❓ Hon. Norman Moore questions Hon. Tom Stephens regarding inconsistencies in his answers about the destination of a fax, leading to accusations of evasiveness and a refusal to disclose the recipient.
AnsweredQoN 260Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the question asked of the minister earlier today by Hon Peter Foss about the destination of the fax that he referred to yesterday. (1) Will the minister now give the answer to that question? (2) Could he reconcile the answer he gave yesterday about sending it to one point with the answer he gave in this House on 12 September this year, when he said that he had printed it onto ministerial letterhead and subsequently faxed it to a list that he had maintained of people and organisations with which he has had contact over the years since becoming a member of the Legislative Council? Hon TOM STEPHENS
AnswerView source ↗
(1)-(2) The effect of it is that, I have an arrangement with a destination, to send the fax to a single destination, from which, from time to time, information for wider circulation is widely distributed. Hon Peter Foss: Who is that? Hon TOM STEPHENS: I will answer the question with a question. Would Hon Peter Foss think it would be reasonable if I applied the same standards to my answers as was applied to the answers given by the current Leader of the Opposition when he was in government? If he did, perhaps - Hon Peter Foss: Are you refusing, or just being evasive? The PRESIDENT: Order, members; we are getting into a discussion here. Hon TOM STEPHENS: A single fax was sent, to a single location. Hon Peter Foss: You will not say who that is. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I have no immediate intention of doing so. I will think about it. I do not see why I should. Hon Norman Moore: You were reprimanded for doing it. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Yes, and I am telling the honourable member that I have no intention of doing it again. Hon Peter Foss: Who did you send it to? The PRESIDENT: Order! There is no provision for supplementary question. Hon TOM STEPHENS: A list is maintained for circulating material that I choose to have sent out to a wider group.
(1) Will the minister now give the answer to that question? (2) Could he reconcile the answer he gave yesterday about sending it to one point with the answer he gave in this House on 12 September this year, when he said that he had printed it onto ministerial letterhead and subsequently faxed it to a list that he had maintained of people and organisations with which he has had contact over the years since becoming a member of the Legislative Council? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: (1)-(2) The effect of it is that, I have an arrangement with a destination, to send the fax to a single destination, from which, from time to time, information for wider circulation is widely distributed. Hon Peter Foss: Who is that? Hon TOM STEPHENS: I will answer the question with a question. Would Hon Peter Foss think it would be reasonable if I applied the same standards to my answers as was applied to the answers given by the current Leader of the Opposition when he was in government? If he did, perhaps - Hon Peter Foss: Are you refusing, or just being evasive? The PRESIDENT: Order, members; we are getting into a discussion here. Hon TOM STEPHENS: A single fax was sent, to a single location. Hon Peter Foss: You will not say who that is. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I have no immediate intention of doing so. I will think about it. I do not see why I should. Hon Norman Moore: You were reprimanded for doing it. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Yes, and I am telling the honourable member that I have no intention of doing it again. Hon Peter Foss: Who did you send it to? The PRESIDENT: Order! There is no provision for supplementary question. Hon TOM STEPHENS: A list is maintained for circulating material that I choose to have sent out to a wider group.
(2) Could he reconcile the answer he gave yesterday about sending it to one point with the answer he gave in this House on 12 September this year, when he said that he had printed it onto ministerial letterhead and subsequently faxed it to a list that he had maintained of people and organisations with which he has had contact over the years since becoming a member of the Legislative Council? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: (1)-(2) The effect of it is that, I have an arrangement with a destination, to send the fax to a single destination, from which, from time to time, information for wider circulation is widely distributed. Hon Peter Foss: Who is that? Hon TOM STEPHENS: I will answer the question with a question. Would Hon Peter Foss think it would be reasonable if I applied the same standards to my answers as was applied to the answers given by the current Leader of the Opposition when he was in government? If he did, perhaps - Hon Peter Foss: Are you refusing, or just being evasive? The PRESIDENT: Order, members; we are getting into a discussion here. Hon TOM STEPHENS: A single fax was sent, to a single location. Hon Peter Foss: You will not say who that is. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I have no immediate intention of doing so. I will think about it. I do not see why I should. Hon Norman Moore: You were reprimanded for doing it. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Yes, and I am telling the honourable member that I have no intention of doing it again. Hon Peter Foss: Who did you send it to? The PRESIDENT: Order! There is no provision for supplementary question. Hon TOM STEPHENS: A list is maintained for circulating material that I choose to have sent out to a wider group.
Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: (1)-(2) The effect of it is that, I have an arrangement with a destination, to send the fax to a single destination, from which, from time to time, information for wider circulation is widely distributed. Hon Peter Foss: Who is that? Hon TOM STEPHENS: I will answer the question with a question. Would Hon Peter Foss think it would be reasonable if I applied the same standards to my answers as was applied to the answers given by the current Leader of the Opposition when he was in government? If he did, perhaps - Hon Peter Foss: Are you refusing, or just being evasive? The PRESIDENT: Order, members; we are getting into a discussion here. Hon TOM STEPHENS: A single fax was sent, to a single location. Hon Peter Foss: You will not say who that is. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I have no immediate intention of doing so. I will think about it. I do not see why I should. Hon Norman Moore: You were reprimanded for doing it. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Yes, and I am telling the honourable member that I have no intention of doing it again. Hon Peter Foss: Who did you send it to? The PRESIDENT: Order! There is no provision for supplementary question. Hon TOM STEPHENS: A list is maintained for circulating material that I choose to have sent out to a wider group.
(1)-(2) The effect of it is that, I have an arrangement with a destination, to send the fax to a single destination, from which, from time to time, information for wider circulation is widely distributed. Hon Peter Foss: Who is that? Hon TOM STEPHENS: I will answer the question with a question. Would Hon Peter Foss think it would be reasonable if I applied the same standards to my answers as was applied to the answers given by the current Leader of the Opposition when he was in government? If he did, perhaps - Hon Peter Foss: Are you refusing, or just being evasive? The PRESIDENT: Order, members; we are getting into a discussion here. Hon TOM STEPHENS: A single fax was sent, to a single location. Hon Peter Foss: You will not say who that is. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I have no immediate intention of doing so. I will think about it. I do not see why I should. Hon Norman Moore: You were reprimanded for doing it. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Yes, and I am telling the honourable member that I have no intention of doing it again. Hon Peter Foss: Who did you send it to? The PRESIDENT: Order! There is no provision for supplementary question. Hon TOM STEPHENS: A list is maintained for circulating material that I choose to have sent out to a wider group.
Hon Peter Foss: Who is that? Hon TOM STEPHENS: I will answer the question with a question. Would Hon Peter Foss think it would be reasonable if I applied the same standards to my answers as was applied to the answers given by the current Leader of the Opposition when he was in government? If he did, perhaps - Hon Peter Foss: Are you refusing, or just being evasive? The PRESIDENT: Order, members; we are getting into a discussion here. Hon TOM STEPHENS: A single fax was sent, to a single location. Hon Peter Foss: You will not say who that is. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I have no immediate intention of doing so. I will think about it. I do not see why I should. Hon Norman Moore: You were reprimanded for doing it. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Yes, and I am telling the honourable member that I have no intention of doing it again. Hon Peter Foss: Who did you send it to? The PRESIDENT: Order! There is no provision for supplementary question. Hon TOM STEPHENS: A list is maintained for circulating material that I choose to have sent out to a wider group.
Hon TOM STEPHENS: I will answer the question with a question. Would Hon Peter Foss think it would be reasonable if I applied the same standards to my answers as was applied to the answers given by the current Leader of the Opposition when he was in government? If he did, perhaps - Hon Peter Foss: Are you refusing, or just being evasive? The PRESIDENT: Order, members; we are getting into a discussion here. Hon TOM STEPHENS: A single fax was sent, to a single location. Hon Peter Foss: You will not say who that is. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I have no immediate intention of doing so. I will think about it. I do not see why I should. Hon Norman Moore: You were reprimanded for doing it. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Yes, and I am telling the honourable member that I have no intention of doing it again. Hon Peter Foss: Who did you send it to? The PRESIDENT: Order! There is no provision for supplementary question. Hon TOM STEPHENS: A list is maintained for circulating material that I choose to have sent out to a wider group.
Hon Peter Foss: Are you refusing, or just being evasive? The PRESIDENT: Order, members; we are getting into a discussion here. Hon TOM STEPHENS: A single fax was sent, to a single location. Hon Peter Foss: You will not say who that is. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I have no immediate intention of doing so. I will think about it. I do not see why I should. Hon Norman Moore: You were reprimanded for doing it. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Yes, and I am telling the honourable member that I have no intention of doing it again. Hon Peter Foss: Who did you send it to? The PRESIDENT: Order! There is no provision for supplementary question. Hon TOM STEPHENS: A list is maintained for circulating material that I choose to have sent out to a wider group.
