Mr. Birney questions Deputy Premier Ripper about a potential conflict of interest related to a grant to Alinta and Ripper's alleged comment about 'Kucera' during a previous question regarding the Premier's spousal pecuniary interests. Ripper deflects, stating the Premier has answered and it doesn't relate to his ministerial responsibilities.

AnsweredQoN 610Legislative Assembly
Asked
13 October 2005
Portfolio
Deputy Premier

QuestionView source ↗

Before I ask my question, I advise that I have checked it with the Clerk to find out whether it is in order. He has advised me that, in his view, it is in order. Several members interjected. Mr M.J. BIRNEY : I am happy to wait, as this is important. The SPEAKER : Ask the question. Mr M.J. BIRNEY : I ask this question of the Deputy Premier in his capacity as the Acting Premier at the time the cabinet decided to grant the Alinta consortium $88 million. Specifically, I refer the Deputy Premier to question time yesterday when the Premier was about to respond to a question regarding the spousal pecuniary interest requirements in his ministerial code of conduct and to the fact that the question put to the Premier made absolutely no reference to the former Minister for Seniors. Why did the Deputy Premier lean over to the Premier just before he got to his feet to answer that question yesterday and utter the words, “That’s Kucera”; is it because the Deputy Premier was already aware of this serious conflict of interest before I raised it yesterday? Mr E.S. RIPPER

AnswerView source ↗

I do not see how that latest characterisation of events in the house yesterday relates to my chairing of the relevant cabinet meeting in October. The Premier has already answered all those questions. I will answer questions that relate to my ministerial responsibilities. I will not answer questions that relate to mischaracterisations and verballing behaviour in this house.
Several members interjected. Mr M.J. BIRNEY : I am happy to wait, as this is important. The SPEAKER : Ask the question. Mr M.J. BIRNEY : I ask this question of the Deputy Premier in his capacity as the Acting Premier at the time the cabinet decided to grant the Alinta consortium $88 million. Specifically, I refer the Deputy Premier to question time yesterday when the Premier was about to respond to a question regarding the spousal pecuniary interest requirements in his ministerial code of conduct and to the fact that the question put to the Premier made absolutely no reference to the former Minister for Seniors. Why did the Deputy Premier lean over to the Premier just before he got to his feet to answer that question yesterday and utter the words, “That’s Kucera”; is it because the Deputy Premier was already aware of this serious conflict of interest before I raised it yesterday? Mr E.S. RIPPER replied: I do not see how that latest characterisation of events in the house yesterday relates to my chairing of the relevant cabinet meeting in October. The Premier has already answered all those questions. I will answer questions that relate to my ministerial responsibilities. I will not answer questions that relate to mischaracterisations and verballing behaviour in this house.
Mr M.J. BIRNEY : I am happy to wait, as this is important. The SPEAKER : Ask the question. Mr M.J. BIRNEY : I ask this question of the Deputy Premier in his capacity as the Acting Premier at the time the cabinet decided to grant the Alinta consortium $88 million. Specifically, I refer the Deputy Premier to question time yesterday when the Premier was about to respond to a question regarding the spousal pecuniary interest requirements in his ministerial code of conduct and to the fact that the question put to the Premier made absolutely no reference to the former Minister for Seniors. Why did the Deputy Premier lean over to the Premier just before he got to his feet to answer that question yesterday and utter the words, “That’s Kucera”; is it because the Deputy Premier was already aware of this serious conflict of interest before I raised it yesterday? Mr E.S. RIPPER replied: I do not see how that latest characterisation of events in the house yesterday relates to my chairing of the relevant cabinet meeting in October. The Premier has already answered all those questions. I will answer questions that relate to my ministerial responsibilities. I will not answer questions that relate to mischaracterisations and verballing behaviour in this house.
The SPEAKER : Ask the question. Mr M.J. BIRNEY : I ask this question of the Deputy Premier in his capacity as the Acting Premier at the time the cabinet decided to grant the Alinta consortium $88 million. Specifically, I refer the Deputy Premier to question time yesterday when the Premier was about to respond to a question regarding the spousal pecuniary interest requirements in his ministerial code of conduct and to the fact that the question put to the Premier made absolutely no reference to the former Minister for Seniors. Why did the Deputy Premier lean over to the Premier just before he got to his feet to answer that question yesterday and utter the words, “That’s Kucera”; is it because the Deputy Premier was already aware of this serious conflict of interest before I raised it yesterday? Mr E.S. RIPPER replied: I do not see how that latest characterisation of events in the house yesterday relates to my chairing of the relevant cabinet meeting in October. The Premier has already answered all those questions. I will answer questions that relate to my ministerial responsibilities. I will not answer questions that relate to mischaracterisations and verballing behaviour in this house.
Mr M.J. BIRNEY : I ask this question of the Deputy Premier in his capacity as the Acting Premier at the time the cabinet decided to grant the Alinta consortium $88 million. Specifically, I refer the Deputy Premier to question time yesterday when the Premier was about to respond to a question regarding the spousal pecuniary interest requirements in his ministerial code of conduct and to the fact that the question put to the Premier made absolutely no reference to the former Minister for Seniors. Why did the Deputy Premier lean over to the Premier just before he got to his feet to answer that question yesterday and utter the words, “That’s Kucera”; is it because the Deputy Premier was already aware of this serious conflict of interest before I raised it yesterday? Mr E.S. RIPPER replied: I do not see how that latest characterisation of events in the house yesterday relates to my chairing of the relevant cabinet meeting in October. The Premier has already answered all those questions. I will answer questions that relate to my ministerial responsibilities. I will not answer questions that relate to mischaracterisations and verballing behaviour in this house.
Why did the Deputy Premier lean over to the Premier just before he got to his feet to answer that question yesterday and utter the words, “That’s Kucera”; is it because the Deputy Premier was already aware of this serious conflict of interest before I raised it yesterday? Mr E.S. RIPPER replied: I do not see how that latest characterisation of events in the house yesterday relates to my chairing of the relevant cabinet meeting in October. The Premier has already answered all those questions. I will answer questions that relate to my ministerial responsibilities. I will not answer questions that relate to mischaracterisations and verballing behaviour in this house.
Mr E.S. RIPPER replied: I do not see how that latest characterisation of events in the house yesterday relates to my chairing of the relevant cabinet meeting in October. The Premier has already answered all those questions. I will answer questions that relate to my ministerial responsibilities. I will not answer questions that relate to mischaracterisations and verballing behaviour in this house.
I do not see how that latest characterisation of events in the house yesterday relates to my chairing of the relevant cabinet meeting in October. The Premier has already answered all those questions. I will answer questions that relate to my ministerial responsibilities. I will not answer questions that relate to mischaracterisations and verballing behaviour in this house.

Explore WA Government Data

Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.

Explore more