❓ Opposition questions the Premier's assurance regarding an attempt to withdraw a government advertisement related to a police dispute. The government admits no attempt was made due to a communication breakdown, but the Premier acted on information available at the time.
AnsweredQoN 1224Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the report in The West Australian on Wednesday 10 September 2003 regarding the advertisement over the police dispute, and ask - (1) Did lawyers, on behalf of the Government, give an undertaking to attempt to withdraw the advertisement? (2) Was an attempt made? (3) If not, why not? (4) Did the Premier make any attempt to ascertain whether an attempt to withdraw the advertisement had been made before giving an assurance on radio that an attempt had been made? (5) On what basis did the Premier give that assurance, and does he accept responsibility for the error? Hon KIM CHANCE
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Representatives, not lawyers, advised the Western Australian Industrial Relations Commission that an advertisement had been played. They further advised that in keeping with the commissioner’s order, they would attempt to have it withdrawn, even at that late hour. (2) No. (3) There was a breakdown in communication between the officers who attended the WAIRC hearing on behalf of the Government, two ministerial offices and the department involved in drafting and inserting the advertisement. (4) Yes. (5) The Premier was informed independently by the two ministers involved that an attempt had been made to withdraw the advertisement. This advice was based on the understanding of the two ministerial officers at the time it was given and took place before the breakdown in communication had become apparent. In any case, the advertising manager of The West Australian has advised that the advertisement could not have been cancelled at that stage. The Premier acted in good faith based on the advice that he had been given.
(1) Did lawyers, on behalf of the Government, give an undertaking to attempt to withdraw the advertisement? (2) Was an attempt made? (3) If not, why not? (4) Did the Premier make any attempt to ascertain whether an attempt to withdraw the advertisement had been made before giving an assurance on radio that an attempt had been made? (5) On what basis did the Premier give that assurance, and does he accept responsibility for the error? Hon KIM CHANCE replied : I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Representatives, not lawyers, advised the Western Australian Industrial Relations Commission that an advertisement had been played. They further advised that in keeping with the commissioner’s order, they would attempt to have it withdrawn, even at that late hour. (2) No. (3) There was a breakdown in communication between the officers who attended the WAIRC hearing on behalf of the Government, two ministerial offices and the department involved in drafting and inserting the advertisement. (4) Yes. (5) The Premier was informed independently by the two ministers involved that an attempt had been made to withdraw the advertisement. This advice was based on the understanding of the two ministerial officers at the time it was given and took place before the breakdown in communication had become apparent. In any case, the advertising manager of The West Australian has advised that the advertisement could not have been cancelled at that stage. The Premier acted in good faith based on the advice that he had been given.
(2) Was an attempt made? (3) If not, why not? (4) Did the Premier make any attempt to ascertain whether an attempt to withdraw the advertisement had been made before giving an assurance on radio that an attempt had been made? (5) On what basis did the Premier give that assurance, and does he accept responsibility for the error? Hon KIM CHANCE replied : I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Representatives, not lawyers, advised the Western Australian Industrial Relations Commission that an advertisement had been played. They further advised that in keeping with the commissioner’s order, they would attempt to have it withdrawn, even at that late hour. (2) No. (3) There was a breakdown in communication between the officers who attended the WAIRC hearing on behalf of the Government, two ministerial offices and the department involved in drafting and inserting the advertisement. (4) Yes. (5) The Premier was informed independently by the two ministers involved that an attempt had been made to withdraw the advertisement. This advice was based on the understanding of the two ministerial officers at the time it was given and took place before the breakdown in communication had become apparent. In any case, the advertising manager of The West Australian has advised that the advertisement could not have been cancelled at that stage. The Premier acted in good faith based on the advice that he had been given.
