Mr Ripper questions the Premier's handling of potential conflicts of interest involving Minister Willmott, contrasting it with the scrutiny of Hon Donna Faragher. The Premier defends his approach, citing the small community and past instances of similar scrutiny.

AnsweredQoN 928Legislative Assembly
Asked
24 November 2009
Portfolio
Premier

QuestionView source ↗

DEIDRE WILLMOTT — POTENTIAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST
I have a supplementary question. (1) Why was the Premier not so careful with the conflicts of interest surrounding the Minister for Environment? (2) Why is there one rule for Deidre Willmott and another rule for Hon Donna Faragher? Mr C.J. BARNETT

AnswerView source ↗

(1)-(2) Gee whiz, if it were not Christmas, I would get carried away now, but I will not. I will have some Christmas spirit — Mrs M.H. Roberts : Guess what? It’s not Christmas! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Not for the member for Midland. Perth is a relatively small community. Anyone who succeeds, in whichever walk of life it is, is bound to face potential conflicts if they are defined narrowly. Do Labor members pride themselves on the way in which they and the media pursued Hon Donna Faragher simply because her husband had a job in Woodside? Was there ever a conflict of interest? No, but the issue arose, and while he was employed — Mr E.S. Ripper : You didn’t deal with it very well at all. Mr C.J. BARNETT : While he was employed at Woodside, the Minister for Planning took responsibility for environmental issues in that area. Again, the opposition pursued the Minister for Mines and Petroleum, Hon Norman Moore, because his wife happened to have in her superannuation a share ownership in BHP. Those issues arose. In the greater scheme of things they were minor. Was there ever any evidence of any decision made or any action taken that in any way portrayed anything that was in conflict? No, there was not. Mr Speaker, we are happy to accept the standard. But, gee, Mr Speaker, if only it had not been Christmas! If we were to look at the conflicts of interest opposite us amongst members of the Labor Party — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If ever there was an incestuous group of parliamentarians, they are opposite us.
(1) Why was the Premier not so careful with the conflicts of interest surrounding the Minister for Environment? (2) Why is there one rule for Deidre Willmott and another rule for Hon Donna Faragher? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)-(2) Gee whiz, if it were not Christmas, I would get carried away now, but I will not. I will have some Christmas spirit — Mrs M.H. Roberts : Guess what? It’s not Christmas! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Not for the member for Midland. Perth is a relatively small community. Anyone who succeeds, in whichever walk of life it is, is bound to face potential conflicts if they are defined narrowly. Do Labor members pride themselves on the way in which they and the media pursued Hon Donna Faragher simply because her husband had a job in Woodside? Was there ever a conflict of interest? No, but the issue arose, and while he was employed — Mr E.S. Ripper : You didn’t deal with it very well at all. Mr C.J. BARNETT : While he was employed at Woodside, the Minister for Planning took responsibility for environmental issues in that area. Again, the opposition pursued the Minister for Mines and Petroleum, Hon Norman Moore, because his wife happened to have in her superannuation a share ownership in BHP. Those issues arose. In the greater scheme of things they were minor. Was there ever any evidence of any decision made or any action taken that in any way portrayed anything that was in conflict? No, there was not. Mr Speaker, we are happy to accept the standard. But, gee, Mr Speaker, if only it had not been Christmas! If we were to look at the conflicts of interest opposite us amongst members of the Labor Party — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If ever there was an incestuous group of parliamentarians, they are opposite us.
(2) Why is there one rule for Deidre Willmott and another rule for Hon Donna Faragher? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)-(2) Gee whiz, if it were not Christmas, I would get carried away now, but I will not. I will have some Christmas spirit — Mrs M.H. Roberts : Guess what? It’s not Christmas! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Not for the member for Midland. Perth is a relatively small community. Anyone who succeeds, in whichever walk of life it is, is bound to face potential conflicts if they are defined narrowly. Do Labor members pride themselves on the way in which they and the media pursued Hon Donna Faragher simply because her husband had a job in Woodside? Was there ever a conflict of interest? No, but the issue arose, and while he was employed — Mr E.S. Ripper : You didn’t deal with it very well at all. Mr C.J. BARNETT : While he was employed at Woodside, the Minister for Planning took responsibility for environmental issues in that area. Again, the opposition pursued the Minister for Mines and Petroleum, Hon Norman Moore, because his wife happened to have in her superannuation a share ownership in BHP. Those issues arose. In the greater scheme of things they were minor. Was there ever any evidence of any decision made or any action taken that in any way portrayed anything that was in conflict? No, there was not. Mr Speaker, we are happy to accept the standard. But, gee, Mr Speaker, if only it had not been Christmas! If we were to look at the conflicts of interest opposite us amongst members of the Labor Party — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If ever there was an incestuous group of parliamentarians, they are opposite us.
Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)-(2) Gee whiz, if it were not Christmas, I would get carried away now, but I will not. I will have some Christmas spirit — Mrs M.H. Roberts : Guess what? It’s not Christmas! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Not for the member for Midland. Perth is a relatively small community. Anyone who succeeds, in whichever walk of life it is, is bound to face potential conflicts if they are defined narrowly. Do Labor members pride themselves on the way in which they and the media pursued Hon Donna Faragher simply because her husband had a job in Woodside? Was there ever a conflict of interest? No, but the issue arose, and while he was employed — Mr E.S. Ripper : You didn’t deal with it very well at all. Mr C.J. BARNETT : While he was employed at Woodside, the Minister for Planning took responsibility for environmental issues in that area. Again, the opposition pursued the Minister for Mines and Petroleum, Hon Norman Moore, because his wife happened to have in her superannuation a share ownership in BHP. Those issues arose. In the greater scheme of things they were minor. Was there ever any evidence of any decision made or any action taken that in any way portrayed anything that was in conflict? No, there was not. Mr Speaker, we are happy to accept the standard. But, gee, Mr Speaker, if only it had not been Christmas! If we were to look at the conflicts of interest opposite us amongst members of the Labor Party — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If ever there was an incestuous group of parliamentarians, they are opposite us.
(1)-(2) Gee whiz, if it were not Christmas, I would get carried away now, but I will not. I will have some Christmas spirit — Mrs M.H. Roberts : Guess what? It’s not Christmas! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Not for the member for Midland. Perth is a relatively small community. Anyone who succeeds, in whichever walk of life it is, is bound to face potential conflicts if they are defined narrowly. Do Labor members pride themselves on the way in which they and the media pursued Hon Donna Faragher simply because her husband had a job in Woodside? Was there ever a conflict of interest? No, but the issue arose, and while he was employed — Mr E.S. Ripper : You didn’t deal with it very well at all. Mr C.J. BARNETT : While he was employed at Woodside, the Minister for Planning took responsibility for environmental issues in that area. Again, the opposition pursued the Minister for Mines and Petroleum, Hon Norman Moore, because his wife happened to have in her superannuation a share ownership in BHP. Those issues arose. In the greater scheme of things they were minor. Was there ever any evidence of any decision made or any action taken that in any way portrayed anything that was in conflict? No, there was not. Mr Speaker, we are happy to accept the standard. But, gee, Mr Speaker, if only it had not been Christmas! If we were to look at the conflicts of interest opposite us amongst members of the Labor Party — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If ever there was an incestuous group of parliamentarians, they are opposite us.
Mrs M.H. Roberts : Guess what? It’s not Christmas! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Not for the member for Midland. Perth is a relatively small community. Anyone who succeeds, in whichever walk of life it is, is bound to face potential conflicts if they are defined narrowly. Do Labor members pride themselves on the way in which they and the media pursued Hon Donna Faragher simply because her husband had a job in Woodside? Was there ever a conflict of interest? No, but the issue arose, and while he was employed — Mr E.S. Ripper : You didn’t deal with it very well at all. Mr C.J. BARNETT : While he was employed at Woodside, the Minister for Planning took responsibility for environmental issues in that area. Again, the opposition pursued the Minister for Mines and Petroleum, Hon Norman Moore, because his wife happened to have in her superannuation a share ownership in BHP. Those issues arose. In the greater scheme of things they were minor. Was there ever any evidence of any decision made or any action taken that in any way portrayed anything that was in conflict? No, there was not. Mr Speaker, we are happy to accept the standard. But, gee, Mr Speaker, if only it had not been Christmas! If we were to look at the conflicts of interest opposite us amongst members of the Labor Party — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If ever there was an incestuous group of parliamentarians, they are opposite us.