have managed to get through two and a half questions in 20 minutes. It is my impression that the Premier is endeavouring to answer the question, but there seem to be consistent and continual interjections. Mr C.J. BARNETT : So, Mr Speaker — Mr M.P. Whitely interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat Premier. Member for Bassendean, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : There are no conditions on the allocation of staff to the member for Alfred Cove and the member for Kalgoorlie. The issue of staffing for the member for Fremantle has not progressed beyond our discussions in early to mid-October, other than, I think, some correspondence or contact between the member and the Department of the Premier and Cabinet; and there is nothing at all wrong with that. No matter has been prepared or taken to cabinet. No further progress has been made on that. Indeed, I restate: this government, if it chooses to make an allocation on staffing, will do it only formally through a cabinet decision with no conditions attached. If the member for Fremantle succeeds, as other members have, in her claim for extra staffing, which has considerable merit, it will be on the basis of no conditions, but it will be a formal cabinet decision. I repeat, the Leader of the Opposition has obviously spent a lot of time on this. He should now have recalled whether his assistance to the Greens under the Gallop government was a cabinet decision or had conditions. Mr E.S. Ripper : You answer my question first. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered yours. Mr E.S. Ripper : You have not answered my question. You haven’t answered question (2). Was she correct or was she not? Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part of the question — Mr E.S. Ripper : Do not miss out the second part; answer the second part. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered. On the third part — Mr E.S. Ripper : On the second part — The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part, “Providing personal benefits”, does the member realise what he is saying? Mr E.S. Ripper : “Providing personal”—yes, I do realise what I’m saying. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do you seriously see the provision of staffing as a personal benefit? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Unbelievable. You have learnt nothing as a government—nothing at all. Mr E.S. Ripper : Born to rule! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the Leader of the Opposition to describe a proper request for staffing and research assistance, as the Greens and other Independents have made, as a personal benefit is very, very tawdry.
(2) Was the member for Fremantle correct, when in full knowledge, by then, of the serious implications, she said on Channel Nine and ABC news last night, “My view is that those were the conditions that were agreed to and then that would entitle me to an additional staff member”? (3) Does the Premier concede that providing personal benefits to a member of Parliament in exchange for votes is improper and corrupt? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)–(3) The member for Vasse played no role at all. The member for Vasse rang me on the Friday night before this item appeared in the media to tell me that journalists had been in contact on an issue relating to the staffing of the member for Fremantle. May I make it very, very clear that the approach to me by the member for Fremantle was direct to me, and in no way involved the member for Vasse or any other member of Parliament. Mr P.B. Watson interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, if you have a contribution, I would prefer it to be a question in this place. I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : When members on either side of the house approach me on issues to do with their electorates or their constituencies, I treat them in confidence and deal with them on the basis on which they are raised with me. The member for Fremantle had approached me to discuss her staffing and office issues, as indeed members opposite have. We met in my office at Parliament House and the issue was discussed. The member for Vasse was not involved. Mr E.S. Ripper : Is the member for Fremantle correct in what she said on the TV news last night? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am trying to answer the Leader of the Opposition’s question. The second part related to conditions. When additional resources were made available to the members for Alfred Cove and Kalgoorlie and, might I add, the Greens (WA), who had repeatedly approached me about extra resources for them, and there is a trail of correspondence to verify that — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am making the point that the member for Fremantle was not alone. Mr E.S. Ripper : This is about linking support to votes. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am trying to answer the Leader of the Opposition’s question. Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s not about support. Don’t muddy the waters. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The idea is that the Leader of the Opposition asks the question and I answer it. With respect to conditions, I do not know how the previous government operated, but this government operates formally and correctly on advice through a cabinet process. Mr E.S. Ripper : She says that you did a deal. Did you? Mr C.J. BARNETT : With respect to the approach made by the member for Alfred Cove, if my memory serves me correctly, the member for Alfred Cove made a very strong case for support to deal with legislation as an Independent. When that issue arose and the request from the Greens was made on several occasions, this government took the issue through the proper public sector process to cabinet for a formal cabinet decision. That cabinet decision was to provide extra resources to the Greens and the two Independents at the time. That cabinet decision contains no condition at all. The reason I raise that is that back in 2005, the then Labor government provided financial resources to the Greens. I ask the question: did the Leader of the Opposition, as then Treasurer, provide those financial resources to the Greens in 2005 and did he do it through a cabinet decision or not? Mr E.S. Ripper : I would have to check the cabinet record. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition would have to check the cabinet record! Let me help him out because I recall the events. I think, members, it was to do with the passage of the one vote, one value legislation. The then Labor government could not get it through the upper house. The former member for Fremantle, Jim McGinty, had discussions with the Greens, and out of those discussions came an agreement, plus a staff position for the Greens. I again ask the Leader of the Opposition: when he was Treasurer, did it go to cabinet and was it a formal cabinet decision? Mr E.S. Ripper : Premier, before I answer your questions, why don’t you answer my question? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have told the Leader of the Opposition what this government does. Mr E.S. Ripper : No; you haven’t answered my question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, I have. Come on! Mr E.S. Ripper : You haven’t answered my question, which is: is the member for Fremantle correct in what she said? Mr C.J. BARNETT : The former chief of staff of former Premier Geoff Gallop is up the back; she will know. The Leader of the Opposition should ask her whether it was a cabinet decision. Mr P. Papalia : You’re really worried about this, aren’t you? Mr C.J. BARNETT : We can pause and have a two-minute time-out so that the Leader of the Opposition can run up to the back bench and ask the former chief of staff to Premier Gallop whether there was a cabinet decision on that. We will pause for a minute. Several members interjected. Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer your question. Don’t try to distract and deflect. Don’t go back five years. Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the question. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’re not answering the question. Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the question. I make the point that there was no condition on the funding to the other members. Mr E.S. Ripper : What about the member for Fremantle? Is she correct in what she told the media last night? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If the government — Mr E.S. Ripper : You won’t answer that question. You’re scared to answer that question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition is not being quiet, polite or courteous. Mr E.S. Ripper : Confront the reality of what she said last night and answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The issue of the staffing — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker, there is no point. Mr P. Papalia interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Warnbro, I formally call you to order for the first time. I will note, members, that we have managed to get through two and a half questions in 20 minutes. It is my impression that the Premier is endeavouring to answer the question, but there seem to be consistent and continual interjections. Mr C.J. BARNETT : So, Mr Speaker — Mr M.P. Whitely interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat Premier. Member for Bassendean, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : There are no conditions on the allocation of staff to the member for Alfred Cove and the member for Kalgoorlie. The issue of staffing for the member for Fremantle has not progressed beyond our discussions in early to mid-October, other than, I think, some correspondence or contact between the member and the Department of the Premier and Cabinet; and there is nothing at all wrong with that. No matter has been prepared or taken to cabinet. No further progress has been made on that. Indeed, I restate: this government, if it chooses to make an allocation on staffing, will do it only formally through a cabinet decision with no conditions attached. If the member for Fremantle succeeds, as other members have, in her claim for extra staffing, which has considerable merit, it will be on the basis of no conditions, but it will be a formal cabinet decision. I repeat, the Leader of the Opposition has obviously spent a lot of time on this. He should now have recalled whether his assistance to the Greens under the Gallop government was a cabinet decision or had conditions. Mr E.S. Ripper : You answer my question first. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered yours. Mr E.S. Ripper : You have not answered my question. You haven’t answered question (2). Was she correct or was she not? Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part of the question — Mr E.S. Ripper : Do not miss out the second part; answer the second part. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered. On the third part — Mr E.S. Ripper : On the second part — The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part, “Providing personal benefits”, does the member realise what he is saying? Mr E.S. Ripper : “Providing personal”—yes, I do realise what I’m saying. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do you seriously see the provision of staffing as a personal benefit? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Unbelievable. You have learnt nothing as a government—nothing at all. Mr E.S. Ripper : Born to rule! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the Leader of the Opposition to describe a proper request for staffing and research assistance, as the Greens and other Independents have made, as a personal benefit is very, very tawdry.
(3) Does the Premier concede that providing personal benefits to a member of Parliament in exchange for votes is improper and corrupt? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)–(3) The member for Vasse played no role at all. The member for Vasse rang me on the Friday night before this item appeared in the media to tell me that journalists had been in contact on an issue relating to the staffing of the member for Fremantle. May I make it very, very clear that the approach to me by the member for Fremantle was direct to me, and in no way involved the member for Vasse or any other member of Parliament. Mr P.B. Watson interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, if you have a contribution, I would prefer it to be a question in this place. I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : When members on either side of the house approach me on issues to do with their electorates or their constituencies, I treat them in confidence and deal with them on the basis on which they are raised with me. The member for Fremantle had approached me to discuss her staffing and office issues, as indeed members opposite have. We met in my office at Parliament House and the issue was discussed. The member for Vasse was not involved. Mr E.S. Ripper : Is the member for Fremantle correct in what she said on the TV news last night? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am trying to answer the Leader of the Opposition’s question. The second part related to conditions. When additional resources were made available to the members for Alfred Cove and Kalgoorlie and, might I add, the Greens (WA), who had repeatedly approached me about extra resources for them, and there is a trail of correspondence to verify that — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am making the point that the member for Fremantle was not alone. Mr E.S. Ripper : This is about linking support to votes. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am trying to answer the Leader of the Opposition’s question. Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s not about support. Don’t muddy the waters. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The idea is that the Leader of the Opposition asks the question and I answer it. With respect to conditions, I do not know how the previous government operated, but this government operates formally and correctly on advice through a cabinet process. Mr E.S. Ripper : She says that you did a deal. Did you? Mr C.J. BARNETT : With respect to the approach made by the member for Alfred Cove, if my memory serves me correctly, the member for Alfred Cove made a very strong case for support to deal with legislation as an Independent. When that issue arose and the request from the Greens was made on several occasions, this government took the issue through the proper public sector process to cabinet for a formal cabinet decision. That cabinet decision was to provide extra resources to the Greens and the two Independents at the time. That cabinet decision contains no condition at all. The reason I raise that is that back in 2005, the then Labor government provided financial resources to the Greens. I ask the question: did the Leader of the Opposition, as then Treasurer, provide those financial resources to the Greens in 2005 and did he do it through a cabinet decision or not? Mr E.S. Ripper : I would have to check the cabinet record. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition would have to check the cabinet record! Let me help him out because I recall the events. I think, members, it was to do with the passage of the one vote, one value legislation. The then Labor government could not get it through the upper house. The former member for Fremantle, Jim McGinty, had discussions with the Greens, and out of those discussions came an agreement, plus a staff position for the Greens. I again ask the Leader of the Opposition: when he was Treasurer, did it go to cabinet and was it a formal cabinet decision? Mr E.S. Ripper : Premier, before I answer your questions, why don’t you answer my question? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have told the Leader of the Opposition what this government does. Mr E.S. Ripper : No; you haven’t answered my question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, I have. Come on! Mr E.S. Ripper : You haven’t answered my question, which is: is the member for Fremantle correct in what she said? Mr C.J. BARNETT : The former chief of staff of former Premier Geoff Gallop is up the back; she will know. The Leader of the Opposition should ask her whether it was a cabinet decision. Mr P. Papalia : You’re really worried about this, aren’t you? Mr C.J. BARNETT : We can pause and have a two-minute time-out so that the Leader of the Opposition can run up to the back bench and ask the former chief of staff to Premier Gallop whether there was a cabinet decision on that. We will pause for a minute. Several members interjected. Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer your question. Don’t try to distract and deflect. Don’t go back five years. Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the question. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’re not answering the question. Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the question. I make the point that there was no condition on the funding to the other members. Mr E.S. Ripper : What about the member for Fremantle? Is she correct in what she told the media last night? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If the government — Mr E.S. Ripper : You won’t answer that question. You’re scared to answer that question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition is not being quiet, polite or courteous. Mr E.S. Ripper : Confront the reality of what she said last night and answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The issue of the staffing — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker, there is no point. Mr P. Papalia interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Warnbro, I formally call you to order for the first time. I will note, members, that we have managed to get through two and a half questions in 20 minutes. It is my impression that the Premier is endeavouring to answer the question, but there seem to be consistent and continual interjections. Mr C.J. BARNETT : So, Mr Speaker — Mr M.P. Whitely interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat Premier. Member for Bassendean, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : There are no conditions on the allocation of staff to the member for Alfred Cove and the member for Kalgoorlie. The issue of staffing for the member for Fremantle has not progressed beyond our discussions in early to mid-October, other than, I think, some correspondence or contact between the member and the Department of the Premier and Cabinet; and there is nothing at all wrong with that. No matter has been prepared or taken to cabinet. No further progress has been made on that. Indeed, I restate: this government, if it chooses to make an allocation on staffing, will do it only formally through a cabinet decision with no conditions attached. If the member for Fremantle succeeds, as other members have, in her claim for extra staffing, which has considerable merit, it will be on the basis of no conditions, but it will be a formal cabinet decision. I repeat, the Leader of the Opposition has obviously spent a lot of time on this. He should now have recalled whether his assistance to the Greens under the Gallop government was a cabinet decision or had conditions. Mr E.S. Ripper : You answer my question first. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered yours. Mr E.S. Ripper : You have not answered my question. You haven’t answered question (2). Was she correct or was she not? Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part of the question — Mr E.S. Ripper : Do not miss out the second part; answer the second part. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered. On the third part — Mr E.S. Ripper : On the second part — The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part, “Providing personal benefits”, does the member realise what he is saying? Mr E.S. Ripper : “Providing personal”—yes, I do realise what I’m saying. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do you seriously see the provision of staffing as a personal benefit? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Unbelievable. You have learnt nothing as a government—nothing at all. Mr E.S. Ripper : Born to rule! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the Leader of the Opposition to describe a proper request for staffing and research assistance, as the Greens and other Independents have made, as a personal benefit is very, very tawdry.
Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)–(3) The member for Vasse played no role at all. The member for Vasse rang me on the Friday night before this item appeared in the media to tell me that journalists had been in contact on an issue relating to the staffing of the member for Fremantle. May I make it very, very clear that the approach to me by the member for Fremantle was direct to me, and in no way involved the member for Vasse or any other member of Parliament. Mr P.B. Watson interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, if you have a contribution, I would prefer it to be a question in this place. I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : When members on either side of the house approach me on issues to do with their electorates or their constituencies, I treat them in confidence and deal with them on the basis on which they are raised with me. The member for Fremantle had approached me to discuss her staffing and office issues, as indeed members opposite have. We met in my office at Parliament House and the issue was discussed. The member for Vasse was not involved. Mr E.S. Ripper : Is the member for Fremantle correct in what she said on the TV news last night? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am trying to answer the Leader of the Opposition’s question. The second part related to conditions. When additional resources were made available to the members for Alfred Cove and Kalgoorlie and, might I add, the Greens (WA), who had repeatedly approached me about extra resources for them, and there is a trail of correspondence to verify that — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am making the point that the member for Fremantle was not alone. Mr E.S. Ripper : This is about linking support to votes. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am trying to answer the Leader of the Opposition’s question. Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s not about support. Don’t muddy the waters. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The idea is that the Leader of the Opposition asks the question and I answer it. With respect to conditions, I do not know how the previous government operated, but this government operates formally and correctly on advice through a cabinet process. Mr E.S. Ripper : She says that you did a deal. Did you? Mr C.J. BARNETT : With respect to the approach made by the member for Alfred Cove, if my memory serves me correctly, the member for Alfred Cove made a very strong case for support to deal with legislation as an Independent. When that issue arose and the request from the Greens was made on several occasions, this government took the issue through the proper public sector process to cabinet for a formal cabinet decision. That cabinet decision was to provide extra resources to the Greens and the two Independents at the time. That cabinet decision contains no condition at all. The reason I raise that is that back in 2005, the then Labor government provided financial resources to the Greens. I ask the question: did the Leader of the Opposition, as then Treasurer, provide those financial resources to the Greens in 2005 and did he do it through a cabinet decision or not? Mr E.S. Ripper : I would have to check the cabinet record. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition would have to check the cabinet record! Let me help him out because I recall the events. I think, members, it was to do with the passage of the one vote, one value legislation. The then Labor government could not get it through the upper house. The former member for Fremantle, Jim McGinty, had discussions with the Greens, and out of those discussions came an agreement, plus a staff position for the Greens. I again ask the Leader of the Opposition: when he was Treasurer, did it go to cabinet and was it a formal cabinet decision? Mr E.S. Ripper : Premier, before I answer your questions, why don’t you answer my question? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have told the Leader of the Opposition what this government does. Mr E.S. Ripper : No; you haven’t answered my question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, I have. Come on! Mr E.S. Ripper : You haven’t answered my question, which is: is the member for Fremantle correct in what she said? Mr C.J. BARNETT : The former chief of staff of former Premier Geoff Gallop is up the back; she will know. The Leader of the Opposition should ask her whether it was a cabinet decision. Mr P. Papalia : You’re really worried about this, aren’t you? Mr C.J. BARNETT : We can pause and have a two-minute time-out so that the Leader of the Opposition can run up to the back bench and ask the former chief of staff to Premier Gallop whether there was a cabinet decision on that. We will pause for a minute. Several members interjected. Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer your question. Don’t try to distract and deflect. Don’t go back five years. Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the question. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’re not answering the question. Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the question. I make the point that there was no condition on the funding to the other members. Mr E.S. Ripper : What about the member for Fremantle? Is she correct in what she told the media last night? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If the government — Mr E.S. Ripper : You won’t answer that question. You’re scared to answer that question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition is not being quiet, polite or courteous. Mr E.S. Ripper : Confront the reality of what she said last night and answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The issue of the staffing — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker, there is no point. Mr P. Papalia interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Warnbro, I formally call you to order for the first time. I will note, members, that we have managed to get through two and a half questions in 20 minutes. It is my impression that the Premier is endeavouring to answer the question, but there seem to be consistent and continual interjections. Mr C.J. BARNETT : So, Mr Speaker — Mr M.P. Whitely interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat Premier. Member for Bassendean, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : There are no conditions on the allocation of staff to the member for Alfred Cove and the member for Kalgoorlie. The issue of staffing for the member for Fremantle has not progressed beyond our discussions in early to mid-October, other than, I think, some correspondence or contact between the member and the Department of the Premier and Cabinet; and there is nothing at all wrong with that. No matter has been prepared or taken to cabinet. No further progress has been made on that. Indeed, I restate: this government, if it chooses to make an allocation on staffing, will do it only formally through a cabinet decision with no conditions attached. If the member for Fremantle succeeds, as other members have, in her claim for extra staffing, which has considerable merit, it will be on the basis of no conditions, but it will be a formal cabinet decision. I repeat, the Leader of the Opposition has obviously spent a lot of time on this. He should now have recalled whether his assistance to the Greens under the Gallop government was a cabinet decision or had conditions. Mr E.S. Ripper : You answer my question first. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered yours. Mr E.S. Ripper : You have not answered my question. You haven’t answered question (2). Was she correct or was she not? Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part of the question — Mr E.S. Ripper : Do not miss out the second part; answer the second part. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered. On the third part — Mr E.S. Ripper : On the second part — The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part, “Providing personal benefits”, does the member realise what he is saying? Mr E.S. Ripper : “Providing personal”—yes, I do realise what I’m saying. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do you seriously see the provision of staffing as a personal benefit? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Unbelievable. You have learnt nothing as a government—nothing at all. Mr E.S. Ripper : Born to rule! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the Leader of the Opposition to describe a proper request for staffing and research assistance, as the Greens and other Independents have made, as a personal benefit is very, very tawdry.
