❓ Mr. Katsambanis asks the Premier about the cost to taxpayers of legal resources spent on the Darren Foster writ case. The Premier deflects, stating the Parliament is independent and the Director General was denied representation by the State Solicitor by the upper house committee.
AnsweredQoN 673Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
STANDING COMMITTEE ON
PROCEDURE AND PRIVILEGES —FIFTY-FIFTH REPORT — DARREN FOSTER —
WRIT
673. Mr P.A. KATSAMBANIS to the Premier:
I have a supplementary question. Can
the Premier tell the people of Western Australia the cost to the taxpayer for
resources already spent on this action and the estimated total cost of the
legal action that the government is taking?
PROCEDURE AND PRIVILEGES —FIFTY-FIFTH REPORT — DARREN FOSTER —
WRIT
673. Mr P.A. KATSAMBANIS to the Premier:
I have a supplementary question. Can
the Premier tell the people of Western Australia the cost to the taxpayer for
resources already spent on this action and the estimated total cost of the
legal action that the government is taking?
AnswerView source ↗
No, I do not have advice in relation
to that. But so that the member is aware, the Parliament is independent of the
government. Whatever legal advice or assistance the upper house committee is
seeking, that is not something within the control of the government. If it
wants to brief QCs —
Mr P.A. Katsambanis : What
about your costs?
Mr M. McGOWAN : No, I am
answering the question. The member probably does not understand this.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Mr M. McGOWAN : We do not
control what advice or legal advice the upper house committee might seek to
obtain. It is totally outside the control or purview of government.
Mrs L.M. Harvey : Have you
read the writ?
Mr M. McGOWAN : He asked me
the question.
In relation to the director general
seeking legal advice, the reason that the director general had to get outside
legal advice is that the upper house committee denied him the right to have the
State Solicitor represent him. He was not permitted to have the State Solicitor
present, so he had to get outside legal advice as a consequence. That was not
his doing; that was the upper house committee's doing. I know the
member is frowning, as he does when I answer a question.
Mr P.A. Katsambanis : You have
not seen the writ, have you?
Mr M. McGOWAN : I will explain
it to you again.
Mr P.A. Katsambanis interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Hillarys, you have asked a question; listen to the answer.
Mr M. McGOWAN : He is not permitted to have advice from
the State Solicitor when he appears before the upper house committee—he
is not permitted in the room—so he had to get outside legal advice. The
genesis of all this, just so members understand, was the Corruption and Crime
Commission report into three former Liberal MPs, their use of allowances to go
to Japan and some of the actions they have taken. That is the genesis.
Mr D.C. Nalder interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Bateman.
Mr M. McGOWAN : That is what
is going on here. It is an investigation into the potentially improper conduct
of former Liberal MPs. It is the Liberal Party that has questions to answer.
to that. But so that the member is aware, the Parliament is independent of the
government. Whatever legal advice or assistance the upper house committee is
seeking, that is not something within the control of the government. If it
wants to brief QCs —
Mr P.A. Katsambanis : What
about your costs?
Mr M. McGOWAN : No, I am
answering the question. The member probably does not understand this.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Mr M. McGOWAN : We do not
control what advice or legal advice the upper house committee might seek to
obtain. It is totally outside the control or purview of government.
Mrs L.M. Harvey : Have you
read the writ?
Mr M. McGOWAN : He asked me
the question.
In relation to the director general
seeking legal advice, the reason that the director general had to get outside
legal advice is that the upper house committee denied him the right to have the
State Solicitor represent him. He was not permitted to have the State Solicitor
present, so he had to get outside legal advice as a consequence. That was not
his doing; that was the upper house committee's doing. I know the
member is frowning, as he does when I answer a question.
Mr P.A. Katsambanis : You have
not seen the writ, have you?
Mr M. McGOWAN : I will explain
it to you again.
Mr P.A. Katsambanis interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Hillarys, you have asked a question; listen to the answer.
Mr M. McGOWAN : He is not permitted to have advice from
the State Solicitor when he appears before the upper house committee—he
is not permitted in the room—so he had to get outside legal advice. The
genesis of all this, just so members understand, was the Corruption and Crime
Commission report into three former Liberal MPs, their use of allowances to go
to Japan and some of the actions they have taken. That is the genesis.
Mr D.C. Nalder interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Bateman.
Mr M. McGOWAN : That is what
is going on here. It is an investigation into the potentially improper conduct
of former Liberal MPs. It is the Liberal Party that has questions to answer.
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