The PRESIDENT: Order, members; we are getting into a discussion here. Hon TOM STEPHENS: A single fax was sent, to a single location. Hon Peter Foss: You will not say who that is. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I have no immediate intention of doing so. I will think about it. I do not see why I should. Hon Norman Moore: You were reprimanded for doing it. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Yes, and I am telling the honourable member that I have no intention of doing it again. Hon Peter Foss: Who did you send it to? The PRESIDENT: Order! There is no provision for supplementary question. Hon TOM STEPHENS: A list is maintained for circulating material that I choose to have sent out to a wider group.
Hon TOM STEPHENS: A single fax was sent, to a single location. Hon Peter Foss: You will not say who that is. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I have no immediate intention of doing so. I will think about it. I do not see why I should. Hon Norman Moore: You were reprimanded for doing it. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Yes, and I am telling the honourable member that I have no intention of doing it again. Hon Peter Foss: Who did you send it to? The PRESIDENT: Order! There is no provision for supplementary question. Hon TOM STEPHENS: A list is maintained for circulating material that I choose to have sent out to a wider group.
Hon Peter Foss: You will not say who that is. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I have no immediate intention of doing so. I will think about it. I do not see why I should. Hon Norman Moore: You were reprimanded for doing it. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Yes, and I am telling the honourable member that I have no intention of doing it again. Hon Peter Foss: Who did you send it to? The PRESIDENT: Order! There is no provision for supplementary question. Hon TOM STEPHENS: A list is maintained for circulating material that I choose to have sent out to a wider group.
Hon TOM STEPHENS: I have no immediate intention of doing so. I will think about it. I do not see why I should. Hon Norman Moore: You were reprimanded for doing it. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Yes, and I am telling the honourable member that I have no intention of doing it again. Hon Peter Foss: Who did you send it to? The PRESIDENT: Order! There is no provision for supplementary question. Hon TOM STEPHENS: A list is maintained for circulating material that I choose to have sent out to a wider group.
Hon Norman Moore: You were reprimanded for doing it. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Yes, and I am telling the honourable member that I have no intention of doing it again. Hon Peter Foss: Who did you send it to? The PRESIDENT: Order! There is no provision for supplementary question. Hon TOM STEPHENS: A list is maintained for circulating material that I choose to have sent out to a wider group.
Hon TOM STEPHENS: Yes, and I am telling the honourable member that I have no intention of doing it again. Hon Peter Foss: Who did you send it to? The PRESIDENT: Order! There is no provision for supplementary question. Hon TOM STEPHENS: A list is maintained for circulating material that I choose to have sent out to a wider group.
Hon Peter Foss: Who did you send it to? The PRESIDENT: Order! There is no provision for supplementary question. Hon TOM STEPHENS: A list is maintained for circulating material that I choose to have sent out to a wider group.
The PRESIDENT: Order! There is no provision for supplementary question. Hon TOM STEPHENS: A list is maintained for circulating material that I choose to have sent out to a wider group.
Hon TOM STEPHENS: A list is maintained for circulating material that I choose to have sent out to a wider group.
(1) Will the minister now give the answer to that question? (2) Could he reconcile the answer he gave yesterday about sending it to one point with the answer he gave in this House on 12 September this year, when he said that he had printed it onto ministerial letterhead and subsequently faxed it to a list that he had maintained of people and organisations with which he has had contact over the years since becoming a member of the Legislative Council? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: (1)-(2) The effect of it is that, I have an arrangement with a destination, to send the fax to a single destination, from which, from time to time, information for wider circulation is widely distributed. Hon Peter Foss: Who is that? Hon TOM STEPHENS: I will answer the question with a question. Would Hon Peter Foss think it would be reasonable if I applied the same standards to my answers as was applied to the answers given by the current Leader of the Opposition when he was in government? If he did, perhaps - Hon Peter Foss: Are you refusing, or just being evasive? The PRESIDENT: Order, members; we are getting into a discussion here. Hon TOM STEPHENS: A single fax was sent, to a single location. Hon Peter Foss: You will not say who that is. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I have no immediate intention of doing so. I will think about it. I do not see why I should. Hon Norman Moore: You were reprimanded for doing it. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Yes, and I am telling the honourable member that I have no intention of doing it again. Hon Peter Foss: Who did you send it to? The PRESIDENT: Order! There is no provision for supplementary question. Hon TOM STEPHENS: A list is maintained for circulating material that I choose to have sent out to a wider group.