(3) If not, why not? (4) Did the Premier make any attempt to ascertain whether an attempt to withdraw the advertisement had been made before giving an assurance on radio that an attempt had been made? (5) On what basis did the Premier give that assurance, and does he accept responsibility for the error? Hon KIM CHANCE replied : I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Representatives, not lawyers, advised the Western Australian Industrial Relations Commission that an advertisement had been played. They further advised that in keeping with the commissioner’s order, they would attempt to have it withdrawn, even at that late hour. (2) No. (3) There was a breakdown in communication between the officers who attended the WAIRC hearing on behalf of the Government, two ministerial offices and the department involved in drafting and inserting the advertisement. (4) Yes. (5) The Premier was informed independently by the two ministers involved that an attempt had been made to withdraw the advertisement. This advice was based on the understanding of the two ministerial officers at the time it was given and took place before the breakdown in communication had become apparent. In any case, the advertising manager of The West Australian has advised that the advertisement could not have been cancelled at that stage. The Premier acted in good faith based on the advice that he had been given.
(4) Did the Premier make any attempt to ascertain whether an attempt to withdraw the advertisement had been made before giving an assurance on radio that an attempt had been made? (5) On what basis did the Premier give that assurance, and does he accept responsibility for the error? Hon KIM CHANCE replied : I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Representatives, not lawyers, advised the Western Australian Industrial Relations Commission that an advertisement had been played. They further advised that in keeping with the commissioner’s order, they would attempt to have it withdrawn, even at that late hour. (2) No. (3) There was a breakdown in communication between the officers who attended the WAIRC hearing on behalf of the Government, two ministerial offices and the department involved in drafting and inserting the advertisement. (4) Yes. (5) The Premier was informed independently by the two ministers involved that an attempt had been made to withdraw the advertisement. This advice was based on the understanding of the two ministerial officers at the time it was given and took place before the breakdown in communication had become apparent. In any case, the advertising manager of The West Australian has advised that the advertisement could not have been cancelled at that stage. The Premier acted in good faith based on the advice that he had been given.
(5) On what basis did the Premier give that assurance, and does he accept responsibility for the error? Hon KIM CHANCE replied : I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Representatives, not lawyers, advised the Western Australian Industrial Relations Commission that an advertisement had been played. They further advised that in keeping with the commissioner’s order, they would attempt to have it withdrawn, even at that late hour. (2) No. (3) There was a breakdown in communication between the officers who attended the WAIRC hearing on behalf of the Government, two ministerial offices and the department involved in drafting and inserting the advertisement. (4) Yes. (5) The Premier was informed independently by the two ministers involved that an attempt had been made to withdraw the advertisement. This advice was based on the understanding of the two ministerial officers at the time it was given and took place before the breakdown in communication had become apparent. In any case, the advertising manager of The West Australian has advised that the advertisement could not have been cancelled at that stage. The Premier acted in good faith based on the advice that he had been given.
Hon KIM CHANCE replied : I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Representatives, not lawyers, advised the Western Australian Industrial Relations Commission that an advertisement had been played. They further advised that in keeping with the commissioner’s order, they would attempt to have it withdrawn, even at that late hour. (2) No. (3) There was a breakdown in communication between the officers who attended the WAIRC hearing on behalf of the Government, two ministerial offices and the department involved in drafting and inserting the advertisement. (4) Yes. (5) The Premier was informed independently by the two ministers involved that an attempt had been made to withdraw the advertisement. This advice was based on the understanding of the two ministerial officers at the time it was given and took place before the breakdown in communication had become apparent. In any case, the advertising manager of The West Australian has advised that the advertisement could not have been cancelled at that stage. The Premier acted in good faith based on the advice that he had been given.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Representatives, not lawyers, advised the Western Australian Industrial Relations Commission that an advertisement had been played. They further advised that in keeping with the commissioner’s order, they would attempt to have it withdrawn, even at that late hour. (2) No. (3) There was a breakdown in communication between the officers who attended the WAIRC hearing on behalf of the Government, two ministerial offices and the department involved in drafting and inserting the advertisement. (4) Yes. (5) The Premier was informed independently by the two ministers involved that an attempt had been made to withdraw the advertisement. This advice was based on the understanding of the two ministerial officers at the time it was given and took place before the breakdown in communication had become apparent. In any case, the advertising manager of The West Australian has advised that the advertisement could not have been cancelled at that stage. The Premier acted in good faith based on the advice that he had been given.
