❓ The Leader of the Opposition questions the Premier about the basis of his comments regarding the Member for Vasse's return to work after a breakdown. The Premier defends his assessment as a personal one, based on limited information and concern for the member's well-being, while accusing the opposition of intrusive questioning.
AnsweredQoN 122Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
MEMBER FOR
VASSE — RETURN TO WORK — PREMIER'S COMMENTS
122. Mr M. McGOWAN to the
Premier:
I have a supplementary question. Considering that the Premier
had that feedback, and that it was a very important issue and he would not want
to mislead the people of Western Australia on these issues, who gave him the
advice that the member for Vasse would be coming back to work?
VASSE — RETURN TO WORK — PREMIER'S COMMENTS
122. Mr M. McGOWAN to the
Premier:
I have a supplementary question. Considering that the Premier
had that feedback, and that it was a very important issue and he would not want
to mislead the people of Western Australia on these issues, who gave him the
advice that the member for Vasse would be coming back to work?
AnswerView source ↗
No-one gave me the advice, but on the basis that he had
already been absent for two weeks and had been in hospital but was at that time
out of hospital and was doing better, in my mind I thought that that probably
meant another couple of weeks. Indeed, I was concerned that he did not come
back to work too early.
Mr M. McGowan : Who
gave you the advice?
The SPEAKER :
Member!
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I
remind the Leader of the Opposition that although Troy Buswell is a friend I
care about very seriously, I am not his keeper, I am not a member of his family
and I am not a member of the medical staff of the hospital that he was admitted
to.
Mr M. McGowan : How
did you come up with that answer?
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : It was just an assessment that I made that he was improving.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Members!
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
This line of questioning is intrusive into the privacy of the health care of a
citizen of this state.
Several members interjected.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I
do not even know which hospital he was in. I think I know which Perth hospital
it was, but I do not know the Sydney clinic. He and his family and, I
understand, his mother requested privacy. I respect that. As I said to the
Leader of the Opposition on Tuesday, if he has some accusation, he should make
it because I do not know where he is going on this. If the opposition has some
information that I, the police or the media do not have, please tell me.
Mr R.H. Cook : Just
answer the question.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
How can I answer the question? The only advice I got of a medical nature was
when I first told my friend the Deputy Premier, a doctor —
Mr P.B. Watson interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Albany, I call you to order for the first time. I want to hear only
the Premier.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
When I was first aware that the member for Vasse had had a breakdown, I
obviously had no idea how severe it was. He was going into medical care. That
was on Sunday, 23 February. It was probably on the Tuesday—maybe
Tuesday afternoon; I am not sure—when I had not mentioned that to
anyone, including any members of my staff. I informed the Deputy Premier; I
thought that was appropriate. As he is a general practitioner, I asked him if
someone has a breakdown, what period of absence would normally —
Ms M.M. Quirk interjected.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I
am trying to answer the question; I cannot see why I am answering it, but I am.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Girrawheen!
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I
asked Dr Hames if someone has a breakdown, how long would they likely be off
work. In my mind, I thought it would probably be a few days, but I did not have
the details. I am not a member of his family. Correct me if I am wrong, but the
Deputy Premier said that it could be four weeks. By 9 March, the member for
Vasse had been away for two weeks, so two plus two makes four. In my mind, I
thought it would probably be another couple of weeks. I did not want him to be
under any pressure to come back to work earlier. If the Leader of the
Opposition is going to get up again and he knows something that I do not, he
should share it with me.
already been absent for two weeks and had been in hospital but was at that time
out of hospital and was doing better, in my mind I thought that that probably
meant another couple of weeks. Indeed, I was concerned that he did not come
back to work too early.
Mr M. McGowan : Who
gave you the advice?
The SPEAKER :
Member!
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I
remind the Leader of the Opposition that although Troy Buswell is a friend I
care about very seriously, I am not his keeper, I am not a member of his family
and I am not a member of the medical staff of the hospital that he was admitted
to.
Mr M. McGowan : How
did you come up with that answer?
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : It was just an assessment that I made that he was improving.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Members!
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
This line of questioning is intrusive into the privacy of the health care of a
citizen of this state.
Several members interjected.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I
do not even know which hospital he was in. I think I know which Perth hospital
it was, but I do not know the Sydney clinic. He and his family and, I
understand, his mother requested privacy. I respect that. As I said to the
Leader of the Opposition on Tuesday, if he has some accusation, he should make
it because I do not know where he is going on this. If the opposition has some
information that I, the police or the media do not have, please tell me.
Mr R.H. Cook : Just
answer the question.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
How can I answer the question? The only advice I got of a medical nature was
when I first told my friend the Deputy Premier, a doctor —
Mr P.B. Watson interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Albany, I call you to order for the first time. I want to hear only
the Premier.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
When I was first aware that the member for Vasse had had a breakdown, I
obviously had no idea how severe it was. He was going into medical care. That
was on Sunday, 23 February. It was probably on the Tuesday—maybe
Tuesday afternoon; I am not sure—when I had not mentioned that to
anyone, including any members of my staff. I informed the Deputy Premier; I
thought that was appropriate. As he is a general practitioner, I asked him if
someone has a breakdown, what period of absence would normally —
Ms M.M. Quirk interjected.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I
am trying to answer the question; I cannot see why I am answering it, but I am.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Girrawheen!
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I
asked Dr Hames if someone has a breakdown, how long would they likely be off
work. In my mind, I thought it would probably be a few days, but I did not have
the details. I am not a member of his family. Correct me if I am wrong, but the
Deputy Premier said that it could be four weeks. By 9 March, the member for
Vasse had been away for two weeks, so two plus two makes four. In my mind, I
thought it would probably be another couple of weeks. I did not want him to be
under any pressure to come back to work earlier. If the Leader of the
Opposition is going to get up again and he knows something that I do not, he
should share it with me.
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