❓ Question regarding government stability compared to previous Labor administrations, answered with a focus on cabinet changes and highlighting perceived Labor instability.
AnsweredQoN 317Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
BARNETT MINISTRY —
CHANGES
317. Mrs L.M. HARVEY to the Premier:
The Leader of the Opposition has made some outrageous claims
about instability in this government due to changes to the ministry recently.
Mr D.A. Templeman :
Are you going to get a guernsey?
Mrs L.M. HARVEY : Sorry?
Was the member shouting his support for the carbon tax?
The SPEAKER :
Member for Mandurah, I formally call you to order for the second time today;
member for Collie–Preston, I formally call you to order for the first
time today; Minister for Racing and Gaming, I formally call you to order for
the first time today; and Minister for Regional Development, I formally call
you to order for the first time today. The only person who has the call is the
member for Scarborough. It is not an opportunity for anybody else.
Mrs L.M. HARVEY :
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
In relation to these claims of alleged instability in the
government, could the Premier please update the house on exactly how wrong
these claims are, and also provide a comparison of this government with the
scandal-plagued Carpenter administration?
CHANGES
317. Mrs L.M. HARVEY to the Premier:
The Leader of the Opposition has made some outrageous claims
about instability in this government due to changes to the ministry recently.
Mr D.A. Templeman :
Are you going to get a guernsey?
Mrs L.M. HARVEY : Sorry?
Was the member shouting his support for the carbon tax?
The SPEAKER :
Member for Mandurah, I formally call you to order for the second time today;
member for Collie–Preston, I formally call you to order for the first
time today; Minister for Racing and Gaming, I formally call you to order for
the first time today; and Minister for Regional Development, I formally call
you to order for the first time today. The only person who has the call is the
member for Scarborough. It is not an opportunity for anybody else.
Mrs L.M. HARVEY :
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
In relation to these claims of alleged instability in the
government, could the Premier please update the house on exactly how wrong
these claims are, and also provide a comparison of this government with the
scandal-plagued Carpenter administration?
AnswerView source ↗
Before I do so, I congratulate the
West Coast Eagles on their 600 th game tonight, three premierships,
two Brownlow medallists and four Norm Smith medallists. Members may notice that
I am wearing the original 1987 membership badge, which is surprising, because I
have never been a member of the club, but I have got it!
Mr M. McGowan :
Where did you get it from?
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
Ron Alexander, the first coach of the club.
Several members interjected.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
It is probably worth a bit, actually.
One of the hallmarks of this government has been its
stability within cabinet.
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Thank you, members!
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
Well, let us just look at the facts. From when the original Liberal–National
government was formed and the original cabinet was formed, there have been
three changes in personnel. The member for Eyre left cabinet, Hon Donna Faragher resigned from cabinet to
have a baby and the member for Bateman has resigned from cabinet to pursue a
career in federal politics. That is it.
Several members
interjected.
The SPEAKER : I am assuming members to my left want
another question today. I would like to provide them with that opportunity but
they are going the right way not to get it.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I think over nearly four years that is a
record of stability, but let us look at the term of the Gallop government and,
in turn, of the Carpenter government.
Several members
interjected.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members may have forgotten that from
January 2006 to March 2007—just over a year—six ministers left
the Labor government. That is the truth.
Mr M. McGowan : Name them!
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Okay, I will. I am happy to go through the
list. I did not think members opposite would want me to go through it but I am
happy to assist them. Through the time of the Gallop and Carpenter governments
there were no less than 23 changes to the ministry—13 during the years
of the Gallop government and 10 during the years of the Carpenter government.
Several members
interjected.
The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for West Swan
to order for the third time today, and the member for Cannington for the first
time today.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will pick out some of the highlights, or
perhaps lowlights, of the Labor years. The first ministry of the Gallop
government was announced on 16 February 2001. Just three weeks later it had a
change because it forgot to appoint a tourism minister. It forgot about the
entire tourism industry for the first three weeks. That was the first change.
Then just two days later the former Minister for Planning and Infrastructure,
Alannah MacTiernan, lost her driver's licence for the third time. She
lost it on points and had previously lost it, once for drink-driving and once
for reckless driving in a car park—in a car park!
Several members
interjected.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : We then had a comparative period of
stability—four months—before a minor reshuffle was undertaken.
We then went a little longer and had another little reshuffle. So, two years in
we are up to the sixth ministry. Then we start to get, I guess, some of the
heavy hitters. Bob Kucera, a Labor candidate, lost the health portfolio to Jim
McGinty; that was on 27 June. And Labor is going to bring him back, or try to!
Then Hon Tom Stephens resigned to contest the federal seat of Kalgoorlie—another
change. How did he go? He is back!
Several members
interjected.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : On 10 March 2005 Messrs Brown and
Griffiths were kicked out of cabinet—two on one day. We had another
little bit of a reshuffle. Then it was not long, just seven months later and
the hapless Bob Kucera—the Bob Kucera who had been given one warning by
being kicked out of health—was kicked right out of cabinet. The
government should have done it in one go!
Several members
interjected.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : We had another couple of minor changes and
then Geoff Gallop, Premier, resigned because of ill health. Then the action
really started. Once he left, then we really saw the big action. It did not
take long. Nine days later, Judy Edwards—she could see it coming—scarpered
off. Why would she not? She is a nice person. She followed Geoff Gallop out—a
wise woman!
