❓ A parliamentary question regarding whether government members were requested to appear before the Corruption and Crime Commission (CCC) escalates into a heated exchange, with the Premier accusing the Leader of the Opposition of misleading Parliament about when he was informed of his deputy's CCC summons.
AnsweredQoN 870Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
CORRUPTION AND CRIME COMMISSION - GOVERNMENT MEMBERS
Has the Premier, any of his ministers or parliamentary secretaries or any other member of his government been requested to appear before the Corruption and Crime Commission in regard to its current inquiries or any related court proceedings? Mr A.J. CARPENTER
Has the Premier, any of his ministers or parliamentary secretaries or any other member of his government been requested to appear before the Corruption and Crime Commission in regard to its current inquiries or any related court proceedings? Mr A.J. CARPENTER
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for the question. Certainly from my point of view, I have not, and as far as I am aware no-one has on this side. I am not sure, however, about the legal technicalities of providing that sort of information. However, the answer is as I gave it: I am not aware of any member on this side, or any member of the cabinet - is that what the Leader of the Opposition asked? Mr P.D. Omodei : Yes, cabinet, parliamentary secretaries or any member of your government, in regard to court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Court proceedings? I do not know. Has anyone had a speeding fine? Fair go! Mr R.F. Johnson : You know what we are talking about. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : However, let me launch into this one: has the Leader of the Opposition at any time been informed by any member of his side that he or she would be summonsed as a witness by the CCC? Mr P.D. Omodei : I am asking the questions. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Has the Leader of the Opposition or any member of his side of the Parliament been so informed? If so, when did that notification take place? If not, is the Leader of the Opposition concerned that the member sitting on his left was summonsed to be questioned at the CCC, sat in a car park with Noel Crichton-Browne, consulted with Noel Crichton-Browne about the evidence that he would give, and was apparently coached on how to answer the questions? Can the Leader of the Opposition get some advice from his shadow Attorney General as to whether or not it is in fact a breach of the law that this parliamentarian, having been asked to attend the CCC and answer questions about a matter involving Noel Crichton-Browne, then took it upon himself to sit in a car in the car park of the Parliament and discuss with Noel Crichton-Browne the issues about which he had been asked to appear at the CCC? Not only that, but also, on the evidence of Noel Crichton-Browne, he apparently received coaching on how to answer those questions. Was the Leader of the Opposition ever informed of that? Mr P.D. Omodei : Rubbish! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Was the Leader of the Opposition ever informed that his deputy was called to provide evidence to the CCC about the Canal Rocks development? Mr P.D. Omodei : Yes. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When? Mr P.D. Omodei : He told me as soon as he got advice. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When? Mr P.D. Omodei : He told me immediately then. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When? Give me the date. I do not believe the Leader of the Opposition was the leader at that stage. Mr P.D. Omodei : Come on! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : He was not. He became the leader on 24 March, did he not? Is the Leader of the Opposition sitting in this chamber lying to us? Mr P.D. Omodei : I am asking you whether any of your ministers or their staff were involved in any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Is the Leader of the Opposition following the habit - Mr P.D. Omodei : Why haven’t you asked them, Premier? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have asked. I have told the Leader of the Opposition that to the best of my knowledge the answer to the question is no. Mr P.D. Omodei : You are losing the plot. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am asking the Leader of the Opposition a question. He just told me and the Parliament that he was informed immediately that his deputy knew. I am saying to him that he was not the leader at that stage; so why was he informed? Mr P.D. Omodei : He told me as soon as he was summonsed that he was going to the CCC. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition was not the leader then. Mr T. Buswell : Yes, he was. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When? Mr T. Buswell : When I was summonsed. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition became the leader on 24 March. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition had a meeting outside Parliament with Noel Crichton-Browne on 21 or 22 March. He attended the CCC on 23 March. Do we have a question of credibility here? Do we have a question of somebody not telling the truth? Does it follow a pattern that some misleading of the Parliament has been attempted? Does it follow a pattern that we know of; that is, the member for Vasse has been proved to be dishonest in his dealings with his own members of Parliament? They have said so publicly, have they not? Mr P.D. Omodei : Who is being dishonest? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Did the member for Vasse turn to the then leader of the Liberal Party and tell him that he supported him in a ballot when the truth was that he had not; and was that a direct lie? Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Was it a direct lie? Did the Deputy Leader of the Opposition tell a direct lie? If he lied then, and we know he lied then, can we assume that he is lying now? Withdrawal of Remark Mr C.J. BARNETT : Point of order, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : I ask the member for Cottesloe to take his seat. The Premier knows the standing orders as well as any member does. It is not parliamentary to imply that a member of this house is a liar, and I direct that he withdraw that comment. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will do so, Mr Speaker. I withdraw any inference that the Deputy Leader of the Opposition is a liar, as that would be a habit of having told the lie. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will quote this article from The West Australian of 28 March - MPs are particularly incensed that immediately after the vote Mr Buswell assured Mr Birney that he had voted for him only to ring him and apologise for “misleading” him. Why did the member for Vasse ring the Leader of the Opposition and apologise for misleading him? It was because the member for Hillarys had seen the member for Vasse fill in his ballot paper and knew it was untrue. Mr P.D. Omodei : What a load of rubbish! That is desperation! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : And in fact provoked - Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : It is amazing, is it not? It provoked the member for Hillarys to say that he would never support this member. The Leader of the Opposition has asked me whether any member of the cabinet or any parliamentary secretary and so on has told me that he or she has been summonsed to appear before the CCC. I said that to the best of my knowledge, no. Mr P.D. Omodei : Or to any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What court proceedings? Mr P.D. Omodei : Any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Give me one. Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What related court proceedings? Can anybody enlighten me as to what - Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Did you ask your ministers? Why didn’t you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition is so bad at this. Mr P.D. Omodei : This is about a corrupt government. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : This is what is called “kicking yourself fair up the backside”. That is what the Leader of the Opposition has just done. The only person I know of who would fit the category that he is trying to assign to members on this side of the house is his deputy, who was summonsed to appear at the CCC and who never informed him, but who sat - Mr P.D. Omodei : You are the Premier of Western Australia and you are obliged to answer this question. You did not ask your ministers. You admitted it just then. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Let me raise the possibility with the general public of Western Australia. If the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party is summonsed to appear before the CCC to give evidence about a matter pertaining to alleged corruption, and the day before he goes there to give that evidence he gets into a car in the car park and has a secret meeting with a man who is central to that inquiry and discusses the evidence, is that the sort of behaviour that would normally warrant his immediate dismissal from his position? I think it is.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: I thank the member for the question. Certainly from my point of view, I have not, and as far as I am aware no-one has on this side. I am not sure, however, about the legal technicalities of providing that sort of information. However, the answer is as I gave it: I am not aware of any member on this side, or any member of the cabinet - is that what the Leader of the Opposition asked? Mr P.D. Omodei : Yes, cabinet, parliamentary secretaries or any member of your government, in regard to court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Court proceedings? I do not know. Has anyone had a speeding fine? Fair go! Mr R.F. Johnson : You know what we are talking about. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : However, let me launch into this one: has the Leader of the Opposition at any time been informed by any member of his side that he or she would be summonsed as a witness by the CCC? Mr P.D. Omodei : I am asking the questions. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Has the Leader of the Opposition or any member of his side of the Parliament been so informed? If so, when did that notification take place? If not, is the Leader of the Opposition concerned that the member sitting on his left was summonsed to be questioned at the CCC, sat in a car park with Noel Crichton-Browne, consulted with Noel Crichton-Browne about the evidence that he would give, and was apparently coached on how to answer the questions? Can the Leader of the Opposition get some advice from his shadow Attorney General as to whether or not it is in fact a breach of the law that this parliamentarian, having been asked to attend the CCC and answer questions about a matter involving Noel Crichton-Browne, then took it upon himself to sit in a car in the car park of the Parliament and discuss with Noel Crichton-Browne the issues about which he had been asked to appear at the CCC? Not only that, but also, on the evidence of Noel Crichton-Browne, he apparently received coaching on how to answer those questions. Was the Leader of the Opposition ever informed of that? Mr P.D. Omodei : Rubbish! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Was the Leader of the Opposition ever informed that his deputy was called to provide evidence to the CCC about the Canal Rocks development? Mr P.D. Omodei : Yes. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When? Mr P.D. Omodei : He told me as soon as he got advice. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When? Mr P.D. Omodei : He told me immediately then. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When? Give me the date. I do not believe the Leader of the Opposition was the leader at that stage. Mr P.D. Omodei : Come on! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : He was not. He became the leader on 24 March, did he not? Is the Leader of the Opposition sitting in this chamber lying to us? Mr P.D. Omodei : I am asking you whether any of your ministers or their staff were involved in any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Is the Leader of the Opposition following the habit - Mr P.D. Omodei : Why haven’t you asked them, Premier? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have asked. I have told the Leader of the Opposition that to the best of my knowledge the answer to the question is no. Mr P.D. Omodei : You are losing the plot. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am asking the Leader of the Opposition a question. He just told me and the Parliament that he was informed immediately that his deputy knew. I am saying to him that he was not the leader at that stage; so why was he informed? Mr P.D. Omodei : He told me as soon as he was summonsed that he was going to the CCC. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition was not the leader then. Mr T. Buswell : Yes, he was. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When? Mr T. Buswell : When I was summonsed. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition became the leader on 24 March. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition had a meeting outside Parliament with Noel Crichton-Browne on 21 or 22 March. He attended the CCC on 23 March. Do we have a question of credibility here? Do we have a question of somebody not telling the truth? Does it follow a pattern that some misleading of the Parliament has been attempted? Does it follow a pattern that we know of; that is, the member for Vasse has been proved to be dishonest in his dealings with his own members of Parliament? They have said so publicly, have they not? Mr P.D. Omodei : Who is being dishonest? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Did the member for Vasse turn to the then leader of the Liberal Party and tell him that he supported him in a ballot when the truth was that he had not; and was that a direct lie? Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Was it a direct lie? Did the Deputy Leader of the Opposition tell a direct lie? If he lied then, and we know he lied then, can we assume that he is lying now? Withdrawal of Remark Mr C.J. BARNETT : Point of order, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : I ask the member for Cottesloe to take his seat. The Premier knows the standing orders as well as any member does. It is not parliamentary to imply that a member of this house is a liar, and I direct that he withdraw that comment. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will do so, Mr Speaker. I withdraw any inference that the Deputy Leader of the Opposition is a liar, as that would be a habit of having told the lie. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will quote this article from The West Australian of 28 March - MPs are particularly incensed that immediately after the vote Mr Buswell assured Mr Birney that he had voted for him only to ring him and apologise for “misleading” him. Why did the member for Vasse ring the Leader of the Opposition and apologise for misleading him? It was because the member for Hillarys had seen the member for Vasse fill in his ballot paper and knew it was untrue. Mr P.D. Omodei : What a load of rubbish! That is desperation! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : And in fact provoked - Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : It is amazing, is it not? It provoked the member for Hillarys to say that he would never support this member. The Leader of the Opposition has asked me whether any member of the cabinet or any parliamentary secretary and so on has told me that he or she has been summonsed to appear before the CCC. I said that to the best of my knowledge, no. Mr P.D. Omodei : Or to any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What court proceedings? Mr P.D. Omodei : Any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Give me one. Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What related court proceedings? Can anybody enlighten me as to what - Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Did you ask your ministers? Why didn’t you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition is so bad at this. Mr P.D. Omodei : This is about a corrupt government. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : This is what is called “kicking yourself fair up the backside”. That is what the Leader of the Opposition has just done. The only person I know of who would fit the category that he is trying to assign to members on this side of the house is his deputy, who was summonsed to appear at the CCC and who never informed him, but who sat - Mr P.D. Omodei : You are the Premier of Western Australia and you are obliged to answer this question. You did not ask your ministers. You admitted it just then. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Let me raise the possibility with the general public of Western Australia. If the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party is summonsed to appear before the CCC to give evidence about a matter pertaining to alleged corruption, and the day before he goes there to give that evidence he gets into a car in the car park and has a secret meeting with a man who is central to that inquiry and discusses the evidence, is that the sort of behaviour that would normally warrant his immediate dismissal from his position? I think it is.