(1)–(3) The member for Vasse played no role at all. The member for Vasse rang me on the Friday night before this item appeared in the media to tell me that journalists had been in contact on an issue relating to the staffing of the member for Fremantle. May I make it very, very clear that the approach to me by the member for Fremantle was direct to me, and in no way involved the member for Vasse or any other member of Parliament. Mr P.B. Watson interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, if you have a contribution, I would prefer it to be a question in this place. I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : When members on either side of the house approach me on issues to do with their electorates or their constituencies, I treat them in confidence and deal with them on the basis on which they are raised with me. The member for Fremantle had approached me to discuss her staffing and office issues, as indeed members opposite have. We met in my office at Parliament House and the issue was discussed. The member for Vasse was not involved. Mr E.S. Ripper : Is the member for Fremantle correct in what she said on the TV news last night? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am trying to answer the Leader of the Opposition’s question. The second part related to conditions. When additional resources were made available to the members for Alfred Cove and Kalgoorlie and, might I add, the Greens (WA), who had repeatedly approached me about extra resources for them, and there is a trail of correspondence to verify that — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am making the point that the member for Fremantle was not alone. Mr E.S. Ripper : This is about linking support to votes. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am trying to answer the Leader of the Opposition’s question. Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s not about support. Don’t muddy the waters. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The idea is that the Leader of the Opposition asks the question and I answer it. With respect to conditions, I do not know how the previous government operated, but this government operates formally and correctly on advice through a cabinet process. Mr E.S. Ripper : She says that you did a deal. Did you? Mr C.J. BARNETT : With respect to the approach made by the member for Alfred Cove, if my memory serves me correctly, the member for Alfred Cove made a very strong case for support to deal with legislation as an Independent. When that issue arose and the request from the Greens was made on several occasions, this government took the issue through the proper public sector process to cabinet for a formal cabinet decision. That cabinet decision was to provide extra resources to the Greens and the two Independents at the time. That cabinet decision contains no condition at all. The reason I raise that is that back in 2005, the then Labor government provided financial resources to the Greens. I ask the question: did the Leader of the Opposition, as then Treasurer, provide those financial resources to the Greens in 2005 and did he do it through a cabinet decision or not? Mr E.S. Ripper : I would have to check the cabinet record. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition would have to check the cabinet record! Let me help him out because I recall the events. I think, members, it was to do with the passage of the one vote, one value legislation. The then Labor government could not get it through the upper house. The former member for Fremantle, Jim McGinty, had discussions with the Greens, and out of those discussions came an agreement, plus a staff position for the Greens. I again ask the Leader of the Opposition: when he was Treasurer, did it go to cabinet and was it a formal cabinet decision? Mr E.S. Ripper : Premier, before I answer your questions, why don’t you answer my question? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have told the Leader of the Opposition what this government does. Mr E.S. Ripper : No; you haven’t answered my question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, I have. Come on! Mr E.S. Ripper : You haven’t answered my question, which is: is the member for Fremantle correct in what she said? Mr C.J. BARNETT : The former chief of staff of former Premier Geoff Gallop is up the back; she will know. The Leader of the Opposition should ask her whether it was a cabinet decision. Mr P. Papalia : You’re really worried about this, aren’t you? Mr C.J. BARNETT : We can pause and have a two-minute time-out so that the Leader of the Opposition can run up to the back bench and ask the former chief of staff to Premier Gallop whether there was a cabinet decision on that. We will pause for a minute. Several members interjected. Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer your question. Don’t try to distract and deflect. Don’t go back five years. Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the question. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’re not answering the question. Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the question. I make the point that there was no condition on the funding to the other members. Mr E.S. Ripper : What about the member for Fremantle? Is she correct in what she told the media last night? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If the government — Mr E.S. Ripper : You won’t answer that question. You’re scared to answer that question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition is not being quiet, polite or courteous. Mr E.S. Ripper : Confront the reality of what she said last night and answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The issue of the staffing — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker, there is no point. Mr P. Papalia interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Warnbro, I formally call you to order for the first time. I will note, members, that we have managed to get through two and a half questions in 20 minutes. It is my impression that the Premier is endeavouring to answer the question, but there seem to be consistent and continual interjections. Mr C.J. BARNETT : So, Mr Speaker — Mr M.P. Whitely interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat Premier. Member for Bassendean, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : There are no conditions on the allocation of staff to the member for Alfred Cove and the member for Kalgoorlie. The issue of staffing for the member for Fremantle has not progressed beyond our discussions in early to mid-October, other than, I think, some correspondence or contact between the member and the Department of the Premier and Cabinet; and there is nothing at all wrong with that. No matter has been prepared or taken to cabinet. No further progress has been made on that. Indeed, I restate: this government, if it chooses to make an allocation on staffing, will do it only formally through a cabinet decision with no conditions attached. If the member for Fremantle succeeds, as other members have, in her claim for extra staffing, which has considerable merit, it will be on the basis of no conditions, but it will be a formal cabinet decision. I repeat, the Leader of the Opposition has obviously spent a lot of time on this. He should now have recalled whether his assistance to the Greens under the Gallop government was a cabinet decision or had conditions. Mr E.S. Ripper : You answer my question first. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered yours. Mr E.S. Ripper : You have not answered my question. You haven’t answered question (2). Was she correct or was she not? Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part of the question — Mr E.S. Ripper : Do not miss out the second part; answer the second part. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered. On the third part — Mr E.S. Ripper : On the second part — The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part, “Providing personal benefits”, does the member realise what he is saying? Mr E.S. Ripper : “Providing personal”—yes, I do realise what I’m saying. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do you seriously see the provision of staffing as a personal benefit? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Unbelievable. You have learnt nothing as a government—nothing at all. Mr E.S. Ripper : Born to rule! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the Leader of the Opposition to describe a proper request for staffing and research assistance, as the Greens and other Independents have made, as a personal benefit is very, very tawdry.
Mr P.B. Watson interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, if you have a contribution, I would prefer it to be a question in this place. I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : When members on either side of the house approach me on issues to do with their electorates or their constituencies, I treat them in confidence and deal with them on the basis on which they are raised with me. The member for Fremantle had approached me to discuss her staffing and office issues, as indeed members opposite have. We met in my office at Parliament House and the issue was discussed. The member for Vasse was not involved. Mr E.S. Ripper : Is the member for Fremantle correct in what she said on the TV news last night? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am trying to answer the Leader of the Opposition’s question. The second part related to conditions. When additional resources were made available to the members for Alfred Cove and Kalgoorlie and, might I add, the Greens (WA), who had repeatedly approached me about extra resources for them, and there is a trail of correspondence to verify that — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am making the point that the member for Fremantle was not alone. Mr E.S. Ripper : This is about linking support to votes. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am trying to answer the Leader of the Opposition’s question. Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s not about support. Don’t muddy the waters. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The idea is that the Leader of the Opposition asks the question and I answer it. With respect to conditions, I do not know how the previous government operated, but this government operates formally and correctly on advice through a cabinet process. Mr E.S. Ripper : She says that you did a deal. Did you? Mr C.J. BARNETT : With respect to the approach made by the member for Alfred Cove, if my memory serves me correctly, the member for Alfred Cove made a very strong case for support to deal with legislation as an Independent. When that issue arose and the request from the Greens was made on several occasions, this government took the issue through the proper public sector process to cabinet for a formal cabinet decision. That cabinet decision was to provide extra resources to the Greens and the two Independents at the time. That cabinet decision contains no condition at all. The reason I raise that is that back in 2005, the then Labor government provided financial resources to the Greens. I ask the question: did the Leader of the Opposition, as then Treasurer, provide those financial resources to the Greens in 2005 and did he do it through a cabinet decision or not? Mr E.S. Ripper : I would have to check the cabinet record. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition would have to check the cabinet record! Let me help him out because I recall the events. I think, members, it was to do with the passage of the one vote, one value legislation. The then Labor government could not get it through the upper house. The former member for Fremantle, Jim McGinty, had discussions with the Greens, and out of those discussions came an agreement, plus a staff position for the Greens. I again ask the Leader of the Opposition: when he was Treasurer, did it go to cabinet and was it a formal cabinet decision? Mr E.S. Ripper : Premier, before I answer your questions, why don’t you answer my question? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have told the Leader of the Opposition what this government does. Mr E.S. Ripper : No; you haven’t answered my question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, I have. Come on! Mr E.S. Ripper : You haven’t answered my question, which is: is the member for Fremantle correct in what she said? Mr C.J. BARNETT : The former chief of staff of former Premier Geoff Gallop is up the back; she will know. The Leader of the Opposition should ask her whether it was a cabinet decision. Mr P. Papalia : You’re really worried about this, aren’t you? Mr C.J. BARNETT : We can pause and have a two-minute time-out so that the Leader of the Opposition can run up to the back bench and ask the former chief of staff to Premier Gallop whether there was a cabinet decision on that. We will pause for a minute. Several members interjected. Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer your question. Don’t try to distract and deflect. Don’t go back five years. Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the question. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’re not answering the question. Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the question. I make the point that there was no condition on the funding to the other members. Mr E.S. Ripper : What about the member for Fremantle? Is she correct in what she told the media last night? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If the government — Mr E.S. Ripper : You won’t answer that question. You’re scared to answer that question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition is not being quiet, polite or courteous. Mr E.S. Ripper : Confront the reality of what she said last night and answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The issue of the staffing — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker, there is no point. Mr P. Papalia interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Warnbro, I formally call you to order for the first time. I will note, members, that we have managed to get through two and a half questions in 20 minutes. It is my impression that the Premier is endeavouring to answer the question, but there seem to be consistent and continual interjections. Mr C.J. BARNETT : So, Mr Speaker — Mr M.P. Whitely interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat Premier. Member for Bassendean, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : There are no conditions on the allocation of staff to the member for Alfred Cove and the member for Kalgoorlie. The issue of staffing for the member for Fremantle has not progressed beyond our discussions in early to mid-October, other than, I think, some correspondence or contact between the member and the Department of the Premier and Cabinet; and there is nothing at all wrong with that. No matter has been prepared or taken to cabinet. No further progress has been made on that. Indeed, I restate: this government, if it chooses to make an allocation on staffing, will do it only formally through a cabinet decision with no conditions attached. If the member for Fremantle succeeds, as other members have, in her claim for extra staffing, which has considerable merit, it will be on the basis of no conditions, but it will be a formal cabinet decision. I repeat, the Leader of the Opposition has obviously spent a lot of time on this. He should now have recalled whether his assistance to the Greens under the Gallop government was a cabinet decision or had conditions. Mr E.S. Ripper : You answer my question first. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered yours. Mr E.S. Ripper : You have not answered my question. You haven’t answered question (2). Was she correct or was she not? Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part of the question — Mr E.S. Ripper : Do not miss out the second part; answer the second part. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered. On the third part — Mr E.S. Ripper : On the second part — The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part, “Providing personal benefits”, does the member realise what he is saying? Mr E.S. Ripper : “Providing personal”—yes, I do realise what I’m saying. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do you seriously see the provision of staffing as a personal benefit? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Unbelievable. You have learnt nothing as a government—nothing at all. Mr E.S. Ripper : Born to rule! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the Leader of the Opposition to describe a proper request for staffing and research assistance, as the Greens and other Independents have made, as a personal benefit is very, very tawdry.
The SPEAKER : Member for Albany, if you have a contribution, I would prefer it to be a question in this place. I formally call you to order for the first time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : When members on either side of the house approach me on issues to do with their electorates or their constituencies, I treat them in confidence and deal with them on the basis on which they are raised with me. The member for Fremantle had approached me to discuss her staffing and office issues, as indeed members opposite have. We met in my office at Parliament House and the issue was discussed. The member for Vasse was not involved. Mr E.S. Ripper : Is the member for Fremantle correct in what she said on the TV news last night? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am trying to answer the Leader of the Opposition’s question. The second part related to conditions. When additional resources were made available to the members for Alfred Cove and Kalgoorlie and, might I add, the Greens (WA), who had repeatedly approached me about extra resources for them, and there is a trail of correspondence to verify that — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am making the point that the member for Fremantle was not alone. Mr E.S. Ripper : This is about linking support to votes. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am trying to answer the Leader of the Opposition’s question. Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s not about support. Don’t muddy the waters. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The idea is that the Leader of the Opposition asks the question and I answer it. With respect to conditions, I do not know how the previous government operated, but this government operates formally and correctly on advice through a cabinet process. Mr E.S. Ripper : She says that you did a deal. Did you? Mr C.J. BARNETT : With respect to the approach made by the member for Alfred Cove, if my memory serves me correctly, the member for Alfred Cove made a very strong case for support to deal with legislation as an Independent. When that issue arose and the request from the Greens was made on several occasions, this government took the issue through the proper public sector process to cabinet for a formal cabinet decision. That cabinet decision was to provide extra resources to the Greens and the two Independents at the time. That cabinet decision contains no condition at all. The reason I raise that is that back in 2005, the then Labor government provided financial resources to the Greens. I ask the question: did the Leader of the Opposition, as then Treasurer, provide those financial resources to the Greens in 2005 and did he do it through a cabinet decision or not? Mr E.S. Ripper : I would have to check the cabinet record. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition would have to check the cabinet record! Let me help him out because I recall the events. I think, members, it was to do with the passage of the one vote, one value legislation. The then Labor government could not get it through the upper house. The former member for Fremantle, Jim McGinty, had discussions with the Greens, and out of those discussions came an agreement, plus a staff position for the Greens. I again ask the Leader of the Opposition: when he was Treasurer, did it go to cabinet and was it a formal cabinet decision? Mr E.S. Ripper : Premier, before I answer your questions, why don’t you answer my question? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have told the Leader of the Opposition what this government does. Mr E.S. Ripper : No; you haven’t answered my question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, I have. Come on! Mr E.S. Ripper : You haven’t answered my question, which is: is the member for Fremantle correct in what she said? Mr C.J. BARNETT : The former chief of staff of former Premier Geoff Gallop is up the back; she will know. The Leader of the Opposition should ask her whether it was a cabinet decision. Mr P. Papalia : You’re really worried about this, aren’t you? Mr C.J. BARNETT : We can pause and have a two-minute time-out so that the Leader of the Opposition can run up to the back bench and ask the former chief of staff to Premier Gallop whether there was a cabinet decision on that. We will pause for a minute. Several members interjected. Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer your question. Don’t try to distract and deflect. Don’t go back five years. Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the question. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’re not answering the question. Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the question. I make the point that there was no condition on the funding to the other members. Mr E.S. Ripper : What about the member for Fremantle? Is she correct in what she told the media last night? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If the government — Mr E.S. Ripper : You won’t answer that question. You’re scared to answer that question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition is not being quiet, polite or courteous. Mr E.S. Ripper : Confront the reality of what she said last night and answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The issue of the staffing — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker, there is no point. Mr P. Papalia interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Warnbro, I formally call you to order for the first time. I will note, members, that we have managed to get through two and a half questions in 20 minutes. It is my impression that the Premier is endeavouring to answer the question, but there seem to be consistent and continual interjections. Mr C.J. BARNETT : So, Mr Speaker — Mr M.P. Whitely interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat Premier. Member for Bassendean, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : There are no conditions on the allocation of staff to the member for Alfred Cove and the member for Kalgoorlie. The issue of staffing for the member for Fremantle has not progressed beyond our discussions in early to mid-October, other than, I think, some correspondence or contact between the member and the Department of the Premier and Cabinet; and there is nothing at all wrong with that. No matter has been prepared or taken to cabinet. No further progress has been made on that. Indeed, I restate: this government, if it chooses to make an allocation on staffing, will do it only formally through a cabinet decision with no conditions attached. If the member for Fremantle succeeds, as other members have, in her claim for extra staffing, which has considerable merit, it will be on the basis of no conditions, but it will be a formal cabinet decision. I repeat, the Leader of the Opposition has obviously spent a lot of time on this. He should now have recalled whether his assistance to the Greens under the Gallop government was a cabinet decision or had conditions. Mr E.S. Ripper : You answer my question first. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered yours. Mr E.S. Ripper : You have not answered my question. You haven’t answered question (2). Was she correct or was she not? Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part of the question — Mr E.S. Ripper : Do not miss out the second part; answer the second part. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered. On the third part — Mr E.S. Ripper : On the second part — The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part, “Providing personal benefits”, does the member realise what he is saying? Mr E.S. Ripper : “Providing personal”—yes, I do realise what I’m saying. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do you seriously see the provision of staffing as a personal benefit? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Unbelievable. You have learnt nothing as a government—nothing at all. Mr E.S. Ripper : Born to rule! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the Leader of the Opposition to describe a proper request for staffing and research assistance, as the Greens and other Independents have made, as a personal benefit is very, very tawdry.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : When members on either side of the house approach me on issues to do with their electorates or their constituencies, I treat them in confidence and deal with them on the basis on which they are raised with me. The member for Fremantle had approached me to discuss her staffing and office issues, as indeed members opposite have. We met in my office at Parliament House and the issue was discussed. The member for Vasse was not involved. Mr E.S. Ripper : Is the member for Fremantle correct in what she said on the TV news last night? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am trying to answer the Leader of the Opposition’s question. The second part related to conditions. When additional resources were made available to the members for Alfred Cove and Kalgoorlie and, might I add, the Greens (WA), who had repeatedly approached me about extra resources for them, and there is a trail of correspondence to verify that — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am making the point that the member for Fremantle was not alone. Mr E.S. Ripper : This is about linking support to votes. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am trying to answer the Leader of the Opposition’s question. Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s not about support. Don’t muddy the waters. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The idea is that the Leader of the Opposition asks the question and I answer it. With respect to conditions, I do not know how the previous government operated, but this government operates formally and correctly on advice through a cabinet process. Mr E.S. Ripper : She says that you did a deal. Did you? Mr C.J. BARNETT : With respect to the approach made by the member for Alfred Cove, if my memory serves me correctly, the member for Alfred Cove made a very strong case for support to deal with legislation as an Independent. When that issue arose and the request from the Greens was made on several occasions, this government took the issue through the proper public sector process to cabinet for a formal cabinet decision. That cabinet decision was to provide extra resources to the Greens and the two Independents at the time. That cabinet decision contains no condition at all. The reason I raise that is that back in 2005, the then Labor government provided financial resources to the Greens. I ask the question: did the Leader of the Opposition, as then Treasurer, provide those financial resources to the Greens in 2005 and did he do it through a cabinet decision or not? Mr E.S. Ripper : I would have to check the cabinet record. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition would have to check the cabinet record! Let me help him out because I recall the events. I think, members, it was to do with the passage of the one vote, one value legislation. The then Labor government could not get it through the upper house. The former member for Fremantle, Jim McGinty, had discussions with the Greens, and out of those discussions came an agreement, plus a staff position for the Greens. I again ask the Leader of the Opposition: when he was Treasurer, did it go to cabinet and was it a formal cabinet decision? Mr E.S. Ripper : Premier, before I answer your questions, why don’t you answer my question? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have told the Leader of the Opposition what this government does. Mr E.S. Ripper : No; you haven’t answered my question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, I have. Come on! Mr E.S. Ripper : You haven’t answered my question, which is: is the member for Fremantle correct in what she said? Mr C.J. BARNETT : The former chief of staff of former Premier Geoff Gallop is up the back; she will know. The Leader of the Opposition should ask her whether it was a cabinet decision. Mr P. Papalia : You’re really worried about this, aren’t you? Mr C.J. BARNETT : We can pause and have a two-minute time-out so that the Leader of the Opposition can run up to the back bench and ask the former chief of staff to Premier Gallop whether there was a cabinet decision on that. We will pause for a minute. Several members interjected. Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer your question. Don’t try to distract and deflect. Don’t go back five years. Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the question. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’re not answering the question. Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the question. I make the point that there was no condition on the funding to the other members. Mr E.S. Ripper : What about the member for Fremantle? Is she correct in what she told the media last night? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If the government — Mr E.S. Ripper : You won’t answer that question. You’re scared to answer that question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition is not being quiet, polite or courteous. Mr E.S. Ripper : Confront the reality of what she said last night and answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The issue of the staffing — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker, there is no point. Mr P. Papalia interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Warnbro, I formally call you to order for the first time. I will note, members, that we have managed to get through two and a half questions in 20 minutes. It is my impression that the Premier is endeavouring to answer the question, but there seem to be consistent and continual interjections. Mr C.J. BARNETT : So, Mr Speaker — Mr M.P. Whitely interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat Premier. Member for Bassendean, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : There are no conditions on the allocation of staff to the member for Alfred Cove and the member for Kalgoorlie. The issue of staffing for the member for Fremantle has not progressed beyond our discussions in early to mid-October, other than, I think, some correspondence or contact between the member and the Department of the Premier and Cabinet; and there is nothing at all wrong with that. No matter has been prepared or taken to cabinet. No further progress has been made on that. Indeed, I restate: this government, if it chooses to make an allocation on staffing, will do it only formally through a cabinet decision with no conditions attached. If the member for Fremantle succeeds, as other members have, in her claim for extra staffing, which has considerable merit, it will be on the basis of no conditions, but it will be a formal cabinet decision. I repeat, the Leader of the Opposition has obviously spent a lot of time on this. He should now have recalled whether his assistance to the Greens under the Gallop government was a cabinet decision or had conditions. Mr E.S. Ripper : You answer my question first. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered yours. Mr E.S. Ripper : You have not answered my question. You haven’t answered question (2). Was she correct or was she not? Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part of the question — Mr E.S. Ripper : Do not miss out the second part; answer the second part. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered. On the third part — Mr E.S. Ripper : On the second part — The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part, “Providing personal benefits”, does the member realise what he is saying? Mr E.S. Ripper : “Providing personal”—yes, I do realise what I’m saying. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do you seriously see the provision of staffing as a personal benefit? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Unbelievable. You have learnt nothing as a government—nothing at all. Mr E.S. Ripper : Born to rule! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the Leader of the Opposition to describe a proper request for staffing and research assistance, as the Greens and other Independents have made, as a personal benefit is very, very tawdry.
