❓ A parliamentary question probes the Minister about the release of information regarding Broome Airport to Hon Shelley Archer, who then passed it to Brian Burke, questioning her motives and role in the project. The Minister defends the release as standard practice when approached by MPs.
AnsweredQoN 71Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
BROOME AIRPORT - RELEASE OF TWO LETTERS TO HON SHELLEY ARCHER
I refer to the minister’s answer yesterday when she told the house that she approved the release to Hon Shelley Archer of two letters to and from the Shire of Broome regarding the Broome airport. Hon Shelley Archer then passed them on to Brian Burke. Given that on 3 April 2006 Mrs Archer was recorded to have said, “It’s just not a priority for the town. Either the locals or the local government” - (1) How did Mrs Archer convince the minister that she was needed to mediate between the minister and the Shire of Broome? (2) What role did Mrs Archer claim to play in relation to the Shire of Broome and this project? (3) What concerns did the Shire of Broome raise about the Broome airport during the time the minister approved the release of those documents to Mrs Archer? (4) Did the minister release the letter to the Shire of Broome to Mrs Archer before sending it to the shire? Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN
I refer to the minister’s answer yesterday when she told the house that she approved the release to Hon Shelley Archer of two letters to and from the Shire of Broome regarding the Broome airport. Hon Shelley Archer then passed them on to Brian Burke. Given that on 3 April 2006 Mrs Archer was recorded to have said, “It’s just not a priority for the town. Either the locals or the local government” - (1) How did Mrs Archer convince the minister that she was needed to mediate between the minister and the Shire of Broome? (2) What role did Mrs Archer claim to play in relation to the Shire of Broome and this project? (3) What concerns did the Shire of Broome raise about the Broome airport during the time the minister approved the release of those documents to Mrs Archer? (4) Did the minister release the letter to the Shire of Broome to Mrs Archer before sending it to the shire? Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN
AnswerView source ↗
(1)-(4) I am always approached by members of Parliament from both sides of the house and from both houses who want to take up issues on behalf of their local members, including their local authorities. That is a perfectly appropriate activity for a member of Parliament. The member for Capel has never taken up an issue on behalf of his local authorities with me, but many other members have sought information from me to understand what was going on because they were meeting with their local authorities. There is nothing at all untoward about that. In the past, I have given briefings to and had discussions with members who do that. If the member thinks that that is a peculiar thing for a member of Parliament to do, I suggest that he is not doing his job. That was the context. I am not sure what point the member for Capel was trying to make from the quote. The community is divided over the relocation of the airport. Some people believe it is not an important issue and are quite happy for the airport to remain in the centre of town and the other half of the community would like it to be relocated. Like many of the - Dr S.C. Thomas : Will you take an interjection? The SPEAKER : No! Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN : I am sorry; the Speaker has ruled against it. I would have. Of course, these letters were sent to the shire before they were given to Hon Shelley Archer. Indeed, in one instance I think there was a gap, and the letter had been sent some two to three months before this issue arose. As I said, I volunteered to provide these letters because they summarise the legal issues that we were dealing with.
(1) How did Mrs Archer convince the minister that she was needed to mediate between the minister and the Shire of Broome? (2) What role did Mrs Archer claim to play in relation to the Shire of Broome and this project? (3) What concerns did the Shire of Broome raise about the Broome airport during the time the minister approved the release of those documents to Mrs Archer? (4) Did the minister release the letter to the Shire of Broome to Mrs Archer before sending it to the shire? Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN replied: (1)-(4) I am always approached by members of Parliament from both sides of the house and from both houses who want to take up issues on behalf of their local members, including their local authorities. That is a perfectly appropriate activity for a member of Parliament. The member for Capel has never taken up an issue on behalf of his local authorities with me, but many other members have sought information from me to understand what was going on because they were meeting with their local authorities. There is nothing at all untoward about that. In the past, I have given briefings to and had discussions with members who do that. If the member thinks that that is a peculiar thing for a member of Parliament to do, I suggest that he is not doing his job. That was the context. I am not sure what point the member for Capel was trying to make from the quote. The community is divided over the relocation of the airport. Some people believe it is not an important issue and are quite happy for the airport to remain in the centre of town and the other half of the community would like it to be relocated. Like many of the - Dr S.C. Thomas : Will you take an interjection? The SPEAKER : No! Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN : I am sorry; the Speaker has ruled against it. I would have. Of course, these letters were sent to the shire before they were given to Hon Shelley Archer. Indeed, in one instance I think there was a gap, and the letter had been sent some two to three months before this issue arose. As I said, I volunteered to provide these letters because they summarise the legal issues that we were dealing with.
