❓ Opposition questions the Minister for Police and Emergency Services about a potential breach of confidentiality, drawing parallels with a past resignation. The Minister denies the accusation and deflects by focusing on the Leader of the Opposition's drink driving incident and perceived inconsistencies in his public statements.
AnsweredQoN 261Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer the minister to the resignation of former Labor minister Hon Bob Pearce, who resigned from office after it was revealed that he had acted improperly by using confidential records to discredit the opposition back in 1987. Given that the minister has also used confidential records in an attempt to discredit the opposition, will she now follow the precedent set by Hon Bob Pearce and resign? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS
AnswerView source ↗
Of course, that question contains a false assertion. There has been no release of confidential records by me. The information released by me is in the public interest because of the implications that have been made by the Leader of the Opposition . Let us remember that it was the Sunday Times in which the Leader of the Opposition put the figure - Mr P.D. Omodei : How did the Sunday Times get the information? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : That is a very good question. Perhaps members opposite might look on their side. Several members interjected. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : I have had absolutely no contact with the Sunday Times . Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! It is unfortunate that the member for Vasse has a very loud voice. I call him to order again, and the Deputy Leader of the Opposition. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : Members opposite need to put themselves a bit above the nastiness and take this appropriately. I resent the implication by the member for Carine when she says things like, “How about your office? Did it leak to the Sunday Times ?” I put it on the record: I did not leak that to the Sunday Times and nobody associated with me leaked it to the Sunday Times on my behalf. I reject that entirely. What members opposite are trying to do is to get away from the real issue. The real issue is the Leader of the Opposition, who thinks it is okay to have a few drinks and then drive. The story has changed, Mr Speaker, from the report in the Sunday Times in which he said he had two Hahn Lights to him then saying that he had three or four light beers. Then he said that he did have some wine. The fact of the matter is that a figure - Ms K. Hodson-Thomas : The issue is whether he was over the limit. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : I will tell the member for Carine what the issue is. The issue is the stupidity of the Leader of the Opposition. What the Leader of the Opposition should have said, even after the matter was leaked to the Sunday Times by an unknown source, was that he had been breath tested last Wednesday evening and was not charged because he was under the legal limit. He could have left it at that, but he did not. He did not cop it on the chin. He did not say that he had had a lucky escape. He did have a lucky escape, because he said that he probably could have had another drink. That is what he said: that he could have had another drink. What he sought to do was discredit the motivation of the officers who followed him. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition tried to discredit the breath testing equipment. Members opposite then tried to perpetrate a myth that the Leader of the Opposition had blown under the limit at his home, which, of course, he had not. The fact of the matter is that the Leader of the Opposition tried to suggest that he had blown under .05 in his driveway, yet he was still taken by the police to the police station. Perhaps the need for me to correct the public record was made apparent in the Channel Two news last Sunday evening at 7.00 pm. As members are aware, Channel Two news is broadcast throughout the state. The journalist concerned, I believe Philippa Meagher, said that the incident had occurred after a night out with Deputy Leader of the Opposition Paul Omodei; that after returning a reading of just under .05 at his home, a subsequent breath test at Kensington Police Station measured just over .04; and that Mr Birney was released without charge. At that stage there had been no reference by me, the Commissioner of Police or anyone about any number. The only numbers were coming from the Leader of the Opposition. In one way or another he at least convinced Channel Two that he was under .05. That report was broadcast throughout the state. I have a responsibility as Minister for Police and Emergency Services to let the media know that people are treated without fear or favour and that if someone blows under .05, that person will not be taken to a police station.
Mrs M.H. ROBERTS replied: Of course, that question contains a false assertion. There has been no release of confidential records by me. The information released by me is in the public interest because of the implications that have been made by the Leader of the Opposition . Let us remember that it was the Sunday Times in which the Leader of the Opposition put the figure - Mr P.D. Omodei : How did the Sunday Times get the information? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : That is a very good question. Perhaps members opposite might look on their side. Several members interjected. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : I have had absolutely no contact with the Sunday Times . Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! It is unfortunate that the member for Vasse has a very loud voice. I call him to order again, and the Deputy Leader of the Opposition. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : Members opposite need to put themselves a bit above the nastiness and take this appropriately. I resent the implication by the member for Carine when she says things like, “How about your office? Did it leak to the Sunday Times ?” I put it on the record: I did not leak that to the Sunday Times and nobody associated with me leaked it to the Sunday Times on my behalf. I reject that entirely. What members opposite are trying to do is to get away from the real issue. The real issue is the Leader of the Opposition, who thinks it is okay to have a few drinks and then drive. The story has changed, Mr Speaker, from the report in the Sunday Times in which he said he had two Hahn Lights to him then saying that he had three or four light beers. Then he said that he did have some wine. The fact of the matter is that a figure - Ms K. Hodson-Thomas : The issue is whether he was over the limit. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : I will tell the member for Carine what the issue is. The issue is the stupidity of the Leader of the Opposition. What the Leader of the Opposition should have said, even after the matter was leaked to the Sunday Times by an unknown source, was that he had been breath tested last Wednesday evening and was not charged because he was under the legal limit. He could have left it at that, but he did not. He did not cop it on the chin. He did not say that he had had a lucky escape. He did have a lucky escape, because he said that he probably could have had another drink. That is what he said: that he could have had another drink. What he sought to do was discredit the motivation of the officers who followed him. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition tried to discredit the breath testing equipment. Members opposite then tried to perpetrate a myth that the Leader of the Opposition had blown under the limit at his home, which, of course, he had not. The fact of the matter is that the Leader of the Opposition tried to suggest that he had blown under .05 in his driveway, yet he was still taken by the police to the police station. Perhaps the need for me to correct the public record was made apparent in the Channel Two news last Sunday evening at 7.00 pm. As members are aware, Channel Two news is broadcast throughout the state. The journalist concerned, I believe Philippa Meagher, said that the incident had occurred after a night out with Deputy Leader of the Opposition Paul Omodei; that after returning a reading of just under .05 at his home, a subsequent breath test at Kensington Police Station measured just over .04; and that Mr Birney was released without charge. At that stage there had been no reference by me, the Commissioner of Police or anyone about any number. The only numbers were coming from the Leader of the Opposition. In one way or another he at least convinced Channel Two that he was under .05. That report was broadcast throughout the state. I have a responsibility as Minister for Police and Emergency Services to let the media know that people are treated without fear or favour and that if someone blows under .05, that person will not be taken to a police station.
