❓ Mr. Wyatt questions the Premier regarding a large payout to Mr. Larsson after his resignation due to breaching standards. The Premier defends the payout negotiation and deflects by suggesting scrutiny of other members' payouts.
AnsweredQoN 536Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
JAMES LARSSON —
RESIGNATION PAYOUT
536. Mr B.S. WYATT to the Premier:
I have a supplementary question. In
light of the email that I referred to in my question, can the Premier explain
finally why Mr Larsson was paid up to five times his entitlements when he
resigned due to breaching what the Premier called ''appropriate
standards''?
RESIGNATION PAYOUT
536. Mr B.S. WYATT to the Premier:
I have a supplementary question. In
light of the email that I referred to in my question, can the Premier explain
finally why Mr Larsson was paid up to five times his entitlements when he
resigned due to breaching what the Premier called ''appropriate
standards''?
AnswerView source ↗
Of course, my office is going to have a say in what public
statements are made. That is quite normal and quite proper. I had decided that
he had breached the standard that I expect in a Premier's office. What
he did was clearly not an offence for which he would be dismissed under any
criteria. I thought he needed to go, he accepted that; therefore, Peter Conran
negotiated the payout.
Mr B.S. Wyatt : And
why was it so much more than he was entitled to?
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
If the member for Victoria Park wants to talk about payouts, we could have an
interesting debate in this house and there would be a couple of people on the
other side who might want to be a bit nervous!
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Thank
you, members!
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
If members opposite want to have a debate in this house about pay, we will have
it.
Mr
B.S. Wyatt : The standards no longer apply!
The
SPEAKER : Members!
Mr B.S. Wyatt :
Your government does not discuss these things.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Victoria Park, I formally call you to order for the second time today. I have
given you the opportunity to ask a supplementary question, member for Victoria Park.
The Premier is answering that, and I do not expect to hear from any other
member in this place.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I
have concluded.
statements are made. That is quite normal and quite proper. I had decided that
he had breached the standard that I expect in a Premier's office. What
he did was clearly not an offence for which he would be dismissed under any
criteria. I thought he needed to go, he accepted that; therefore, Peter Conran
negotiated the payout.
Mr B.S. Wyatt : And
why was it so much more than he was entitled to?
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
If the member for Victoria Park wants to talk about payouts, we could have an
interesting debate in this house and there would be a couple of people on the
other side who might want to be a bit nervous!
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Thank
you, members!
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
If members opposite want to have a debate in this house about pay, we will have
it.
Mr
B.S. Wyatt : The standards no longer apply!
The
SPEAKER : Members!
Mr B.S. Wyatt :
Your government does not discuss these things.
The SPEAKER : Member for
Victoria Park, I formally call you to order for the second time today. I have
given you the opportunity to ask a supplementary question, member for Victoria Park.
The Premier is answering that, and I do not expect to hear from any other
member in this place.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I
have concluded.
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