(2) What role did Mrs Archer claim to play in relation to the Shire of Broome and this project? (3) What concerns did the Shire of Broome raise about the Broome airport during the time the minister approved the release of those documents to Mrs Archer? (4) Did the minister release the letter to the Shire of Broome to Mrs Archer before sending it to the shire? Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN replied: (1)-(4) I am always approached by members of Parliament from both sides of the house and from both houses who want to take up issues on behalf of their local members, including their local authorities. That is a perfectly appropriate activity for a member of Parliament. The member for Capel has never taken up an issue on behalf of his local authorities with me, but many other members have sought information from me to understand what was going on because they were meeting with their local authorities. There is nothing at all untoward about that. In the past, I have given briefings to and had discussions with members who do that. If the member thinks that that is a peculiar thing for a member of Parliament to do, I suggest that he is not doing his job. That was the context. I am not sure what point the member for Capel was trying to make from the quote. The community is divided over the relocation of the airport. Some people believe it is not an important issue and are quite happy for the airport to remain in the centre of town and the other half of the community would like it to be relocated. Like many of the - Dr S.C. Thomas : Will you take an interjection? The SPEAKER : No! Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN : I am sorry; the Speaker has ruled against it. I would have. Of course, these letters were sent to the shire before they were given to Hon Shelley Archer. Indeed, in one instance I think there was a gap, and the letter had been sent some two to three months before this issue arose. As I said, I volunteered to provide these letters because they summarise the legal issues that we were dealing with.
(3) What concerns did the Shire of Broome raise about the Broome airport during the time the minister approved the release of those documents to Mrs Archer? (4) Did the minister release the letter to the Shire of Broome to Mrs Archer before sending it to the shire? Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN replied: (1)-(4) I am always approached by members of Parliament from both sides of the house and from both houses who want to take up issues on behalf of their local members, including their local authorities. That is a perfectly appropriate activity for a member of Parliament. The member for Capel has never taken up an issue on behalf of his local authorities with me, but many other members have sought information from me to understand what was going on because they were meeting with their local authorities. There is nothing at all untoward about that. In the past, I have given briefings to and had discussions with members who do that. If the member thinks that that is a peculiar thing for a member of Parliament to do, I suggest that he is not doing his job. That was the context. I am not sure what point the member for Capel was trying to make from the quote. The community is divided over the relocation of the airport. Some people believe it is not an important issue and are quite happy for the airport to remain in the centre of town and the other half of the community would like it to be relocated. Like many of the - Dr S.C. Thomas : Will you take an interjection? The SPEAKER : No! Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN : I am sorry; the Speaker has ruled against it. I would have. Of course, these letters were sent to the shire before they were given to Hon Shelley Archer. Indeed, in one instance I think there was a gap, and the letter had been sent some two to three months before this issue arose. As I said, I volunteered to provide these letters because they summarise the legal issues that we were dealing with.
(4) Did the minister release the letter to the Shire of Broome to Mrs Archer before sending it to the shire? Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN replied: (1)-(4) I am always approached by members of Parliament from both sides of the house and from both houses who want to take up issues on behalf of their local members, including their local authorities. That is a perfectly appropriate activity for a member of Parliament. The member for Capel has never taken up an issue on behalf of his local authorities with me, but many other members have sought information from me to understand what was going on because they were meeting with their local authorities. There is nothing at all untoward about that. In the past, I have given briefings to and had discussions with members who do that. If the member thinks that that is a peculiar thing for a member of Parliament to do, I suggest that he is not doing his job. That was the context. I am not sure what point the member for Capel was trying to make from the quote. The community is divided over the relocation of the airport. Some people believe it is not an important issue and are quite happy for the airport to remain in the centre of town and the other half of the community would like it to be relocated. Like many of the - Dr S.C. Thomas : Will you take an interjection? The SPEAKER : No! Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN : I am sorry; the Speaker has ruled against it. I would have. Of course, these letters were sent to the shire before they were given to Hon Shelley Archer. Indeed, in one instance I think there was a gap, and the letter had been sent some two to three months before this issue arose. As I said, I volunteered to provide these letters because they summarise the legal issues that we were dealing with.
Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN replied: (1)-(4) I am always approached by members of Parliament from both sides of the house and from both houses who want to take up issues on behalf of their local members, including their local authorities. That is a perfectly appropriate activity for a member of Parliament. The member for Capel has never taken up an issue on behalf of his local authorities with me, but many other members have sought information from me to understand what was going on because they were meeting with their local authorities. There is nothing at all untoward about that. In the past, I have given briefings to and had discussions with members who do that. If the member thinks that that is a peculiar thing for a member of Parliament to do, I suggest that he is not doing his job. That was the context. I am not sure what point the member for Capel was trying to make from the quote. The community is divided over the relocation of the airport. Some people believe it is not an important issue and are quite happy for the airport to remain in the centre of town and the other half of the community would like it to be relocated. Like many of the - Dr S.C. Thomas : Will you take an interjection? The SPEAKER : No! Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN : I am sorry; the Speaker has ruled against it. I would have. Of course, these letters were sent to the shire before they were given to Hon Shelley Archer. Indeed, in one instance I think there was a gap, and the letter had been sent some two to three months before this issue arose. As I said, I volunteered to provide these letters because they summarise the legal issues that we were dealing with.
(1)-(4) I am always approached by members of Parliament from both sides of the house and from both houses who want to take up issues on behalf of their local members, including their local authorities. That is a perfectly appropriate activity for a member of Parliament. The member for Capel has never taken up an issue on behalf of his local authorities with me, but many other members have sought information from me to understand what was going on because they were meeting with their local authorities. There is nothing at all untoward about that. In the past, I have given briefings to and had discussions with members who do that. If the member thinks that that is a peculiar thing for a member of Parliament to do, I suggest that he is not doing his job. That was the context. I am not sure what point the member for Capel was trying to make from the quote. The community is divided over the relocation of the airport. Some people believe it is not an important issue and are quite happy for the airport to remain in the centre of town and the other half of the community would like it to be relocated. Like many of the - Dr S.C. Thomas : Will you take an interjection? The SPEAKER : No! Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN : I am sorry; the Speaker has ruled against it. I would have. Of course, these letters were sent to the shire before they were given to Hon Shelley Archer. Indeed, in one instance I think there was a gap, and the letter had been sent some two to three months before this issue arose. As I said, I volunteered to provide these letters because they summarise the legal issues that we were dealing with.
Dr S.C. Thomas : Will you take an interjection? The SPEAKER : No! Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN : I am sorry; the Speaker has ruled against it. I would have. Of course, these letters were sent to the shire before they were given to Hon Shelley Archer. Indeed, in one instance I think there was a gap, and the letter had been sent some two to three months before this issue arose. As I said, I volunteered to provide these letters because they summarise the legal issues that we were dealing with.
The SPEAKER : No! Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN : I am sorry; the Speaker has ruled against it. I would have. Of course, these letters were sent to the shire before they were given to Hon Shelley Archer. Indeed, in one instance I think there was a gap, and the letter had been sent some two to three months before this issue arose. As I said, I volunteered to provide these letters because they summarise the legal issues that we were dealing with.
Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN : I am sorry; the Speaker has ruled against it. I would have. Of course, these letters were sent to the shire before they were given to Hon Shelley Archer. Indeed, in one instance I think there was a gap, and the letter had been sent some two to three months before this issue arose. As I said, I volunteered to provide these letters because they summarise the legal issues that we were dealing with.