(2) Could he reconcile the answer he gave yesterday about sending it to one point with the answer he gave in this House on 12 September this year, when he said that he had printed it onto ministerial letterhead and subsequently faxed it to a list that he had maintained of people and organisations with which he has had contact over the years since becoming a member of the Legislative Council? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: (1)-(2) The effect of it is that, I have an arrangement with a destination, to send the fax to a single destination, from which, from time to time, information for wider circulation is widely distributed. Hon Peter Foss: Who is that? Hon TOM STEPHENS: I will answer the question with a question. Would Hon Peter Foss think it would be reasonable if I applied the same standards to my answers as was applied to the answers given by the current Leader of the Opposition when he was in government? If he did, perhaps - Hon Peter Foss: Are you refusing, or just being evasive? The PRESIDENT: Order, members; we are getting into a discussion here. Hon TOM STEPHENS: A single fax was sent, to a single location. Hon Peter Foss: You will not say who that is. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I have no immediate intention of doing so. I will think about it. I do not see why I should. Hon Norman Moore: You were reprimanded for doing it. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Yes, and I am telling the honourable member that I have no intention of doing it again. Hon Peter Foss: Who did you send it to? The PRESIDENT: Order! There is no provision for supplementary question. Hon TOM STEPHENS: A list is maintained for circulating material that I choose to have sent out to a wider group.
Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: (1)-(2) The effect of it is that, I have an arrangement with a destination, to send the fax to a single destination, from which, from time to time, information for wider circulation is widely distributed. Hon Peter Foss: Who is that? Hon TOM STEPHENS: I will answer the question with a question. Would Hon Peter Foss think it would be reasonable if I applied the same standards to my answers as was applied to the answers given by the current Leader of the Opposition when he was in government? If he did, perhaps - Hon Peter Foss: Are you refusing, or just being evasive? The PRESIDENT: Order, members; we are getting into a discussion here. Hon TOM STEPHENS: A single fax was sent, to a single location. Hon Peter Foss: You will not say who that is. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I have no immediate intention of doing so. I will think about it. I do not see why I should. Hon Norman Moore: You were reprimanded for doing it. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Yes, and I am telling the honourable member that I have no intention of doing it again. Hon Peter Foss: Who did you send it to? The PRESIDENT: Order! There is no provision for supplementary question. Hon TOM STEPHENS: A list is maintained for circulating material that I choose to have sent out to a wider group.
(1)-(2) The effect of it is that, I have an arrangement with a destination, to send the fax to a single destination, from which, from time to time, information for wider circulation is widely distributed. Hon Peter Foss: Who is that? Hon TOM STEPHENS: I will answer the question with a question. Would Hon Peter Foss think it would be reasonable if I applied the same standards to my answers as was applied to the answers given by the current Leader of the Opposition when he was in government? If he did, perhaps - Hon Peter Foss: Are you refusing, or just being evasive? The PRESIDENT: Order, members; we are getting into a discussion here. Hon TOM STEPHENS: A single fax was sent, to a single location. Hon Peter Foss: You will not say who that is. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I have no immediate intention of doing so. I will think about it. I do not see why I should. Hon Norman Moore: You were reprimanded for doing it. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Yes, and I am telling the honourable member that I have no intention of doing it again. Hon Peter Foss: Who did you send it to? The PRESIDENT: Order! There is no provision for supplementary question. Hon TOM STEPHENS: A list is maintained for circulating material that I choose to have sent out to a wider group.
Hon Peter Foss: Who is that? Hon TOM STEPHENS: I will answer the question with a question. Would Hon Peter Foss think it would be reasonable if I applied the same standards to my answers as was applied to the answers given by the current Leader of the Opposition when he was in government? If he did, perhaps - Hon Peter Foss: Are you refusing, or just being evasive? The PRESIDENT: Order, members; we are getting into a discussion here. Hon TOM STEPHENS: A single fax was sent, to a single location. Hon Peter Foss: You will not say who that is. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I have no immediate intention of doing so. I will think about it. I do not see why I should. Hon Norman Moore: You were reprimanded for doing it. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Yes, and I am telling the honourable member that I have no intention of doing it again. Hon Peter Foss: Who did you send it to? The PRESIDENT: Order! There is no provision for supplementary question. Hon TOM STEPHENS: A list is maintained for circulating material that I choose to have sent out to a wider group.