Of course, that question contains a false assertion. There has been no release of confidential records by me. The information released by me is in the public interest because of the implications that have been made by the Leader of the Opposition . Let us remember that it was the Sunday Times in which the Leader of the Opposition put the figure - Mr P.D. Omodei : How did the Sunday Times get the information? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : That is a very good question. Perhaps members opposite might look on their side. Several members interjected. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : I have had absolutely no contact with the Sunday Times . Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! It is unfortunate that the member for Vasse has a very loud voice. I call him to order again, and the Deputy Leader of the Opposition. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : Members opposite need to put themselves a bit above the nastiness and take this appropriately. I resent the implication by the member for Carine when she says things like, “How about your office? Did it leak to the Sunday Times ?” I put it on the record: I did not leak that to the Sunday Times and nobody associated with me leaked it to the Sunday Times on my behalf. I reject that entirely. What members opposite are trying to do is to get away from the real issue. The real issue is the Leader of the Opposition, who thinks it is okay to have a few drinks and then drive. The story has changed, Mr Speaker, from the report in the Sunday Times in which he said he had two Hahn Lights to him then saying that he had three or four light beers. Then he said that he did have some wine. The fact of the matter is that a figure - Ms K. Hodson-Thomas : The issue is whether he was over the limit. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : I will tell the member for Carine what the issue is. The issue is the stupidity of the Leader of the Opposition. What the Leader of the Opposition should have said, even after the matter was leaked to the Sunday Times by an unknown source, was that he had been breath tested last Wednesday evening and was not charged because he was under the legal limit. He could have left it at that, but he did not. He did not cop it on the chin. He did not say that he had had a lucky escape. He did have a lucky escape, because he said that he probably could have had another drink. That is what he said: that he could have had another drink. What he sought to do was discredit the motivation of the officers who followed him. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition tried to discredit the breath testing equipment. Members opposite then tried to perpetrate a myth that the Leader of the Opposition had blown under the limit at his home, which, of course, he had not. The fact of the matter is that the Leader of the Opposition tried to suggest that he had blown under .05 in his driveway, yet he was still taken by the police to the police station. Perhaps the need for me to correct the public record was made apparent in the Channel Two news last Sunday evening at 7.00 pm. As members are aware, Channel Two news is broadcast throughout the state. The journalist concerned, I believe Philippa Meagher, said that the incident had occurred after a night out with Deputy Leader of the Opposition Paul Omodei; that after returning a reading of just under .05 at his home, a subsequent breath test at Kensington Police Station measured just over .04; and that Mr Birney was released without charge. At that stage there had been no reference by me, the Commissioner of Police or anyone about any number. The only numbers were coming from the Leader of the Opposition. In one way or another he at least convinced Channel Two that he was under .05. That report was broadcast throughout the state. I have a responsibility as Minister for Police and Emergency Services to let the media know that people are treated without fear or favour and that if someone blows under .05, that person will not be taken to a police station.
Mr P.D. Omodei : How did the Sunday Times get the information? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : That is a very good question. Perhaps members opposite might look on their side. Several members interjected. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : I have had absolutely no contact with the Sunday Times . Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! It is unfortunate that the member for Vasse has a very loud voice. I call him to order again, and the Deputy Leader of the Opposition. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : Members opposite need to put themselves a bit above the nastiness and take this appropriately. I resent the implication by the member for Carine when she says things like, “How about your office? Did it leak to the Sunday Times ?” I put it on the record: I did not leak that to the Sunday Times and nobody associated with me leaked it to the Sunday Times on my behalf. I reject that entirely. What members opposite are trying to do is to get away from the real issue. The real issue is the Leader of the Opposition, who thinks it is okay to have a few drinks and then drive. The story has changed, Mr Speaker, from the report in the Sunday Times in which he said he had two Hahn Lights to him then saying that he had three or four light beers. Then he said that he did have some wine. The fact of the matter is that a figure - Ms K. Hodson-Thomas : The issue is whether he was over the limit. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : I will tell the member for Carine what the issue is. The issue is the stupidity of the Leader of the Opposition. What the Leader of the Opposition should have said, even after the matter was leaked to the Sunday Times by an unknown source, was that he had been breath tested last Wednesday evening and was not charged because he was under the legal limit. He could have left it at that, but he did not. He did not cop it on the chin. He did not say that he had had a lucky escape. He did have a lucky escape, because he said that he probably could have had another drink. That is what he said: that he could have had another drink. What he sought to do was discredit the motivation of the officers who followed him. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition tried to discredit the breath testing equipment. Members opposite then tried to perpetrate a myth that the Leader of the Opposition had blown under the limit at his home, which, of course, he had not. The fact of the matter is that the Leader of the Opposition tried to suggest that he had blown under .05 in his driveway, yet he was still taken by the police to the police station. Perhaps the need for me to correct the public record was made apparent in the Channel Two news last Sunday evening at 7.00 pm. As members are aware, Channel Two news is broadcast throughout the state. The journalist concerned, I believe Philippa Meagher, said that the incident had occurred after a night out with Deputy Leader of the Opposition Paul Omodei; that after returning a reading of just under .05 at his home, a subsequent breath test at Kensington Police Station measured just over .04; and that Mr Birney was released without charge. At that stage there had been no reference by me, the Commissioner of Police or anyone about any number. The only numbers were coming from the Leader of the Opposition. In one way or another he at least convinced Channel Two that he was under .05. That report was broadcast throughout the state. I have a responsibility as Minister for Police and Emergency Services to let the media know that people are treated without fear or favour and that if someone blows under .05, that person will not be taken to a police station.
Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : That is a very good question. Perhaps members opposite might look on their side. Several members interjected. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : I have had absolutely no contact with the Sunday Times . Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! It is unfortunate that the member for Vasse has a very loud voice. I call him to order again, and the Deputy Leader of the Opposition. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : Members opposite need to put themselves a bit above the nastiness and take this appropriately. I resent the implication by the member for Carine when she says things like, “How about your office? Did it leak to the Sunday Times ?” I put it on the record: I did not leak that to the Sunday Times and nobody associated with me leaked it to the Sunday Times on my behalf. I reject that entirely. What members opposite are trying to do is to get away from the real issue. The real issue is the Leader of the Opposition, who thinks it is okay to have a few drinks and then drive. The story has changed, Mr Speaker, from the report in the Sunday Times in which he said he had two Hahn Lights to him then saying that he had three or four light beers. Then he said that he did have some wine. The fact of the matter is that a figure - Ms K. Hodson-Thomas : The issue is whether he was over the limit. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : I will tell the member for Carine what the issue is. The issue is the stupidity of the Leader of the Opposition. What the Leader of the Opposition should have said, even after the matter was leaked to the Sunday Times by an unknown source, was that he had been breath tested last Wednesday evening and was not charged because he was under the legal limit. He could have left it at that, but he did not. He did not cop it on the chin. He did not say that he had had a lucky escape. He did have a lucky escape, because he said that he probably could have had another drink. That is what he said: that he could have had another drink. What he sought to do was discredit the motivation of the officers who followed him. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition tried to discredit the breath testing equipment. Members opposite then tried to perpetrate a myth that the Leader of the Opposition had blown under the limit at his home, which, of course, he had not. The fact of the matter is that the Leader of the Opposition tried to suggest that he had blown under .05 in his driveway, yet he was still taken by the police to the police station. Perhaps the need for me to correct the public record was made apparent in the Channel Two news last Sunday evening at 7.00 pm. As members are aware, Channel Two news is broadcast throughout the state. The journalist concerned, I believe Philippa Meagher, said that the incident had occurred after a night out with Deputy Leader of the Opposition Paul Omodei; that after returning a reading of just under .05 at his home, a subsequent breath test at Kensington Police Station measured just over .04; and that Mr Birney was released without charge. At that stage there had been no reference by me, the Commissioner of Police or anyone about any number. The only numbers were coming from the Leader of the Opposition. In one way or another he at least convinced Channel Two that he was under .05. That report was broadcast throughout the state. I have a responsibility as Minister for Police and Emergency Services to let the media know that people are treated without fear or favour and that if someone blows under .05, that person will not be taken to a police station.