(1) Representatives, not lawyers, advised the Western Australian Industrial Relations Commission that an advertisement had been played. They further advised that in keeping with the commissioner’s order, they would attempt to have it withdrawn, even at that late hour. (2) No. (3) There was a breakdown in communication between the officers who attended the WAIRC hearing on behalf of the Government, two ministerial offices and the department involved in drafting and inserting the advertisement. (4) Yes. (5) The Premier was informed independently by the two ministers involved that an attempt had been made to withdraw the advertisement. This advice was based on the understanding of the two ministerial officers at the time it was given and took place before the breakdown in communication had become apparent. In any case, the advertising manager of The West Australian has advised that the advertisement could not have been cancelled at that stage. The Premier acted in good faith based on the advice that he had been given.
(2) No. (3) There was a breakdown in communication between the officers who attended the WAIRC hearing on behalf of the Government, two ministerial offices and the department involved in drafting and inserting the advertisement. (4) Yes. (5) The Premier was informed independently by the two ministers involved that an attempt had been made to withdraw the advertisement. This advice was based on the understanding of the two ministerial officers at the time it was given and took place before the breakdown in communication had become apparent. In any case, the advertising manager of The West Australian has advised that the advertisement could not have been cancelled at that stage. The Premier acted in good faith based on the advice that he had been given.
(3) There was a breakdown in communication between the officers who attended the WAIRC hearing on behalf of the Government, two ministerial offices and the department involved in drafting and inserting the advertisement. (4) Yes. (5) The Premier was informed independently by the two ministers involved that an attempt had been made to withdraw the advertisement. This advice was based on the understanding of the two ministerial officers at the time it was given and took place before the breakdown in communication had become apparent. In any case, the advertising manager of The West Australian has advised that the advertisement could not have been cancelled at that stage. The Premier acted in good faith based on the advice that he had been given.
(4) Yes. (5) The Premier was informed independently by the two ministers involved that an attempt had been made to withdraw the advertisement. This advice was based on the understanding of the two ministerial officers at the time it was given and took place before the breakdown in communication had become apparent. In any case, the advertising manager of The West Australian has advised that the advertisement could not have been cancelled at that stage. The Premier acted in good faith based on the advice that he had been given.
(5) The Premier was informed independently by the two ministers involved that an attempt had been made to withdraw the advertisement. This advice was based on the understanding of the two ministerial officers at the time it was given and took place before the breakdown in communication had become apparent. In any case, the advertising manager of The West Australian has advised that the advertisement could not have been cancelled at that stage. The Premier acted in good faith based on the advice that he had been given.
(1) Did lawyers, on behalf of the Government, give an undertaking to attempt to withdraw the advertisement? (2) Was an attempt made? (3) If not, why not? (4) Did the Premier make any attempt to ascertain whether an attempt to withdraw the advertisement had been made before giving an assurance on radio that an attempt had been made? (5) On what basis did the Premier give that assurance, and does he accept responsibility for the error? Hon KIM CHANCE replied : I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Representatives, not lawyers, advised the Western Australian Industrial Relations Commission that an advertisement had been played. They further advised that in keeping with the commissioner’s order, they would attempt to have it withdrawn, even at that late hour. (2) No. (3) There was a breakdown in communication between the officers who attended the WAIRC hearing on behalf of the Government, two ministerial offices and the department involved in drafting and inserting the advertisement. (4) Yes. (5) The Premier was informed independently by the two ministers involved that an attempt had been made to withdraw the advertisement. This advice was based on the understanding of the two ministerial officers at the time it was given and took place before the breakdown in communication had become apparent. In any case, the advertising manager of The West Australian has advised that the advertisement could not have been cancelled at that stage. The Premier acted in good faith based on the advice that he had been given.