Mr E.S. Ripper : Is the member for Fremantle correct in what she said on the TV news last night? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am trying to answer the Leader of the Opposition’s question. The second part related to conditions. When additional resources were made available to the members for Alfred Cove and Kalgoorlie and, might I add, the Greens (WA), who had repeatedly approached me about extra resources for them, and there is a trail of correspondence to verify that — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am making the point that the member for Fremantle was not alone. Mr E.S. Ripper : This is about linking support to votes. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am trying to answer the Leader of the Opposition’s question. Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s not about support. Don’t muddy the waters. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The idea is that the Leader of the Opposition asks the question and I answer it. With respect to conditions, I do not know how the previous government operated, but this government operates formally and correctly on advice through a cabinet process. Mr E.S. Ripper : She says that you did a deal. Did you? Mr C.J. BARNETT : With respect to the approach made by the member for Alfred Cove, if my memory serves me correctly, the member for Alfred Cove made a very strong case for support to deal with legislation as an Independent. When that issue arose and the request from the Greens was made on several occasions, this government took the issue through the proper public sector process to cabinet for a formal cabinet decision. That cabinet decision was to provide extra resources to the Greens and the two Independents at the time. That cabinet decision contains no condition at all. The reason I raise that is that back in 2005, the then Labor government provided financial resources to the Greens. I ask the question: did the Leader of the Opposition, as then Treasurer, provide those financial resources to the Greens in 2005 and did he do it through a cabinet decision or not? Mr E.S. Ripper : I would have to check the cabinet record. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition would have to check the cabinet record! Let me help him out because I recall the events. I think, members, it was to do with the passage of the one vote, one value legislation. The then Labor government could not get it through the upper house. The former member for Fremantle, Jim McGinty, had discussions with the Greens, and out of those discussions came an agreement, plus a staff position for the Greens. I again ask the Leader of the Opposition: when he was Treasurer, did it go to cabinet and was it a formal cabinet decision? Mr E.S. Ripper : Premier, before I answer your questions, why don’t you answer my question? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have told the Leader of the Opposition what this government does. Mr E.S. Ripper : No; you haven’t answered my question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, I have. Come on! Mr E.S. Ripper : You haven’t answered my question, which is: is the member for Fremantle correct in what she said? Mr C.J. BARNETT : The former chief of staff of former Premier Geoff Gallop is up the back; she will know. The Leader of the Opposition should ask her whether it was a cabinet decision. Mr P. Papalia : You’re really worried about this, aren’t you? Mr C.J. BARNETT : We can pause and have a two-minute time-out so that the Leader of the Opposition can run up to the back bench and ask the former chief of staff to Premier Gallop whether there was a cabinet decision on that. We will pause for a minute. Several members interjected. Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer your question. Don’t try to distract and deflect. Don’t go back five years. Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the question. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’re not answering the question. Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the question. I make the point that there was no condition on the funding to the other members. Mr E.S. Ripper : What about the member for Fremantle? Is she correct in what she told the media last night? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If the government — Mr E.S. Ripper : You won’t answer that question. You’re scared to answer that question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition is not being quiet, polite or courteous. Mr E.S. Ripper : Confront the reality of what she said last night and answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The issue of the staffing — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker, there is no point. Mr P. Papalia interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Warnbro, I formally call you to order for the first time. I will note, members, that we have managed to get through two and a half questions in 20 minutes. It is my impression that the Premier is endeavouring to answer the question, but there seem to be consistent and continual interjections. Mr C.J. BARNETT : So, Mr Speaker — Mr M.P. Whitely interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat Premier. Member for Bassendean, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : There are no conditions on the allocation of staff to the member for Alfred Cove and the member for Kalgoorlie. The issue of staffing for the member for Fremantle has not progressed beyond our discussions in early to mid-October, other than, I think, some correspondence or contact between the member and the Department of the Premier and Cabinet; and there is nothing at all wrong with that. No matter has been prepared or taken to cabinet. No further progress has been made on that. Indeed, I restate: this government, if it chooses to make an allocation on staffing, will do it only formally through a cabinet decision with no conditions attached. If the member for Fremantle succeeds, as other members have, in her claim for extra staffing, which has considerable merit, it will be on the basis of no conditions, but it will be a formal cabinet decision. I repeat, the Leader of the Opposition has obviously spent a lot of time on this. He should now have recalled whether his assistance to the Greens under the Gallop government was a cabinet decision or had conditions. Mr E.S. Ripper : You answer my question first. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered yours. Mr E.S. Ripper : You have not answered my question. You haven’t answered question (2). Was she correct or was she not? Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part of the question — Mr E.S. Ripper : Do not miss out the second part; answer the second part. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered. On the third part — Mr E.S. Ripper : On the second part — The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part, “Providing personal benefits”, does the member realise what he is saying? Mr E.S. Ripper : “Providing personal”—yes, I do realise what I’m saying. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do you seriously see the provision of staffing as a personal benefit? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Unbelievable. You have learnt nothing as a government—nothing at all. Mr E.S. Ripper : Born to rule! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the Leader of the Opposition to describe a proper request for staffing and research assistance, as the Greens and other Independents have made, as a personal benefit is very, very tawdry.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am trying to answer the Leader of the Opposition’s question. The second part related to conditions. When additional resources were made available to the members for Alfred Cove and Kalgoorlie and, might I add, the Greens (WA), who had repeatedly approached me about extra resources for them, and there is a trail of correspondence to verify that — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am making the point that the member for Fremantle was not alone. Mr E.S. Ripper : This is about linking support to votes. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am trying to answer the Leader of the Opposition’s question. Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s not about support. Don’t muddy the waters. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The idea is that the Leader of the Opposition asks the question and I answer it. With respect to conditions, I do not know how the previous government operated, but this government operates formally and correctly on advice through a cabinet process. Mr E.S. Ripper : She says that you did a deal. Did you? Mr C.J. BARNETT : With respect to the approach made by the member for Alfred Cove, if my memory serves me correctly, the member for Alfred Cove made a very strong case for support to deal with legislation as an Independent. When that issue arose and the request from the Greens was made on several occasions, this government took the issue through the proper public sector process to cabinet for a formal cabinet decision. That cabinet decision was to provide extra resources to the Greens and the two Independents at the time. That cabinet decision contains no condition at all. The reason I raise that is that back in 2005, the then Labor government provided financial resources to the Greens. I ask the question: did the Leader of the Opposition, as then Treasurer, provide those financial resources to the Greens in 2005 and did he do it through a cabinet decision or not? Mr E.S. Ripper : I would have to check the cabinet record. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition would have to check the cabinet record! Let me help him out because I recall the events. I think, members, it was to do with the passage of the one vote, one value legislation. The then Labor government could not get it through the upper house. The former member for Fremantle, Jim McGinty, had discussions with the Greens, and out of those discussions came an agreement, plus a staff position for the Greens. I again ask the Leader of the Opposition: when he was Treasurer, did it go to cabinet and was it a formal cabinet decision? Mr E.S. Ripper : Premier, before I answer your questions, why don’t you answer my question? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have told the Leader of the Opposition what this government does. Mr E.S. Ripper : No; you haven’t answered my question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, I have. Come on! Mr E.S. Ripper : You haven’t answered my question, which is: is the member for Fremantle correct in what she said? Mr C.J. BARNETT : The former chief of staff of former Premier Geoff Gallop is up the back; she will know. The Leader of the Opposition should ask her whether it was a cabinet decision. Mr P. Papalia : You’re really worried about this, aren’t you? Mr C.J. BARNETT : We can pause and have a two-minute time-out so that the Leader of the Opposition can run up to the back bench and ask the former chief of staff to Premier Gallop whether there was a cabinet decision on that. We will pause for a minute. Several members interjected. Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer your question. Don’t try to distract and deflect. Don’t go back five years. Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the question. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’re not answering the question. Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the question. I make the point that there was no condition on the funding to the other members. Mr E.S. Ripper : What about the member for Fremantle? Is she correct in what she told the media last night? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If the government — Mr E.S. Ripper : You won’t answer that question. You’re scared to answer that question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition is not being quiet, polite or courteous. Mr E.S. Ripper : Confront the reality of what she said last night and answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The issue of the staffing — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker, there is no point. Mr P. Papalia interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Warnbro, I formally call you to order for the first time. I will note, members, that we have managed to get through two and a half questions in 20 minutes. It is my impression that the Premier is endeavouring to answer the question, but there seem to be consistent and continual interjections. Mr C.J. BARNETT : So, Mr Speaker — Mr M.P. Whitely interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat Premier. Member for Bassendean, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : There are no conditions on the allocation of staff to the member for Alfred Cove and the member for Kalgoorlie. The issue of staffing for the member for Fremantle has not progressed beyond our discussions in early to mid-October, other than, I think, some correspondence or contact between the member and the Department of the Premier and Cabinet; and there is nothing at all wrong with that. No matter has been prepared or taken to cabinet. No further progress has been made on that. Indeed, I restate: this government, if it chooses to make an allocation on staffing, will do it only formally through a cabinet decision with no conditions attached. If the member for Fremantle succeeds, as other members have, in her claim for extra staffing, which has considerable merit, it will be on the basis of no conditions, but it will be a formal cabinet decision. I repeat, the Leader of the Opposition has obviously spent a lot of time on this. He should now have recalled whether his assistance to the Greens under the Gallop government was a cabinet decision or had conditions. Mr E.S. Ripper : You answer my question first. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered yours. Mr E.S. Ripper : You have not answered my question. You haven’t answered question (2). Was she correct or was she not? Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part of the question — Mr E.S. Ripper : Do not miss out the second part; answer the second part. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered. On the third part — Mr E.S. Ripper : On the second part — The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part, “Providing personal benefits”, does the member realise what he is saying? Mr E.S. Ripper : “Providing personal”—yes, I do realise what I’m saying. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do you seriously see the provision of staffing as a personal benefit? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Unbelievable. You have learnt nothing as a government—nothing at all. Mr E.S. Ripper : Born to rule! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the Leader of the Opposition to describe a proper request for staffing and research assistance, as the Greens and other Independents have made, as a personal benefit is very, very tawdry.
Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am making the point that the member for Fremantle was not alone. Mr E.S. Ripper : This is about linking support to votes. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am trying to answer the Leader of the Opposition’s question. Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s not about support. Don’t muddy the waters. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The idea is that the Leader of the Opposition asks the question and I answer it. With respect to conditions, I do not know how the previous government operated, but this government operates formally and correctly on advice through a cabinet process. Mr E.S. Ripper : She says that you did a deal. Did you? Mr C.J. BARNETT : With respect to the approach made by the member for Alfred Cove, if my memory serves me correctly, the member for Alfred Cove made a very strong case for support to deal with legislation as an Independent. When that issue arose and the request from the Greens was made on several occasions, this government took the issue through the proper public sector process to cabinet for a formal cabinet decision. That cabinet decision was to provide extra resources to the Greens and the two Independents at the time. That cabinet decision contains no condition at all. The reason I raise that is that back in 2005, the then Labor government provided financial resources to the Greens. I ask the question: did the Leader of the Opposition, as then Treasurer, provide those financial resources to the Greens in 2005 and did he do it through a cabinet decision or not? Mr E.S. Ripper : I would have to check the cabinet record. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition would have to check the cabinet record! Let me help him out because I recall the events. I think, members, it was to do with the passage of the one vote, one value legislation. The then Labor government could not get it through the upper house. The former member for Fremantle, Jim McGinty, had discussions with the Greens, and out of those discussions came an agreement, plus a staff position for the Greens. I again ask the Leader of the Opposition: when he was Treasurer, did it go to cabinet and was it a formal cabinet decision? Mr E.S. Ripper : Premier, before I answer your questions, why don’t you answer my question? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have told the Leader of the Opposition what this government does. Mr E.S. Ripper : No; you haven’t answered my question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, I have. Come on! Mr E.S. Ripper : You haven’t answered my question, which is: is the member for Fremantle correct in what she said? Mr C.J. BARNETT : The former chief of staff of former Premier Geoff Gallop is up the back; she will know. The Leader of the Opposition should ask her whether it was a cabinet decision. Mr P. Papalia : You’re really worried about this, aren’t you? Mr C.J. BARNETT : We can pause and have a two-minute time-out so that the Leader of the Opposition can run up to the back bench and ask the former chief of staff to Premier Gallop whether there was a cabinet decision on that. We will pause for a minute. Several members interjected. Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer your question. Don’t try to distract and deflect. Don’t go back five years. Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the question. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’re not answering the question. Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the question. I make the point that there was no condition on the funding to the other members. Mr E.S. Ripper : What about the member for Fremantle? Is she correct in what she told the media last night? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If the government — Mr E.S. Ripper : You won’t answer that question. You’re scared to answer that question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition is not being quiet, polite or courteous. Mr E.S. Ripper : Confront the reality of what she said last night and answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The issue of the staffing — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker, there is no point. Mr P. Papalia interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Warnbro, I formally call you to order for the first time. I will note, members, that we have managed to get through two and a half questions in 20 minutes. It is my impression that the Premier is endeavouring to answer the question, but there seem to be consistent and continual interjections. Mr C.J. BARNETT : So, Mr Speaker — Mr M.P. Whitely interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat Premier. Member for Bassendean, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : There are no conditions on the allocation of staff to the member for Alfred Cove and the member for Kalgoorlie. The issue of staffing for the member for Fremantle has not progressed beyond our discussions in early to mid-October, other than, I think, some correspondence or contact between the member and the Department of the Premier and Cabinet; and there is nothing at all wrong with that. No matter has been prepared or taken to cabinet. No further progress has been made on that. Indeed, I restate: this government, if it chooses to make an allocation on staffing, will do it only formally through a cabinet decision with no conditions attached. If the member for Fremantle succeeds, as other members have, in her claim for extra staffing, which has considerable merit, it will be on the basis of no conditions, but it will be a formal cabinet decision. I repeat, the Leader of the Opposition has obviously spent a lot of time on this. He should now have recalled whether his assistance to the Greens under the Gallop government was a cabinet decision or had conditions. Mr E.S. Ripper : You answer my question first. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered yours. Mr E.S. Ripper : You have not answered my question. You haven’t answered question (2). Was she correct or was she not? Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part of the question — Mr E.S. Ripper : Do not miss out the second part; answer the second part. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered. On the third part — Mr E.S. Ripper : On the second part — The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part, “Providing personal benefits”, does the member realise what he is saying? Mr E.S. Ripper : “Providing personal”—yes, I do realise what I’m saying. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do you seriously see the provision of staffing as a personal benefit? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Unbelievable. You have learnt nothing as a government—nothing at all. Mr E.S. Ripper : Born to rule! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the Leader of the Opposition to describe a proper request for staffing and research assistance, as the Greens and other Independents have made, as a personal benefit is very, very tawdry.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am making the point that the member for Fremantle was not alone. Mr E.S. Ripper : This is about linking support to votes. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am trying to answer the Leader of the Opposition’s question. Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s not about support. Don’t muddy the waters. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The idea is that the Leader of the Opposition asks the question and I answer it. With respect to conditions, I do not know how the previous government operated, but this government operates formally and correctly on advice through a cabinet process. Mr E.S. Ripper : She says that you did a deal. Did you? Mr C.J. BARNETT : With respect to the approach made by the member for Alfred Cove, if my memory serves me correctly, the member for Alfred Cove made a very strong case for support to deal with legislation as an Independent. When that issue arose and the request from the Greens was made on several occasions, this government took the issue through the proper public sector process to cabinet for a formal cabinet decision. That cabinet decision was to provide extra resources to the Greens and the two Independents at the time. That cabinet decision contains no condition at all. The reason I raise that is that back in 2005, the then Labor government provided financial resources to the Greens. I ask the question: did the Leader of the Opposition, as then Treasurer, provide those financial resources to the Greens in 2005 and did he do it through a cabinet decision or not? Mr E.S. Ripper : I would have to check the cabinet record. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition would have to check the cabinet record! Let me help him out because I recall the events. I think, members, it was to do with the passage of the one vote, one value legislation. The then Labor government could not get it through the upper house. The former member for Fremantle, Jim McGinty, had discussions with the Greens, and out of those discussions came an agreement, plus a staff position for the Greens. I again ask the Leader of the Opposition: when he was Treasurer, did it go to cabinet and was it a formal cabinet decision? Mr E.S. Ripper : Premier, before I answer your questions, why don’t you answer my question? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have told the Leader of the Opposition what this government does. Mr E.S. Ripper : No; you haven’t answered my question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, I have. Come on! Mr E.S. Ripper : You haven’t answered my question, which is: is the member for Fremantle correct in what she said? Mr C.J. BARNETT : The former chief of staff of former Premier Geoff Gallop is up the back; she will know. The Leader of the Opposition should ask her whether it was a cabinet decision. Mr P. Papalia : You’re really worried about this, aren’t you? Mr C.J. BARNETT : We can pause and have a two-minute time-out so that the Leader of the Opposition can run up to the back bench and ask the former chief of staff to Premier Gallop whether there was a cabinet decision on that. We will pause for a minute. Several members interjected. Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer your question. Don’t try to distract and deflect. Don’t go back five years. Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the question. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’re not answering the question. Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the question. I make the point that there was no condition on the funding to the other members. Mr E.S. Ripper : What about the member for Fremantle? Is she correct in what she told the media last night? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If the government — Mr E.S. Ripper : You won’t answer that question. You’re scared to answer that question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition is not being quiet, polite or courteous. Mr E.S. Ripper : Confront the reality of what she said last night and answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The issue of the staffing — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker, there is no point. Mr P. Papalia interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Warnbro, I formally call you to order for the first time. I will note, members, that we have managed to get through two and a half questions in 20 minutes. It is my impression that the Premier is endeavouring to answer the question, but there seem to be consistent and continual interjections. Mr C.J. BARNETT : So, Mr Speaker — Mr M.P. Whitely interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat Premier. Member for Bassendean, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : There are no conditions on the allocation of staff to the member for Alfred Cove and the member for Kalgoorlie. The issue of staffing for the member for Fremantle has not progressed beyond our discussions in early to mid-October, other than, I think, some correspondence or contact between the member and the Department of the Premier and Cabinet; and there is nothing at all wrong with that. No matter has been prepared or taken to cabinet. No further progress has been made on that. Indeed, I restate: this government, if it chooses to make an allocation on staffing, will do it only formally through a cabinet decision with no conditions attached. If the member for Fremantle succeeds, as other members have, in her claim for extra staffing, which has considerable merit, it will be on the basis of no conditions, but it will be a formal cabinet decision. I repeat, the Leader of the Opposition has obviously spent a lot of time on this. He should now have recalled whether his assistance to the Greens under the Gallop government was a cabinet decision or had conditions. Mr E.S. Ripper : You answer my question first. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered yours. Mr E.S. Ripper : You have not answered my question. You haven’t answered question (2). Was she correct or was she not? Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part of the question — Mr E.S. Ripper : Do not miss out the second part; answer the second part. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered. On the third part — Mr E.S. Ripper : On the second part — The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part, “Providing personal benefits”, does the member realise what he is saying? Mr E.S. Ripper : “Providing personal”—yes, I do realise what I’m saying. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do you seriously see the provision of staffing as a personal benefit? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Unbelievable. You have learnt nothing as a government—nothing at all. Mr E.S. Ripper : Born to rule! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the Leader of the Opposition to describe a proper request for staffing and research assistance, as the Greens and other Independents have made, as a personal benefit is very, very tawdry.