I thank the member for the question. Certainly from my point of view, I have not, and as far as I am aware no-one has on this side. I am not sure, however, about the legal technicalities of providing that sort of information. However, the answer is as I gave it: I am not aware of any member on this side, or any member of the cabinet - is that what the Leader of the Opposition asked? Mr P.D. Omodei : Yes, cabinet, parliamentary secretaries or any member of your government, in regard to court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Court proceedings? I do not know. Has anyone had a speeding fine? Fair go! Mr R.F. Johnson : You know what we are talking about. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : However, let me launch into this one: has the Leader of the Opposition at any time been informed by any member of his side that he or she would be summonsed as a witness by the CCC? Mr P.D. Omodei : I am asking the questions. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Has the Leader of the Opposition or any member of his side of the Parliament been so informed? If so, when did that notification take place? If not, is the Leader of the Opposition concerned that the member sitting on his left was summonsed to be questioned at the CCC, sat in a car park with Noel Crichton-Browne, consulted with Noel Crichton-Browne about the evidence that he would give, and was apparently coached on how to answer the questions? Can the Leader of the Opposition get some advice from his shadow Attorney General as to whether or not it is in fact a breach of the law that this parliamentarian, having been asked to attend the CCC and answer questions about a matter involving Noel Crichton-Browne, then took it upon himself to sit in a car in the car park of the Parliament and discuss with Noel Crichton-Browne the issues about which he had been asked to appear at the CCC? Not only that, but also, on the evidence of Noel Crichton-Browne, he apparently received coaching on how to answer those questions. Was the Leader of the Opposition ever informed of that? Mr P.D. Omodei : Rubbish! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Was the Leader of the Opposition ever informed that his deputy was called to provide evidence to the CCC about the Canal Rocks development? Mr P.D. Omodei : Yes. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When? Mr P.D. Omodei : He told me as soon as he got advice. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When? Mr P.D. Omodei : He told me immediately then. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When? Give me the date. I do not believe the Leader of the Opposition was the leader at that stage. Mr P.D. Omodei : Come on! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : He was not. He became the leader on 24 March, did he not? Is the Leader of the Opposition sitting in this chamber lying to us? Mr P.D. Omodei : I am asking you whether any of your ministers or their staff were involved in any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Is the Leader of the Opposition following the habit - Mr P.D. Omodei : Why haven’t you asked them, Premier? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have asked. I have told the Leader of the Opposition that to the best of my knowledge the answer to the question is no. Mr P.D. Omodei : You are losing the plot. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am asking the Leader of the Opposition a question. He just told me and the Parliament that he was informed immediately that his deputy knew. I am saying to him that he was not the leader at that stage; so why was he informed? Mr P.D. Omodei : He told me as soon as he was summonsed that he was going to the CCC. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition was not the leader then. Mr T. Buswell : Yes, he was. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When? Mr T. Buswell : When I was summonsed. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition became the leader on 24 March. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition had a meeting outside Parliament with Noel Crichton-Browne on 21 or 22 March. He attended the CCC on 23 March. Do we have a question of credibility here? Do we have a question of somebody not telling the truth? Does it follow a pattern that some misleading of the Parliament has been attempted? Does it follow a pattern that we know of; that is, the member for Vasse has been proved to be dishonest in his dealings with his own members of Parliament? They have said so publicly, have they not? Mr P.D. Omodei : Who is being dishonest? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Did the member for Vasse turn to the then leader of the Liberal Party and tell him that he supported him in a ballot when the truth was that he had not; and was that a direct lie? Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Was it a direct lie? Did the Deputy Leader of the Opposition tell a direct lie? If he lied then, and we know he lied then, can we assume that he is lying now? Withdrawal of Remark Mr C.J. BARNETT : Point of order, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : I ask the member for Cottesloe to take his seat. The Premier knows the standing orders as well as any member does. It is not parliamentary to imply that a member of this house is a liar, and I direct that he withdraw that comment. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will do so, Mr Speaker. I withdraw any inference that the Deputy Leader of the Opposition is a liar, as that would be a habit of having told the lie. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will quote this article from The West Australian of 28 March - MPs are particularly incensed that immediately after the vote Mr Buswell assured Mr Birney that he had voted for him only to ring him and apologise for “misleading” him. Why did the member for Vasse ring the Leader of the Opposition and apologise for misleading him? It was because the member for Hillarys had seen the member for Vasse fill in his ballot paper and knew it was untrue. Mr P.D. Omodei : What a load of rubbish! That is desperation! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : And in fact provoked - Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : It is amazing, is it not? It provoked the member for Hillarys to say that he would never support this member. The Leader of the Opposition has asked me whether any member of the cabinet or any parliamentary secretary and so on has told me that he or she has been summonsed to appear before the CCC. I said that to the best of my knowledge, no. Mr P.D. Omodei : Or to any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What court proceedings? Mr P.D. Omodei : Any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Give me one. Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What related court proceedings? Can anybody enlighten me as to what - Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Did you ask your ministers? Why didn’t you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition is so bad at this. Mr P.D. Omodei : This is about a corrupt government. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : This is what is called “kicking yourself fair up the backside”. That is what the Leader of the Opposition has just done. The only person I know of who would fit the category that he is trying to assign to members on this side of the house is his deputy, who was summonsed to appear at the CCC and who never informed him, but who sat - Mr P.D. Omodei : You are the Premier of Western Australia and you are obliged to answer this question. You did not ask your ministers. You admitted it just then. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Let me raise the possibility with the general public of Western Australia. If the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party is summonsed to appear before the CCC to give evidence about a matter pertaining to alleged corruption, and the day before he goes there to give that evidence he gets into a car in the car park and has a secret meeting with a man who is central to that inquiry and discusses the evidence, is that the sort of behaviour that would normally warrant his immediate dismissal from his position? I think it is.
Mr P.D. Omodei : Yes, cabinet, parliamentary secretaries or any member of your government, in regard to court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Court proceedings? I do not know. Has anyone had a speeding fine? Fair go! Mr R.F. Johnson : You know what we are talking about. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : However, let me launch into this one: has the Leader of the Opposition at any time been informed by any member of his side that he or she would be summonsed as a witness by the CCC? Mr P.D. Omodei : I am asking the questions. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Has the Leader of the Opposition or any member of his side of the Parliament been so informed? If so, when did that notification take place? If not, is the Leader of the Opposition concerned that the member sitting on his left was summonsed to be questioned at the CCC, sat in a car park with Noel Crichton-Browne, consulted with Noel Crichton-Browne about the evidence that he would give, and was apparently coached on how to answer the questions? Can the Leader of the Opposition get some advice from his shadow Attorney General as to whether or not it is in fact a breach of the law that this parliamentarian, having been asked to attend the CCC and answer questions about a matter involving Noel Crichton-Browne, then took it upon himself to sit in a car in the car park of the Parliament and discuss with Noel Crichton-Browne the issues about which he had been asked to appear at the CCC? Not only that, but also, on the evidence of Noel Crichton-Browne, he apparently received coaching on how to answer those questions. Was the Leader of the Opposition ever informed of that? Mr P.D. Omodei : Rubbish! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Was the Leader of the Opposition ever informed that his deputy was called to provide evidence to the CCC about the Canal Rocks development? Mr P.D. Omodei : Yes. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When? Mr P.D. Omodei : He told me as soon as he got advice. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When? Mr P.D. Omodei : He told me immediately then. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When? Give me the date. I do not believe the Leader of the Opposition was the leader at that stage. Mr P.D. Omodei : Come on! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : He was not. He became the leader on 24 March, did he not? Is the Leader of the Opposition sitting in this chamber lying to us? Mr P.D. Omodei : I am asking you whether any of your ministers or their staff were involved in any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Is the Leader of the Opposition following the habit - Mr P.D. Omodei : Why haven’t you asked them, Premier? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have asked. I have told the Leader of the Opposition that to the best of my knowledge the answer to the question is no. Mr P.D. Omodei : You are losing the plot. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am asking the Leader of the Opposition a question. He just told me and the Parliament that he was informed immediately that his deputy knew. I am saying to him that he was not the leader at that stage; so why was he informed? Mr P.D. Omodei : He told me as soon as he was summonsed that he was going to the CCC. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition was not the leader then. Mr T. Buswell : Yes, he was. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When? Mr T. Buswell : When I was summonsed. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition became the leader on 24 March. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition had a meeting outside Parliament with Noel Crichton-Browne on 21 or 22 March. He attended the CCC on 23 March. Do we have a question of credibility here? Do we have a question of somebody not telling the truth? Does it follow a pattern that some misleading of the Parliament has been attempted? Does it follow a pattern that we know of; that is, the member for Vasse has been proved to be dishonest in his dealings with his own members of Parliament? They have said so publicly, have they not? Mr P.D. Omodei : Who is being dishonest? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Did the member for Vasse turn to the then leader of the Liberal Party and tell him that he supported him in a ballot when the truth was that he had not; and was that a direct lie? Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Was it a direct lie? Did the Deputy Leader of the Opposition tell a direct lie? If he lied then, and we know he lied then, can we assume that he is lying now? Withdrawal of Remark Mr C.J. BARNETT : Point of order, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : I ask the member for Cottesloe to take his seat. The Premier knows the standing orders as well as any member does. It is not parliamentary to imply that a member of this house is a liar, and I direct that he withdraw that comment. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will do so, Mr Speaker. I withdraw any inference that the Deputy Leader of the Opposition is a liar, as that would be a habit of having told the lie. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will quote this article from The West Australian of 28 March - MPs are particularly incensed that immediately after the vote Mr Buswell assured Mr Birney that he had voted for him only to ring him and apologise for “misleading” him. Why did the member for Vasse ring the Leader of the Opposition and apologise for misleading him? It was because the member for Hillarys had seen the member for Vasse fill in his ballot paper and knew it was untrue. Mr P.D. Omodei : What a load of rubbish! That is desperation! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : And in fact provoked - Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : It is amazing, is it not? It provoked the member for Hillarys to say that he would never support this member. The Leader of the Opposition has asked me whether any member of the cabinet or any parliamentary secretary and so on has told me that he or she has been summonsed to appear before the CCC. I said that to the best of my knowledge, no. Mr P.D. Omodei : Or to any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What court proceedings? Mr P.D. Omodei : Any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Give me one. Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What related court proceedings? Can anybody enlighten me as to what - Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Did you ask your ministers? Why didn’t you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition is so bad at this. Mr P.D. Omodei : This is about a corrupt government. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : This is what is called “kicking yourself fair up the backside”. That is what the Leader of the Opposition has just done. The only person I know of who would fit the category that he is trying to assign to members on this side of the house is his deputy, who was summonsed to appear at the CCC and who never informed him, but who sat - Mr P.D. Omodei : You are the Premier of Western Australia and you are obliged to answer this question. You did not ask your ministers. You admitted it just then. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Let me raise the possibility with the general public of Western Australia. If the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party is summonsed to appear before the CCC to give evidence about a matter pertaining to alleged corruption, and the day before he goes there to give that evidence he gets into a car in the car park and has a secret meeting with a man who is central to that inquiry and discusses the evidence, is that the sort of behaviour that would normally warrant his immediate dismissal from his position? I think it is.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Court proceedings? I do not know. Has anyone had a speeding fine? Fair go! Mr R.F. Johnson : You know what we are talking about. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : However, let me launch into this one: has the Leader of the Opposition at any time been informed by any member of his side that he or she would be summonsed as a witness by the CCC? Mr P.D. Omodei : I am asking the questions. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Has the Leader of the Opposition or any member of his side of the Parliament been so informed? If so, when did that notification take place? If not, is the Leader of the Opposition concerned that the member sitting on his left was summonsed to be questioned at the CCC, sat in a car park with Noel Crichton-Browne, consulted with Noel Crichton-Browne about the evidence that he would give, and was apparently coached on how to answer the questions? Can the Leader of the Opposition get some advice from his shadow Attorney General as to whether or not it is in fact a breach of the law that this parliamentarian, having been asked to attend the CCC and answer questions about a matter involving Noel Crichton-Browne, then took it upon himself to sit in a car in the car park of the Parliament and discuss with Noel Crichton-Browne the issues about which he had been asked to appear at the CCC? Not only that, but also, on the evidence of Noel Crichton-Browne, he apparently received coaching on how to answer those questions. Was the Leader of the Opposition ever informed of that? Mr P.D. Omodei : Rubbish! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Was the Leader of the Opposition ever informed that his deputy was called to provide evidence to the CCC about the Canal Rocks development? Mr P.D. Omodei : Yes. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When? Mr P.D. Omodei : He told me as soon as he got advice. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When? Mr P.D. Omodei : He told me immediately then. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When? Give me the date. I do not believe the Leader of the Opposition was the leader at that stage. Mr P.D. Omodei : Come on! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : He was not. He became the leader on 24 March, did he not? Is the Leader of the Opposition sitting in this chamber lying to us? Mr P.D. Omodei : I am asking you whether any of your ministers or their staff were involved in any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Is the Leader of the Opposition following the habit - Mr P.D. Omodei : Why haven’t you asked them, Premier? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have asked. I have told the Leader of the Opposition that to the best of my knowledge the answer to the question is no. Mr P.D. Omodei : You are losing the plot. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am asking the Leader of the Opposition a question. He just told me and the Parliament that he was informed immediately that his deputy knew. I am saying to him that he was not the leader at that stage; so why was he informed? Mr P.D. Omodei : He told me as soon as he was summonsed that he was going to the CCC. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition was not the leader then. Mr T. Buswell : Yes, he was. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When? Mr T. Buswell : When I was summonsed. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition became the leader on 24 March. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition had a meeting outside Parliament with Noel Crichton-Browne on 21 or 22 March. He attended the CCC on 23 March. Do we have a question of credibility here? Do we have a question of somebody not telling the truth? Does it follow a pattern that some misleading of the Parliament has been attempted? Does it follow a pattern that we know of; that is, the member for Vasse has been proved to be dishonest in his dealings with his own members of Parliament? They have said so publicly, have they not? Mr P.D. Omodei : Who is being dishonest? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Did the member for Vasse turn to the then leader of the Liberal Party and tell him that he supported him in a ballot when the truth was that he had not; and was that a direct lie? Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Was it a direct lie? Did the Deputy Leader of the Opposition tell a direct lie? If he lied then, and we know he lied then, can we assume that he is lying now? Withdrawal of Remark Mr C.J. BARNETT : Point of order, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : I ask the member for Cottesloe to take his seat. The Premier knows the standing orders as well as any member does. It is not parliamentary to imply that a member of this house is a liar, and I direct that he withdraw that comment. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will do so, Mr Speaker. I withdraw any inference that the Deputy Leader of the Opposition is a liar, as that would be a habit of having told the lie. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will quote this article from The West Australian of 28 March - MPs are particularly incensed that immediately after the vote Mr Buswell assured Mr Birney that he had voted for him only to ring him and apologise for “misleading” him. Why did the member for Vasse ring the Leader of the Opposition and apologise for misleading him? It was because the member for Hillarys had seen the member for Vasse fill in his ballot paper and knew it was untrue. Mr P.D. Omodei : What a load of rubbish! That is desperation! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : And in fact provoked - Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : It is amazing, is it not? It provoked the member for Hillarys to say that he would never support this member. The Leader of the Opposition has asked me whether any member of the cabinet or any parliamentary secretary and so on has told me that he or she has been summonsed to appear before the CCC. I said that to the best of my knowledge, no. Mr P.D. Omodei : Or to any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What court proceedings? Mr P.D. Omodei : Any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Give me one. Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What related court proceedings? Can anybody enlighten me as to what - Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Did you ask your ministers? Why didn’t you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition is so bad at this. Mr P.D. Omodei : This is about a corrupt government. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : This is what is called “kicking yourself fair up the backside”. That is what the Leader of the Opposition has just done. The only person I know of who would fit the category that he is trying to assign to members on this side of the house is his deputy, who was summonsed to appear at the CCC and who never informed him, but who sat - Mr P.D. Omodei : You are the Premier of Western Australia and you are obliged to answer this question. You did not ask your ministers. You admitted it just then. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Let me raise the possibility with the general public of Western Australia. If the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party is summonsed to appear before the CCC to give evidence about a matter pertaining to alleged corruption, and the day before he goes there to give that evidence he gets into a car in the car park and has a secret meeting with a man who is central to that inquiry and discusses the evidence, is that the sort of behaviour that would normally warrant his immediate dismissal from his position? I think it is.