(2) Was an attempt made? (3) If not, why not? (4) Did the Premier make any attempt to ascertain whether an attempt to withdraw the advertisement had been made before giving an assurance on radio that an attempt had been made? (5) On what basis did the Premier give that assurance, and does he accept responsibility for the error? Hon KIM CHANCE replied : I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Representatives, not lawyers, advised the Western Australian Industrial Relations Commission that an advertisement had been played. They further advised that in keeping with the commissioner’s order, they would attempt to have it withdrawn, even at that late hour. (2) No. (3) There was a breakdown in communication between the officers who attended the WAIRC hearing on behalf of the Government, two ministerial offices and the department involved in drafting and inserting the advertisement. (4) Yes. (5) The Premier was informed independently by the two ministers involved that an attempt had been made to withdraw the advertisement. This advice was based on the understanding of the two ministerial officers at the time it was given and took place before the breakdown in communication had become apparent. In any case, the advertising manager of The West Australian has advised that the advertisement could not have been cancelled at that stage. The Premier acted in good faith based on the advice that he had been given.
(3) If not, why not? (4) Did the Premier make any attempt to ascertain whether an attempt to withdraw the advertisement had been made before giving an assurance on radio that an attempt had been made? (5) On what basis did the Premier give that assurance, and does he accept responsibility for the error? Hon KIM CHANCE replied : I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Representatives, not lawyers, advised the Western Australian Industrial Relations Commission that an advertisement had been played. They further advised that in keeping with the commissioner’s order, they would attempt to have it withdrawn, even at that late hour. (2) No. (3) There was a breakdown in communication between the officers who attended the WAIRC hearing on behalf of the Government, two ministerial offices and the department involved in drafting and inserting the advertisement. (4) Yes. (5) The Premier was informed independently by the two ministers involved that an attempt had been made to withdraw the advertisement. This advice was based on the understanding of the two ministerial officers at the time it was given and took place before the breakdown in communication had become apparent. In any case, the advertising manager of The West Australian has advised that the advertisement could not have been cancelled at that stage. The Premier acted in good faith based on the advice that he had been given.
(4) Did the Premier make any attempt to ascertain whether an attempt to withdraw the advertisement had been made before giving an assurance on radio that an attempt had been made? (5) On what basis did the Premier give that assurance, and does he accept responsibility for the error? Hon KIM CHANCE replied : I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Representatives, not lawyers, advised the Western Australian Industrial Relations Commission that an advertisement had been played. They further advised that in keeping with the commissioner’s order, they would attempt to have it withdrawn, even at that late hour. (2) No. (3) There was a breakdown in communication between the officers who attended the WAIRC hearing on behalf of the Government, two ministerial offices and the department involved in drafting and inserting the advertisement. (4) Yes. (5) The Premier was informed independently by the two ministers involved that an attempt had been made to withdraw the advertisement. This advice was based on the understanding of the two ministerial officers at the time it was given and took place before the breakdown in communication had become apparent. In any case, the advertising manager of The West Australian has advised that the advertisement could not have been cancelled at that stage. The Premier acted in good faith based on the advice that he had been given.
(5) On what basis did the Premier give that assurance, and does he accept responsibility for the error? Hon KIM CHANCE replied : I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Representatives, not lawyers, advised the Western Australian Industrial Relations Commission that an advertisement had been played. They further advised that in keeping with the commissioner’s order, they would attempt to have it withdrawn, even at that late hour. (2) No. (3) There was a breakdown in communication between the officers who attended the WAIRC hearing on behalf of the Government, two ministerial offices and the department involved in drafting and inserting the advertisement. (4) Yes. (5) The Premier was informed independently by the two ministers involved that an attempt had been made to withdraw the advertisement. This advice was based on the understanding of the two ministerial officers at the time it was given and took place before the breakdown in communication had become apparent. In any case, the advertising manager of The West Australian has advised that the advertisement could not have been cancelled at that stage. The Premier acted in good faith based on the advice that he had been given.
