❓ Question regarding accountability of ministerial staff who mislead Parliament, answered with a deflection and accusations of hypocrisy. The Premier's response quickly devolves into a heated exchange with other members.
AnsweredQoN 859Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
FORMER MEMBER FOR VASSE — ROAD TRAFFIC
INCIDENT —STANDING COMMITTEE ON PROCEDURE AND PRIVILEGES REPORT
859. Mr R.F. JOHNSON to the Premier:
I have a supplementary question.
Does the Premier not accept that if members of staff—either the Premier's
or members of minister's staff—mislead the Parliament in any
way, we have no option but to name them in this Parliament?
INCIDENT —STANDING COMMITTEE ON PROCEDURE AND PRIVILEGES REPORT
859. Mr R.F. JOHNSON to the Premier:
I have a supplementary question.
Does the Premier not accept that if members of staff—either the Premier's
or members of minister's staff—mislead the Parliament in any
way, we have no option but to name them in this Parliament?
AnswerView source ↗
Yes you do, and it is called
decency.
Mr
R.H. Cook : What do you know about that?
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : Quite a bit more than the member for Kwinana would ever
contemplate. After all, he accepted stolen material from Ashton Foley down in
Peel, did he not? Do not talk to me about standards.
Several members interjected.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : There was a meeting at the golf course. If you want to
interject, I will respond.
The SPEAKER : Thank you. Have
you finished?
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : No. There is a vast difference between standards on this side
of the house with respect to public servants and employees of government, as
distinct from standards on that side of the house—a vast, vast
difference.
Mr
R.H. Cook : How did you describe John Bowler once?
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : John Bowler is not a public servant.
decency.
Mr
R.H. Cook : What do you know about that?
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : Quite a bit more than the member for Kwinana would ever
contemplate. After all, he accepted stolen material from Ashton Foley down in
Peel, did he not? Do not talk to me about standards.
Several members interjected.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : There was a meeting at the golf course. If you want to
interject, I will respond.
The SPEAKER : Thank you. Have
you finished?
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : No. There is a vast difference between standards on this side
of the house with respect to public servants and employees of government, as
distinct from standards on that side of the house—a vast, vast
difference.
Mr
R.H. Cook : How did you describe John Bowler once?
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : John Bowler is not a public servant.
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