Mr R.F. Johnson : You know what we are talking about. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : However, let me launch into this one: has the Leader of the Opposition at any time been informed by any member of his side that he or she would be summonsed as a witness by the CCC? Mr P.D. Omodei : I am asking the questions. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Has the Leader of the Opposition or any member of his side of the Parliament been so informed? If so, when did that notification take place? If not, is the Leader of the Opposition concerned that the member sitting on his left was summonsed to be questioned at the CCC, sat in a car park with Noel Crichton-Browne, consulted with Noel Crichton-Browne about the evidence that he would give, and was apparently coached on how to answer the questions? Can the Leader of the Opposition get some advice from his shadow Attorney General as to whether or not it is in fact a breach of the law that this parliamentarian, having been asked to attend the CCC and answer questions about a matter involving Noel Crichton-Browne, then took it upon himself to sit in a car in the car park of the Parliament and discuss with Noel Crichton-Browne the issues about which he had been asked to appear at the CCC? Not only that, but also, on the evidence of Noel Crichton-Browne, he apparently received coaching on how to answer those questions. Was the Leader of the Opposition ever informed of that? Mr P.D. Omodei : Rubbish! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Was the Leader of the Opposition ever informed that his deputy was called to provide evidence to the CCC about the Canal Rocks development? Mr P.D. Omodei : Yes. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When? Mr P.D. Omodei : He told me as soon as he got advice. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When? Mr P.D. Omodei : He told me immediately then. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When? Give me the date. I do not believe the Leader of the Opposition was the leader at that stage. Mr P.D. Omodei : Come on! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : He was not. He became the leader on 24 March, did he not? Is the Leader of the Opposition sitting in this chamber lying to us? Mr P.D. Omodei : I am asking you whether any of your ministers or their staff were involved in any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Is the Leader of the Opposition following the habit - Mr P.D. Omodei : Why haven’t you asked them, Premier? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have asked. I have told the Leader of the Opposition that to the best of my knowledge the answer to the question is no. Mr P.D. Omodei : You are losing the plot. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am asking the Leader of the Opposition a question. He just told me and the Parliament that he was informed immediately that his deputy knew. I am saying to him that he was not the leader at that stage; so why was he informed? Mr P.D. Omodei : He told me as soon as he was summonsed that he was going to the CCC. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition was not the leader then. Mr T. Buswell : Yes, he was. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When? Mr T. Buswell : When I was summonsed. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition became the leader on 24 March. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition had a meeting outside Parliament with Noel Crichton-Browne on 21 or 22 March. He attended the CCC on 23 March. Do we have a question of credibility here? Do we have a question of somebody not telling the truth? Does it follow a pattern that some misleading of the Parliament has been attempted? Does it follow a pattern that we know of; that is, the member for Vasse has been proved to be dishonest in his dealings with his own members of Parliament? They have said so publicly, have they not? Mr P.D. Omodei : Who is being dishonest? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Did the member for Vasse turn to the then leader of the Liberal Party and tell him that he supported him in a ballot when the truth was that he had not; and was that a direct lie? Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Was it a direct lie? Did the Deputy Leader of the Opposition tell a direct lie? If he lied then, and we know he lied then, can we assume that he is lying now? Withdrawal of Remark Mr C.J. BARNETT : Point of order, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : I ask the member for Cottesloe to take his seat. The Premier knows the standing orders as well as any member does. It is not parliamentary to imply that a member of this house is a liar, and I direct that he withdraw that comment. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will do so, Mr Speaker. I withdraw any inference that the Deputy Leader of the Opposition is a liar, as that would be a habit of having told the lie. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will quote this article from The West Australian of 28 March - MPs are particularly incensed that immediately after the vote Mr Buswell assured Mr Birney that he had voted for him only to ring him and apologise for “misleading” him. Why did the member for Vasse ring the Leader of the Opposition and apologise for misleading him? It was because the member for Hillarys had seen the member for Vasse fill in his ballot paper and knew it was untrue. Mr P.D. Omodei : What a load of rubbish! That is desperation! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : And in fact provoked - Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : It is amazing, is it not? It provoked the member for Hillarys to say that he would never support this member. The Leader of the Opposition has asked me whether any member of the cabinet or any parliamentary secretary and so on has told me that he or she has been summonsed to appear before the CCC. I said that to the best of my knowledge, no. Mr P.D. Omodei : Or to any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What court proceedings? Mr P.D. Omodei : Any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Give me one. Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What related court proceedings? Can anybody enlighten me as to what - Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Did you ask your ministers? Why didn’t you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition is so bad at this. Mr P.D. Omodei : This is about a corrupt government. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : This is what is called “kicking yourself fair up the backside”. That is what the Leader of the Opposition has just done. The only person I know of who would fit the category that he is trying to assign to members on this side of the house is his deputy, who was summonsed to appear at the CCC and who never informed him, but who sat - Mr P.D. Omodei : You are the Premier of Western Australia and you are obliged to answer this question. You did not ask your ministers. You admitted it just then. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Let me raise the possibility with the general public of Western Australia. If the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party is summonsed to appear before the CCC to give evidence about a matter pertaining to alleged corruption, and the day before he goes there to give that evidence he gets into a car in the car park and has a secret meeting with a man who is central to that inquiry and discusses the evidence, is that the sort of behaviour that would normally warrant his immediate dismissal from his position? I think it is.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : However, let me launch into this one: has the Leader of the Opposition at any time been informed by any member of his side that he or she would be summonsed as a witness by the CCC? Mr P.D. Omodei : I am asking the questions. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Has the Leader of the Opposition or any member of his side of the Parliament been so informed? If so, when did that notification take place? If not, is the Leader of the Opposition concerned that the member sitting on his left was summonsed to be questioned at the CCC, sat in a car park with Noel Crichton-Browne, consulted with Noel Crichton-Browne about the evidence that he would give, and was apparently coached on how to answer the questions? Can the Leader of the Opposition get some advice from his shadow Attorney General as to whether or not it is in fact a breach of the law that this parliamentarian, having been asked to attend the CCC and answer questions about a matter involving Noel Crichton-Browne, then took it upon himself to sit in a car in the car park of the Parliament and discuss with Noel Crichton-Browne the issues about which he had been asked to appear at the CCC? Not only that, but also, on the evidence of Noel Crichton-Browne, he apparently received coaching on how to answer those questions. Was the Leader of the Opposition ever informed of that? Mr P.D. Omodei : Rubbish! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Was the Leader of the Opposition ever informed that his deputy was called to provide evidence to the CCC about the Canal Rocks development? Mr P.D. Omodei : Yes. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When? Mr P.D. Omodei : He told me as soon as he got advice. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When? Mr P.D. Omodei : He told me immediately then. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When? Give me the date. I do not believe the Leader of the Opposition was the leader at that stage. Mr P.D. Omodei : Come on! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : He was not. He became the leader on 24 March, did he not? Is the Leader of the Opposition sitting in this chamber lying to us? Mr P.D. Omodei : I am asking you whether any of your ministers or their staff were involved in any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Is the Leader of the Opposition following the habit - Mr P.D. Omodei : Why haven’t you asked them, Premier? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have asked. I have told the Leader of the Opposition that to the best of my knowledge the answer to the question is no. Mr P.D. Omodei : You are losing the plot. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am asking the Leader of the Opposition a question. He just told me and the Parliament that he was informed immediately that his deputy knew. I am saying to him that he was not the leader at that stage; so why was he informed? Mr P.D. Omodei : He told me as soon as he was summonsed that he was going to the CCC. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition was not the leader then. Mr T. Buswell : Yes, he was. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When? Mr T. Buswell : When I was summonsed. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition became the leader on 24 March. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition had a meeting outside Parliament with Noel Crichton-Browne on 21 or 22 March. He attended the CCC on 23 March. Do we have a question of credibility here? Do we have a question of somebody not telling the truth? Does it follow a pattern that some misleading of the Parliament has been attempted? Does it follow a pattern that we know of; that is, the member for Vasse has been proved to be dishonest in his dealings with his own members of Parliament? They have said so publicly, have they not? Mr P.D. Omodei : Who is being dishonest? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Did the member for Vasse turn to the then leader of the Liberal Party and tell him that he supported him in a ballot when the truth was that he had not; and was that a direct lie? Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Was it a direct lie? Did the Deputy Leader of the Opposition tell a direct lie? If he lied then, and we know he lied then, can we assume that he is lying now? Withdrawal of Remark Mr C.J. BARNETT : Point of order, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : I ask the member for Cottesloe to take his seat. The Premier knows the standing orders as well as any member does. It is not parliamentary to imply that a member of this house is a liar, and I direct that he withdraw that comment. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will do so, Mr Speaker. I withdraw any inference that the Deputy Leader of the Opposition is a liar, as that would be a habit of having told the lie. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will quote this article from The West Australian of 28 March - MPs are particularly incensed that immediately after the vote Mr Buswell assured Mr Birney that he had voted for him only to ring him and apologise for “misleading” him. Why did the member for Vasse ring the Leader of the Opposition and apologise for misleading him? It was because the member for Hillarys had seen the member for Vasse fill in his ballot paper and knew it was untrue. Mr P.D. Omodei : What a load of rubbish! That is desperation! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : And in fact provoked - Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : It is amazing, is it not? It provoked the member for Hillarys to say that he would never support this member. The Leader of the Opposition has asked me whether any member of the cabinet or any parliamentary secretary and so on has told me that he or she has been summonsed to appear before the CCC. I said that to the best of my knowledge, no. Mr P.D. Omodei : Or to any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What court proceedings? Mr P.D. Omodei : Any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Give me one. Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What related court proceedings? Can anybody enlighten me as to what - Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Did you ask your ministers? Why didn’t you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition is so bad at this. Mr P.D. Omodei : This is about a corrupt government. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : This is what is called “kicking yourself fair up the backside”. That is what the Leader of the Opposition has just done. The only person I know of who would fit the category that he is trying to assign to members on this side of the house is his deputy, who was summonsed to appear at the CCC and who never informed him, but who sat - Mr P.D. Omodei : You are the Premier of Western Australia and you are obliged to answer this question. You did not ask your ministers. You admitted it just then. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Let me raise the possibility with the general public of Western Australia. If the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party is summonsed to appear before the CCC to give evidence about a matter pertaining to alleged corruption, and the day before he goes there to give that evidence he gets into a car in the car park and has a secret meeting with a man who is central to that inquiry and discusses the evidence, is that the sort of behaviour that would normally warrant his immediate dismissal from his position? I think it is.
Mr P.D. Omodei : I am asking the questions. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Has the Leader of the Opposition or any member of his side of the Parliament been so informed? If so, when did that notification take place? If not, is the Leader of the Opposition concerned that the member sitting on his left was summonsed to be questioned at the CCC, sat in a car park with Noel Crichton-Browne, consulted with Noel Crichton-Browne about the evidence that he would give, and was apparently coached on how to answer the questions? Can the Leader of the Opposition get some advice from his shadow Attorney General as to whether or not it is in fact a breach of the law that this parliamentarian, having been asked to attend the CCC and answer questions about a matter involving Noel Crichton-Browne, then took it upon himself to sit in a car in the car park of the Parliament and discuss with Noel Crichton-Browne the issues about which he had been asked to appear at the CCC? Not only that, but also, on the evidence of Noel Crichton-Browne, he apparently received coaching on how to answer those questions. Was the Leader of the Opposition ever informed of that? Mr P.D. Omodei : Rubbish! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Was the Leader of the Opposition ever informed that his deputy was called to provide evidence to the CCC about the Canal Rocks development? Mr P.D. Omodei : Yes. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When? Mr P.D. Omodei : He told me as soon as he got advice. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When? Mr P.D. Omodei : He told me immediately then. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When? Give me the date. I do not believe the Leader of the Opposition was the leader at that stage. Mr P.D. Omodei : Come on! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : He was not. He became the leader on 24 March, did he not? Is the Leader of the Opposition sitting in this chamber lying to us? Mr P.D. Omodei : I am asking you whether any of your ministers or their staff were involved in any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Is the Leader of the Opposition following the habit - Mr P.D. Omodei : Why haven’t you asked them, Premier? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have asked. I have told the Leader of the Opposition that to the best of my knowledge the answer to the question is no. Mr P.D. Omodei : You are losing the plot. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am asking the Leader of the Opposition a question. He just told me and the Parliament that he was informed immediately that his deputy knew. I am saying to him that he was not the leader at that stage; so why was he informed? Mr P.D. Omodei : He told me as soon as he was summonsed that he was going to the CCC. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition was not the leader then. Mr T. Buswell : Yes, he was. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When? Mr T. Buswell : When I was summonsed. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition became the leader on 24 March. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition had a meeting outside Parliament with Noel Crichton-Browne on 21 or 22 March. He attended the CCC on 23 March. Do we have a question of credibility here? Do we have a question of somebody not telling the truth? Does it follow a pattern that some misleading of the Parliament has been attempted? Does it follow a pattern that we know of; that is, the member for Vasse has been proved to be dishonest in his dealings with his own members of Parliament? They have said so publicly, have they not? Mr P.D. Omodei : Who is being dishonest? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Did the member for Vasse turn to the then leader of the Liberal Party and tell him that he supported him in a ballot when the truth was that he had not; and was that a direct lie? Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Was it a direct lie? Did the Deputy Leader of the Opposition tell a direct lie? If he lied then, and we know he lied then, can we assume that he is lying now? Withdrawal of Remark Mr C.J. BARNETT : Point of order, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : I ask the member for Cottesloe to take his seat. The Premier knows the standing orders as well as any member does. It is not parliamentary to imply that a member of this house is a liar, and I direct that he withdraw that comment. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will do so, Mr Speaker. I withdraw any inference that the Deputy Leader of the Opposition is a liar, as that would be a habit of having told the lie. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will quote this article from The West Australian of 28 March - MPs are particularly incensed that immediately after the vote Mr Buswell assured Mr Birney that he had voted for him only to ring him and apologise for “misleading” him. Why did the member for Vasse ring the Leader of the Opposition and apologise for misleading him? It was because the member for Hillarys had seen the member for Vasse fill in his ballot paper and knew it was untrue. Mr P.D. Omodei : What a load of rubbish! That is desperation! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : And in fact provoked - Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : It is amazing, is it not? It provoked the member for Hillarys to say that he would never support this member. The Leader of the Opposition has asked me whether any member of the cabinet or any parliamentary secretary and so on has told me that he or she has been summonsed to appear before the CCC. I said that to the best of my knowledge, no. Mr P.D. Omodei : Or to any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What court proceedings? Mr P.D. Omodei : Any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Give me one. Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What related court proceedings? Can anybody enlighten me as to what - Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Did you ask your ministers? Why didn’t you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition is so bad at this. Mr P.D. Omodei : This is about a corrupt government. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : This is what is called “kicking yourself fair up the backside”. That is what the Leader of the Opposition has just done. The only person I know of who would fit the category that he is trying to assign to members on this side of the house is his deputy, who was summonsed to appear at the CCC and who never informed him, but who sat - Mr P.D. Omodei : You are the Premier of Western Australia and you are obliged to answer this question. You did not ask your ministers. You admitted it just then. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Let me raise the possibility with the general public of Western Australia. If the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party is summonsed to appear before the CCC to give evidence about a matter pertaining to alleged corruption, and the day before he goes there to give that evidence he gets into a car in the car park and has a secret meeting with a man who is central to that inquiry and discusses the evidence, is that the sort of behaviour that would normally warrant his immediate dismissal from his position? I think it is.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Has the Leader of the Opposition or any member of his side of the Parliament been so informed? If so, when did that notification take place? If not, is the Leader of the Opposition concerned that the member sitting on his left was summonsed to be questioned at the CCC, sat in a car park with Noel Crichton-Browne, consulted with Noel Crichton-Browne about the evidence that he would give, and was apparently coached on how to answer the questions? Can the Leader of the Opposition get some advice from his shadow Attorney General as to whether or not it is in fact a breach of the law that this parliamentarian, having been asked to attend the CCC and answer questions about a matter involving Noel Crichton-Browne, then took it upon himself to sit in a car in the car park of the Parliament and discuss with Noel Crichton-Browne the issues about which he had been asked to appear at the CCC? Not only that, but also, on the evidence of Noel Crichton-Browne, he apparently received coaching on how to answer those questions. Was the Leader of the Opposition ever informed of that? Mr P.D. Omodei : Rubbish! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Was the Leader of the Opposition ever informed that his deputy was called to provide evidence to the CCC about the Canal Rocks development? Mr P.D. Omodei : Yes. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When? Mr P.D. Omodei : He told me as soon as he got advice. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When? Mr P.D. Omodei : He told me immediately then. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When? Give me the date. I do not believe the Leader of the Opposition was the leader at that stage. Mr P.D. Omodei : Come on! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : He was not. He became the leader on 24 March, did he not? Is the Leader of the Opposition sitting in this chamber lying to us? Mr P.D. Omodei : I am asking you whether any of your ministers or their staff were involved in any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Is the Leader of the Opposition following the habit - Mr P.D. Omodei : Why haven’t you asked them, Premier? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have asked. I have told the Leader of the Opposition that to the best of my knowledge the answer to the question is no. Mr P.D. Omodei : You are losing the plot. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am asking the Leader of the Opposition a question. He just told me and the Parliament that he was informed immediately that his deputy knew. I am saying to him that he was not the leader at that stage; so why was he informed? Mr P.D. Omodei : He told me as soon as he was summonsed that he was going to the CCC. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition was not the leader then. Mr T. Buswell : Yes, he was. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When? Mr T. Buswell : When I was summonsed. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition became the leader on 24 March. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition had a meeting outside Parliament with Noel Crichton-Browne on 21 or 22 March. He attended the CCC on 23 March. Do we have a question of credibility here? Do we have a question of somebody not telling the truth? Does it follow a pattern that some misleading of the Parliament has been attempted? Does it follow a pattern that we know of; that is, the member for Vasse has been proved to be dishonest in his dealings with his own members of Parliament? They have said so publicly, have they not? Mr P.D. Omodei : Who is being dishonest? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Did the member for Vasse turn to the then leader of the Liberal Party and tell him that he supported him in a ballot when the truth was that he had not; and was that a direct lie? Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Was it a direct lie? Did the Deputy Leader of the Opposition tell a direct lie? If he lied then, and we know he lied then, can we assume that he is lying now? Withdrawal of Remark Mr C.J. BARNETT : Point of order, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : I ask the member for Cottesloe to take his seat. The Premier knows the standing orders as well as any member does. It is not parliamentary to imply that a member of this house is a liar, and I direct that he withdraw that comment. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will do so, Mr Speaker. I withdraw any inference that the Deputy Leader of the Opposition is a liar, as that would be a habit of having told the lie. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will quote this article from The West Australian of 28 March - MPs are particularly incensed that immediately after the vote Mr Buswell assured Mr Birney that he had voted for him only to ring him and apologise for “misleading” him. Why did the member for Vasse ring the Leader of the Opposition and apologise for misleading him? It was because the member for Hillarys had seen the member for Vasse fill in his ballot paper and knew it was untrue. Mr P.D. Omodei : What a load of rubbish! That is desperation! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : And in fact provoked - Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : It is amazing, is it not? It provoked the member for Hillarys to say that he would never support this member. The Leader of the Opposition has asked me whether any member of the cabinet or any parliamentary secretary and so on has told me that he or she has been summonsed to appear before the CCC. I said that to the best of my knowledge, no. Mr P.D. Omodei : Or to any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What court proceedings? Mr P.D. Omodei : Any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Give me one. Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What related court proceedings? Can anybody enlighten me as to what - Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Did you ask your ministers? Why didn’t you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition is so bad at this. Mr P.D. Omodei : This is about a corrupt government. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : This is what is called “kicking yourself fair up the backside”. That is what the Leader of the Opposition has just done. The only person I know of who would fit the category that he is trying to assign to members on this side of the house is his deputy, who was summonsed to appear at the CCC and who never informed him, but who sat - Mr P.D. Omodei : You are the Premier of Western Australia and you are obliged to answer this question. You did not ask your ministers. You admitted it just then. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Let me raise the possibility with the general public of Western Australia. If the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party is summonsed to appear before the CCC to give evidence about a matter pertaining to alleged corruption, and the day before he goes there to give that evidence he gets into a car in the car park and has a secret meeting with a man who is central to that inquiry and discusses the evidence, is that the sort of behaviour that would normally warrant his immediate dismissal from his position? I think it is.
