❓ Opposition Leader Ripper questions Premier Barnett about potential conflict of interest regarding Minister Moore's wife's shares and his role as trustee. Barnett defends Moore, stating the trust predates his ministerial role and he has declared his interest and recused himself from relevant decisions.
AnsweredQoN 46Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
MINISTER FOR MINES AND PETROLEUM — CONFLICT OF INTEREST
I ask a supplementary question. I find that answer extraordinary. Will the Premier now amend the ministerial code to reflect the new lower standards he has now applied to the minister? Mr C.J. BARNETT
I ask a supplementary question. I find that answer extraordinary. Will the Premier now amend the ministerial code to reflect the new lower standards he has now applied to the minister? Mr C.J. BARNETT
AnswerView source ↗
There is no lower standard. I assure the Leader of the Opposition that there will be higher standards. Unless I am mistaken, and I do not believe I am, the trust was established from Mrs Moore’s retirement superannuation. Mr E.S. Ripper : He’s a trustee. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, he is. The innuendo of the question — Mr E.S. Ripper : Isn’t he a beneficiary? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I ask the Leader of the Opposition to listen and concentrate. The question implies that when Hon Norman Moore became a minister, somehow his wife’s shares were transferred into a trust. It is my firm understanding that the trust was established beforehand. The minister has not at any stage denied or suggested otherwise that he, through his wife’s ownership of those shares and his being a trustee, has a material interest. That has never been in question. He has exempted himself from issues — Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s in breach of the code. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is not breaking the code. The minister’s wife is entitled to own shares.
Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: There is no lower standard. I assure the Leader of the Opposition that there will be higher standards. Unless I am mistaken, and I do not believe I am, the trust was established from Mrs Moore’s retirement superannuation. Mr E.S. Ripper : He’s a trustee. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, he is. The innuendo of the question — Mr E.S. Ripper : Isn’t he a beneficiary? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I ask the Leader of the Opposition to listen and concentrate. The question implies that when Hon Norman Moore became a minister, somehow his wife’s shares were transferred into a trust. It is my firm understanding that the trust was established beforehand. The minister has not at any stage denied or suggested otherwise that he, through his wife’s ownership of those shares and his being a trustee, has a material interest. That has never been in question. He has exempted himself from issues — Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s in breach of the code. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is not breaking the code. The minister’s wife is entitled to own shares.
There is no lower standard. I assure the Leader of the Opposition that there will be higher standards. Unless I am mistaken, and I do not believe I am, the trust was established from Mrs Moore’s retirement superannuation. Mr E.S. Ripper : He’s a trustee. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, he is. The innuendo of the question — Mr E.S. Ripper : Isn’t he a beneficiary? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I ask the Leader of the Opposition to listen and concentrate. The question implies that when Hon Norman Moore became a minister, somehow his wife’s shares were transferred into a trust. It is my firm understanding that the trust was established beforehand. The minister has not at any stage denied or suggested otherwise that he, through his wife’s ownership of those shares and his being a trustee, has a material interest. That has never been in question. He has exempted himself from issues — Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s in breach of the code. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is not breaking the code. The minister’s wife is entitled to own shares.
Mr E.S. Ripper : He’s a trustee. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, he is. The innuendo of the question — Mr E.S. Ripper : Isn’t he a beneficiary? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I ask the Leader of the Opposition to listen and concentrate. The question implies that when Hon Norman Moore became a minister, somehow his wife’s shares were transferred into a trust. It is my firm understanding that the trust was established beforehand. The minister has not at any stage denied or suggested otherwise that he, through his wife’s ownership of those shares and his being a trustee, has a material interest. That has never been in question. He has exempted himself from issues — Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s in breach of the code. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is not breaking the code. The minister’s wife is entitled to own shares.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, he is. The innuendo of the question — Mr E.S. Ripper : Isn’t he a beneficiary? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I ask the Leader of the Opposition to listen and concentrate. The question implies that when Hon Norman Moore became a minister, somehow his wife’s shares were transferred into a trust. It is my firm understanding that the trust was established beforehand. The minister has not at any stage denied or suggested otherwise that he, through his wife’s ownership of those shares and his being a trustee, has a material interest. That has never been in question. He has exempted himself from issues — Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s in breach of the code. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is not breaking the code. The minister’s wife is entitled to own shares.
