A parliamentary question probes potential conflicts of interest regarding fishing restrictions, focusing on the Member for Scarborough and her husband's business. The response denies improper influence and affirms openness to representation.

AnsweredQoN 134Legislative Council
Asked
2 December 2008
Portfolio
Leader of the House representing the Premier

QuestionView source ↗

FISHING RESTRICTIONS — MEMBER FOR SCARBOROUGH
In light of the Minister for Fisheries’ recent decision to abandon fishing restrictions designed to protect WA’s iconic fish species, known as the vulnerable five — (1) Has the Premier been lobbied or briefed by any members of the Fish for Life Alliance? (2) Has the Premier at any stage met with Fish for Life Alliance spokesman Hal Harvey? (3) Has the Premier at any stage discussed these changes with the member for Scarborough? (4) Have any other senior Liberal ministers discussed these changes with the member for Scarborough or her husband, Hal Harvey? (5) Is the Premier aware that the government’s recent watering down of these restrictions are primarily designed to benefit fish tackle shops, such as the member for Scarborough’s husband’s business, Bluewater Tackle World stores? (6) Is the Premier prepared to ignore all future representations that the member for Scarborough would make regarding the fisheries portfolio due to this conflict of interest? Hon NORMAN MOORE

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the member for some notice of this question, which is to the Premier. The preamble to the question is inaccurate, but it does not have any effect on the answer itself other than to advise the honourable member that he got that wrong. (1) To the best of the Premier’s knowledge he has not been lobbied or briefed by any members of the Fish for Life Alliance. (2) The Premier met Mr Hal Harvey informally during the election campaign but has never met with Mr Harvey regarding fisheries matters. (3) No, the Premier has not met the member for Scarborough, or her husband, in relation to fisheries matters. (4) The only other minister the Premier knows of who has met with Mr Harvey or the member for Scarborough is Hon Norman Moore—me. The Premier is aware that the Minister for Fisheries discussed changes with the member for Scarborough prior to the decision being made and discussed changes with Mr Harvey at a social function after the decision was made. (5) This is not the Premier’s understanding. (6) No. The Premier will not ignore representation from any organisation.
(1) Has the Premier been lobbied or briefed by any members of the Fish for Life Alliance? (2) Has the Premier at any stage met with Fish for Life Alliance spokesman Hal Harvey? (3) Has the Premier at any stage discussed these changes with the member for Scarborough? (4) Have any other senior Liberal ministers discussed these changes with the member for Scarborough or her husband, Hal Harvey? (5) Is the Premier aware that the government’s recent watering down of these restrictions are primarily designed to benefit fish tackle shops, such as the member for Scarborough’s husband’s business, Bluewater Tackle World stores? (6) Is the Premier prepared to ignore all future representations that the member for Scarborough would make regarding the fisheries portfolio due to this conflict of interest? Hon NORMAN MOORE replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question, which is to the Premier. The preamble to the question is inaccurate, but it does not have any effect on the answer itself other than to advise the honourable member that he got that wrong. (1) To the best of the Premier’s knowledge he has not been lobbied or briefed by any members of the Fish for Life Alliance. (2) The Premier met Mr Hal Harvey informally during the election campaign but has never met with Mr Harvey regarding fisheries matters. (3) No, the Premier has not met the member for Scarborough, or her husband, in relation to fisheries matters. (4) The only other minister the Premier knows of who has met with Mr Harvey or the member for Scarborough is Hon Norman Moore—me. The Premier is aware that the Minister for Fisheries discussed changes with the member for Scarborough prior to the decision being made and discussed changes with Mr Harvey at a social function after the decision was made. (5) This is not the Premier’s understanding. (6) No. The Premier will not ignore representation from any organisation.
(2) Has the Premier at any stage met with Fish for Life Alliance spokesman Hal Harvey? (3) Has the Premier at any stage discussed these changes with the member for Scarborough? (4) Have any other senior Liberal ministers discussed these changes with the member for Scarborough or her husband, Hal Harvey? (5) Is the Premier aware that the government’s recent watering down of these restrictions are primarily designed to benefit fish tackle shops, such as the member for Scarborough’s husband’s business, Bluewater Tackle World stores? (6) Is the Premier prepared to ignore all future representations that the member for Scarborough would make regarding the fisheries portfolio due to this conflict of interest? Hon NORMAN MOORE replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question, which is to the Premier. The preamble to the question is inaccurate, but it does not have any effect on the answer itself other than to advise the honourable member that he got that wrong. (1) To the best of the Premier’s knowledge he has not been lobbied or briefed by any members of the Fish for Life Alliance. (2) The Premier met Mr Hal Harvey informally during the election campaign but has never met with Mr Harvey regarding fisheries matters. (3) No, the Premier has not met the member for Scarborough, or her husband, in relation to fisheries matters. (4) The only other minister the Premier knows of who has met with Mr Harvey or the member for Scarborough is Hon Norman Moore—me. The Premier is aware that the Minister for Fisheries discussed changes with the member for Scarborough prior to the decision being made and discussed changes with Mr Harvey at a social function after the decision was made. (5) This is not the Premier’s understanding. (6) No. The Premier will not ignore representation from any organisation.