Mr P.D. Omodei : Rubbish! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Was the Leader of the Opposition ever informed that his deputy was called to provide evidence to the CCC about the Canal Rocks development? Mr P.D. Omodei : Yes. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When? Mr P.D. Omodei : He told me as soon as he got advice. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When? Mr P.D. Omodei : He told me immediately then. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When? Give me the date. I do not believe the Leader of the Opposition was the leader at that stage. Mr P.D. Omodei : Come on! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : He was not. He became the leader on 24 March, did he not? Is the Leader of the Opposition sitting in this chamber lying to us? Mr P.D. Omodei : I am asking you whether any of your ministers or their staff were involved in any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Is the Leader of the Opposition following the habit - Mr P.D. Omodei : Why haven’t you asked them, Premier? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have asked. I have told the Leader of the Opposition that to the best of my knowledge the answer to the question is no. Mr P.D. Omodei : You are losing the plot. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am asking the Leader of the Opposition a question. He just told me and the Parliament that he was informed immediately that his deputy knew. I am saying to him that he was not the leader at that stage; so why was he informed? Mr P.D. Omodei : He told me as soon as he was summonsed that he was going to the CCC. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition was not the leader then. Mr T. Buswell : Yes, he was. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When? Mr T. Buswell : When I was summonsed. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition became the leader on 24 March. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition had a meeting outside Parliament with Noel Crichton-Browne on 21 or 22 March. He attended the CCC on 23 March. Do we have a question of credibility here? Do we have a question of somebody not telling the truth? Does it follow a pattern that some misleading of the Parliament has been attempted? Does it follow a pattern that we know of; that is, the member for Vasse has been proved to be dishonest in his dealings with his own members of Parliament? They have said so publicly, have they not? Mr P.D. Omodei : Who is being dishonest? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Did the member for Vasse turn to the then leader of the Liberal Party and tell him that he supported him in a ballot when the truth was that he had not; and was that a direct lie? Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Was it a direct lie? Did the Deputy Leader of the Opposition tell a direct lie? If he lied then, and we know he lied then, can we assume that he is lying now? Withdrawal of Remark Mr C.J. BARNETT : Point of order, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : I ask the member for Cottesloe to take his seat. The Premier knows the standing orders as well as any member does. It is not parliamentary to imply that a member of this house is a liar, and I direct that he withdraw that comment. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will do so, Mr Speaker. I withdraw any inference that the Deputy Leader of the Opposition is a liar, as that would be a habit of having told the lie. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will quote this article from The West Australian of 28 March - MPs are particularly incensed that immediately after the vote Mr Buswell assured Mr Birney that he had voted for him only to ring him and apologise for “misleading” him. Why did the member for Vasse ring the Leader of the Opposition and apologise for misleading him? It was because the member for Hillarys had seen the member for Vasse fill in his ballot paper and knew it was untrue. Mr P.D. Omodei : What a load of rubbish! That is desperation! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : And in fact provoked - Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : It is amazing, is it not? It provoked the member for Hillarys to say that he would never support this member. The Leader of the Opposition has asked me whether any member of the cabinet or any parliamentary secretary and so on has told me that he or she has been summonsed to appear before the CCC. I said that to the best of my knowledge, no. Mr P.D. Omodei : Or to any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What court proceedings? Mr P.D. Omodei : Any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Give me one. Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What related court proceedings? Can anybody enlighten me as to what - Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Did you ask your ministers? Why didn’t you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition is so bad at this. Mr P.D. Omodei : This is about a corrupt government. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : This is what is called “kicking yourself fair up the backside”. That is what the Leader of the Opposition has just done. The only person I know of who would fit the category that he is trying to assign to members on this side of the house is his deputy, who was summonsed to appear at the CCC and who never informed him, but who sat - Mr P.D. Omodei : You are the Premier of Western Australia and you are obliged to answer this question. You did not ask your ministers. You admitted it just then. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Let me raise the possibility with the general public of Western Australia. If the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party is summonsed to appear before the CCC to give evidence about a matter pertaining to alleged corruption, and the day before he goes there to give that evidence he gets into a car in the car park and has a secret meeting with a man who is central to that inquiry and discusses the evidence, is that the sort of behaviour that would normally warrant his immediate dismissal from his position? I think it is.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Was the Leader of the Opposition ever informed that his deputy was called to provide evidence to the CCC about the Canal Rocks development? Mr P.D. Omodei : Yes. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When? Mr P.D. Omodei : He told me as soon as he got advice. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When? Mr P.D. Omodei : He told me immediately then. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When? Give me the date. I do not believe the Leader of the Opposition was the leader at that stage. Mr P.D. Omodei : Come on! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : He was not. He became the leader on 24 March, did he not? Is the Leader of the Opposition sitting in this chamber lying to us? Mr P.D. Omodei : I am asking you whether any of your ministers or their staff were involved in any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Is the Leader of the Opposition following the habit - Mr P.D. Omodei : Why haven’t you asked them, Premier? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have asked. I have told the Leader of the Opposition that to the best of my knowledge the answer to the question is no. Mr P.D. Omodei : You are losing the plot. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am asking the Leader of the Opposition a question. He just told me and the Parliament that he was informed immediately that his deputy knew. I am saying to him that he was not the leader at that stage; so why was he informed? Mr P.D. Omodei : He told me as soon as he was summonsed that he was going to the CCC. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition was not the leader then. Mr T. Buswell : Yes, he was. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When? Mr T. Buswell : When I was summonsed. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition became the leader on 24 March. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition had a meeting outside Parliament with Noel Crichton-Browne on 21 or 22 March. He attended the CCC on 23 March. Do we have a question of credibility here? Do we have a question of somebody not telling the truth? Does it follow a pattern that some misleading of the Parliament has been attempted? Does it follow a pattern that we know of; that is, the member for Vasse has been proved to be dishonest in his dealings with his own members of Parliament? They have said so publicly, have they not? Mr P.D. Omodei : Who is being dishonest? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Did the member for Vasse turn to the then leader of the Liberal Party and tell him that he supported him in a ballot when the truth was that he had not; and was that a direct lie? Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Was it a direct lie? Did the Deputy Leader of the Opposition tell a direct lie? If he lied then, and we know he lied then, can we assume that he is lying now? Withdrawal of Remark Mr C.J. BARNETT : Point of order, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : I ask the member for Cottesloe to take his seat. The Premier knows the standing orders as well as any member does. It is not parliamentary to imply that a member of this house is a liar, and I direct that he withdraw that comment. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will do so, Mr Speaker. I withdraw any inference that the Deputy Leader of the Opposition is a liar, as that would be a habit of having told the lie. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will quote this article from The West Australian of 28 March - MPs are particularly incensed that immediately after the vote Mr Buswell assured Mr Birney that he had voted for him only to ring him and apologise for “misleading” him. Why did the member for Vasse ring the Leader of the Opposition and apologise for misleading him? It was because the member for Hillarys had seen the member for Vasse fill in his ballot paper and knew it was untrue. Mr P.D. Omodei : What a load of rubbish! That is desperation! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : And in fact provoked - Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : It is amazing, is it not? It provoked the member for Hillarys to say that he would never support this member. The Leader of the Opposition has asked me whether any member of the cabinet or any parliamentary secretary and so on has told me that he or she has been summonsed to appear before the CCC. I said that to the best of my knowledge, no. Mr P.D. Omodei : Or to any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What court proceedings? Mr P.D. Omodei : Any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Give me one. Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What related court proceedings? Can anybody enlighten me as to what - Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Did you ask your ministers? Why didn’t you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition is so bad at this. Mr P.D. Omodei : This is about a corrupt government. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : This is what is called “kicking yourself fair up the backside”. That is what the Leader of the Opposition has just done. The only person I know of who would fit the category that he is trying to assign to members on this side of the house is his deputy, who was summonsed to appear at the CCC and who never informed him, but who sat - Mr P.D. Omodei : You are the Premier of Western Australia and you are obliged to answer this question. You did not ask your ministers. You admitted it just then. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Let me raise the possibility with the general public of Western Australia. If the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party is summonsed to appear before the CCC to give evidence about a matter pertaining to alleged corruption, and the day before he goes there to give that evidence he gets into a car in the car park and has a secret meeting with a man who is central to that inquiry and discusses the evidence, is that the sort of behaviour that would normally warrant his immediate dismissal from his position? I think it is.
