❓ Opposition questions the Premier about a potential cover-up regarding a dividend payment from the Insurance Commission of WA and an alleged misleading statement to Parliament. The Premier defends his actions, citing parliamentary process.
AnsweredQoN 464Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
INSURANCE COMMISSION OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA —
STATE REVENUE
1. 464. Mr B.S. WYATT to the
Premier:
I refer to the government's decision in October 2012
to require the Insurance Commission of WA to pay a dividend to government.
(1) Did the
Premier or any member of his government instruct the Under Treasurer to not
specifically highlight this policy change in the 2012–13 midyear
review?
(2) If no to (1), how does the Premier explain this key
policy change not being highlighted?
(3) Why did
the Premier tell the Parliament on 13 June this year that no decision had been
made prior to the election when it clearly had been?
STATE REVENUE
1. 464. Mr B.S. WYATT to the
Premier:
I refer to the government's decision in October 2012
to require the Insurance Commission of WA to pay a dividend to government.
(1) Did the
Premier or any member of his government instruct the Under Treasurer to not
specifically highlight this policy change in the 2012–13 midyear
review?
(2) If no to (1), how does the Premier explain this key
policy change not being highlighted?
(3) Why did
the Premier tell the Parliament on 13 June this year that no decision had been
made prior to the election when it clearly had been?
AnswerView source ↗
Before I answer that question, I welcome the year 11 politics
students from Mercedes College for the member for Scarborough. I should not say
she is a former old girl, should I? She is a former student.
(1)–(3)
I will comment on this question of the dividend for the Insurance Commission of
WA and I welcome the opportunity to place a few things on the record. First,
can I say—it was referred to earlier today—that I wrote to the
president of the RAC. The letter is dated 10 January 2013 and, as members know,
we get lots of correspondence from organisations in the lead-up to an election.
With respect to the payment of dividends, within this two-page letter there was
one very brief paragraph in which I stated —
The Insurance Commission of Western Australia Act 1986 does not provide
for the ICWA to pay a dividend to the State.
That is factually correct; it did not have that —
An opposition member: Weasel words!
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
Members opposite think that is open to interpretation.
Several members interjected.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
Hang on! The opposition asked a question; listen to the answer.
As of January, ICWA did not have authority to pay a dividend
to the state government. That is an absolute accurate fact.
Ms R. Saffioti interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for West Swan!
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
The member says it is cute, so let us go through what is cute and what is not.
It is true that in October 2012 the Economic and Expenditure Reform Committee
recommended a range of financial measures, including the payment of a dividend
by the Insurance Commission of Western Australia. That is true. Cabinet did
approve in November 2012 the drafting of legislation to put that in place.
Mr M. McGowan interjected.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
Hang on!
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Bassendean!
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
No, there is not; there is the truth.
At the beginning of this parliamentary period, I was
criticised roundly by members opposite and some people in the media for taking
the decision that all legislation coming into this Parliament would be new. All
legislation would start again; there would be no carryover and no reinstatement
of bills. Members opposite criticised me for that, but I think every member of
Parliament —
Several members interjected.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
Listen! I am explaining this to members opposite; they need to listen.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for West Swan, I call you to order for the first time. I am just going
to say that there are certain people in this place who feel obliged to
interject all the time on whatever is said and if that happens, you will be
going for an early rest.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I
restate: there was a decision to draft legislation in 2012. The State Solicitor
raised some issues with that legislation. That legislation was not introduced;
in fact, it did not proceed and it did not come back to cabinet. My letter to
the RAC was accurate. Again I make the point that I was making before I was
interrupted: this government made a decision with a new Parliament for a
four-year term with a number of new members on both sides of this house, out of
respect for parliamentary process, that all legislation would go back to square
one.
Mr
B.S. Wyatt : Listen to yourself!
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
If the member listens, he will learn. It was not only —
Mr P.B. Watson interjected.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : I am not an arrogant little whatever-you-think, member for
Albany!
Mr
P.B. Watson interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Albany!
Ms
M.M. Quirk : You're vain!