Mr E.S. Ripper : This is about linking support to votes. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am trying to answer the Leader of the Opposition’s question. Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s not about support. Don’t muddy the waters. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The idea is that the Leader of the Opposition asks the question and I answer it. With respect to conditions, I do not know how the previous government operated, but this government operates formally and correctly on advice through a cabinet process. Mr E.S. Ripper : She says that you did a deal. Did you? Mr C.J. BARNETT : With respect to the approach made by the member for Alfred Cove, if my memory serves me correctly, the member for Alfred Cove made a very strong case for support to deal with legislation as an Independent. When that issue arose and the request from the Greens was made on several occasions, this government took the issue through the proper public sector process to cabinet for a formal cabinet decision. That cabinet decision was to provide extra resources to the Greens and the two Independents at the time. That cabinet decision contains no condition at all. The reason I raise that is that back in 2005, the then Labor government provided financial resources to the Greens. I ask the question: did the Leader of the Opposition, as then Treasurer, provide those financial resources to the Greens in 2005 and did he do it through a cabinet decision or not? Mr E.S. Ripper : I would have to check the cabinet record. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition would have to check the cabinet record! Let me help him out because I recall the events. I think, members, it was to do with the passage of the one vote, one value legislation. The then Labor government could not get it through the upper house. The former member for Fremantle, Jim McGinty, had discussions with the Greens, and out of those discussions came an agreement, plus a staff position for the Greens. I again ask the Leader of the Opposition: when he was Treasurer, did it go to cabinet and was it a formal cabinet decision? Mr E.S. Ripper : Premier, before I answer your questions, why don’t you answer my question? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have told the Leader of the Opposition what this government does. Mr E.S. Ripper : No; you haven’t answered my question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, I have. Come on! Mr E.S. Ripper : You haven’t answered my question, which is: is the member for Fremantle correct in what she said? Mr C.J. BARNETT : The former chief of staff of former Premier Geoff Gallop is up the back; she will know. The Leader of the Opposition should ask her whether it was a cabinet decision. Mr P. Papalia : You’re really worried about this, aren’t you? Mr C.J. BARNETT : We can pause and have a two-minute time-out so that the Leader of the Opposition can run up to the back bench and ask the former chief of staff to Premier Gallop whether there was a cabinet decision on that. We will pause for a minute. Several members interjected. Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer your question. Don’t try to distract and deflect. Don’t go back five years. Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the question. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’re not answering the question. Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the question. I make the point that there was no condition on the funding to the other members. Mr E.S. Ripper : What about the member for Fremantle? Is she correct in what she told the media last night? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If the government — Mr E.S. Ripper : You won’t answer that question. You’re scared to answer that question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition is not being quiet, polite or courteous. Mr E.S. Ripper : Confront the reality of what she said last night and answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The issue of the staffing — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker, there is no point. Mr P. Papalia interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Warnbro, I formally call you to order for the first time. I will note, members, that we have managed to get through two and a half questions in 20 minutes. It is my impression that the Premier is endeavouring to answer the question, but there seem to be consistent and continual interjections. Mr C.J. BARNETT : So, Mr Speaker — Mr M.P. Whitely interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat Premier. Member for Bassendean, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : There are no conditions on the allocation of staff to the member for Alfred Cove and the member for Kalgoorlie. The issue of staffing for the member for Fremantle has not progressed beyond our discussions in early to mid-October, other than, I think, some correspondence or contact between the member and the Department of the Premier and Cabinet; and there is nothing at all wrong with that. No matter has been prepared or taken to cabinet. No further progress has been made on that. Indeed, I restate: this government, if it chooses to make an allocation on staffing, will do it only formally through a cabinet decision with no conditions attached. If the member for Fremantle succeeds, as other members have, in her claim for extra staffing, which has considerable merit, it will be on the basis of no conditions, but it will be a formal cabinet decision. I repeat, the Leader of the Opposition has obviously spent a lot of time on this. He should now have recalled whether his assistance to the Greens under the Gallop government was a cabinet decision or had conditions. Mr E.S. Ripper : You answer my question first. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered yours. Mr E.S. Ripper : You have not answered my question. You haven’t answered question (2). Was she correct or was she not? Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part of the question — Mr E.S. Ripper : Do not miss out the second part; answer the second part. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered. On the third part — Mr E.S. Ripper : On the second part — The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part, “Providing personal benefits”, does the member realise what he is saying? Mr E.S. Ripper : “Providing personal”—yes, I do realise what I’m saying. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do you seriously see the provision of staffing as a personal benefit? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Unbelievable. You have learnt nothing as a government—nothing at all. Mr E.S. Ripper : Born to rule! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the Leader of the Opposition to describe a proper request for staffing and research assistance, as the Greens and other Independents have made, as a personal benefit is very, very tawdry.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am trying to answer the Leader of the Opposition’s question. Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s not about support. Don’t muddy the waters. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The idea is that the Leader of the Opposition asks the question and I answer it. With respect to conditions, I do not know how the previous government operated, but this government operates formally and correctly on advice through a cabinet process. Mr E.S. Ripper : She says that you did a deal. Did you? Mr C.J. BARNETT : With respect to the approach made by the member for Alfred Cove, if my memory serves me correctly, the member for Alfred Cove made a very strong case for support to deal with legislation as an Independent. When that issue arose and the request from the Greens was made on several occasions, this government took the issue through the proper public sector process to cabinet for a formal cabinet decision. That cabinet decision was to provide extra resources to the Greens and the two Independents at the time. That cabinet decision contains no condition at all. The reason I raise that is that back in 2005, the then Labor government provided financial resources to the Greens. I ask the question: did the Leader of the Opposition, as then Treasurer, provide those financial resources to the Greens in 2005 and did he do it through a cabinet decision or not? Mr E.S. Ripper : I would have to check the cabinet record. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition would have to check the cabinet record! Let me help him out because I recall the events. I think, members, it was to do with the passage of the one vote, one value legislation. The then Labor government could not get it through the upper house. The former member for Fremantle, Jim McGinty, had discussions with the Greens, and out of those discussions came an agreement, plus a staff position for the Greens. I again ask the Leader of the Opposition: when he was Treasurer, did it go to cabinet and was it a formal cabinet decision? Mr E.S. Ripper : Premier, before I answer your questions, why don’t you answer my question? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have told the Leader of the Opposition what this government does. Mr E.S. Ripper : No; you haven’t answered my question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, I have. Come on! Mr E.S. Ripper : You haven’t answered my question, which is: is the member for Fremantle correct in what she said? Mr C.J. BARNETT : The former chief of staff of former Premier Geoff Gallop is up the back; she will know. The Leader of the Opposition should ask her whether it was a cabinet decision. Mr P. Papalia : You’re really worried about this, aren’t you? Mr C.J. BARNETT : We can pause and have a two-minute time-out so that the Leader of the Opposition can run up to the back bench and ask the former chief of staff to Premier Gallop whether there was a cabinet decision on that. We will pause for a minute. Several members interjected. Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer your question. Don’t try to distract and deflect. Don’t go back five years. Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the question. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’re not answering the question. Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the question. I make the point that there was no condition on the funding to the other members. Mr E.S. Ripper : What about the member for Fremantle? Is she correct in what she told the media last night? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If the government — Mr E.S. Ripper : You won’t answer that question. You’re scared to answer that question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition is not being quiet, polite or courteous. Mr E.S. Ripper : Confront the reality of what she said last night and answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The issue of the staffing — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker, there is no point. Mr P. Papalia interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Warnbro, I formally call you to order for the first time. I will note, members, that we have managed to get through two and a half questions in 20 minutes. It is my impression that the Premier is endeavouring to answer the question, but there seem to be consistent and continual interjections. Mr C.J. BARNETT : So, Mr Speaker — Mr M.P. Whitely interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat Premier. Member for Bassendean, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : There are no conditions on the allocation of staff to the member for Alfred Cove and the member for Kalgoorlie. The issue of staffing for the member for Fremantle has not progressed beyond our discussions in early to mid-October, other than, I think, some correspondence or contact between the member and the Department of the Premier and Cabinet; and there is nothing at all wrong with that. No matter has been prepared or taken to cabinet. No further progress has been made on that. Indeed, I restate: this government, if it chooses to make an allocation on staffing, will do it only formally through a cabinet decision with no conditions attached. If the member for Fremantle succeeds, as other members have, in her claim for extra staffing, which has considerable merit, it will be on the basis of no conditions, but it will be a formal cabinet decision. I repeat, the Leader of the Opposition has obviously spent a lot of time on this. He should now have recalled whether his assistance to the Greens under the Gallop government was a cabinet decision or had conditions. Mr E.S. Ripper : You answer my question first. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered yours. Mr E.S. Ripper : You have not answered my question. You haven’t answered question (2). Was she correct or was she not? Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part of the question — Mr E.S. Ripper : Do not miss out the second part; answer the second part. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered. On the third part — Mr E.S. Ripper : On the second part — The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part, “Providing personal benefits”, does the member realise what he is saying? Mr E.S. Ripper : “Providing personal”—yes, I do realise what I’m saying. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do you seriously see the provision of staffing as a personal benefit? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Unbelievable. You have learnt nothing as a government—nothing at all. Mr E.S. Ripper : Born to rule! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the Leader of the Opposition to describe a proper request for staffing and research assistance, as the Greens and other Independents have made, as a personal benefit is very, very tawdry.
Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s not about support. Don’t muddy the waters. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The idea is that the Leader of the Opposition asks the question and I answer it. With respect to conditions, I do not know how the previous government operated, but this government operates formally and correctly on advice through a cabinet process. Mr E.S. Ripper : She says that you did a deal. Did you? Mr C.J. BARNETT : With respect to the approach made by the member for Alfred Cove, if my memory serves me correctly, the member for Alfred Cove made a very strong case for support to deal with legislation as an Independent. When that issue arose and the request from the Greens was made on several occasions, this government took the issue through the proper public sector process to cabinet for a formal cabinet decision. That cabinet decision was to provide extra resources to the Greens and the two Independents at the time. That cabinet decision contains no condition at all. The reason I raise that is that back in 2005, the then Labor government provided financial resources to the Greens. I ask the question: did the Leader of the Opposition, as then Treasurer, provide those financial resources to the Greens in 2005 and did he do it through a cabinet decision or not? Mr E.S. Ripper : I would have to check the cabinet record. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition would have to check the cabinet record! Let me help him out because I recall the events. I think, members, it was to do with the passage of the one vote, one value legislation. The then Labor government could not get it through the upper house. The former member for Fremantle, Jim McGinty, had discussions with the Greens, and out of those discussions came an agreement, plus a staff position for the Greens. I again ask the Leader of the Opposition: when he was Treasurer, did it go to cabinet and was it a formal cabinet decision? Mr E.S. Ripper : Premier, before I answer your questions, why don’t you answer my question? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have told the Leader of the Opposition what this government does. Mr E.S. Ripper : No; you haven’t answered my question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, I have. Come on! Mr E.S. Ripper : You haven’t answered my question, which is: is the member for Fremantle correct in what she said? Mr C.J. BARNETT : The former chief of staff of former Premier Geoff Gallop is up the back; she will know. The Leader of the Opposition should ask her whether it was a cabinet decision. Mr P. Papalia : You’re really worried about this, aren’t you? Mr C.J. BARNETT : We can pause and have a two-minute time-out so that the Leader of the Opposition can run up to the back bench and ask the former chief of staff to Premier Gallop whether there was a cabinet decision on that. We will pause for a minute. Several members interjected. Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer your question. Don’t try to distract and deflect. Don’t go back five years. Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the question. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’re not answering the question. Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the question. I make the point that there was no condition on the funding to the other members. Mr E.S. Ripper : What about the member for Fremantle? Is she correct in what she told the media last night? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If the government — Mr E.S. Ripper : You won’t answer that question. You’re scared to answer that question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition is not being quiet, polite or courteous. Mr E.S. Ripper : Confront the reality of what she said last night and answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The issue of the staffing — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker, there is no point. Mr P. Papalia interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Warnbro, I formally call you to order for the first time. I will note, members, that we have managed to get through two and a half questions in 20 minutes. It is my impression that the Premier is endeavouring to answer the question, but there seem to be consistent and continual interjections. Mr C.J. BARNETT : So, Mr Speaker — Mr M.P. Whitely interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat Premier. Member for Bassendean, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : There are no conditions on the allocation of staff to the member for Alfred Cove and the member for Kalgoorlie. The issue of staffing for the member for Fremantle has not progressed beyond our discussions in early to mid-October, other than, I think, some correspondence or contact between the member and the Department of the Premier and Cabinet; and there is nothing at all wrong with that. No matter has been prepared or taken to cabinet. No further progress has been made on that. Indeed, I restate: this government, if it chooses to make an allocation on staffing, will do it only formally through a cabinet decision with no conditions attached. If the member for Fremantle succeeds, as other members have, in her claim for extra staffing, which has considerable merit, it will be on the basis of no conditions, but it will be a formal cabinet decision. I repeat, the Leader of the Opposition has obviously spent a lot of time on this. He should now have recalled whether his assistance to the Greens under the Gallop government was a cabinet decision or had conditions. Mr E.S. Ripper : You answer my question first. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered yours. Mr E.S. Ripper : You have not answered my question. You haven’t answered question (2). Was she correct or was she not? Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part of the question — Mr E.S. Ripper : Do not miss out the second part; answer the second part. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered. On the third part — Mr E.S. Ripper : On the second part — The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part, “Providing personal benefits”, does the member realise what he is saying? Mr E.S. Ripper : “Providing personal”—yes, I do realise what I’m saying. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do you seriously see the provision of staffing as a personal benefit? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Unbelievable. You have learnt nothing as a government—nothing at all. Mr E.S. Ripper : Born to rule! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the Leader of the Opposition to describe a proper request for staffing and research assistance, as the Greens and other Independents have made, as a personal benefit is very, very tawdry.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : The idea is that the Leader of the Opposition asks the question and I answer it. With respect to conditions, I do not know how the previous government operated, but this government operates formally and correctly on advice through a cabinet process. Mr E.S. Ripper : She says that you did a deal. Did you? Mr C.J. BARNETT : With respect to the approach made by the member for Alfred Cove, if my memory serves me correctly, the member for Alfred Cove made a very strong case for support to deal with legislation as an Independent. When that issue arose and the request from the Greens was made on several occasions, this government took the issue through the proper public sector process to cabinet for a formal cabinet decision. That cabinet decision was to provide extra resources to the Greens and the two Independents at the time. That cabinet decision contains no condition at all. The reason I raise that is that back in 2005, the then Labor government provided financial resources to the Greens. I ask the question: did the Leader of the Opposition, as then Treasurer, provide those financial resources to the Greens in 2005 and did he do it through a cabinet decision or not? Mr E.S. Ripper : I would have to check the cabinet record. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition would have to check the cabinet record! Let me help him out because I recall the events. I think, members, it was to do with the passage of the one vote, one value legislation. The then Labor government could not get it through the upper house. The former member for Fremantle, Jim McGinty, had discussions with the Greens, and out of those discussions came an agreement, plus a staff position for the Greens. I again ask the Leader of the Opposition: when he was Treasurer, did it go to cabinet and was it a formal cabinet decision? Mr E.S. Ripper : Premier, before I answer your questions, why don’t you answer my question? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have told the Leader of the Opposition what this government does. Mr E.S. Ripper : No; you haven’t answered my question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, I have. Come on! Mr E.S. Ripper : You haven’t answered my question, which is: is the member for Fremantle correct in what she said? Mr C.J. BARNETT : The former chief of staff of former Premier Geoff Gallop is up the back; she will know. The Leader of the Opposition should ask her whether it was a cabinet decision. Mr P. Papalia : You’re really worried about this, aren’t you? Mr C.J. BARNETT : We can pause and have a two-minute time-out so that the Leader of the Opposition can run up to the back bench and ask the former chief of staff to Premier Gallop whether there was a cabinet decision on that. We will pause for a minute. Several members interjected. Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer your question. Don’t try to distract and deflect. Don’t go back five years. Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the question. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’re not answering the question. Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the question. I make the point that there was no condition on the funding to the other members. Mr E.S. Ripper : What about the member for Fremantle? Is she correct in what she told the media last night? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If the government — Mr E.S. Ripper : You won’t answer that question. You’re scared to answer that question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition is not being quiet, polite or courteous. Mr E.S. Ripper : Confront the reality of what she said last night and answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The issue of the staffing — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker, there is no point. Mr P. Papalia interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Warnbro, I formally call you to order for the first time. I will note, members, that we have managed to get through two and a half questions in 20 minutes. It is my impression that the Premier is endeavouring to answer the question, but there seem to be consistent and continual interjections. Mr C.J. BARNETT : So, Mr Speaker — Mr M.P. Whitely interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat Premier. Member for Bassendean, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : There are no conditions on the allocation of staff to the member for Alfred Cove and the member for Kalgoorlie. The issue of staffing for the member for Fremantle has not progressed beyond our discussions in early to mid-October, other than, I think, some correspondence or contact between the member and the Department of the Premier and Cabinet; and there is nothing at all wrong with that. No matter has been prepared or taken to cabinet. No further progress has been made on that. Indeed, I restate: this government, if it chooses to make an allocation on staffing, will do it only formally through a cabinet decision with no conditions attached. If the member for Fremantle succeeds, as other members have, in her claim for extra staffing, which has considerable merit, it will be on the basis of no conditions, but it will be a formal cabinet decision. I repeat, the Leader of the Opposition has obviously spent a lot of time on this. He should now have recalled whether his assistance to the Greens under the Gallop government was a cabinet decision or had conditions. Mr E.S. Ripper : You answer my question first. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered yours. Mr E.S. Ripper : You have not answered my question. You haven’t answered question (2). Was she correct or was she not? Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part of the question — Mr E.S. Ripper : Do not miss out the second part; answer the second part. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered. On the third part — Mr E.S. Ripper : On the second part — The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part, “Providing personal benefits”, does the member realise what he is saying? Mr E.S. Ripper : “Providing personal”—yes, I do realise what I’m saying. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do you seriously see the provision of staffing as a personal benefit? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Unbelievable. You have learnt nothing as a government—nothing at all. Mr E.S. Ripper : Born to rule! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the Leader of the Opposition to describe a proper request for staffing and research assistance, as the Greens and other Independents have made, as a personal benefit is very, very tawdry.
With respect to conditions, I do not know how the previous government operated, but this government operates formally and correctly on advice through a cabinet process. Mr E.S. Ripper : She says that you did a deal. Did you? Mr C.J. BARNETT : With respect to the approach made by the member for Alfred Cove, if my memory serves me correctly, the member for Alfred Cove made a very strong case for support to deal with legislation as an Independent. When that issue arose and the request from the Greens was made on several occasions, this government took the issue through the proper public sector process to cabinet for a formal cabinet decision. That cabinet decision was to provide extra resources to the Greens and the two Independents at the time. That cabinet decision contains no condition at all. The reason I raise that is that back in 2005, the then Labor government provided financial resources to the Greens. I ask the question: did the Leader of the Opposition, as then Treasurer, provide those financial resources to the Greens in 2005 and did he do it through a cabinet decision or not? Mr E.S. Ripper : I would have to check the cabinet record. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition would have to check the cabinet record! Let me help him out because I recall the events. I think, members, it was to do with the passage of the one vote, one value legislation. The then Labor government could not get it through the upper house. The former member for Fremantle, Jim McGinty, had discussions with the Greens, and out of those discussions came an agreement, plus a staff position for the Greens. I again ask the Leader of the Opposition: when he was Treasurer, did it go to cabinet and was it a formal cabinet decision? Mr E.S. Ripper : Premier, before I answer your questions, why don’t you answer my question? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have told the Leader of the Opposition what this government does. Mr E.S. Ripper : No; you haven’t answered my question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, I have. Come on! Mr E.S. Ripper : You haven’t answered my question, which is: is the member for Fremantle correct in what she said? Mr C.J. BARNETT : The former chief of staff of former Premier Geoff Gallop is up the back; she will know. The Leader of the Opposition should ask her whether it was a cabinet decision. Mr P. Papalia : You’re really worried about this, aren’t you? Mr C.J. BARNETT : We can pause and have a two-minute time-out so that the Leader of the Opposition can run up to the back bench and ask the former chief of staff to Premier Gallop whether there was a cabinet decision on that. We will pause for a minute. Several members interjected. Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer your question. Don’t try to distract and deflect. Don’t go back five years. Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the question. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’re not answering the question. Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the question. I make the point that there was no condition on the funding to the other members. Mr E.S. Ripper : What about the member for Fremantle? Is she correct in what she told the media last night? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If the government — Mr E.S. Ripper : You won’t answer that question. You’re scared to answer that question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition is not being quiet, polite or courteous. Mr E.S. Ripper : Confront the reality of what she said last night and answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The issue of the staffing — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker, there is no point. Mr P. Papalia interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Warnbro, I formally call you to order for the first time. I will note, members, that we have managed to get through two and a half questions in 20 minutes. It is my impression that the Premier is endeavouring to answer the question, but there seem to be consistent and continual interjections. Mr C.J. BARNETT : So, Mr Speaker — Mr M.P. Whitely interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat Premier. Member for Bassendean, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : There are no conditions on the allocation of staff to the member for Alfred Cove and the member for Kalgoorlie. The issue of staffing for the member for Fremantle has not progressed beyond our discussions in early to mid-October, other than, I think, some correspondence or contact between the member and the Department of the Premier and Cabinet; and there is nothing at all wrong with that. No matter has been prepared or taken to cabinet. No further progress has been made on that. Indeed, I restate: this government, if it chooses to make an allocation on staffing, will do it only formally through a cabinet decision with no conditions attached. If the member for Fremantle succeeds, as other members have, in her claim for extra staffing, which has considerable merit, it will be on the basis of no conditions, but it will be a formal cabinet decision. I repeat, the Leader of the Opposition has obviously spent a lot of time on this. He should now have recalled whether his assistance to the Greens under the Gallop government was a cabinet decision or had conditions. Mr E.S. Ripper : You answer my question first. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered yours. Mr E.S. Ripper : You have not answered my question. You haven’t answered question (2). Was she correct or was she not? Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part of the question — Mr E.S. Ripper : Do not miss out the second part; answer the second part. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered. On the third part — Mr E.S. Ripper : On the second part — The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part, “Providing personal benefits”, does the member realise what he is saying? Mr E.S. Ripper : “Providing personal”—yes, I do realise what I’m saying. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do you seriously see the provision of staffing as a personal benefit? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Unbelievable. You have learnt nothing as a government—nothing at all. Mr E.S. Ripper : Born to rule! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the Leader of the Opposition to describe a proper request for staffing and research assistance, as the Greens and other Independents have made, as a personal benefit is very, very tawdry.
