Opposition MP Mr. Porter questions Premier Carpenter's justification for a potential early election, specifically regarding the removal of certain Labor Party members. The Premier denies seeking to remove members and states a preference for a full term, but leaves the door open to an early election if circumstances warrant it.

AnsweredQoN 231Legislative Assembly
Asked
8 May 2008
Portfolio
Premier

QuestionView source ↗

ELECTION — JUSTIFICATION FOR EARLY ELECTION
I refer to the Premier’s statement, reported in The West Australian today, that a reason for calling an early election would be to — . . . clear the air (and) get some people out of this place . . . (1) Does the Premier seek to remove the members for Ballajura and Swan Hills by the mechanism of a general election? (2) What is the Premier’s justification for seeking their removal? (3) Can the Premier possibly justify calling an early election because one or more Labor Party members refuse to say exactly what he wants them to? Mr A.J. CARPENTER

AnswerView source ↗

(1)-(3) To answer the last question, of course not. I do not have that magical power. People say what they feel they need to say, and they say it openly. With regard to the other questions, I made comment about those matters yesterday. I was asked questions, which I answered to the best of my ability, openly and honestly. It would not be the government’s preference to do other than what is the tradition, which is to run for the full term. However, if circumstances arise that militate against that, we will have to take that into consideration. If the member for Murdoch wants to be intimately involved in that decision-making process, he is on the wrong side of the chamber and in the wrong party.
(2) What is the Premier’s justification for seeking their removal? (3) Can the Premier possibly justify calling an early election because one or more Labor Party members refuse to say exactly what he wants them to? Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: (1)-(3) To answer the last question, of course not. I do not have that magical power. People say what they feel they need to say, and they say it openly. With regard to the other questions, I made comment about those matters yesterday. I was asked questions, which I answered to the best of my ability, openly and honestly. It would not be the government’s preference to do other than what is the tradition, which is to run for the full term. However, if circumstances arise that militate against that, we will have to take that into consideration. If the member for Murdoch wants to be intimately involved in that decision-making process, he is on the wrong side of the chamber and in the wrong party.
(3) Can the Premier possibly justify calling an early election because one or more Labor Party members refuse to say exactly what he wants them to? Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: (1)-(3) To answer the last question, of course not. I do not have that magical power. People say what they feel they need to say, and they say it openly. With regard to the other questions, I made comment about those matters yesterday. I was asked questions, which I answered to the best of my ability, openly and honestly. It would not be the government’s preference to do other than what is the tradition, which is to run for the full term. However, if circumstances arise that militate against that, we will have to take that into consideration. If the member for Murdoch wants to be intimately involved in that decision-making process, he is on the wrong side of the chamber and in the wrong party.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: (1)-(3) To answer the last question, of course not. I do not have that magical power. People say what they feel they need to say, and they say it openly. With regard to the other questions, I made comment about those matters yesterday. I was asked questions, which I answered to the best of my ability, openly and honestly. It would not be the government’s preference to do other than what is the tradition, which is to run for the full term. However, if circumstances arise that militate against that, we will have to take that into consideration. If the member for Murdoch wants to be intimately involved in that decision-making process, he is on the wrong side of the chamber and in the wrong party.
(1)-(3) To answer the last question, of course not. I do not have that magical power. People say what they feel they need to say, and they say it openly. With regard to the other questions, I made comment about those matters yesterday. I was asked questions, which I answered to the best of my ability, openly and honestly. It would not be the government’s preference to do other than what is the tradition, which is to run for the full term. However, if circumstances arise that militate against that, we will have to take that into consideration. If the member for Murdoch wants to be intimately involved in that decision-making process, he is on the wrong side of the chamber and in the wrong party.

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