❓ A parliamentary question regarding a letter directing a new housing policy. The exchange reveals a debate about ministerial responsibility and the origin of the policy decision.
AnsweredQoN 866Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the minister’s undated letter to the Director General of the Department of Housing and Works in which he directed the department to carry out the new policy about which he made a ministerial statement today. (1) Was the letter drafted in the minister’s office? (2) If so, who in the minister’s office drafted it for presentation to him? (3) If not, who does the minister understand drafted the letter and under what circumstances was the letter presented to him? (4) Why did the minister say in his statement to the House that it was the department’s decision when in fact the minister gave the department a direction? Hon TOM STEPHENS
AnswerView source ↗
(1) Yes. (2) It was presented to me by my chief of staff. (3) Why did he present it to me? Hon Peter Foss: Who drafted it? Hon TOM STEPHENS: I told my chief of staff what I wanted in the letter, he wrote it in the letter and then he presented it to me. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Order, members! The minister is trying to answer the question. Hon TOM STEPHENS: On this occasion I did not get the chance to type up all that I wanted to put in the letter, which is often what I do, as the member knows. On this occasion I said to my chief of staff that this was roughly what I wanted to put in the policy proposal to the department and he came back with a well-drafted letter. I think I made a couple of changes to it. (4) I rely upon no greater authority than the distinguished parliamentarian “Lord Foss”, who, when minister, used to say that the minister is the department and the department is the minister. Hon Peter Foss: Quite the contrary. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The department is the extension of the minister and the minister is the extension of the whole system of parliamentary democracy and so, effectively, its policies are my policies and my policies are its policies. I am not sure - Hon Peter Foss: You were trying to blame somebody else for it. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Not at all. I told the department what I wanted and that is the way it should be. Hon Peter Foss: I do not have a problem with your doing it, but you tried to tell the House that it was the department’s decision. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I did no such thing. The PRESIDENT: Order, members. This is not a debate. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The member is not that stupid, is he? Hon Peter Foss: No, you are. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The member knows the way these things work. I know what policy I want to implement. Hon Peter Foss: I don’t have a problem with that. I don’t go around saying that someone else did it. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The essential issue is this - Hon Barry House: The dog ate my homework. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I want to answer the member’s question. Hon Peter Foss: Did the dog eat your homework? The PRESIDENT: Has the minister not already answered the question? Hon TOM STEPHENS: I want to answer the member’s question with a question. Does he think that it is reasonable for 100 per cent of the works portfolio of Western Australia to end up in the hands of any particular corporation? If the member’s answer to that question is no, what level of entry into this question is reasonable? I have stuck to what I consider to be reasonable - 25 per cent. The PRESIDENT: For the advice of Hon Peter Foss, that was a rhetorical question.
(1) Was the letter drafted in the minister’s office? (2) If so, who in the minister’s office drafted it for presentation to him? (3) If not, who does the minister understand drafted the letter and under what circumstances was the letter presented to him? (4) Why did the minister say in his statement to the House that it was the department’s decision when in fact the minister gave the department a direction? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: (1) Yes. (2) It was presented to me by my chief of staff. (3) Why did he present it to me? Hon Peter Foss: Who drafted it? Hon TOM STEPHENS: I told my chief of staff what I wanted in the letter, he wrote it in the letter and then he presented it to me. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Order, members! The minister is trying to answer the question. Hon TOM STEPHENS: On this occasion I did not get the chance to type up all that I wanted to put in the letter, which is often what I do, as the member knows. On this occasion I said to my chief of staff that this was roughly what I wanted to put in the policy proposal to the department and he came back with a well-drafted letter. I think I made a couple of changes to it. (4) I rely upon no greater authority than the distinguished parliamentarian “Lord Foss”, who, when minister, used to say that the minister is the department and the department is the minister. Hon Peter Foss: Quite the contrary. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The department is the extension of the minister and the minister is the extension of the whole system of parliamentary democracy and so, effectively, its policies are my policies and my policies are its policies. I am not sure - Hon Peter Foss: You were trying to blame somebody else for it. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Not at all. I told the department what I wanted and that is the way it should be. Hon Peter Foss: I do not have a problem with your doing it, but you tried to tell the House that it was the department’s decision. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I did no such thing. The PRESIDENT: Order, members. This is not a debate. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The member is not that stupid, is he? Hon Peter Foss: No, you are. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The member knows the way these things work. I know what policy I want to implement. Hon Peter Foss: I don’t have a problem with that. I don’t go around saying that someone else did it. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The essential issue is this - Hon Barry House: The dog ate my homework. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I want to answer the member’s question. Hon Peter Foss: Did the dog eat your homework? The PRESIDENT: Has the minister not already answered the question? Hon TOM STEPHENS: I want to answer the member’s question with a question. Does he think that it is reasonable for 100 per cent of the works portfolio of Western Australia to end up in the hands of any particular corporation? If the member’s answer to that question is no, what level of entry into this question is reasonable? I have stuck to what I consider to be reasonable - 25 per cent. The PRESIDENT: For the advice of Hon Peter Foss, that was a rhetorical question.
(2) If so, who in the minister’s office drafted it for presentation to him? (3) If not, who does the minister understand drafted the letter and under what circumstances was the letter presented to him? (4) Why did the minister say in his statement to the House that it was the department’s decision when in fact the minister gave the department a direction? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: (1) Yes. (2) It was presented to me by my chief of staff. (3) Why did he present it to me? Hon Peter Foss: Who drafted it? Hon TOM STEPHENS: I told my chief of staff what I wanted in the letter, he wrote it in the letter and then he presented it to me. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Order, members! The minister is trying to answer the question. Hon TOM STEPHENS: On this occasion I did not get the chance to type up all that I wanted to put in the letter, which is often what I do, as the member knows. On this occasion I said to my chief of staff that this was roughly what I wanted to put in the policy proposal to the department and he came back with a well-drafted letter. I think I made a couple of changes to it. (4) I rely upon no greater authority than the distinguished parliamentarian “Lord Foss”, who, when minister, used to say that the minister is the department and the department is the minister. Hon Peter Foss: Quite the contrary. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The department is the extension of the minister and the minister is the extension of the whole system of parliamentary democracy and so, effectively, its policies are my policies and my policies are its policies. I am not sure - Hon Peter Foss: You were trying to blame somebody else for it. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Not at all. I told the department what I wanted and that is the way it should be. Hon Peter Foss: I do not have a problem with your doing it, but you tried to tell the House that it was the department’s decision. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I did no such thing. The PRESIDENT: Order, members. This is not a debate. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The member is not that stupid, is he? Hon Peter Foss: No, you are. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The member knows the way these things work. I know what policy I want to implement. Hon Peter Foss: I don’t have a problem with that. I don’t go around saying that someone else did it. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The essential issue is this - Hon Barry House: The dog ate my homework. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I want to answer the member’s question. Hon Peter Foss: Did the dog eat your homework? The PRESIDENT: Has the minister not already answered the question? Hon TOM STEPHENS: I want to answer the member’s question with a question. Does he think that it is reasonable for 100 per cent of the works portfolio of Western Australia to end up in the hands of any particular corporation? If the member’s answer to that question is no, what level of entry into this question is reasonable? I have stuck to what I consider to be reasonable - 25 per cent. The PRESIDENT: For the advice of Hon Peter Foss, that was a rhetorical question.
(3) If not, who does the minister understand drafted the letter and under what circumstances was the letter presented to him? (4) Why did the minister say in his statement to the House that it was the department’s decision when in fact the minister gave the department a direction? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: (1) Yes. (2) It was presented to me by my chief of staff. (3) Why did he present it to me? Hon Peter Foss: Who drafted it? Hon TOM STEPHENS: I told my chief of staff what I wanted in the letter, he wrote it in the letter and then he presented it to me. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Order, members! The minister is trying to answer the question. Hon TOM STEPHENS: On this occasion I did not get the chance to type up all that I wanted to put in the letter, which is often what I do, as the member knows. On this occasion I said to my chief of staff that this was roughly what I wanted to put in the policy proposal to the department and he came back with a well-drafted letter. I think I made a couple of changes to it. (4) I rely upon no greater authority than the distinguished parliamentarian “Lord Foss”, who, when minister, used to say that the minister is the department and the department is the minister. Hon Peter Foss: Quite the contrary. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The department is the extension of the minister and the minister is the extension of the whole system of parliamentary democracy and so, effectively, its policies are my policies and my policies are its policies. I am not sure - Hon Peter Foss: You were trying to blame somebody else for it. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Not at all. I told the department what I wanted and that is the way it should be. Hon Peter Foss: I do not have a problem with your doing it, but you tried to tell the House that it was the department’s decision. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I did no such thing. The PRESIDENT: Order, members. This is not a debate. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The member is not that stupid, is he? Hon Peter Foss: No, you are. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The member knows the way these things work. I know what policy I want to implement. Hon Peter Foss: I don’t have a problem with that. I don’t go around saying that someone else did it. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The essential issue is this - Hon Barry House: The dog ate my homework. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I want to answer the member’s question. Hon Peter Foss: Did the dog eat your homework? The PRESIDENT: Has the minister not already answered the question? Hon TOM STEPHENS: I want to answer the member’s question with a question. Does he think that it is reasonable for 100 per cent of the works portfolio of Western Australia to end up in the hands of any particular corporation? If the member’s answer to that question is no, what level of entry into this question is reasonable? I have stuck to what I consider to be reasonable - 25 per cent. The PRESIDENT: For the advice of Hon Peter Foss, that was a rhetorical question.
(4) Why did the minister say in his statement to the House that it was the department’s decision when in fact the minister gave the department a direction? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: (1) Yes. (2) It was presented to me by my chief of staff. (3) Why did he present it to me? Hon Peter Foss: Who drafted it? Hon TOM STEPHENS: I told my chief of staff what I wanted in the letter, he wrote it in the letter and then he presented it to me. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Order, members! The minister is trying to answer the question. Hon TOM STEPHENS: On this occasion I did not get the chance to type up all that I wanted to put in the letter, which is often what I do, as the member knows. On this occasion I said to my chief of staff that this was roughly what I wanted to put in the policy proposal to the department and he came back with a well-drafted letter. I think I made a couple of changes to it. (4) I rely upon no greater authority than the distinguished parliamentarian “Lord Foss”, who, when minister, used to say that the minister is the department and the department is the minister. Hon Peter Foss: Quite the contrary. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The department is the extension of the minister and the minister is the extension of the whole system of parliamentary democracy and so, effectively, its policies are my policies and my policies are its policies. I am not sure - Hon Peter Foss: You were trying to blame somebody else for it. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Not at all. I told the department what I wanted and that is the way it should be. Hon Peter Foss: I do not have a problem with your doing it, but you tried to tell the House that it was the department’s decision. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I did no such thing. The PRESIDENT: Order, members. This is not a debate. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The member is not that stupid, is he? Hon Peter Foss: No, you are. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The member knows the way these things work. I know what policy I want to implement. Hon Peter Foss: I don’t have a problem with that. I don’t go around saying that someone else did it. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The essential issue is this - Hon Barry House: The dog ate my homework. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I want to answer the member’s question. Hon Peter Foss: Did the dog eat your homework? The PRESIDENT: Has the minister not already answered the question? Hon TOM STEPHENS: I want to answer the member’s question with a question. Does he think that it is reasonable for 100 per cent of the works portfolio of Western Australia to end up in the hands of any particular corporation? If the member’s answer to that question is no, what level of entry into this question is reasonable? I have stuck to what I consider to be reasonable - 25 per cent. The PRESIDENT: For the advice of Hon Peter Foss, that was a rhetorical question.
Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: (1) Yes. (2) It was presented to me by my chief of staff. (3) Why did he present it to me? Hon Peter Foss: Who drafted it? Hon TOM STEPHENS: I told my chief of staff what I wanted in the letter, he wrote it in the letter and then he presented it to me. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Order, members! The minister is trying to answer the question. Hon TOM STEPHENS: On this occasion I did not get the chance to type up all that I wanted to put in the letter, which is often what I do, as the member knows. On this occasion I said to my chief of staff that this was roughly what I wanted to put in the policy proposal to the department and he came back with a well-drafted letter. I think I made a couple of changes to it. (4) I rely upon no greater authority than the distinguished parliamentarian “Lord Foss”, who, when minister, used to say that the minister is the department and the department is the minister. Hon Peter Foss: Quite the contrary. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The department is the extension of the minister and the minister is the extension of the whole system of parliamentary democracy and so, effectively, its policies are my policies and my policies are its policies. I am not sure - Hon Peter Foss: You were trying to blame somebody else for it. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Not at all. I told the department what I wanted and that is the way it should be. Hon Peter Foss: I do not have a problem with your doing it, but you tried to tell the House that it was the department’s decision. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I did no such thing. The PRESIDENT: Order, members. This is not a debate. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The member is not that stupid, is he? Hon Peter Foss: No, you are. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The member knows the way these things work. I know what policy I want to implement. Hon Peter Foss: I don’t have a problem with that. I don’t go around saying that someone else did it. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The essential issue is this - Hon Barry House: The dog ate my homework. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I want to answer the member’s question. Hon Peter Foss: Did the dog eat your homework? The PRESIDENT: Has the minister not already answered the question? Hon TOM STEPHENS: I want to answer the member’s question with a question. Does he think that it is reasonable for 100 per cent of the works portfolio of Western Australia to end up in the hands of any particular corporation? If the member’s answer to that question is no, what level of entry into this question is reasonable? I have stuck to what I consider to be reasonable - 25 per cent. The PRESIDENT: For the advice of Hon Peter Foss, that was a rhetorical question.
(1) Yes. (2) It was presented to me by my chief of staff. (3) Why did he present it to me? Hon Peter Foss: Who drafted it? Hon TOM STEPHENS: I told my chief of staff what I wanted in the letter, he wrote it in the letter and then he presented it to me. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Order, members! The minister is trying to answer the question. Hon TOM STEPHENS: On this occasion I did not get the chance to type up all that I wanted to put in the letter, which is often what I do, as the member knows. On this occasion I said to my chief of staff that this was roughly what I wanted to put in the policy proposal to the department and he came back with a well-drafted letter. I think I made a couple of changes to it. (4) I rely upon no greater authority than the distinguished parliamentarian “Lord Foss”, who, when minister, used to say that the minister is the department and the department is the minister. Hon Peter Foss: Quite the contrary. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The department is the extension of the minister and the minister is the extension of the whole system of parliamentary democracy and so, effectively, its policies are my policies and my policies are its policies. I am not sure - Hon Peter Foss: You were trying to blame somebody else for it. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Not at all. I told the department what I wanted and that is the way it should be. Hon Peter Foss: I do not have a problem with your doing it, but you tried to tell the House that it was the department’s decision. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I did no such thing. The PRESIDENT: Order, members. This is not a debate. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The member is not that stupid, is he? Hon Peter Foss: No, you are. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The member knows the way these things work. I know what policy I want to implement. Hon Peter Foss: I don’t have a problem with that. I don’t go around saying that someone else did it. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The essential issue is this - Hon Barry House: The dog ate my homework. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I want to answer the member’s question. Hon Peter Foss: Did the dog eat your homework? The PRESIDENT: Has the minister not already answered the question? Hon TOM STEPHENS: I want to answer the member’s question with a question. Does he think that it is reasonable for 100 per cent of the works portfolio of Western Australia to end up in the hands of any particular corporation? If the member’s answer to that question is no, what level of entry into this question is reasonable? I have stuck to what I consider to be reasonable - 25 per cent. The PRESIDENT: For the advice of Hon Peter Foss, that was a rhetorical question.
(2) It was presented to me by my chief of staff. (3) Why did he present it to me? Hon Peter Foss: Who drafted it? Hon TOM STEPHENS: I told my chief of staff what I wanted in the letter, he wrote it in the letter and then he presented it to me. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Order, members! The minister is trying to answer the question. Hon TOM STEPHENS: On this occasion I did not get the chance to type up all that I wanted to put in the letter, which is often what I do, as the member knows. On this occasion I said to my chief of staff that this was roughly what I wanted to put in the policy proposal to the department and he came back with a well-drafted letter. I think I made a couple of changes to it. (4) I rely upon no greater authority than the distinguished parliamentarian “Lord Foss”, who, when minister, used to say that the minister is the department and the department is the minister. Hon Peter Foss: Quite the contrary. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The department is the extension of the minister and the minister is the extension of the whole system of parliamentary democracy and so, effectively, its policies are my policies and my policies are its policies. I am not sure - Hon Peter Foss: You were trying to blame somebody else for it. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Not at all. I told the department what I wanted and that is the way it should be. Hon Peter Foss: I do not have a problem with your doing it, but you tried to tell the House that it was the department’s decision. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I did no such thing. The PRESIDENT: Order, members. This is not a debate. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The member is not that stupid, is he? Hon Peter Foss: No, you are. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The member knows the way these things work. I know what policy I want to implement. Hon Peter Foss: I don’t have a problem with that. I don’t go around saying that someone else did it. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The essential issue is this - Hon Barry House: The dog ate my homework. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I want to answer the member’s question. Hon Peter Foss: Did the dog eat your homework? The PRESIDENT: Has the minister not already answered the question? Hon TOM STEPHENS: I want to answer the member’s question with a question. Does he think that it is reasonable for 100 per cent of the works portfolio of Western Australia to end up in the hands of any particular corporation? If the member’s answer to that question is no, what level of entry into this question is reasonable? I have stuck to what I consider to be reasonable - 25 per cent. The PRESIDENT: For the advice of Hon Peter Foss, that was a rhetorical question.
(3) Why did he present it to me? Hon Peter Foss: Who drafted it? Hon TOM STEPHENS: I told my chief of staff what I wanted in the letter, he wrote it in the letter and then he presented it to me. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Order, members! The minister is trying to answer the question. Hon TOM STEPHENS: On this occasion I did not get the chance to type up all that I wanted to put in the letter, which is often what I do, as the member knows. On this occasion I said to my chief of staff that this was roughly what I wanted to put in the policy proposal to the department and he came back with a well-drafted letter. I think I made a couple of changes to it. (4) I rely upon no greater authority than the distinguished parliamentarian “Lord Foss”, who, when minister, used to say that the minister is the department and the department is the minister. Hon Peter Foss: Quite the contrary. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The department is the extension of the minister and the minister is the extension of the whole system of parliamentary democracy and so, effectively, its policies are my policies and my policies are its policies. I am not sure - Hon Peter Foss: You were trying to blame somebody else for it. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Not at all. I told the department what I wanted and that is the way it should be. Hon Peter Foss: I do not have a problem with your doing it, but you tried to tell the House that it was the department’s decision. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I did no such thing. The PRESIDENT: Order, members. This is not a debate. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The member is not that stupid, is he? Hon Peter Foss: No, you are. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The member knows the way these things work. I know what policy I want to implement. Hon Peter Foss: I don’t have a problem with that. I don’t go around saying that someone else did it. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The essential issue is this - Hon Barry House: The dog ate my homework. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I want to answer the member’s question. Hon Peter Foss: Did the dog eat your homework? The PRESIDENT: Has the minister not already answered the question? Hon TOM STEPHENS: I want to answer the member’s question with a question. Does he think that it is reasonable for 100 per cent of the works portfolio of Western Australia to end up in the hands of any particular corporation? If the member’s answer to that question is no, what level of entry into this question is reasonable? I have stuck to what I consider to be reasonable - 25 per cent. The PRESIDENT: For the advice of Hon Peter Foss, that was a rhetorical question.
Hon Peter Foss: Who drafted it? Hon TOM STEPHENS: I told my chief of staff what I wanted in the letter, he wrote it in the letter and then he presented it to me. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Order, members! The minister is trying to answer the question. Hon TOM STEPHENS: On this occasion I did not get the chance to type up all that I wanted to put in the letter, which is often what I do, as the member knows. On this occasion I said to my chief of staff that this was roughly what I wanted to put in the policy proposal to the department and he came back with a well-drafted letter. I think I made a couple of changes to it. (4) I rely upon no greater authority than the distinguished parliamentarian “Lord Foss”, who, when minister, used to say that the minister is the department and the department is the minister. Hon Peter Foss: Quite the contrary. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The department is the extension of the minister and the minister is the extension of the whole system of parliamentary democracy and so, effectively, its policies are my policies and my policies are its policies. I am not sure - Hon Peter Foss: You were trying to blame somebody else for it. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Not at all. I told the department what I wanted and that is the way it should be. Hon Peter Foss: I do not have a problem with your doing it, but you tried to tell the House that it was the department’s decision. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I did no such thing. The PRESIDENT: Order, members. This is not a debate. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The member is not that stupid, is he? Hon Peter Foss: No, you are. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The member knows the way these things work. I know what policy I want to implement. Hon Peter Foss: I don’t have a problem with that. I don’t go around saying that someone else did it. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The essential issue is this - Hon Barry House: The dog ate my homework. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I want to answer the member’s question. Hon Peter Foss: Did the dog eat your homework? The PRESIDENT: Has the minister not already answered the question? Hon TOM STEPHENS: I want to answer the member’s question with a question. Does he think that it is reasonable for 100 per cent of the works portfolio of Western Australia to end up in the hands of any particular corporation? If the member’s answer to that question is no, what level of entry into this question is reasonable? I have stuck to what I consider to be reasonable - 25 per cent. The PRESIDENT: For the advice of Hon Peter Foss, that was a rhetorical question.
