❓ Opposition questions potential conflict of interest for the Minister for Mines and Petroleum due to his wife's shareholdings in BHP Billiton and Woodside. Premier Barnett defends the Minister, highlighting transparency and criticising the previous government's handling of mining approvals.
AnsweredQoN 24Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
MINISTER FOR MINES AND PETROLEUM — CONFLICT OF INTEREST
In light of the Premier’s confirmation that the Minister for Mines and Petroleum, Norman Moore, has an interest in his wife’s superannuation share portfolio, which holds shares in BHP Billiton and Woodside, will the Premier confirm that the minister will not be involved in the granting of mineral exploration leases; the issuing of minerals titles for mining tenements; the issuing with the federal minister of offshore exploration and development acreage; the issuing of fines or penalties applicable to breaches of the Mining Act 1978; decisions relating to conflicts over mineral title claims; and commercial and development briefings in relation to either BHP Billiton, Woodside, their partners or competitors? Mr C.J. BARNETT
In light of the Premier’s confirmation that the Minister for Mines and Petroleum, Norman Moore, has an interest in his wife’s superannuation share portfolio, which holds shares in BHP Billiton and Woodside, will the Premier confirm that the minister will not be involved in the granting of mineral exploration leases; the issuing of minerals titles for mining tenements; the issuing with the federal minister of offshore exploration and development acreage; the issuing of fines or penalties applicable to breaches of the Mining Act 1978; decisions relating to conflicts over mineral title claims; and commercial and development briefings in relation to either BHP Billiton, Woodside, their partners or competitors? Mr C.J. BARNETT
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the Leader of the Opposition for the question. The sentiment in his question is that the Minister for Mines and Petroleum should not do all these things. I am now starting to understand how the former government managed to accumulate a 17 000 mining approvals backlog. Its whole focus was on not doing things. The Leader of the Opposition’s question is about not doing things. I assure the Leader of the Opposition that this government is about doing things — Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : This government is about doing things and getting — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No wonder the former government had a backlog of—imagine it—17 000 mining applications waiting in the queue! 17 000! No wonder groups like Inpex left Western Australia! No, I will not give such a silly guarantee as that, to say that the Minister for Mines and Petroleum will effectively not do his job. What a ludicrous position that would be! However, when there is an issue whereby he is exercising his discretion as a minister and it affects Woodside or BHP — Mr E.S. Ripper : Or competitors. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No. If it affects Woodside or BHP and he considers that he may have either a real or a perceived conflict of interest, he may decide to absent himself from that decision, whether it be in cabinet or administratively. I remind members opposite that the operations of Woodside and the vast majority of the operations of BHP are conducted under state agreement acts, and, as Minister for State Development, I have responsibility for them. Why does it hurt members opposite so much that on this side of the house they have a government of propriety and integrity? Hon Norman Moore declared his position from the outset, which was entirely proper. He sought advice from the State Solicitor’s Office, which was entirely proper. It is being handled correctly. The opposition can keep asking the questions if it likes, because all it does is remind the mining industry in this state why it was so inept.
Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: I thank the Leader of the Opposition for the question. The sentiment in his question is that the Minister for Mines and Petroleum should not do all these things. I am now starting to understand how the former government managed to accumulate a 17 000 mining approvals backlog. Its whole focus was on not doing things. The Leader of the Opposition’s question is about not doing things. I assure the Leader of the Opposition that this government is about doing things — Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : This government is about doing things and getting — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No wonder the former government had a backlog of—imagine it—17 000 mining applications waiting in the queue! 17 000! No wonder groups like Inpex left Western Australia! No, I will not give such a silly guarantee as that, to say that the Minister for Mines and Petroleum will effectively not do his job. What a ludicrous position that would be! However, when there is an issue whereby he is exercising his discretion as a minister and it affects Woodside or BHP — Mr E.S. Ripper : Or competitors. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No. If it affects Woodside or BHP and he considers that he may have either a real or a perceived conflict of interest, he may decide to absent himself from that decision, whether it be in cabinet or administratively. I remind members opposite that the operations of Woodside and the vast majority of the operations of BHP are conducted under state agreement acts, and, as Minister for State Development, I have responsibility for them. Why does it hurt members opposite so much that on this side of the house they have a government of propriety and integrity? Hon Norman Moore declared his position from the outset, which was entirely proper. He sought advice from the State Solicitor’s Office, which was entirely proper. It is being handled correctly. The opposition can keep asking the questions if it likes, because all it does is remind the mining industry in this state why it was so inept.