(3) Has the Premier at any stage discussed these changes with the member for Scarborough? (4) Have any other senior Liberal ministers discussed these changes with the member for Scarborough or her husband, Hal Harvey? (5) Is the Premier aware that the government’s recent watering down of these restrictions are primarily designed to benefit fish tackle shops, such as the member for Scarborough’s husband’s business, Bluewater Tackle World stores? (6) Is the Premier prepared to ignore all future representations that the member for Scarborough would make regarding the fisheries portfolio due to this conflict of interest? Hon NORMAN MOORE replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question, which is to the Premier. The preamble to the question is inaccurate, but it does not have any effect on the answer itself other than to advise the honourable member that he got that wrong. (1) To the best of the Premier’s knowledge he has not been lobbied or briefed by any members of the Fish for Life Alliance. (2) The Premier met Mr Hal Harvey informally during the election campaign but has never met with Mr Harvey regarding fisheries matters. (3) No, the Premier has not met the member for Scarborough, or her husband, in relation to fisheries matters. (4) The only other minister the Premier knows of who has met with Mr Harvey or the member for Scarborough is Hon Norman Moore—me. The Premier is aware that the Minister for Fisheries discussed changes with the member for Scarborough prior to the decision being made and discussed changes with Mr Harvey at a social function after the decision was made. (5) This is not the Premier’s understanding. (6) No. The Premier will not ignore representation from any organisation.
(4) Have any other senior Liberal ministers discussed these changes with the member for Scarborough or her husband, Hal Harvey? (5) Is the Premier aware that the government’s recent watering down of these restrictions are primarily designed to benefit fish tackle shops, such as the member for Scarborough’s husband’s business, Bluewater Tackle World stores? (6) Is the Premier prepared to ignore all future representations that the member for Scarborough would make regarding the fisheries portfolio due to this conflict of interest? Hon NORMAN MOORE replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question, which is to the Premier. The preamble to the question is inaccurate, but it does not have any effect on the answer itself other than to advise the honourable member that he got that wrong. (1) To the best of the Premier’s knowledge he has not been lobbied or briefed by any members of the Fish for Life Alliance. (2) The Premier met Mr Hal Harvey informally during the election campaign but has never met with Mr Harvey regarding fisheries matters. (3) No, the Premier has not met the member for Scarborough, or her husband, in relation to fisheries matters. (4) The only other minister the Premier knows of who has met with Mr Harvey or the member for Scarborough is Hon Norman Moore—me. The Premier is aware that the Minister for Fisheries discussed changes with the member for Scarborough prior to the decision being made and discussed changes with Mr Harvey at a social function after the decision was made. (5) This is not the Premier’s understanding. (6) No. The Premier will not ignore representation from any organisation.
(5) Is the Premier aware that the government’s recent watering down of these restrictions are primarily designed to benefit fish tackle shops, such as the member for Scarborough’s husband’s business, Bluewater Tackle World stores? (6) Is the Premier prepared to ignore all future representations that the member for Scarborough would make regarding the fisheries portfolio due to this conflict of interest? Hon NORMAN MOORE replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question, which is to the Premier. The preamble to the question is inaccurate, but it does not have any effect on the answer itself other than to advise the honourable member that he got that wrong. (1) To the best of the Premier’s knowledge he has not been lobbied or briefed by any members of the Fish for Life Alliance. (2) The Premier met Mr Hal Harvey informally during the election campaign but has never met with Mr Harvey regarding fisheries matters. (3) No, the Premier has not met the member for Scarborough, or her husband, in relation to fisheries matters. (4) The only other minister the Premier knows of who has met with Mr Harvey or the member for Scarborough is Hon Norman Moore—me. The Premier is aware that the Minister for Fisheries discussed changes with the member for Scarborough prior to the decision being made and discussed changes with Mr Harvey at a social function after the decision was made. (5) This is not the Premier’s understanding. (6) No. The Premier will not ignore representation from any organisation.