Mr P.D. Omodei : Yes. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When? Mr P.D. Omodei : He told me as soon as he got advice. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When? Mr P.D. Omodei : He told me immediately then. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When? Give me the date. I do not believe the Leader of the Opposition was the leader at that stage. Mr P.D. Omodei : Come on! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : He was not. He became the leader on 24 March, did he not? Is the Leader of the Opposition sitting in this chamber lying to us? Mr P.D. Omodei : I am asking you whether any of your ministers or their staff were involved in any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Is the Leader of the Opposition following the habit - Mr P.D. Omodei : Why haven’t you asked them, Premier? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have asked. I have told the Leader of the Opposition that to the best of my knowledge the answer to the question is no. Mr P.D. Omodei : You are losing the plot. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am asking the Leader of the Opposition a question. He just told me and the Parliament that he was informed immediately that his deputy knew. I am saying to him that he was not the leader at that stage; so why was he informed? Mr P.D. Omodei : He told me as soon as he was summonsed that he was going to the CCC. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition was not the leader then. Mr T. Buswell : Yes, he was. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When? Mr T. Buswell : When I was summonsed. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition became the leader on 24 March. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition had a meeting outside Parliament with Noel Crichton-Browne on 21 or 22 March. He attended the CCC on 23 March. Do we have a question of credibility here? Do we have a question of somebody not telling the truth? Does it follow a pattern that some misleading of the Parliament has been attempted? Does it follow a pattern that we know of; that is, the member for Vasse has been proved to be dishonest in his dealings with his own members of Parliament? They have said so publicly, have they not? Mr P.D. Omodei : Who is being dishonest? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Did the member for Vasse turn to the then leader of the Liberal Party and tell him that he supported him in a ballot when the truth was that he had not; and was that a direct lie? Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Was it a direct lie? Did the Deputy Leader of the Opposition tell a direct lie? If he lied then, and we know he lied then, can we assume that he is lying now? Withdrawal of Remark Mr C.J. BARNETT : Point of order, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : I ask the member for Cottesloe to take his seat. The Premier knows the standing orders as well as any member does. It is not parliamentary to imply that a member of this house is a liar, and I direct that he withdraw that comment. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will do so, Mr Speaker. I withdraw any inference that the Deputy Leader of the Opposition is a liar, as that would be a habit of having told the lie. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will quote this article from The West Australian of 28 March - MPs are particularly incensed that immediately after the vote Mr Buswell assured Mr Birney that he had voted for him only to ring him and apologise for “misleading” him. Why did the member for Vasse ring the Leader of the Opposition and apologise for misleading him? It was because the member for Hillarys had seen the member for Vasse fill in his ballot paper and knew it was untrue. Mr P.D. Omodei : What a load of rubbish! That is desperation! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : And in fact provoked - Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : It is amazing, is it not? It provoked the member for Hillarys to say that he would never support this member. The Leader of the Opposition has asked me whether any member of the cabinet or any parliamentary secretary and so on has told me that he or she has been summonsed to appear before the CCC. I said that to the best of my knowledge, no. Mr P.D. Omodei : Or to any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What court proceedings? Mr P.D. Omodei : Any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Give me one. Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What related court proceedings? Can anybody enlighten me as to what - Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Did you ask your ministers? Why didn’t you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition is so bad at this. Mr P.D. Omodei : This is about a corrupt government. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : This is what is called “kicking yourself fair up the backside”. That is what the Leader of the Opposition has just done. The only person I know of who would fit the category that he is trying to assign to members on this side of the house is his deputy, who was summonsed to appear at the CCC and who never informed him, but who sat - Mr P.D. Omodei : You are the Premier of Western Australia and you are obliged to answer this question. You did not ask your ministers. You admitted it just then. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Let me raise the possibility with the general public of Western Australia. If the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party is summonsed to appear before the CCC to give evidence about a matter pertaining to alleged corruption, and the day before he goes there to give that evidence he gets into a car in the car park and has a secret meeting with a man who is central to that inquiry and discusses the evidence, is that the sort of behaviour that would normally warrant his immediate dismissal from his position? I think it is.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When? Mr P.D. Omodei : He told me as soon as he got advice. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When? Mr P.D. Omodei : He told me immediately then. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When? Give me the date. I do not believe the Leader of the Opposition was the leader at that stage. Mr P.D. Omodei : Come on! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : He was not. He became the leader on 24 March, did he not? Is the Leader of the Opposition sitting in this chamber lying to us? Mr P.D. Omodei : I am asking you whether any of your ministers or their staff were involved in any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Is the Leader of the Opposition following the habit - Mr P.D. Omodei : Why haven’t you asked them, Premier? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have asked. I have told the Leader of the Opposition that to the best of my knowledge the answer to the question is no. Mr P.D. Omodei : You are losing the plot. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am asking the Leader of the Opposition a question. He just told me and the Parliament that he was informed immediately that his deputy knew. I am saying to him that he was not the leader at that stage; so why was he informed? Mr P.D. Omodei : He told me as soon as he was summonsed that he was going to the CCC. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition was not the leader then. Mr T. Buswell : Yes, he was. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When? Mr T. Buswell : When I was summonsed. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition became the leader on 24 March. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition had a meeting outside Parliament with Noel Crichton-Browne on 21 or 22 March. He attended the CCC on 23 March. Do we have a question of credibility here? Do we have a question of somebody not telling the truth? Does it follow a pattern that some misleading of the Parliament has been attempted? Does it follow a pattern that we know of; that is, the member for Vasse has been proved to be dishonest in his dealings with his own members of Parliament? They have said so publicly, have they not? Mr P.D. Omodei : Who is being dishonest? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Did the member for Vasse turn to the then leader of the Liberal Party and tell him that he supported him in a ballot when the truth was that he had not; and was that a direct lie? Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Was it a direct lie? Did the Deputy Leader of the Opposition tell a direct lie? If he lied then, and we know he lied then, can we assume that he is lying now? Withdrawal of Remark Mr C.J. BARNETT : Point of order, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : I ask the member for Cottesloe to take his seat. The Premier knows the standing orders as well as any member does. It is not parliamentary to imply that a member of this house is a liar, and I direct that he withdraw that comment. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will do so, Mr Speaker. I withdraw any inference that the Deputy Leader of the Opposition is a liar, as that would be a habit of having told the lie. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will quote this article from The West Australian of 28 March - MPs are particularly incensed that immediately after the vote Mr Buswell assured Mr Birney that he had voted for him only to ring him and apologise for “misleading” him. Why did the member for Vasse ring the Leader of the Opposition and apologise for misleading him? It was because the member for Hillarys had seen the member for Vasse fill in his ballot paper and knew it was untrue. Mr P.D. Omodei : What a load of rubbish! That is desperation! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : And in fact provoked - Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : It is amazing, is it not? It provoked the member for Hillarys to say that he would never support this member. The Leader of the Opposition has asked me whether any member of the cabinet or any parliamentary secretary and so on has told me that he or she has been summonsed to appear before the CCC. I said that to the best of my knowledge, no. Mr P.D. Omodei : Or to any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What court proceedings? Mr P.D. Omodei : Any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Give me one. Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What related court proceedings? Can anybody enlighten me as to what - Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Did you ask your ministers? Why didn’t you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition is so bad at this. Mr P.D. Omodei : This is about a corrupt government. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : This is what is called “kicking yourself fair up the backside”. That is what the Leader of the Opposition has just done. The only person I know of who would fit the category that he is trying to assign to members on this side of the house is his deputy, who was summonsed to appear at the CCC and who never informed him, but who sat - Mr P.D. Omodei : You are the Premier of Western Australia and you are obliged to answer this question. You did not ask your ministers. You admitted it just then. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Let me raise the possibility with the general public of Western Australia. If the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party is summonsed to appear before the CCC to give evidence about a matter pertaining to alleged corruption, and the day before he goes there to give that evidence he gets into a car in the car park and has a secret meeting with a man who is central to that inquiry and discusses the evidence, is that the sort of behaviour that would normally warrant his immediate dismissal from his position? I think it is.
Mr P.D. Omodei : He told me as soon as he got advice. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When? Mr P.D. Omodei : He told me immediately then. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When? Give me the date. I do not believe the Leader of the Opposition was the leader at that stage. Mr P.D. Omodei : Come on! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : He was not. He became the leader on 24 March, did he not? Is the Leader of the Opposition sitting in this chamber lying to us? Mr P.D. Omodei : I am asking you whether any of your ministers or their staff were involved in any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Is the Leader of the Opposition following the habit - Mr P.D. Omodei : Why haven’t you asked them, Premier? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have asked. I have told the Leader of the Opposition that to the best of my knowledge the answer to the question is no. Mr P.D. Omodei : You are losing the plot. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am asking the Leader of the Opposition a question. He just told me and the Parliament that he was informed immediately that his deputy knew. I am saying to him that he was not the leader at that stage; so why was he informed? Mr P.D. Omodei : He told me as soon as he was summonsed that he was going to the CCC. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition was not the leader then. Mr T. Buswell : Yes, he was. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When? Mr T. Buswell : When I was summonsed. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition became the leader on 24 March. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition had a meeting outside Parliament with Noel Crichton-Browne on 21 or 22 March. He attended the CCC on 23 March. Do we have a question of credibility here? Do we have a question of somebody not telling the truth? Does it follow a pattern that some misleading of the Parliament has been attempted? Does it follow a pattern that we know of; that is, the member for Vasse has been proved to be dishonest in his dealings with his own members of Parliament? They have said so publicly, have they not? Mr P.D. Omodei : Who is being dishonest? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Did the member for Vasse turn to the then leader of the Liberal Party and tell him that he supported him in a ballot when the truth was that he had not; and was that a direct lie? Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Was it a direct lie? Did the Deputy Leader of the Opposition tell a direct lie? If he lied then, and we know he lied then, can we assume that he is lying now? Withdrawal of Remark Mr C.J. BARNETT : Point of order, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : I ask the member for Cottesloe to take his seat. The Premier knows the standing orders as well as any member does. It is not parliamentary to imply that a member of this house is a liar, and I direct that he withdraw that comment. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will do so, Mr Speaker. I withdraw any inference that the Deputy Leader of the Opposition is a liar, as that would be a habit of having told the lie. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will quote this article from The West Australian of 28 March - MPs are particularly incensed that immediately after the vote Mr Buswell assured Mr Birney that he had voted for him only to ring him and apologise for “misleading” him. Why did the member for Vasse ring the Leader of the Opposition and apologise for misleading him? It was because the member for Hillarys had seen the member for Vasse fill in his ballot paper and knew it was untrue. Mr P.D. Omodei : What a load of rubbish! That is desperation! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : And in fact provoked - Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : It is amazing, is it not? It provoked the member for Hillarys to say that he would never support this member. The Leader of the Opposition has asked me whether any member of the cabinet or any parliamentary secretary and so on has told me that he or she has been summonsed to appear before the CCC. I said that to the best of my knowledge, no. Mr P.D. Omodei : Or to any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What court proceedings? Mr P.D. Omodei : Any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Give me one. Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What related court proceedings? Can anybody enlighten me as to what - Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Did you ask your ministers? Why didn’t you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition is so bad at this. Mr P.D. Omodei : This is about a corrupt government. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : This is what is called “kicking yourself fair up the backside”. That is what the Leader of the Opposition has just done. The only person I know of who would fit the category that he is trying to assign to members on this side of the house is his deputy, who was summonsed to appear at the CCC and who never informed him, but who sat - Mr P.D. Omodei : You are the Premier of Western Australia and you are obliged to answer this question. You did not ask your ministers. You admitted it just then. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Let me raise the possibility with the general public of Western Australia. If the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party is summonsed to appear before the CCC to give evidence about a matter pertaining to alleged corruption, and the day before he goes there to give that evidence he gets into a car in the car park and has a secret meeting with a man who is central to that inquiry and discusses the evidence, is that the sort of behaviour that would normally warrant his immediate dismissal from his position? I think it is.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When? Mr P.D. Omodei : He told me immediately then. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When? Give me the date. I do not believe the Leader of the Opposition was the leader at that stage. Mr P.D. Omodei : Come on! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : He was not. He became the leader on 24 March, did he not? Is the Leader of the Opposition sitting in this chamber lying to us? Mr P.D. Omodei : I am asking you whether any of your ministers or their staff were involved in any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Is the Leader of the Opposition following the habit - Mr P.D. Omodei : Why haven’t you asked them, Premier? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have asked. I have told the Leader of the Opposition that to the best of my knowledge the answer to the question is no. Mr P.D. Omodei : You are losing the plot. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am asking the Leader of the Opposition a question. He just told me and the Parliament that he was informed immediately that his deputy knew. I am saying to him that he was not the leader at that stage; so why was he informed? Mr P.D. Omodei : He told me as soon as he was summonsed that he was going to the CCC. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition was not the leader then. Mr T. Buswell : Yes, he was. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When? Mr T. Buswell : When I was summonsed. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition became the leader on 24 March. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition had a meeting outside Parliament with Noel Crichton-Browne on 21 or 22 March. He attended the CCC on 23 March. Do we have a question of credibility here? Do we have a question of somebody not telling the truth? Does it follow a pattern that some misleading of the Parliament has been attempted? Does it follow a pattern that we know of; that is, the member for Vasse has been proved to be dishonest in his dealings with his own members of Parliament? They have said so publicly, have they not? Mr P.D. Omodei : Who is being dishonest? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Did the member for Vasse turn to the then leader of the Liberal Party and tell him that he supported him in a ballot when the truth was that he had not; and was that a direct lie? Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Was it a direct lie? Did the Deputy Leader of the Opposition tell a direct lie? If he lied then, and we know he lied then, can we assume that he is lying now? Withdrawal of Remark Mr C.J. BARNETT : Point of order, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : I ask the member for Cottesloe to take his seat. The Premier knows the standing orders as well as any member does. It is not parliamentary to imply that a member of this house is a liar, and I direct that he withdraw that comment. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will do so, Mr Speaker. I withdraw any inference that the Deputy Leader of the Opposition is a liar, as that would be a habit of having told the lie. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will quote this article from The West Australian of 28 March - MPs are particularly incensed that immediately after the vote Mr Buswell assured Mr Birney that he had voted for him only to ring him and apologise for “misleading” him. Why did the member for Vasse ring the Leader of the Opposition and apologise for misleading him? It was because the member for Hillarys had seen the member for Vasse fill in his ballot paper and knew it was untrue. Mr P.D. Omodei : What a load of rubbish! That is desperation! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : And in fact provoked - Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : It is amazing, is it not? It provoked the member for Hillarys to say that he would never support this member. The Leader of the Opposition has asked me whether any member of the cabinet or any parliamentary secretary and so on has told me that he or she has been summonsed to appear before the CCC. I said that to the best of my knowledge, no. Mr P.D. Omodei : Or to any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What court proceedings? Mr P.D. Omodei : Any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Give me one. Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What related court proceedings? Can anybody enlighten me as to what - Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Did you ask your ministers? Why didn’t you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition is so bad at this. Mr P.D. Omodei : This is about a corrupt government. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : This is what is called “kicking yourself fair up the backside”. That is what the Leader of the Opposition has just done. The only person I know of who would fit the category that he is trying to assign to members on this side of the house is his deputy, who was summonsed to appear at the CCC and who never informed him, but who sat - Mr P.D. Omodei : You are the Premier of Western Australia and you are obliged to answer this question. You did not ask your ministers. You admitted it just then. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Let me raise the possibility with the general public of Western Australia. If the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party is summonsed to appear before the CCC to give evidence about a matter pertaining to alleged corruption, and the day before he goes there to give that evidence he gets into a car in the car park and has a secret meeting with a man who is central to that inquiry and discusses the evidence, is that the sort of behaviour that would normally warrant his immediate dismissal from his position? I think it is.
