❓ Opposition Leader Barnett questions Premier Gallop about a vote-rigging scandal within the Labor Party, pressing him on whether he'll establish an independent inquiry. Gallop defends the Labor Party's internal processes and avoids committing to an external inquiry.
AnsweredQoN 109Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer the Premier to his comments in The West Australian of 20 March 2004 about the vote-rigging scandal within the Labor Party, and I quote - “We are going to leave no stone unturned to ensure every Labor preselection is conducted properly,” he said. (1) Will the Premier confirm, as has now been reported in the media, that he is pleased the internal investigation, which he had originally supported, has now been suspended as part of a special deal with the Australian Labor Party national executive to cover up the affair? (2) Will the Premier set up a truly independent inquiry into this matter, or is this one stone that he has been told to leave unturned? Dr G.I. GALLOP
AnswerView source ↗
(1)-(2) I am very proud that the Australian Labor Party has excellent rules for its members and others affiliated with it. As members know, there has been a lot of debate in Australian politics about these matters in recent years. At recent state and federal conferences of the Australian Labor Party, very tough rules were set for membership and affiliation. I wonder whether the Leader of the Opposition could say the same thing about the Liberal Party. I therefore start by making that point. I am very confident that the Australian Labor Party will do all the right things in dealing with allegations of malpractice within its ranks and will determine any action that is required on the facts that are revealed by those inquiries. I have made it very clear that whenever anyone votes in a Labor Party election, I will make sure it is a legitimate vote and that inquiries take place within the Labor Party to ensure that is the case. Therefore, Mr Speaker, the Labor Party has a particular structure: it has state branches and a national executive. All of these bodies have a responsibility to carry out their duties under our constitution and rules. I am sure that the Australian Labor Party will do this properly, and I am sure that the tough standards we set for ourselves at recent conferences will be manifested in the day-to-day practice of our party.
(2) Will the Premier set up a truly independent inquiry into this matter, or is this one stone that he has been told to leave unturned? Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: (1)-(2) I am very proud that the Australian Labor Party has excellent rules for its members and others affiliated with it. As members know, there has been a lot of debate in Australian politics about these matters in recent years. At recent state and federal conferences of the Australian Labor Party, very tough rules were set for membership and affiliation. I wonder whether the Leader of the Opposition could say the same thing about the Liberal Party. I therefore start by making that point. I am very confident that the Australian Labor Party will do all the right things in dealing with allegations of malpractice within its ranks and will determine any action that is required on the facts that are revealed by those inquiries. I have made it very clear that whenever anyone votes in a Labor Party election, I will make sure it is a legitimate vote and that inquiries take place within the Labor Party to ensure that is the case. Therefore, Mr Speaker, the Labor Party has a particular structure: it has state branches and a national executive. All of these bodies have a responsibility to carry out their duties under our constitution and rules. I am sure that the Australian Labor Party will do this properly, and I am sure that the tough standards we set for ourselves at recent conferences will be manifested in the day-to-day practice of our party.
Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: (1)-(2) I am very proud that the Australian Labor Party has excellent rules for its members and others affiliated with it. As members know, there has been a lot of debate in Australian politics about these matters in recent years. At recent state and federal conferences of the Australian Labor Party, very tough rules were set for membership and affiliation. I wonder whether the Leader of the Opposition could say the same thing about the Liberal Party. I therefore start by making that point. I am very confident that the Australian Labor Party will do all the right things in dealing with allegations of malpractice within its ranks and will determine any action that is required on the facts that are revealed by those inquiries. I have made it very clear that whenever anyone votes in a Labor Party election, I will make sure it is a legitimate vote and that inquiries take place within the Labor Party to ensure that is the case. Therefore, Mr Speaker, the Labor Party has a particular structure: it has state branches and a national executive. All of these bodies have a responsibility to carry out their duties under our constitution and rules. I am sure that the Australian Labor Party will do this properly, and I am sure that the tough standards we set for ourselves at recent conferences will be manifested in the day-to-day practice of our party.
