❓ Ms Davies asks the Premier whether WA taxpayers will pay for the Minister for Child Protection's legal defence in a defamation case brought by Dr Tracy Westerman. The Premier responds by referencing existing protocols for ministers' legal defence, citing historical examples.
AnsweredQoN 169Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
MINISTER
FOR CHILD PROTECTION — DEFAMATION PROCEEDINGS
169. Ms M.J. DAVIES to the Premier:
I refer to reports that the embattled Minister for Child Protection
is being sued by former Western Australian of the Year Dr Tracy Westerman, AM,
over public comments the minister made. Will WA taxpayers foot the bill for the
minister's legal defence?
FOR CHILD PROTECTION — DEFAMATION PROCEEDINGS
169. Ms M.J. DAVIES to the Premier:
I refer to reports that the embattled Minister for Child Protection
is being sued by former Western Australian of the Year Dr Tracy Westerman, AM,
over public comments the minister made. Will WA taxpayers foot the bill for the
minister's legal defence?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for the question.
There are protocols around these things that apply to
government ministers that have been in place for many years. Those protocols
have been applied by both sides of government over the years. I recall back in
the day, during Colin Barnett's government, protocols were applied in
relation to Mr Joe Francis. I can go further back to the Richard Court
government, when they were also applied in relation to Hon Cheryl Edwardes.
Obviously, I have had my own issue with Mr Clive Palmer suing me. I expect that
the protocols that are in place will be applied.
There are protocols around these things that apply to
government ministers that have been in place for many years. Those protocols
have been applied by both sides of government over the years. I recall back in
the day, during Colin Barnett's government, protocols were applied in
relation to Mr Joe Francis. I can go further back to the Richard Court
government, when they were also applied in relation to Hon Cheryl Edwardes.
Obviously, I have had my own issue with Mr Clive Palmer suing me. I expect that
the protocols that are in place will be applied.
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.