Mr P.D. Omodei : He told me immediately then. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When? Give me the date. I do not believe the Leader of the Opposition was the leader at that stage. Mr P.D. Omodei : Come on! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : He was not. He became the leader on 24 March, did he not? Is the Leader of the Opposition sitting in this chamber lying to us? Mr P.D. Omodei : I am asking you whether any of your ministers or their staff were involved in any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Is the Leader of the Opposition following the habit - Mr P.D. Omodei : Why haven’t you asked them, Premier? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have asked. I have told the Leader of the Opposition that to the best of my knowledge the answer to the question is no. Mr P.D. Omodei : You are losing the plot. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am asking the Leader of the Opposition a question. He just told me and the Parliament that he was informed immediately that his deputy knew. I am saying to him that he was not the leader at that stage; so why was he informed? Mr P.D. Omodei : He told me as soon as he was summonsed that he was going to the CCC. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition was not the leader then. Mr T. Buswell : Yes, he was. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When? Mr T. Buswell : When I was summonsed. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition became the leader on 24 March. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition had a meeting outside Parliament with Noel Crichton-Browne on 21 or 22 March. He attended the CCC on 23 March. Do we have a question of credibility here? Do we have a question of somebody not telling the truth? Does it follow a pattern that some misleading of the Parliament has been attempted? Does it follow a pattern that we know of; that is, the member for Vasse has been proved to be dishonest in his dealings with his own members of Parliament? They have said so publicly, have they not? Mr P.D. Omodei : Who is being dishonest? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Did the member for Vasse turn to the then leader of the Liberal Party and tell him that he supported him in a ballot when the truth was that he had not; and was that a direct lie? Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Was it a direct lie? Did the Deputy Leader of the Opposition tell a direct lie? If he lied then, and we know he lied then, can we assume that he is lying now? Withdrawal of Remark Mr C.J. BARNETT : Point of order, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : I ask the member for Cottesloe to take his seat. The Premier knows the standing orders as well as any member does. It is not parliamentary to imply that a member of this house is a liar, and I direct that he withdraw that comment. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will do so, Mr Speaker. I withdraw any inference that the Deputy Leader of the Opposition is a liar, as that would be a habit of having told the lie. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will quote this article from The West Australian of 28 March - MPs are particularly incensed that immediately after the vote Mr Buswell assured Mr Birney that he had voted for him only to ring him and apologise for “misleading” him. Why did the member for Vasse ring the Leader of the Opposition and apologise for misleading him? It was because the member for Hillarys had seen the member for Vasse fill in his ballot paper and knew it was untrue. Mr P.D. Omodei : What a load of rubbish! That is desperation! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : And in fact provoked - Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : It is amazing, is it not? It provoked the member for Hillarys to say that he would never support this member. The Leader of the Opposition has asked me whether any member of the cabinet or any parliamentary secretary and so on has told me that he or she has been summonsed to appear before the CCC. I said that to the best of my knowledge, no. Mr P.D. Omodei : Or to any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What court proceedings? Mr P.D. Omodei : Any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Give me one. Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What related court proceedings? Can anybody enlighten me as to what - Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Did you ask your ministers? Why didn’t you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition is so bad at this. Mr P.D. Omodei : This is about a corrupt government. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : This is what is called “kicking yourself fair up the backside”. That is what the Leader of the Opposition has just done. The only person I know of who would fit the category that he is trying to assign to members on this side of the house is his deputy, who was summonsed to appear at the CCC and who never informed him, but who sat - Mr P.D. Omodei : You are the Premier of Western Australia and you are obliged to answer this question. You did not ask your ministers. You admitted it just then. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Let me raise the possibility with the general public of Western Australia. If the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party is summonsed to appear before the CCC to give evidence about a matter pertaining to alleged corruption, and the day before he goes there to give that evidence he gets into a car in the car park and has a secret meeting with a man who is central to that inquiry and discusses the evidence, is that the sort of behaviour that would normally warrant his immediate dismissal from his position? I think it is.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When? Give me the date. I do not believe the Leader of the Opposition was the leader at that stage. Mr P.D. Omodei : Come on! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : He was not. He became the leader on 24 March, did he not? Is the Leader of the Opposition sitting in this chamber lying to us? Mr P.D. Omodei : I am asking you whether any of your ministers or their staff were involved in any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Is the Leader of the Opposition following the habit - Mr P.D. Omodei : Why haven’t you asked them, Premier? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have asked. I have told the Leader of the Opposition that to the best of my knowledge the answer to the question is no. Mr P.D. Omodei : You are losing the plot. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am asking the Leader of the Opposition a question. He just told me and the Parliament that he was informed immediately that his deputy knew. I am saying to him that he was not the leader at that stage; so why was he informed? Mr P.D. Omodei : He told me as soon as he was summonsed that he was going to the CCC. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition was not the leader then. Mr T. Buswell : Yes, he was. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When? Mr T. Buswell : When I was summonsed. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition became the leader on 24 March. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition had a meeting outside Parliament with Noel Crichton-Browne on 21 or 22 March. He attended the CCC on 23 March. Do we have a question of credibility here? Do we have a question of somebody not telling the truth? Does it follow a pattern that some misleading of the Parliament has been attempted? Does it follow a pattern that we know of; that is, the member for Vasse has been proved to be dishonest in his dealings with his own members of Parliament? They have said so publicly, have they not? Mr P.D. Omodei : Who is being dishonest? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Did the member for Vasse turn to the then leader of the Liberal Party and tell him that he supported him in a ballot when the truth was that he had not; and was that a direct lie? Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Was it a direct lie? Did the Deputy Leader of the Opposition tell a direct lie? If he lied then, and we know he lied then, can we assume that he is lying now? Withdrawal of Remark Mr C.J. BARNETT : Point of order, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : I ask the member for Cottesloe to take his seat. The Premier knows the standing orders as well as any member does. It is not parliamentary to imply that a member of this house is a liar, and I direct that he withdraw that comment. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will do so, Mr Speaker. I withdraw any inference that the Deputy Leader of the Opposition is a liar, as that would be a habit of having told the lie. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will quote this article from The West Australian of 28 March - MPs are particularly incensed that immediately after the vote Mr Buswell assured Mr Birney that he had voted for him only to ring him and apologise for “misleading” him. Why did the member for Vasse ring the Leader of the Opposition and apologise for misleading him? It was because the member for Hillarys had seen the member for Vasse fill in his ballot paper and knew it was untrue. Mr P.D. Omodei : What a load of rubbish! That is desperation! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : And in fact provoked - Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : It is amazing, is it not? It provoked the member for Hillarys to say that he would never support this member. The Leader of the Opposition has asked me whether any member of the cabinet or any parliamentary secretary and so on has told me that he or she has been summonsed to appear before the CCC. I said that to the best of my knowledge, no. Mr P.D. Omodei : Or to any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What court proceedings? Mr P.D. Omodei : Any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Give me one. Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What related court proceedings? Can anybody enlighten me as to what - Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Did you ask your ministers? Why didn’t you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition is so bad at this. Mr P.D. Omodei : This is about a corrupt government. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : This is what is called “kicking yourself fair up the backside”. That is what the Leader of the Opposition has just done. The only person I know of who would fit the category that he is trying to assign to members on this side of the house is his deputy, who was summonsed to appear at the CCC and who never informed him, but who sat - Mr P.D. Omodei : You are the Premier of Western Australia and you are obliged to answer this question. You did not ask your ministers. You admitted it just then. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Let me raise the possibility with the general public of Western Australia. If the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party is summonsed to appear before the CCC to give evidence about a matter pertaining to alleged corruption, and the day before he goes there to give that evidence he gets into a car in the car park and has a secret meeting with a man who is central to that inquiry and discusses the evidence, is that the sort of behaviour that would normally warrant his immediate dismissal from his position? I think it is.
Mr P.D. Omodei : Come on! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : He was not. He became the leader on 24 March, did he not? Is the Leader of the Opposition sitting in this chamber lying to us? Mr P.D. Omodei : I am asking you whether any of your ministers or their staff were involved in any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Is the Leader of the Opposition following the habit - Mr P.D. Omodei : Why haven’t you asked them, Premier? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have asked. I have told the Leader of the Opposition that to the best of my knowledge the answer to the question is no. Mr P.D. Omodei : You are losing the plot. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am asking the Leader of the Opposition a question. He just told me and the Parliament that he was informed immediately that his deputy knew. I am saying to him that he was not the leader at that stage; so why was he informed? Mr P.D. Omodei : He told me as soon as he was summonsed that he was going to the CCC. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition was not the leader then. Mr T. Buswell : Yes, he was. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When? Mr T. Buswell : When I was summonsed. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition became the leader on 24 March. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition had a meeting outside Parliament with Noel Crichton-Browne on 21 or 22 March. He attended the CCC on 23 March. Do we have a question of credibility here? Do we have a question of somebody not telling the truth? Does it follow a pattern that some misleading of the Parliament has been attempted? Does it follow a pattern that we know of; that is, the member for Vasse has been proved to be dishonest in his dealings with his own members of Parliament? They have said so publicly, have they not? Mr P.D. Omodei : Who is being dishonest? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Did the member for Vasse turn to the then leader of the Liberal Party and tell him that he supported him in a ballot when the truth was that he had not; and was that a direct lie? Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Was it a direct lie? Did the Deputy Leader of the Opposition tell a direct lie? If he lied then, and we know he lied then, can we assume that he is lying now? Withdrawal of Remark Mr C.J. BARNETT : Point of order, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : I ask the member for Cottesloe to take his seat. The Premier knows the standing orders as well as any member does. It is not parliamentary to imply that a member of this house is a liar, and I direct that he withdraw that comment. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will do so, Mr Speaker. I withdraw any inference that the Deputy Leader of the Opposition is a liar, as that would be a habit of having told the lie. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will quote this article from The West Australian of 28 March - MPs are particularly incensed that immediately after the vote Mr Buswell assured Mr Birney that he had voted for him only to ring him and apologise for “misleading” him. Why did the member for Vasse ring the Leader of the Opposition and apologise for misleading him? It was because the member for Hillarys had seen the member for Vasse fill in his ballot paper and knew it was untrue. Mr P.D. Omodei : What a load of rubbish! That is desperation! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : And in fact provoked - Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : It is amazing, is it not? It provoked the member for Hillarys to say that he would never support this member. The Leader of the Opposition has asked me whether any member of the cabinet or any parliamentary secretary and so on has told me that he or she has been summonsed to appear before the CCC. I said that to the best of my knowledge, no. Mr P.D. Omodei : Or to any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What court proceedings? Mr P.D. Omodei : Any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Give me one. Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What related court proceedings? Can anybody enlighten me as to what - Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Did you ask your ministers? Why didn’t you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition is so bad at this. Mr P.D. Omodei : This is about a corrupt government. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : This is what is called “kicking yourself fair up the backside”. That is what the Leader of the Opposition has just done. The only person I know of who would fit the category that he is trying to assign to members on this side of the house is his deputy, who was summonsed to appear at the CCC and who never informed him, but who sat - Mr P.D. Omodei : You are the Premier of Western Australia and you are obliged to answer this question. You did not ask your ministers. You admitted it just then. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Let me raise the possibility with the general public of Western Australia. If the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party is summonsed to appear before the CCC to give evidence about a matter pertaining to alleged corruption, and the day before he goes there to give that evidence he gets into a car in the car park and has a secret meeting with a man who is central to that inquiry and discusses the evidence, is that the sort of behaviour that would normally warrant his immediate dismissal from his position? I think it is.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : He was not. He became the leader on 24 March, did he not? Is the Leader of the Opposition sitting in this chamber lying to us? Mr P.D. Omodei : I am asking you whether any of your ministers or their staff were involved in any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Is the Leader of the Opposition following the habit - Mr P.D. Omodei : Why haven’t you asked them, Premier? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have asked. I have told the Leader of the Opposition that to the best of my knowledge the answer to the question is no. Mr P.D. Omodei : You are losing the plot. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am asking the Leader of the Opposition a question. He just told me and the Parliament that he was informed immediately that his deputy knew. I am saying to him that he was not the leader at that stage; so why was he informed? Mr P.D. Omodei : He told me as soon as he was summonsed that he was going to the CCC. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition was not the leader then. Mr T. Buswell : Yes, he was. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When? Mr T. Buswell : When I was summonsed. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition became the leader on 24 March. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition had a meeting outside Parliament with Noel Crichton-Browne on 21 or 22 March. He attended the CCC on 23 March. Do we have a question of credibility here? Do we have a question of somebody not telling the truth? Does it follow a pattern that some misleading of the Parliament has been attempted? Does it follow a pattern that we know of; that is, the member for Vasse has been proved to be dishonest in his dealings with his own members of Parliament? They have said so publicly, have they not? Mr P.D. Omodei : Who is being dishonest? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Did the member for Vasse turn to the then leader of the Liberal Party and tell him that he supported him in a ballot when the truth was that he had not; and was that a direct lie? Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Was it a direct lie? Did the Deputy Leader of the Opposition tell a direct lie? If he lied then, and we know he lied then, can we assume that he is lying now? Withdrawal of Remark Mr C.J. BARNETT : Point of order, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : I ask the member for Cottesloe to take his seat. The Premier knows the standing orders as well as any member does. It is not parliamentary to imply that a member of this house is a liar, and I direct that he withdraw that comment. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will do so, Mr Speaker. I withdraw any inference that the Deputy Leader of the Opposition is a liar, as that would be a habit of having told the lie. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will quote this article from The West Australian of 28 March - MPs are particularly incensed that immediately after the vote Mr Buswell assured Mr Birney that he had voted for him only to ring him and apologise for “misleading” him. Why did the member for Vasse ring the Leader of the Opposition and apologise for misleading him? It was because the member for Hillarys had seen the member for Vasse fill in his ballot paper and knew it was untrue. Mr P.D. Omodei : What a load of rubbish! That is desperation! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : And in fact provoked - Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : It is amazing, is it not? It provoked the member for Hillarys to say that he would never support this member. The Leader of the Opposition has asked me whether any member of the cabinet or any parliamentary secretary and so on has told me that he or she has been summonsed to appear before the CCC. I said that to the best of my knowledge, no. Mr P.D. Omodei : Or to any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What court proceedings? Mr P.D. Omodei : Any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Give me one. Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What related court proceedings? Can anybody enlighten me as to what - Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Did you ask your ministers? Why didn’t you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition is so bad at this. Mr P.D. Omodei : This is about a corrupt government. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : This is what is called “kicking yourself fair up the backside”. That is what the Leader of the Opposition has just done. The only person I know of who would fit the category that he is trying to assign to members on this side of the house is his deputy, who was summonsed to appear at the CCC and who never informed him, but who sat - Mr P.D. Omodei : You are the Premier of Western Australia and you are obliged to answer this question. You did not ask your ministers. You admitted it just then. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Let me raise the possibility with the general public of Western Australia. If the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party is summonsed to appear before the CCC to give evidence about a matter pertaining to alleged corruption, and the day before he goes there to give that evidence he gets into a car in the car park and has a secret meeting with a man who is central to that inquiry and discusses the evidence, is that the sort of behaviour that would normally warrant his immediate dismissal from his position? I think it is.
