❓ Mr. Buswell questions a payout to Ron Mance, former executive director of the Office of Shared Services, approved by the Director General of the Department of Premier and Cabinet, despite the Under Treasurer's initial refusal. Premier Carpenter defends the decision and accuses the opposition of hypocrisy.
AnsweredQoN 273Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
RON MANCE - PAYOUT
I refer to the situation whereby the former executive director of the Office of Shared Services, Mr Ron Mance, approached the Under Treasurer, Mr Tim Marney, to see whether he could leave the public service. He was told that he could not and was to stay and fix the mess in the Office of Shared Services. Mr Mance then somehow managed to go round Mr Marney and convince the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet to give him a payout worth possibly hundreds of thousands of dollars. (1) Given that the Auditor General has delivered a damning indictment of the management and oversight of this project, how can the Premier justify the head of his department overruling the Under Treasurer to provide this payout to Mr Mance? (2) If Mr Mance wanted to leave the public service of his own volition, why was he given a payout? Mr A.J. CARPENTER
I refer to the situation whereby the former executive director of the Office of Shared Services, Mr Ron Mance, approached the Under Treasurer, Mr Tim Marney, to see whether he could leave the public service. He was told that he could not and was to stay and fix the mess in the Office of Shared Services. Mr Mance then somehow managed to go round Mr Marney and convince the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet to give him a payout worth possibly hundreds of thousands of dollars. (1) Given that the Auditor General has delivered a damning indictment of the management and oversight of this project, how can the Premier justify the head of his department overruling the Under Treasurer to provide this payout to Mr Mance? (2) If Mr Mance wanted to leave the public service of his own volition, why was he given a payout? Mr A.J. CARPENTER
AnswerView source ↗
(1)-(2) I think I heard the introductory part of that question correctly, when the Deputy Leader of the Opposition stated that Ron Mance - Mr T. Buswell : Ron Mance went to Tim Marney - this was in his answer to questions in estimates, Premier - and asked to leave. Tim Marney said, “No, you have to stay to clean up the mess.” Ron Mance then went behind Tim Marney’s back to your director general, who approved the payout. Mr E.S. Ripper : What Mr Marney said was that he was reluctant to entertain his desire to leave; that’s what he said. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Without having the transcript of the estimates hearing, I would be reluctant to accept on face value the assertion that has been made. However, this is the question ultimately: did Ron Mance and the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet properly come to a view that a management-initiated retirement was acceptable? Yes, they did. That is the ultimate and, I think, proper authority that Mr Mance would have been dealing with; that is, the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet. It sounds to me as though the matter was dealt with properly, as it should have been. Quite honestly, it is a bit rich for the Deputy Leader of the Opposition, who is sitting next to the Leader of the Opposition, one day after we have had the revelation of what happened in the Leader of the Opposition’s office, to be asking questions about proper process when the Leader of the Opposition has admitted by his own words and actions that a gross breach of proper process happened in his very own office. Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : And I did. The SPEAKER : I call the Leader of the Opposition and the member for Roe to order. Mr P.D. Omodei : It’s a bit rich. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : A bit rich? Hypocritical might be another way of describing the assertion. It is quite remarkable in its arrogance, given what has happened in the Leader of the Opposition’s office in the past few days and the explanation, if we could call it that, that the Leader of the Opposition gave today of the scenario that unfolded. What an explanation we heard; what an explanation! What sort of explanation was it that the Parliament was given when the Leader of the Opposition was provided with the opportunity? Mr P.D. Omodei : An honest one. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : An honest one? We have a question about propriety and probity from a man who sat in a car park of Parliament House with a person who was in part the subject of a Corruption and Crime Commission inquiry and discussed with that person in the car park the evidence that he would give about that person’s meetings before he went to the CCC - on his own admission. He should not be sitting in the seat that he is in now. On the other hand, what the Deputy Leader of the Opposition has done now is call into question the integrity of the head of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet and Mr Mance. Mr T. Buswell : That’s right. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : That is right. He is calling into question the integrity of the chief executive officer of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet - that is, the director general - and of Ron Mance. That is what the Deputy Leader of the Opposition is doing - a person who has admitted and demonstrated by his very actions that he has absolutely no idea of what political integrity requires. That he should sit in the car park of Parliament House and have a clandestine meeting with a subject of a CCC investigation before he went to that inquiry to give evidence about that very person is unbelievable. On the very day that we heard a highly implausible explanation of what has happened in the Leader of the Opposition’s office over the past few days, the Deputy Leader of the Opposition has come into the chamber and raised a question about the integrity of the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet, who has served in that position for something like 10 years. He was appointed by the Richard Court-led government at the time and, as far as I am aware, has never had any allegation of impropriety made against him.
(1) Given that the Auditor General has delivered a damning indictment of the management and oversight of this project, how can the Premier justify the head of his department overruling the Under Treasurer to provide this payout to Mr Mance? (2) If Mr Mance wanted to leave the public service of his own volition, why was he given a payout? Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: (1)-(2) I think I heard the introductory part of that question correctly, when the Deputy Leader of the Opposition stated that Ron Mance - Mr T. Buswell : Ron Mance went to Tim Marney - this was in his answer to questions in estimates, Premier - and asked to leave. Tim Marney said, “No, you have to stay to clean up the mess.” Ron Mance then went behind Tim Marney’s back to your director general, who approved the payout. Mr E.S. Ripper : What Mr Marney said was that he was reluctant to entertain his desire to leave; that’s what he said. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Without having the transcript of the estimates hearing, I would be reluctant to accept on face value the assertion that has been made. However, this is the question ultimately: did Ron Mance and the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet properly come to a view that a management-initiated retirement was acceptable? Yes, they did. That is the ultimate and, I think, proper authority that Mr Mance would have been dealing with; that is, the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet. It sounds to me as though the matter was dealt with properly, as it should have been. Quite honestly, it is a bit rich for the Deputy Leader of the Opposition, who is sitting next to the Leader of the Opposition, one day after we have had the revelation of what happened in the Leader of the Opposition’s office, to be asking questions about proper process when the Leader of the Opposition has admitted by his own words and actions that a gross breach of proper process happened in his very own office. Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : And I did. The SPEAKER : I call the Leader of the Opposition and the member for Roe to order. Mr P.D. Omodei : It’s a bit rich. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : A bit rich? Hypocritical might be another way of describing the assertion. It is quite remarkable in its arrogance, given what has happened in the Leader of the Opposition’s office in the past few days and the explanation, if we could call it that, that the Leader of the Opposition gave today of the scenario that unfolded. What an explanation we heard; what an explanation! What sort of explanation was it that the Parliament was given when the Leader of the Opposition was provided with the opportunity? Mr P.D. Omodei : An honest one. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : An honest one? We have a question about propriety and probity from a man who sat in a car park of Parliament House with a person who was in part the subject of a Corruption and Crime Commission inquiry and discussed with that person in the car park the evidence that he would give about that person’s meetings before he went to the CCC - on his own admission. He should not be sitting in the seat that he is in now. On the other hand, what the Deputy Leader of the Opposition has done now is call into question the integrity of the head of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet and Mr Mance. Mr T. Buswell : That’s right. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : That is right. He is calling into question the integrity of the chief executive officer of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet - that is, the director general - and of Ron Mance. That is what the Deputy Leader of the Opposition is doing - a person who has admitted and demonstrated by his very actions that he has absolutely no idea of what political integrity requires. That he should sit in the car park of Parliament House and have a clandestine meeting with a subject of a CCC investigation before he went to that inquiry to give evidence about that very person is unbelievable. On the very day that we heard a highly implausible explanation of what has happened in the Leader of the Opposition’s office over the past few days, the Deputy Leader of the Opposition has come into the chamber and raised a question about the integrity of the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet, who has served in that position for something like 10 years. He was appointed by the Richard Court-led government at the time and, as far as I am aware, has never had any allegation of impropriety made against him.
