❓ Opposition Leader McGowan questions Premier Barnett about alleged refusal to meet with the former Minister for Transport regarding important portfolio issues. Barnett denies the claim, citing regular meetings and a specific scheduling conflict.
AnsweredQoN 700Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
MINISTER FOR TRANSPORT — MEETINGS WITH
PREMIER
700. Mr M. McGOWAN to the Premier:
I refer to assertions by the former
Minister for Transport that he attempted for six months to get a formal meeting
with the Premier to discuss important portfolio issues. Why did the Premier
refuse on a number of occasions to meet with his Minister for Transport;
Agriculture and Food about important issues?
PREMIER
700. Mr M. McGOWAN to the Premier:
I refer to assertions by the former
Minister for Transport that he attempted for six months to get a formal meeting
with the Premier to discuss important portfolio issues. Why did the Premier
refuse on a number of occasions to meet with his Minister for Transport;
Agriculture and Food about important issues?
AnswerView source ↗
I meet with all ministers, and all
ministers meet every Monday morning. There have been several meetings between
me and the former Minister for Transport. Last week, for example —
Mr
M. McGowan : Last week?
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : I am trying to finish the sentence.
Mr
M. McGowan : Six months?
The
SPEAKER : Just give it a chance.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : It is an absurd opposition, when all it can do is ask
questions about my meetings and what I think about what former ministers or
ministers say.
Mr
M. McGowan interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Premier, through the Chair.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : There are lots of issues to deal with in government, and I was
keen that a major issue, obviously Roe 8, would come to cabinet. It was not
quite ready to come to cabinet for final contract signing, and I accept that.
It is a complex project. I cannot see what interest it is to the Leader of the
Opposition, but if he really wants to know —
Mr
M. McGowan interjected.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : It is trivial stuff —
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Members!
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : I am happy to answer that. There have been several meetings
between me and the former Minister for Transport and other ministers. They are
all diarised.
Ms
M.M. Quirk : We'll do an FOI.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : Go for your lives!
The
SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, I call you to order for the second time.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : With respect to the last few days, the minister was keen to
talk to me last week. I was handling some legislation. On the Thursday there
were other things going on. In fact, I had suggested to the minister's
office, I think, that I would be happy to meet him on Monday before cabinet.
The advice came back that the former minister, the member for Alfred Cove, had
a medical appointment. I accepted that, so the response was that we would catch
up during this current week. Where is the big deal?
ministers meet every Monday morning. There have been several meetings between
me and the former Minister for Transport. Last week, for example —
Mr
M. McGowan : Last week?
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : I am trying to finish the sentence.
Mr
M. McGowan : Six months?
The
SPEAKER : Just give it a chance.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : It is an absurd opposition, when all it can do is ask
questions about my meetings and what I think about what former ministers or
ministers say.
Mr
M. McGowan interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition! Premier, through the Chair.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : There are lots of issues to deal with in government, and I was
keen that a major issue, obviously Roe 8, would come to cabinet. It was not
quite ready to come to cabinet for final contract signing, and I accept that.
It is a complex project. I cannot see what interest it is to the Leader of the
Opposition, but if he really wants to know —
Mr
M. McGowan interjected.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : It is trivial stuff —
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Members!
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : I am happy to answer that. There have been several meetings
between me and the former Minister for Transport and other ministers. They are
all diarised.
Ms
M.M. Quirk : We'll do an FOI.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : Go for your lives!
The
SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, I call you to order for the second time.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : With respect to the last few days, the minister was keen to
talk to me last week. I was handling some legislation. On the Thursday there
were other things going on. In fact, I had suggested to the minister's
office, I think, that I would be happy to meet him on Monday before cabinet.
The advice came back that the former minister, the member for Alfred Cove, had
a medical appointment. I accepted that, so the response was that we would catch
up during this current week. Where is the big deal?
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