❓ Ms. Davies questions the Minister for Planning regarding delayed FOI documents related to a Karratha FIFO camp call-in notice, suggesting a connection to a recent motion condemning FOI delays and inquiring about Woodside's involvement. The Minister deflects, criticizes the opposition's FOI practices, and defends the government's support for regional development and gas projects.
AnsweredQoN 126Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
MINISTER FOR TRANSPORT —
FOI REQUESTS
126. Ms M.J. DAVIES to the Minister for Planning:
I refer to the freedom of
information documents regarding a call-in notice for the Bay Village FIFO camp
in Karratha that I received from the minister's office at 7.50 this
morning, 47 days overdue and subject to three extensions and a scope reduction.
(1) Is it a coincidence
that I received this information less than 24 hours after I tabled a motion in
this place condemning the minister for constant delays in responding to FOI
requests?
(2) Are the
handwritten notes from a meeting on 15 November 2018 in the FOI pack, which
state that Woodside would like the call-in option and want the minister to call
it, accurate?
FOI REQUESTS
126. Ms M.J. DAVIES to the Minister for Planning:
I refer to the freedom of
information documents regarding a call-in notice for the Bay Village FIFO camp
in Karratha that I received from the minister's office at 7.50 this
morning, 47 days overdue and subject to three extensions and a scope reduction.
(1) Is it a coincidence
that I received this information less than 24 hours after I tabled a motion in
this place condemning the minister for constant delays in responding to FOI
requests?
(2) Are the
handwritten notes from a meeting on 15 November 2018 in the FOI pack, which
state that Woodside would like the call-in option and want the minister to call
it, accurate?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for the question.
(1)–(2) I
know that the National Party does not understand this, but it is not all about
them. Today, we announced again our commitment to regional roads in WA, roads
that were neglected under the National Party when it was in government. It purposely
did not invest in roads. In relation to the specific query about FOIs —
Point of Order
Mr R.S.
LOVE : The question was asked of the Minister for Planning.
The SPEAKER : What is the
point of order?
Mr R.S. LOVE : The point of
order is that this is completely irrelevant. It is not about planning
whatsoever.
The SPEAKER : That is not a point
of order.
Questions without Notice Resumed
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : My office
receives a number of FOI requests. The opposition, both the National and
Liberal Parties, do not do any work so its FOIs are quite broad. For example,
an FOI may request everything to do with Matagarup Bridge from 1 March to now—everything!
As a result of the massive scope of these FOIs, we have to work through them. I
had to refine my FOIs to two or three days in some instances. I had to keep
narrowing them until the exact hour that a document was presented. We are far
more generous with our FOI process.
Several members interjected.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : We are.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members! Your
own minister is on her feet.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : Opposition members, many of whom have
not been in opposition before, do not understand the FOI system that we have
all gone through, both in opposition and in government.
I do not have those particular notes
in front of me, but we understand that the Leader of the National Party does
not support gas coming onshore in the north west—we understand that. We
understand that she does not support job-creating industries in WA. That has
been her position —
Mr D.T. Redman : You don't
support regional communities.
The SPEAKER : Member! Your own
leader has asked a question; hear the answer.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : There is
evidence and evidence of all that we are doing in regional WA. The National
Party's members' evidence is bumper stickers. That is what they
have got. All that they have ever done is good bumper stickers, basically. We
are supporting gas development in WA. We are supporting Woodside in trying to
make sure it gets more projects to create more jobs and prosperity for WA.
(1)–(2) I
know that the National Party does not understand this, but it is not all about
them. Today, we announced again our commitment to regional roads in WA, roads
that were neglected under the National Party when it was in government. It purposely
did not invest in roads. In relation to the specific query about FOIs —
Point of Order
Mr R.S.
LOVE : The question was asked of the Minister for Planning.
The SPEAKER : What is the
point of order?
Mr R.S. LOVE : The point of
order is that this is completely irrelevant. It is not about planning
whatsoever.
The SPEAKER : That is not a point
of order.
Questions without Notice Resumed
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : My office
receives a number of FOI requests. The opposition, both the National and
Liberal Parties, do not do any work so its FOIs are quite broad. For example,
an FOI may request everything to do with Matagarup Bridge from 1 March to now—everything!
As a result of the massive scope of these FOIs, we have to work through them. I
had to refine my FOIs to two or three days in some instances. I had to keep
narrowing them until the exact hour that a document was presented. We are far
more generous with our FOI process.
Several members interjected.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : We are.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members! Your
own minister is on her feet.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : Opposition members, many of whom have
not been in opposition before, do not understand the FOI system that we have
all gone through, both in opposition and in government.
I do not have those particular notes
in front of me, but we understand that the Leader of the National Party does
not support gas coming onshore in the north west—we understand that. We
understand that she does not support job-creating industries in WA. That has
been her position —
Mr D.T. Redman : You don't
support regional communities.
The SPEAKER : Member! Your own
leader has asked a question; hear the answer.
Ms R. SAFFIOTI : There is
evidence and evidence of all that we are doing in regional WA. The National
Party's members' evidence is bumper stickers. That is what they
have got. All that they have ever done is good bumper stickers, basically. We
are supporting gas development in WA. We are supporting Woodside in trying to
make sure it gets more projects to create more jobs and prosperity for WA.
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