(2) If Mr Mance wanted to leave the public service of his own volition, why was he given a payout? Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: (1)-(2) I think I heard the introductory part of that question correctly, when the Deputy Leader of the Opposition stated that Ron Mance - Mr T. Buswell : Ron Mance went to Tim Marney - this was in his answer to questions in estimates, Premier - and asked to leave. Tim Marney said, “No, you have to stay to clean up the mess.” Ron Mance then went behind Tim Marney’s back to your director general, who approved the payout. Mr E.S. Ripper : What Mr Marney said was that he was reluctant to entertain his desire to leave; that’s what he said. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Without having the transcript of the estimates hearing, I would be reluctant to accept on face value the assertion that has been made. However, this is the question ultimately: did Ron Mance and the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet properly come to a view that a management-initiated retirement was acceptable? Yes, they did. That is the ultimate and, I think, proper authority that Mr Mance would have been dealing with; that is, the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet. It sounds to me as though the matter was dealt with properly, as it should have been. Quite honestly, it is a bit rich for the Deputy Leader of the Opposition, who is sitting next to the Leader of the Opposition, one day after we have had the revelation of what happened in the Leader of the Opposition’s office, to be asking questions about proper process when the Leader of the Opposition has admitted by his own words and actions that a gross breach of proper process happened in his very own office. Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : And I did. The SPEAKER : I call the Leader of the Opposition and the member for Roe to order. Mr P.D. Omodei : It’s a bit rich. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : A bit rich? Hypocritical might be another way of describing the assertion. It is quite remarkable in its arrogance, given what has happened in the Leader of the Opposition’s office in the past few days and the explanation, if we could call it that, that the Leader of the Opposition gave today of the scenario that unfolded. What an explanation we heard; what an explanation! What sort of explanation was it that the Parliament was given when the Leader of the Opposition was provided with the opportunity? Mr P.D. Omodei : An honest one. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : An honest one? We have a question about propriety and probity from a man who sat in a car park of Parliament House with a person who was in part the subject of a Corruption and Crime Commission inquiry and discussed with that person in the car park the evidence that he would give about that person’s meetings before he went to the CCC - on his own admission. He should not be sitting in the seat that he is in now. On the other hand, what the Deputy Leader of the Opposition has done now is call into question the integrity of the head of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet and Mr Mance. Mr T. Buswell : That’s right. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : That is right. He is calling into question the integrity of the chief executive officer of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet - that is, the director general - and of Ron Mance. That is what the Deputy Leader of the Opposition is doing - a person who has admitted and demonstrated by his very actions that he has absolutely no idea of what political integrity requires. That he should sit in the car park of Parliament House and have a clandestine meeting with a subject of a CCC investigation before he went to that inquiry to give evidence about that very person is unbelievable. On the very day that we heard a highly implausible explanation of what has happened in the Leader of the Opposition’s office over the past few days, the Deputy Leader of the Opposition has come into the chamber and raised a question about the integrity of the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet, who has served in that position for something like 10 years. He was appointed by the Richard Court-led government at the time and, as far as I am aware, has never had any allegation of impropriety made against him.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: (1)-(2) I think I heard the introductory part of that question correctly, when the Deputy Leader of the Opposition stated that Ron Mance - Mr T. Buswell : Ron Mance went to Tim Marney - this was in his answer to questions in estimates, Premier - and asked to leave. Tim Marney said, “No, you have to stay to clean up the mess.” Ron Mance then went behind Tim Marney’s back to your director general, who approved the payout. Mr E.S. Ripper : What Mr Marney said was that he was reluctant to entertain his desire to leave; that’s what he said. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Without having the transcript of the estimates hearing, I would be reluctant to accept on face value the assertion that has been made. However, this is the question ultimately: did Ron Mance and the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet properly come to a view that a management-initiated retirement was acceptable? Yes, they did. That is the ultimate and, I think, proper authority that Mr Mance would have been dealing with; that is, the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet. It sounds to me as though the matter was dealt with properly, as it should have been. Quite honestly, it is a bit rich for the Deputy Leader of the Opposition, who is sitting next to the Leader of the Opposition, one day after we have had the revelation of what happened in the Leader of the Opposition’s office, to be asking questions about proper process when the Leader of the Opposition has admitted by his own words and actions that a gross breach of proper process happened in his very own office. Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : And I did. The SPEAKER : I call the Leader of the Opposition and the member for Roe to order. Mr P.D. Omodei : It’s a bit rich. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : A bit rich? Hypocritical might be another way of describing the assertion. It is quite remarkable in its arrogance, given what has happened in the Leader of the Opposition’s office in the past few days and the explanation, if we could call it that, that the Leader of the Opposition gave today of the scenario that unfolded. What an explanation we heard; what an explanation! What sort of explanation was it that the Parliament was given when the Leader of the Opposition was provided with the opportunity? Mr P.D. Omodei : An honest one. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : An honest one? We have a question about propriety and probity from a man who sat in a car park of Parliament House with a person who was in part the subject of a Corruption and Crime Commission inquiry and discussed with that person in the car park the evidence that he would give about that person’s meetings before he went to the CCC - on his own admission. He should not be sitting in the seat that he is in now. On the other hand, what the Deputy Leader of the Opposition has done now is call into question the integrity of the head of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet and Mr Mance. Mr T. Buswell : That’s right. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : That is right. He is calling into question the integrity of the chief executive officer of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet - that is, the director general - and of Ron Mance. That is what the Deputy Leader of the Opposition is doing - a person who has admitted and demonstrated by his very actions that he has absolutely no idea of what political integrity requires. That he should sit in the car park of Parliament House and have a clandestine meeting with a subject of a CCC investigation before he went to that inquiry to give evidence about that very person is unbelievable. On the very day that we heard a highly implausible explanation of what has happened in the Leader of the Opposition’s office over the past few days, the Deputy Leader of the Opposition has come into the chamber and raised a question about the integrity of the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet, who has served in that position for something like 10 years. He was appointed by the Richard Court-led government at the time and, as far as I am aware, has never had any allegation of impropriety made against him.
(1)-(2) I think I heard the introductory part of that question correctly, when the Deputy Leader of the Opposition stated that Ron Mance - Mr T. Buswell : Ron Mance went to Tim Marney - this was in his answer to questions in estimates, Premier - and asked to leave. Tim Marney said, “No, you have to stay to clean up the mess.” Ron Mance then went behind Tim Marney’s back to your director general, who approved the payout. Mr E.S. Ripper : What Mr Marney said was that he was reluctant to entertain his desire to leave; that’s what he said. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Without having the transcript of the estimates hearing, I would be reluctant to accept on face value the assertion that has been made. However, this is the question ultimately: did Ron Mance and the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet properly come to a view that a management-initiated retirement was acceptable? Yes, they did. That is the ultimate and, I think, proper authority that Mr Mance would have been dealing with; that is, the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet. It sounds to me as though the matter was dealt with properly, as it should have been. Quite honestly, it is a bit rich for the Deputy Leader of the Opposition, who is sitting next to the Leader of the Opposition, one day after we have had the revelation of what happened in the Leader of the Opposition’s office, to be asking questions about proper process when the Leader of the Opposition has admitted by his own words and actions that a gross breach of proper process happened in his very own office. Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : And I did. The SPEAKER : I call the Leader of the Opposition and the member for Roe to order. Mr P.D. Omodei : It’s a bit rich. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : A bit rich? Hypocritical might be another way of describing the assertion. It is quite remarkable in its arrogance, given what has happened in the Leader of the Opposition’s office in the past few days and the explanation, if we could call it that, that the Leader of the Opposition gave today of the scenario that unfolded. What an explanation we heard; what an explanation! What sort of explanation was it that the Parliament was given when the Leader of the Opposition was provided with the opportunity? Mr P.D. Omodei : An honest one. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : An honest one? We have a question about propriety and probity from a man who sat in a car park of Parliament House with a person who was in part the subject of a Corruption and Crime Commission inquiry and discussed with that person in the car park the evidence that he would give about that person’s meetings before he went to the CCC - on his own admission. He should not be sitting in the seat that he is in now. On the other hand, what the Deputy Leader of the Opposition has done now is call into question the integrity of the head of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet and Mr Mance. Mr T. Buswell : That’s right. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : That is right. He is calling into question the integrity of the chief executive officer of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet - that is, the director general - and of Ron Mance. That is what the Deputy Leader of the Opposition is doing - a person who has admitted and demonstrated by his very actions that he has absolutely no idea of what political integrity requires. That he should sit in the car park of Parliament House and have a clandestine meeting with a subject of a CCC investigation before he went to that inquiry to give evidence about that very person is unbelievable. On the very day that we heard a highly implausible explanation of what has happened in the Leader of the Opposition’s office over the past few days, the Deputy Leader of the Opposition has come into the chamber and raised a question about the integrity of the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet, who has served in that position for something like 10 years. He was appointed by the Richard Court-led government at the time and, as far as I am aware, has never had any allegation of impropriety made against him.