Several members interjected. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : I have had absolutely no contact with the Sunday Times . Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! It is unfortunate that the member for Vasse has a very loud voice. I call him to order again, and the Deputy Leader of the Opposition. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : Members opposite need to put themselves a bit above the nastiness and take this appropriately. I resent the implication by the member for Carine when she says things like, “How about your office? Did it leak to the Sunday Times ?” I put it on the record: I did not leak that to the Sunday Times and nobody associated with me leaked it to the Sunday Times on my behalf. I reject that entirely. What members opposite are trying to do is to get away from the real issue. The real issue is the Leader of the Opposition, who thinks it is okay to have a few drinks and then drive. The story has changed, Mr Speaker, from the report in the Sunday Times in which he said he had two Hahn Lights to him then saying that he had three or four light beers. Then he said that he did have some wine. The fact of the matter is that a figure - Ms K. Hodson-Thomas : The issue is whether he was over the limit. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : I will tell the member for Carine what the issue is. The issue is the stupidity of the Leader of the Opposition. What the Leader of the Opposition should have said, even after the matter was leaked to the Sunday Times by an unknown source, was that he had been breath tested last Wednesday evening and was not charged because he was under the legal limit. He could have left it at that, but he did not. He did not cop it on the chin. He did not say that he had had a lucky escape. He did have a lucky escape, because he said that he probably could have had another drink. That is what he said: that he could have had another drink. What he sought to do was discredit the motivation of the officers who followed him. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition tried to discredit the breath testing equipment. Members opposite then tried to perpetrate a myth that the Leader of the Opposition had blown under the limit at his home, which, of course, he had not. The fact of the matter is that the Leader of the Opposition tried to suggest that he had blown under .05 in his driveway, yet he was still taken by the police to the police station. Perhaps the need for me to correct the public record was made apparent in the Channel Two news last Sunday evening at 7.00 pm. As members are aware, Channel Two news is broadcast throughout the state. The journalist concerned, I believe Philippa Meagher, said that the incident had occurred after a night out with Deputy Leader of the Opposition Paul Omodei; that after returning a reading of just under .05 at his home, a subsequent breath test at Kensington Police Station measured just over .04; and that Mr Birney was released without charge. At that stage there had been no reference by me, the Commissioner of Police or anyone about any number. The only numbers were coming from the Leader of the Opposition. In one way or another he at least convinced Channel Two that he was under .05. That report was broadcast throughout the state. I have a responsibility as Minister for Police and Emergency Services to let the media know that people are treated without fear or favour and that if someone blows under .05, that person will not be taken to a police station.
Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : I have had absolutely no contact with the Sunday Times . Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! It is unfortunate that the member for Vasse has a very loud voice. I call him to order again, and the Deputy Leader of the Opposition. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : Members opposite need to put themselves a bit above the nastiness and take this appropriately. I resent the implication by the member for Carine when she says things like, “How about your office? Did it leak to the Sunday Times ?” I put it on the record: I did not leak that to the Sunday Times and nobody associated with me leaked it to the Sunday Times on my behalf. I reject that entirely. What members opposite are trying to do is to get away from the real issue. The real issue is the Leader of the Opposition, who thinks it is okay to have a few drinks and then drive. The story has changed, Mr Speaker, from the report in the Sunday Times in which he said he had two Hahn Lights to him then saying that he had three or four light beers. Then he said that he did have some wine. The fact of the matter is that a figure - Ms K. Hodson-Thomas : The issue is whether he was over the limit. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : I will tell the member for Carine what the issue is. The issue is the stupidity of the Leader of the Opposition. What the Leader of the Opposition should have said, even after the matter was leaked to the Sunday Times by an unknown source, was that he had been breath tested last Wednesday evening and was not charged because he was under the legal limit. He could have left it at that, but he did not. He did not cop it on the chin. He did not say that he had had a lucky escape. He did have a lucky escape, because he said that he probably could have had another drink. That is what he said: that he could have had another drink. What he sought to do was discredit the motivation of the officers who followed him. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition tried to discredit the breath testing equipment. Members opposite then tried to perpetrate a myth that the Leader of the Opposition had blown under the limit at his home, which, of course, he had not. The fact of the matter is that the Leader of the Opposition tried to suggest that he had blown under .05 in his driveway, yet he was still taken by the police to the police station. Perhaps the need for me to correct the public record was made apparent in the Channel Two news last Sunday evening at 7.00 pm. As members are aware, Channel Two news is broadcast throughout the state. The journalist concerned, I believe Philippa Meagher, said that the incident had occurred after a night out with Deputy Leader of the Opposition Paul Omodei; that after returning a reading of just under .05 at his home, a subsequent breath test at Kensington Police Station measured just over .04; and that Mr Birney was released without charge. At that stage there had been no reference by me, the Commissioner of Police or anyone about any number. The only numbers were coming from the Leader of the Opposition. In one way or another he at least convinced Channel Two that he was under .05. That report was broadcast throughout the state. I have a responsibility as Minister for Police and Emergency Services to let the media know that people are treated without fear or favour and that if someone blows under .05, that person will not be taken to a police station.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! It is unfortunate that the member for Vasse has a very loud voice. I call him to order again, and the Deputy Leader of the Opposition. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : Members opposite need to put themselves a bit above the nastiness and take this appropriately. I resent the implication by the member for Carine when she says things like, “How about your office? Did it leak to the Sunday Times ?” I put it on the record: I did not leak that to the Sunday Times and nobody associated with me leaked it to the Sunday Times on my behalf. I reject that entirely. What members opposite are trying to do is to get away from the real issue. The real issue is the Leader of the Opposition, who thinks it is okay to have a few drinks and then drive. The story has changed, Mr Speaker, from the report in the Sunday Times in which he said he had two Hahn Lights to him then saying that he had three or four light beers. Then he said that he did have some wine. The fact of the matter is that a figure - Ms K. Hodson-Thomas : The issue is whether he was over the limit. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : I will tell the member for Carine what the issue is. The issue is the stupidity of the Leader of the Opposition. What the Leader of the Opposition should have said, even after the matter was leaked to the Sunday Times by an unknown source, was that he had been breath tested last Wednesday evening and was not charged because he was under the legal limit. He could have left it at that, but he did not. He did not cop it on the chin. He did not say that he had had a lucky escape. He did have a lucky escape, because he said that he probably could have had another drink. That is what he said: that he could have had another drink. What he sought to do was discredit the motivation of the officers who followed him. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition tried to discredit the breath testing equipment. Members opposite then tried to perpetrate a myth that the Leader of the Opposition had blown under the limit at his home, which, of course, he had not. The fact of the matter is that the Leader of the Opposition tried to suggest that he had blown under .05 in his driveway, yet he was still taken by the police to the police station. Perhaps the need for me to correct the public record was made apparent in the Channel Two news last Sunday evening at 7.00 pm. As members are aware, Channel Two news is broadcast throughout the state. The journalist concerned, I believe Philippa Meagher, said that the incident had occurred after a night out with Deputy Leader of the Opposition Paul Omodei; that after returning a reading of just under .05 at his home, a subsequent breath test at Kensington Police Station measured just over .04; and that Mr Birney was released without charge. At that stage there had been no reference by me, the Commissioner of Police or anyone about any number. The only numbers were coming from the Leader of the Opposition. In one way or another he at least convinced Channel Two that he was under .05. That report was broadcast throughout the state. I have a responsibility as Minister for Police and Emergency Services to let the media know that people are treated without fear or favour and that if someone blows under .05, that person will not be taken to a police station.