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Not for the member for Midland. Perth is a relatively small community. Anyone who succeeds, in whichever walk of life it is, is bound to face potential conflicts if they are defined narrowly. Do Labor members pride themselves on the way in which they and the media pursued Hon Donna Faragher simply because her husband had a job in Woodside? Was there ever a conflict of interest? No, but the issue arose, and while he was employed — Mr E.S. Ripper : You didn’t deal with it very well at all. Mr C.J. BARNETT : While he was employed at Woodside, the Minister for Planning took responsibility for environmental issues in that area. Again, the opposition pursued the Minister for Mines and Petroleum, Hon Norman Moore, because his wife happened to have in her superannuation a share ownership in BHP. Those issues arose. In the greater scheme of things they were minor. Was there ever any evidence of any decision made or any action taken that in any way portrayed anything that was in conflict? No, there was not. Mr Speaker, we are happy to accept the standard. But, gee, Mr Speaker, if only it had not been Christmas! If we were to look at the conflicts of interest opposite us amongst members of the Labor Party — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If ever there was an incestuous group of parliamentarians, they are opposite us.
Perth is a relatively small community. Anyone who succeeds, in whichever walk of life it is, is bound to face potential conflicts if they are defined narrowly. Do Labor members pride themselves on the way in which they and the media pursued Hon Donna Faragher simply because her husband had a job in Woodside? Was there ever a conflict of interest? No, but the issue arose, and while he was employed — Mr E.S. Ripper : You didn’t deal with it very well at all. Mr C.J. BARNETT : While he was employed at Woodside, the Minister for Planning took responsibility for environmental issues in that area. Again, the opposition pursued the Minister for Mines and Petroleum, Hon Norman Moore, because his wife happened to have in her superannuation a share ownership in BHP. Those issues arose. In the greater scheme of things they were minor. Was there ever any evidence of any decision made or any action taken that in any way portrayed anything that was in conflict? No, there was not. Mr Speaker, we are happy to accept the standard. But, gee, Mr Speaker, if only it had not been Christmas! If we were to look at the conflicts of interest opposite us amongst members of the Labor Party — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If ever there was an incestuous group of parliamentarians, they are opposite us.
Mr E.S. Ripper : You didn’t deal with it very well at all. Mr C.J. BARNETT : While he was employed at Woodside, the Minister for Planning took responsibility for environmental issues in that area. Again, the opposition pursued the Minister for Mines and Petroleum, Hon Norman Moore, because his wife happened to have in her superannuation a share ownership in BHP. Those issues arose. In the greater scheme of things they were minor. Was there ever any evidence of any decision made or any action taken that in any way portrayed anything that was in conflict? No, there was not. Mr Speaker, we are happy to accept the standard. But, gee, Mr Speaker, if only it had not been Christmas! If we were to look at the conflicts of interest opposite us amongst members of the Labor Party — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If ever there was an incestuous group of parliamentarians, they are opposite us.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : While he was employed at Woodside, the Minister for Planning took responsibility for environmental issues in that area. Again, the opposition pursued the Minister for Mines and Petroleum, Hon Norman Moore, because his wife happened to have in her superannuation a share ownership in BHP. Those issues arose. In the greater scheme of things they were minor. Was there ever any evidence of any decision made or any action taken that in any way portrayed anything that was in conflict? No, there was not. Mr Speaker, we are happy to accept the standard. But, gee, Mr Speaker, if only it had not been Christmas! If we were to look at the conflicts of interest opposite us amongst members of the Labor Party — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If ever there was an incestuous group of parliamentarians, they are opposite us.
Mr Speaker, we are happy to accept the standard. But, gee, Mr Speaker, if only it had not been Christmas! If we were to look at the conflicts of interest opposite us amongst members of the Labor Party — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If ever there was an incestuous group of parliamentarians, they are opposite us.
Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If ever there was an incestuous group of parliamentarians, they are opposite us.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : If ever there was an incestuous group of parliamentarians, they are opposite us.

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