Mr T. Buswell : Ron Mance went to Tim Marney - this was in his answer to questions in estimates, Premier - and asked to leave. Tim Marney said, “No, you have to stay to clean up the mess.” Ron Mance then went behind Tim Marney’s back to your director general, who approved the payout. Mr E.S. Ripper : What Mr Marney said was that he was reluctant to entertain his desire to leave; that’s what he said. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Without having the transcript of the estimates hearing, I would be reluctant to accept on face value the assertion that has been made. However, this is the question ultimately: did Ron Mance and the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet properly come to a view that a management-initiated retirement was acceptable? Yes, they did. That is the ultimate and, I think, proper authority that Mr Mance would have been dealing with; that is, the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet. It sounds to me as though the matter was dealt with properly, as it should have been. Quite honestly, it is a bit rich for the Deputy Leader of the Opposition, who is sitting next to the Leader of the Opposition, one day after we have had the revelation of what happened in the Leader of the Opposition’s office, to be asking questions about proper process when the Leader of the Opposition has admitted by his own words and actions that a gross breach of proper process happened in his very own office. Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : And I did. The SPEAKER : I call the Leader of the Opposition and the member for Roe to order. Mr P.D. Omodei : It’s a bit rich. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : A bit rich? Hypocritical might be another way of describing the assertion. It is quite remarkable in its arrogance, given what has happened in the Leader of the Opposition’s office in the past few days and the explanation, if we could call it that, that the Leader of the Opposition gave today of the scenario that unfolded. What an explanation we heard; what an explanation! What sort of explanation was it that the Parliament was given when the Leader of the Opposition was provided with the opportunity? Mr P.D. Omodei : An honest one. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : An honest one? We have a question about propriety and probity from a man who sat in a car park of Parliament House with a person who was in part the subject of a Corruption and Crime Commission inquiry and discussed with that person in the car park the evidence that he would give about that person’s meetings before he went to the CCC - on his own admission. He should not be sitting in the seat that he is in now. On the other hand, what the Deputy Leader of the Opposition has done now is call into question the integrity of the head of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet and Mr Mance. Mr T. Buswell : That’s right. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : That is right. He is calling into question the integrity of the chief executive officer of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet - that is, the director general - and of Ron Mance. That is what the Deputy Leader of the Opposition is doing - a person who has admitted and demonstrated by his very actions that he has absolutely no idea of what political integrity requires. That he should sit in the car park of Parliament House and have a clandestine meeting with a subject of a CCC investigation before he went to that inquiry to give evidence about that very person is unbelievable. On the very day that we heard a highly implausible explanation of what has happened in the Leader of the Opposition’s office over the past few days, the Deputy Leader of the Opposition has come into the chamber and raised a question about the integrity of the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet, who has served in that position for something like 10 years. He was appointed by the Richard Court-led government at the time and, as far as I am aware, has never had any allegation of impropriety made against him.
Mr E.S. Ripper : What Mr Marney said was that he was reluctant to entertain his desire to leave; that’s what he said. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Without having the transcript of the estimates hearing, I would be reluctant to accept on face value the assertion that has been made. However, this is the question ultimately: did Ron Mance and the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet properly come to a view that a management-initiated retirement was acceptable? Yes, they did. That is the ultimate and, I think, proper authority that Mr Mance would have been dealing with; that is, the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet. It sounds to me as though the matter was dealt with properly, as it should have been. Quite honestly, it is a bit rich for the Deputy Leader of the Opposition, who is sitting next to the Leader of the Opposition, one day after we have had the revelation of what happened in the Leader of the Opposition’s office, to be asking questions about proper process when the Leader of the Opposition has admitted by his own words and actions that a gross breach of proper process happened in his very own office. Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : And I did. The SPEAKER : I call the Leader of the Opposition and the member for Roe to order. Mr P.D. Omodei : It’s a bit rich. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : A bit rich? Hypocritical might be another way of describing the assertion. It is quite remarkable in its arrogance, given what has happened in the Leader of the Opposition’s office in the past few days and the explanation, if we could call it that, that the Leader of the Opposition gave today of the scenario that unfolded. What an explanation we heard; what an explanation! What sort of explanation was it that the Parliament was given when the Leader of the Opposition was provided with the opportunity? Mr P.D. Omodei : An honest one. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : An honest one? We have a question about propriety and probity from a man who sat in a car park of Parliament House with a person who was in part the subject of a Corruption and Crime Commission inquiry and discussed with that person in the car park the evidence that he would give about that person’s meetings before he went to the CCC - on his own admission. He should not be sitting in the seat that he is in now. On the other hand, what the Deputy Leader of the Opposition has done now is call into question the integrity of the head of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet and Mr Mance. Mr T. Buswell : That’s right. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : That is right. He is calling into question the integrity of the chief executive officer of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet - that is, the director general - and of Ron Mance. That is what the Deputy Leader of the Opposition is doing - a person who has admitted and demonstrated by his very actions that he has absolutely no idea of what political integrity requires. That he should sit in the car park of Parliament House and have a clandestine meeting with a subject of a CCC investigation before he went to that inquiry to give evidence about that very person is unbelievable. On the very day that we heard a highly implausible explanation of what has happened in the Leader of the Opposition’s office over the past few days, the Deputy Leader of the Opposition has come into the chamber and raised a question about the integrity of the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet, who has served in that position for something like 10 years. He was appointed by the Richard Court-led government at the time and, as far as I am aware, has never had any allegation of impropriety made against him.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Without having the transcript of the estimates hearing, I would be reluctant to accept on face value the assertion that has been made. However, this is the question ultimately: did Ron Mance and the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet properly come to a view that a management-initiated retirement was acceptable? Yes, they did. That is the ultimate and, I think, proper authority that Mr Mance would have been dealing with; that is, the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet. It sounds to me as though the matter was dealt with properly, as it should have been. Quite honestly, it is a bit rich for the Deputy Leader of the Opposition, who is sitting next to the Leader of the Opposition, one day after we have had the revelation of what happened in the Leader of the Opposition’s office, to be asking questions about proper process when the Leader of the Opposition has admitted by his own words and actions that a gross breach of proper process happened in his very own office. Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : And I did. The SPEAKER : I call the Leader of the Opposition and the member for Roe to order. Mr P.D. Omodei : It’s a bit rich. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : A bit rich? Hypocritical might be another way of describing the assertion. It is quite remarkable in its arrogance, given what has happened in the Leader of the Opposition’s office in the past few days and the explanation, if we could call it that, that the Leader of the Opposition gave today of the scenario that unfolded. What an explanation we heard; what an explanation! What sort of explanation was it that the Parliament was given when the Leader of the Opposition was provided with the opportunity? Mr P.D. Omodei : An honest one. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : An honest one? We have a question about propriety and probity from a man who sat in a car park of Parliament House with a person who was in part the subject of a Corruption and Crime Commission inquiry and discussed with that person in the car park the evidence that he would give about that person’s meetings before he went to the CCC - on his own admission. He should not be sitting in the seat that he is in now. On the other hand, what the Deputy Leader of the Opposition has done now is call into question the integrity of the head of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet and Mr Mance. Mr T. Buswell : That’s right. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : That is right. He is calling into question the integrity of the chief executive officer of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet - that is, the director general - and of Ron Mance. That is what the Deputy Leader of the Opposition is doing - a person who has admitted and demonstrated by his very actions that he has absolutely no idea of what political integrity requires. That he should sit in the car park of Parliament House and have a clandestine meeting with a subject of a CCC investigation before he went to that inquiry to give evidence about that very person is unbelievable. On the very day that we heard a highly implausible explanation of what has happened in the Leader of the Opposition’s office over the past few days, the Deputy Leader of the Opposition has come into the chamber and raised a question about the integrity of the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet, who has served in that position for something like 10 years. He was appointed by the Richard Court-led government at the time and, as far as I am aware, has never had any allegation of impropriety made against him.
Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : And I did. The SPEAKER : I call the Leader of the Opposition and the member for Roe to order. Mr P.D. Omodei : It’s a bit rich. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : A bit rich? Hypocritical might be another way of describing the assertion. It is quite remarkable in its arrogance, given what has happened in the Leader of the Opposition’s office in the past few days and the explanation, if we could call it that, that the Leader of the Opposition gave today of the scenario that unfolded. What an explanation we heard; what an explanation! What sort of explanation was it that the Parliament was given when the Leader of the Opposition was provided with the opportunity? Mr P.D. Omodei : An honest one. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : An honest one? We have a question about propriety and probity from a man who sat in a car park of Parliament House with a person who was in part the subject of a Corruption and Crime Commission inquiry and discussed with that person in the car park the evidence that he would give about that person’s meetings before he went to the CCC - on his own admission. He should not be sitting in the seat that he is in now. On the other hand, what the Deputy Leader of the Opposition has done now is call into question the integrity of the head of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet and Mr Mance. Mr T. Buswell : That’s right. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : That is right. He is calling into question the integrity of the chief executive officer of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet - that is, the director general - and of Ron Mance. That is what the Deputy Leader of the Opposition is doing - a person who has admitted and demonstrated by his very actions that he has absolutely no idea of what political integrity requires. That he should sit in the car park of Parliament House and have a clandestine meeting with a subject of a CCC investigation before he went to that inquiry to give evidence about that very person is unbelievable. On the very day that we heard a highly implausible explanation of what has happened in the Leader of the Opposition’s office over the past few days, the Deputy Leader of the Opposition has come into the chamber and raised a question about the integrity of the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet, who has served in that position for something like 10 years. He was appointed by the Richard Court-led government at the time and, as far as I am aware, has never had any allegation of impropriety made against him.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : And I did. The SPEAKER : I call the Leader of the Opposition and the member for Roe to order. Mr P.D. Omodei : It’s a bit rich. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : A bit rich? Hypocritical might be another way of describing the assertion. It is quite remarkable in its arrogance, given what has happened in the Leader of the Opposition’s office in the past few days and the explanation, if we could call it that, that the Leader of the Opposition gave today of the scenario that unfolded. What an explanation we heard; what an explanation! What sort of explanation was it that the Parliament was given when the Leader of the Opposition was provided with the opportunity? Mr P.D. Omodei : An honest one. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : An honest one? We have a question about propriety and probity from a man who sat in a car park of Parliament House with a person who was in part the subject of a Corruption and Crime Commission inquiry and discussed with that person in the car park the evidence that he would give about that person’s meetings before he went to the CCC - on his own admission. He should not be sitting in the seat that he is in now. On the other hand, what the Deputy Leader of the Opposition has done now is call into question the integrity of the head of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet and Mr Mance. Mr T. Buswell : That’s right. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : That is right. He is calling into question the integrity of the chief executive officer of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet - that is, the director general - and of Ron Mance. That is what the Deputy Leader of the Opposition is doing - a person who has admitted and demonstrated by his very actions that he has absolutely no idea of what political integrity requires. That he should sit in the car park of Parliament House and have a clandestine meeting with a subject of a CCC investigation before he went to that inquiry to give evidence about that very person is unbelievable. On the very day that we heard a highly implausible explanation of what has happened in the Leader of the Opposition’s office over the past few days, the Deputy Leader of the Opposition has come into the chamber and raised a question about the integrity of the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet, who has served in that position for something like 10 years. He was appointed by the Richard Court-led government at the time and, as far as I am aware, has never had any allegation of impropriety made against him.
The SPEAKER : I call the Leader of the Opposition and the member for Roe to order. Mr P.D. Omodei : It’s a bit rich. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : A bit rich? Hypocritical might be another way of describing the assertion. It is quite remarkable in its arrogance, given what has happened in the Leader of the Opposition’s office in the past few days and the explanation, if we could call it that, that the Leader of the Opposition gave today of the scenario that unfolded. What an explanation we heard; what an explanation! What sort of explanation was it that the Parliament was given when the Leader of the Opposition was provided with the opportunity? Mr P.D. Omodei : An honest one. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : An honest one? We have a question about propriety and probity from a man who sat in a car park of Parliament House with a person who was in part the subject of a Corruption and Crime Commission inquiry and discussed with that person in the car park the evidence that he would give about that person’s meetings before he went to the CCC - on his own admission. He should not be sitting in the seat that he is in now. On the other hand, what the Deputy Leader of the Opposition has done now is call into question the integrity of the head of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet and Mr Mance. Mr T. Buswell : That’s right. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : That is right. He is calling into question the integrity of the chief executive officer of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet - that is, the director general - and of Ron Mance. That is what the Deputy Leader of the Opposition is doing - a person who has admitted and demonstrated by his very actions that he has absolutely no idea of what political integrity requires. That he should sit in the car park of Parliament House and have a clandestine meeting with a subject of a CCC investigation before he went to that inquiry to give evidence about that very person is unbelievable. On the very day that we heard a highly implausible explanation of what has happened in the Leader of the Opposition’s office over the past few days, the Deputy Leader of the Opposition has come into the chamber and raised a question about the integrity of the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet, who has served in that position for something like 10 years. He was appointed by the Richard Court-led government at the time and, as far as I am aware, has never had any allegation of impropriety made against him.
Mr P.D. Omodei : It’s a bit rich. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : A bit rich? Hypocritical might be another way of describing the assertion. It is quite remarkable in its arrogance, given what has happened in the Leader of the Opposition’s office in the past few days and the explanation, if we could call it that, that the Leader of the Opposition gave today of the scenario that unfolded. What an explanation we heard; what an explanation! What sort of explanation was it that the Parliament was given when the Leader of the Opposition was provided with the opportunity? Mr P.D. Omodei : An honest one. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : An honest one? We have a question about propriety and probity from a man who sat in a car park of Parliament House with a person who was in part the subject of a Corruption and Crime Commission inquiry and discussed with that person in the car park the evidence that he would give about that person’s meetings before he went to the CCC - on his own admission. He should not be sitting in the seat that he is in now. On the other hand, what the Deputy Leader of the Opposition has done now is call into question the integrity of the head of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet and Mr Mance. Mr T. Buswell : That’s right. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : That is right. He is calling into question the integrity of the chief executive officer of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet - that is, the director general - and of Ron Mance. That is what the Deputy Leader of the Opposition is doing - a person who has admitted and demonstrated by his very actions that he has absolutely no idea of what political integrity requires. That he should sit in the car park of Parliament House and have a clandestine meeting with a subject of a CCC investigation before he went to that inquiry to give evidence about that very person is unbelievable. On the very day that we heard a highly implausible explanation of what has happened in the Leader of the Opposition’s office over the past few days, the Deputy Leader of the Opposition has come into the chamber and raised a question about the integrity of the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet, who has served in that position for something like 10 years. He was appointed by the Richard Court-led government at the time and, as far as I am aware, has never had any allegation of impropriety made against him.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : A bit rich? Hypocritical might be another way of describing the assertion. It is quite remarkable in its arrogance, given what has happened in the Leader of the Opposition’s office in the past few days and the explanation, if we could call it that, that the Leader of the Opposition gave today of the scenario that unfolded. What an explanation we heard; what an explanation! What sort of explanation was it that the Parliament was given when the Leader of the Opposition was provided with the opportunity? Mr P.D. Omodei : An honest one. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : An honest one? We have a question about propriety and probity from a man who sat in a car park of Parliament House with a person who was in part the subject of a Corruption and Crime Commission inquiry and discussed with that person in the car park the evidence that he would give about that person’s meetings before he went to the CCC - on his own admission. He should not be sitting in the seat that he is in now. On the other hand, what the Deputy Leader of the Opposition has done now is call into question the integrity of the head of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet and Mr Mance. Mr T. Buswell : That’s right. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : That is right. He is calling into question the integrity of the chief executive officer of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet - that is, the director general - and of Ron Mance. That is what the Deputy Leader of the Opposition is doing - a person who has admitted and demonstrated by his very actions that he has absolutely no idea of what political integrity requires. That he should sit in the car park of Parliament House and have a clandestine meeting with a subject of a CCC investigation before he went to that inquiry to give evidence about that very person is unbelievable. On the very day that we heard a highly implausible explanation of what has happened in the Leader of the Opposition’s office over the past few days, the Deputy Leader of the Opposition has come into the chamber and raised a question about the integrity of the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet, who has served in that position for something like 10 years. He was appointed by the Richard Court-led government at the time and, as far as I am aware, has never had any allegation of impropriety made against him.
Mr P.D. Omodei : An honest one. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : An honest one? We have a question about propriety and probity from a man who sat in a car park of Parliament House with a person who was in part the subject of a Corruption and Crime Commission inquiry and discussed with that person in the car park the evidence that he would give about that person’s meetings before he went to the CCC - on his own admission. He should not be sitting in the seat that he is in now. On the other hand, what the Deputy Leader of the Opposition has done now is call into question the integrity of the head of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet and Mr Mance. Mr T. Buswell : That’s right. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : That is right. He is calling into question the integrity of the chief executive officer of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet - that is, the director general - and of Ron Mance. That is what the Deputy Leader of the Opposition is doing - a person who has admitted and demonstrated by his very actions that he has absolutely no idea of what political integrity requires. That he should sit in the car park of Parliament House and have a clandestine meeting with a subject of a CCC investigation before he went to that inquiry to give evidence about that very person is unbelievable. On the very day that we heard a highly implausible explanation of what has happened in the Leader of the Opposition’s office over the past few days, the Deputy Leader of the Opposition has come into the chamber and raised a question about the integrity of the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet, who has served in that position for something like 10 years. He was appointed by the Richard Court-led government at the time and, as far as I am aware, has never had any allegation of impropriety made against him.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : An honest one? We have a question about propriety and probity from a man who sat in a car park of Parliament House with a person who was in part the subject of a Corruption and Crime Commission inquiry and discussed with that person in the car park the evidence that he would give about that person’s meetings before he went to the CCC - on his own admission. He should not be sitting in the seat that he is in now. On the other hand, what the Deputy Leader of the Opposition has done now is call into question the integrity of the head of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet and Mr Mance. Mr T. Buswell : That’s right. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : That is right. He is calling into question the integrity of the chief executive officer of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet - that is, the director general - and of Ron Mance. That is what the Deputy Leader of the Opposition is doing - a person who has admitted and demonstrated by his very actions that he has absolutely no idea of what political integrity requires. That he should sit in the car park of Parliament House and have a clandestine meeting with a subject of a CCC investigation before he went to that inquiry to give evidence about that very person is unbelievable. On the very day that we heard a highly implausible explanation of what has happened in the Leader of the Opposition’s office over the past few days, the Deputy Leader of the Opposition has come into the chamber and raised a question about the integrity of the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet, who has served in that position for something like 10 years. He was appointed by the Richard Court-led government at the time and, as far as I am aware, has never had any allegation of impropriety made against him.