The SPEAKER : Order! It is unfortunate that the member for Vasse has a very loud voice. I call him to order again, and the Deputy Leader of the Opposition. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : Members opposite need to put themselves a bit above the nastiness and take this appropriately. I resent the implication by the member for Carine when she says things like, “How about your office? Did it leak to the Sunday Times ?” I put it on the record: I did not leak that to the Sunday Times and nobody associated with me leaked it to the Sunday Times on my behalf. I reject that entirely. What members opposite are trying to do is to get away from the real issue. The real issue is the Leader of the Opposition, who thinks it is okay to have a few drinks and then drive. The story has changed, Mr Speaker, from the report in the Sunday Times in which he said he had two Hahn Lights to him then saying that he had three or four light beers. Then he said that he did have some wine. The fact of the matter is that a figure - Ms K. Hodson-Thomas : The issue is whether he was over the limit. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : I will tell the member for Carine what the issue is. The issue is the stupidity of the Leader of the Opposition. What the Leader of the Opposition should have said, even after the matter was leaked to the Sunday Times by an unknown source, was that he had been breath tested last Wednesday evening and was not charged because he was under the legal limit. He could have left it at that, but he did not. He did not cop it on the chin. He did not say that he had had a lucky escape. He did have a lucky escape, because he said that he probably could have had another drink. That is what he said: that he could have had another drink. What he sought to do was discredit the motivation of the officers who followed him. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition tried to discredit the breath testing equipment. Members opposite then tried to perpetrate a myth that the Leader of the Opposition had blown under the limit at his home, which, of course, he had not. The fact of the matter is that the Leader of the Opposition tried to suggest that he had blown under .05 in his driveway, yet he was still taken by the police to the police station. Perhaps the need for me to correct the public record was made apparent in the Channel Two news last Sunday evening at 7.00 pm. As members are aware, Channel Two news is broadcast throughout the state. The journalist concerned, I believe Philippa Meagher, said that the incident had occurred after a night out with Deputy Leader of the Opposition Paul Omodei; that after returning a reading of just under .05 at his home, a subsequent breath test at Kensington Police Station measured just over .04; and that Mr Birney was released without charge. At that stage there had been no reference by me, the Commissioner of Police or anyone about any number. The only numbers were coming from the Leader of the Opposition. In one way or another he at least convinced Channel Two that he was under .05. That report was broadcast throughout the state. I have a responsibility as Minister for Police and Emergency Services to let the media know that people are treated without fear or favour and that if someone blows under .05, that person will not be taken to a police station.
Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : Members opposite need to put themselves a bit above the nastiness and take this appropriately. I resent the implication by the member for Carine when she says things like, “How about your office? Did it leak to the Sunday Times ?” I put it on the record: I did not leak that to the Sunday Times and nobody associated with me leaked it to the Sunday Times on my behalf. I reject that entirely. What members opposite are trying to do is to get away from the real issue. The real issue is the Leader of the Opposition, who thinks it is okay to have a few drinks and then drive. The story has changed, Mr Speaker, from the report in the Sunday Times in which he said he had two Hahn Lights to him then saying that he had three or four light beers. Then he said that he did have some wine. The fact of the matter is that a figure - Ms K. Hodson-Thomas : The issue is whether he was over the limit. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : I will tell the member for Carine what the issue is. The issue is the stupidity of the Leader of the Opposition. What the Leader of the Opposition should have said, even after the matter was leaked to the Sunday Times by an unknown source, was that he had been breath tested last Wednesday evening and was not charged because he was under the legal limit. He could have left it at that, but he did not. He did not cop it on the chin. He did not say that he had had a lucky escape. He did have a lucky escape, because he said that he probably could have had another drink. That is what he said: that he could have had another drink. What he sought to do was discredit the motivation of the officers who followed him. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition tried to discredit the breath testing equipment. Members opposite then tried to perpetrate a myth that the Leader of the Opposition had blown under the limit at his home, which, of course, he had not. The fact of the matter is that the Leader of the Opposition tried to suggest that he had blown under .05 in his driveway, yet he was still taken by the police to the police station. Perhaps the need for me to correct the public record was made apparent in the Channel Two news last Sunday evening at 7.00 pm. As members are aware, Channel Two news is broadcast throughout the state. The journalist concerned, I believe Philippa Meagher, said that the incident had occurred after a night out with Deputy Leader of the Opposition Paul Omodei; that after returning a reading of just under .05 at his home, a subsequent breath test at Kensington Police Station measured just over .04; and that Mr Birney was released without charge. At that stage there had been no reference by me, the Commissioner of Police or anyone about any number. The only numbers were coming from the Leader of the Opposition. In one way or another he at least convinced Channel Two that he was under .05. That report was broadcast throughout the state. I have a responsibility as Minister for Police and Emergency Services to let the media know that people are treated without fear or favour and that if someone blows under .05, that person will not be taken to a police station.
I resent the implication by the member for Carine when she says things like, “How about your office? Did it leak to the Sunday Times ?” I put it on the record: I did not leak that to the Sunday Times and nobody associated with me leaked it to the Sunday Times on my behalf. I reject that entirely. What members opposite are trying to do is to get away from the real issue. The real issue is the Leader of the Opposition, who thinks it is okay to have a few drinks and then drive. The story has changed, Mr Speaker, from the report in the Sunday Times in which he said he had two Hahn Lights to him then saying that he had three or four light beers. Then he said that he did have some wine. The fact of the matter is that a figure - Ms K. Hodson-Thomas : The issue is whether he was over the limit. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : I will tell the member for Carine what the issue is. The issue is the stupidity of the Leader of the Opposition. What the Leader of the Opposition should have said, even after the matter was leaked to the Sunday Times by an unknown source, was that he had been breath tested last Wednesday evening and was not charged because he was under the legal limit. He could have left it at that, but he did not. He did not cop it on the chin. He did not say that he had had a lucky escape. He did have a lucky escape, because he said that he probably could have had another drink. That is what he said: that he could have had another drink. What he sought to do was discredit the motivation of the officers who followed him. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition tried to discredit the breath testing equipment. Members opposite then tried to perpetrate a myth that the Leader of the Opposition had blown under the limit at his home, which, of course, he had not. The fact of the matter is that the Leader of the Opposition tried to suggest that he had blown under .05 in his driveway, yet he was still taken by the police to the police station. Perhaps the need for me to correct the public record was made apparent in the Channel Two news last Sunday evening at 7.00 pm. As members are aware, Channel Two news is broadcast throughout the state. The journalist concerned, I believe Philippa Meagher, said that the incident had occurred after a night out with Deputy Leader of the Opposition Paul Omodei; that after returning a reading of just under .05 at his home, a subsequent breath test at Kensington Police Station measured just over .04; and that Mr Birney was released without charge. At that stage there had been no reference by me, the Commissioner of Police or anyone about any number. The only numbers were coming from the Leader of the Opposition. In one way or another he at least convinced Channel Two that he was under .05. That report was broadcast throughout the state. I have a responsibility as Minister for Police and Emergency Services to let the media know that people are treated without fear or favour and that if someone blows under .05, that person will not be taken to a police station.
Ms K. Hodson-Thomas : The issue is whether he was over the limit. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : I will tell the member for Carine what the issue is. The issue is the stupidity of the Leader of the Opposition. What the Leader of the Opposition should have said, even after the matter was leaked to the Sunday Times by an unknown source, was that he had been breath tested last Wednesday evening and was not charged because he was under the legal limit. He could have left it at that, but he did not. He did not cop it on the chin. He did not say that he had had a lucky escape. He did have a lucky escape, because he said that he probably could have had another drink. That is what he said: that he could have had another drink. What he sought to do was discredit the motivation of the officers who followed him. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition tried to discredit the breath testing equipment. Members opposite then tried to perpetrate a myth that the Leader of the Opposition had blown under the limit at his home, which, of course, he had not. The fact of the matter is that the Leader of the Opposition tried to suggest that he had blown under .05 in his driveway, yet he was still taken by the police to the police station. Perhaps the need for me to correct the public record was made apparent in the Channel Two news last Sunday evening at 7.00 pm. As members are aware, Channel Two news is broadcast throughout the state. The journalist concerned, I believe Philippa Meagher, said that the incident had occurred after a night out with Deputy Leader of the Opposition Paul Omodei; that after returning a reading of just under .05 at his home, a subsequent breath test at Kensington Police Station measured just over .04; and that Mr Birney was released without charge. At that stage there had been no reference by me, the Commissioner of Police or anyone about any number. The only numbers were coming from the Leader of the Opposition. In one way or another he at least convinced Channel Two that he was under .05. That report was broadcast throughout the state. I have a responsibility as Minister for Police and Emergency Services to let the media know that people are treated without fear or favour and that if someone blows under .05, that person will not be taken to a police station.
Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : I will tell the member for Carine what the issue is. The issue is the stupidity of the Leader of the Opposition. What the Leader of the Opposition should have said, even after the matter was leaked to the Sunday Times by an unknown source, was that he had been breath tested last Wednesday evening and was not charged because he was under the legal limit. He could have left it at that, but he did not. He did not cop it on the chin. He did not say that he had had a lucky escape. He did have a lucky escape, because he said that he probably could have had another drink. That is what he said: that he could have had another drink. What he sought to do was discredit the motivation of the officers who followed him. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition tried to discredit the breath testing equipment. Members opposite then tried to perpetrate a myth that the Leader of the Opposition had blown under the limit at his home, which, of course, he had not. The fact of the matter is that the Leader of the Opposition tried to suggest that he had blown under .05 in his driveway, yet he was still taken by the police to the police station. Perhaps the need for me to correct the public record was made apparent in the Channel Two news last Sunday evening at 7.00 pm. As members are aware, Channel Two news is broadcast throughout the state. The journalist concerned, I believe Philippa Meagher, said that the incident had occurred after a night out with Deputy Leader of the Opposition Paul Omodei; that after returning a reading of just under .05 at his home, a subsequent breath test at Kensington Police Station measured just over .04; and that Mr Birney was released without charge. At that stage there had been no reference by me, the Commissioner of Police or anyone about any number. The only numbers were coming from the Leader of the Opposition. In one way or another he at least convinced Channel Two that he was under .05. That report was broadcast throughout the state. I have a responsibility as Minister for Police and Emergency Services to let the media know that people are treated without fear or favour and that if someone blows under .05, that person will not be taken to a police station.
Mrs M.H. ROBERTS replied: Of course, that question contains a false assertion. There has been no release of confidential records by me. The information released by me is in the public interest because of the implications that have been made by the Leader of the Opposition . Let us remember that it was the Sunday Times in which the Leader of the Opposition put the figure - Mr P.D. Omodei : How did the Sunday Times get the information? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : That is a very good question. Perhaps members opposite might look on their side. Several members interjected. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : I have had absolutely no contact with the Sunday Times . Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! It is unfortunate that the member for Vasse has a very loud voice. I call him to order again, and the Deputy Leader of the Opposition. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : Members opposite need to put themselves a bit above the nastiness and take this appropriately. I resent the implication by the member for Carine when she says things like, “How about your office? Did it leak to the Sunday Times ?” I put it on the record: I did not leak that to the Sunday Times and nobody associated with me leaked it to the Sunday Times on my behalf. I reject that entirely. What members opposite are trying to do is to get away from the real issue. The real issue is the Leader of the Opposition, who thinks it is okay to have a few drinks and then drive. The story has changed, Mr Speaker, from the report in the Sunday Times in which he said he had two Hahn Lights to him then saying that he had three or four light beers. Then he said that he did have some wine. The fact of the matter is that a figure - Ms K. Hodson-Thomas : The issue is whether he was over the limit. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : I will tell the member for Carine what the issue is. The issue is the stupidity of the Leader of the Opposition. What the Leader of the Opposition should have said, even after the matter was leaked to the Sunday Times by an unknown source, was that he had been breath tested last Wednesday evening and was not charged because he was under the legal limit. He could have left it at that, but he did not. He did not cop it on the chin. He did not say that he had had a lucky escape. He did have a lucky escape, because he said that he probably could have had another drink. That is what he said: that he could have had another drink. What he sought to do was discredit the motivation of the officers who followed him. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition tried to discredit the breath testing equipment. Members opposite then tried to perpetrate a myth that the Leader of the Opposition had blown under the limit at his home, which, of course, he had not. The fact of the matter is that the Leader of the Opposition tried to suggest that he had blown under .05 in his driveway, yet he was still taken by the police to the police station. Perhaps the need for me to correct the public record was made apparent in the Channel Two news last Sunday evening at 7.00 pm. As members are aware, Channel Two news is broadcast throughout the state. The journalist concerned, I believe Philippa Meagher, said that the incident had occurred after a night out with Deputy Leader of the Opposition Paul Omodei; that after returning a reading of just under .05 at his home, a subsequent breath test at Kensington Police Station measured just over .04; and that Mr Birney was released without charge. At that stage there had been no reference by me, the Commissioner of Police or anyone about any number. The only numbers were coming from the Leader of the Opposition. In one way or another he at least convinced Channel Two that he was under .05. That report was broadcast throughout the state. I have a responsibility as Minister for Police and Emergency Services to let the media know that people are treated without fear or favour and that if someone blows under .05, that person will not be taken to a police station.
Of course, that question contains a false assertion. There has been no release of confidential records by me. The information released by me is in the public interest because of the implications that have been made by the Leader of the Opposition . Let us remember that it was the Sunday Times in which the Leader of the Opposition put the figure - Mr P.D. Omodei : How did the Sunday Times get the information? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : That is a very good question. Perhaps members opposite might look on their side. Several members interjected. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : I have had absolutely no contact with the Sunday Times . Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! It is unfortunate that the member for Vasse has a very loud voice. I call him to order again, and the Deputy Leader of the Opposition. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : Members opposite need to put themselves a bit above the nastiness and take this appropriately. I resent the implication by the member for Carine when she says things like, “How about your office? Did it leak to the Sunday Times ?” I put it on the record: I did not leak that to the Sunday Times and nobody associated with me leaked it to the Sunday Times on my behalf. I reject that entirely. What members opposite are trying to do is to get away from the real issue. The real issue is the Leader of the Opposition, who thinks it is okay to have a few drinks and then drive. The story has changed, Mr Speaker, from the report in the Sunday Times in which he said he had two Hahn Lights to him then saying that he had three or four light beers. Then he said that he did have some wine. The fact of the matter is that a figure - Ms K. Hodson-Thomas : The issue is whether he was over the limit. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : I will tell the member for Carine what the issue is. The issue is the stupidity of the Leader of the Opposition. What the Leader of the Opposition should have said, even after the matter was leaked to the Sunday Times by an unknown source, was that he had been breath tested last Wednesday evening and was not charged because he was under the legal limit. He could have left it at that, but he did not. He did not cop it on the chin. He did not say that he had had a lucky escape. He did have a lucky escape, because he said that he probably could have had another drink. That is what he said: that he could have had another drink. What he sought to do was discredit the motivation of the officers who followed him. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition tried to discredit the breath testing equipment. Members opposite then tried to perpetrate a myth that the Leader of the Opposition had blown under the limit at his home, which, of course, he had not. The fact of the matter is that the Leader of the Opposition tried to suggest that he had blown under .05 in his driveway, yet he was still taken by the police to the police station. Perhaps the need for me to correct the public record was made apparent in the Channel Two news last Sunday evening at 7.00 pm. As members are aware, Channel Two news is broadcast throughout the state. The journalist concerned, I believe Philippa Meagher, said that the incident had occurred after a night out with Deputy Leader of the Opposition Paul Omodei; that after returning a reading of just under .05 at his home, a subsequent breath test at Kensington Police Station measured just over .04; and that Mr Birney was released without charge. At that stage there had been no reference by me, the Commissioner of Police or anyone about any number. The only numbers were coming from the Leader of the Opposition. In one way or another he at least convinced Channel Two that he was under .05. That report was broadcast throughout the state. I have a responsibility as Minister for Police and Emergency Services to let the media know that people are treated without fear or favour and that if someone blows under .05, that person will not be taken to a police station.