(1) How did Mrs Archer convince the minister that she was needed to mediate between the minister and the Shire of Broome? (2) What role did Mrs Archer claim to play in relation to the Shire of Broome and this project? (3) What concerns did the Shire of Broome raise about the Broome airport during the time the minister approved the release of those documents to Mrs Archer? (4) Did the minister release the letter to the Shire of Broome to Mrs Archer before sending it to the shire? Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN replied: (1)-(4) I am always approached by members of Parliament from both sides of the house and from both houses who want to take up issues on behalf of their local members, including their local authorities. That is a perfectly appropriate activity for a member of Parliament. The member for Capel has never taken up an issue on behalf of his local authorities with me, but many other members have sought information from me to understand what was going on because they were meeting with their local authorities. There is nothing at all untoward about that. In the past, I have given briefings to and had discussions with members who do that. If the member thinks that that is a peculiar thing for a member of Parliament to do, I suggest that he is not doing his job. That was the context. I am not sure what point the member for Capel was trying to make from the quote. The community is divided over the relocation of the airport. Some people believe it is not an important issue and are quite happy for the airport to remain in the centre of town and the other half of the community would like it to be relocated. Like many of the - Dr S.C. Thomas : Will you take an interjection? The SPEAKER : No! Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN : I am sorry; the Speaker has ruled against it. I would have. Of course, these letters were sent to the shire before they were given to Hon Shelley Archer. Indeed, in one instance I think there was a gap, and the letter had been sent some two to three months before this issue arose. As I said, I volunteered to provide these letters because they summarise the legal issues that we were dealing with.
(2) What role did Mrs Archer claim to play in relation to the Shire of Broome and this project? (3) What concerns did the Shire of Broome raise about the Broome airport during the time the minister approved the release of those documents to Mrs Archer? (4) Did the minister release the letter to the Shire of Broome to Mrs Archer before sending it to the shire? Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN replied: (1)-(4) I am always approached by members of Parliament from both sides of the house and from both houses who want to take up issues on behalf of their local members, including their local authorities. That is a perfectly appropriate activity for a member of Parliament. The member for Capel has never taken up an issue on behalf of his local authorities with me, but many other members have sought information from me to understand what was going on because they were meeting with their local authorities. There is nothing at all untoward about that. In the past, I have given briefings to and had discussions with members who do that. If the member thinks that that is a peculiar thing for a member of Parliament to do, I suggest that he is not doing his job. That was the context. I am not sure what point the member for Capel was trying to make from the quote. The community is divided over the relocation of the airport. Some people believe it is not an important issue and are quite happy for the airport to remain in the centre of town and the other half of the community would like it to be relocated. Like many of the - Dr S.C. Thomas : Will you take an interjection? The SPEAKER : No! Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN : I am sorry; the Speaker has ruled against it. I would have. Of course, these letters were sent to the shire before they were given to Hon Shelley Archer. Indeed, in one instance I think there was a gap, and the letter had been sent some two to three months before this issue arose. As I said, I volunteered to provide these letters because they summarise the legal issues that we were dealing with.
(3) What concerns did the Shire of Broome raise about the Broome airport during the time the minister approved the release of those documents to Mrs Archer? (4) Did the minister release the letter to the Shire of Broome to Mrs Archer before sending it to the shire? Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN replied: (1)-(4) I am always approached by members of Parliament from both sides of the house and from both houses who want to take up issues on behalf of their local members, including their local authorities. That is a perfectly appropriate activity for a member of Parliament. The member for Capel has never taken up an issue on behalf of his local authorities with me, but many other members have sought information from me to understand what was going on because they were meeting with their local authorities. There is nothing at all untoward about that. In the past, I have given briefings to and had discussions with members who do that. If the member thinks that that is a peculiar thing for a member of Parliament to do, I suggest that he is not doing his job. That was the context. I am not sure what point the member for Capel was trying to make from the quote. The community is divided over the relocation of the airport. Some people believe it is not an important issue and are quite happy for the airport to remain in the centre of town and the other half of the community would like it to be relocated. Like many of the - Dr S.C. Thomas : Will you take an interjection? The SPEAKER : No! Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN : I am sorry; the Speaker has ruled against it. I would have. Of course, these letters were sent to the shire before they were given to Hon Shelley Archer. Indeed, in one instance I think there was a gap, and the letter had been sent some two to three months before this issue arose. As I said, I volunteered to provide these letters because they summarise the legal issues that we were dealing with.