Hon TOM STEPHENS: I told my chief of staff what I wanted in the letter, he wrote it in the letter and then he presented it to me. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Order, members! The minister is trying to answer the question. Hon TOM STEPHENS: On this occasion I did not get the chance to type up all that I wanted to put in the letter, which is often what I do, as the member knows. On this occasion I said to my chief of staff that this was roughly what I wanted to put in the policy proposal to the department and he came back with a well-drafted letter. I think I made a couple of changes to it. (4) I rely upon no greater authority than the distinguished parliamentarian “Lord Foss”, who, when minister, used to say that the minister is the department and the department is the minister. Hon Peter Foss: Quite the contrary. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The department is the extension of the minister and the minister is the extension of the whole system of parliamentary democracy and so, effectively, its policies are my policies and my policies are its policies. I am not sure - Hon Peter Foss: You were trying to blame somebody else for it. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Not at all. I told the department what I wanted and that is the way it should be. Hon Peter Foss: I do not have a problem with your doing it, but you tried to tell the House that it was the department’s decision. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I did no such thing. The PRESIDENT: Order, members. This is not a debate. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The member is not that stupid, is he? Hon Peter Foss: No, you are. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The member knows the way these things work. I know what policy I want to implement. Hon Peter Foss: I don’t have a problem with that. I don’t go around saying that someone else did it. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The essential issue is this - Hon Barry House: The dog ate my homework. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I want to answer the member’s question. Hon Peter Foss: Did the dog eat your homework? The PRESIDENT: Has the minister not already answered the question? Hon TOM STEPHENS: I want to answer the member’s question with a question. Does he think that it is reasonable for 100 per cent of the works portfolio of Western Australia to end up in the hands of any particular corporation? If the member’s answer to that question is no, what level of entry into this question is reasonable? I have stuck to what I consider to be reasonable - 25 per cent. The PRESIDENT: For the advice of Hon Peter Foss, that was a rhetorical question.
Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Order, members! The minister is trying to answer the question. Hon TOM STEPHENS: On this occasion I did not get the chance to type up all that I wanted to put in the letter, which is often what I do, as the member knows. On this occasion I said to my chief of staff that this was roughly what I wanted to put in the policy proposal to the department and he came back with a well-drafted letter. I think I made a couple of changes to it. (4) I rely upon no greater authority than the distinguished parliamentarian “Lord Foss”, who, when minister, used to say that the minister is the department and the department is the minister. Hon Peter Foss: Quite the contrary. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The department is the extension of the minister and the minister is the extension of the whole system of parliamentary democracy and so, effectively, its policies are my policies and my policies are its policies. I am not sure - Hon Peter Foss: You were trying to blame somebody else for it. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Not at all. I told the department what I wanted and that is the way it should be. Hon Peter Foss: I do not have a problem with your doing it, but you tried to tell the House that it was the department’s decision. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I did no such thing. The PRESIDENT: Order, members. This is not a debate. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The member is not that stupid, is he? Hon Peter Foss: No, you are. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The member knows the way these things work. I know what policy I want to implement. Hon Peter Foss: I don’t have a problem with that. I don’t go around saying that someone else did it. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The essential issue is this - Hon Barry House: The dog ate my homework. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I want to answer the member’s question. Hon Peter Foss: Did the dog eat your homework? The PRESIDENT: Has the minister not already answered the question? Hon TOM STEPHENS: I want to answer the member’s question with a question. Does he think that it is reasonable for 100 per cent of the works portfolio of Western Australia to end up in the hands of any particular corporation? If the member’s answer to that question is no, what level of entry into this question is reasonable? I have stuck to what I consider to be reasonable - 25 per cent. The PRESIDENT: For the advice of Hon Peter Foss, that was a rhetorical question.
The PRESIDENT: Order, members! The minister is trying to answer the question. Hon TOM STEPHENS: On this occasion I did not get the chance to type up all that I wanted to put in the letter, which is often what I do, as the member knows. On this occasion I said to my chief of staff that this was roughly what I wanted to put in the policy proposal to the department and he came back with a well-drafted letter. I think I made a couple of changes to it. (4) I rely upon no greater authority than the distinguished parliamentarian “Lord Foss”, who, when minister, used to say that the minister is the department and the department is the minister. Hon Peter Foss: Quite the contrary. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The department is the extension of the minister and the minister is the extension of the whole system of parliamentary democracy and so, effectively, its policies are my policies and my policies are its policies. I am not sure - Hon Peter Foss: You were trying to blame somebody else for it. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Not at all. I told the department what I wanted and that is the way it should be. Hon Peter Foss: I do not have a problem with your doing it, but you tried to tell the House that it was the department’s decision. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I did no such thing. The PRESIDENT: Order, members. This is not a debate. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The member is not that stupid, is he? Hon Peter Foss: No, you are. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The member knows the way these things work. I know what policy I want to implement. Hon Peter Foss: I don’t have a problem with that. I don’t go around saying that someone else did it. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The essential issue is this - Hon Barry House: The dog ate my homework. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I want to answer the member’s question. Hon Peter Foss: Did the dog eat your homework? The PRESIDENT: Has the minister not already answered the question? Hon TOM STEPHENS: I want to answer the member’s question with a question. Does he think that it is reasonable for 100 per cent of the works portfolio of Western Australia to end up in the hands of any particular corporation? If the member’s answer to that question is no, what level of entry into this question is reasonable? I have stuck to what I consider to be reasonable - 25 per cent. The PRESIDENT: For the advice of Hon Peter Foss, that was a rhetorical question.
Hon TOM STEPHENS: On this occasion I did not get the chance to type up all that I wanted to put in the letter, which is often what I do, as the member knows. On this occasion I said to my chief of staff that this was roughly what I wanted to put in the policy proposal to the department and he came back with a well-drafted letter. I think I made a couple of changes to it. (4) I rely upon no greater authority than the distinguished parliamentarian “Lord Foss”, who, when minister, used to say that the minister is the department and the department is the minister. Hon Peter Foss: Quite the contrary. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The department is the extension of the minister and the minister is the extension of the whole system of parliamentary democracy and so, effectively, its policies are my policies and my policies are its policies. I am not sure - Hon Peter Foss: You were trying to blame somebody else for it. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Not at all. I told the department what I wanted and that is the way it should be. Hon Peter Foss: I do not have a problem with your doing it, but you tried to tell the House that it was the department’s decision. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I did no such thing. The PRESIDENT: Order, members. This is not a debate. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The member is not that stupid, is he? Hon Peter Foss: No, you are. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The member knows the way these things work. I know what policy I want to implement. Hon Peter Foss: I don’t have a problem with that. I don’t go around saying that someone else did it. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The essential issue is this - Hon Barry House: The dog ate my homework. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I want to answer the member’s question. Hon Peter Foss: Did the dog eat your homework? The PRESIDENT: Has the minister not already answered the question? Hon TOM STEPHENS: I want to answer the member’s question with a question. Does he think that it is reasonable for 100 per cent of the works portfolio of Western Australia to end up in the hands of any particular corporation? If the member’s answer to that question is no, what level of entry into this question is reasonable? I have stuck to what I consider to be reasonable - 25 per cent. The PRESIDENT: For the advice of Hon Peter Foss, that was a rhetorical question.
(4) I rely upon no greater authority than the distinguished parliamentarian “Lord Foss”, who, when minister, used to say that the minister is the department and the department is the minister. Hon Peter Foss: Quite the contrary. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The department is the extension of the minister and the minister is the extension of the whole system of parliamentary democracy and so, effectively, its policies are my policies and my policies are its policies. I am not sure - Hon Peter Foss: You were trying to blame somebody else for it. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Not at all. I told the department what I wanted and that is the way it should be. Hon Peter Foss: I do not have a problem with your doing it, but you tried to tell the House that it was the department’s decision. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I did no such thing. The PRESIDENT: Order, members. This is not a debate. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The member is not that stupid, is he? Hon Peter Foss: No, you are. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The member knows the way these things work. I know what policy I want to implement. Hon Peter Foss: I don’t have a problem with that. I don’t go around saying that someone else did it. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The essential issue is this - Hon Barry House: The dog ate my homework. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I want to answer the member’s question. Hon Peter Foss: Did the dog eat your homework? The PRESIDENT: Has the minister not already answered the question? Hon TOM STEPHENS: I want to answer the member’s question with a question. Does he think that it is reasonable for 100 per cent of the works portfolio of Western Australia to end up in the hands of any particular corporation? If the member’s answer to that question is no, what level of entry into this question is reasonable? I have stuck to what I consider to be reasonable - 25 per cent. The PRESIDENT: For the advice of Hon Peter Foss, that was a rhetorical question.
Hon Peter Foss: Quite the contrary. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The department is the extension of the minister and the minister is the extension of the whole system of parliamentary democracy and so, effectively, its policies are my policies and my policies are its policies. I am not sure - Hon Peter Foss: You were trying to blame somebody else for it. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Not at all. I told the department what I wanted and that is the way it should be. Hon Peter Foss: I do not have a problem with your doing it, but you tried to tell the House that it was the department’s decision. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I did no such thing. The PRESIDENT: Order, members. This is not a debate. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The member is not that stupid, is he? Hon Peter Foss: No, you are. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The member knows the way these things work. I know what policy I want to implement. Hon Peter Foss: I don’t have a problem with that. I don’t go around saying that someone else did it. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The essential issue is this - Hon Barry House: The dog ate my homework. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I want to answer the member’s question. Hon Peter Foss: Did the dog eat your homework? The PRESIDENT: Has the minister not already answered the question? Hon TOM STEPHENS: I want to answer the member’s question with a question. Does he think that it is reasonable for 100 per cent of the works portfolio of Western Australia to end up in the hands of any particular corporation? If the member’s answer to that question is no, what level of entry into this question is reasonable? I have stuck to what I consider to be reasonable - 25 per cent. The PRESIDENT: For the advice of Hon Peter Foss, that was a rhetorical question.
