Mr. Ripper questions the Premier about tabling the Chief of Staff's declaration of interests, given his role in royalty negotiations. The Premier confirms the declaration exists, deems it sufficient, and refuses to table it publicly, citing privacy concerns.

AnsweredQoN 343Legislative Assembly
Asked
23 June 2010
Portfolio
Premier

QuestionView source ↗

PREMIER’S CHIEF OF STAFF — DECLARATION OF INTERESTS
As a supplementary question, given Mr Pontifex’s expertise in anticorruption matters, I am sure that he would have no objection to the Premier tabling his declaration of interests. Mr C.J. BARNETT

AnswerView source ↗

I am not inclined to table the personal affairs of employees within this government. We as members of Parliament do that; it is all out there in the public arena. How far does the Leader of the Opposition want to go? Mr E.S. Ripper : Premier, you said that he was absolutely critical in the negotiation of the royalty arrangement with BHP and Rio. Mr C.J. BARNETT : He played a key role. Mr E.S. Ripper : Okay. He is clearly a critical player in the system and much more powerful than many members of Parliament. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am happy to answer questions, but the Leader of the Opposition should ask the question directly if he believes that there is some conflict over Mr Pontifex’s involvement. People from the Department of State Development, the head of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet, and senior people from the mines agency played a role to a greater or lesser extent in the 12 months of negotiation that has produced a terrific result for Western Australia. If the Leader of the Opposition thinks there is something improper in that, please tell me and I will deal with it. Mr E.S. Ripper : Premier, I’m not making a specific allegation; I’m asking you as a matter of accountability whether you’ve asked for this declaration and, if you’ve got it, will you table it? Mr C.J. BARNETT : He has declared all of his interests quite properly. The member should not sneer. Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, the Leader of the Opposition’s friend behind him. Mr Pontifex has declared all of his interests. I understand that he has disposed of some shares. He has declared that quite properly to the Department of the Premier and Cabinet. I do not believe that I or anyone else should declare publicly whatever financial interests he has. He has a clean bill of health. There is no conflict; it has been dealt with properly. I will speak to Mr Pontifex, I will speak to the head of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet, but I assure members that there is no conflict of interest.
Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: I am not inclined to table the personal affairs of employees within this government. We as members of Parliament do that; it is all out there in the public arena. How far does the Leader of the Opposition want to go? Mr E.S. Ripper : Premier, you said that he was absolutely critical in the negotiation of the royalty arrangement with BHP and Rio. Mr C.J. BARNETT : He played a key role. Mr E.S. Ripper : Okay. He is clearly a critical player in the system and much more powerful than many members of Parliament. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am happy to answer questions, but the Leader of the Opposition should ask the question directly if he believes that there is some conflict over Mr Pontifex’s involvement. People from the Department of State Development, the head of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet, and senior people from the mines agency played a role to a greater or lesser extent in the 12 months of negotiation that has produced a terrific result for Western Australia. If the Leader of the Opposition thinks there is something improper in that, please tell me and I will deal with it. Mr E.S. Ripper : Premier, I’m not making a specific allegation; I’m asking you as a matter of accountability whether you’ve asked for this declaration and, if you’ve got it, will you table it? Mr C.J. BARNETT : He has declared all of his interests quite properly. The member should not sneer. Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, the Leader of the Opposition’s friend behind him. Mr Pontifex has declared all of his interests. I understand that he has disposed of some shares. He has declared that quite properly to the Department of the Premier and Cabinet. I do not believe that I or anyone else should declare publicly whatever financial interests he has. He has a clean bill of health. There is no conflict; it has been dealt with properly. I will speak to Mr Pontifex, I will speak to the head of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet, but I assure members that there is no conflict of interest.
I am not inclined to table the personal affairs of employees within this government. We as members of Parliament do that; it is all out there in the public arena. How far does the Leader of the Opposition want to go? Mr E.S. Ripper : Premier, you said that he was absolutely critical in the negotiation of the royalty arrangement with BHP and Rio. Mr C.J. BARNETT : He played a key role. Mr E.S. Ripper : Okay. He is clearly a critical player in the system and much more powerful than many members of Parliament. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am happy to answer questions, but the Leader of the Opposition should ask the question directly if he believes that there is some conflict over Mr Pontifex’s involvement. People from the Department of State Development, the head of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet, and senior people from the mines agency played a role to a greater or lesser extent in the 12 months of negotiation that has produced a terrific result for Western Australia. If the Leader of the Opposition thinks there is something improper in that, please tell me and I will deal with it. Mr E.S. Ripper : Premier, I’m not making a specific allegation; I’m asking you as a matter of accountability whether you’ve asked for this declaration and, if you’ve got it, will you table it? Mr C.J. BARNETT : He has declared all of his interests quite properly. The member should not sneer. Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, the Leader of the Opposition’s friend behind him. Mr Pontifex has declared all of his interests. I understand that he has disposed of some shares. He has declared that quite properly to the Department of the Premier and Cabinet. I do not believe that I or anyone else should declare publicly whatever financial interests he has. He has a clean bill of health. There is no conflict; it has been dealt with properly. I will speak to Mr Pontifex, I will speak to the head of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet, but I assure members that there is no conflict of interest.
Mr E.S. Ripper : Premier, you said that he was absolutely critical in the negotiation of the royalty arrangement with BHP and Rio. Mr C.J. BARNETT : He played a key role. Mr E.S. Ripper : Okay. He is clearly a critical player in the system and much more powerful than many members of Parliament. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am happy to answer questions, but the Leader of the Opposition should ask the question directly if he believes that there is some conflict over Mr Pontifex’s involvement. People from the Department of State Development, the head of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet, and senior people from the mines agency played a role to a greater or lesser extent in the 12 months of negotiation that has produced a terrific result for Western Australia. If the Leader of the Opposition thinks there is something improper in that, please tell me and I will deal with it. Mr E.S. Ripper : Premier, I’m not making a specific allegation; I’m asking you as a matter of accountability whether you’ve asked for this declaration and, if you’ve got it, will you table it? Mr C.J. BARNETT : He has declared all of his interests quite properly. The member should not sneer. Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, the Leader of the Opposition’s friend behind him. Mr Pontifex has declared all of his interests. I understand that he has disposed of some shares. He has declared that quite properly to the Department of the Premier and Cabinet. I do not believe that I or anyone else should declare publicly whatever financial interests he has. He has a clean bill of health. There is no conflict; it has been dealt with properly. I will speak to Mr Pontifex, I will speak to the head of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet, but I assure members that there is no conflict of interest.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : He played a key role. Mr E.S. Ripper : Okay. He is clearly a critical player in the system and much more powerful than many members of Parliament. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am happy to answer questions, but the Leader of the Opposition should ask the question directly if he believes that there is some conflict over Mr Pontifex’s involvement. People from the Department of State Development, the head of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet, and senior people from the mines agency played a role to a greater or lesser extent in the 12 months of negotiation that has produced a terrific result for Western Australia. If the Leader of the Opposition thinks there is something improper in that, please tell me and I will deal with it. Mr E.S. Ripper : Premier, I’m not making a specific allegation; I’m asking you as a matter of accountability whether you’ve asked for this declaration and, if you’ve got it, will you table it? Mr C.J. BARNETT : He has declared all of his interests quite properly. The member should not sneer. Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, the Leader of the Opposition’s friend behind him. Mr Pontifex has declared all of his interests. I understand that he has disposed of some shares. He has declared that quite properly to the Department of the Premier and Cabinet. I do not believe that I or anyone else should declare publicly whatever financial interests he has. He has a clean bill of health. There is no conflict; it has been dealt with properly. I will speak to Mr Pontifex, I will speak to the head of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet, but I assure members that there is no conflict of interest.
Mr E.S. Ripper : Okay. He is clearly a critical player in the system and much more powerful than many members of Parliament. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am happy to answer questions, but the Leader of the Opposition should ask the question directly if he believes that there is some conflict over Mr Pontifex’s involvement. People from the Department of State Development, the head of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet, and senior people from the mines agency played a role to a greater or lesser extent in the 12 months of negotiation that has produced a terrific result for Western Australia. If the Leader of the Opposition thinks there is something improper in that, please tell me and I will deal with it. Mr E.S. Ripper : Premier, I’m not making a specific allegation; I’m asking you as a matter of accountability whether you’ve asked for this declaration and, if you’ve got it, will you table it? Mr C.J. BARNETT : He has declared all of his interests quite properly. The member should not sneer. Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, the Leader of the Opposition’s friend behind him. Mr Pontifex has declared all of his interests. I understand that he has disposed of some shares. He has declared that quite properly to the Department of the Premier and Cabinet. I do not believe that I or anyone else should declare publicly whatever financial interests he has. He has a clean bill of health. There is no conflict; it has been dealt with properly. I will speak to Mr Pontifex, I will speak to the head of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet, but I assure members that there is no conflict of interest.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am happy to answer questions, but the Leader of the Opposition should ask the question directly if he believes that there is some conflict over Mr Pontifex’s involvement. People from the Department of State Development, the head of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet, and senior people from the mines agency played a role to a greater or lesser extent in the 12 months of negotiation that has produced a terrific result for Western Australia. If the Leader of the Opposition thinks there is something improper in that, please tell me and I will deal with it. Mr E.S. Ripper : Premier, I’m not making a specific allegation; I’m asking you as a matter of accountability whether you’ve asked for this declaration and, if you’ve got it, will you table it? Mr C.J. BARNETT : He has declared all of his interests quite properly. The member should not sneer. Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, the Leader of the Opposition’s friend behind him. Mr Pontifex has declared all of his interests. I understand that he has disposed of some shares. He has declared that quite properly to the Department of the Premier and Cabinet. I do not believe that I or anyone else should declare publicly whatever financial interests he has. He has a clean bill of health. There is no conflict; it has been dealt with properly. I will speak to Mr Pontifex, I will speak to the head of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet, but I assure members that there is no conflict of interest.
Mr E.S. Ripper : Premier, I’m not making a specific allegation; I’m asking you as a matter of accountability whether you’ve asked for this declaration and, if you’ve got it, will you table it? Mr C.J. BARNETT : He has declared all of his interests quite properly. The member should not sneer. Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, the Leader of the Opposition’s friend behind him. Mr Pontifex has declared all of his interests. I understand that he has disposed of some shares. He has declared that quite properly to the Department of the Premier and Cabinet. I do not believe that I or anyone else should declare publicly whatever financial interests he has. He has a clean bill of health. There is no conflict; it has been dealt with properly. I will speak to Mr Pontifex, I will speak to the head of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet, but I assure members that there is no conflict of interest.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : He has declared all of his interests quite properly. The member should not sneer. Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, the Leader of the Opposition’s friend behind him. Mr Pontifex has declared all of his interests. I understand that he has disposed of some shares. He has declared that quite properly to the Department of the Premier and Cabinet. I do not believe that I or anyone else should declare publicly whatever financial interests he has. He has a clean bill of health. There is no conflict; it has been dealt with properly. I will speak to Mr Pontifex, I will speak to the head of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet, but I assure members that there is no conflict of interest.
Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, the Leader of the Opposition’s friend behind him. Mr Pontifex has declared all of his interests. I understand that he has disposed of some shares. He has declared that quite properly to the Department of the Premier and Cabinet. I do not believe that I or anyone else should declare publicly whatever financial interests he has. He has a clean bill of health. There is no conflict; it has been dealt with properly. I will speak to Mr Pontifex, I will speak to the head of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet, but I assure members that there is no conflict of interest.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, the Leader of the Opposition’s friend behind him. Mr Pontifex has declared all of his interests. I understand that he has disposed of some shares. He has declared that quite properly to the Department of the Premier and Cabinet. I do not believe that I or anyone else should declare publicly whatever financial interests he has. He has a clean bill of health. There is no conflict; it has been dealt with properly. I will speak to Mr Pontifex, I will speak to the head of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet, but I assure members that there is no conflict of interest.
Mr Pontifex has declared all of his interests. I understand that he has disposed of some shares. He has declared that quite properly to the Department of the Premier and Cabinet. I do not believe that I or anyone else should declare publicly whatever financial interests he has. He has a clean bill of health. There is no conflict; it has been dealt with properly. I will speak to Mr Pontifex, I will speak to the head of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet, but I assure members that there is no conflict of interest.

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