Mr T. Buswell : That’s right. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : That is right. He is calling into question the integrity of the chief executive officer of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet - that is, the director general - and of Ron Mance. That is what the Deputy Leader of the Opposition is doing - a person who has admitted and demonstrated by his very actions that he has absolutely no idea of what political integrity requires. That he should sit in the car park of Parliament House and have a clandestine meeting with a subject of a CCC investigation before he went to that inquiry to give evidence about that very person is unbelievable. On the very day that we heard a highly implausible explanation of what has happened in the Leader of the Opposition’s office over the past few days, the Deputy Leader of the Opposition has come into the chamber and raised a question about the integrity of the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet, who has served in that position for something like 10 years. He was appointed by the Richard Court-led government at the time and, as far as I am aware, has never had any allegation of impropriety made against him.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : That is right. He is calling into question the integrity of the chief executive officer of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet - that is, the director general - and of Ron Mance. That is what the Deputy Leader of the Opposition is doing - a person who has admitted and demonstrated by his very actions that he has absolutely no idea of what political integrity requires. That he should sit in the car park of Parliament House and have a clandestine meeting with a subject of a CCC investigation before he went to that inquiry to give evidence about that very person is unbelievable. On the very day that we heard a highly implausible explanation of what has happened in the Leader of the Opposition’s office over the past few days, the Deputy Leader of the Opposition has come into the chamber and raised a question about the integrity of the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet, who has served in that position for something like 10 years. He was appointed by the Richard Court-led government at the time and, as far as I am aware, has never had any allegation of impropriety made against him.
(1) Given that the Auditor General has delivered a damning indictment of the management and oversight of this project, how can the Premier justify the head of his department overruling the Under Treasurer to provide this payout to Mr Mance? (2) If Mr Mance wanted to leave the public service of his own volition, why was he given a payout? Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: (1)-(2) I think I heard the introductory part of that question correctly, when the Deputy Leader of the Opposition stated that Ron Mance - Mr T. Buswell : Ron Mance went to Tim Marney - this was in his answer to questions in estimates, Premier - and asked to leave. Tim Marney said, “No, you have to stay to clean up the mess.” Ron Mance then went behind Tim Marney’s back to your director general, who approved the payout. Mr E.S. Ripper : What Mr Marney said was that he was reluctant to entertain his desire to leave; that’s what he said. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Without having the transcript of the estimates hearing, I would be reluctant to accept on face value the assertion that has been made. However, this is the question ultimately: did Ron Mance and the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet properly come to a view that a management-initiated retirement was acceptable? Yes, they did. That is the ultimate and, I think, proper authority that Mr Mance would have been dealing with; that is, the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet. It sounds to me as though the matter was dealt with properly, as it should have been. Quite honestly, it is a bit rich for the Deputy Leader of the Opposition, who is sitting next to the Leader of the Opposition, one day after we have had the revelation of what happened in the Leader of the Opposition’s office, to be asking questions about proper process when the Leader of the Opposition has admitted by his own words and actions that a gross breach of proper process happened in his very own office. Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : And I did. The SPEAKER : I call the Leader of the Opposition and the member for Roe to order. Mr P.D. Omodei : It’s a bit rich. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : A bit rich? Hypocritical might be another way of describing the assertion. It is quite remarkable in its arrogance, given what has happened in the Leader of the Opposition’s office in the past few days and the explanation, if we could call it that, that the Leader of the Opposition gave today of the scenario that unfolded. What an explanation we heard; what an explanation! What sort of explanation was it that the Parliament was given when the Leader of the Opposition was provided with the opportunity? Mr P.D. Omodei : An honest one. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : An honest one? We have a question about propriety and probity from a man who sat in a car park of Parliament House with a person who was in part the subject of a Corruption and Crime Commission inquiry and discussed with that person in the car park the evidence that he would give about that person’s meetings before he went to the CCC - on his own admission. He should not be sitting in the seat that he is in now. On the other hand, what the Deputy Leader of the Opposition has done now is call into question the integrity of the head of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet and Mr Mance. Mr T. Buswell : That’s right. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : That is right. He is calling into question the integrity of the chief executive officer of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet - that is, the director general - and of Ron Mance. That is what the Deputy Leader of the Opposition is doing - a person who has admitted and demonstrated by his very actions that he has absolutely no idea of what political integrity requires. That he should sit in the car park of Parliament House and have a clandestine meeting with a subject of a CCC investigation before he went to that inquiry to give evidence about that very person is unbelievable. On the very day that we heard a highly implausible explanation of what has happened in the Leader of the Opposition’s office over the past few days, the Deputy Leader of the Opposition has come into the chamber and raised a question about the integrity of the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet, who has served in that position for something like 10 years. He was appointed by the Richard Court-led government at the time and, as far as I am aware, has never had any allegation of impropriety made against him.
(2) If Mr Mance wanted to leave the public service of his own volition, why was he given a payout? Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: (1)-(2) I think I heard the introductory part of that question correctly, when the Deputy Leader of the Opposition stated that Ron Mance - Mr T. Buswell : Ron Mance went to Tim Marney - this was in his answer to questions in estimates, Premier - and asked to leave. Tim Marney said, “No, you have to stay to clean up the mess.” Ron Mance then went behind Tim Marney’s back to your director general, who approved the payout. Mr E.S. Ripper : What Mr Marney said was that he was reluctant to entertain his desire to leave; that’s what he said. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Without having the transcript of the estimates hearing, I would be reluctant to accept on face value the assertion that has been made. However, this is the question ultimately: did Ron Mance and the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet properly come to a view that a management-initiated retirement was acceptable? Yes, they did. That is the ultimate and, I think, proper authority that Mr Mance would have been dealing with; that is, the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet. It sounds to me as though the matter was dealt with properly, as it should have been. Quite honestly, it is a bit rich for the Deputy Leader of the Opposition, who is sitting next to the Leader of the Opposition, one day after we have had the revelation of what happened in the Leader of the Opposition’s office, to be asking questions about proper process when the Leader of the Opposition has admitted by his own words and actions that a gross breach of proper process happened in his very own office. Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : And I did. The SPEAKER : I call the Leader of the Opposition and the member for Roe to order. Mr P.D. Omodei : It’s a bit rich. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : A bit rich? Hypocritical might be another way of describing the assertion. It is quite remarkable in its arrogance, given what has happened in the Leader of the Opposition’s office in the past few days and the explanation, if we could call it that, that the Leader of the Opposition gave today of the scenario that unfolded. What an explanation we heard; what an explanation! What sort of explanation was it that the Parliament was given when the Leader of the Opposition was provided with the opportunity? Mr P.D. Omodei : An honest one. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : An honest one? We have a question about propriety and probity from a man who sat in a car park of Parliament House with a person who was in part the subject of a Corruption and Crime Commission inquiry and discussed with that person in the car park the evidence that he would give about that person’s meetings before he went to the CCC - on his own admission. He should not be sitting in the seat that he is in now. On the other hand, what the Deputy Leader of the Opposition has done now is call into question the integrity of the head of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet and Mr Mance. Mr T. Buswell : That’s right. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : That is right. He is calling into question the integrity of the chief executive officer of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet - that is, the director general - and of Ron Mance. That is what the Deputy Leader of the Opposition is doing - a person who has admitted and demonstrated by his very actions that he has absolutely no idea of what political integrity requires. That he should sit in the car park of Parliament House and have a clandestine meeting with a subject of a CCC investigation before he went to that inquiry to give evidence about that very person is unbelievable. On the very day that we heard a highly implausible explanation of what has happened in the Leader of the Opposition’s office over the past few days, the Deputy Leader of the Opposition has come into the chamber and raised a question about the integrity of the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet, who has served in that position for something like 10 years. He was appointed by the Richard Court-led government at the time and, as far as I am aware, has never had any allegation of impropriety made against him.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: (1)-(2) I think I heard the introductory part of that question correctly, when the Deputy Leader of the Opposition stated that Ron Mance - Mr T. Buswell : Ron Mance went to Tim Marney - this was in his answer to questions in estimates, Premier - and asked to leave. Tim Marney said, “No, you have to stay to clean up the mess.” Ron Mance then went behind Tim Marney’s back to your director general, who approved the payout. Mr E.S. Ripper : What Mr Marney said was that he was reluctant to entertain his desire to leave; that’s what he said. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Without having the transcript of the estimates hearing, I would be reluctant to accept on face value the assertion that has been made. However, this is the question ultimately: did Ron Mance and the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet properly come to a view that a management-initiated retirement was acceptable? Yes, they did. That is the ultimate and, I think, proper authority that Mr Mance would have been dealing with; that is, the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet. It sounds to me as though the matter was dealt with properly, as it should have been. Quite honestly, it is a bit rich for the Deputy Leader of the Opposition, who is sitting next to the Leader of the Opposition, one day after we have had the revelation of what happened in the Leader of the Opposition’s office, to be asking questions about proper process when the Leader of the Opposition has admitted by his own words and actions that a gross breach of proper process happened in his very own office. Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : And I did. The SPEAKER : I call the Leader of the Opposition and the member for Roe to order. Mr P.D. Omodei : It’s a bit rich. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : A bit rich? Hypocritical might be another way of describing the assertion. It is quite remarkable in its arrogance, given what has happened in the Leader of the Opposition’s office in the past few days and the explanation, if we could call it that, that the Leader of the Opposition gave today of the scenario that unfolded. What an explanation we heard; what an explanation! What sort of explanation was it that the Parliament was given when the Leader of the Opposition was provided with the opportunity? Mr P.D. Omodei : An honest one. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : An honest one? We have a question about propriety and probity from a man who sat in a car park of Parliament House with a person who was in part the subject of a Corruption and Crime Commission inquiry and discussed with that person in the car park the evidence that he would give about that person’s meetings before he went to the CCC - on his own admission. He should not be sitting in the seat that he is in now. On the other hand, what the Deputy Leader of the Opposition has done now is call into question the integrity of the head of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet and Mr Mance. Mr T. Buswell : That’s right. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : That is right. He is calling into question the integrity of the chief executive officer of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet - that is, the director general - and of Ron Mance. That is what the Deputy Leader of the Opposition is doing - a person who has admitted and demonstrated by his very actions that he has absolutely no idea of what political integrity requires. That he should sit in the car park of Parliament House and have a clandestine meeting with a subject of a CCC investigation before he went to that inquiry to give evidence about that very person is unbelievable. On the very day that we heard a highly implausible explanation of what has happened in the Leader of the Opposition’s office over the past few days, the Deputy Leader of the Opposition has come into the chamber and raised a question about the integrity of the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet, who has served in that position for something like 10 years. He was appointed by the Richard Court-led government at the time and, as far as I am aware, has never had any allegation of impropriety made against him.
(1)-(2) I think I heard the introductory part of that question correctly, when the Deputy Leader of the Opposition stated that Ron Mance - Mr T. Buswell : Ron Mance went to Tim Marney - this was in his answer to questions in estimates, Premier - and asked to leave. Tim Marney said, “No, you have to stay to clean up the mess.” Ron Mance then went behind Tim Marney’s back to your director general, who approved the payout. Mr E.S. Ripper : What Mr Marney said was that he was reluctant to entertain his desire to leave; that’s what he said. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Without having the transcript of the estimates hearing, I would be reluctant to accept on face value the assertion that has been made. However, this is the question ultimately: did Ron Mance and the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet properly come to a view that a management-initiated retirement was acceptable? Yes, they did. That is the ultimate and, I think, proper authority that Mr Mance would have been dealing with; that is, the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet. It sounds to me as though the matter was dealt with properly, as it should have been. Quite honestly, it is a bit rich for the Deputy Leader of the Opposition, who is sitting next to the Leader of the Opposition, one day after we have had the revelation of what happened in the Leader of the Opposition’s office, to be asking questions about proper process when the Leader of the Opposition has admitted by his own words and actions that a gross breach of proper process happened in his very own office. Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : And I did. The SPEAKER : I call the Leader of the Opposition and the member for Roe to order. Mr P.D. Omodei : It’s a bit rich. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : A bit rich? Hypocritical might be another way of describing the assertion. It is quite remarkable in its arrogance, given what has happened in the Leader of the Opposition’s office in the past few days and the explanation, if we could call it that, that the Leader of the Opposition gave today of the scenario that unfolded. What an explanation we heard; what an explanation! What sort of explanation was it that the Parliament was given when the Leader of the Opposition was provided with the opportunity? Mr P.D. Omodei : An honest one. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : An honest one? We have a question about propriety and probity from a man who sat in a car park of Parliament House with a person who was in part the subject of a Corruption and Crime Commission inquiry and discussed with that person in the car park the evidence that he would give about that person’s meetings before he went to the CCC - on his own admission. He should not be sitting in the seat that he is in now. On the other hand, what the Deputy Leader of the Opposition has done now is call into question the integrity of the head of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet and Mr Mance. Mr T. Buswell : That’s right. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : That is right. He is calling into question the integrity of the chief executive officer of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet - that is, the director general - and of Ron Mance. That is what the Deputy Leader of the Opposition is doing - a person who has admitted and demonstrated by his very actions that he has absolutely no idea of what political integrity requires. That he should sit in the car park of Parliament House and have a clandestine meeting with a subject of a CCC investigation before he went to that inquiry to give evidence about that very person is unbelievable. On the very day that we heard a highly implausible explanation of what has happened in the Leader of the Opposition’s office over the past few days, the Deputy Leader of the Opposition has come into the chamber and raised a question about the integrity of the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet, who has served in that position for something like 10 years. He was appointed by the Richard Court-led government at the time and, as far as I am aware, has never had any allegation of impropriety made against him.
Mr T. Buswell : Ron Mance went to Tim Marney - this was in his answer to questions in estimates, Premier - and asked to leave. Tim Marney said, “No, you have to stay to clean up the mess.” Ron Mance then went behind Tim Marney’s back to your director general, who approved the payout. Mr E.S. Ripper : What Mr Marney said was that he was reluctant to entertain his desire to leave; that’s what he said. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Without having the transcript of the estimates hearing, I would be reluctant to accept on face value the assertion that has been made. However, this is the question ultimately: did Ron Mance and the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet properly come to a view that a management-initiated retirement was acceptable? Yes, they did. That is the ultimate and, I think, proper authority that Mr Mance would have been dealing with; that is, the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet. It sounds to me as though the matter was dealt with properly, as it should have been. Quite honestly, it is a bit rich for the Deputy Leader of the Opposition, who is sitting next to the Leader of the Opposition, one day after we have had the revelation of what happened in the Leader of the Opposition’s office, to be asking questions about proper process when the Leader of the Opposition has admitted by his own words and actions that a gross breach of proper process happened in his very own office. Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : And I did. The SPEAKER : I call the Leader of the Opposition and the member for Roe to order. Mr P.D. Omodei : It’s a bit rich. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : A bit rich? Hypocritical might be another way of describing the assertion. It is quite remarkable in its arrogance, given what has happened in the Leader of the Opposition’s office in the past few days and the explanation, if we could call it that, that the Leader of the Opposition gave today of the scenario that unfolded. What an explanation we heard; what an explanation! What sort of explanation was it that the Parliament was given when the Leader of the Opposition was provided with the opportunity? Mr P.D. Omodei : An honest one. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : An honest one? We have a question about propriety and probity from a man who sat in a car park of Parliament House with a person who was in part the subject of a Corruption and Crime Commission inquiry and discussed with that person in the car park the evidence that he would give about that person’s meetings before he went to the CCC - on his own admission. He should not be sitting in the seat that he is in now. On the other hand, what the Deputy Leader of the Opposition has done now is call into question the integrity of the head of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet and Mr Mance. Mr T. Buswell : That’s right. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : That is right. He is calling into question the integrity of the chief executive officer of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet - that is, the director general - and of Ron Mance. That is what the Deputy Leader of the Opposition is doing - a person who has admitted and demonstrated by his very actions that he has absolutely no idea of what political integrity requires. That he should sit in the car park of Parliament House and have a clandestine meeting with a subject of a CCC investigation before he went to that inquiry to give evidence about that very person is unbelievable. On the very day that we heard a highly implausible explanation of what has happened in the Leader of the Opposition’s office over the past few days, the Deputy Leader of the Opposition has come into the chamber and raised a question about the integrity of the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet, who has served in that position for something like 10 years. He was appointed by the Richard Court-led government at the time and, as far as I am aware, has never had any allegation of impropriety made against him.