Hon TOM STEPHENS: I will answer the question with a question. Would Hon Peter Foss think it would be reasonable if I applied the same standards to my answers as was applied to the answers given by the current Leader of the Opposition when he was in government? If he did, perhaps - Hon Peter Foss: Are you refusing, or just being evasive? The PRESIDENT: Order, members; we are getting into a discussion here. Hon TOM STEPHENS: A single fax was sent, to a single location. Hon Peter Foss: You will not say who that is. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I have no immediate intention of doing so. I will think about it. I do not see why I should. Hon Norman Moore: You were reprimanded for doing it. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Yes, and I am telling the honourable member that I have no intention of doing it again. Hon Peter Foss: Who did you send it to? The PRESIDENT: Order! There is no provision for supplementary question. Hon TOM STEPHENS: A list is maintained for circulating material that I choose to have sent out to a wider group.
Hon Peter Foss: Are you refusing, or just being evasive? The PRESIDENT: Order, members; we are getting into a discussion here. Hon TOM STEPHENS: A single fax was sent, to a single location. Hon Peter Foss: You will not say who that is. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I have no immediate intention of doing so. I will think about it. I do not see why I should. Hon Norman Moore: You were reprimanded for doing it. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Yes, and I am telling the honourable member that I have no intention of doing it again. Hon Peter Foss: Who did you send it to? The PRESIDENT: Order! There is no provision for supplementary question. Hon TOM STEPHENS: A list is maintained for circulating material that I choose to have sent out to a wider group.
The PRESIDENT: Order, members; we are getting into a discussion here. Hon TOM STEPHENS: A single fax was sent, to a single location. Hon Peter Foss: You will not say who that is. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I have no immediate intention of doing so. I will think about it. I do not see why I should. Hon Norman Moore: You were reprimanded for doing it. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Yes, and I am telling the honourable member that I have no intention of doing it again. Hon Peter Foss: Who did you send it to? The PRESIDENT: Order! There is no provision for supplementary question. Hon TOM STEPHENS: A list is maintained for circulating material that I choose to have sent out to a wider group.
Hon TOM STEPHENS: A single fax was sent, to a single location. Hon Peter Foss: You will not say who that is. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I have no immediate intention of doing so. I will think about it. I do not see why I should. Hon Norman Moore: You were reprimanded for doing it. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Yes, and I am telling the honourable member that I have no intention of doing it again. Hon Peter Foss: Who did you send it to? The PRESIDENT: Order! There is no provision for supplementary question. Hon TOM STEPHENS: A list is maintained for circulating material that I choose to have sent out to a wider group.
Hon Peter Foss: You will not say who that is. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I have no immediate intention of doing so. I will think about it. I do not see why I should. Hon Norman Moore: You were reprimanded for doing it. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Yes, and I am telling the honourable member that I have no intention of doing it again. Hon Peter Foss: Who did you send it to? The PRESIDENT: Order! There is no provision for supplementary question. Hon TOM STEPHENS: A list is maintained for circulating material that I choose to have sent out to a wider group.
Hon TOM STEPHENS: I have no immediate intention of doing so. I will think about it. I do not see why I should. Hon Norman Moore: You were reprimanded for doing it. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Yes, and I am telling the honourable member that I have no intention of doing it again. Hon Peter Foss: Who did you send it to? The PRESIDENT: Order! There is no provision for supplementary question. Hon TOM STEPHENS: A list is maintained for circulating material that I choose to have sent out to a wider group.
Hon Norman Moore: You were reprimanded for doing it. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Yes, and I am telling the honourable member that I have no intention of doing it again. Hon Peter Foss: Who did you send it to? The PRESIDENT: Order! There is no provision for supplementary question. Hon TOM STEPHENS: A list is maintained for circulating material that I choose to have sent out to a wider group.
Hon TOM STEPHENS: Yes, and I am telling the honourable member that I have no intention of doing it again. Hon Peter Foss: Who did you send it to? The PRESIDENT: Order! There is no provision for supplementary question. Hon TOM STEPHENS: A list is maintained for circulating material that I choose to have sent out to a wider group.
Hon Peter Foss: Who did you send it to? The PRESIDENT: Order! There is no provision for supplementary question. Hon TOM STEPHENS: A list is maintained for circulating material that I choose to have sent out to a wider group.
The PRESIDENT: Order! There is no provision for supplementary question. Hon TOM STEPHENS: A list is maintained for circulating material that I choose to have sent out to a wider group.
Hon TOM STEPHENS: A list is maintained for circulating material that I choose to have sent out to a wider group.
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.