(1)-(2) I am very proud that the Australian Labor Party has excellent rules for its members and others affiliated with it. As members know, there has been a lot of debate in Australian politics about these matters in recent years. At recent state and federal conferences of the Australian Labor Party, very tough rules were set for membership and affiliation. I wonder whether the Leader of the Opposition could say the same thing about the Liberal Party. I therefore start by making that point. I am very confident that the Australian Labor Party will do all the right things in dealing with allegations of malpractice within its ranks and will determine any action that is required on the facts that are revealed by those inquiries. I have made it very clear that whenever anyone votes in a Labor Party election, I will make sure it is a legitimate vote and that inquiries take place within the Labor Party to ensure that is the case. Therefore, Mr Speaker, the Labor Party has a particular structure: it has state branches and a national executive. All of these bodies have a responsibility to carry out their duties under our constitution and rules. I am sure that the Australian Labor Party will do this properly, and I am sure that the tough standards we set for ourselves at recent conferences will be manifested in the day-to-day practice of our party.
Therefore, Mr Speaker, the Labor Party has a particular structure: it has state branches and a national executive. All of these bodies have a responsibility to carry out their duties under our constitution and rules. I am sure that the Australian Labor Party will do this properly, and I am sure that the tough standards we set for ourselves at recent conferences will be manifested in the day-to-day practice of our party.
(2) Will the Premier set up a truly independent inquiry into this matter, or is this one stone that he has been told to leave unturned? Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: (1)-(2) I am very proud that the Australian Labor Party has excellent rules for its members and others affiliated with it. As members know, there has been a lot of debate in Australian politics about these matters in recent years. At recent state and federal conferences of the Australian Labor Party, very tough rules were set for membership and affiliation. I wonder whether the Leader of the Opposition could say the same thing about the Liberal Party. I therefore start by making that point. I am very confident that the Australian Labor Party will do all the right things in dealing with allegations of malpractice within its ranks and will determine any action that is required on the facts that are revealed by those inquiries. I have made it very clear that whenever anyone votes in a Labor Party election, I will make sure it is a legitimate vote and that inquiries take place within the Labor Party to ensure that is the case. Therefore, Mr Speaker, the Labor Party has a particular structure: it has state branches and a national executive. All of these bodies have a responsibility to carry out their duties under our constitution and rules. I am sure that the Australian Labor Party will do this properly, and I am sure that the tough standards we set for ourselves at recent conferences will be manifested in the day-to-day practice of our party.
Dr G.I. GALLOP replied: (1)-(2) I am very proud that the Australian Labor Party has excellent rules for its members and others affiliated with it. As members know, there has been a lot of debate in Australian politics about these matters in recent years. At recent state and federal conferences of the Australian Labor Party, very tough rules were set for membership and affiliation. I wonder whether the Leader of the Opposition could say the same thing about the Liberal Party. I therefore start by making that point. I am very confident that the Australian Labor Party will do all the right things in dealing with allegations of malpractice within its ranks and will determine any action that is required on the facts that are revealed by those inquiries. I have made it very clear that whenever anyone votes in a Labor Party election, I will make sure it is a legitimate vote and that inquiries take place within the Labor Party to ensure that is the case. Therefore, Mr Speaker, the Labor Party has a particular structure: it has state branches and a national executive. All of these bodies have a responsibility to carry out their duties under our constitution and rules. I am sure that the Australian Labor Party will do this properly, and I am sure that the tough standards we set for ourselves at recent conferences will be manifested in the day-to-day practice of our party.
(1)-(2) I am very proud that the Australian Labor Party has excellent rules for its members and others affiliated with it. As members know, there has been a lot of debate in Australian politics about these matters in recent years. At recent state and federal conferences of the Australian Labor Party, very tough rules were set for membership and affiliation. I wonder whether the Leader of the Opposition could say the same thing about the Liberal Party. I therefore start by making that point. I am very confident that the Australian Labor Party will do all the right things in dealing with allegations of malpractice within its ranks and will determine any action that is required on the facts that are revealed by those inquiries. I have made it very clear that whenever anyone votes in a Labor Party election, I will make sure it is a legitimate vote and that inquiries take place within the Labor Party to ensure that is the case. Therefore, Mr Speaker, the Labor Party has a particular structure: it has state branches and a national executive. All of these bodies have a responsibility to carry out their duties under our constitution and rules. I am sure that the Australian Labor Party will do this properly, and I am sure that the tough standards we set for ourselves at recent conferences will be manifested in the day-to-day practice of our party.
Therefore, Mr Speaker, the Labor Party has a particular structure: it has state branches and a national executive. All of these bodies have a responsibility to carry out their duties under our constitution and rules. I am sure that the Australian Labor Party will do this properly, and I am sure that the tough standards we set for ourselves at recent conferences will be manifested in the day-to-day practice of our party.
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