Hon KIM CHANCE replied : I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Representatives, not lawyers, advised the Western Australian Industrial Relations Commission that an advertisement had been played. They further advised that in keeping with the commissioner’s order, they would attempt to have it withdrawn, even at that late hour. (2) No. (3) There was a breakdown in communication between the officers who attended the WAIRC hearing on behalf of the Government, two ministerial offices and the department involved in drafting and inserting the advertisement. (4) Yes. (5) The Premier was informed independently by the two ministers involved that an attempt had been made to withdraw the advertisement. This advice was based on the understanding of the two ministerial officers at the time it was given and took place before the breakdown in communication had become apparent. In any case, the advertising manager of The West Australian has advised that the advertisement could not have been cancelled at that stage. The Premier acted in good faith based on the advice that he had been given.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) Representatives, not lawyers, advised the Western Australian Industrial Relations Commission that an advertisement had been played. They further advised that in keeping with the commissioner’s order, they would attempt to have it withdrawn, even at that late hour. (2) No. (3) There was a breakdown in communication between the officers who attended the WAIRC hearing on behalf of the Government, two ministerial offices and the department involved in drafting and inserting the advertisement. (4) Yes. (5) The Premier was informed independently by the two ministers involved that an attempt had been made to withdraw the advertisement. This advice was based on the understanding of the two ministerial officers at the time it was given and took place before the breakdown in communication had become apparent. In any case, the advertising manager of The West Australian has advised that the advertisement could not have been cancelled at that stage. The Premier acted in good faith based on the advice that he had been given.
(1) Representatives, not lawyers, advised the Western Australian Industrial Relations Commission that an advertisement had been played. They further advised that in keeping with the commissioner’s order, they would attempt to have it withdrawn, even at that late hour. (2) No. (3) There was a breakdown in communication between the officers who attended the WAIRC hearing on behalf of the Government, two ministerial offices and the department involved in drafting and inserting the advertisement. (4) Yes. (5) The Premier was informed independently by the two ministers involved that an attempt had been made to withdraw the advertisement. This advice was based on the understanding of the two ministerial officers at the time it was given and took place before the breakdown in communication had become apparent. In any case, the advertising manager of The West Australian has advised that the advertisement could not have been cancelled at that stage. The Premier acted in good faith based on the advice that he had been given.
(2) No. (3) There was a breakdown in communication between the officers who attended the WAIRC hearing on behalf of the Government, two ministerial offices and the department involved in drafting and inserting the advertisement. (4) Yes. (5) The Premier was informed independently by the two ministers involved that an attempt had been made to withdraw the advertisement. This advice was based on the understanding of the two ministerial officers at the time it was given and took place before the breakdown in communication had become apparent. In any case, the advertising manager of The West Australian has advised that the advertisement could not have been cancelled at that stage. The Premier acted in good faith based on the advice that he had been given.
(3) There was a breakdown in communication between the officers who attended the WAIRC hearing on behalf of the Government, two ministerial offices and the department involved in drafting and inserting the advertisement. (4) Yes. (5) The Premier was informed independently by the two ministers involved that an attempt had been made to withdraw the advertisement. This advice was based on the understanding of the two ministerial officers at the time it was given and took place before the breakdown in communication had become apparent. In any case, the advertising manager of The West Australian has advised that the advertisement could not have been cancelled at that stage. The Premier acted in good faith based on the advice that he had been given.
(4) Yes. (5) The Premier was informed independently by the two ministers involved that an attempt had been made to withdraw the advertisement. This advice was based on the understanding of the two ministerial officers at the time it was given and took place before the breakdown in communication had become apparent. In any case, the advertising manager of The West Australian has advised that the advertisement could not have been cancelled at that stage. The Premier acted in good faith based on the advice that he had been given.
(5) The Premier was informed independently by the two ministers involved that an attempt had been made to withdraw the advertisement. This advice was based on the understanding of the two ministerial officers at the time it was given and took place before the breakdown in communication had become apparent. In any case, the advertising manager of The West Australian has advised that the advertisement could not have been cancelled at that stage. The Premier acted in good faith based on the advice that he had been given.
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