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
No, I do not think I am vain either. I doubt that the member is either.
I restate that the decision taken by this government was that
all legislation would start from square one in terms of the parliamentary
process. What was not stated, but also the case, is that all legislation in a
cabinet process started again. Therefore —
Several members interjected.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
Members opposite do not want to hear this because it does not suit their
argument.
I confirm to the house that in April 2013, a month after the
election, cabinet approved the drafting of the bill. In May 2013, cabinet
approved printing the bill and introducing it to Parliament. On 12 June 2013,
the bill was introduced to Parliament. On 7 August 2013, it was passed by the
Parliament. So the approval to draft, print, introduce and pass the legislation
all happened after the election. End of story!
students from Mercedes College for the member for Scarborough. I should not say
she is a former old girl, should I? She is a former student.
(1)–(3)
I will comment on this question of the dividend for the Insurance Commission of
WA and I welcome the opportunity to place a few things on the record. First,
can I say—it was referred to earlier today—that I wrote to the
president of the RAC. The letter is dated 10 January 2013 and, as members know,
we get lots of correspondence from organisations in the lead-up to an election.
With respect to the payment of dividends, within this two-page letter there was
one very brief paragraph in which I stated —
The Insurance Commission of Western Australia Act 1986 does not provide
for the ICWA to pay a dividend to the State.
That is factually correct; it did not have that —
An opposition member: Weasel words!
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
Members opposite think that is open to interpretation.
Several members interjected.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
Hang on! The opposition asked a question; listen to the answer.
As of January, ICWA did not have authority to pay a dividend
to the state government. That is an absolute accurate fact.
Ms R. Saffioti interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for West Swan!
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
The member says it is cute, so let us go through what is cute and what is not.
It is true that in October 2012 the Economic and Expenditure Reform Committee
recommended a range of financial measures, including the payment of a dividend
by the Insurance Commission of Western Australia. That is true. Cabinet did
approve in November 2012 the drafting of legislation to put that in place.
Mr M. McGowan interjected.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
Hang on!
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Bassendean!
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
No, there is not; there is the truth.
At the beginning of this parliamentary period, I was
criticised roundly by members opposite and some people in the media for taking
the decision that all legislation coming into this Parliament would be new. All
legislation would start again; there would be no carryover and no reinstatement
of bills. Members opposite criticised me for that, but I think every member of
Parliament —
Several members interjected.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
Listen! I am explaining this to members opposite; they need to listen.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for West Swan, I call you to order for the first time. I am just going
to say that there are certain people in this place who feel obliged to
interject all the time on whatever is said and if that happens, you will be
going for an early rest.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I
restate: there was a decision to draft legislation in 2012. The State Solicitor
raised some issues with that legislation. That legislation was not introduced;
in fact, it did not proceed and it did not come back to cabinet. My letter to
the RAC was accurate. Again I make the point that I was making before I was
interrupted: this government made a decision with a new Parliament for a
four-year term with a number of new members on both sides of this house, out of
respect for parliamentary process, that all legislation would go back to square
one.
Mr
B.S. Wyatt : Listen to yourself!
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
If the member listens, he will learn. It was not only —
Mr P.B. Watson interjected.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : I am not an arrogant little whatever-you-think, member for
Albany!
Mr
P.B. Watson interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Albany!
Ms
M.M. Quirk : You're vain!
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
No, I do not think I am vain either. I doubt that the member is either.
I restate that the decision taken by this government was that
all legislation would start from square one in terms of the parliamentary
process. What was not stated, but also the case, is that all legislation in a
cabinet process started again. Therefore —
Several members interjected.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
Members opposite do not want to hear this because it does not suit their
argument.
I confirm to the house that in April 2013, a month after the
election, cabinet approved the drafting of the bill. In May 2013, cabinet
approved printing the bill and introducing it to Parliament. On 12 June 2013,
the bill was introduced to Parliament. On 7 August 2013, it was passed by the
Parliament. So the approval to draft, print, introduce and pass the legislation
all happened after the election. End of story!
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