Mr E.S. Ripper : She says that you did a deal. Did you? Mr C.J. BARNETT : With respect to the approach made by the member for Alfred Cove, if my memory serves me correctly, the member for Alfred Cove made a very strong case for support to deal with legislation as an Independent. When that issue arose and the request from the Greens was made on several occasions, this government took the issue through the proper public sector process to cabinet for a formal cabinet decision. That cabinet decision was to provide extra resources to the Greens and the two Independents at the time. That cabinet decision contains no condition at all. The reason I raise that is that back in 2005, the then Labor government provided financial resources to the Greens. I ask the question: did the Leader of the Opposition, as then Treasurer, provide those financial resources to the Greens in 2005 and did he do it through a cabinet decision or not? Mr E.S. Ripper : I would have to check the cabinet record. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition would have to check the cabinet record! Let me help him out because I recall the events. I think, members, it was to do with the passage of the one vote, one value legislation. The then Labor government could not get it through the upper house. The former member for Fremantle, Jim McGinty, had discussions with the Greens, and out of those discussions came an agreement, plus a staff position for the Greens. I again ask the Leader of the Opposition: when he was Treasurer, did it go to cabinet and was it a formal cabinet decision? Mr E.S. Ripper : Premier, before I answer your questions, why don’t you answer my question? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have told the Leader of the Opposition what this government does. Mr E.S. Ripper : No; you haven’t answered my question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, I have. Come on! Mr E.S. Ripper : You haven’t answered my question, which is: is the member for Fremantle correct in what she said? Mr C.J. BARNETT : The former chief of staff of former Premier Geoff Gallop is up the back; she will know. The Leader of the Opposition should ask her whether it was a cabinet decision. Mr P. Papalia : You’re really worried about this, aren’t you? Mr C.J. BARNETT : We can pause and have a two-minute time-out so that the Leader of the Opposition can run up to the back bench and ask the former chief of staff to Premier Gallop whether there was a cabinet decision on that. We will pause for a minute. Several members interjected. Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer your question. Don’t try to distract and deflect. Don’t go back five years. Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the question. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’re not answering the question. Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the question. I make the point that there was no condition on the funding to the other members. Mr E.S. Ripper : What about the member for Fremantle? Is she correct in what she told the media last night? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If the government — Mr E.S. Ripper : You won’t answer that question. You’re scared to answer that question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition is not being quiet, polite or courteous. Mr E.S. Ripper : Confront the reality of what she said last night and answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The issue of the staffing — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker, there is no point. Mr P. Papalia interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Warnbro, I formally call you to order for the first time. I will note, members, that we have managed to get through two and a half questions in 20 minutes. It is my impression that the Premier is endeavouring to answer the question, but there seem to be consistent and continual interjections. Mr C.J. BARNETT : So, Mr Speaker — Mr M.P. Whitely interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat Premier. Member for Bassendean, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : There are no conditions on the allocation of staff to the member for Alfred Cove and the member for Kalgoorlie. The issue of staffing for the member for Fremantle has not progressed beyond our discussions in early to mid-October, other than, I think, some correspondence or contact between the member and the Department of the Premier and Cabinet; and there is nothing at all wrong with that. No matter has been prepared or taken to cabinet. No further progress has been made on that. Indeed, I restate: this government, if it chooses to make an allocation on staffing, will do it only formally through a cabinet decision with no conditions attached. If the member for Fremantle succeeds, as other members have, in her claim for extra staffing, which has considerable merit, it will be on the basis of no conditions, but it will be a formal cabinet decision. I repeat, the Leader of the Opposition has obviously spent a lot of time on this. He should now have recalled whether his assistance to the Greens under the Gallop government was a cabinet decision or had conditions. Mr E.S. Ripper : You answer my question first. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered yours. Mr E.S. Ripper : You have not answered my question. You haven’t answered question (2). Was she correct or was she not? Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part of the question — Mr E.S. Ripper : Do not miss out the second part; answer the second part. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered. On the third part — Mr E.S. Ripper : On the second part — The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part, “Providing personal benefits”, does the member realise what he is saying? Mr E.S. Ripper : “Providing personal”—yes, I do realise what I’m saying. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do you seriously see the provision of staffing as a personal benefit? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Unbelievable. You have learnt nothing as a government—nothing at all. Mr E.S. Ripper : Born to rule! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the Leader of the Opposition to describe a proper request for staffing and research assistance, as the Greens and other Independents have made, as a personal benefit is very, very tawdry.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : With respect to the approach made by the member for Alfred Cove, if my memory serves me correctly, the member for Alfred Cove made a very strong case for support to deal with legislation as an Independent. When that issue arose and the request from the Greens was made on several occasions, this government took the issue through the proper public sector process to cabinet for a formal cabinet decision. That cabinet decision was to provide extra resources to the Greens and the two Independents at the time. That cabinet decision contains no condition at all. The reason I raise that is that back in 2005, the then Labor government provided financial resources to the Greens. I ask the question: did the Leader of the Opposition, as then Treasurer, provide those financial resources to the Greens in 2005 and did he do it through a cabinet decision or not? Mr E.S. Ripper : I would have to check the cabinet record. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition would have to check the cabinet record! Let me help him out because I recall the events. I think, members, it was to do with the passage of the one vote, one value legislation. The then Labor government could not get it through the upper house. The former member for Fremantle, Jim McGinty, had discussions with the Greens, and out of those discussions came an agreement, plus a staff position for the Greens. I again ask the Leader of the Opposition: when he was Treasurer, did it go to cabinet and was it a formal cabinet decision? Mr E.S. Ripper : Premier, before I answer your questions, why don’t you answer my question? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have told the Leader of the Opposition what this government does. Mr E.S. Ripper : No; you haven’t answered my question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, I have. Come on! Mr E.S. Ripper : You haven’t answered my question, which is: is the member for Fremantle correct in what she said? Mr C.J. BARNETT : The former chief of staff of former Premier Geoff Gallop is up the back; she will know. The Leader of the Opposition should ask her whether it was a cabinet decision. Mr P. Papalia : You’re really worried about this, aren’t you? Mr C.J. BARNETT : We can pause and have a two-minute time-out so that the Leader of the Opposition can run up to the back bench and ask the former chief of staff to Premier Gallop whether there was a cabinet decision on that. We will pause for a minute. Several members interjected. Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer your question. Don’t try to distract and deflect. Don’t go back five years. Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the question. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’re not answering the question. Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the question. I make the point that there was no condition on the funding to the other members. Mr E.S. Ripper : What about the member for Fremantle? Is she correct in what she told the media last night? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If the government — Mr E.S. Ripper : You won’t answer that question. You’re scared to answer that question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition is not being quiet, polite or courteous. Mr E.S. Ripper : Confront the reality of what she said last night and answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The issue of the staffing — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker, there is no point. Mr P. Papalia interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Warnbro, I formally call you to order for the first time. I will note, members, that we have managed to get through two and a half questions in 20 minutes. It is my impression that the Premier is endeavouring to answer the question, but there seem to be consistent and continual interjections. Mr C.J. BARNETT : So, Mr Speaker — Mr M.P. Whitely interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat Premier. Member for Bassendean, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : There are no conditions on the allocation of staff to the member for Alfred Cove and the member for Kalgoorlie. The issue of staffing for the member for Fremantle has not progressed beyond our discussions in early to mid-October, other than, I think, some correspondence or contact between the member and the Department of the Premier and Cabinet; and there is nothing at all wrong with that. No matter has been prepared or taken to cabinet. No further progress has been made on that. Indeed, I restate: this government, if it chooses to make an allocation on staffing, will do it only formally through a cabinet decision with no conditions attached. If the member for Fremantle succeeds, as other members have, in her claim for extra staffing, which has considerable merit, it will be on the basis of no conditions, but it will be a formal cabinet decision. I repeat, the Leader of the Opposition has obviously spent a lot of time on this. He should now have recalled whether his assistance to the Greens under the Gallop government was a cabinet decision or had conditions. Mr E.S. Ripper : You answer my question first. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered yours. Mr E.S. Ripper : You have not answered my question. You haven’t answered question (2). Was she correct or was she not? Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part of the question — Mr E.S. Ripper : Do not miss out the second part; answer the second part. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered. On the third part — Mr E.S. Ripper : On the second part — The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part, “Providing personal benefits”, does the member realise what he is saying? Mr E.S. Ripper : “Providing personal”—yes, I do realise what I’m saying. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do you seriously see the provision of staffing as a personal benefit? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Unbelievable. You have learnt nothing as a government—nothing at all. Mr E.S. Ripper : Born to rule! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the Leader of the Opposition to describe a proper request for staffing and research assistance, as the Greens and other Independents have made, as a personal benefit is very, very tawdry.
Mr E.S. Ripper : I would have to check the cabinet record. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition would have to check the cabinet record! Let me help him out because I recall the events. I think, members, it was to do with the passage of the one vote, one value legislation. The then Labor government could not get it through the upper house. The former member for Fremantle, Jim McGinty, had discussions with the Greens, and out of those discussions came an agreement, plus a staff position for the Greens. I again ask the Leader of the Opposition: when he was Treasurer, did it go to cabinet and was it a formal cabinet decision? Mr E.S. Ripper : Premier, before I answer your questions, why don’t you answer my question? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have told the Leader of the Opposition what this government does. Mr E.S. Ripper : No; you haven’t answered my question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, I have. Come on! Mr E.S. Ripper : You haven’t answered my question, which is: is the member for Fremantle correct in what she said? Mr C.J. BARNETT : The former chief of staff of former Premier Geoff Gallop is up the back; she will know. The Leader of the Opposition should ask her whether it was a cabinet decision. Mr P. Papalia : You’re really worried about this, aren’t you? Mr C.J. BARNETT : We can pause and have a two-minute time-out so that the Leader of the Opposition can run up to the back bench and ask the former chief of staff to Premier Gallop whether there was a cabinet decision on that. We will pause for a minute. Several members interjected. Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer your question. Don’t try to distract and deflect. Don’t go back five years. Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the question. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’re not answering the question. Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the question. I make the point that there was no condition on the funding to the other members. Mr E.S. Ripper : What about the member for Fremantle? Is she correct in what she told the media last night? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If the government — Mr E.S. Ripper : You won’t answer that question. You’re scared to answer that question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition is not being quiet, polite or courteous. Mr E.S. Ripper : Confront the reality of what she said last night and answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The issue of the staffing — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker, there is no point. Mr P. Papalia interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Warnbro, I formally call you to order for the first time. I will note, members, that we have managed to get through two and a half questions in 20 minutes. It is my impression that the Premier is endeavouring to answer the question, but there seem to be consistent and continual interjections. Mr C.J. BARNETT : So, Mr Speaker — Mr M.P. Whitely interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat Premier. Member for Bassendean, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : There are no conditions on the allocation of staff to the member for Alfred Cove and the member for Kalgoorlie. The issue of staffing for the member for Fremantle has not progressed beyond our discussions in early to mid-October, other than, I think, some correspondence or contact between the member and the Department of the Premier and Cabinet; and there is nothing at all wrong with that. No matter has been prepared or taken to cabinet. No further progress has been made on that. Indeed, I restate: this government, if it chooses to make an allocation on staffing, will do it only formally through a cabinet decision with no conditions attached. If the member for Fremantle succeeds, as other members have, in her claim for extra staffing, which has considerable merit, it will be on the basis of no conditions, but it will be a formal cabinet decision. I repeat, the Leader of the Opposition has obviously spent a lot of time on this. He should now have recalled whether his assistance to the Greens under the Gallop government was a cabinet decision or had conditions. Mr E.S. Ripper : You answer my question first. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered yours. Mr E.S. Ripper : You have not answered my question. You haven’t answered question (2). Was she correct or was she not? Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part of the question — Mr E.S. Ripper : Do not miss out the second part; answer the second part. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered. On the third part — Mr E.S. Ripper : On the second part — The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part, “Providing personal benefits”, does the member realise what he is saying? Mr E.S. Ripper : “Providing personal”—yes, I do realise what I’m saying. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do you seriously see the provision of staffing as a personal benefit? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Unbelievable. You have learnt nothing as a government—nothing at all. Mr E.S. Ripper : Born to rule! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the Leader of the Opposition to describe a proper request for staffing and research assistance, as the Greens and other Independents have made, as a personal benefit is very, very tawdry.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition would have to check the cabinet record! Let me help him out because I recall the events. I think, members, it was to do with the passage of the one vote, one value legislation. The then Labor government could not get it through the upper house. The former member for Fremantle, Jim McGinty, had discussions with the Greens, and out of those discussions came an agreement, plus a staff position for the Greens. I again ask the Leader of the Opposition: when he was Treasurer, did it go to cabinet and was it a formal cabinet decision? Mr E.S. Ripper : Premier, before I answer your questions, why don’t you answer my question? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have told the Leader of the Opposition what this government does. Mr E.S. Ripper : No; you haven’t answered my question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, I have. Come on! Mr E.S. Ripper : You haven’t answered my question, which is: is the member for Fremantle correct in what she said? Mr C.J. BARNETT : The former chief of staff of former Premier Geoff Gallop is up the back; she will know. The Leader of the Opposition should ask her whether it was a cabinet decision. Mr P. Papalia : You’re really worried about this, aren’t you? Mr C.J. BARNETT : We can pause and have a two-minute time-out so that the Leader of the Opposition can run up to the back bench and ask the former chief of staff to Premier Gallop whether there was a cabinet decision on that. We will pause for a minute. Several members interjected. Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer your question. Don’t try to distract and deflect. Don’t go back five years. Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the question. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’re not answering the question. Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the question. I make the point that there was no condition on the funding to the other members. Mr E.S. Ripper : What about the member for Fremantle? Is she correct in what she told the media last night? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If the government — Mr E.S. Ripper : You won’t answer that question. You’re scared to answer that question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition is not being quiet, polite or courteous. Mr E.S. Ripper : Confront the reality of what she said last night and answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The issue of the staffing — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker, there is no point. Mr P. Papalia interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Warnbro, I formally call you to order for the first time. I will note, members, that we have managed to get through two and a half questions in 20 minutes. It is my impression that the Premier is endeavouring to answer the question, but there seem to be consistent and continual interjections. Mr C.J. BARNETT : So, Mr Speaker — Mr M.P. Whitely interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat Premier. Member for Bassendean, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : There are no conditions on the allocation of staff to the member for Alfred Cove and the member for Kalgoorlie. The issue of staffing for the member for Fremantle has not progressed beyond our discussions in early to mid-October, other than, I think, some correspondence or contact between the member and the Department of the Premier and Cabinet; and there is nothing at all wrong with that. No matter has been prepared or taken to cabinet. No further progress has been made on that. Indeed, I restate: this government, if it chooses to make an allocation on staffing, will do it only formally through a cabinet decision with no conditions attached. If the member for Fremantle succeeds, as other members have, in her claim for extra staffing, which has considerable merit, it will be on the basis of no conditions, but it will be a formal cabinet decision. I repeat, the Leader of the Opposition has obviously spent a lot of time on this. He should now have recalled whether his assistance to the Greens under the Gallop government was a cabinet decision or had conditions. Mr E.S. Ripper : You answer my question first. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered yours. Mr E.S. Ripper : You have not answered my question. You haven’t answered question (2). Was she correct or was she not? Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part of the question — Mr E.S. Ripper : Do not miss out the second part; answer the second part. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered. On the third part — Mr E.S. Ripper : On the second part — The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part, “Providing personal benefits”, does the member realise what he is saying? Mr E.S. Ripper : “Providing personal”—yes, I do realise what I’m saying. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do you seriously see the provision of staffing as a personal benefit? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Unbelievable. You have learnt nothing as a government—nothing at all. Mr E.S. Ripper : Born to rule! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the Leader of the Opposition to describe a proper request for staffing and research assistance, as the Greens and other Independents have made, as a personal benefit is very, very tawdry.
Mr E.S. Ripper : Premier, before I answer your questions, why don’t you answer my question? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have told the Leader of the Opposition what this government does. Mr E.S. Ripper : No; you haven’t answered my question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, I have. Come on! Mr E.S. Ripper : You haven’t answered my question, which is: is the member for Fremantle correct in what she said? Mr C.J. BARNETT : The former chief of staff of former Premier Geoff Gallop is up the back; she will know. The Leader of the Opposition should ask her whether it was a cabinet decision. Mr P. Papalia : You’re really worried about this, aren’t you? Mr C.J. BARNETT : We can pause and have a two-minute time-out so that the Leader of the Opposition can run up to the back bench and ask the former chief of staff to Premier Gallop whether there was a cabinet decision on that. We will pause for a minute. Several members interjected. Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer your question. Don’t try to distract and deflect. Don’t go back five years. Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the question. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’re not answering the question. Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the question. I make the point that there was no condition on the funding to the other members. Mr E.S. Ripper : What about the member for Fremantle? Is she correct in what she told the media last night? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If the government — Mr E.S. Ripper : You won’t answer that question. You’re scared to answer that question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition is not being quiet, polite or courteous. Mr E.S. Ripper : Confront the reality of what she said last night and answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The issue of the staffing — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker, there is no point. Mr P. Papalia interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Warnbro, I formally call you to order for the first time. I will note, members, that we have managed to get through two and a half questions in 20 minutes. It is my impression that the Premier is endeavouring to answer the question, but there seem to be consistent and continual interjections. Mr C.J. BARNETT : So, Mr Speaker — Mr M.P. Whitely interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat Premier. Member for Bassendean, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : There are no conditions on the allocation of staff to the member for Alfred Cove and the member for Kalgoorlie. The issue of staffing for the member for Fremantle has not progressed beyond our discussions in early to mid-October, other than, I think, some correspondence or contact between the member and the Department of the Premier and Cabinet; and there is nothing at all wrong with that. No matter has been prepared or taken to cabinet. No further progress has been made on that. Indeed, I restate: this government, if it chooses to make an allocation on staffing, will do it only formally through a cabinet decision with no conditions attached. If the member for Fremantle succeeds, as other members have, in her claim for extra staffing, which has considerable merit, it will be on the basis of no conditions, but it will be a formal cabinet decision. I repeat, the Leader of the Opposition has obviously spent a lot of time on this. He should now have recalled whether his assistance to the Greens under the Gallop government was a cabinet decision or had conditions. Mr E.S. Ripper : You answer my question first. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered yours. Mr E.S. Ripper : You have not answered my question. You haven’t answered question (2). Was she correct or was she not? Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part of the question — Mr E.S. Ripper : Do not miss out the second part; answer the second part. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered. On the third part — Mr E.S. Ripper : On the second part — The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part, “Providing personal benefits”, does the member realise what he is saying? Mr E.S. Ripper : “Providing personal”—yes, I do realise what I’m saying. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do you seriously see the provision of staffing as a personal benefit? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Unbelievable. You have learnt nothing as a government—nothing at all. Mr E.S. Ripper : Born to rule! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the Leader of the Opposition to describe a proper request for staffing and research assistance, as the Greens and other Independents have made, as a personal benefit is very, very tawdry.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have told the Leader of the Opposition what this government does. Mr E.S. Ripper : No; you haven’t answered my question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, I have. Come on! Mr E.S. Ripper : You haven’t answered my question, which is: is the member for Fremantle correct in what she said? Mr C.J. BARNETT : The former chief of staff of former Premier Geoff Gallop is up the back; she will know. The Leader of the Opposition should ask her whether it was a cabinet decision. Mr P. Papalia : You’re really worried about this, aren’t you? Mr C.J. BARNETT : We can pause and have a two-minute time-out so that the Leader of the Opposition can run up to the back bench and ask the former chief of staff to Premier Gallop whether there was a cabinet decision on that. We will pause for a minute. Several members interjected. Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer your question. Don’t try to distract and deflect. Don’t go back five years. Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the question. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’re not answering the question. Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the question. I make the point that there was no condition on the funding to the other members. Mr E.S. Ripper : What about the member for Fremantle? Is she correct in what she told the media last night? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If the government — Mr E.S. Ripper : You won’t answer that question. You’re scared to answer that question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition is not being quiet, polite or courteous. Mr E.S. Ripper : Confront the reality of what she said last night and answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The issue of the staffing — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker, there is no point. Mr P. Papalia interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Warnbro, I formally call you to order for the first time. I will note, members, that we have managed to get through two and a half questions in 20 minutes. It is my impression that the Premier is endeavouring to answer the question, but there seem to be consistent and continual interjections. Mr C.J. BARNETT : So, Mr Speaker — Mr M.P. Whitely interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat Premier. Member for Bassendean, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : There are no conditions on the allocation of staff to the member for Alfred Cove and the member for Kalgoorlie. The issue of staffing for the member for Fremantle has not progressed beyond our discussions in early to mid-October, other than, I think, some correspondence or contact between the member and the Department of the Premier and Cabinet; and there is nothing at all wrong with that. No matter has been prepared or taken to cabinet. No further progress has been made on that. Indeed, I restate: this government, if it chooses to make an allocation on staffing, will do it only formally through a cabinet decision with no conditions attached. If the member for Fremantle succeeds, as other members have, in her claim for extra staffing, which has considerable merit, it will be on the basis of no conditions, but it will be a formal cabinet decision. I repeat, the Leader of the Opposition has obviously spent a lot of time on this. He should now have recalled whether his assistance to the Greens under the Gallop government was a cabinet decision or had conditions. Mr E.S. Ripper : You answer my question first. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered yours. Mr E.S. Ripper : You have not answered my question. You haven’t answered question (2). Was she correct or was she not? Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part of the question — Mr E.S. Ripper : Do not miss out the second part; answer the second part. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered. On the third part — Mr E.S. Ripper : On the second part — The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part, “Providing personal benefits”, does the member realise what he is saying? Mr E.S. Ripper : “Providing personal”—yes, I do realise what I’m saying. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do you seriously see the provision of staffing as a personal benefit? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Unbelievable. You have learnt nothing as a government—nothing at all. Mr E.S. Ripper : Born to rule! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the Leader of the Opposition to describe a proper request for staffing and research assistance, as the Greens and other Independents have made, as a personal benefit is very, very tawdry.