Mr P.D. Omodei : I am asking you whether any of your ministers or their staff were involved in any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Is the Leader of the Opposition following the habit - Mr P.D. Omodei : Why haven’t you asked them, Premier? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have asked. I have told the Leader of the Opposition that to the best of my knowledge the answer to the question is no. Mr P.D. Omodei : You are losing the plot. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am asking the Leader of the Opposition a question. He just told me and the Parliament that he was informed immediately that his deputy knew. I am saying to him that he was not the leader at that stage; so why was he informed? Mr P.D. Omodei : He told me as soon as he was summonsed that he was going to the CCC. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition was not the leader then. Mr T. Buswell : Yes, he was. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When? Mr T. Buswell : When I was summonsed. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition became the leader on 24 March. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition had a meeting outside Parliament with Noel Crichton-Browne on 21 or 22 March. He attended the CCC on 23 March. Do we have a question of credibility here? Do we have a question of somebody not telling the truth? Does it follow a pattern that some misleading of the Parliament has been attempted? Does it follow a pattern that we know of; that is, the member for Vasse has been proved to be dishonest in his dealings with his own members of Parliament? They have said so publicly, have they not? Mr P.D. Omodei : Who is being dishonest? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Did the member for Vasse turn to the then leader of the Liberal Party and tell him that he supported him in a ballot when the truth was that he had not; and was that a direct lie? Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Was it a direct lie? Did the Deputy Leader of the Opposition tell a direct lie? If he lied then, and we know he lied then, can we assume that he is lying now? Withdrawal of Remark Mr C.J. BARNETT : Point of order, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : I ask the member for Cottesloe to take his seat. The Premier knows the standing orders as well as any member does. It is not parliamentary to imply that a member of this house is a liar, and I direct that he withdraw that comment. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will do so, Mr Speaker. I withdraw any inference that the Deputy Leader of the Opposition is a liar, as that would be a habit of having told the lie. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will quote this article from The West Australian of 28 March - MPs are particularly incensed that immediately after the vote Mr Buswell assured Mr Birney that he had voted for him only to ring him and apologise for “misleading” him. Why did the member for Vasse ring the Leader of the Opposition and apologise for misleading him? It was because the member for Hillarys had seen the member for Vasse fill in his ballot paper and knew it was untrue. Mr P.D. Omodei : What a load of rubbish! That is desperation! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : And in fact provoked - Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : It is amazing, is it not? It provoked the member for Hillarys to say that he would never support this member. The Leader of the Opposition has asked me whether any member of the cabinet or any parliamentary secretary and so on has told me that he or she has been summonsed to appear before the CCC. I said that to the best of my knowledge, no. Mr P.D. Omodei : Or to any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What court proceedings? Mr P.D. Omodei : Any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Give me one. Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What related court proceedings? Can anybody enlighten me as to what - Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Did you ask your ministers? Why didn’t you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition is so bad at this. Mr P.D. Omodei : This is about a corrupt government. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : This is what is called “kicking yourself fair up the backside”. That is what the Leader of the Opposition has just done. The only person I know of who would fit the category that he is trying to assign to members on this side of the house is his deputy, who was summonsed to appear at the CCC and who never informed him, but who sat - Mr P.D. Omodei : You are the Premier of Western Australia and you are obliged to answer this question. You did not ask your ministers. You admitted it just then. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Let me raise the possibility with the general public of Western Australia. If the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party is summonsed to appear before the CCC to give evidence about a matter pertaining to alleged corruption, and the day before he goes there to give that evidence he gets into a car in the car park and has a secret meeting with a man who is central to that inquiry and discusses the evidence, is that the sort of behaviour that would normally warrant his immediate dismissal from his position? I think it is.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Is the Leader of the Opposition following the habit - Mr P.D. Omodei : Why haven’t you asked them, Premier? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have asked. I have told the Leader of the Opposition that to the best of my knowledge the answer to the question is no. Mr P.D. Omodei : You are losing the plot. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am asking the Leader of the Opposition a question. He just told me and the Parliament that he was informed immediately that his deputy knew. I am saying to him that he was not the leader at that stage; so why was he informed? Mr P.D. Omodei : He told me as soon as he was summonsed that he was going to the CCC. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition was not the leader then. Mr T. Buswell : Yes, he was. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When? Mr T. Buswell : When I was summonsed. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition became the leader on 24 March. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition had a meeting outside Parliament with Noel Crichton-Browne on 21 or 22 March. He attended the CCC on 23 March. Do we have a question of credibility here? Do we have a question of somebody not telling the truth? Does it follow a pattern that some misleading of the Parliament has been attempted? Does it follow a pattern that we know of; that is, the member for Vasse has been proved to be dishonest in his dealings with his own members of Parliament? They have said so publicly, have they not? Mr P.D. Omodei : Who is being dishonest? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Did the member for Vasse turn to the then leader of the Liberal Party and tell him that he supported him in a ballot when the truth was that he had not; and was that a direct lie? Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Was it a direct lie? Did the Deputy Leader of the Opposition tell a direct lie? If he lied then, and we know he lied then, can we assume that he is lying now? Withdrawal of Remark Mr C.J. BARNETT : Point of order, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : I ask the member for Cottesloe to take his seat. The Premier knows the standing orders as well as any member does. It is not parliamentary to imply that a member of this house is a liar, and I direct that he withdraw that comment. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will do so, Mr Speaker. I withdraw any inference that the Deputy Leader of the Opposition is a liar, as that would be a habit of having told the lie. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will quote this article from The West Australian of 28 March - MPs are particularly incensed that immediately after the vote Mr Buswell assured Mr Birney that he had voted for him only to ring him and apologise for “misleading” him. Why did the member for Vasse ring the Leader of the Opposition and apologise for misleading him? It was because the member for Hillarys had seen the member for Vasse fill in his ballot paper and knew it was untrue. Mr P.D. Omodei : What a load of rubbish! That is desperation! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : And in fact provoked - Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : It is amazing, is it not? It provoked the member for Hillarys to say that he would never support this member. The Leader of the Opposition has asked me whether any member of the cabinet or any parliamentary secretary and so on has told me that he or she has been summonsed to appear before the CCC. I said that to the best of my knowledge, no. Mr P.D. Omodei : Or to any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What court proceedings? Mr P.D. Omodei : Any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Give me one. Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What related court proceedings? Can anybody enlighten me as to what - Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Did you ask your ministers? Why didn’t you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition is so bad at this. Mr P.D. Omodei : This is about a corrupt government. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : This is what is called “kicking yourself fair up the backside”. That is what the Leader of the Opposition has just done. The only person I know of who would fit the category that he is trying to assign to members on this side of the house is his deputy, who was summonsed to appear at the CCC and who never informed him, but who sat - Mr P.D. Omodei : You are the Premier of Western Australia and you are obliged to answer this question. You did not ask your ministers. You admitted it just then. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Let me raise the possibility with the general public of Western Australia. If the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party is summonsed to appear before the CCC to give evidence about a matter pertaining to alleged corruption, and the day before he goes there to give that evidence he gets into a car in the car park and has a secret meeting with a man who is central to that inquiry and discusses the evidence, is that the sort of behaviour that would normally warrant his immediate dismissal from his position? I think it is.
Mr P.D. Omodei : Why haven’t you asked them, Premier? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have asked. I have told the Leader of the Opposition that to the best of my knowledge the answer to the question is no. Mr P.D. Omodei : You are losing the plot. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am asking the Leader of the Opposition a question. He just told me and the Parliament that he was informed immediately that his deputy knew. I am saying to him that he was not the leader at that stage; so why was he informed? Mr P.D. Omodei : He told me as soon as he was summonsed that he was going to the CCC. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition was not the leader then. Mr T. Buswell : Yes, he was. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When? Mr T. Buswell : When I was summonsed. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition became the leader on 24 March. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition had a meeting outside Parliament with Noel Crichton-Browne on 21 or 22 March. He attended the CCC on 23 March. Do we have a question of credibility here? Do we have a question of somebody not telling the truth? Does it follow a pattern that some misleading of the Parliament has been attempted? Does it follow a pattern that we know of; that is, the member for Vasse has been proved to be dishonest in his dealings with his own members of Parliament? They have said so publicly, have they not? Mr P.D. Omodei : Who is being dishonest? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Did the member for Vasse turn to the then leader of the Liberal Party and tell him that he supported him in a ballot when the truth was that he had not; and was that a direct lie? Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Was it a direct lie? Did the Deputy Leader of the Opposition tell a direct lie? If he lied then, and we know he lied then, can we assume that he is lying now? Withdrawal of Remark Mr C.J. BARNETT : Point of order, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : I ask the member for Cottesloe to take his seat. The Premier knows the standing orders as well as any member does. It is not parliamentary to imply that a member of this house is a liar, and I direct that he withdraw that comment. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will do so, Mr Speaker. I withdraw any inference that the Deputy Leader of the Opposition is a liar, as that would be a habit of having told the lie. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will quote this article from The West Australian of 28 March - MPs are particularly incensed that immediately after the vote Mr Buswell assured Mr Birney that he had voted for him only to ring him and apologise for “misleading” him. Why did the member for Vasse ring the Leader of the Opposition and apologise for misleading him? It was because the member for Hillarys had seen the member for Vasse fill in his ballot paper and knew it was untrue. Mr P.D. Omodei : What a load of rubbish! That is desperation! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : And in fact provoked - Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : It is amazing, is it not? It provoked the member for Hillarys to say that he would never support this member. The Leader of the Opposition has asked me whether any member of the cabinet or any parliamentary secretary and so on has told me that he or she has been summonsed to appear before the CCC. I said that to the best of my knowledge, no. Mr P.D. Omodei : Or to any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What court proceedings? Mr P.D. Omodei : Any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Give me one. Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What related court proceedings? Can anybody enlighten me as to what - Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Did you ask your ministers? Why didn’t you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition is so bad at this. Mr P.D. Omodei : This is about a corrupt government. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : This is what is called “kicking yourself fair up the backside”. That is what the Leader of the Opposition has just done. The only person I know of who would fit the category that he is trying to assign to members on this side of the house is his deputy, who was summonsed to appear at the CCC and who never informed him, but who sat - Mr P.D. Omodei : You are the Premier of Western Australia and you are obliged to answer this question. You did not ask your ministers. You admitted it just then. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Let me raise the possibility with the general public of Western Australia. If the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party is summonsed to appear before the CCC to give evidence about a matter pertaining to alleged corruption, and the day before he goes there to give that evidence he gets into a car in the car park and has a secret meeting with a man who is central to that inquiry and discusses the evidence, is that the sort of behaviour that would normally warrant his immediate dismissal from his position? I think it is.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have asked. I have told the Leader of the Opposition that to the best of my knowledge the answer to the question is no. Mr P.D. Omodei : You are losing the plot. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am asking the Leader of the Opposition a question. He just told me and the Parliament that he was informed immediately that his deputy knew. I am saying to him that he was not the leader at that stage; so why was he informed? Mr P.D. Omodei : He told me as soon as he was summonsed that he was going to the CCC. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition was not the leader then. Mr T. Buswell : Yes, he was. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When? Mr T. Buswell : When I was summonsed. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition became the leader on 24 March. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition had a meeting outside Parliament with Noel Crichton-Browne on 21 or 22 March. He attended the CCC on 23 March. Do we have a question of credibility here? Do we have a question of somebody not telling the truth? Does it follow a pattern that some misleading of the Parliament has been attempted? Does it follow a pattern that we know of; that is, the member for Vasse has been proved to be dishonest in his dealings with his own members of Parliament? They have said so publicly, have they not? Mr P.D. Omodei : Who is being dishonest? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Did the member for Vasse turn to the then leader of the Liberal Party and tell him that he supported him in a ballot when the truth was that he had not; and was that a direct lie? Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Was it a direct lie? Did the Deputy Leader of the Opposition tell a direct lie? If he lied then, and we know he lied then, can we assume that he is lying now? Withdrawal of Remark Mr C.J. BARNETT : Point of order, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : I ask the member for Cottesloe to take his seat. The Premier knows the standing orders as well as any member does. It is not parliamentary to imply that a member of this house is a liar, and I direct that he withdraw that comment. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will do so, Mr Speaker. I withdraw any inference that the Deputy Leader of the Opposition is a liar, as that would be a habit of having told the lie. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will quote this article from The West Australian of 28 March - MPs are particularly incensed that immediately after the vote Mr Buswell assured Mr Birney that he had voted for him only to ring him and apologise for “misleading” him. Why did the member for Vasse ring the Leader of the Opposition and apologise for misleading him? It was because the member for Hillarys had seen the member for Vasse fill in his ballot paper and knew it was untrue. Mr P.D. Omodei : What a load of rubbish! That is desperation! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : And in fact provoked - Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : It is amazing, is it not? It provoked the member for Hillarys to say that he would never support this member. The Leader of the Opposition has asked me whether any member of the cabinet or any parliamentary secretary and so on has told me that he or she has been summonsed to appear before the CCC. I said that to the best of my knowledge, no. Mr P.D. Omodei : Or to any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What court proceedings? Mr P.D. Omodei : Any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Give me one. Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What related court proceedings? Can anybody enlighten me as to what - Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Did you ask your ministers? Why didn’t you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition is so bad at this. Mr P.D. Omodei : This is about a corrupt government. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : This is what is called “kicking yourself fair up the backside”. That is what the Leader of the Opposition has just done. The only person I know of who would fit the category that he is trying to assign to members on this side of the house is his deputy, who was summonsed to appear at the CCC and who never informed him, but who sat - Mr P.D. Omodei : You are the Premier of Western Australia and you are obliged to answer this question. You did not ask your ministers. You admitted it just then. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Let me raise the possibility with the general public of Western Australia. If the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party is summonsed to appear before the CCC to give evidence about a matter pertaining to alleged corruption, and the day before he goes there to give that evidence he gets into a car in the car park and has a secret meeting with a man who is central to that inquiry and discusses the evidence, is that the sort of behaviour that would normally warrant his immediate dismissal from his position? I think it is.