(4) Did the minister release the letter to the Shire of Broome to Mrs Archer before sending it to the shire? Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN replied: (1)-(4) I am always approached by members of Parliament from both sides of the house and from both houses who want to take up issues on behalf of their local members, including their local authorities. That is a perfectly appropriate activity for a member of Parliament. The member for Capel has never taken up an issue on behalf of his local authorities with me, but many other members have sought information from me to understand what was going on because they were meeting with their local authorities. There is nothing at all untoward about that. In the past, I have given briefings to and had discussions with members who do that. If the member thinks that that is a peculiar thing for a member of Parliament to do, I suggest that he is not doing his job. That was the context. I am not sure what point the member for Capel was trying to make from the quote. The community is divided over the relocation of the airport. Some people believe it is not an important issue and are quite happy for the airport to remain in the centre of town and the other half of the community would like it to be relocated. Like many of the - Dr S.C. Thomas : Will you take an interjection? The SPEAKER : No! Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN : I am sorry; the Speaker has ruled against it. I would have. Of course, these letters were sent to the shire before they were given to Hon Shelley Archer. Indeed, in one instance I think there was a gap, and the letter had been sent some two to three months before this issue arose. As I said, I volunteered to provide these letters because they summarise the legal issues that we were dealing with.
Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN replied: (1)-(4) I am always approached by members of Parliament from both sides of the house and from both houses who want to take up issues on behalf of their local members, including their local authorities. That is a perfectly appropriate activity for a member of Parliament. The member for Capel has never taken up an issue on behalf of his local authorities with me, but many other members have sought information from me to understand what was going on because they were meeting with their local authorities. There is nothing at all untoward about that. In the past, I have given briefings to and had discussions with members who do that. If the member thinks that that is a peculiar thing for a member of Parliament to do, I suggest that he is not doing his job. That was the context. I am not sure what point the member for Capel was trying to make from the quote. The community is divided over the relocation of the airport. Some people believe it is not an important issue and are quite happy for the airport to remain in the centre of town and the other half of the community would like it to be relocated. Like many of the - Dr S.C. Thomas : Will you take an interjection? The SPEAKER : No! Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN : I am sorry; the Speaker has ruled against it. I would have. Of course, these letters were sent to the shire before they were given to Hon Shelley Archer. Indeed, in one instance I think there was a gap, and the letter had been sent some two to three months before this issue arose. As I said, I volunteered to provide these letters because they summarise the legal issues that we were dealing with.
(1)-(4) I am always approached by members of Parliament from both sides of the house and from both houses who want to take up issues on behalf of their local members, including their local authorities. That is a perfectly appropriate activity for a member of Parliament. The member for Capel has never taken up an issue on behalf of his local authorities with me, but many other members have sought information from me to understand what was going on because they were meeting with their local authorities. There is nothing at all untoward about that. In the past, I have given briefings to and had discussions with members who do that. If the member thinks that that is a peculiar thing for a member of Parliament to do, I suggest that he is not doing his job. That was the context. I am not sure what point the member for Capel was trying to make from the quote. The community is divided over the relocation of the airport. Some people believe it is not an important issue and are quite happy for the airport to remain in the centre of town and the other half of the community would like it to be relocated. Like many of the - Dr S.C. Thomas : Will you take an interjection? The SPEAKER : No! Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN : I am sorry; the Speaker has ruled against it. I would have. Of course, these letters were sent to the shire before they were given to Hon Shelley Archer. Indeed, in one instance I think there was a gap, and the letter had been sent some two to three months before this issue arose. As I said, I volunteered to provide these letters because they summarise the legal issues that we were dealing with.
Dr S.C. Thomas : Will you take an interjection? The SPEAKER : No! Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN : I am sorry; the Speaker has ruled against it. I would have. Of course, these letters were sent to the shire before they were given to Hon Shelley Archer. Indeed, in one instance I think there was a gap, and the letter had been sent some two to three months before this issue arose. As I said, I volunteered to provide these letters because they summarise the legal issues that we were dealing with.
The SPEAKER : No! Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN : I am sorry; the Speaker has ruled against it. I would have. Of course, these letters were sent to the shire before they were given to Hon Shelley Archer. Indeed, in one instance I think there was a gap, and the letter had been sent some two to three months before this issue arose. As I said, I volunteered to provide these letters because they summarise the legal issues that we were dealing with.
Ms A.J.G. MacTIERNAN : I am sorry; the Speaker has ruled against it. I would have. Of course, these letters were sent to the shire before they were given to Hon Shelley Archer. Indeed, in one instance I think there was a gap, and the letter had been sent some two to three months before this issue arose. As I said, I volunteered to provide these letters because they summarise the legal issues that we were dealing with.
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.