(6) Is the Premier prepared to ignore all future representations that the member for Scarborough would make regarding the fisheries portfolio due to this conflict of interest? Hon NORMAN MOORE replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question, which is to the Premier. The preamble to the question is inaccurate, but it does not have any effect on the answer itself other than to advise the honourable member that he got that wrong. (1) To the best of the Premier’s knowledge he has not been lobbied or briefed by any members of the Fish for Life Alliance. (2) The Premier met Mr Hal Harvey informally during the election campaign but has never met with Mr Harvey regarding fisheries matters. (3) No, the Premier has not met the member for Scarborough, or her husband, in relation to fisheries matters. (4) The only other minister the Premier knows of who has met with Mr Harvey or the member for Scarborough is Hon Norman Moore—me. The Premier is aware that the Minister for Fisheries discussed changes with the member for Scarborough prior to the decision being made and discussed changes with Mr Harvey at a social function after the decision was made. (5) This is not the Premier’s understanding. (6) No. The Premier will not ignore representation from any organisation.
Hon NORMAN MOORE replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question, which is to the Premier. The preamble to the question is inaccurate, but it does not have any effect on the answer itself other than to advise the honourable member that he got that wrong. (1) To the best of the Premier’s knowledge he has not been lobbied or briefed by any members of the Fish for Life Alliance. (2) The Premier met Mr Hal Harvey informally during the election campaign but has never met with Mr Harvey regarding fisheries matters. (3) No, the Premier has not met the member for Scarborough, or her husband, in relation to fisheries matters. (4) The only other minister the Premier knows of who has met with Mr Harvey or the member for Scarborough is Hon Norman Moore—me. The Premier is aware that the Minister for Fisheries discussed changes with the member for Scarborough prior to the decision being made and discussed changes with Mr Harvey at a social function after the decision was made. (5) This is not the Premier’s understanding. (6) No. The Premier will not ignore representation from any organisation.
I thank the member for some notice of this question, which is to the Premier. The preamble to the question is inaccurate, but it does not have any effect on the answer itself other than to advise the honourable member that he got that wrong. (1) To the best of the Premier’s knowledge he has not been lobbied or briefed by any members of the Fish for Life Alliance. (2) The Premier met Mr Hal Harvey informally during the election campaign but has never met with Mr Harvey regarding fisheries matters. (3) No, the Premier has not met the member for Scarborough, or her husband, in relation to fisheries matters. (4) The only other minister the Premier knows of who has met with Mr Harvey or the member for Scarborough is Hon Norman Moore—me. The Premier is aware that the Minister for Fisheries discussed changes with the member for Scarborough prior to the decision being made and discussed changes with Mr Harvey at a social function after the decision was made. (5) This is not the Premier’s understanding. (6) No. The Premier will not ignore representation from any organisation.
(1) To the best of the Premier’s knowledge he has not been lobbied or briefed by any members of the Fish for Life Alliance. (2) The Premier met Mr Hal Harvey informally during the election campaign but has never met with Mr Harvey regarding fisheries matters. (3) No, the Premier has not met the member for Scarborough, or her husband, in relation to fisheries matters. (4) The only other minister the Premier knows of who has met with Mr Harvey or the member for Scarborough is Hon Norman Moore—me. The Premier is aware that the Minister for Fisheries discussed changes with the member for Scarborough prior to the decision being made and discussed changes with Mr Harvey at a social function after the decision was made. (5) This is not the Premier’s understanding. (6) No. The Premier will not ignore representation from any organisation.
(2) The Premier met Mr Hal Harvey informally during the election campaign but has never met with Mr Harvey regarding fisheries matters. (3) No, the Premier has not met the member for Scarborough, or her husband, in relation to fisheries matters. (4) The only other minister the Premier knows of who has met with Mr Harvey or the member for Scarborough is Hon Norman Moore—me. The Premier is aware that the Minister for Fisheries discussed changes with the member for Scarborough prior to the decision being made and discussed changes with Mr Harvey at a social function after the decision was made. (5) This is not the Premier’s understanding. (6) No. The Premier will not ignore representation from any organisation.
(3) No, the Premier has not met the member for Scarborough, or her husband, in relation to fisheries matters. (4) The only other minister the Premier knows of who has met with Mr Harvey or the member for Scarborough is Hon Norman Moore—me. The Premier is aware that the Minister for Fisheries discussed changes with the member for Scarborough prior to the decision being made and discussed changes with Mr Harvey at a social function after the decision was made. (5) This is not the Premier’s understanding. (6) No. The Premier will not ignore representation from any organisation.
(4) The only other minister the Premier knows of who has met with Mr Harvey or the member for Scarborough is Hon Norman Moore—me. The Premier is aware that the Minister for Fisheries discussed changes with the member for Scarborough prior to the decision being made and discussed changes with Mr Harvey at a social function after the decision was made. (5) This is not the Premier’s understanding. (6) No. The Premier will not ignore representation from any organisation.
(5) This is not the Premier’s understanding. (6) No. The Premier will not ignore representation from any organisation.
(6) No. The Premier will not ignore representation from any organisation.

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