I thank the Leader of the Opposition for the question. The sentiment in his question is that the Minister for Mines and Petroleum should not do all these things. I am now starting to understand how the former government managed to accumulate a 17 000 mining approvals backlog. Its whole focus was on not doing things. The Leader of the Opposition’s question is about not doing things. I assure the Leader of the Opposition that this government is about doing things — Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : This government is about doing things and getting — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No wonder the former government had a backlog of—imagine it—17 000 mining applications waiting in the queue! 17 000! No wonder groups like Inpex left Western Australia! No, I will not give such a silly guarantee as that, to say that the Minister for Mines and Petroleum will effectively not do his job. What a ludicrous position that would be! However, when there is an issue whereby he is exercising his discretion as a minister and it affects Woodside or BHP — Mr E.S. Ripper : Or competitors. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No. If it affects Woodside or BHP and he considers that he may have either a real or a perceived conflict of interest, he may decide to absent himself from that decision, whether it be in cabinet or administratively. I remind members opposite that the operations of Woodside and the vast majority of the operations of BHP are conducted under state agreement acts, and, as Minister for State Development, I have responsibility for them. Why does it hurt members opposite so much that on this side of the house they have a government of propriety and integrity? Hon Norman Moore declared his position from the outset, which was entirely proper. He sought advice from the State Solicitor’s Office, which was entirely proper. It is being handled correctly. The opposition can keep asking the questions if it likes, because all it does is remind the mining industry in this state why it was so inept.
Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : This government is about doing things and getting — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No wonder the former government had a backlog of—imagine it—17 000 mining applications waiting in the queue! 17 000! No wonder groups like Inpex left Western Australia! No, I will not give such a silly guarantee as that, to say that the Minister for Mines and Petroleum will effectively not do his job. What a ludicrous position that would be! However, when there is an issue whereby he is exercising his discretion as a minister and it affects Woodside or BHP — Mr E.S. Ripper : Or competitors. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No. If it affects Woodside or BHP and he considers that he may have either a real or a perceived conflict of interest, he may decide to absent himself from that decision, whether it be in cabinet or administratively. I remind members opposite that the operations of Woodside and the vast majority of the operations of BHP are conducted under state agreement acts, and, as Minister for State Development, I have responsibility for them. Why does it hurt members opposite so much that on this side of the house they have a government of propriety and integrity? Hon Norman Moore declared his position from the outset, which was entirely proper. He sought advice from the State Solicitor’s Office, which was entirely proper. It is being handled correctly. The opposition can keep asking the questions if it likes, because all it does is remind the mining industry in this state why it was so inept.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : This government is about doing things and getting — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No wonder the former government had a backlog of—imagine it—17 000 mining applications waiting in the queue! 17 000! No wonder groups like Inpex left Western Australia! No, I will not give such a silly guarantee as that, to say that the Minister for Mines and Petroleum will effectively not do his job. What a ludicrous position that would be! However, when there is an issue whereby he is exercising his discretion as a minister and it affects Woodside or BHP — Mr E.S. Ripper : Or competitors. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No. If it affects Woodside or BHP and he considers that he may have either a real or a perceived conflict of interest, he may decide to absent himself from that decision, whether it be in cabinet or administratively. I remind members opposite that the operations of Woodside and the vast majority of the operations of BHP are conducted under state agreement acts, and, as Minister for State Development, I have responsibility for them. Why does it hurt members opposite so much that on this side of the house they have a government of propriety and integrity? Hon Norman Moore declared his position from the outset, which was entirely proper. He sought advice from the State Solicitor’s Office, which was entirely proper. It is being handled correctly. The opposition can keep asking the questions if it likes, because all it does is remind the mining industry in this state why it was so inept.
Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No wonder the former government had a backlog of—imagine it—17 000 mining applications waiting in the queue! 17 000! No wonder groups like Inpex left Western Australia! No, I will not give such a silly guarantee as that, to say that the Minister for Mines and Petroleum will effectively not do his job. What a ludicrous position that would be! However, when there is an issue whereby he is exercising his discretion as a minister and it affects Woodside or BHP — Mr E.S. Ripper : Or competitors. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No. If it affects Woodside or BHP and he considers that he may have either a real or a perceived conflict of interest, he may decide to absent himself from that decision, whether it be in cabinet or administratively. I remind members opposite that the operations of Woodside and the vast majority of the operations of BHP are conducted under state agreement acts, and, as Minister for State Development, I have responsibility for them. Why does it hurt members opposite so much that on this side of the house they have a government of propriety and integrity? Hon Norman Moore declared his position from the outset, which was entirely proper. He sought advice from the State Solicitor’s Office, which was entirely proper. It is being handled correctly. The opposition can keep asking the questions if it likes, because all it does is remind the mining industry in this state why it was so inept.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : No wonder the former government had a backlog of—imagine it—17 000 mining applications waiting in the queue! 17 000! No wonder groups like Inpex left Western Australia! No, I will not give such a silly guarantee as that, to say that the Minister for Mines and Petroleum will effectively not do his job. What a ludicrous position that would be! However, when there is an issue whereby he is exercising his discretion as a minister and it affects Woodside or BHP — Mr E.S. Ripper : Or competitors. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No. If it affects Woodside or BHP and he considers that he may have either a real or a perceived conflict of interest, he may decide to absent himself from that decision, whether it be in cabinet or administratively. I remind members opposite that the operations of Woodside and the vast majority of the operations of BHP are conducted under state agreement acts, and, as Minister for State Development, I have responsibility for them. Why does it hurt members opposite so much that on this side of the house they have a government of propriety and integrity? Hon Norman Moore declared his position from the outset, which was entirely proper. He sought advice from the State Solicitor’s Office, which was entirely proper. It is being handled correctly. The opposition can keep asking the questions if it likes, because all it does is remind the mining industry in this state why it was so inept.
No, I will not give such a silly guarantee as that, to say that the Minister for Mines and Petroleum will effectively not do his job. What a ludicrous position that would be! However, when there is an issue whereby he is exercising his discretion as a minister and it affects Woodside or BHP — Mr E.S. Ripper : Or competitors. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No. If it affects Woodside or BHP and he considers that he may have either a real or a perceived conflict of interest, he may decide to absent himself from that decision, whether it be in cabinet or administratively. I remind members opposite that the operations of Woodside and the vast majority of the operations of BHP are conducted under state agreement acts, and, as Minister for State Development, I have responsibility for them. Why does it hurt members opposite so much that on this side of the house they have a government of propriety and integrity? Hon Norman Moore declared his position from the outset, which was entirely proper. He sought advice from the State Solicitor’s Office, which was entirely proper. It is being handled correctly. The opposition can keep asking the questions if it likes, because all it does is remind the mining industry in this state why it was so inept.
Mr E.S. Ripper : Or competitors. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No. If it affects Woodside or BHP and he considers that he may have either a real or a perceived conflict of interest, he may decide to absent himself from that decision, whether it be in cabinet or administratively. I remind members opposite that the operations of Woodside and the vast majority of the operations of BHP are conducted under state agreement acts, and, as Minister for State Development, I have responsibility for them. Why does it hurt members opposite so much that on this side of the house they have a government of propriety and integrity? Hon Norman Moore declared his position from the outset, which was entirely proper. He sought advice from the State Solicitor’s Office, which was entirely proper. It is being handled correctly. The opposition can keep asking the questions if it likes, because all it does is remind the mining industry in this state why it was so inept.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : No. If it affects Woodside or BHP and he considers that he may have either a real or a perceived conflict of interest, he may decide to absent himself from that decision, whether it be in cabinet or administratively. I remind members opposite that the operations of Woodside and the vast majority of the operations of BHP are conducted under state agreement acts, and, as Minister for State Development, I have responsibility for them. Why does it hurt members opposite so much that on this side of the house they have a government of propriety and integrity? Hon Norman Moore declared his position from the outset, which was entirely proper. He sought advice from the State Solicitor’s Office, which was entirely proper. It is being handled correctly. The opposition can keep asking the questions if it likes, because all it does is remind the mining industry in this state why it was so inept.
Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: I thank the Leader of the Opposition for the question. The sentiment in his question is that the Minister for Mines and Petroleum should not do all these things. I am now starting to understand how the former government managed to accumulate a 17 000 mining approvals backlog. Its whole focus was on not doing things. The Leader of the Opposition’s question is about not doing things. I assure the Leader of the Opposition that this government is about doing things — Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : This government is about doing things and getting — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No wonder the former government had a backlog of—imagine it—17 000 mining applications waiting in the queue! 17 000! No wonder groups like Inpex left Western Australia! No, I will not give such a silly guarantee as that, to say that the Minister for Mines and Petroleum will effectively not do his job. What a ludicrous position that would be! However, when there is an issue whereby he is exercising his discretion as a minister and it affects Woodside or BHP — Mr E.S. Ripper : Or competitors. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No. If it affects Woodside or BHP and he considers that he may have either a real or a perceived conflict of interest, he may decide to absent himself from that decision, whether it be in cabinet or administratively. I remind members opposite that the operations of Woodside and the vast majority of the operations of BHP are conducted under state agreement acts, and, as Minister for State Development, I have responsibility for them. Why does it hurt members opposite so much that on this side of the house they have a government of propriety and integrity? Hon Norman Moore declared his position from the outset, which was entirely proper. He sought advice from the State Solicitor’s Office, which was entirely proper. It is being handled correctly. The opposition can keep asking the questions if it likes, because all it does is remind the mining industry in this state why it was so inept.