Mr E.S. Ripper : What Mr Marney said was that he was reluctant to entertain his desire to leave; that’s what he said. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Without having the transcript of the estimates hearing, I would be reluctant to accept on face value the assertion that has been made. However, this is the question ultimately: did Ron Mance and the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet properly come to a view that a management-initiated retirement was acceptable? Yes, they did. That is the ultimate and, I think, proper authority that Mr Mance would have been dealing with; that is, the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet. It sounds to me as though the matter was dealt with properly, as it should have been. Quite honestly, it is a bit rich for the Deputy Leader of the Opposition, who is sitting next to the Leader of the Opposition, one day after we have had the revelation of what happened in the Leader of the Opposition’s office, to be asking questions about proper process when the Leader of the Opposition has admitted by his own words and actions that a gross breach of proper process happened in his very own office. Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : And I did. The SPEAKER : I call the Leader of the Opposition and the member for Roe to order. Mr P.D. Omodei : It’s a bit rich. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : A bit rich? Hypocritical might be another way of describing the assertion. It is quite remarkable in its arrogance, given what has happened in the Leader of the Opposition’s office in the past few days and the explanation, if we could call it that, that the Leader of the Opposition gave today of the scenario that unfolded. What an explanation we heard; what an explanation! What sort of explanation was it that the Parliament was given when the Leader of the Opposition was provided with the opportunity? Mr P.D. Omodei : An honest one. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : An honest one? We have a question about propriety and probity from a man who sat in a car park of Parliament House with a person who was in part the subject of a Corruption and Crime Commission inquiry and discussed with that person in the car park the evidence that he would give about that person’s meetings before he went to the CCC - on his own admission. He should not be sitting in the seat that he is in now. On the other hand, what the Deputy Leader of the Opposition has done now is call into question the integrity of the head of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet and Mr Mance. Mr T. Buswell : That’s right. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : That is right. He is calling into question the integrity of the chief executive officer of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet - that is, the director general - and of Ron Mance. That is what the Deputy Leader of the Opposition is doing - a person who has admitted and demonstrated by his very actions that he has absolutely no idea of what political integrity requires. That he should sit in the car park of Parliament House and have a clandestine meeting with a subject of a CCC investigation before he went to that inquiry to give evidence about that very person is unbelievable. On the very day that we heard a highly implausible explanation of what has happened in the Leader of the Opposition’s office over the past few days, the Deputy Leader of the Opposition has come into the chamber and raised a question about the integrity of the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet, who has served in that position for something like 10 years. He was appointed by the Richard Court-led government at the time and, as far as I am aware, has never had any allegation of impropriety made against him.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Without having the transcript of the estimates hearing, I would be reluctant to accept on face value the assertion that has been made. However, this is the question ultimately: did Ron Mance and the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet properly come to a view that a management-initiated retirement was acceptable? Yes, they did. That is the ultimate and, I think, proper authority that Mr Mance would have been dealing with; that is, the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet. It sounds to me as though the matter was dealt with properly, as it should have been. Quite honestly, it is a bit rich for the Deputy Leader of the Opposition, who is sitting next to the Leader of the Opposition, one day after we have had the revelation of what happened in the Leader of the Opposition’s office, to be asking questions about proper process when the Leader of the Opposition has admitted by his own words and actions that a gross breach of proper process happened in his very own office. Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : And I did. The SPEAKER : I call the Leader of the Opposition and the member for Roe to order. Mr P.D. Omodei : It’s a bit rich. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : A bit rich? Hypocritical might be another way of describing the assertion. It is quite remarkable in its arrogance, given what has happened in the Leader of the Opposition’s office in the past few days and the explanation, if we could call it that, that the Leader of the Opposition gave today of the scenario that unfolded. What an explanation we heard; what an explanation! What sort of explanation was it that the Parliament was given when the Leader of the Opposition was provided with the opportunity? Mr P.D. Omodei : An honest one. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : An honest one? We have a question about propriety and probity from a man who sat in a car park of Parliament House with a person who was in part the subject of a Corruption and Crime Commission inquiry and discussed with that person in the car park the evidence that he would give about that person’s meetings before he went to the CCC - on his own admission. He should not be sitting in the seat that he is in now. On the other hand, what the Deputy Leader of the Opposition has done now is call into question the integrity of the head of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet and Mr Mance. Mr T. Buswell : That’s right. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : That is right. He is calling into question the integrity of the chief executive officer of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet - that is, the director general - and of Ron Mance. That is what the Deputy Leader of the Opposition is doing - a person who has admitted and demonstrated by his very actions that he has absolutely no idea of what political integrity requires. That he should sit in the car park of Parliament House and have a clandestine meeting with a subject of a CCC investigation before he went to that inquiry to give evidence about that very person is unbelievable. On the very day that we heard a highly implausible explanation of what has happened in the Leader of the Opposition’s office over the past few days, the Deputy Leader of the Opposition has come into the chamber and raised a question about the integrity of the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet, who has served in that position for something like 10 years. He was appointed by the Richard Court-led government at the time and, as far as I am aware, has never had any allegation of impropriety made against him.
Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : And I did. The SPEAKER : I call the Leader of the Opposition and the member for Roe to order. Mr P.D. Omodei : It’s a bit rich. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : A bit rich? Hypocritical might be another way of describing the assertion. It is quite remarkable in its arrogance, given what has happened in the Leader of the Opposition’s office in the past few days and the explanation, if we could call it that, that the Leader of the Opposition gave today of the scenario that unfolded. What an explanation we heard; what an explanation! What sort of explanation was it that the Parliament was given when the Leader of the Opposition was provided with the opportunity? Mr P.D. Omodei : An honest one. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : An honest one? We have a question about propriety and probity from a man who sat in a car park of Parliament House with a person who was in part the subject of a Corruption and Crime Commission inquiry and discussed with that person in the car park the evidence that he would give about that person’s meetings before he went to the CCC - on his own admission. He should not be sitting in the seat that he is in now. On the other hand, what the Deputy Leader of the Opposition has done now is call into question the integrity of the head of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet and Mr Mance. Mr T. Buswell : That’s right. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : That is right. He is calling into question the integrity of the chief executive officer of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet - that is, the director general - and of Ron Mance. That is what the Deputy Leader of the Opposition is doing - a person who has admitted and demonstrated by his very actions that he has absolutely no idea of what political integrity requires. That he should sit in the car park of Parliament House and have a clandestine meeting with a subject of a CCC investigation before he went to that inquiry to give evidence about that very person is unbelievable. On the very day that we heard a highly implausible explanation of what has happened in the Leader of the Opposition’s office over the past few days, the Deputy Leader of the Opposition has come into the chamber and raised a question about the integrity of the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet, who has served in that position for something like 10 years. He was appointed by the Richard Court-led government at the time and, as far as I am aware, has never had any allegation of impropriety made against him.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : And I did. The SPEAKER : I call the Leader of the Opposition and the member for Roe to order. Mr P.D. Omodei : It’s a bit rich. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : A bit rich? Hypocritical might be another way of describing the assertion. It is quite remarkable in its arrogance, given what has happened in the Leader of the Opposition’s office in the past few days and the explanation, if we could call it that, that the Leader of the Opposition gave today of the scenario that unfolded. What an explanation we heard; what an explanation! What sort of explanation was it that the Parliament was given when the Leader of the Opposition was provided with the opportunity? Mr P.D. Omodei : An honest one. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : An honest one? We have a question about propriety and probity from a man who sat in a car park of Parliament House with a person who was in part the subject of a Corruption and Crime Commission inquiry and discussed with that person in the car park the evidence that he would give about that person’s meetings before he went to the CCC - on his own admission. He should not be sitting in the seat that he is in now. On the other hand, what the Deputy Leader of the Opposition has done now is call into question the integrity of the head of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet and Mr Mance. Mr T. Buswell : That’s right. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : That is right. He is calling into question the integrity of the chief executive officer of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet - that is, the director general - and of Ron Mance. That is what the Deputy Leader of the Opposition is doing - a person who has admitted and demonstrated by his very actions that he has absolutely no idea of what political integrity requires. That he should sit in the car park of Parliament House and have a clandestine meeting with a subject of a CCC investigation before he went to that inquiry to give evidence about that very person is unbelievable. On the very day that we heard a highly implausible explanation of what has happened in the Leader of the Opposition’s office over the past few days, the Deputy Leader of the Opposition has come into the chamber and raised a question about the integrity of the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet, who has served in that position for something like 10 years. He was appointed by the Richard Court-led government at the time and, as far as I am aware, has never had any allegation of impropriety made against him.
