❓ Hon Norman Moore asks whether the Government advised local authorities against contributing to a Supreme Court case regarding electoral reform legislation and if the Minister sought legal advice on the matter. The Minister's response avoids directly answering the questions, prompting a point of order.
AnsweredQoN 1115Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
ELECTORAL REFORM LEGISLATION, FUNDING OF NO CASE
(1) Has the Government advised any local authorities that they should not contribute to the Supreme Court case relating to the Government’s one vote, one value legislation until it has received Crown Law advice on the legality of that action? (2) Has the minister sought that advice and, if so, when will he be in a position to provide it to councils? Hon TOM STEPHENS
(1) Has the Government advised any local authorities that they should not contribute to the Supreme Court case relating to the Government’s one vote, one value legislation until it has received Crown Law advice on the legality of that action? (2) Has the minister sought that advice and, if so, when will he be in a position to provide it to councils? Hon TOM STEPHENS
AnswerView source ↗
(1)-(2) The question asked whether the Government has done something. The Government is a large institution. It is a bit rough for the Leader of the Opposition to ask a question without notice of a minister who is responsible only for what he and his department does and expect him to know what everybody across government may or may not have done. To my knowledge, the Government has advised the Opposition that it should keep its hands out of the pockets of Western Australian ratepayers. If it wants to mount a political campaign, it can pay for it itself. It should not use ratepayers’ funds. The Opposition should keep its hand out of their pockets. That is the message. Point of Order Hon NORMAN MOORE: I asked a specific question of the minister and I would appreciate a specific answer. The PRESIDENT: The minister has provided a response, not an answer. Questions without Notice Resumed
(2) Has the minister sought that advice and, if so, when will he be in a position to provide it to councils? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: (1)-(2) The question asked whether the Government has done something. The Government is a large institution. It is a bit rough for the Leader of the Opposition to ask a question without notice of a minister who is responsible only for what he and his department does and expect him to know what everybody across government may or may not have done. To my knowledge, the Government has advised the Opposition that it should keep its hands out of the pockets of Western Australian ratepayers. If it wants to mount a political campaign, it can pay for it itself. It should not use ratepayers’ funds. The Opposition should keep its hand out of their pockets. That is the message. Point of Order Hon NORMAN MOORE: I asked a specific question of the minister and I would appreciate a specific answer. The PRESIDENT: The minister has provided a response, not an answer. Questions without Notice Resumed
Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: (1)-(2) The question asked whether the Government has done something. The Government is a large institution. It is a bit rough for the Leader of the Opposition to ask a question without notice of a minister who is responsible only for what he and his department does and expect him to know what everybody across government may or may not have done. To my knowledge, the Government has advised the Opposition that it should keep its hands out of the pockets of Western Australian ratepayers. If it wants to mount a political campaign, it can pay for it itself. It should not use ratepayers’ funds. The Opposition should keep its hand out of their pockets. That is the message. Point of Order Hon NORMAN MOORE: I asked a specific question of the minister and I would appreciate a specific answer. The PRESIDENT: The minister has provided a response, not an answer. Questions without Notice Resumed
(1)-(2) The question asked whether the Government has done something. The Government is a large institution. It is a bit rough for the Leader of the Opposition to ask a question without notice of a minister who is responsible only for what he and his department does and expect him to know what everybody across government may or may not have done. To my knowledge, the Government has advised the Opposition that it should keep its hands out of the pockets of Western Australian ratepayers. If it wants to mount a political campaign, it can pay for it itself. It should not use ratepayers’ funds. The Opposition should keep its hand out of their pockets. That is the message. Point of Order Hon NORMAN MOORE: I asked a specific question of the minister and I would appreciate a specific answer. The PRESIDENT: The minister has provided a response, not an answer. Questions without Notice Resumed
The PRESIDENT: The minister has provided a response, not an answer. Questions without Notice Resumed
(2) Has the minister sought that advice and, if so, when will he be in a position to provide it to councils? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: (1)-(2) The question asked whether the Government has done something. The Government is a large institution. It is a bit rough for the Leader of the Opposition to ask a question without notice of a minister who is responsible only for what he and his department does and expect him to know what everybody across government may or may not have done. To my knowledge, the Government has advised the Opposition that it should keep its hands out of the pockets of Western Australian ratepayers. If it wants to mount a political campaign, it can pay for it itself. It should not use ratepayers’ funds. The Opposition should keep its hand out of their pockets. That is the message. Point of Order Hon NORMAN MOORE: I asked a specific question of the minister and I would appreciate a specific answer. The PRESIDENT: The minister has provided a response, not an answer. Questions without Notice Resumed
Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: (1)-(2) The question asked whether the Government has done something. The Government is a large institution. It is a bit rough for the Leader of the Opposition to ask a question without notice of a minister who is responsible only for what he and his department does and expect him to know what everybody across government may or may not have done. To my knowledge, the Government has advised the Opposition that it should keep its hands out of the pockets of Western Australian ratepayers. If it wants to mount a political campaign, it can pay for it itself. It should not use ratepayers’ funds. The Opposition should keep its hand out of their pockets. That is the message. Point of Order Hon NORMAN MOORE: I asked a specific question of the minister and I would appreciate a specific answer. The PRESIDENT: The minister has provided a response, not an answer. Questions without Notice Resumed
(1)-(2) The question asked whether the Government has done something. The Government is a large institution. It is a bit rough for the Leader of the Opposition to ask a question without notice of a minister who is responsible only for what he and his department does and expect him to know what everybody across government may or may not have done. To my knowledge, the Government has advised the Opposition that it should keep its hands out of the pockets of Western Australian ratepayers. If it wants to mount a political campaign, it can pay for it itself. It should not use ratepayers’ funds. The Opposition should keep its hand out of their pockets. That is the message. Point of Order Hon NORMAN MOORE: I asked a specific question of the minister and I would appreciate a specific answer. The PRESIDENT: The minister has provided a response, not an answer. Questions without Notice Resumed
The PRESIDENT: The minister has provided a response, not an answer. Questions without Notice Resumed
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