I thank the Leader of the Opposition for the question. The sentiment in his question is that the Minister for Mines and Petroleum should not do all these things. I am now starting to understand how the former government managed to accumulate a 17 000 mining approvals backlog. Its whole focus was on not doing things. The Leader of the Opposition’s question is about not doing things. I assure the Leader of the Opposition that this government is about doing things — Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : This government is about doing things and getting — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No wonder the former government had a backlog of—imagine it—17 000 mining applications waiting in the queue! 17 000! No wonder groups like Inpex left Western Australia! No, I will not give such a silly guarantee as that, to say that the Minister for Mines and Petroleum will effectively not do his job. What a ludicrous position that would be! However, when there is an issue whereby he is exercising his discretion as a minister and it affects Woodside or BHP — Mr E.S. Ripper : Or competitors. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No. If it affects Woodside or BHP and he considers that he may have either a real or a perceived conflict of interest, he may decide to absent himself from that decision, whether it be in cabinet or administratively. I remind members opposite that the operations of Woodside and the vast majority of the operations of BHP are conducted under state agreement acts, and, as Minister for State Development, I have responsibility for them. Why does it hurt members opposite so much that on this side of the house they have a government of propriety and integrity? Hon Norman Moore declared his position from the outset, which was entirely proper. He sought advice from the State Solicitor’s Office, which was entirely proper. It is being handled correctly. The opposition can keep asking the questions if it likes, because all it does is remind the mining industry in this state why it was so inept.
Mr E.S. Ripper interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : This government is about doing things and getting — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No wonder the former government had a backlog of—imagine it—17 000 mining applications waiting in the queue! 17 000! No wonder groups like Inpex left Western Australia! No, I will not give such a silly guarantee as that, to say that the Minister for Mines and Petroleum will effectively not do his job. What a ludicrous position that would be! However, when there is an issue whereby he is exercising his discretion as a minister and it affects Woodside or BHP — Mr E.S. Ripper : Or competitors. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No. If it affects Woodside or BHP and he considers that he may have either a real or a perceived conflict of interest, he may decide to absent himself from that decision, whether it be in cabinet or administratively. I remind members opposite that the operations of Woodside and the vast majority of the operations of BHP are conducted under state agreement acts, and, as Minister for State Development, I have responsibility for them. Why does it hurt members opposite so much that on this side of the house they have a government of propriety and integrity? Hon Norman Moore declared his position from the outset, which was entirely proper. He sought advice from the State Solicitor’s Office, which was entirely proper. It is being handled correctly. The opposition can keep asking the questions if it likes, because all it does is remind the mining industry in this state why it was so inept.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : This government is about doing things and getting — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No wonder the former government had a backlog of—imagine it—17 000 mining applications waiting in the queue! 17 000! No wonder groups like Inpex left Western Australia! No, I will not give such a silly guarantee as that, to say that the Minister for Mines and Petroleum will effectively not do his job. What a ludicrous position that would be! However, when there is an issue whereby he is exercising his discretion as a minister and it affects Woodside or BHP — Mr E.S. Ripper : Or competitors. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No. If it affects Woodside or BHP and he considers that he may have either a real or a perceived conflict of interest, he may decide to absent himself from that decision, whether it be in cabinet or administratively. I remind members opposite that the operations of Woodside and the vast majority of the operations of BHP are conducted under state agreement acts, and, as Minister for State Development, I have responsibility for them. Why does it hurt members opposite so much that on this side of the house they have a government of propriety and integrity? Hon Norman Moore declared his position from the outset, which was entirely proper. He sought advice from the State Solicitor’s Office, which was entirely proper. It is being handled correctly. The opposition can keep asking the questions if it likes, because all it does is remind the mining industry in this state why it was so inept.
Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No wonder the former government had a backlog of—imagine it—17 000 mining applications waiting in the queue! 17 000! No wonder groups like Inpex left Western Australia! No, I will not give such a silly guarantee as that, to say that the Minister for Mines and Petroleum will effectively not do his job. What a ludicrous position that would be! However, when there is an issue whereby he is exercising his discretion as a minister and it affects Woodside or BHP — Mr E.S. Ripper : Or competitors. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No. If it affects Woodside or BHP and he considers that he may have either a real or a perceived conflict of interest, he may decide to absent himself from that decision, whether it be in cabinet or administratively. I remind members opposite that the operations of Woodside and the vast majority of the operations of BHP are conducted under state agreement acts, and, as Minister for State Development, I have responsibility for them. Why does it hurt members opposite so much that on this side of the house they have a government of propriety and integrity? Hon Norman Moore declared his position from the outset, which was entirely proper. He sought advice from the State Solicitor’s Office, which was entirely proper. It is being handled correctly. The opposition can keep asking the questions if it likes, because all it does is remind the mining industry in this state why it was so inept.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : No wonder the former government had a backlog of—imagine it—17 000 mining applications waiting in the queue! 17 000! No wonder groups like Inpex left Western Australia! No, I will not give such a silly guarantee as that, to say that the Minister for Mines and Petroleum will effectively not do his job. What a ludicrous position that would be! However, when there is an issue whereby he is exercising his discretion as a minister and it affects Woodside or BHP — Mr E.S. Ripper : Or competitors. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No. If it affects Woodside or BHP and he considers that he may have either a real or a perceived conflict of interest, he may decide to absent himself from that decision, whether it be in cabinet or administratively. I remind members opposite that the operations of Woodside and the vast majority of the operations of BHP are conducted under state agreement acts, and, as Minister for State Development, I have responsibility for them. Why does it hurt members opposite so much that on this side of the house they have a government of propriety and integrity? Hon Norman Moore declared his position from the outset, which was entirely proper. He sought advice from the State Solicitor’s Office, which was entirely proper. It is being handled correctly. The opposition can keep asking the questions if it likes, because all it does is remind the mining industry in this state why it was so inept.
No, I will not give such a silly guarantee as that, to say that the Minister for Mines and Petroleum will effectively not do his job. What a ludicrous position that would be! However, when there is an issue whereby he is exercising his discretion as a minister and it affects Woodside or BHP — Mr E.S. Ripper : Or competitors. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No. If it affects Woodside or BHP and he considers that he may have either a real or a perceived conflict of interest, he may decide to absent himself from that decision, whether it be in cabinet or administratively. I remind members opposite that the operations of Woodside and the vast majority of the operations of BHP are conducted under state agreement acts, and, as Minister for State Development, I have responsibility for them. Why does it hurt members opposite so much that on this side of the house they have a government of propriety and integrity? Hon Norman Moore declared his position from the outset, which was entirely proper. He sought advice from the State Solicitor’s Office, which was entirely proper. It is being handled correctly. The opposition can keep asking the questions if it likes, because all it does is remind the mining industry in this state why it was so inept.
Mr E.S. Ripper : Or competitors. Mr C.J. BARNETT : No. If it affects Woodside or BHP and he considers that he may have either a real or a perceived conflict of interest, he may decide to absent himself from that decision, whether it be in cabinet or administratively. I remind members opposite that the operations of Woodside and the vast majority of the operations of BHP are conducted under state agreement acts, and, as Minister for State Development, I have responsibility for them. Why does it hurt members opposite so much that on this side of the house they have a government of propriety and integrity? Hon Norman Moore declared his position from the outset, which was entirely proper. He sought advice from the State Solicitor’s Office, which was entirely proper. It is being handled correctly. The opposition can keep asking the questions if it likes, because all it does is remind the mining industry in this state why it was so inept.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : No. If it affects Woodside or BHP and he considers that he may have either a real or a perceived conflict of interest, he may decide to absent himself from that decision, whether it be in cabinet or administratively. I remind members opposite that the operations of Woodside and the vast majority of the operations of BHP are conducted under state agreement acts, and, as Minister for State Development, I have responsibility for them. Why does it hurt members opposite so much that on this side of the house they have a government of propriety and integrity? Hon Norman Moore declared his position from the outset, which was entirely proper. He sought advice from the State Solicitor’s Office, which was entirely proper. It is being handled correctly. The opposition can keep asking the questions if it likes, because all it does is remind the mining industry in this state why it was so inept.
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