❓ A WA parliamentary question probes the Minister for Police regarding her assessment of Senator Bishop's correspondence related to alleged ALP corruption, specifically whether it contained criminal allegations and if the Minister misled Parliament. The Minister defends her position, citing her background and lack of formal advice sought.
AnsweredQoN 169Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer the minister to the vote rigging scandal and allegations of corruption within the Australian Labor Party and to her comment in this House, as reported on ABC Radio today - Senator Bishop put in correspondence to the state secretary of the ALP, he did not make specific allegations or indeed general allegations of any criminal misconduct . . . (1) As Minister for Police, is the minister now aware that Senator Bishop’s correspondence directly refers to possible breaches of the Criminal Code? (2) On what legal or other advice did the minister, in her capacity as Minister for Police, reach the conclusion that Senator Bishop’s correspondence contained no criminal allegations, or that such allegations were untrue? (3) Will the minister now admit that she has misled this Parliament? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS
AnswerView source ↗
(1)-(3) The member for Hillarys may not know, but I am actually a former English teacher, so I do not need to have legal advice to know whether or not something is an allegation. The language that is being used refers to “possible” things and so forth. There are no direct allegations there. They are the facts. The member is trying to beat this up into something that it is not. I have not sought any formal advice on this in my capacity as Minister for Police. In fact, in my capacity as Minister for Police I have received no correspondence on the matter at all.
(2) On what legal or other advice did the minister, in her capacity as Minister for Police, reach the conclusion that Senator Bishop’s correspondence contained no criminal allegations, or that such allegations were untrue? (3) Will the minister now admit that she has misled this Parliament? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS replied: (1)-(3) The member for Hillarys may not know, but I am actually a former English teacher, so I do not need to have legal advice to know whether or not something is an allegation. The language that is being used refers to “possible” things and so forth. There are no direct allegations there. They are the facts. The member is trying to beat this up into something that it is not. I have not sought any formal advice on this in my capacity as Minister for Police. In fact, in my capacity as Minister for Police I have received no correspondence on the matter at all.
(3) Will the minister now admit that she has misled this Parliament? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS replied: (1)-(3) The member for Hillarys may not know, but I am actually a former English teacher, so I do not need to have legal advice to know whether or not something is an allegation. The language that is being used refers to “possible” things and so forth. There are no direct allegations there. They are the facts. The member is trying to beat this up into something that it is not. I have not sought any formal advice on this in my capacity as Minister for Police. In fact, in my capacity as Minister for Police I have received no correspondence on the matter at all.
Mrs M.H. ROBERTS replied: (1)-(3) The member for Hillarys may not know, but I am actually a former English teacher, so I do not need to have legal advice to know whether or not something is an allegation. The language that is being used refers to “possible” things and so forth. There are no direct allegations there. They are the facts. The member is trying to beat this up into something that it is not. I have not sought any formal advice on this in my capacity as Minister for Police. In fact, in my capacity as Minister for Police I have received no correspondence on the matter at all.
(1)-(3) The member for Hillarys may not know, but I am actually a former English teacher, so I do not need to have legal advice to know whether or not something is an allegation. The language that is being used refers to “possible” things and so forth. There are no direct allegations there. They are the facts. The member is trying to beat this up into something that it is not. I have not sought any formal advice on this in my capacity as Minister for Police. In fact, in my capacity as Minister for Police I have received no correspondence on the matter at all.
(2) On what legal or other advice did the minister, in her capacity as Minister for Police, reach the conclusion that Senator Bishop’s correspondence contained no criminal allegations, or that such allegations were untrue? (3) Will the minister now admit that she has misled this Parliament? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS replied: (1)-(3) The member for Hillarys may not know, but I am actually a former English teacher, so I do not need to have legal advice to know whether or not something is an allegation. The language that is being used refers to “possible” things and so forth. There are no direct allegations there. They are the facts. The member is trying to beat this up into something that it is not. I have not sought any formal advice on this in my capacity as Minister for Police. In fact, in my capacity as Minister for Police I have received no correspondence on the matter at all.
(3) Will the minister now admit that she has misled this Parliament? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS replied: (1)-(3) The member for Hillarys may not know, but I am actually a former English teacher, so I do not need to have legal advice to know whether or not something is an allegation. The language that is being used refers to “possible” things and so forth. There are no direct allegations there. They are the facts. The member is trying to beat this up into something that it is not. I have not sought any formal advice on this in my capacity as Minister for Police. In fact, in my capacity as Minister for Police I have received no correspondence on the matter at all.
Mrs M.H. ROBERTS replied: (1)-(3) The member for Hillarys may not know, but I am actually a former English teacher, so I do not need to have legal advice to know whether or not something is an allegation. The language that is being used refers to “possible” things and so forth. There are no direct allegations there. They are the facts. The member is trying to beat this up into something that it is not. I have not sought any formal advice on this in my capacity as Minister for Police. In fact, in my capacity as Minister for Police I have received no correspondence on the matter at all.
(1)-(3) The member for Hillarys may not know, but I am actually a former English teacher, so I do not need to have legal advice to know whether or not something is an allegation. The language that is being used refers to “possible” things and so forth. There are no direct allegations there. They are the facts. The member is trying to beat this up into something that it is not. I have not sought any formal advice on this in my capacity as Minister for Police. In fact, in my capacity as Minister for Police I have received no correspondence on the matter at all.
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