❓ Opposition questions the Premier about a Minister for Transport's alleged conflict of interest involving a meeting with the Chinese Consul General and the Minister's business partner. The Premier defends the Minister, dismissing the event as social and lacking self-interest.
AnsweredQoN 34Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
MINISTER
FOR TRANSPORT — CHINESE CONSULATE FUNCTION
34. Mr M. McGOWAN to the
Premier:
Premier, I refer to the Minister for Transport's
meeting with the Chinese consul general where he inappropriately invited his
personal business partner and it was declared a breach of the Ministerial Code
of Conduct by the director general of the Department of the Premier and
Cabinet.
(1) Why did the
Premier not sack the minister from cabinet for this clear conflict of interest?
(2) Can the
Premier assure the public that the minister has no more conflicts of interest
that he is hiding from scrutiny?
(3) How can the
Premier say there was no personal benefit, when the minister invited his
business partner to the meeting who had business dealings in China?
FOR TRANSPORT — CHINESE CONSULATE FUNCTION
34. Mr M. McGOWAN to the
Premier:
Premier, I refer to the Minister for Transport's
meeting with the Chinese consul general where he inappropriately invited his
personal business partner and it was declared a breach of the Ministerial Code
of Conduct by the director general of the Department of the Premier and
Cabinet.
(1) Why did the
Premier not sack the minister from cabinet for this clear conflict of interest?
(2) Can the
Premier assure the public that the minister has no more conflicts of interest
that he is hiding from scrutiny?
(3) How can the
Premier say there was no personal benefit, when the minister invited his
business partner to the meeting who had business dealings in China?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(3) Again, not the best judgement—inappropriate.
However, that was, essentially, a social event.
Several members interjected.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
It was. It was a social event. I accept the minister's advice on that.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Members!
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I
repeat my answer: it was not a good choice or decision. He was a new minister,
I understand that. A mistake was made. It was a poor choice. There was no
self-interest, no personal gain—none at all.
Mr F.M. Logan : How
do you know that?
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
If you know it, provide evidence. I have said repeatedly to everyone, including
members of the media, that if they have evidence of any wrongdoing, please
bring it to me. Do members know what? No-one has been able to do that. As if we
are going to be held against some moral compass by the Labor Party! It
conga-lined through the Corruption and Crime Commission relating to dodgy deals
with Brian Burke, Julian Grill and everyone else. As if the Labor Party has any
morality on these issues, including the Leader of the Opposition with his
secret little meetings with lobbyists. Two former Labor governments, through
both Geoff Gallop and Alan Carpenter—it was not Alan Carpenter's
fault, in my view—were compromised. They were compromised governments.
There is no doubt about that. There is no compromise on this side of the house.
However, that was, essentially, a social event.
Several members interjected.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
It was. It was a social event. I accept the minister's advice on that.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Members!
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I
repeat my answer: it was not a good choice or decision. He was a new minister,
I understand that. A mistake was made. It was a poor choice. There was no
self-interest, no personal gain—none at all.
Mr F.M. Logan : How
do you know that?
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
If you know it, provide evidence. I have said repeatedly to everyone, including
members of the media, that if they have evidence of any wrongdoing, please
bring it to me. Do members know what? No-one has been able to do that. As if we
are going to be held against some moral compass by the Labor Party! It
conga-lined through the Corruption and Crime Commission relating to dodgy deals
with Brian Burke, Julian Grill and everyone else. As if the Labor Party has any
morality on these issues, including the Leader of the Opposition with his
secret little meetings with lobbyists. Two former Labor governments, through
both Geoff Gallop and Alan Carpenter—it was not Alan Carpenter's
fault, in my view—were compromised. They were compromised governments.
There is no doubt about that. There is no compromise on this side of the house.
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