The SPEAKER : I call the Leader of the Opposition and the member for Roe to order. Mr P.D. Omodei : It’s a bit rich. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : A bit rich? Hypocritical might be another way of describing the assertion. It is quite remarkable in its arrogance, given what has happened in the Leader of the Opposition’s office in the past few days and the explanation, if we could call it that, that the Leader of the Opposition gave today of the scenario that unfolded. What an explanation we heard; what an explanation! What sort of explanation was it that the Parliament was given when the Leader of the Opposition was provided with the opportunity? Mr P.D. Omodei : An honest one. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : An honest one? We have a question about propriety and probity from a man who sat in a car park of Parliament House with a person who was in part the subject of a Corruption and Crime Commission inquiry and discussed with that person in the car park the evidence that he would give about that person’s meetings before he went to the CCC - on his own admission. He should not be sitting in the seat that he is in now. On the other hand, what the Deputy Leader of the Opposition has done now is call into question the integrity of the head of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet and Mr Mance. Mr T. Buswell : That’s right. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : That is right. He is calling into question the integrity of the chief executive officer of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet - that is, the director general - and of Ron Mance. That is what the Deputy Leader of the Opposition is doing - a person who has admitted and demonstrated by his very actions that he has absolutely no idea of what political integrity requires. That he should sit in the car park of Parliament House and have a clandestine meeting with a subject of a CCC investigation before he went to that inquiry to give evidence about that very person is unbelievable. On the very day that we heard a highly implausible explanation of what has happened in the Leader of the Opposition’s office over the past few days, the Deputy Leader of the Opposition has come into the chamber and raised a question about the integrity of the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet, who has served in that position for something like 10 years. He was appointed by the Richard Court-led government at the time and, as far as I am aware, has never had any allegation of impropriety made against him.
Mr P.D. Omodei : It’s a bit rich. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : A bit rich? Hypocritical might be another way of describing the assertion. It is quite remarkable in its arrogance, given what has happened in the Leader of the Opposition’s office in the past few days and the explanation, if we could call it that, that the Leader of the Opposition gave today of the scenario that unfolded. What an explanation we heard; what an explanation! What sort of explanation was it that the Parliament was given when the Leader of the Opposition was provided with the opportunity? Mr P.D. Omodei : An honest one. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : An honest one? We have a question about propriety and probity from a man who sat in a car park of Parliament House with a person who was in part the subject of a Corruption and Crime Commission inquiry and discussed with that person in the car park the evidence that he would give about that person’s meetings before he went to the CCC - on his own admission. He should not be sitting in the seat that he is in now. On the other hand, what the Deputy Leader of the Opposition has done now is call into question the integrity of the head of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet and Mr Mance. Mr T. Buswell : That’s right. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : That is right. He is calling into question the integrity of the chief executive officer of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet - that is, the director general - and of Ron Mance. That is what the Deputy Leader of the Opposition is doing - a person who has admitted and demonstrated by his very actions that he has absolutely no idea of what political integrity requires. That he should sit in the car park of Parliament House and have a clandestine meeting with a subject of a CCC investigation before he went to that inquiry to give evidence about that very person is unbelievable. On the very day that we heard a highly implausible explanation of what has happened in the Leader of the Opposition’s office over the past few days, the Deputy Leader of the Opposition has come into the chamber and raised a question about the integrity of the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet, who has served in that position for something like 10 years. He was appointed by the Richard Court-led government at the time and, as far as I am aware, has never had any allegation of impropriety made against him.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : A bit rich? Hypocritical might be another way of describing the assertion. It is quite remarkable in its arrogance, given what has happened in the Leader of the Opposition’s office in the past few days and the explanation, if we could call it that, that the Leader of the Opposition gave today of the scenario that unfolded. What an explanation we heard; what an explanation! What sort of explanation was it that the Parliament was given when the Leader of the Opposition was provided with the opportunity? Mr P.D. Omodei : An honest one. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : An honest one? We have a question about propriety and probity from a man who sat in a car park of Parliament House with a person who was in part the subject of a Corruption and Crime Commission inquiry and discussed with that person in the car park the evidence that he would give about that person’s meetings before he went to the CCC - on his own admission. He should not be sitting in the seat that he is in now. On the other hand, what the Deputy Leader of the Opposition has done now is call into question the integrity of the head of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet and Mr Mance. Mr T. Buswell : That’s right. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : That is right. He is calling into question the integrity of the chief executive officer of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet - that is, the director general - and of Ron Mance. That is what the Deputy Leader of the Opposition is doing - a person who has admitted and demonstrated by his very actions that he has absolutely no idea of what political integrity requires. That he should sit in the car park of Parliament House and have a clandestine meeting with a subject of a CCC investigation before he went to that inquiry to give evidence about that very person is unbelievable. On the very day that we heard a highly implausible explanation of what has happened in the Leader of the Opposition’s office over the past few days, the Deputy Leader of the Opposition has come into the chamber and raised a question about the integrity of the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet, who has served in that position for something like 10 years. He was appointed by the Richard Court-led government at the time and, as far as I am aware, has never had any allegation of impropriety made against him.
Mr P.D. Omodei : An honest one. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : An honest one? We have a question about propriety and probity from a man who sat in a car park of Parliament House with a person who was in part the subject of a Corruption and Crime Commission inquiry and discussed with that person in the car park the evidence that he would give about that person’s meetings before he went to the CCC - on his own admission. He should not be sitting in the seat that he is in now. On the other hand, what the Deputy Leader of the Opposition has done now is call into question the integrity of the head of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet and Mr Mance. Mr T. Buswell : That’s right. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : That is right. He is calling into question the integrity of the chief executive officer of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet - that is, the director general - and of Ron Mance. That is what the Deputy Leader of the Opposition is doing - a person who has admitted and demonstrated by his very actions that he has absolutely no idea of what political integrity requires. That he should sit in the car park of Parliament House and have a clandestine meeting with a subject of a CCC investigation before he went to that inquiry to give evidence about that very person is unbelievable. On the very day that we heard a highly implausible explanation of what has happened in the Leader of the Opposition’s office over the past few days, the Deputy Leader of the Opposition has come into the chamber and raised a question about the integrity of the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet, who has served in that position for something like 10 years. He was appointed by the Richard Court-led government at the time and, as far as I am aware, has never had any allegation of impropriety made against him.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : An honest one? We have a question about propriety and probity from a man who sat in a car park of Parliament House with a person who was in part the subject of a Corruption and Crime Commission inquiry and discussed with that person in the car park the evidence that he would give about that person’s meetings before he went to the CCC - on his own admission. He should not be sitting in the seat that he is in now. On the other hand, what the Deputy Leader of the Opposition has done now is call into question the integrity of the head of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet and Mr Mance. Mr T. Buswell : That’s right. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : That is right. He is calling into question the integrity of the chief executive officer of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet - that is, the director general - and of Ron Mance. That is what the Deputy Leader of the Opposition is doing - a person who has admitted and demonstrated by his very actions that he has absolutely no idea of what political integrity requires. That he should sit in the car park of Parliament House and have a clandestine meeting with a subject of a CCC investigation before he went to that inquiry to give evidence about that very person is unbelievable. On the very day that we heard a highly implausible explanation of what has happened in the Leader of the Opposition’s office over the past few days, the Deputy Leader of the Opposition has come into the chamber and raised a question about the integrity of the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet, who has served in that position for something like 10 years. He was appointed by the Richard Court-led government at the time and, as far as I am aware, has never had any allegation of impropriety made against him.
Mr T. Buswell : That’s right. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : That is right. He is calling into question the integrity of the chief executive officer of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet - that is, the director general - and of Ron Mance. That is what the Deputy Leader of the Opposition is doing - a person who has admitted and demonstrated by his very actions that he has absolutely no idea of what political integrity requires. That he should sit in the car park of Parliament House and have a clandestine meeting with a subject of a CCC investigation before he went to that inquiry to give evidence about that very person is unbelievable. On the very day that we heard a highly implausible explanation of what has happened in the Leader of the Opposition’s office over the past few days, the Deputy Leader of the Opposition has come into the chamber and raised a question about the integrity of the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet, who has served in that position for something like 10 years. He was appointed by the Richard Court-led government at the time and, as far as I am aware, has never had any allegation of impropriety made against him.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : That is right. He is calling into question the integrity of the chief executive officer of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet - that is, the director general - and of Ron Mance. That is what the Deputy Leader of the Opposition is doing - a person who has admitted and demonstrated by his very actions that he has absolutely no idea of what political integrity requires. That he should sit in the car park of Parliament House and have a clandestine meeting with a subject of a CCC investigation before he went to that inquiry to give evidence about that very person is unbelievable. On the very day that we heard a highly implausible explanation of what has happened in the Leader of the Opposition’s office over the past few days, the Deputy Leader of the Opposition has come into the chamber and raised a question about the integrity of the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet, who has served in that position for something like 10 years. He was appointed by the Richard Court-led government at the time and, as far as I am aware, has never had any allegation of impropriety made against him.
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.