Hon TOM STEPHENS: The department is the extension of the minister and the minister is the extension of the whole system of parliamentary democracy and so, effectively, its policies are my policies and my policies are its policies. I am not sure - Hon Peter Foss: You were trying to blame somebody else for it. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Not at all. I told the department what I wanted and that is the way it should be. Hon Peter Foss: I do not have a problem with your doing it, but you tried to tell the House that it was the department’s decision. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I did no such thing. The PRESIDENT: Order, members. This is not a debate. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The member is not that stupid, is he? Hon Peter Foss: No, you are. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The member knows the way these things work. I know what policy I want to implement. Hon Peter Foss: I don’t have a problem with that. I don’t go around saying that someone else did it. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The essential issue is this - Hon Barry House: The dog ate my homework. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I want to answer the member’s question. Hon Peter Foss: Did the dog eat your homework? The PRESIDENT: Has the minister not already answered the question? Hon TOM STEPHENS: I want to answer the member’s question with a question. Does he think that it is reasonable for 100 per cent of the works portfolio of Western Australia to end up in the hands of any particular corporation? If the member’s answer to that question is no, what level of entry into this question is reasonable? I have stuck to what I consider to be reasonable - 25 per cent. The PRESIDENT: For the advice of Hon Peter Foss, that was a rhetorical question.
Hon Peter Foss: You were trying to blame somebody else for it. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Not at all. I told the department what I wanted and that is the way it should be. Hon Peter Foss: I do not have a problem with your doing it, but you tried to tell the House that it was the department’s decision. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I did no such thing. The PRESIDENT: Order, members. This is not a debate. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The member is not that stupid, is he? Hon Peter Foss: No, you are. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The member knows the way these things work. I know what policy I want to implement. Hon Peter Foss: I don’t have a problem with that. I don’t go around saying that someone else did it. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The essential issue is this - Hon Barry House: The dog ate my homework. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I want to answer the member’s question. Hon Peter Foss: Did the dog eat your homework? The PRESIDENT: Has the minister not already answered the question? Hon TOM STEPHENS: I want to answer the member’s question with a question. Does he think that it is reasonable for 100 per cent of the works portfolio of Western Australia to end up in the hands of any particular corporation? If the member’s answer to that question is no, what level of entry into this question is reasonable? I have stuck to what I consider to be reasonable - 25 per cent. The PRESIDENT: For the advice of Hon Peter Foss, that was a rhetorical question.
Hon TOM STEPHENS: Not at all. I told the department what I wanted and that is the way it should be. Hon Peter Foss: I do not have a problem with your doing it, but you tried to tell the House that it was the department’s decision. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I did no such thing. The PRESIDENT: Order, members. This is not a debate. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The member is not that stupid, is he? Hon Peter Foss: No, you are. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The member knows the way these things work. I know what policy I want to implement. Hon Peter Foss: I don’t have a problem with that. I don’t go around saying that someone else did it. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The essential issue is this - Hon Barry House: The dog ate my homework. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I want to answer the member’s question. Hon Peter Foss: Did the dog eat your homework? The PRESIDENT: Has the minister not already answered the question? Hon TOM STEPHENS: I want to answer the member’s question with a question. Does he think that it is reasonable for 100 per cent of the works portfolio of Western Australia to end up in the hands of any particular corporation? If the member’s answer to that question is no, what level of entry into this question is reasonable? I have stuck to what I consider to be reasonable - 25 per cent. The PRESIDENT: For the advice of Hon Peter Foss, that was a rhetorical question.
Hon Peter Foss: I do not have a problem with your doing it, but you tried to tell the House that it was the department’s decision. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I did no such thing. The PRESIDENT: Order, members. This is not a debate. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The member is not that stupid, is he? Hon Peter Foss: No, you are. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The member knows the way these things work. I know what policy I want to implement. Hon Peter Foss: I don’t have a problem with that. I don’t go around saying that someone else did it. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The essential issue is this - Hon Barry House: The dog ate my homework. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I want to answer the member’s question. Hon Peter Foss: Did the dog eat your homework? The PRESIDENT: Has the minister not already answered the question? Hon TOM STEPHENS: I want to answer the member’s question with a question. Does he think that it is reasonable for 100 per cent of the works portfolio of Western Australia to end up in the hands of any particular corporation? If the member’s answer to that question is no, what level of entry into this question is reasonable? I have stuck to what I consider to be reasonable - 25 per cent. The PRESIDENT: For the advice of Hon Peter Foss, that was a rhetorical question.
Hon TOM STEPHENS: I did no such thing. The PRESIDENT: Order, members. This is not a debate. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The member is not that stupid, is he? Hon Peter Foss: No, you are. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The member knows the way these things work. I know what policy I want to implement. Hon Peter Foss: I don’t have a problem with that. I don’t go around saying that someone else did it. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The essential issue is this - Hon Barry House: The dog ate my homework. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I want to answer the member’s question. Hon Peter Foss: Did the dog eat your homework? The PRESIDENT: Has the minister not already answered the question? Hon TOM STEPHENS: I want to answer the member’s question with a question. Does he think that it is reasonable for 100 per cent of the works portfolio of Western Australia to end up in the hands of any particular corporation? If the member’s answer to that question is no, what level of entry into this question is reasonable? I have stuck to what I consider to be reasonable - 25 per cent. The PRESIDENT: For the advice of Hon Peter Foss, that was a rhetorical question.
The PRESIDENT: Order, members. This is not a debate. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The member is not that stupid, is he? Hon Peter Foss: No, you are. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The member knows the way these things work. I know what policy I want to implement. Hon Peter Foss: I don’t have a problem with that. I don’t go around saying that someone else did it. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The essential issue is this - Hon Barry House: The dog ate my homework. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I want to answer the member’s question. Hon Peter Foss: Did the dog eat your homework? The PRESIDENT: Has the minister not already answered the question? Hon TOM STEPHENS: I want to answer the member’s question with a question. Does he think that it is reasonable for 100 per cent of the works portfolio of Western Australia to end up in the hands of any particular corporation? If the member’s answer to that question is no, what level of entry into this question is reasonable? I have stuck to what I consider to be reasonable - 25 per cent. The PRESIDENT: For the advice of Hon Peter Foss, that was a rhetorical question.
Hon TOM STEPHENS: The member is not that stupid, is he? Hon Peter Foss: No, you are. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The member knows the way these things work. I know what policy I want to implement. Hon Peter Foss: I don’t have a problem with that. I don’t go around saying that someone else did it. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The essential issue is this - Hon Barry House: The dog ate my homework. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I want to answer the member’s question. Hon Peter Foss: Did the dog eat your homework? The PRESIDENT: Has the minister not already answered the question? Hon TOM STEPHENS: I want to answer the member’s question with a question. Does he think that it is reasonable for 100 per cent of the works portfolio of Western Australia to end up in the hands of any particular corporation? If the member’s answer to that question is no, what level of entry into this question is reasonable? I have stuck to what I consider to be reasonable - 25 per cent. The PRESIDENT: For the advice of Hon Peter Foss, that was a rhetorical question.
Hon Peter Foss: No, you are. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The member knows the way these things work. I know what policy I want to implement. Hon Peter Foss: I don’t have a problem with that. I don’t go around saying that someone else did it. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The essential issue is this - Hon Barry House: The dog ate my homework. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I want to answer the member’s question. Hon Peter Foss: Did the dog eat your homework? The PRESIDENT: Has the minister not already answered the question? Hon TOM STEPHENS: I want to answer the member’s question with a question. Does he think that it is reasonable for 100 per cent of the works portfolio of Western Australia to end up in the hands of any particular corporation? If the member’s answer to that question is no, what level of entry into this question is reasonable? I have stuck to what I consider to be reasonable - 25 per cent. The PRESIDENT: For the advice of Hon Peter Foss, that was a rhetorical question.
Hon TOM STEPHENS: The member knows the way these things work. I know what policy I want to implement. Hon Peter Foss: I don’t have a problem with that. I don’t go around saying that someone else did it. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The essential issue is this - Hon Barry House: The dog ate my homework. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I want to answer the member’s question. Hon Peter Foss: Did the dog eat your homework? The PRESIDENT: Has the minister not already answered the question? Hon TOM STEPHENS: I want to answer the member’s question with a question. Does he think that it is reasonable for 100 per cent of the works portfolio of Western Australia to end up in the hands of any particular corporation? If the member’s answer to that question is no, what level of entry into this question is reasonable? I have stuck to what I consider to be reasonable - 25 per cent. The PRESIDENT: For the advice of Hon Peter Foss, that was a rhetorical question.
Hon Peter Foss: I don’t have a problem with that. I don’t go around saying that someone else did it. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The essential issue is this - Hon Barry House: The dog ate my homework. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I want to answer the member’s question. Hon Peter Foss: Did the dog eat your homework? The PRESIDENT: Has the minister not already answered the question? Hon TOM STEPHENS: I want to answer the member’s question with a question. Does he think that it is reasonable for 100 per cent of the works portfolio of Western Australia to end up in the hands of any particular corporation? If the member’s answer to that question is no, what level of entry into this question is reasonable? I have stuck to what I consider to be reasonable - 25 per cent. The PRESIDENT: For the advice of Hon Peter Foss, that was a rhetorical question.
Hon TOM STEPHENS: The essential issue is this - Hon Barry House: The dog ate my homework. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I want to answer the member’s question. Hon Peter Foss: Did the dog eat your homework? The PRESIDENT: Has the minister not already answered the question? Hon TOM STEPHENS: I want to answer the member’s question with a question. Does he think that it is reasonable for 100 per cent of the works portfolio of Western Australia to end up in the hands of any particular corporation? If the member’s answer to that question is no, what level of entry into this question is reasonable? I have stuck to what I consider to be reasonable - 25 per cent. The PRESIDENT: For the advice of Hon Peter Foss, that was a rhetorical question.
Hon Barry House: The dog ate my homework. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I want to answer the member’s question. Hon Peter Foss: Did the dog eat your homework? The PRESIDENT: Has the minister not already answered the question? Hon TOM STEPHENS: I want to answer the member’s question with a question. Does he think that it is reasonable for 100 per cent of the works portfolio of Western Australia to end up in the hands of any particular corporation? If the member’s answer to that question is no, what level of entry into this question is reasonable? I have stuck to what I consider to be reasonable - 25 per cent. The PRESIDENT: For the advice of Hon Peter Foss, that was a rhetorical question.
Hon TOM STEPHENS: I want to answer the member’s question. Hon Peter Foss: Did the dog eat your homework? The PRESIDENT: Has the minister not already answered the question? Hon TOM STEPHENS: I want to answer the member’s question with a question. Does he think that it is reasonable for 100 per cent of the works portfolio of Western Australia to end up in the hands of any particular corporation? If the member’s answer to that question is no, what level of entry into this question is reasonable? I have stuck to what I consider to be reasonable - 25 per cent. The PRESIDENT: For the advice of Hon Peter Foss, that was a rhetorical question.