Several members
interjected.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Three months later the police portfolio
was taken off John D'Orazio and given to the member for Balcatta. D'Orazio
was sacked and lost his position. Then the Labor caucus brought in Tony McRae—a
bit of clean blood! He came in but did not last too long. Six months later we
saw Norm Marlborough sacked or resign. Then we saw another major reshuffle.
Eleven of the 16 ministers had portfolio changes—11 out of 16!
Several members interjected.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Just two months later, the new boy wonder,
Tony McRae, was sacked. He sort of came in, mucked it up, got involved in a few
deals and he was out.
Several members
interjected.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, the member for Kalgoorlie lost his
job position as well. That is the Labor Party's record—23
changes to the ministry, 15 of them major and five ministers sacked or forced
to resign because of matters before the Corruption and Crime Commission. And
members opposite reckon we are unstable! Give me a break!
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for Kalgoorlie, I formally call you
to order for the first time today. Member for Pilbara, I formally call you to
order for the first time today. Member for Bassendean, I formally call you to
order for the first time today. I hope the whole lot of you had a lot of fun! I
wanted to give the call to the member for Victoria Park. I still want to give
the call to the member for Victoria Park.
West Coast Eagles on their 600 th game tonight, three premierships,
two Brownlow medallists and four Norm Smith medallists. Members may notice that
I am wearing the original 1987 membership badge, which is surprising, because I
have never been a member of the club, but I have got it!
Mr M. McGowan :
Where did you get it from?
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
Ron Alexander, the first coach of the club.
Several members interjected.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
It is probably worth a bit, actually.
One of the hallmarks of this government has been its
stability within cabinet.
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Thank you, members!
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
Well, let us just look at the facts. From when the original Liberal–National
government was formed and the original cabinet was formed, there have been
three changes in personnel. The member for Eyre left cabinet, Hon Donna Faragher resigned from cabinet to
have a baby and the member for Bateman has resigned from cabinet to pursue a
career in federal politics. That is it.
Several members
interjected.
The SPEAKER : I am assuming members to my left want
another question today. I would like to provide them with that opportunity but
they are going the right way not to get it.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I think over nearly four years that is a
record of stability, but let us look at the term of the Gallop government and,
in turn, of the Carpenter government.
Several members
interjected.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members may have forgotten that from
January 2006 to March 2007—just over a year—six ministers left
the Labor government. That is the truth.
Mr M. McGowan : Name them!
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Okay, I will. I am happy to go through the
list. I did not think members opposite would want me to go through it but I am
happy to assist them. Through the time of the Gallop and Carpenter governments
there were no less than 23 changes to the ministry—13 during the years
of the Gallop government and 10 during the years of the Carpenter government.
Several members
interjected.
The SPEAKER : I formally call the member for West Swan
to order for the third time today, and the member for Cannington for the first
time today.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I will pick out some of the highlights, or
perhaps lowlights, of the Labor years. The first ministry of the Gallop
government was announced on 16 February 2001. Just three weeks later it had a
change because it forgot to appoint a tourism minister. It forgot about the
entire tourism industry for the first three weeks. That was the first change.
Then just two days later the former Minister for Planning and Infrastructure,
Alannah MacTiernan, lost her driver's licence for the third time. She
lost it on points and had previously lost it, once for drink-driving and once
for reckless driving in a car park—in a car park!
Several members
interjected.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : We then had a comparative period of
stability—four months—before a minor reshuffle was undertaken.
We then went a little longer and had another little reshuffle. So, two years in
we are up to the sixth ministry. Then we start to get, I guess, some of the
heavy hitters. Bob Kucera, a Labor candidate, lost the health portfolio to Jim
McGinty; that was on 27 June. And Labor is going to bring him back, or try to!
Then Hon Tom Stephens resigned to contest the federal seat of Kalgoorlie—another
change. How did he go? He is back!
Several members
interjected.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : On 10 March 2005 Messrs Brown and
Griffiths were kicked out of cabinet—two on one day. We had another
little bit of a reshuffle. Then it was not long, just seven months later and
the hapless Bob Kucera—the Bob Kucera who had been given one warning by
being kicked out of health—was kicked right out of cabinet. The
government should have done it in one go!
Several members
interjected.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : We had another couple of minor changes and
then Geoff Gallop, Premier, resigned because of ill health. Then the action
really started. Once he left, then we really saw the big action. It did not
take long. Nine days later, Judy Edwards—she could see it coming—scarpered
off. Why would she not? She is a nice person. She followed Geoff Gallop out—a
wise woman!
Several members
interjected.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Three months later the police portfolio
was taken off John D'Orazio and given to the member for Balcatta. D'Orazio
was sacked and lost his position. Then the Labor caucus brought in Tony McRae—a
bit of clean blood! He came in but did not last too long. Six months later we
saw Norm Marlborough sacked or resign. Then we saw another major reshuffle.
Eleven of the 16 ministers had portfolio changes—11 out of 16!
Several members interjected.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Just two months later, the new boy wonder,
Tony McRae, was sacked. He sort of came in, mucked it up, got involved in a few
deals and he was out.
Several members
interjected.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, the member for Kalgoorlie lost his
job position as well. That is the Labor Party's record—23
changes to the ministry, 15 of them major and five ministers sacked or forced
to resign because of matters before the Corruption and Crime Commission. And
members opposite reckon we are unstable! Give me a break!
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for Kalgoorlie, I formally call you
to order for the first time today. Member for Pilbara, I formally call you to
order for the first time today. Member for Bassendean, I formally call you to
order for the first time today. I hope the whole lot of you had a lot of fun! I
wanted to give the call to the member for Victoria Park. I still want to give
the call to the member for Victoria Park.
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