Mr P.D. Omodei : How did the Sunday Times get the information? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : That is a very good question. Perhaps members opposite might look on their side. Several members interjected. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : I have had absolutely no contact with the Sunday Times . Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! It is unfortunate that the member for Vasse has a very loud voice. I call him to order again, and the Deputy Leader of the Opposition. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : Members opposite need to put themselves a bit above the nastiness and take this appropriately. I resent the implication by the member for Carine when she says things like, “How about your office? Did it leak to the Sunday Times ?” I put it on the record: I did not leak that to the Sunday Times and nobody associated with me leaked it to the Sunday Times on my behalf. I reject that entirely. What members opposite are trying to do is to get away from the real issue. The real issue is the Leader of the Opposition, who thinks it is okay to have a few drinks and then drive. The story has changed, Mr Speaker, from the report in the Sunday Times in which he said he had two Hahn Lights to him then saying that he had three or four light beers. Then he said that he did have some wine. The fact of the matter is that a figure - Ms K. Hodson-Thomas : The issue is whether he was over the limit. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : I will tell the member for Carine what the issue is. The issue is the stupidity of the Leader of the Opposition. What the Leader of the Opposition should have said, even after the matter was leaked to the Sunday Times by an unknown source, was that he had been breath tested last Wednesday evening and was not charged because he was under the legal limit. He could have left it at that, but he did not. He did not cop it on the chin. He did not say that he had had a lucky escape. He did have a lucky escape, because he said that he probably could have had another drink. That is what he said: that he could have had another drink. What he sought to do was discredit the motivation of the officers who followed him. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition tried to discredit the breath testing equipment. Members opposite then tried to perpetrate a myth that the Leader of the Opposition had blown under the limit at his home, which, of course, he had not. The fact of the matter is that the Leader of the Opposition tried to suggest that he had blown under .05 in his driveway, yet he was still taken by the police to the police station. Perhaps the need for me to correct the public record was made apparent in the Channel Two news last Sunday evening at 7.00 pm. As members are aware, Channel Two news is broadcast throughout the state. The journalist concerned, I believe Philippa Meagher, said that the incident had occurred after a night out with Deputy Leader of the Opposition Paul Omodei; that after returning a reading of just under .05 at his home, a subsequent breath test at Kensington Police Station measured just over .04; and that Mr Birney was released without charge. At that stage there had been no reference by me, the Commissioner of Police or anyone about any number. The only numbers were coming from the Leader of the Opposition. In one way or another he at least convinced Channel Two that he was under .05. That report was broadcast throughout the state. I have a responsibility as Minister for Police and Emergency Services to let the media know that people are treated without fear or favour and that if someone blows under .05, that person will not be taken to a police station.
Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : That is a very good question. Perhaps members opposite might look on their side. Several members interjected. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : I have had absolutely no contact with the Sunday Times . Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! It is unfortunate that the member for Vasse has a very loud voice. I call him to order again, and the Deputy Leader of the Opposition. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : Members opposite need to put themselves a bit above the nastiness and take this appropriately. I resent the implication by the member for Carine when she says things like, “How about your office? Did it leak to the Sunday Times ?” I put it on the record: I did not leak that to the Sunday Times and nobody associated with me leaked it to the Sunday Times on my behalf. I reject that entirely. What members opposite are trying to do is to get away from the real issue. The real issue is the Leader of the Opposition, who thinks it is okay to have a few drinks and then drive. The story has changed, Mr Speaker, from the report in the Sunday Times in which he said he had two Hahn Lights to him then saying that he had three or four light beers. Then he said that he did have some wine. The fact of the matter is that a figure - Ms K. Hodson-Thomas : The issue is whether he was over the limit. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : I will tell the member for Carine what the issue is. The issue is the stupidity of the Leader of the Opposition. What the Leader of the Opposition should have said, even after the matter was leaked to the Sunday Times by an unknown source, was that he had been breath tested last Wednesday evening and was not charged because he was under the legal limit. He could have left it at that, but he did not. He did not cop it on the chin. He did not say that he had had a lucky escape. He did have a lucky escape, because he said that he probably could have had another drink. That is what he said: that he could have had another drink. What he sought to do was discredit the motivation of the officers who followed him. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition tried to discredit the breath testing equipment. Members opposite then tried to perpetrate a myth that the Leader of the Opposition had blown under the limit at his home, which, of course, he had not. The fact of the matter is that the Leader of the Opposition tried to suggest that he had blown under .05 in his driveway, yet he was still taken by the police to the police station. Perhaps the need for me to correct the public record was made apparent in the Channel Two news last Sunday evening at 7.00 pm. As members are aware, Channel Two news is broadcast throughout the state. The journalist concerned, I believe Philippa Meagher, said that the incident had occurred after a night out with Deputy Leader of the Opposition Paul Omodei; that after returning a reading of just under .05 at his home, a subsequent breath test at Kensington Police Station measured just over .04; and that Mr Birney was released without charge. At that stage there had been no reference by me, the Commissioner of Police or anyone about any number. The only numbers were coming from the Leader of the Opposition. In one way or another he at least convinced Channel Two that he was under .05. That report was broadcast throughout the state. I have a responsibility as Minister for Police and Emergency Services to let the media know that people are treated without fear or favour and that if someone blows under .05, that person will not be taken to a police station.
Several members interjected. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : I have had absolutely no contact with the Sunday Times . Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! It is unfortunate that the member for Vasse has a very loud voice. I call him to order again, and the Deputy Leader of the Opposition. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : Members opposite need to put themselves a bit above the nastiness and take this appropriately. I resent the implication by the member for Carine when she says things like, “How about your office? Did it leak to the Sunday Times ?” I put it on the record: I did not leak that to the Sunday Times and nobody associated with me leaked it to the Sunday Times on my behalf. I reject that entirely. What members opposite are trying to do is to get away from the real issue. The real issue is the Leader of the Opposition, who thinks it is okay to have a few drinks and then drive. The story has changed, Mr Speaker, from the report in the Sunday Times in which he said he had two Hahn Lights to him then saying that he had three or four light beers. Then he said that he did have some wine. The fact of the matter is that a figure - Ms K. Hodson-Thomas : The issue is whether he was over the limit. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : I will tell the member for Carine what the issue is. The issue is the stupidity of the Leader of the Opposition. What the Leader of the Opposition should have said, even after the matter was leaked to the Sunday Times by an unknown source, was that he had been breath tested last Wednesday evening and was not charged because he was under the legal limit. He could have left it at that, but he did not. He did not cop it on the chin. He did not say that he had had a lucky escape. He did have a lucky escape, because he said that he probably could have had another drink. That is what he said: that he could have had another drink. What he sought to do was discredit the motivation of the officers who followed him. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition tried to discredit the breath testing equipment. Members opposite then tried to perpetrate a myth that the Leader of the Opposition had blown under the limit at his home, which, of course, he had not. The fact of the matter is that the Leader of the Opposition tried to suggest that he had blown under .05 in his driveway, yet he was still taken by the police to the police station. Perhaps the need for me to correct the public record was made apparent in the Channel Two news last Sunday evening at 7.00 pm. As members are aware, Channel Two news is broadcast throughout the state. The journalist concerned, I believe Philippa Meagher, said that the incident had occurred after a night out with Deputy Leader of the Opposition Paul Omodei; that after returning a reading of just under .05 at his home, a subsequent breath test at Kensington Police Station measured just over .04; and that Mr Birney was released without charge. At that stage there had been no reference by me, the Commissioner of Police or anyone about any number. The only numbers were coming from the Leader of the Opposition. In one way or another he at least convinced Channel Two that he was under .05. That report was broadcast throughout the state. I have a responsibility as Minister for Police and Emergency Services to let the media know that people are treated without fear or favour and that if someone blows under .05, that person will not be taken to a police station.
Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : I have had absolutely no contact with the Sunday Times . Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! It is unfortunate that the member for Vasse has a very loud voice. I call him to order again, and the Deputy Leader of the Opposition. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : Members opposite need to put themselves a bit above the nastiness and take this appropriately. I resent the implication by the member for Carine when she says things like, “How about your office? Did it leak to the Sunday Times ?” I put it on the record: I did not leak that to the Sunday Times and nobody associated with me leaked it to the Sunday Times on my behalf. I reject that entirely. What members opposite are trying to do is to get away from the real issue. The real issue is the Leader of the Opposition, who thinks it is okay to have a few drinks and then drive. The story has changed, Mr Speaker, from the report in the Sunday Times in which he said he had two Hahn Lights to him then saying that he had three or four light beers. Then he said that he did have some wine. The fact of the matter is that a figure - Ms K. Hodson-Thomas : The issue is whether he was over the limit. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : I will tell the member for Carine what the issue is. The issue is the stupidity of the Leader of the Opposition. What the Leader of the Opposition should have said, even after the matter was leaked to the Sunday Times by an unknown source, was that he had been breath tested last Wednesday evening and was not charged because he was under the legal limit. He could have left it at that, but he did not. He did not cop it on the chin. He did not say that he had had a lucky escape. He did have a lucky escape, because he said that he probably could have had another drink. That is what he said: that he could have had another drink. What he sought to do was discredit the motivation of the officers who followed him. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition tried to discredit the breath testing equipment. Members opposite then tried to perpetrate a myth that the Leader of the Opposition had blown under the limit at his home, which, of course, he had not. The fact of the matter is that the Leader of the Opposition tried to suggest that he had blown under .05 in his driveway, yet he was still taken by the police to the police station. Perhaps the need for me to correct the public record was made apparent in the Channel Two news last Sunday evening at 7.00 pm. As members are aware, Channel Two news is broadcast throughout the state. The journalist concerned, I believe Philippa Meagher, said that the incident had occurred after a night out with Deputy Leader of the Opposition Paul Omodei; that after returning a reading of just under .05 at his home, a subsequent breath test at Kensington Police Station measured just over .04; and that Mr Birney was released without charge. At that stage there had been no reference by me, the Commissioner of Police or anyone about any number. The only numbers were coming from the Leader of the Opposition. In one way or another he at least convinced Channel Two that he was under .05. That report was broadcast throughout the state. I have a responsibility as Minister for Police and Emergency Services to let the media know that people are treated without fear or favour and that if someone blows under .05, that person will not be taken to a police station.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! It is unfortunate that the member for Vasse has a very loud voice. I call him to order again, and the Deputy Leader of the Opposition. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : Members opposite need to put themselves a bit above the nastiness and take this appropriately. I resent the implication by the member for Carine when she says things like, “How about your office? Did it leak to the Sunday Times ?” I put it on the record: I did not leak that to the Sunday Times and nobody associated with me leaked it to the Sunday Times on my behalf. I reject that entirely. What members opposite are trying to do is to get away from the real issue. The real issue is the Leader of the Opposition, who thinks it is okay to have a few drinks and then drive. The story has changed, Mr Speaker, from the report in the Sunday Times in which he said he had two Hahn Lights to him then saying that he had three or four light beers. Then he said that he did have some wine. The fact of the matter is that a figure - Ms K. Hodson-Thomas : The issue is whether he was over the limit. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : I will tell the member for Carine what the issue is. The issue is the stupidity of the Leader of the Opposition. What the Leader of the Opposition should have said, even after the matter was leaked to the Sunday Times by an unknown source, was that he had been breath tested last Wednesday evening and was not charged because he was under the legal limit. He could have left it at that, but he did not. He did not cop it on the chin. He did not say that he had had a lucky escape. He did have a lucky escape, because he said that he probably could have had another drink. That is what he said: that he could have had another drink. What he sought to do was discredit the motivation of the officers who followed him. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition tried to discredit the breath testing equipment. Members opposite then tried to perpetrate a myth that the Leader of the Opposition had blown under the limit at his home, which, of course, he had not. The fact of the matter is that the Leader of the Opposition tried to suggest that he had blown under .05 in his driveway, yet he was still taken by the police to the police station. Perhaps the need for me to correct the public record was made apparent in the Channel Two news last Sunday evening at 7.00 pm. As members are aware, Channel Two news is broadcast throughout the state. The journalist concerned, I believe Philippa Meagher, said that the incident had occurred after a night out with Deputy Leader of the Opposition Paul Omodei; that after returning a reading of just under .05 at his home, a subsequent breath test at Kensington Police Station measured just over .04; and that Mr Birney was released without charge. At that stage there had been no reference by me, the Commissioner of Police or anyone about any number. The only numbers were coming from the Leader of the Opposition. In one way or another he at least convinced Channel Two that he was under .05. That report was broadcast throughout the state. I have a responsibility as Minister for Police and Emergency Services to let the media know that people are treated without fear or favour and that if someone blows under .05, that person will not be taken to a police station.
The SPEAKER : Order! It is unfortunate that the member for Vasse has a very loud voice. I call him to order again, and the Deputy Leader of the Opposition. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : Members opposite need to put themselves a bit above the nastiness and take this appropriately. I resent the implication by the member for Carine when she says things like, “How about your office? Did it leak to the Sunday Times ?” I put it on the record: I did not leak that to the Sunday Times and nobody associated with me leaked it to the Sunday Times on my behalf. I reject that entirely. What members opposite are trying to do is to get away from the real issue. The real issue is the Leader of the Opposition, who thinks it is okay to have a few drinks and then drive. The story has changed, Mr Speaker, from the report in the Sunday Times in which he said he had two Hahn Lights to him then saying that he had three or four light beers. Then he said that he did have some wine. The fact of the matter is that a figure - Ms K. Hodson-Thomas : The issue is whether he was over the limit. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : I will tell the member for Carine what the issue is. The issue is the stupidity of the Leader of the Opposition. What the Leader of the Opposition should have said, even after the matter was leaked to the Sunday Times by an unknown source, was that he had been breath tested last Wednesday evening and was not charged because he was under the legal limit. He could have left it at that, but he did not. He did not cop it on the chin. He did not say that he had had a lucky escape. He did have a lucky escape, because he said that he probably could have had another drink. That is what he said: that he could have had another drink. What he sought to do was discredit the motivation of the officers who followed him. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition tried to discredit the breath testing equipment. Members opposite then tried to perpetrate a myth that the Leader of the Opposition had blown under the limit at his home, which, of course, he had not. The fact of the matter is that the Leader of the Opposition tried to suggest that he had blown under .05 in his driveway, yet he was still taken by the police to the police station. Perhaps the need for me to correct the public record was made apparent in the Channel Two news last Sunday evening at 7.00 pm. As members are aware, Channel Two news is broadcast throughout the state. The journalist concerned, I believe Philippa Meagher, said that the incident had occurred after a night out with Deputy Leader of the Opposition Paul Omodei; that after returning a reading of just under .05 at his home, a subsequent breath test at Kensington Police Station measured just over .04; and that Mr Birney was released without charge. At that stage there had been no reference by me, the Commissioner of Police or anyone about any number. The only numbers were coming from the Leader of the Opposition. In one way or another he at least convinced Channel Two that he was under .05. That report was broadcast throughout the state. I have a responsibility as Minister for Police and Emergency Services to let the media know that people are treated without fear or favour and that if someone blows under .05, that person will not be taken to a police station.
Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : Members opposite need to put themselves a bit above the nastiness and take this appropriately. I resent the implication by the member for Carine when she says things like, “How about your office? Did it leak to the Sunday Times ?” I put it on the record: I did not leak that to the Sunday Times and nobody associated with me leaked it to the Sunday Times on my behalf. I reject that entirely. What members opposite are trying to do is to get away from the real issue. The real issue is the Leader of the Opposition, who thinks it is okay to have a few drinks and then drive. The story has changed, Mr Speaker, from the report in the Sunday Times in which he said he had two Hahn Lights to him then saying that he had three or four light beers. Then he said that he did have some wine. The fact of the matter is that a figure - Ms K. Hodson-Thomas : The issue is whether he was over the limit. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : I will tell the member for Carine what the issue is. The issue is the stupidity of the Leader of the Opposition. What the Leader of the Opposition should have said, even after the matter was leaked to the Sunday Times by an unknown source, was that he had been breath tested last Wednesday evening and was not charged because he was under the legal limit. He could have left it at that, but he did not. He did not cop it on the chin. He did not say that he had had a lucky escape. He did have a lucky escape, because he said that he probably could have had another drink. That is what he said: that he could have had another drink. What he sought to do was discredit the motivation of the officers who followed him. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition tried to discredit the breath testing equipment. Members opposite then tried to perpetrate a myth that the Leader of the Opposition had blown under the limit at his home, which, of course, he had not. The fact of the matter is that the Leader of the Opposition tried to suggest that he had blown under .05 in his driveway, yet he was still taken by the police to the police station. Perhaps the need for me to correct the public record was made apparent in the Channel Two news last Sunday evening at 7.00 pm. As members are aware, Channel Two news is broadcast throughout the state. The journalist concerned, I believe Philippa Meagher, said that the incident had occurred after a night out with Deputy Leader of the Opposition Paul Omodei; that after returning a reading of just under .05 at his home, a subsequent breath test at Kensington Police Station measured just over .04; and that Mr Birney was released without charge. At that stage there had been no reference by me, the Commissioner of Police or anyone about any number. The only numbers were coming from the Leader of the Opposition. In one way or another he at least convinced Channel Two that he was under .05. That report was broadcast throughout the state. I have a responsibility as Minister for Police and Emergency Services to let the media know that people are treated without fear or favour and that if someone blows under .05, that person will not be taken to a police station.
I resent the implication by the member for Carine when she says things like, “How about your office? Did it leak to the Sunday Times ?” I put it on the record: I did not leak that to the Sunday Times and nobody associated with me leaked it to the Sunday Times on my behalf. I reject that entirely. What members opposite are trying to do is to get away from the real issue. The real issue is the Leader of the Opposition, who thinks it is okay to have a few drinks and then drive. The story has changed, Mr Speaker, from the report in the Sunday Times in which he said he had two Hahn Lights to him then saying that he had three or four light beers. Then he said that he did have some wine. The fact of the matter is that a figure - Ms K. Hodson-Thomas : The issue is whether he was over the limit. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : I will tell the member for Carine what the issue is. The issue is the stupidity of the Leader of the Opposition. What the Leader of the Opposition should have said, even after the matter was leaked to the Sunday Times by an unknown source, was that he had been breath tested last Wednesday evening and was not charged because he was under the legal limit. He could have left it at that, but he did not. He did not cop it on the chin. He did not say that he had had a lucky escape. He did have a lucky escape, because he said that he probably could have had another drink. That is what he said: that he could have had another drink. What he sought to do was discredit the motivation of the officers who followed him. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition tried to discredit the breath testing equipment. Members opposite then tried to perpetrate a myth that the Leader of the Opposition had blown under the limit at his home, which, of course, he had not. The fact of the matter is that the Leader of the Opposition tried to suggest that he had blown under .05 in his driveway, yet he was still taken by the police to the police station. Perhaps the need for me to correct the public record was made apparent in the Channel Two news last Sunday evening at 7.00 pm. As members are aware, Channel Two news is broadcast throughout the state. The journalist concerned, I believe Philippa Meagher, said that the incident had occurred after a night out with Deputy Leader of the Opposition Paul Omodei; that after returning a reading of just under .05 at his home, a subsequent breath test at Kensington Police Station measured just over .04; and that Mr Birney was released without charge. At that stage there had been no reference by me, the Commissioner of Police or anyone about any number. The only numbers were coming from the Leader of the Opposition. In one way or another he at least convinced Channel Two that he was under .05. That report was broadcast throughout the state. I have a responsibility as Minister for Police and Emergency Services to let the media know that people are treated without fear or favour and that if someone blows under .05, that person will not be taken to a police station.
Ms K. Hodson-Thomas : The issue is whether he was over the limit. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : I will tell the member for Carine what the issue is. The issue is the stupidity of the Leader of the Opposition. What the Leader of the Opposition should have said, even after the matter was leaked to the Sunday Times by an unknown source, was that he had been breath tested last Wednesday evening and was not charged because he was under the legal limit. He could have left it at that, but he did not. He did not cop it on the chin. He did not say that he had had a lucky escape. He did have a lucky escape, because he said that he probably could have had another drink. That is what he said: that he could have had another drink. What he sought to do was discredit the motivation of the officers who followed him. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition tried to discredit the breath testing equipment. Members opposite then tried to perpetrate a myth that the Leader of the Opposition had blown under the limit at his home, which, of course, he had not. The fact of the matter is that the Leader of the Opposition tried to suggest that he had blown under .05 in his driveway, yet he was still taken by the police to the police station. Perhaps the need for me to correct the public record was made apparent in the Channel Two news last Sunday evening at 7.00 pm. As members are aware, Channel Two news is broadcast throughout the state. The journalist concerned, I believe Philippa Meagher, said that the incident had occurred after a night out with Deputy Leader of the Opposition Paul Omodei; that after returning a reading of just under .05 at his home, a subsequent breath test at Kensington Police Station measured just over .04; and that Mr Birney was released without charge. At that stage there had been no reference by me, the Commissioner of Police or anyone about any number. The only numbers were coming from the Leader of the Opposition. In one way or another he at least convinced Channel Two that he was under .05. That report was broadcast throughout the state. I have a responsibility as Minister for Police and Emergency Services to let the media know that people are treated without fear or favour and that if someone blows under .05, that person will not be taken to a police station.
Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : I will tell the member for Carine what the issue is. The issue is the stupidity of the Leader of the Opposition. What the Leader of the Opposition should have said, even after the matter was leaked to the Sunday Times by an unknown source, was that he had been breath tested last Wednesday evening and was not charged because he was under the legal limit. He could have left it at that, but he did not. He did not cop it on the chin. He did not say that he had had a lucky escape. He did have a lucky escape, because he said that he probably could have had another drink. That is what he said: that he could have had another drink. What he sought to do was discredit the motivation of the officers who followed him. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition tried to discredit the breath testing equipment. Members opposite then tried to perpetrate a myth that the Leader of the Opposition had blown under the limit at his home, which, of course, he had not. The fact of the matter is that the Leader of the Opposition tried to suggest that he had blown under .05 in his driveway, yet he was still taken by the police to the police station. Perhaps the need for me to correct the public record was made apparent in the Channel Two news last Sunday evening at 7.00 pm. As members are aware, Channel Two news is broadcast throughout the state. The journalist concerned, I believe Philippa Meagher, said that the incident had occurred after a night out with Deputy Leader of the Opposition Paul Omodei; that after returning a reading of just under .05 at his home, a subsequent breath test at Kensington Police Station measured just over .04; and that Mr Birney was released without charge. At that stage there had been no reference by me, the Commissioner of Police or anyone about any number. The only numbers were coming from the Leader of the Opposition. In one way or another he at least convinced Channel Two that he was under .05. That report was broadcast throughout the state. I have a responsibility as Minister for Police and Emergency Services to let the media know that people are treated without fear or favour and that if someone blows under .05, that person will not be taken to a police station.
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