Mr E.S. Ripper : Isn’t he a beneficiary? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I ask the Leader of the Opposition to listen and concentrate. The question implies that when Hon Norman Moore became a minister, somehow his wife’s shares were transferred into a trust. It is my firm understanding that the trust was established beforehand. The minister has not at any stage denied or suggested otherwise that he, through his wife’s ownership of those shares and his being a trustee, has a material interest. That has never been in question. He has exempted himself from issues — Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s in breach of the code. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is not breaking the code. The minister’s wife is entitled to own shares.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I ask the Leader of the Opposition to listen and concentrate. The question implies that when Hon Norman Moore became a minister, somehow his wife’s shares were transferred into a trust. It is my firm understanding that the trust was established beforehand. The minister has not at any stage denied or suggested otherwise that he, through his wife’s ownership of those shares and his being a trustee, has a material interest. That has never been in question. He has exempted himself from issues — Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s in breach of the code. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is not breaking the code. The minister’s wife is entitled to own shares.
Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s in breach of the code. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is not breaking the code. The minister’s wife is entitled to own shares.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is not breaking the code. The minister’s wife is entitled to own shares.
Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: There is no lower standard. I assure the Leader of the Opposition that there will be higher standards. Unless I am mistaken, and I do not believe I am, the trust was established from Mrs Moore’s retirement superannuation. Mr E.S. Ripper : He’s a trustee. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, he is. The innuendo of the question — Mr E.S. Ripper : Isn’t he a beneficiary? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I ask the Leader of the Opposition to listen and concentrate. The question implies that when Hon Norman Moore became a minister, somehow his wife’s shares were transferred into a trust. It is my firm understanding that the trust was established beforehand. The minister has not at any stage denied or suggested otherwise that he, through his wife’s ownership of those shares and his being a trustee, has a material interest. That has never been in question. He has exempted himself from issues — Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s in breach of the code. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is not breaking the code. The minister’s wife is entitled to own shares.
There is no lower standard. I assure the Leader of the Opposition that there will be higher standards. Unless I am mistaken, and I do not believe I am, the trust was established from Mrs Moore’s retirement superannuation. Mr E.S. Ripper : He’s a trustee. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, he is. The innuendo of the question — Mr E.S. Ripper : Isn’t he a beneficiary? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I ask the Leader of the Opposition to listen and concentrate. The question implies that when Hon Norman Moore became a minister, somehow his wife’s shares were transferred into a trust. It is my firm understanding that the trust was established beforehand. The minister has not at any stage denied or suggested otherwise that he, through his wife’s ownership of those shares and his being a trustee, has a material interest. That has never been in question. He has exempted himself from issues — Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s in breach of the code. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is not breaking the code. The minister’s wife is entitled to own shares.
Mr E.S. Ripper : He’s a trustee. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, he is. The innuendo of the question — Mr E.S. Ripper : Isn’t he a beneficiary? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I ask the Leader of the Opposition to listen and concentrate. The question implies that when Hon Norman Moore became a minister, somehow his wife’s shares were transferred into a trust. It is my firm understanding that the trust was established beforehand. The minister has not at any stage denied or suggested otherwise that he, through his wife’s ownership of those shares and his being a trustee, has a material interest. That has never been in question. He has exempted himself from issues — Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s in breach of the code. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is not breaking the code. The minister’s wife is entitled to own shares.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, he is. The innuendo of the question — Mr E.S. Ripper : Isn’t he a beneficiary? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I ask the Leader of the Opposition to listen and concentrate. The question implies that when Hon Norman Moore became a minister, somehow his wife’s shares were transferred into a trust. It is my firm understanding that the trust was established beforehand. The minister has not at any stage denied or suggested otherwise that he, through his wife’s ownership of those shares and his being a trustee, has a material interest. That has never been in question. He has exempted himself from issues — Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s in breach of the code. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is not breaking the code. The minister’s wife is entitled to own shares.
Mr E.S. Ripper : Isn’t he a beneficiary? Mr C.J. BARNETT : I ask the Leader of the Opposition to listen and concentrate. The question implies that when Hon Norman Moore became a minister, somehow his wife’s shares were transferred into a trust. It is my firm understanding that the trust was established beforehand. The minister has not at any stage denied or suggested otherwise that he, through his wife’s ownership of those shares and his being a trustee, has a material interest. That has never been in question. He has exempted himself from issues — Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s in breach of the code. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is not breaking the code. The minister’s wife is entitled to own shares.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I ask the Leader of the Opposition to listen and concentrate. The question implies that when Hon Norman Moore became a minister, somehow his wife’s shares were transferred into a trust. It is my firm understanding that the trust was established beforehand. The minister has not at any stage denied or suggested otherwise that he, through his wife’s ownership of those shares and his being a trustee, has a material interest. That has never been in question. He has exempted himself from issues — Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s in breach of the code. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is not breaking the code. The minister’s wife is entitled to own shares.
Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s in breach of the code. Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is not breaking the code. The minister’s wife is entitled to own shares.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : It is not breaking the code. The minister’s wife is entitled to own shares.
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