Mr E.S. Ripper : No; you haven’t answered my question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, I have. Come on! Mr E.S. Ripper : You haven’t answered my question, which is: is the member for Fremantle correct in what she said? Mr C.J. BARNETT : The former chief of staff of former Premier Geoff Gallop is up the back; she will know. The Leader of the Opposition should ask her whether it was a cabinet decision. Mr P. Papalia : You’re really worried about this, aren’t you? Mr C.J. BARNETT : We can pause and have a two-minute time-out so that the Leader of the Opposition can run up to the back bench and ask the former chief of staff to Premier Gallop whether there was a cabinet decision on that. We will pause for a minute. Several members interjected. Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer your question. Don’t try to distract and deflect. Don’t go back five years. Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the question. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’re not answering the question. Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the question. I make the point that there was no condition on the funding to the other members. Mr E.S. Ripper : What about the member for Fremantle? Is she correct in what she told the media last night? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If the government — Mr E.S. Ripper : You won’t answer that question. You’re scared to answer that question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition is not being quiet, polite or courteous. Mr E.S. Ripper : Confront the reality of what she said last night and answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The issue of the staffing — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker, there is no point. Mr P. Papalia interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Warnbro, I formally call you to order for the first time. I will note, members, that we have managed to get through two and a half questions in 20 minutes. It is my impression that the Premier is endeavouring to answer the question, but there seem to be consistent and continual interjections. Mr C.J. BARNETT : So, Mr Speaker — Mr M.P. Whitely interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat Premier. Member for Bassendean, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : There are no conditions on the allocation of staff to the member for Alfred Cove and the member for Kalgoorlie. The issue of staffing for the member for Fremantle has not progressed beyond our discussions in early to mid-October, other than, I think, some correspondence or contact between the member and the Department of the Premier and Cabinet; and there is nothing at all wrong with that. No matter has been prepared or taken to cabinet. No further progress has been made on that. Indeed, I restate: this government, if it chooses to make an allocation on staffing, will do it only formally through a cabinet decision with no conditions attached. If the member for Fremantle succeeds, as other members have, in her claim for extra staffing, which has considerable merit, it will be on the basis of no conditions, but it will be a formal cabinet decision. I repeat, the Leader of the Opposition has obviously spent a lot of time on this. He should now have recalled whether his assistance to the Greens under the Gallop government was a cabinet decision or had conditions. Mr E.S. Ripper : You answer my question first. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered yours. Mr E.S. Ripper : You have not answered my question. You haven’t answered question (2). Was she correct or was she not? Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part of the question — Mr E.S. Ripper : Do not miss out the second part; answer the second part. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered. On the third part — Mr E.S. Ripper : On the second part — The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part, “Providing personal benefits”, does the member realise what he is saying? Mr E.S. Ripper : “Providing personal”—yes, I do realise what I’m saying. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do you seriously see the provision of staffing as a personal benefit? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Unbelievable. You have learnt nothing as a government—nothing at all. Mr E.S. Ripper : Born to rule! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the Leader of the Opposition to describe a proper request for staffing and research assistance, as the Greens and other Independents have made, as a personal benefit is very, very tawdry.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, I have. Come on! Mr E.S. Ripper : You haven’t answered my question, which is: is the member for Fremantle correct in what she said? Mr C.J. BARNETT : The former chief of staff of former Premier Geoff Gallop is up the back; she will know. The Leader of the Opposition should ask her whether it was a cabinet decision. Mr P. Papalia : You’re really worried about this, aren’t you? Mr C.J. BARNETT : We can pause and have a two-minute time-out so that the Leader of the Opposition can run up to the back bench and ask the former chief of staff to Premier Gallop whether there was a cabinet decision on that. We will pause for a minute. Several members interjected. Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer your question. Don’t try to distract and deflect. Don’t go back five years. Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the question. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’re not answering the question. Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the question. I make the point that there was no condition on the funding to the other members. Mr E.S. Ripper : What about the member for Fremantle? Is she correct in what she told the media last night? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If the government — Mr E.S. Ripper : You won’t answer that question. You’re scared to answer that question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition is not being quiet, polite or courteous. Mr E.S. Ripper : Confront the reality of what she said last night and answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The issue of the staffing — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker, there is no point. Mr P. Papalia interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Warnbro, I formally call you to order for the first time. I will note, members, that we have managed to get through two and a half questions in 20 minutes. It is my impression that the Premier is endeavouring to answer the question, but there seem to be consistent and continual interjections. Mr C.J. BARNETT : So, Mr Speaker — Mr M.P. Whitely interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat Premier. Member for Bassendean, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : There are no conditions on the allocation of staff to the member for Alfred Cove and the member for Kalgoorlie. The issue of staffing for the member for Fremantle has not progressed beyond our discussions in early to mid-October, other than, I think, some correspondence or contact between the member and the Department of the Premier and Cabinet; and there is nothing at all wrong with that. No matter has been prepared or taken to cabinet. No further progress has been made on that. Indeed, I restate: this government, if it chooses to make an allocation on staffing, will do it only formally through a cabinet decision with no conditions attached. If the member for Fremantle succeeds, as other members have, in her claim for extra staffing, which has considerable merit, it will be on the basis of no conditions, but it will be a formal cabinet decision. I repeat, the Leader of the Opposition has obviously spent a lot of time on this. He should now have recalled whether his assistance to the Greens under the Gallop government was a cabinet decision or had conditions. Mr E.S. Ripper : You answer my question first. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered yours. Mr E.S. Ripper : You have not answered my question. You haven’t answered question (2). Was she correct or was she not? Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part of the question — Mr E.S. Ripper : Do not miss out the second part; answer the second part. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered. On the third part — Mr E.S. Ripper : On the second part — The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part, “Providing personal benefits”, does the member realise what he is saying? Mr E.S. Ripper : “Providing personal”—yes, I do realise what I’m saying. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do you seriously see the provision of staffing as a personal benefit? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Unbelievable. You have learnt nothing as a government—nothing at all. Mr E.S. Ripper : Born to rule! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the Leader of the Opposition to describe a proper request for staffing and research assistance, as the Greens and other Independents have made, as a personal benefit is very, very tawdry.
Mr E.S. Ripper : You haven’t answered my question, which is: is the member for Fremantle correct in what she said? Mr C.J. BARNETT : The former chief of staff of former Premier Geoff Gallop is up the back; she will know. The Leader of the Opposition should ask her whether it was a cabinet decision. Mr P. Papalia : You’re really worried about this, aren’t you? Mr C.J. BARNETT : We can pause and have a two-minute time-out so that the Leader of the Opposition can run up to the back bench and ask the former chief of staff to Premier Gallop whether there was a cabinet decision on that. We will pause for a minute. Several members interjected. Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer your question. Don’t try to distract and deflect. Don’t go back five years. Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the question. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’re not answering the question. Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the question. I make the point that there was no condition on the funding to the other members. Mr E.S. Ripper : What about the member for Fremantle? Is she correct in what she told the media last night? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If the government — Mr E.S. Ripper : You won’t answer that question. You’re scared to answer that question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition is not being quiet, polite or courteous. Mr E.S. Ripper : Confront the reality of what she said last night and answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The issue of the staffing — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker, there is no point. Mr P. Papalia interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Warnbro, I formally call you to order for the first time. I will note, members, that we have managed to get through two and a half questions in 20 minutes. It is my impression that the Premier is endeavouring to answer the question, but there seem to be consistent and continual interjections. Mr C.J. BARNETT : So, Mr Speaker — Mr M.P. Whitely interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat Premier. Member for Bassendean, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : There are no conditions on the allocation of staff to the member for Alfred Cove and the member for Kalgoorlie. The issue of staffing for the member for Fremantle has not progressed beyond our discussions in early to mid-October, other than, I think, some correspondence or contact between the member and the Department of the Premier and Cabinet; and there is nothing at all wrong with that. No matter has been prepared or taken to cabinet. No further progress has been made on that. Indeed, I restate: this government, if it chooses to make an allocation on staffing, will do it only formally through a cabinet decision with no conditions attached. If the member for Fremantle succeeds, as other members have, in her claim for extra staffing, which has considerable merit, it will be on the basis of no conditions, but it will be a formal cabinet decision. I repeat, the Leader of the Opposition has obviously spent a lot of time on this. He should now have recalled whether his assistance to the Greens under the Gallop government was a cabinet decision or had conditions. Mr E.S. Ripper : You answer my question first. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered yours. Mr E.S. Ripper : You have not answered my question. You haven’t answered question (2). Was she correct or was she not? Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part of the question — Mr E.S. Ripper : Do not miss out the second part; answer the second part. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered. On the third part — Mr E.S. Ripper : On the second part — The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part, “Providing personal benefits”, does the member realise what he is saying? Mr E.S. Ripper : “Providing personal”—yes, I do realise what I’m saying. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do you seriously see the provision of staffing as a personal benefit? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Unbelievable. You have learnt nothing as a government—nothing at all. Mr E.S. Ripper : Born to rule! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the Leader of the Opposition to describe a proper request for staffing and research assistance, as the Greens and other Independents have made, as a personal benefit is very, very tawdry.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : The former chief of staff of former Premier Geoff Gallop is up the back; she will know. The Leader of the Opposition should ask her whether it was a cabinet decision. Mr P. Papalia : You’re really worried about this, aren’t you? Mr C.J. BARNETT : We can pause and have a two-minute time-out so that the Leader of the Opposition can run up to the back bench and ask the former chief of staff to Premier Gallop whether there was a cabinet decision on that. We will pause for a minute. Several members interjected. Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer your question. Don’t try to distract and deflect. Don’t go back five years. Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the question. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’re not answering the question. Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the question. I make the point that there was no condition on the funding to the other members. Mr E.S. Ripper : What about the member for Fremantle? Is she correct in what she told the media last night? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If the government — Mr E.S. Ripper : You won’t answer that question. You’re scared to answer that question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition is not being quiet, polite or courteous. Mr E.S. Ripper : Confront the reality of what she said last night and answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The issue of the staffing — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker, there is no point. Mr P. Papalia interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Warnbro, I formally call you to order for the first time. I will note, members, that we have managed to get through two and a half questions in 20 minutes. It is my impression that the Premier is endeavouring to answer the question, but there seem to be consistent and continual interjections. Mr C.J. BARNETT : So, Mr Speaker — Mr M.P. Whitely interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat Premier. Member for Bassendean, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : There are no conditions on the allocation of staff to the member for Alfred Cove and the member for Kalgoorlie. The issue of staffing for the member for Fremantle has not progressed beyond our discussions in early to mid-October, other than, I think, some correspondence or contact between the member and the Department of the Premier and Cabinet; and there is nothing at all wrong with that. No matter has been prepared or taken to cabinet. No further progress has been made on that. Indeed, I restate: this government, if it chooses to make an allocation on staffing, will do it only formally through a cabinet decision with no conditions attached. If the member for Fremantle succeeds, as other members have, in her claim for extra staffing, which has considerable merit, it will be on the basis of no conditions, but it will be a formal cabinet decision. I repeat, the Leader of the Opposition has obviously spent a lot of time on this. He should now have recalled whether his assistance to the Greens under the Gallop government was a cabinet decision or had conditions. Mr E.S. Ripper : You answer my question first. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered yours. Mr E.S. Ripper : You have not answered my question. You haven’t answered question (2). Was she correct or was she not? Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part of the question — Mr E.S. Ripper : Do not miss out the second part; answer the second part. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered. On the third part — Mr E.S. Ripper : On the second part — The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part, “Providing personal benefits”, does the member realise what he is saying? Mr E.S. Ripper : “Providing personal”—yes, I do realise what I’m saying. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do you seriously see the provision of staffing as a personal benefit? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Unbelievable. You have learnt nothing as a government—nothing at all. Mr E.S. Ripper : Born to rule! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the Leader of the Opposition to describe a proper request for staffing and research assistance, as the Greens and other Independents have made, as a personal benefit is very, very tawdry.
Mr P. Papalia : You’re really worried about this, aren’t you? Mr C.J. BARNETT : We can pause and have a two-minute time-out so that the Leader of the Opposition can run up to the back bench and ask the former chief of staff to Premier Gallop whether there was a cabinet decision on that. We will pause for a minute. Several members interjected. Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer your question. Don’t try to distract and deflect. Don’t go back five years. Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the question. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’re not answering the question. Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the question. I make the point that there was no condition on the funding to the other members. Mr E.S. Ripper : What about the member for Fremantle? Is she correct in what she told the media last night? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If the government — Mr E.S. Ripper : You won’t answer that question. You’re scared to answer that question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition is not being quiet, polite or courteous. Mr E.S. Ripper : Confront the reality of what she said last night and answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The issue of the staffing — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker, there is no point. Mr P. Papalia interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Warnbro, I formally call you to order for the first time. I will note, members, that we have managed to get through two and a half questions in 20 minutes. It is my impression that the Premier is endeavouring to answer the question, but there seem to be consistent and continual interjections. Mr C.J. BARNETT : So, Mr Speaker — Mr M.P. Whitely interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat Premier. Member for Bassendean, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : There are no conditions on the allocation of staff to the member for Alfred Cove and the member for Kalgoorlie. The issue of staffing for the member for Fremantle has not progressed beyond our discussions in early to mid-October, other than, I think, some correspondence or contact between the member and the Department of the Premier and Cabinet; and there is nothing at all wrong with that. No matter has been prepared or taken to cabinet. No further progress has been made on that. Indeed, I restate: this government, if it chooses to make an allocation on staffing, will do it only formally through a cabinet decision with no conditions attached. If the member for Fremantle succeeds, as other members have, in her claim for extra staffing, which has considerable merit, it will be on the basis of no conditions, but it will be a formal cabinet decision. I repeat, the Leader of the Opposition has obviously spent a lot of time on this. He should now have recalled whether his assistance to the Greens under the Gallop government was a cabinet decision or had conditions. Mr E.S. Ripper : You answer my question first. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered yours. Mr E.S. Ripper : You have not answered my question. You haven’t answered question (2). Was she correct or was she not? Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part of the question — Mr E.S. Ripper : Do not miss out the second part; answer the second part. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered. On the third part — Mr E.S. Ripper : On the second part — The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part, “Providing personal benefits”, does the member realise what he is saying? Mr E.S. Ripper : “Providing personal”—yes, I do realise what I’m saying. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do you seriously see the provision of staffing as a personal benefit? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Unbelievable. You have learnt nothing as a government—nothing at all. Mr E.S. Ripper : Born to rule! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the Leader of the Opposition to describe a proper request for staffing and research assistance, as the Greens and other Independents have made, as a personal benefit is very, very tawdry.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : We can pause and have a two-minute time-out so that the Leader of the Opposition can run up to the back bench and ask the former chief of staff to Premier Gallop whether there was a cabinet decision on that. We will pause for a minute. Several members interjected. Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer your question. Don’t try to distract and deflect. Don’t go back five years. Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the question. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’re not answering the question. Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the question. I make the point that there was no condition on the funding to the other members. Mr E.S. Ripper : What about the member for Fremantle? Is she correct in what she told the media last night? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If the government — Mr E.S. Ripper : You won’t answer that question. You’re scared to answer that question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition is not being quiet, polite or courteous. Mr E.S. Ripper : Confront the reality of what she said last night and answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The issue of the staffing — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker, there is no point. Mr P. Papalia interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Warnbro, I formally call you to order for the first time. I will note, members, that we have managed to get through two and a half questions in 20 minutes. It is my impression that the Premier is endeavouring to answer the question, but there seem to be consistent and continual interjections. Mr C.J. BARNETT : So, Mr Speaker — Mr M.P. Whitely interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat Premier. Member for Bassendean, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : There are no conditions on the allocation of staff to the member for Alfred Cove and the member for Kalgoorlie. The issue of staffing for the member for Fremantle has not progressed beyond our discussions in early to mid-October, other than, I think, some correspondence or contact between the member and the Department of the Premier and Cabinet; and there is nothing at all wrong with that. No matter has been prepared or taken to cabinet. No further progress has been made on that. Indeed, I restate: this government, if it chooses to make an allocation on staffing, will do it only formally through a cabinet decision with no conditions attached. If the member for Fremantle succeeds, as other members have, in her claim for extra staffing, which has considerable merit, it will be on the basis of no conditions, but it will be a formal cabinet decision. I repeat, the Leader of the Opposition has obviously spent a lot of time on this. He should now have recalled whether his assistance to the Greens under the Gallop government was a cabinet decision or had conditions. Mr E.S. Ripper : You answer my question first. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered yours. Mr E.S. Ripper : You have not answered my question. You haven’t answered question (2). Was she correct or was she not? Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part of the question — Mr E.S. Ripper : Do not miss out the second part; answer the second part. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered. On the third part — Mr E.S. Ripper : On the second part — The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part, “Providing personal benefits”, does the member realise what he is saying? Mr E.S. Ripper : “Providing personal”—yes, I do realise what I’m saying. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do you seriously see the provision of staffing as a personal benefit? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Unbelievable. You have learnt nothing as a government—nothing at all. Mr E.S. Ripper : Born to rule! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the Leader of the Opposition to describe a proper request for staffing and research assistance, as the Greens and other Independents have made, as a personal benefit is very, very tawdry.
Several members interjected. Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer your question. Don’t try to distract and deflect. Don’t go back five years. Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the question. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’re not answering the question. Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the question. I make the point that there was no condition on the funding to the other members. Mr E.S. Ripper : What about the member for Fremantle? Is she correct in what she told the media last night? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If the government — Mr E.S. Ripper : You won’t answer that question. You’re scared to answer that question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition is not being quiet, polite or courteous. Mr E.S. Ripper : Confront the reality of what she said last night and answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The issue of the staffing — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker, there is no point. Mr P. Papalia interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Warnbro, I formally call you to order for the first time. I will note, members, that we have managed to get through two and a half questions in 20 minutes. It is my impression that the Premier is endeavouring to answer the question, but there seem to be consistent and continual interjections. Mr C.J. BARNETT : So, Mr Speaker — Mr M.P. Whitely interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat Premier. Member for Bassendean, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : There are no conditions on the allocation of staff to the member for Alfred Cove and the member for Kalgoorlie. The issue of staffing for the member for Fremantle has not progressed beyond our discussions in early to mid-October, other than, I think, some correspondence or contact between the member and the Department of the Premier and Cabinet; and there is nothing at all wrong with that. No matter has been prepared or taken to cabinet. No further progress has been made on that. Indeed, I restate: this government, if it chooses to make an allocation on staffing, will do it only formally through a cabinet decision with no conditions attached. If the member for Fremantle succeeds, as other members have, in her claim for extra staffing, which has considerable merit, it will be on the basis of no conditions, but it will be a formal cabinet decision. I repeat, the Leader of the Opposition has obviously spent a lot of time on this. He should now have recalled whether his assistance to the Greens under the Gallop government was a cabinet decision or had conditions. Mr E.S. Ripper : You answer my question first. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered yours. Mr E.S. Ripper : You have not answered my question. You haven’t answered question (2). Was she correct or was she not? Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part of the question — Mr E.S. Ripper : Do not miss out the second part; answer the second part. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered. On the third part — Mr E.S. Ripper : On the second part — The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part, “Providing personal benefits”, does the member realise what he is saying? Mr E.S. Ripper : “Providing personal”—yes, I do realise what I’m saying. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do you seriously see the provision of staffing as a personal benefit? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Unbelievable. You have learnt nothing as a government—nothing at all. Mr E.S. Ripper : Born to rule! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the Leader of the Opposition to describe a proper request for staffing and research assistance, as the Greens and other Independents have made, as a personal benefit is very, very tawdry.