Hon Peter Foss: Did the dog eat your homework? The PRESIDENT: Has the minister not already answered the question? Hon TOM STEPHENS: I want to answer the member’s question with a question. Does he think that it is reasonable for 100 per cent of the works portfolio of Western Australia to end up in the hands of any particular corporation? If the member’s answer to that question is no, what level of entry into this question is reasonable? I have stuck to what I consider to be reasonable - 25 per cent. The PRESIDENT: For the advice of Hon Peter Foss, that was a rhetorical question.
The PRESIDENT: Has the minister not already answered the question? Hon TOM STEPHENS: I want to answer the member’s question with a question. Does he think that it is reasonable for 100 per cent of the works portfolio of Western Australia to end up in the hands of any particular corporation? If the member’s answer to that question is no, what level of entry into this question is reasonable? I have stuck to what I consider to be reasonable - 25 per cent. The PRESIDENT: For the advice of Hon Peter Foss, that was a rhetorical question.
Hon TOM STEPHENS: I want to answer the member’s question with a question. Does he think that it is reasonable for 100 per cent of the works portfolio of Western Australia to end up in the hands of any particular corporation? If the member’s answer to that question is no, what level of entry into this question is reasonable? I have stuck to what I consider to be reasonable - 25 per cent. The PRESIDENT: For the advice of Hon Peter Foss, that was a rhetorical question.
The PRESIDENT: For the advice of Hon Peter Foss, that was a rhetorical question.
(1) Was the letter drafted in the minister’s office? (2) If so, who in the minister’s office drafted it for presentation to him? (3) If not, who does the minister understand drafted the letter and under what circumstances was the letter presented to him? (4) Why did the minister say in his statement to the House that it was the department’s decision when in fact the minister gave the department a direction? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: (1) Yes. (2) It was presented to me by my chief of staff. (3) Why did he present it to me? Hon Peter Foss: Who drafted it? Hon TOM STEPHENS: I told my chief of staff what I wanted in the letter, he wrote it in the letter and then he presented it to me. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Order, members! The minister is trying to answer the question. Hon TOM STEPHENS: On this occasion I did not get the chance to type up all that I wanted to put in the letter, which is often what I do, as the member knows. On this occasion I said to my chief of staff that this was roughly what I wanted to put in the policy proposal to the department and he came back with a well-drafted letter. I think I made a couple of changes to it. (4) I rely upon no greater authority than the distinguished parliamentarian “Lord Foss”, who, when minister, used to say that the minister is the department and the department is the minister. Hon Peter Foss: Quite the contrary. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The department is the extension of the minister and the minister is the extension of the whole system of parliamentary democracy and so, effectively, its policies are my policies and my policies are its policies. I am not sure - Hon Peter Foss: You were trying to blame somebody else for it. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Not at all. I told the department what I wanted and that is the way it should be. Hon Peter Foss: I do not have a problem with your doing it, but you tried to tell the House that it was the department’s decision. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I did no such thing. The PRESIDENT: Order, members. This is not a debate. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The member is not that stupid, is he? Hon Peter Foss: No, you are. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The member knows the way these things work. I know what policy I want to implement. Hon Peter Foss: I don’t have a problem with that. I don’t go around saying that someone else did it. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The essential issue is this - Hon Barry House: The dog ate my homework. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I want to answer the member’s question. Hon Peter Foss: Did the dog eat your homework? The PRESIDENT: Has the minister not already answered the question? Hon TOM STEPHENS: I want to answer the member’s question with a question. Does he think that it is reasonable for 100 per cent of the works portfolio of Western Australia to end up in the hands of any particular corporation? If the member’s answer to that question is no, what level of entry into this question is reasonable? I have stuck to what I consider to be reasonable - 25 per cent. The PRESIDENT: For the advice of Hon Peter Foss, that was a rhetorical question.
(2) If so, who in the minister’s office drafted it for presentation to him? (3) If not, who does the minister understand drafted the letter and under what circumstances was the letter presented to him? (4) Why did the minister say in his statement to the House that it was the department’s decision when in fact the minister gave the department a direction? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: (1) Yes. (2) It was presented to me by my chief of staff. (3) Why did he present it to me? Hon Peter Foss: Who drafted it? Hon TOM STEPHENS: I told my chief of staff what I wanted in the letter, he wrote it in the letter and then he presented it to me. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Order, members! The minister is trying to answer the question. Hon TOM STEPHENS: On this occasion I did not get the chance to type up all that I wanted to put in the letter, which is often what I do, as the member knows. On this occasion I said to my chief of staff that this was roughly what I wanted to put in the policy proposal to the department and he came back with a well-drafted letter. I think I made a couple of changes to it. (4) I rely upon no greater authority than the distinguished parliamentarian “Lord Foss”, who, when minister, used to say that the minister is the department and the department is the minister. Hon Peter Foss: Quite the contrary. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The department is the extension of the minister and the minister is the extension of the whole system of parliamentary democracy and so, effectively, its policies are my policies and my policies are its policies. I am not sure - Hon Peter Foss: You were trying to blame somebody else for it. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Not at all. I told the department what I wanted and that is the way it should be. Hon Peter Foss: I do not have a problem with your doing it, but you tried to tell the House that it was the department’s decision. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I did no such thing. The PRESIDENT: Order, members. This is not a debate. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The member is not that stupid, is he? Hon Peter Foss: No, you are. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The member knows the way these things work. I know what policy I want to implement. Hon Peter Foss: I don’t have a problem with that. I don’t go around saying that someone else did it. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The essential issue is this - Hon Barry House: The dog ate my homework. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I want to answer the member’s question. Hon Peter Foss: Did the dog eat your homework? The PRESIDENT: Has the minister not already answered the question? Hon TOM STEPHENS: I want to answer the member’s question with a question. Does he think that it is reasonable for 100 per cent of the works portfolio of Western Australia to end up in the hands of any particular corporation? If the member’s answer to that question is no, what level of entry into this question is reasonable? I have stuck to what I consider to be reasonable - 25 per cent. The PRESIDENT: For the advice of Hon Peter Foss, that was a rhetorical question.
(3) If not, who does the minister understand drafted the letter and under what circumstances was the letter presented to him? (4) Why did the minister say in his statement to the House that it was the department’s decision when in fact the minister gave the department a direction? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: (1) Yes. (2) It was presented to me by my chief of staff. (3) Why did he present it to me? Hon Peter Foss: Who drafted it? Hon TOM STEPHENS: I told my chief of staff what I wanted in the letter, he wrote it in the letter and then he presented it to me. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Order, members! The minister is trying to answer the question. Hon TOM STEPHENS: On this occasion I did not get the chance to type up all that I wanted to put in the letter, which is often what I do, as the member knows. On this occasion I said to my chief of staff that this was roughly what I wanted to put in the policy proposal to the department and he came back with a well-drafted letter. I think I made a couple of changes to it. (4) I rely upon no greater authority than the distinguished parliamentarian “Lord Foss”, who, when minister, used to say that the minister is the department and the department is the minister. Hon Peter Foss: Quite the contrary. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The department is the extension of the minister and the minister is the extension of the whole system of parliamentary democracy and so, effectively, its policies are my policies and my policies are its policies. I am not sure - Hon Peter Foss: You were trying to blame somebody else for it. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Not at all. I told the department what I wanted and that is the way it should be. Hon Peter Foss: I do not have a problem with your doing it, but you tried to tell the House that it was the department’s decision. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I did no such thing. The PRESIDENT: Order, members. This is not a debate. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The member is not that stupid, is he? Hon Peter Foss: No, you are. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The member knows the way these things work. I know what policy I want to implement. Hon Peter Foss: I don’t have a problem with that. I don’t go around saying that someone else did it. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The essential issue is this - Hon Barry House: The dog ate my homework. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I want to answer the member’s question. Hon Peter Foss: Did the dog eat your homework? The PRESIDENT: Has the minister not already answered the question? Hon TOM STEPHENS: I want to answer the member’s question with a question. Does he think that it is reasonable for 100 per cent of the works portfolio of Western Australia to end up in the hands of any particular corporation? If the member’s answer to that question is no, what level of entry into this question is reasonable? I have stuck to what I consider to be reasonable - 25 per cent. The PRESIDENT: For the advice of Hon Peter Foss, that was a rhetorical question.
(4) Why did the minister say in his statement to the House that it was the department’s decision when in fact the minister gave the department a direction? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: (1) Yes. (2) It was presented to me by my chief of staff. (3) Why did he present it to me? Hon Peter Foss: Who drafted it? Hon TOM STEPHENS: I told my chief of staff what I wanted in the letter, he wrote it in the letter and then he presented it to me. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Order, members! The minister is trying to answer the question. Hon TOM STEPHENS: On this occasion I did not get the chance to type up all that I wanted to put in the letter, which is often what I do, as the member knows. On this occasion I said to my chief of staff that this was roughly what I wanted to put in the policy proposal to the department and he came back with a well-drafted letter. I think I made a couple of changes to it. (4) I rely upon no greater authority than the distinguished parliamentarian “Lord Foss”, who, when minister, used to say that the minister is the department and the department is the minister. Hon Peter Foss: Quite the contrary. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The department is the extension of the minister and the minister is the extension of the whole system of parliamentary democracy and so, effectively, its policies are my policies and my policies are its policies. I am not sure - Hon Peter Foss: You were trying to blame somebody else for it. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Not at all. I told the department what I wanted and that is the way it should be. Hon Peter Foss: I do not have a problem with your doing it, but you tried to tell the House that it was the department’s decision. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I did no such thing. The PRESIDENT: Order, members. This is not a debate. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The member is not that stupid, is he? Hon Peter Foss: No, you are. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The member knows the way these things work. I know what policy I want to implement. Hon Peter Foss: I don’t have a problem with that. I don’t go around saying that someone else did it. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The essential issue is this - Hon Barry House: The dog ate my homework. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I want to answer the member’s question. Hon Peter Foss: Did the dog eat your homework? The PRESIDENT: Has the minister not already answered the question? Hon TOM STEPHENS: I want to answer the member’s question with a question. Does he think that it is reasonable for 100 per cent of the works portfolio of Western Australia to end up in the hands of any particular corporation? If the member’s answer to that question is no, what level of entry into this question is reasonable? I have stuck to what I consider to be reasonable - 25 per cent. The PRESIDENT: For the advice of Hon Peter Foss, that was a rhetorical question.
Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: (1) Yes. (2) It was presented to me by my chief of staff. (3) Why did he present it to me? Hon Peter Foss: Who drafted it? Hon TOM STEPHENS: I told my chief of staff what I wanted in the letter, he wrote it in the letter and then he presented it to me. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Order, members! The minister is trying to answer the question. Hon TOM STEPHENS: On this occasion I did not get the chance to type up all that I wanted to put in the letter, which is often what I do, as the member knows. On this occasion I said to my chief of staff that this was roughly what I wanted to put in the policy proposal to the department and he came back with a well-drafted letter. I think I made a couple of changes to it. (4) I rely upon no greater authority than the distinguished parliamentarian “Lord Foss”, who, when minister, used to say that the minister is the department and the department is the minister. Hon Peter Foss: Quite the contrary. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The department is the extension of the minister and the minister is the extension of the whole system of parliamentary democracy and so, effectively, its policies are my policies and my policies are its policies. I am not sure - Hon Peter Foss: You were trying to blame somebody else for it. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Not at all. I told the department what I wanted and that is the way it should be. Hon Peter Foss: I do not have a problem with your doing it, but you tried to tell the House that it was the department’s decision. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I did no such thing. The PRESIDENT: Order, members. This is not a debate. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The member is not that stupid, is he? Hon Peter Foss: No, you are. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The member knows the way these things work. I know what policy I want to implement. Hon Peter Foss: I don’t have a problem with that. I don’t go around saying that someone else did it. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The essential issue is this - Hon Barry House: The dog ate my homework. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I want to answer the member’s question. Hon Peter Foss: Did the dog eat your homework? The PRESIDENT: Has the minister not already answered the question? Hon TOM STEPHENS: I want to answer the member’s question with a question. Does he think that it is reasonable for 100 per cent of the works portfolio of Western Australia to end up in the hands of any particular corporation? If the member’s answer to that question is no, what level of entry into this question is reasonable? I have stuck to what I consider to be reasonable - 25 per cent. The PRESIDENT: For the advice of Hon Peter Foss, that was a rhetorical question.
(1) Yes. (2) It was presented to me by my chief of staff. (3) Why did he present it to me? Hon Peter Foss: Who drafted it? Hon TOM STEPHENS: I told my chief of staff what I wanted in the letter, he wrote it in the letter and then he presented it to me. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Order, members! The minister is trying to answer the question. Hon TOM STEPHENS: On this occasion I did not get the chance to type up all that I wanted to put in the letter, which is often what I do, as the member knows. On this occasion I said to my chief of staff that this was roughly what I wanted to put in the policy proposal to the department and he came back with a well-drafted letter. I think I made a couple of changes to it. (4) I rely upon no greater authority than the distinguished parliamentarian “Lord Foss”, who, when minister, used to say that the minister is the department and the department is the minister. Hon Peter Foss: Quite the contrary. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The department is the extension of the minister and the minister is the extension of the whole system of parliamentary democracy and so, effectively, its policies are my policies and my policies are its policies. I am not sure - Hon Peter Foss: You were trying to blame somebody else for it. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Not at all. I told the department what I wanted and that is the way it should be. Hon Peter Foss: I do not have a problem with your doing it, but you tried to tell the House that it was the department’s decision. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I did no such thing. The PRESIDENT: Order, members. This is not a debate. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The member is not that stupid, is he? Hon Peter Foss: No, you are. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The member knows the way these things work. I know what policy I want to implement. Hon Peter Foss: I don’t have a problem with that. I don’t go around saying that someone else did it. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The essential issue is this - Hon Barry House: The dog ate my homework. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I want to answer the member’s question. Hon Peter Foss: Did the dog eat your homework? The PRESIDENT: Has the minister not already answered the question? Hon TOM STEPHENS: I want to answer the member’s question with a question. Does he think that it is reasonable for 100 per cent of the works portfolio of Western Australia to end up in the hands of any particular corporation? If the member’s answer to that question is no, what level of entry into this question is reasonable? I have stuck to what I consider to be reasonable - 25 per cent. The PRESIDENT: For the advice of Hon Peter Foss, that was a rhetorical question.
(2) It was presented to me by my chief of staff. (3) Why did he present it to me? Hon Peter Foss: Who drafted it? Hon TOM STEPHENS: I told my chief of staff what I wanted in the letter, he wrote it in the letter and then he presented it to me. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Order, members! The minister is trying to answer the question. Hon TOM STEPHENS: On this occasion I did not get the chance to type up all that I wanted to put in the letter, which is often what I do, as the member knows. On this occasion I said to my chief of staff that this was roughly what I wanted to put in the policy proposal to the department and he came back with a well-drafted letter. I think I made a couple of changes to it. (4) I rely upon no greater authority than the distinguished parliamentarian “Lord Foss”, who, when minister, used to say that the minister is the department and the department is the minister. Hon Peter Foss: Quite the contrary. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The department is the extension of the minister and the minister is the extension of the whole system of parliamentary democracy and so, effectively, its policies are my policies and my policies are its policies. I am not sure - Hon Peter Foss: You were trying to blame somebody else for it. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Not at all. I told the department what I wanted and that is the way it should be. Hon Peter Foss: I do not have a problem with your doing it, but you tried to tell the House that it was the department’s decision. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I did no such thing. The PRESIDENT: Order, members. This is not a debate. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The member is not that stupid, is he? Hon Peter Foss: No, you are. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The member knows the way these things work. I know what policy I want to implement. Hon Peter Foss: I don’t have a problem with that. I don’t go around saying that someone else did it. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The essential issue is this - Hon Barry House: The dog ate my homework. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I want to answer the member’s question. Hon Peter Foss: Did the dog eat your homework? The PRESIDENT: Has the minister not already answered the question? Hon TOM STEPHENS: I want to answer the member’s question with a question. Does he think that it is reasonable for 100 per cent of the works portfolio of Western Australia to end up in the hands of any particular corporation? If the member’s answer to that question is no, what level of entry into this question is reasonable? I have stuck to what I consider to be reasonable - 25 per cent. The PRESIDENT: For the advice of Hon Peter Foss, that was a rhetorical question.
(3) Why did he present it to me? Hon Peter Foss: Who drafted it? Hon TOM STEPHENS: I told my chief of staff what I wanted in the letter, he wrote it in the letter and then he presented it to me. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Order, members! The minister is trying to answer the question. Hon TOM STEPHENS: On this occasion I did not get the chance to type up all that I wanted to put in the letter, which is often what I do, as the member knows. On this occasion I said to my chief of staff that this was roughly what I wanted to put in the policy proposal to the department and he came back with a well-drafted letter. I think I made a couple of changes to it. (4) I rely upon no greater authority than the distinguished parliamentarian “Lord Foss”, who, when minister, used to say that the minister is the department and the department is the minister. Hon Peter Foss: Quite the contrary. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The department is the extension of the minister and the minister is the extension of the whole system of parliamentary democracy and so, effectively, its policies are my policies and my policies are its policies. I am not sure - Hon Peter Foss: You were trying to blame somebody else for it. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Not at all. I told the department what I wanted and that is the way it should be. Hon Peter Foss: I do not have a problem with your doing it, but you tried to tell the House that it was the department’s decision. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I did no such thing. The PRESIDENT: Order, members. This is not a debate. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The member is not that stupid, is he? Hon Peter Foss: No, you are. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The member knows the way these things work. I know what policy I want to implement. Hon Peter Foss: I don’t have a problem with that. I don’t go around saying that someone else did it. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The essential issue is this - Hon Barry House: The dog ate my homework. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I want to answer the member’s question. Hon Peter Foss: Did the dog eat your homework? The PRESIDENT: Has the minister not already answered the question? Hon TOM STEPHENS: I want to answer the member’s question with a question. Does he think that it is reasonable for 100 per cent of the works portfolio of Western Australia to end up in the hands of any particular corporation? If the member’s answer to that question is no, what level of entry into this question is reasonable? I have stuck to what I consider to be reasonable - 25 per cent. The PRESIDENT: For the advice of Hon Peter Foss, that was a rhetorical question.
Hon Peter Foss: Who drafted it? Hon TOM STEPHENS: I told my chief of staff what I wanted in the letter, he wrote it in the letter and then he presented it to me. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Order, members! The minister is trying to answer the question. Hon TOM STEPHENS: On this occasion I did not get the chance to type up all that I wanted to put in the letter, which is often what I do, as the member knows. On this occasion I said to my chief of staff that this was roughly what I wanted to put in the policy proposal to the department and he came back with a well-drafted letter. I think I made a couple of changes to it. (4) I rely upon no greater authority than the distinguished parliamentarian “Lord Foss”, who, when minister, used to say that the minister is the department and the department is the minister. Hon Peter Foss: Quite the contrary. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The department is the extension of the minister and the minister is the extension of the whole system of parliamentary democracy and so, effectively, its policies are my policies and my policies are its policies. I am not sure - Hon Peter Foss: You were trying to blame somebody else for it. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Not at all. I told the department what I wanted and that is the way it should be. Hon Peter Foss: I do not have a problem with your doing it, but you tried to tell the House that it was the department’s decision. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I did no such thing. The PRESIDENT: Order, members. This is not a debate. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The member is not that stupid, is he? Hon Peter Foss: No, you are. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The member knows the way these things work. I know what policy I want to implement. Hon Peter Foss: I don’t have a problem with that. I don’t go around saying that someone else did it. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The essential issue is this - Hon Barry House: The dog ate my homework. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I want to answer the member’s question. Hon Peter Foss: Did the dog eat your homework? The PRESIDENT: Has the minister not already answered the question? Hon TOM STEPHENS: I want to answer the member’s question with a question. Does he think that it is reasonable for 100 per cent of the works portfolio of Western Australia to end up in the hands of any particular corporation? If the member’s answer to that question is no, what level of entry into this question is reasonable? I have stuck to what I consider to be reasonable - 25 per cent. The PRESIDENT: For the advice of Hon Peter Foss, that was a rhetorical question.
Hon TOM STEPHENS: I told my chief of staff what I wanted in the letter, he wrote it in the letter and then he presented it to me. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Order, members! The minister is trying to answer the question. Hon TOM STEPHENS: On this occasion I did not get the chance to type up all that I wanted to put in the letter, which is often what I do, as the member knows. On this occasion I said to my chief of staff that this was roughly what I wanted to put in the policy proposal to the department and he came back with a well-drafted letter. I think I made a couple of changes to it. (4) I rely upon no greater authority than the distinguished parliamentarian “Lord Foss”, who, when minister, used to say that the minister is the department and the department is the minister. Hon Peter Foss: Quite the contrary. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The department is the extension of the minister and the minister is the extension of the whole system of parliamentary democracy and so, effectively, its policies are my policies and my policies are its policies. I am not sure - Hon Peter Foss: You were trying to blame somebody else for it. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Not at all. I told the department what I wanted and that is the way it should be. Hon Peter Foss: I do not have a problem with your doing it, but you tried to tell the House that it was the department’s decision. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I did no such thing. The PRESIDENT: Order, members. This is not a debate. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The member is not that stupid, is he? Hon Peter Foss: No, you are. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The member knows the way these things work. I know what policy I want to implement. Hon Peter Foss: I don’t have a problem with that. I don’t go around saying that someone else did it. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The essential issue is this - Hon Barry House: The dog ate my homework. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I want to answer the member’s question. Hon Peter Foss: Did the dog eat your homework? The PRESIDENT: Has the minister not already answered the question? Hon TOM STEPHENS: I want to answer the member’s question with a question. Does he think that it is reasonable for 100 per cent of the works portfolio of Western Australia to end up in the hands of any particular corporation? If the member’s answer to that question is no, what level of entry into this question is reasonable? I have stuck to what I consider to be reasonable - 25 per cent. The PRESIDENT: For the advice of Hon Peter Foss, that was a rhetorical question.
Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Order, members! The minister is trying to answer the question. Hon TOM STEPHENS: On this occasion I did not get the chance to type up all that I wanted to put in the letter, which is often what I do, as the member knows. On this occasion I said to my chief of staff that this was roughly what I wanted to put in the policy proposal to the department and he came back with a well-drafted letter. I think I made a couple of changes to it. (4) I rely upon no greater authority than the distinguished parliamentarian “Lord Foss”, who, when minister, used to say that the minister is the department and the department is the minister. Hon Peter Foss: Quite the contrary. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The department is the extension of the minister and the minister is the extension of the whole system of parliamentary democracy and so, effectively, its policies are my policies and my policies are its policies. I am not sure - Hon Peter Foss: You were trying to blame somebody else for it. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Not at all. I told the department what I wanted and that is the way it should be. Hon Peter Foss: I do not have a problem with your doing it, but you tried to tell the House that it was the department’s decision. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I did no such thing. The PRESIDENT: Order, members. This is not a debate. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The member is not that stupid, is he? Hon Peter Foss: No, you are. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The member knows the way these things work. I know what policy I want to implement. Hon Peter Foss: I don’t have a problem with that. I don’t go around saying that someone else did it. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The essential issue is this - Hon Barry House: The dog ate my homework. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I want to answer the member’s question. Hon Peter Foss: Did the dog eat your homework? The PRESIDENT: Has the minister not already answered the question? Hon TOM STEPHENS: I want to answer the member’s question with a question. Does he think that it is reasonable for 100 per cent of the works portfolio of Western Australia to end up in the hands of any particular corporation? If the member’s answer to that question is no, what level of entry into this question is reasonable? I have stuck to what I consider to be reasonable - 25 per cent. The PRESIDENT: For the advice of Hon Peter Foss, that was a rhetorical question.
The PRESIDENT: Order, members! The minister is trying to answer the question. Hon TOM STEPHENS: On this occasion I did not get the chance to type up all that I wanted to put in the letter, which is often what I do, as the member knows. On this occasion I said to my chief of staff that this was roughly what I wanted to put in the policy proposal to the department and he came back with a well-drafted letter. I think I made a couple of changes to it. (4) I rely upon no greater authority than the distinguished parliamentarian “Lord Foss”, who, when minister, used to say that the minister is the department and the department is the minister. Hon Peter Foss: Quite the contrary. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The department is the extension of the minister and the minister is the extension of the whole system of parliamentary democracy and so, effectively, its policies are my policies and my policies are its policies. I am not sure - Hon Peter Foss: You were trying to blame somebody else for it. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Not at all. I told the department what I wanted and that is the way it should be. Hon Peter Foss: I do not have a problem with your doing it, but you tried to tell the House that it was the department’s decision. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I did no such thing. The PRESIDENT: Order, members. This is not a debate. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The member is not that stupid, is he? Hon Peter Foss: No, you are. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The member knows the way these things work. I know what policy I want to implement. Hon Peter Foss: I don’t have a problem with that. I don’t go around saying that someone else did it. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The essential issue is this - Hon Barry House: The dog ate my homework. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I want to answer the member’s question. Hon Peter Foss: Did the dog eat your homework? The PRESIDENT: Has the minister not already answered the question? Hon TOM STEPHENS: I want to answer the member’s question with a question. Does he think that it is reasonable for 100 per cent of the works portfolio of Western Australia to end up in the hands of any particular corporation? If the member’s answer to that question is no, what level of entry into this question is reasonable? I have stuck to what I consider to be reasonable - 25 per cent. The PRESIDENT: For the advice of Hon Peter Foss, that was a rhetorical question.
Hon TOM STEPHENS: On this occasion I did not get the chance to type up all that I wanted to put in the letter, which is often what I do, as the member knows. On this occasion I said to my chief of staff that this was roughly what I wanted to put in the policy proposal to the department and he came back with a well-drafted letter. I think I made a couple of changes to it. (4) I rely upon no greater authority than the distinguished parliamentarian “Lord Foss”, who, when minister, used to say that the minister is the department and the department is the minister. Hon Peter Foss: Quite the contrary. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The department is the extension of the minister and the minister is the extension of the whole system of parliamentary democracy and so, effectively, its policies are my policies and my policies are its policies. I am not sure - Hon Peter Foss: You were trying to blame somebody else for it. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Not at all. I told the department what I wanted and that is the way it should be. Hon Peter Foss: I do not have a problem with your doing it, but you tried to tell the House that it was the department’s decision. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I did no such thing. The PRESIDENT: Order, members. This is not a debate. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The member is not that stupid, is he? Hon Peter Foss: No, you are. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The member knows the way these things work. I know what policy I want to implement. Hon Peter Foss: I don’t have a problem with that. I don’t go around saying that someone else did it. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The essential issue is this - Hon Barry House: The dog ate my homework. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I want to answer the member’s question. Hon Peter Foss: Did the dog eat your homework? The PRESIDENT: Has the minister not already answered the question? Hon TOM STEPHENS: I want to answer the member’s question with a question. Does he think that it is reasonable for 100 per cent of the works portfolio of Western Australia to end up in the hands of any particular corporation? If the member’s answer to that question is no, what level of entry into this question is reasonable? I have stuck to what I consider to be reasonable - 25 per cent. The PRESIDENT: For the advice of Hon Peter Foss, that was a rhetorical question.
(4) I rely upon no greater authority than the distinguished parliamentarian “Lord Foss”, who, when minister, used to say that the minister is the department and the department is the minister. Hon Peter Foss: Quite the contrary. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The department is the extension of the minister and the minister is the extension of the whole system of parliamentary democracy and so, effectively, its policies are my policies and my policies are its policies. I am not sure - Hon Peter Foss: You were trying to blame somebody else for it. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Not at all. I told the department what I wanted and that is the way it should be. Hon Peter Foss: I do not have a problem with your doing it, but you tried to tell the House that it was the department’s decision. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I did no such thing. The PRESIDENT: Order, members. This is not a debate. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The member is not that stupid, is he? Hon Peter Foss: No, you are. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The member knows the way these things work. I know what policy I want to implement. Hon Peter Foss: I don’t have a problem with that. I don’t go around saying that someone else did it. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The essential issue is this - Hon Barry House: The dog ate my homework. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I want to answer the member’s question. Hon Peter Foss: Did the dog eat your homework? The PRESIDENT: Has the minister not already answered the question? Hon TOM STEPHENS: I want to answer the member’s question with a question. Does he think that it is reasonable for 100 per cent of the works portfolio of Western Australia to end up in the hands of any particular corporation? If the member’s answer to that question is no, what level of entry into this question is reasonable? I have stuck to what I consider to be reasonable - 25 per cent. The PRESIDENT: For the advice of Hon Peter Foss, that was a rhetorical question.
Hon Peter Foss: Quite the contrary. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The department is the extension of the minister and the minister is the extension of the whole system of parliamentary democracy and so, effectively, its policies are my policies and my policies are its policies. I am not sure - Hon Peter Foss: You were trying to blame somebody else for it. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Not at all. I told the department what I wanted and that is the way it should be. Hon Peter Foss: I do not have a problem with your doing it, but you tried to tell the House that it was the department’s decision. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I did no such thing. The PRESIDENT: Order, members. This is not a debate. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The member is not that stupid, is he? Hon Peter Foss: No, you are. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The member knows the way these things work. I know what policy I want to implement. Hon Peter Foss: I don’t have a problem with that. I don’t go around saying that someone else did it. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The essential issue is this - Hon Barry House: The dog ate my homework. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I want to answer the member’s question. Hon Peter Foss: Did the dog eat your homework? The PRESIDENT: Has the minister not already answered the question? Hon TOM STEPHENS: I want to answer the member’s question with a question. Does he think that it is reasonable for 100 per cent of the works portfolio of Western Australia to end up in the hands of any particular corporation? If the member’s answer to that question is no, what level of entry into this question is reasonable? I have stuck to what I consider to be reasonable - 25 per cent. The PRESIDENT: For the advice of Hon Peter Foss, that was a rhetorical question.
Hon TOM STEPHENS: The department is the extension of the minister and the minister is the extension of the whole system of parliamentary democracy and so, effectively, its policies are my policies and my policies are its policies. I am not sure - Hon Peter Foss: You were trying to blame somebody else for it. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Not at all. I told the department what I wanted and that is the way it should be. Hon Peter Foss: I do not have a problem with your doing it, but you tried to tell the House that it was the department’s decision. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I did no such thing. The PRESIDENT: Order, members. This is not a debate. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The member is not that stupid, is he? Hon Peter Foss: No, you are. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The member knows the way these things work. I know what policy I want to implement. Hon Peter Foss: I don’t have a problem with that. I don’t go around saying that someone else did it. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The essential issue is this - Hon Barry House: The dog ate my homework. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I want to answer the member’s question. Hon Peter Foss: Did the dog eat your homework? The PRESIDENT: Has the minister not already answered the question? Hon TOM STEPHENS: I want to answer the member’s question with a question. Does he think that it is reasonable for 100 per cent of the works portfolio of Western Australia to end up in the hands of any particular corporation? If the member’s answer to that question is no, what level of entry into this question is reasonable? I have stuck to what I consider to be reasonable - 25 per cent. The PRESIDENT: For the advice of Hon Peter Foss, that was a rhetorical question.
