❓ Mr. Wyatt questions Premier Barnett about private meetings with donors and the applicability of the Integrity (Lobbyists) Bill. Premier Barnett denies having private meetings with donors regarding donations and deflects by referencing past Labor government scandals.
AnsweredQoN 255Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
LIBERAL
PARTY LEADERS' FORUM — INTEGRITY (LOBBYISTS) BILL 2011
255. Mr B.S. WYATT to the Premier:
I refer to the Premier's comments in the house on 17
June 2008, when he stated —
I do not mind the open forums such
as the Labor Business Roundtable or the 500 Club; at
least they are fairly open and accountable. There is no secrecy. I do not
particularly like little private meetings between ministers and large donors. I
know it happens in both parties, and I think it is somewhat unsavoury. It can
lead to compromise, or to accusations of compromise.
(1) Why did
the Premier refuse to give details of his private meetings with large donors in
answer to my question on notice 7372 on 1 May 2012?
(2) Why did
the Premier refuse to provide details of his private meetings with large donors
in answer to my freedom of information
application of 27 October 2011?
(3) Can the
Premier advise whether the leaders' forum would be captured by the
Integrity (Lobbyists) Bill 2011, debate on which was adjourned on 9 November
2011?
PARTY LEADERS' FORUM — INTEGRITY (LOBBYISTS) BILL 2011
255. Mr B.S. WYATT to the Premier:
I refer to the Premier's comments in the house on 17
June 2008, when he stated —
I do not mind the open forums such
as the Labor Business Roundtable or the 500 Club; at
least they are fairly open and accountable. There is no secrecy. I do not
particularly like little private meetings between ministers and large donors. I
know it happens in both parties, and I think it is somewhat unsavoury. It can
lead to compromise, or to accusations of compromise.
(1) Why did
the Premier refuse to give details of his private meetings with large donors in
answer to my question on notice 7372 on 1 May 2012?
(2) Why did
the Premier refuse to provide details of his private meetings with large donors
in answer to my freedom of information
application of 27 October 2011?
(3) Can the
Premier advise whether the leaders' forum would be captured by the
Integrity (Lobbyists) Bill 2011, debate on which was adjourned on 9 November
2011?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(3)
I may from time to time meet with people who also happen to be donors to the
Liberal Party. I also meet with people who happen to be donors to the Labor
Party, but I do not, outside my own electorate, go out and openly seek
donations to the Liberal Party, and I do not have private meetings with people
who may be contemplating donations. I simply do not do that. That is my
standard; I do not do it.
Several
members interjected.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I do not do it. I do
not have private meetings —
Several
members interjected.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
This is a serious issue; it is about accountability. I again state: I do not
have private meetings with people who may or may not be donors to major parties
on matters of donation. I do not do it. Indeed, if the member is talking about
the Liberal Party leaders' forums, they are not private; there are
probably 18 people around the table. That is about it; it is hardly private. I
do not do that and, indeed, I do not receive donations. The only fundraising
activity I am directly involved in is with my campaign committee in the seat of
Cottesloe. Yes, I speak at functions that might be fundraisers; I speak and
take part in members' events when they are fundraising in their own
electorates. That is part of my job as the political leader of a party, but the
imputation of the member for Victoria Park is that somehow I have secretive —
Ms M.M. Quirk :
Weasel words!
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
Excuse me! The imputation is that I have secretive meetings with private
donors. Let us go back in history to Burke, Grill, WA Inc, Laurie Connell,
Holmes Court and all the others. If there was ever corruption of the
political process in this state, it happened under the Labor government of the
1980s and the Labor governments of Carpenter and Gallop. If there was ever
political corruption in business, it happened under the Labor government, and
the Leader of the Opposition was part of that.
I may from time to time meet with people who also happen to be donors to the
Liberal Party. I also meet with people who happen to be donors to the Labor
Party, but I do not, outside my own electorate, go out and openly seek
donations to the Liberal Party, and I do not have private meetings with people
who may be contemplating donations. I simply do not do that. That is my
standard; I do not do it.
Several
members interjected.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I do not do it. I do
not have private meetings —
Several
members interjected.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
This is a serious issue; it is about accountability. I again state: I do not
have private meetings with people who may or may not be donors to major parties
on matters of donation. I do not do it. Indeed, if the member is talking about
the Liberal Party leaders' forums, they are not private; there are
probably 18 people around the table. That is about it; it is hardly private. I
do not do that and, indeed, I do not receive donations. The only fundraising
activity I am directly involved in is with my campaign committee in the seat of
Cottesloe. Yes, I speak at functions that might be fundraisers; I speak and
take part in members' events when they are fundraising in their own
electorates. That is part of my job as the political leader of a party, but the
imputation of the member for Victoria Park is that somehow I have secretive —
Ms M.M. Quirk :
Weasel words!
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
Excuse me! The imputation is that I have secretive meetings with private
donors. Let us go back in history to Burke, Grill, WA Inc, Laurie Connell,
Holmes Court and all the others. If there was ever corruption of the
political process in this state, it happened under the Labor government of the
1980s and the Labor governments of Carpenter and Gallop. If there was ever
political corruption in business, it happened under the Labor government, and
the Leader of the Opposition was part of that.
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