Mr E.S. Ripper : Answer your question. Don’t try to distract and deflect. Don’t go back five years. Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the question. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’re not answering the question. Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the question. I make the point that there was no condition on the funding to the other members. Mr E.S. Ripper : What about the member for Fremantle? Is she correct in what she told the media last night? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If the government — Mr E.S. Ripper : You won’t answer that question. You’re scared to answer that question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition is not being quiet, polite or courteous. Mr E.S. Ripper : Confront the reality of what she said last night and answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The issue of the staffing — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker, there is no point. Mr P. Papalia interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Warnbro, I formally call you to order for the first time. I will note, members, that we have managed to get through two and a half questions in 20 minutes. It is my impression that the Premier is endeavouring to answer the question, but there seem to be consistent and continual interjections. Mr C.J. BARNETT : So, Mr Speaker — Mr M.P. Whitely interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat Premier. Member for Bassendean, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : There are no conditions on the allocation of staff to the member for Alfred Cove and the member for Kalgoorlie. The issue of staffing for the member for Fremantle has not progressed beyond our discussions in early to mid-October, other than, I think, some correspondence or contact between the member and the Department of the Premier and Cabinet; and there is nothing at all wrong with that. No matter has been prepared or taken to cabinet. No further progress has been made on that. Indeed, I restate: this government, if it chooses to make an allocation on staffing, will do it only formally through a cabinet decision with no conditions attached. If the member for Fremantle succeeds, as other members have, in her claim for extra staffing, which has considerable merit, it will be on the basis of no conditions, but it will be a formal cabinet decision. I repeat, the Leader of the Opposition has obviously spent a lot of time on this. He should now have recalled whether his assistance to the Greens under the Gallop government was a cabinet decision or had conditions. Mr E.S. Ripper : You answer my question first. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered yours. Mr E.S. Ripper : You have not answered my question. You haven’t answered question (2). Was she correct or was she not? Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part of the question — Mr E.S. Ripper : Do not miss out the second part; answer the second part. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered. On the third part — Mr E.S. Ripper : On the second part — The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part, “Providing personal benefits”, does the member realise what he is saying? Mr E.S. Ripper : “Providing personal”—yes, I do realise what I’m saying. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do you seriously see the provision of staffing as a personal benefit? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Unbelievable. You have learnt nothing as a government—nothing at all. Mr E.S. Ripper : Born to rule! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the Leader of the Opposition to describe a proper request for staffing and research assistance, as the Greens and other Independents have made, as a personal benefit is very, very tawdry.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the question. Mr E.S. Ripper : You’re not answering the question. Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the question. I make the point that there was no condition on the funding to the other members. Mr E.S. Ripper : What about the member for Fremantle? Is she correct in what she told the media last night? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If the government — Mr E.S. Ripper : You won’t answer that question. You’re scared to answer that question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition is not being quiet, polite or courteous. Mr E.S. Ripper : Confront the reality of what she said last night and answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The issue of the staffing — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker, there is no point. Mr P. Papalia interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Warnbro, I formally call you to order for the first time. I will note, members, that we have managed to get through two and a half questions in 20 minutes. It is my impression that the Premier is endeavouring to answer the question, but there seem to be consistent and continual interjections. Mr C.J. BARNETT : So, Mr Speaker — Mr M.P. Whitely interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat Premier. Member for Bassendean, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : There are no conditions on the allocation of staff to the member for Alfred Cove and the member for Kalgoorlie. The issue of staffing for the member for Fremantle has not progressed beyond our discussions in early to mid-October, other than, I think, some correspondence or contact between the member and the Department of the Premier and Cabinet; and there is nothing at all wrong with that. No matter has been prepared or taken to cabinet. No further progress has been made on that. Indeed, I restate: this government, if it chooses to make an allocation on staffing, will do it only formally through a cabinet decision with no conditions attached. If the member for Fremantle succeeds, as other members have, in her claim for extra staffing, which has considerable merit, it will be on the basis of no conditions, but it will be a formal cabinet decision. I repeat, the Leader of the Opposition has obviously spent a lot of time on this. He should now have recalled whether his assistance to the Greens under the Gallop government was a cabinet decision or had conditions. Mr E.S. Ripper : You answer my question first. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered yours. Mr E.S. Ripper : You have not answered my question. You haven’t answered question (2). Was she correct or was she not? Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part of the question — Mr E.S. Ripper : Do not miss out the second part; answer the second part. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered. On the third part — Mr E.S. Ripper : On the second part — The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part, “Providing personal benefits”, does the member realise what he is saying? Mr E.S. Ripper : “Providing personal”—yes, I do realise what I’m saying. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do you seriously see the provision of staffing as a personal benefit? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Unbelievable. You have learnt nothing as a government—nothing at all. Mr E.S. Ripper : Born to rule! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the Leader of the Opposition to describe a proper request for staffing and research assistance, as the Greens and other Independents have made, as a personal benefit is very, very tawdry.
Mr E.S. Ripper : You’re not answering the question. Answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the question. I make the point that there was no condition on the funding to the other members. Mr E.S. Ripper : What about the member for Fremantle? Is she correct in what she told the media last night? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If the government — Mr E.S. Ripper : You won’t answer that question. You’re scared to answer that question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition is not being quiet, polite or courteous. Mr E.S. Ripper : Confront the reality of what she said last night and answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The issue of the staffing — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker, there is no point. Mr P. Papalia interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Warnbro, I formally call you to order for the first time. I will note, members, that we have managed to get through two and a half questions in 20 minutes. It is my impression that the Premier is endeavouring to answer the question, but there seem to be consistent and continual interjections. Mr C.J. BARNETT : So, Mr Speaker — Mr M.P. Whitely interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat Premier. Member for Bassendean, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : There are no conditions on the allocation of staff to the member for Alfred Cove and the member for Kalgoorlie. The issue of staffing for the member for Fremantle has not progressed beyond our discussions in early to mid-October, other than, I think, some correspondence or contact between the member and the Department of the Premier and Cabinet; and there is nothing at all wrong with that. No matter has been prepared or taken to cabinet. No further progress has been made on that. Indeed, I restate: this government, if it chooses to make an allocation on staffing, will do it only formally through a cabinet decision with no conditions attached. If the member for Fremantle succeeds, as other members have, in her claim for extra staffing, which has considerable merit, it will be on the basis of no conditions, but it will be a formal cabinet decision. I repeat, the Leader of the Opposition has obviously spent a lot of time on this. He should now have recalled whether his assistance to the Greens under the Gallop government was a cabinet decision or had conditions. Mr E.S. Ripper : You answer my question first. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered yours. Mr E.S. Ripper : You have not answered my question. You haven’t answered question (2). Was she correct or was she not? Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part of the question — Mr E.S. Ripper : Do not miss out the second part; answer the second part. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered. On the third part — Mr E.S. Ripper : On the second part — The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part, “Providing personal benefits”, does the member realise what he is saying? Mr E.S. Ripper : “Providing personal”—yes, I do realise what I’m saying. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do you seriously see the provision of staffing as a personal benefit? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Unbelievable. You have learnt nothing as a government—nothing at all. Mr E.S. Ripper : Born to rule! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the Leader of the Opposition to describe a proper request for staffing and research assistance, as the Greens and other Independents have made, as a personal benefit is very, very tawdry.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am answering the question. I make the point that there was no condition on the funding to the other members. Mr E.S. Ripper : What about the member for Fremantle? Is she correct in what she told the media last night? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If the government — Mr E.S. Ripper : You won’t answer that question. You’re scared to answer that question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition is not being quiet, polite or courteous. Mr E.S. Ripper : Confront the reality of what she said last night and answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The issue of the staffing — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker, there is no point. Mr P. Papalia interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Warnbro, I formally call you to order for the first time. I will note, members, that we have managed to get through two and a half questions in 20 minutes. It is my impression that the Premier is endeavouring to answer the question, but there seem to be consistent and continual interjections. Mr C.J. BARNETT : So, Mr Speaker — Mr M.P. Whitely interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat Premier. Member for Bassendean, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : There are no conditions on the allocation of staff to the member for Alfred Cove and the member for Kalgoorlie. The issue of staffing for the member for Fremantle has not progressed beyond our discussions in early to mid-October, other than, I think, some correspondence or contact between the member and the Department of the Premier and Cabinet; and there is nothing at all wrong with that. No matter has been prepared or taken to cabinet. No further progress has been made on that. Indeed, I restate: this government, if it chooses to make an allocation on staffing, will do it only formally through a cabinet decision with no conditions attached. If the member for Fremantle succeeds, as other members have, in her claim for extra staffing, which has considerable merit, it will be on the basis of no conditions, but it will be a formal cabinet decision. I repeat, the Leader of the Opposition has obviously spent a lot of time on this. He should now have recalled whether his assistance to the Greens under the Gallop government was a cabinet decision or had conditions. Mr E.S. Ripper : You answer my question first. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered yours. Mr E.S. Ripper : You have not answered my question. You haven’t answered question (2). Was she correct or was she not? Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part of the question — Mr E.S. Ripper : Do not miss out the second part; answer the second part. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered. On the third part — Mr E.S. Ripper : On the second part — The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part, “Providing personal benefits”, does the member realise what he is saying? Mr E.S. Ripper : “Providing personal”—yes, I do realise what I’m saying. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do you seriously see the provision of staffing as a personal benefit? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Unbelievable. You have learnt nothing as a government—nothing at all. Mr E.S. Ripper : Born to rule! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the Leader of the Opposition to describe a proper request for staffing and research assistance, as the Greens and other Independents have made, as a personal benefit is very, very tawdry.
Mr E.S. Ripper : What about the member for Fremantle? Is she correct in what she told the media last night? Mr C.J. BARNETT : If the government — Mr E.S. Ripper : You won’t answer that question. You’re scared to answer that question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition is not being quiet, polite or courteous. Mr E.S. Ripper : Confront the reality of what she said last night and answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The issue of the staffing — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker, there is no point. Mr P. Papalia interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Warnbro, I formally call you to order for the first time. I will note, members, that we have managed to get through two and a half questions in 20 minutes. It is my impression that the Premier is endeavouring to answer the question, but there seem to be consistent and continual interjections. Mr C.J. BARNETT : So, Mr Speaker — Mr M.P. Whitely interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat Premier. Member for Bassendean, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : There are no conditions on the allocation of staff to the member for Alfred Cove and the member for Kalgoorlie. The issue of staffing for the member for Fremantle has not progressed beyond our discussions in early to mid-October, other than, I think, some correspondence or contact between the member and the Department of the Premier and Cabinet; and there is nothing at all wrong with that. No matter has been prepared or taken to cabinet. No further progress has been made on that. Indeed, I restate: this government, if it chooses to make an allocation on staffing, will do it only formally through a cabinet decision with no conditions attached. If the member for Fremantle succeeds, as other members have, in her claim for extra staffing, which has considerable merit, it will be on the basis of no conditions, but it will be a formal cabinet decision. I repeat, the Leader of the Opposition has obviously spent a lot of time on this. He should now have recalled whether his assistance to the Greens under the Gallop government was a cabinet decision or had conditions. Mr E.S. Ripper : You answer my question first. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered yours. Mr E.S. Ripper : You have not answered my question. You haven’t answered question (2). Was she correct or was she not? Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part of the question — Mr E.S. Ripper : Do not miss out the second part; answer the second part. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered. On the third part — Mr E.S. Ripper : On the second part — The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part, “Providing personal benefits”, does the member realise what he is saying? Mr E.S. Ripper : “Providing personal”—yes, I do realise what I’m saying. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do you seriously see the provision of staffing as a personal benefit? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Unbelievable. You have learnt nothing as a government—nothing at all. Mr E.S. Ripper : Born to rule! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the Leader of the Opposition to describe a proper request for staffing and research assistance, as the Greens and other Independents have made, as a personal benefit is very, very tawdry.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : If the government — Mr E.S. Ripper : You won’t answer that question. You’re scared to answer that question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition is not being quiet, polite or courteous. Mr E.S. Ripper : Confront the reality of what she said last night and answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The issue of the staffing — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker, there is no point. Mr P. Papalia interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Warnbro, I formally call you to order for the first time. I will note, members, that we have managed to get through two and a half questions in 20 minutes. It is my impression that the Premier is endeavouring to answer the question, but there seem to be consistent and continual interjections. Mr C.J. BARNETT : So, Mr Speaker — Mr M.P. Whitely interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat Premier. Member for Bassendean, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : There are no conditions on the allocation of staff to the member for Alfred Cove and the member for Kalgoorlie. The issue of staffing for the member for Fremantle has not progressed beyond our discussions in early to mid-October, other than, I think, some correspondence or contact between the member and the Department of the Premier and Cabinet; and there is nothing at all wrong with that. No matter has been prepared or taken to cabinet. No further progress has been made on that. Indeed, I restate: this government, if it chooses to make an allocation on staffing, will do it only formally through a cabinet decision with no conditions attached. If the member for Fremantle succeeds, as other members have, in her claim for extra staffing, which has considerable merit, it will be on the basis of no conditions, but it will be a formal cabinet decision. I repeat, the Leader of the Opposition has obviously spent a lot of time on this. He should now have recalled whether his assistance to the Greens under the Gallop government was a cabinet decision or had conditions. Mr E.S. Ripper : You answer my question first. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered yours. Mr E.S. Ripper : You have not answered my question. You haven’t answered question (2). Was she correct or was she not? Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part of the question — Mr E.S. Ripper : Do not miss out the second part; answer the second part. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered. On the third part — Mr E.S. Ripper : On the second part — The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part, “Providing personal benefits”, does the member realise what he is saying? Mr E.S. Ripper : “Providing personal”—yes, I do realise what I’m saying. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do you seriously see the provision of staffing as a personal benefit? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Unbelievable. You have learnt nothing as a government—nothing at all. Mr E.S. Ripper : Born to rule! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the Leader of the Opposition to describe a proper request for staffing and research assistance, as the Greens and other Independents have made, as a personal benefit is very, very tawdry.
Mr E.S. Ripper : You won’t answer that question. You’re scared to answer that question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition is not being quiet, polite or courteous. Mr E.S. Ripper : Confront the reality of what she said last night and answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The issue of the staffing — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker, there is no point. Mr P. Papalia interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Warnbro, I formally call you to order for the first time. I will note, members, that we have managed to get through two and a half questions in 20 minutes. It is my impression that the Premier is endeavouring to answer the question, but there seem to be consistent and continual interjections. Mr C.J. BARNETT : So, Mr Speaker — Mr M.P. Whitely interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat Premier. Member for Bassendean, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : There are no conditions on the allocation of staff to the member for Alfred Cove and the member for Kalgoorlie. The issue of staffing for the member for Fremantle has not progressed beyond our discussions in early to mid-October, other than, I think, some correspondence or contact between the member and the Department of the Premier and Cabinet; and there is nothing at all wrong with that. No matter has been prepared or taken to cabinet. No further progress has been made on that. Indeed, I restate: this government, if it chooses to make an allocation on staffing, will do it only formally through a cabinet decision with no conditions attached. If the member for Fremantle succeeds, as other members have, in her claim for extra staffing, which has considerable merit, it will be on the basis of no conditions, but it will be a formal cabinet decision. I repeat, the Leader of the Opposition has obviously spent a lot of time on this. He should now have recalled whether his assistance to the Greens under the Gallop government was a cabinet decision or had conditions. Mr E.S. Ripper : You answer my question first. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered yours. Mr E.S. Ripper : You have not answered my question. You haven’t answered question (2). Was she correct or was she not? Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part of the question — Mr E.S. Ripper : Do not miss out the second part; answer the second part. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered. On the third part — Mr E.S. Ripper : On the second part — The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part, “Providing personal benefits”, does the member realise what he is saying? Mr E.S. Ripper : “Providing personal”—yes, I do realise what I’m saying. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do you seriously see the provision of staffing as a personal benefit? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Unbelievable. You have learnt nothing as a government—nothing at all. Mr E.S. Ripper : Born to rule! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the Leader of the Opposition to describe a proper request for staffing and research assistance, as the Greens and other Independents have made, as a personal benefit is very, very tawdry.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition is not being quiet, polite or courteous. Mr E.S. Ripper : Confront the reality of what she said last night and answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The issue of the staffing — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker, there is no point. Mr P. Papalia interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Warnbro, I formally call you to order for the first time. I will note, members, that we have managed to get through two and a half questions in 20 minutes. It is my impression that the Premier is endeavouring to answer the question, but there seem to be consistent and continual interjections. Mr C.J. BARNETT : So, Mr Speaker — Mr M.P. Whitely interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat Premier. Member for Bassendean, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : There are no conditions on the allocation of staff to the member for Alfred Cove and the member for Kalgoorlie. The issue of staffing for the member for Fremantle has not progressed beyond our discussions in early to mid-October, other than, I think, some correspondence or contact between the member and the Department of the Premier and Cabinet; and there is nothing at all wrong with that. No matter has been prepared or taken to cabinet. No further progress has been made on that. Indeed, I restate: this government, if it chooses to make an allocation on staffing, will do it only formally through a cabinet decision with no conditions attached. If the member for Fremantle succeeds, as other members have, in her claim for extra staffing, which has considerable merit, it will be on the basis of no conditions, but it will be a formal cabinet decision. I repeat, the Leader of the Opposition has obviously spent a lot of time on this. He should now have recalled whether his assistance to the Greens under the Gallop government was a cabinet decision or had conditions. Mr E.S. Ripper : You answer my question first. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered yours. Mr E.S. Ripper : You have not answered my question. You haven’t answered question (2). Was she correct or was she not? Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part of the question — Mr E.S. Ripper : Do not miss out the second part; answer the second part. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered. On the third part — Mr E.S. Ripper : On the second part — The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part, “Providing personal benefits”, does the member realise what he is saying? Mr E.S. Ripper : “Providing personal”—yes, I do realise what I’m saying. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do you seriously see the provision of staffing as a personal benefit? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Unbelievable. You have learnt nothing as a government—nothing at all. Mr E.S. Ripper : Born to rule! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the Leader of the Opposition to describe a proper request for staffing and research assistance, as the Greens and other Independents have made, as a personal benefit is very, very tawdry.
Mr E.S. Ripper : Confront the reality of what she said last night and answer the question. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The issue of the staffing — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker, there is no point. Mr P. Papalia interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Warnbro, I formally call you to order for the first time. I will note, members, that we have managed to get through two and a half questions in 20 minutes. It is my impression that the Premier is endeavouring to answer the question, but there seem to be consistent and continual interjections. Mr C.J. BARNETT : So, Mr Speaker — Mr M.P. Whitely interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat Premier. Member for Bassendean, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : There are no conditions on the allocation of staff to the member for Alfred Cove and the member for Kalgoorlie. The issue of staffing for the member for Fremantle has not progressed beyond our discussions in early to mid-October, other than, I think, some correspondence or contact between the member and the Department of the Premier and Cabinet; and there is nothing at all wrong with that. No matter has been prepared or taken to cabinet. No further progress has been made on that. Indeed, I restate: this government, if it chooses to make an allocation on staffing, will do it only formally through a cabinet decision with no conditions attached. If the member for Fremantle succeeds, as other members have, in her claim for extra staffing, which has considerable merit, it will be on the basis of no conditions, but it will be a formal cabinet decision. I repeat, the Leader of the Opposition has obviously spent a lot of time on this. He should now have recalled whether his assistance to the Greens under the Gallop government was a cabinet decision or had conditions. Mr E.S. Ripper : You answer my question first. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered yours. Mr E.S. Ripper : You have not answered my question. You haven’t answered question (2). Was she correct or was she not? Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part of the question — Mr E.S. Ripper : Do not miss out the second part; answer the second part. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered. On the third part — Mr E.S. Ripper : On the second part — The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part, “Providing personal benefits”, does the member realise what he is saying? Mr E.S. Ripper : “Providing personal”—yes, I do realise what I’m saying. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do you seriously see the provision of staffing as a personal benefit? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Unbelievable. You have learnt nothing as a government—nothing at all. Mr E.S. Ripper : Born to rule! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the Leader of the Opposition to describe a proper request for staffing and research assistance, as the Greens and other Independents have made, as a personal benefit is very, very tawdry.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : The issue of the staffing — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker, there is no point. Mr P. Papalia interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Warnbro, I formally call you to order for the first time. I will note, members, that we have managed to get through two and a half questions in 20 minutes. It is my impression that the Premier is endeavouring to answer the question, but there seem to be consistent and continual interjections. Mr C.J. BARNETT : So, Mr Speaker — Mr M.P. Whitely interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat Premier. Member for Bassendean, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : There are no conditions on the allocation of staff to the member for Alfred Cove and the member for Kalgoorlie. The issue of staffing for the member for Fremantle has not progressed beyond our discussions in early to mid-October, other than, I think, some correspondence or contact between the member and the Department of the Premier and Cabinet; and there is nothing at all wrong with that. No matter has been prepared or taken to cabinet. No further progress has been made on that. Indeed, I restate: this government, if it chooses to make an allocation on staffing, will do it only formally through a cabinet decision with no conditions attached. If the member for Fremantle succeeds, as other members have, in her claim for extra staffing, which has considerable merit, it will be on the basis of no conditions, but it will be a formal cabinet decision. I repeat, the Leader of the Opposition has obviously spent a lot of time on this. He should now have recalled whether his assistance to the Greens under the Gallop government was a cabinet decision or had conditions. Mr E.S. Ripper : You answer my question first. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered yours. Mr E.S. Ripper : You have not answered my question. You haven’t answered question (2). Was she correct or was she not? Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part of the question — Mr E.S. Ripper : Do not miss out the second part; answer the second part. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered. On the third part — Mr E.S. Ripper : On the second part — The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part, “Providing personal benefits”, does the member realise what he is saying? Mr E.S. Ripper : “Providing personal”—yes, I do realise what I’m saying. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do you seriously see the provision of staffing as a personal benefit? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Unbelievable. You have learnt nothing as a government—nothing at all. Mr E.S. Ripper : Born to rule! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the Leader of the Opposition to describe a proper request for staffing and research assistance, as the Greens and other Independents have made, as a personal benefit is very, very tawdry.
Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker, there is no point. Mr P. Papalia interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Warnbro, I formally call you to order for the first time. I will note, members, that we have managed to get through two and a half questions in 20 minutes. It is my impression that the Premier is endeavouring to answer the question, but there seem to be consistent and continual interjections. Mr C.J. BARNETT : So, Mr Speaker — Mr M.P. Whitely interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat Premier. Member for Bassendean, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : There are no conditions on the allocation of staff to the member for Alfred Cove and the member for Kalgoorlie. The issue of staffing for the member for Fremantle has not progressed beyond our discussions in early to mid-October, other than, I think, some correspondence or contact between the member and the Department of the Premier and Cabinet; and there is nothing at all wrong with that. No matter has been prepared or taken to cabinet. No further progress has been made on that. Indeed, I restate: this government, if it chooses to make an allocation on staffing, will do it only formally through a cabinet decision with no conditions attached. If the member for Fremantle succeeds, as other members have, in her claim for extra staffing, which has considerable merit, it will be on the basis of no conditions, but it will be a formal cabinet decision. I repeat, the Leader of the Opposition has obviously spent a lot of time on this. He should now have recalled whether his assistance to the Greens under the Gallop government was a cabinet decision or had conditions. Mr E.S. Ripper : You answer my question first. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered yours. Mr E.S. Ripper : You have not answered my question. You haven’t answered question (2). Was she correct or was she not? Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part of the question — Mr E.S. Ripper : Do not miss out the second part; answer the second part. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered. On the third part — Mr E.S. Ripper : On the second part — The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part, “Providing personal benefits”, does the member realise what he is saying? Mr E.S. Ripper : “Providing personal”—yes, I do realise what I’m saying. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do you seriously see the provision of staffing as a personal benefit? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Unbelievable. You have learnt nothing as a government—nothing at all. Mr E.S. Ripper : Born to rule! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the Leader of the Opposition to describe a proper request for staffing and research assistance, as the Greens and other Independents have made, as a personal benefit is very, very tawdry.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker, there is no point. Mr P. Papalia interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Warnbro, I formally call you to order for the first time. I will note, members, that we have managed to get through two and a half questions in 20 minutes. It is my impression that the Premier is endeavouring to answer the question, but there seem to be consistent and continual interjections. Mr C.J. BARNETT : So, Mr Speaker — Mr M.P. Whitely interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat Premier. Member for Bassendean, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : There are no conditions on the allocation of staff to the member for Alfred Cove and the member for Kalgoorlie. The issue of staffing for the member for Fremantle has not progressed beyond our discussions in early to mid-October, other than, I think, some correspondence or contact between the member and the Department of the Premier and Cabinet; and there is nothing at all wrong with that. No matter has been prepared or taken to cabinet. No further progress has been made on that. Indeed, I restate: this government, if it chooses to make an allocation on staffing, will do it only formally through a cabinet decision with no conditions attached. If the member for Fremantle succeeds, as other members have, in her claim for extra staffing, which has considerable merit, it will be on the basis of no conditions, but it will be a formal cabinet decision. I repeat, the Leader of the Opposition has obviously spent a lot of time on this. He should now have recalled whether his assistance to the Greens under the Gallop government was a cabinet decision or had conditions. Mr E.S. Ripper : You answer my question first. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered yours. Mr E.S. Ripper : You have not answered my question. You haven’t answered question (2). Was she correct or was she not? Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part of the question — Mr E.S. Ripper : Do not miss out the second part; answer the second part. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered. On the third part — Mr E.S. Ripper : On the second part — The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part, “Providing personal benefits”, does the member realise what he is saying? Mr E.S. Ripper : “Providing personal”—yes, I do realise what I’m saying. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do you seriously see the provision of staffing as a personal benefit? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Unbelievable. You have learnt nothing as a government—nothing at all. Mr E.S. Ripper : Born to rule! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the Leader of the Opposition to describe a proper request for staffing and research assistance, as the Greens and other Independents have made, as a personal benefit is very, very tawdry.
Mr P. Papalia interjected. The SPEAKER : Member for Warnbro, I formally call you to order for the first time. I will note, members, that we have managed to get through two and a half questions in 20 minutes. It is my impression that the Premier is endeavouring to answer the question, but there seem to be consistent and continual interjections. Mr C.J. BARNETT : So, Mr Speaker — Mr M.P. Whitely interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat Premier. Member for Bassendean, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : There are no conditions on the allocation of staff to the member for Alfred Cove and the member for Kalgoorlie. The issue of staffing for the member for Fremantle has not progressed beyond our discussions in early to mid-October, other than, I think, some correspondence or contact between the member and the Department of the Premier and Cabinet; and there is nothing at all wrong with that. No matter has been prepared or taken to cabinet. No further progress has been made on that. Indeed, I restate: this government, if it chooses to make an allocation on staffing, will do it only formally through a cabinet decision with no conditions attached. If the member for Fremantle succeeds, as other members have, in her claim for extra staffing, which has considerable merit, it will be on the basis of no conditions, but it will be a formal cabinet decision. I repeat, the Leader of the Opposition has obviously spent a lot of time on this. He should now have recalled whether his assistance to the Greens under the Gallop government was a cabinet decision or had conditions. Mr E.S. Ripper : You answer my question first. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered yours. Mr E.S. Ripper : You have not answered my question. You haven’t answered question (2). Was she correct or was she not? Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part of the question — Mr E.S. Ripper : Do not miss out the second part; answer the second part. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered. On the third part — Mr E.S. Ripper : On the second part — The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part, “Providing personal benefits”, does the member realise what he is saying? Mr E.S. Ripper : “Providing personal”—yes, I do realise what I’m saying. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do you seriously see the provision of staffing as a personal benefit? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Unbelievable. You have learnt nothing as a government—nothing at all. Mr E.S. Ripper : Born to rule! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the Leader of the Opposition to describe a proper request for staffing and research assistance, as the Greens and other Independents have made, as a personal benefit is very, very tawdry.
The SPEAKER : Member for Warnbro, I formally call you to order for the first time. I will note, members, that we have managed to get through two and a half questions in 20 minutes. It is my impression that the Premier is endeavouring to answer the question, but there seem to be consistent and continual interjections. Mr C.J. BARNETT : So, Mr Speaker — Mr M.P. Whitely interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat Premier. Member for Bassendean, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : There are no conditions on the allocation of staff to the member for Alfred Cove and the member for Kalgoorlie. The issue of staffing for the member for Fremantle has not progressed beyond our discussions in early to mid-October, other than, I think, some correspondence or contact between the member and the Department of the Premier and Cabinet; and there is nothing at all wrong with that. No matter has been prepared or taken to cabinet. No further progress has been made on that. Indeed, I restate: this government, if it chooses to make an allocation on staffing, will do it only formally through a cabinet decision with no conditions attached. If the member for Fremantle succeeds, as other members have, in her claim for extra staffing, which has considerable merit, it will be on the basis of no conditions, but it will be a formal cabinet decision. I repeat, the Leader of the Opposition has obviously spent a lot of time on this. He should now have recalled whether his assistance to the Greens under the Gallop government was a cabinet decision or had conditions. Mr E.S. Ripper : You answer my question first. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered yours. Mr E.S. Ripper : You have not answered my question. You haven’t answered question (2). Was she correct or was she not? Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part of the question — Mr E.S. Ripper : Do not miss out the second part; answer the second part. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered. On the third part — Mr E.S. Ripper : On the second part — The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part, “Providing personal benefits”, does the member realise what he is saying? Mr E.S. Ripper : “Providing personal”—yes, I do realise what I’m saying. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do you seriously see the provision of staffing as a personal benefit? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Unbelievable. You have learnt nothing as a government—nothing at all. Mr E.S. Ripper : Born to rule! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the Leader of the Opposition to describe a proper request for staffing and research assistance, as the Greens and other Independents have made, as a personal benefit is very, very tawdry.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : So, Mr Speaker — Mr M.P. Whitely interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat Premier. Member for Bassendean, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : There are no conditions on the allocation of staff to the member for Alfred Cove and the member for Kalgoorlie. The issue of staffing for the member for Fremantle has not progressed beyond our discussions in early to mid-October, other than, I think, some correspondence or contact between the member and the Department of the Premier and Cabinet; and there is nothing at all wrong with that. No matter has been prepared or taken to cabinet. No further progress has been made on that. Indeed, I restate: this government, if it chooses to make an allocation on staffing, will do it only formally through a cabinet decision with no conditions attached. If the member for Fremantle succeeds, as other members have, in her claim for extra staffing, which has considerable merit, it will be on the basis of no conditions, but it will be a formal cabinet decision. I repeat, the Leader of the Opposition has obviously spent a lot of time on this. He should now have recalled whether his assistance to the Greens under the Gallop government was a cabinet decision or had conditions. Mr E.S. Ripper : You answer my question first. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered yours. Mr E.S. Ripper : You have not answered my question. You haven’t answered question (2). Was she correct or was she not? Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part of the question — Mr E.S. Ripper : Do not miss out the second part; answer the second part. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered. On the third part — Mr E.S. Ripper : On the second part — The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part, “Providing personal benefits”, does the member realise what he is saying? Mr E.S. Ripper : “Providing personal”—yes, I do realise what I’m saying. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do you seriously see the provision of staffing as a personal benefit? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Unbelievable. You have learnt nothing as a government—nothing at all. Mr E.S. Ripper : Born to rule! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the Leader of the Opposition to describe a proper request for staffing and research assistance, as the Greens and other Independents have made, as a personal benefit is very, very tawdry.
Mr M.P. Whitely interjected. The SPEAKER : Take a seat Premier. Member for Bassendean, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : There are no conditions on the allocation of staff to the member for Alfred Cove and the member for Kalgoorlie. The issue of staffing for the member for Fremantle has not progressed beyond our discussions in early to mid-October, other than, I think, some correspondence or contact between the member and the Department of the Premier and Cabinet; and there is nothing at all wrong with that. No matter has been prepared or taken to cabinet. No further progress has been made on that. Indeed, I restate: this government, if it chooses to make an allocation on staffing, will do it only formally through a cabinet decision with no conditions attached. If the member for Fremantle succeeds, as other members have, in her claim for extra staffing, which has considerable merit, it will be on the basis of no conditions, but it will be a formal cabinet decision. I repeat, the Leader of the Opposition has obviously spent a lot of time on this. He should now have recalled whether his assistance to the Greens under the Gallop government was a cabinet decision or had conditions. Mr E.S. Ripper : You answer my question first. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered yours. Mr E.S. Ripper : You have not answered my question. You haven’t answered question (2). Was she correct or was she not? Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part of the question — Mr E.S. Ripper : Do not miss out the second part; answer the second part. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered. On the third part — Mr E.S. Ripper : On the second part — The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part, “Providing personal benefits”, does the member realise what he is saying? Mr E.S. Ripper : “Providing personal”—yes, I do realise what I’m saying. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do you seriously see the provision of staffing as a personal benefit? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Unbelievable. You have learnt nothing as a government—nothing at all. Mr E.S. Ripper : Born to rule! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the Leader of the Opposition to describe a proper request for staffing and research assistance, as the Greens and other Independents have made, as a personal benefit is very, very tawdry.
The SPEAKER : Take a seat Premier. Member for Bassendean, I formally call you to order for the second time today. Mr C.J. BARNETT : There are no conditions on the allocation of staff to the member for Alfred Cove and the member for Kalgoorlie. The issue of staffing for the member for Fremantle has not progressed beyond our discussions in early to mid-October, other than, I think, some correspondence or contact between the member and the Department of the Premier and Cabinet; and there is nothing at all wrong with that. No matter has been prepared or taken to cabinet. No further progress has been made on that. Indeed, I restate: this government, if it chooses to make an allocation on staffing, will do it only formally through a cabinet decision with no conditions attached. If the member for Fremantle succeeds, as other members have, in her claim for extra staffing, which has considerable merit, it will be on the basis of no conditions, but it will be a formal cabinet decision. I repeat, the Leader of the Opposition has obviously spent a lot of time on this. He should now have recalled whether his assistance to the Greens under the Gallop government was a cabinet decision or had conditions. Mr E.S. Ripper : You answer my question first. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered yours. Mr E.S. Ripper : You have not answered my question. You haven’t answered question (2). Was she correct or was she not? Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part of the question — Mr E.S. Ripper : Do not miss out the second part; answer the second part. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered. On the third part — Mr E.S. Ripper : On the second part — The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part, “Providing personal benefits”, does the member realise what he is saying? Mr E.S. Ripper : “Providing personal”—yes, I do realise what I’m saying. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do you seriously see the provision of staffing as a personal benefit? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Unbelievable. You have learnt nothing as a government—nothing at all. Mr E.S. Ripper : Born to rule! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the Leader of the Opposition to describe a proper request for staffing and research assistance, as the Greens and other Independents have made, as a personal benefit is very, very tawdry.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : There are no conditions on the allocation of staff to the member for Alfred Cove and the member for Kalgoorlie. The issue of staffing for the member for Fremantle has not progressed beyond our discussions in early to mid-October, other than, I think, some correspondence or contact between the member and the Department of the Premier and Cabinet; and there is nothing at all wrong with that. No matter has been prepared or taken to cabinet. No further progress has been made on that. Indeed, I restate: this government, if it chooses to make an allocation on staffing, will do it only formally through a cabinet decision with no conditions attached. If the member for Fremantle succeeds, as other members have, in her claim for extra staffing, which has considerable merit, it will be on the basis of no conditions, but it will be a formal cabinet decision. I repeat, the Leader of the Opposition has obviously spent a lot of time on this. He should now have recalled whether his assistance to the Greens under the Gallop government was a cabinet decision or had conditions. Mr E.S. Ripper : You answer my question first. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered yours. Mr E.S. Ripper : You have not answered my question. You haven’t answered question (2). Was she correct or was she not? Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part of the question — Mr E.S. Ripper : Do not miss out the second part; answer the second part. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered. On the third part — Mr E.S. Ripper : On the second part — The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part, “Providing personal benefits”, does the member realise what he is saying? Mr E.S. Ripper : “Providing personal”—yes, I do realise what I’m saying. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do you seriously see the provision of staffing as a personal benefit? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Unbelievable. You have learnt nothing as a government—nothing at all. Mr E.S. Ripper : Born to rule! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the Leader of the Opposition to describe a proper request for staffing and research assistance, as the Greens and other Independents have made, as a personal benefit is very, very tawdry.
Mr E.S. Ripper : You answer my question first. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered yours. Mr E.S. Ripper : You have not answered my question. You haven’t answered question (2). Was she correct or was she not? Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part of the question — Mr E.S. Ripper : Do not miss out the second part; answer the second part. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered. On the third part — Mr E.S. Ripper : On the second part — The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part, “Providing personal benefits”, does the member realise what he is saying? Mr E.S. Ripper : “Providing personal”—yes, I do realise what I’m saying. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do you seriously see the provision of staffing as a personal benefit? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Unbelievable. You have learnt nothing as a government—nothing at all. Mr E.S. Ripper : Born to rule! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the Leader of the Opposition to describe a proper request for staffing and research assistance, as the Greens and other Independents have made, as a personal benefit is very, very tawdry.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered yours. Mr E.S. Ripper : You have not answered my question. You haven’t answered question (2). Was she correct or was she not? Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part of the question — Mr E.S. Ripper : Do not miss out the second part; answer the second part. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered. On the third part — Mr E.S. Ripper : On the second part — The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part, “Providing personal benefits”, does the member realise what he is saying? Mr E.S. Ripper : “Providing personal”—yes, I do realise what I’m saying. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do you seriously see the provision of staffing as a personal benefit? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Unbelievable. You have learnt nothing as a government—nothing at all. Mr E.S. Ripper : Born to rule! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the Leader of the Opposition to describe a proper request for staffing and research assistance, as the Greens and other Independents have made, as a personal benefit is very, very tawdry.
Mr E.S. Ripper : You have not answered my question. You haven’t answered question (2). Was she correct or was she not? Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part of the question — Mr E.S. Ripper : Do not miss out the second part; answer the second part. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered. On the third part — Mr E.S. Ripper : On the second part — The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part, “Providing personal benefits”, does the member realise what he is saying? Mr E.S. Ripper : “Providing personal”—yes, I do realise what I’m saying. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do you seriously see the provision of staffing as a personal benefit? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Unbelievable. You have learnt nothing as a government—nothing at all. Mr E.S. Ripper : Born to rule! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the Leader of the Opposition to describe a proper request for staffing and research assistance, as the Greens and other Independents have made, as a personal benefit is very, very tawdry.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part of the question — Mr E.S. Ripper : Do not miss out the second part; answer the second part. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered. On the third part — Mr E.S. Ripper : On the second part — The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part, “Providing personal benefits”, does the member realise what he is saying? Mr E.S. Ripper : “Providing personal”—yes, I do realise what I’m saying. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do you seriously see the provision of staffing as a personal benefit? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Unbelievable. You have learnt nothing as a government—nothing at all. Mr E.S. Ripper : Born to rule! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the Leader of the Opposition to describe a proper request for staffing and research assistance, as the Greens and other Independents have made, as a personal benefit is very, very tawdry.
Mr E.S. Ripper : Do not miss out the second part; answer the second part. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered. On the third part — Mr E.S. Ripper : On the second part — The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part, “Providing personal benefits”, does the member realise what he is saying? Mr E.S. Ripper : “Providing personal”—yes, I do realise what I’m saying. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do you seriously see the provision of staffing as a personal benefit? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Unbelievable. You have learnt nothing as a government—nothing at all. Mr E.S. Ripper : Born to rule! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the Leader of the Opposition to describe a proper request for staffing and research assistance, as the Greens and other Independents have made, as a personal benefit is very, very tawdry.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have answered. On the third part — Mr E.S. Ripper : On the second part — The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part, “Providing personal benefits”, does the member realise what he is saying? Mr E.S. Ripper : “Providing personal”—yes, I do realise what I’m saying. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do you seriously see the provision of staffing as a personal benefit? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Unbelievable. You have learnt nothing as a government—nothing at all. Mr E.S. Ripper : Born to rule! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the Leader of the Opposition to describe a proper request for staffing and research assistance, as the Greens and other Independents have made, as a personal benefit is very, very tawdry.
Mr E.S. Ripper : On the second part — The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part, “Providing personal benefits”, does the member realise what he is saying? Mr E.S. Ripper : “Providing personal”—yes, I do realise what I’m saying. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do you seriously see the provision of staffing as a personal benefit? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Unbelievable. You have learnt nothing as a government—nothing at all. Mr E.S. Ripper : Born to rule! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the Leader of the Opposition to describe a proper request for staffing and research assistance, as the Greens and other Independents have made, as a personal benefit is very, very tawdry.
The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part, “Providing personal benefits”, does the member realise what he is saying? Mr E.S. Ripper : “Providing personal”—yes, I do realise what I’m saying. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do you seriously see the provision of staffing as a personal benefit? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Unbelievable. You have learnt nothing as a government—nothing at all. Mr E.S. Ripper : Born to rule! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the Leader of the Opposition to describe a proper request for staffing and research assistance, as the Greens and other Independents have made, as a personal benefit is very, very tawdry.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : On the third part, “Providing personal benefits”, does the member realise what he is saying? Mr E.S. Ripper : “Providing personal”—yes, I do realise what I’m saying. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do you seriously see the provision of staffing as a personal benefit? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Unbelievable. You have learnt nothing as a government—nothing at all. Mr E.S. Ripper : Born to rule! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the Leader of the Opposition to describe a proper request for staffing and research assistance, as the Greens and other Independents have made, as a personal benefit is very, very tawdry.
Mr E.S. Ripper : “Providing personal”—yes, I do realise what I’m saying. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do you seriously see the provision of staffing as a personal benefit? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Unbelievable. You have learnt nothing as a government—nothing at all. Mr E.S. Ripper : Born to rule! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the Leader of the Opposition to describe a proper request for staffing and research assistance, as the Greens and other Independents have made, as a personal benefit is very, very tawdry.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do you seriously see the provision of staffing as a personal benefit? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Unbelievable. You have learnt nothing as a government—nothing at all. Mr E.S. Ripper : Born to rule! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the Leader of the Opposition to describe a proper request for staffing and research assistance, as the Greens and other Independents have made, as a personal benefit is very, very tawdry.
Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Unbelievable. You have learnt nothing as a government—nothing at all. Mr E.S. Ripper : Born to rule! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the Leader of the Opposition to describe a proper request for staffing and research assistance, as the Greens and other Independents have made, as a personal benefit is very, very tawdry.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Unbelievable. You have learnt nothing as a government—nothing at all. Mr E.S. Ripper : Born to rule! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the Leader of the Opposition to describe a proper request for staffing and research assistance, as the Greens and other Independents have made, as a personal benefit is very, very tawdry.
Mr E.S. Ripper : Born to rule! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the Leader of the Opposition to describe a proper request for staffing and research assistance, as the Greens and other Independents have made, as a personal benefit is very, very tawdry.
Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the Leader of the Opposition to describe a proper request for staffing and research assistance, as the Greens and other Independents have made, as a personal benefit is very, very tawdry.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : For the Leader of the Opposition to describe a proper request for staffing and research assistance, as the Greens and other Independents have made, as a personal benefit is very, very tawdry.
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