❓ Opposition Leader Mark McGowan questions Premier Colin Barnett about resignations from the Liberal Party and their impact on confidence in his leadership. The Premier defends the importance of party loyalty.
AnsweredQoN 374Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
PARLIAMENTARY LIBERAL PARTY — MEMBERSHIP
374. Mr M. McGOWAN to the Premier:
I refer to the resignation from the
Liberal Party of Hon Nigel Hallett and the member for Hillarys in the last few
weeks over policy concerns, including the government's handling of
regional issues, road safety and debt, combined with the current division over
taxi reform and government division —
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Swan Hills, I call you to order for the second time.
Mr
M. McGOWAN : I will start again. My question without notice is to the
Premier. I refer to the resignation from the Liberal Party of Hon Nigel Hallett and the member for
Hillarys in the last few weeks over policy concerns, including the government's
handling of regional issues, road safety and debt, combined with the current
division over taxi reform and government division over privatisation. Is this
not further demonstration of a lack of confidence in the Premier's
leadership of the Liberal Party and the state of Western Australia?
374. Mr M. McGOWAN to the Premier:
I refer to the resignation from the
Liberal Party of Hon Nigel Hallett and the member for Hillarys in the last few
weeks over policy concerns, including the government's handling of
regional issues, road safety and debt, combined with the current division over
taxi reform and government division —
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Swan Hills, I call you to order for the second time.
Mr
M. McGOWAN : I will start again. My question without notice is to the
Premier. I refer to the resignation from the Liberal Party of Hon Nigel Hallett and the member for
Hillarys in the last few weeks over policy concerns, including the government's
handling of regional issues, road safety and debt, combined with the current
division over taxi reform and government division over privatisation. Is this
not further demonstration of a lack of confidence in the Premier's
leadership of the Liberal Party and the state of Western Australia?
AnswerView source ↗
I have a fairly old-fashioned view that
when a member of Parliament is elected with the support and nomination of a political
party, that member has a responsibility to honour that sponsorship and support.
Several members interjected.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : I do.
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Thank you! Premier.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker, they went feral within 30 seconds today—that
is a record!
The reality is that very few members
of Parliament would be elected if not for the nomination of a major political
party—that is the reality—and no matter how good we all think
we are, we would not have got into this place without the support of a political
party. Therefore, I think it is —
Mr
D.J. Kelly interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Bassendean, I call you to order for the first time.
Mr
D.J. Kelly interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Bassendean!
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : It may be an old-fashioned and simple view that I hold.
An opposition member interjected.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : That is another stunningly intellectual comment from a member
opposite.
Nigel Hallett—good luck to
him. He has left the Liberal Party; so be it. I do not think anyone in the
Liberal Party is shedding tears over that. Hon Nigel Hallett and the member for Hillarys were disgruntled
members who decided to leave. That is their decision—see you later!
when a member of Parliament is elected with the support and nomination of a political
party, that member has a responsibility to honour that sponsorship and support.
Several members interjected.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : I do.
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Thank you! Premier.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : Mr Speaker, they went feral within 30 seconds today—that
is a record!
The reality is that very few members
of Parliament would be elected if not for the nomination of a major political
party—that is the reality—and no matter how good we all think
we are, we would not have got into this place without the support of a political
party. Therefore, I think it is —
Mr
D.J. Kelly interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Bassendean, I call you to order for the first time.
Mr
D.J. Kelly interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Bassendean!
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : It may be an old-fashioned and simple view that I hold.
An opposition member interjected.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : That is another stunningly intellectual comment from a member
opposite.
Nigel Hallett—good luck to
him. He has left the Liberal Party; so be it. I do not think anyone in the
Liberal Party is shedding tears over that. Hon Nigel Hallett and the member for Hillarys were disgruntled
members who decided to leave. That is their decision—see you later!
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