Hon Peter Foss: You were trying to blame somebody else for it. Hon TOM STEPHENS: Not at all. I told the department what I wanted and that is the way it should be. Hon Peter Foss: I do not have a problem with your doing it, but you tried to tell the House that it was the department’s decision. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I did no such thing. The PRESIDENT: Order, members. This is not a debate. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The member is not that stupid, is he? Hon Peter Foss: No, you are. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The member knows the way these things work. I know what policy I want to implement. Hon Peter Foss: I don’t have a problem with that. I don’t go around saying that someone else did it. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The essential issue is this - Hon Barry House: The dog ate my homework. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I want to answer the member’s question. Hon Peter Foss: Did the dog eat your homework? The PRESIDENT: Has the minister not already answered the question? Hon TOM STEPHENS: I want to answer the member’s question with a question. Does he think that it is reasonable for 100 per cent of the works portfolio of Western Australia to end up in the hands of any particular corporation? If the member’s answer to that question is no, what level of entry into this question is reasonable? I have stuck to what I consider to be reasonable - 25 per cent. The PRESIDENT: For the advice of Hon Peter Foss, that was a rhetorical question.
Hon TOM STEPHENS: Not at all. I told the department what I wanted and that is the way it should be. Hon Peter Foss: I do not have a problem with your doing it, but you tried to tell the House that it was the department’s decision. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I did no such thing. The PRESIDENT: Order, members. This is not a debate. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The member is not that stupid, is he? Hon Peter Foss: No, you are. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The member knows the way these things work. I know what policy I want to implement. Hon Peter Foss: I don’t have a problem with that. I don’t go around saying that someone else did it. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The essential issue is this - Hon Barry House: The dog ate my homework. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I want to answer the member’s question. Hon Peter Foss: Did the dog eat your homework? The PRESIDENT: Has the minister not already answered the question? Hon TOM STEPHENS: I want to answer the member’s question with a question. Does he think that it is reasonable for 100 per cent of the works portfolio of Western Australia to end up in the hands of any particular corporation? If the member’s answer to that question is no, what level of entry into this question is reasonable? I have stuck to what I consider to be reasonable - 25 per cent. The PRESIDENT: For the advice of Hon Peter Foss, that was a rhetorical question.
Hon Peter Foss: I do not have a problem with your doing it, but you tried to tell the House that it was the department’s decision. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I did no such thing. The PRESIDENT: Order, members. This is not a debate. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The member is not that stupid, is he? Hon Peter Foss: No, you are. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The member knows the way these things work. I know what policy I want to implement. Hon Peter Foss: I don’t have a problem with that. I don’t go around saying that someone else did it. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The essential issue is this - Hon Barry House: The dog ate my homework. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I want to answer the member’s question. Hon Peter Foss: Did the dog eat your homework? The PRESIDENT: Has the minister not already answered the question? Hon TOM STEPHENS: I want to answer the member’s question with a question. Does he think that it is reasonable for 100 per cent of the works portfolio of Western Australia to end up in the hands of any particular corporation? If the member’s answer to that question is no, what level of entry into this question is reasonable? I have stuck to what I consider to be reasonable - 25 per cent. The PRESIDENT: For the advice of Hon Peter Foss, that was a rhetorical question.
Hon TOM STEPHENS: I did no such thing. The PRESIDENT: Order, members. This is not a debate. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The member is not that stupid, is he? Hon Peter Foss: No, you are. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The member knows the way these things work. I know what policy I want to implement. Hon Peter Foss: I don’t have a problem with that. I don’t go around saying that someone else did it. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The essential issue is this - Hon Barry House: The dog ate my homework. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I want to answer the member’s question. Hon Peter Foss: Did the dog eat your homework? The PRESIDENT: Has the minister not already answered the question? Hon TOM STEPHENS: I want to answer the member’s question with a question. Does he think that it is reasonable for 100 per cent of the works portfolio of Western Australia to end up in the hands of any particular corporation? If the member’s answer to that question is no, what level of entry into this question is reasonable? I have stuck to what I consider to be reasonable - 25 per cent. The PRESIDENT: For the advice of Hon Peter Foss, that was a rhetorical question.
The PRESIDENT: Order, members. This is not a debate. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The member is not that stupid, is he? Hon Peter Foss: No, you are. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The member knows the way these things work. I know what policy I want to implement. Hon Peter Foss: I don’t have a problem with that. I don’t go around saying that someone else did it. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The essential issue is this - Hon Barry House: The dog ate my homework. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I want to answer the member’s question. Hon Peter Foss: Did the dog eat your homework? The PRESIDENT: Has the minister not already answered the question? Hon TOM STEPHENS: I want to answer the member’s question with a question. Does he think that it is reasonable for 100 per cent of the works portfolio of Western Australia to end up in the hands of any particular corporation? If the member’s answer to that question is no, what level of entry into this question is reasonable? I have stuck to what I consider to be reasonable - 25 per cent. The PRESIDENT: For the advice of Hon Peter Foss, that was a rhetorical question.
Hon TOM STEPHENS: The member is not that stupid, is he? Hon Peter Foss: No, you are. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The member knows the way these things work. I know what policy I want to implement. Hon Peter Foss: I don’t have a problem with that. I don’t go around saying that someone else did it. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The essential issue is this - Hon Barry House: The dog ate my homework. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I want to answer the member’s question. Hon Peter Foss: Did the dog eat your homework? The PRESIDENT: Has the minister not already answered the question? Hon TOM STEPHENS: I want to answer the member’s question with a question. Does he think that it is reasonable for 100 per cent of the works portfolio of Western Australia to end up in the hands of any particular corporation? If the member’s answer to that question is no, what level of entry into this question is reasonable? I have stuck to what I consider to be reasonable - 25 per cent. The PRESIDENT: For the advice of Hon Peter Foss, that was a rhetorical question.
Hon Peter Foss: No, you are. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The member knows the way these things work. I know what policy I want to implement. Hon Peter Foss: I don’t have a problem with that. I don’t go around saying that someone else did it. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The essential issue is this - Hon Barry House: The dog ate my homework. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I want to answer the member’s question. Hon Peter Foss: Did the dog eat your homework? The PRESIDENT: Has the minister not already answered the question? Hon TOM STEPHENS: I want to answer the member’s question with a question. Does he think that it is reasonable for 100 per cent of the works portfolio of Western Australia to end up in the hands of any particular corporation? If the member’s answer to that question is no, what level of entry into this question is reasonable? I have stuck to what I consider to be reasonable - 25 per cent. The PRESIDENT: For the advice of Hon Peter Foss, that was a rhetorical question.
Hon TOM STEPHENS: The member knows the way these things work. I know what policy I want to implement. Hon Peter Foss: I don’t have a problem with that. I don’t go around saying that someone else did it. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The essential issue is this - Hon Barry House: The dog ate my homework. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I want to answer the member’s question. Hon Peter Foss: Did the dog eat your homework? The PRESIDENT: Has the minister not already answered the question? Hon TOM STEPHENS: I want to answer the member’s question with a question. Does he think that it is reasonable for 100 per cent of the works portfolio of Western Australia to end up in the hands of any particular corporation? If the member’s answer to that question is no, what level of entry into this question is reasonable? I have stuck to what I consider to be reasonable - 25 per cent. The PRESIDENT: For the advice of Hon Peter Foss, that was a rhetorical question.
Hon Peter Foss: I don’t have a problem with that. I don’t go around saying that someone else did it. Hon TOM STEPHENS: The essential issue is this - Hon Barry House: The dog ate my homework. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I want to answer the member’s question. Hon Peter Foss: Did the dog eat your homework? The PRESIDENT: Has the minister not already answered the question? Hon TOM STEPHENS: I want to answer the member’s question with a question. Does he think that it is reasonable for 100 per cent of the works portfolio of Western Australia to end up in the hands of any particular corporation? If the member’s answer to that question is no, what level of entry into this question is reasonable? I have stuck to what I consider to be reasonable - 25 per cent. The PRESIDENT: For the advice of Hon Peter Foss, that was a rhetorical question.
Hon TOM STEPHENS: The essential issue is this - Hon Barry House: The dog ate my homework. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I want to answer the member’s question. Hon Peter Foss: Did the dog eat your homework? The PRESIDENT: Has the minister not already answered the question? Hon TOM STEPHENS: I want to answer the member’s question with a question. Does he think that it is reasonable for 100 per cent of the works portfolio of Western Australia to end up in the hands of any particular corporation? If the member’s answer to that question is no, what level of entry into this question is reasonable? I have stuck to what I consider to be reasonable - 25 per cent. The PRESIDENT: For the advice of Hon Peter Foss, that was a rhetorical question.
Hon Barry House: The dog ate my homework. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I want to answer the member’s question. Hon Peter Foss: Did the dog eat your homework? The PRESIDENT: Has the minister not already answered the question? Hon TOM STEPHENS: I want to answer the member’s question with a question. Does he think that it is reasonable for 100 per cent of the works portfolio of Western Australia to end up in the hands of any particular corporation? If the member’s answer to that question is no, what level of entry into this question is reasonable? I have stuck to what I consider to be reasonable - 25 per cent. The PRESIDENT: For the advice of Hon Peter Foss, that was a rhetorical question.
Hon TOM STEPHENS: I want to answer the member’s question. Hon Peter Foss: Did the dog eat your homework? The PRESIDENT: Has the minister not already answered the question? Hon TOM STEPHENS: I want to answer the member’s question with a question. Does he think that it is reasonable for 100 per cent of the works portfolio of Western Australia to end up in the hands of any particular corporation? If the member’s answer to that question is no, what level of entry into this question is reasonable? I have stuck to what I consider to be reasonable - 25 per cent. The PRESIDENT: For the advice of Hon Peter Foss, that was a rhetorical question.
Hon Peter Foss: Did the dog eat your homework? The PRESIDENT: Has the minister not already answered the question? Hon TOM STEPHENS: I want to answer the member’s question with a question. Does he think that it is reasonable for 100 per cent of the works portfolio of Western Australia to end up in the hands of any particular corporation? If the member’s answer to that question is no, what level of entry into this question is reasonable? I have stuck to what I consider to be reasonable - 25 per cent. The PRESIDENT: For the advice of Hon Peter Foss, that was a rhetorical question.
The PRESIDENT: Has the minister not already answered the question? Hon TOM STEPHENS: I want to answer the member’s question with a question. Does he think that it is reasonable for 100 per cent of the works portfolio of Western Australia to end up in the hands of any particular corporation? If the member’s answer to that question is no, what level of entry into this question is reasonable? I have stuck to what I consider to be reasonable - 25 per cent. The PRESIDENT: For the advice of Hon Peter Foss, that was a rhetorical question.
Hon TOM STEPHENS: I want to answer the member’s question with a question. Does he think that it is reasonable for 100 per cent of the works portfolio of Western Australia to end up in the hands of any particular corporation? If the member’s answer to that question is no, what level of entry into this question is reasonable? I have stuck to what I consider to be reasonable - 25 per cent. The PRESIDENT: For the advice of Hon Peter Foss, that was a rhetorical question.
The PRESIDENT: For the advice of Hon Peter Foss, that was a rhetorical question.
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