Mr P.D. Omodei : You are losing the plot. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am asking the Leader of the Opposition a question. He just told me and the Parliament that he was informed immediately that his deputy knew. I am saying to him that he was not the leader at that stage; so why was he informed? Mr P.D. Omodei : He told me as soon as he was summonsed that he was going to the CCC. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition was not the leader then. Mr T. Buswell : Yes, he was. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When? Mr T. Buswell : When I was summonsed. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition became the leader on 24 March. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition had a meeting outside Parliament with Noel Crichton-Browne on 21 or 22 March. He attended the CCC on 23 March. Do we have a question of credibility here? Do we have a question of somebody not telling the truth? Does it follow a pattern that some misleading of the Parliament has been attempted? Does it follow a pattern that we know of; that is, the member for Vasse has been proved to be dishonest in his dealings with his own members of Parliament? They have said so publicly, have they not? Mr P.D. Omodei : Who is being dishonest? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Did the member for Vasse turn to the then leader of the Liberal Party and tell him that he supported him in a ballot when the truth was that he had not; and was that a direct lie? Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Was it a direct lie? Did the Deputy Leader of the Opposition tell a direct lie? If he lied then, and we know he lied then, can we assume that he is lying now? Withdrawal of Remark Mr C.J. BARNETT : Point of order, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : I ask the member for Cottesloe to take his seat. The Premier knows the standing orders as well as any member does. It is not parliamentary to imply that a member of this house is a liar, and I direct that he withdraw that comment. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will do so, Mr Speaker. I withdraw any inference that the Deputy Leader of the Opposition is a liar, as that would be a habit of having told the lie. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will quote this article from The West Australian of 28 March - MPs are particularly incensed that immediately after the vote Mr Buswell assured Mr Birney that he had voted for him only to ring him and apologise for “misleading” him. Why did the member for Vasse ring the Leader of the Opposition and apologise for misleading him? It was because the member for Hillarys had seen the member for Vasse fill in his ballot paper and knew it was untrue. Mr P.D. Omodei : What a load of rubbish! That is desperation! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : And in fact provoked - Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : It is amazing, is it not? It provoked the member for Hillarys to say that he would never support this member. The Leader of the Opposition has asked me whether any member of the cabinet or any parliamentary secretary and so on has told me that he or she has been summonsed to appear before the CCC. I said that to the best of my knowledge, no. Mr P.D. Omodei : Or to any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What court proceedings? Mr P.D. Omodei : Any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Give me one. Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What related court proceedings? Can anybody enlighten me as to what - Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Did you ask your ministers? Why didn’t you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition is so bad at this. Mr P.D. Omodei : This is about a corrupt government. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : This is what is called “kicking yourself fair up the backside”. That is what the Leader of the Opposition has just done. The only person I know of who would fit the category that he is trying to assign to members on this side of the house is his deputy, who was summonsed to appear at the CCC and who never informed him, but who sat - Mr P.D. Omodei : You are the Premier of Western Australia and you are obliged to answer this question. You did not ask your ministers. You admitted it just then. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Let me raise the possibility with the general public of Western Australia. If the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party is summonsed to appear before the CCC to give evidence about a matter pertaining to alleged corruption, and the day before he goes there to give that evidence he gets into a car in the car park and has a secret meeting with a man who is central to that inquiry and discusses the evidence, is that the sort of behaviour that would normally warrant his immediate dismissal from his position? I think it is.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am asking the Leader of the Opposition a question. He just told me and the Parliament that he was informed immediately that his deputy knew. I am saying to him that he was not the leader at that stage; so why was he informed? Mr P.D. Omodei : He told me as soon as he was summonsed that he was going to the CCC. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition was not the leader then. Mr T. Buswell : Yes, he was. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When? Mr T. Buswell : When I was summonsed. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition became the leader on 24 March. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition had a meeting outside Parliament with Noel Crichton-Browne on 21 or 22 March. He attended the CCC on 23 March. Do we have a question of credibility here? Do we have a question of somebody not telling the truth? Does it follow a pattern that some misleading of the Parliament has been attempted? Does it follow a pattern that we know of; that is, the member for Vasse has been proved to be dishonest in his dealings with his own members of Parliament? They have said so publicly, have they not? Mr P.D. Omodei : Who is being dishonest? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Did the member for Vasse turn to the then leader of the Liberal Party and tell him that he supported him in a ballot when the truth was that he had not; and was that a direct lie? Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Was it a direct lie? Did the Deputy Leader of the Opposition tell a direct lie? If he lied then, and we know he lied then, can we assume that he is lying now? Withdrawal of Remark Mr C.J. BARNETT : Point of order, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : I ask the member for Cottesloe to take his seat. The Premier knows the standing orders as well as any member does. It is not parliamentary to imply that a member of this house is a liar, and I direct that he withdraw that comment. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will do so, Mr Speaker. I withdraw any inference that the Deputy Leader of the Opposition is a liar, as that would be a habit of having told the lie. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will quote this article from The West Australian of 28 March - MPs are particularly incensed that immediately after the vote Mr Buswell assured Mr Birney that he had voted for him only to ring him and apologise for “misleading” him. Why did the member for Vasse ring the Leader of the Opposition and apologise for misleading him? It was because the member for Hillarys had seen the member for Vasse fill in his ballot paper and knew it was untrue. Mr P.D. Omodei : What a load of rubbish! That is desperation! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : And in fact provoked - Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : It is amazing, is it not? It provoked the member for Hillarys to say that he would never support this member. The Leader of the Opposition has asked me whether any member of the cabinet or any parliamentary secretary and so on has told me that he or she has been summonsed to appear before the CCC. I said that to the best of my knowledge, no. Mr P.D. Omodei : Or to any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What court proceedings? Mr P.D. Omodei : Any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Give me one. Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What related court proceedings? Can anybody enlighten me as to what - Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Did you ask your ministers? Why didn’t you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition is so bad at this. Mr P.D. Omodei : This is about a corrupt government. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : This is what is called “kicking yourself fair up the backside”. That is what the Leader of the Opposition has just done. The only person I know of who would fit the category that he is trying to assign to members on this side of the house is his deputy, who was summonsed to appear at the CCC and who never informed him, but who sat - Mr P.D. Omodei : You are the Premier of Western Australia and you are obliged to answer this question. You did not ask your ministers. You admitted it just then. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Let me raise the possibility with the general public of Western Australia. If the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party is summonsed to appear before the CCC to give evidence about a matter pertaining to alleged corruption, and the day before he goes there to give that evidence he gets into a car in the car park and has a secret meeting with a man who is central to that inquiry and discusses the evidence, is that the sort of behaviour that would normally warrant his immediate dismissal from his position? I think it is.
Mr P.D. Omodei : He told me as soon as he was summonsed that he was going to the CCC. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition was not the leader then. Mr T. Buswell : Yes, he was. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When? Mr T. Buswell : When I was summonsed. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition became the leader on 24 March. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition had a meeting outside Parliament with Noel Crichton-Browne on 21 or 22 March. He attended the CCC on 23 March. Do we have a question of credibility here? Do we have a question of somebody not telling the truth? Does it follow a pattern that some misleading of the Parliament has been attempted? Does it follow a pattern that we know of; that is, the member for Vasse has been proved to be dishonest in his dealings with his own members of Parliament? They have said so publicly, have they not? Mr P.D. Omodei : Who is being dishonest? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Did the member for Vasse turn to the then leader of the Liberal Party and tell him that he supported him in a ballot when the truth was that he had not; and was that a direct lie? Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Was it a direct lie? Did the Deputy Leader of the Opposition tell a direct lie? If he lied then, and we know he lied then, can we assume that he is lying now? Withdrawal of Remark Mr C.J. BARNETT : Point of order, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : I ask the member for Cottesloe to take his seat. The Premier knows the standing orders as well as any member does. It is not parliamentary to imply that a member of this house is a liar, and I direct that he withdraw that comment. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will do so, Mr Speaker. I withdraw any inference that the Deputy Leader of the Opposition is a liar, as that would be a habit of having told the lie. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will quote this article from The West Australian of 28 March - MPs are particularly incensed that immediately after the vote Mr Buswell assured Mr Birney that he had voted for him only to ring him and apologise for “misleading” him. Why did the member for Vasse ring the Leader of the Opposition and apologise for misleading him? It was because the member for Hillarys had seen the member for Vasse fill in his ballot paper and knew it was untrue. Mr P.D. Omodei : What a load of rubbish! That is desperation! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : And in fact provoked - Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : It is amazing, is it not? It provoked the member for Hillarys to say that he would never support this member. The Leader of the Opposition has asked me whether any member of the cabinet or any parliamentary secretary and so on has told me that he or she has been summonsed to appear before the CCC. I said that to the best of my knowledge, no. Mr P.D. Omodei : Or to any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What court proceedings? Mr P.D. Omodei : Any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Give me one. Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What related court proceedings? Can anybody enlighten me as to what - Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Did you ask your ministers? Why didn’t you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition is so bad at this. Mr P.D. Omodei : This is about a corrupt government. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : This is what is called “kicking yourself fair up the backside”. That is what the Leader of the Opposition has just done. The only person I know of who would fit the category that he is trying to assign to members on this side of the house is his deputy, who was summonsed to appear at the CCC and who never informed him, but who sat - Mr P.D. Omodei : You are the Premier of Western Australia and you are obliged to answer this question. You did not ask your ministers. You admitted it just then. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Let me raise the possibility with the general public of Western Australia. If the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party is summonsed to appear before the CCC to give evidence about a matter pertaining to alleged corruption, and the day before he goes there to give that evidence he gets into a car in the car park and has a secret meeting with a man who is central to that inquiry and discusses the evidence, is that the sort of behaviour that would normally warrant his immediate dismissal from his position? I think it is.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition was not the leader then. Mr T. Buswell : Yes, he was. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When? Mr T. Buswell : When I was summonsed. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition became the leader on 24 March. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition had a meeting outside Parliament with Noel Crichton-Browne on 21 or 22 March. He attended the CCC on 23 March. Do we have a question of credibility here? Do we have a question of somebody not telling the truth? Does it follow a pattern that some misleading of the Parliament has been attempted? Does it follow a pattern that we know of; that is, the member for Vasse has been proved to be dishonest in his dealings with his own members of Parliament? They have said so publicly, have they not? Mr P.D. Omodei : Who is being dishonest? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Did the member for Vasse turn to the then leader of the Liberal Party and tell him that he supported him in a ballot when the truth was that he had not; and was that a direct lie? Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Was it a direct lie? Did the Deputy Leader of the Opposition tell a direct lie? If he lied then, and we know he lied then, can we assume that he is lying now? Withdrawal of Remark Mr C.J. BARNETT : Point of order, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : I ask the member for Cottesloe to take his seat. The Premier knows the standing orders as well as any member does. It is not parliamentary to imply that a member of this house is a liar, and I direct that he withdraw that comment. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will do so, Mr Speaker. I withdraw any inference that the Deputy Leader of the Opposition is a liar, as that would be a habit of having told the lie. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will quote this article from The West Australian of 28 March - MPs are particularly incensed that immediately after the vote Mr Buswell assured Mr Birney that he had voted for him only to ring him and apologise for “misleading” him. Why did the member for Vasse ring the Leader of the Opposition and apologise for misleading him? It was because the member for Hillarys had seen the member for Vasse fill in his ballot paper and knew it was untrue. Mr P.D. Omodei : What a load of rubbish! That is desperation! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : And in fact provoked - Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : It is amazing, is it not? It provoked the member for Hillarys to say that he would never support this member. The Leader of the Opposition has asked me whether any member of the cabinet or any parliamentary secretary and so on has told me that he or she has been summonsed to appear before the CCC. I said that to the best of my knowledge, no. Mr P.D. Omodei : Or to any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What court proceedings? Mr P.D. Omodei : Any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Give me one. Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What related court proceedings? Can anybody enlighten me as to what - Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Did you ask your ministers? Why didn’t you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition is so bad at this. Mr P.D. Omodei : This is about a corrupt government. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : This is what is called “kicking yourself fair up the backside”. That is what the Leader of the Opposition has just done. The only person I know of who would fit the category that he is trying to assign to members on this side of the house is his deputy, who was summonsed to appear at the CCC and who never informed him, but who sat - Mr P.D. Omodei : You are the Premier of Western Australia and you are obliged to answer this question. You did not ask your ministers. You admitted it just then. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Let me raise the possibility with the general public of Western Australia. If the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party is summonsed to appear before the CCC to give evidence about a matter pertaining to alleged corruption, and the day before he goes there to give that evidence he gets into a car in the car park and has a secret meeting with a man who is central to that inquiry and discusses the evidence, is that the sort of behaviour that would normally warrant his immediate dismissal from his position? I think it is.
Mr T. Buswell : Yes, he was. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When? Mr T. Buswell : When I was summonsed. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition became the leader on 24 March. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition had a meeting outside Parliament with Noel Crichton-Browne on 21 or 22 March. He attended the CCC on 23 March. Do we have a question of credibility here? Do we have a question of somebody not telling the truth? Does it follow a pattern that some misleading of the Parliament has been attempted? Does it follow a pattern that we know of; that is, the member for Vasse has been proved to be dishonest in his dealings with his own members of Parliament? They have said so publicly, have they not? Mr P.D. Omodei : Who is being dishonest? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Did the member for Vasse turn to the then leader of the Liberal Party and tell him that he supported him in a ballot when the truth was that he had not; and was that a direct lie? Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Was it a direct lie? Did the Deputy Leader of the Opposition tell a direct lie? If he lied then, and we know he lied then, can we assume that he is lying now? Withdrawal of Remark Mr C.J. BARNETT : Point of order, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : I ask the member for Cottesloe to take his seat. The Premier knows the standing orders as well as any member does. It is not parliamentary to imply that a member of this house is a liar, and I direct that he withdraw that comment. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will do so, Mr Speaker. I withdraw any inference that the Deputy Leader of the Opposition is a liar, as that would be a habit of having told the lie. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will quote this article from The West Australian of 28 March - MPs are particularly incensed that immediately after the vote Mr Buswell assured Mr Birney that he had voted for him only to ring him and apologise for “misleading” him. Why did the member for Vasse ring the Leader of the Opposition and apologise for misleading him? It was because the member for Hillarys had seen the member for Vasse fill in his ballot paper and knew it was untrue. Mr P.D. Omodei : What a load of rubbish! That is desperation! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : And in fact provoked - Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : It is amazing, is it not? It provoked the member for Hillarys to say that he would never support this member. The Leader of the Opposition has asked me whether any member of the cabinet or any parliamentary secretary and so on has told me that he or she has been summonsed to appear before the CCC. I said that to the best of my knowledge, no. Mr P.D. Omodei : Or to any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What court proceedings? Mr P.D. Omodei : Any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Give me one. Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What related court proceedings? Can anybody enlighten me as to what - Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Did you ask your ministers? Why didn’t you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition is so bad at this. Mr P.D. Omodei : This is about a corrupt government. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : This is what is called “kicking yourself fair up the backside”. That is what the Leader of the Opposition has just done. The only person I know of who would fit the category that he is trying to assign to members on this side of the house is his deputy, who was summonsed to appear at the CCC and who never informed him, but who sat - Mr P.D. Omodei : You are the Premier of Western Australia and you are obliged to answer this question. You did not ask your ministers. You admitted it just then. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Let me raise the possibility with the general public of Western Australia. If the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party is summonsed to appear before the CCC to give evidence about a matter pertaining to alleged corruption, and the day before he goes there to give that evidence he gets into a car in the car park and has a secret meeting with a man who is central to that inquiry and discusses the evidence, is that the sort of behaviour that would normally warrant his immediate dismissal from his position? I think it is.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When? Mr T. Buswell : When I was summonsed. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition became the leader on 24 March. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition had a meeting outside Parliament with Noel Crichton-Browne on 21 or 22 March. He attended the CCC on 23 March. Do we have a question of credibility here? Do we have a question of somebody not telling the truth? Does it follow a pattern that some misleading of the Parliament has been attempted? Does it follow a pattern that we know of; that is, the member for Vasse has been proved to be dishonest in his dealings with his own members of Parliament? They have said so publicly, have they not? Mr P.D. Omodei : Who is being dishonest? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Did the member for Vasse turn to the then leader of the Liberal Party and tell him that he supported him in a ballot when the truth was that he had not; and was that a direct lie? Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Was it a direct lie? Did the Deputy Leader of the Opposition tell a direct lie? If he lied then, and we know he lied then, can we assume that he is lying now? Withdrawal of Remark Mr C.J. BARNETT : Point of order, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : I ask the member for Cottesloe to take his seat. The Premier knows the standing orders as well as any member does. It is not parliamentary to imply that a member of this house is a liar, and I direct that he withdraw that comment. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will do so, Mr Speaker. I withdraw any inference that the Deputy Leader of the Opposition is a liar, as that would be a habit of having told the lie. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will quote this article from The West Australian of 28 March - MPs are particularly incensed that immediately after the vote Mr Buswell assured Mr Birney that he had voted for him only to ring him and apologise for “misleading” him. Why did the member for Vasse ring the Leader of the Opposition and apologise for misleading him? It was because the member for Hillarys had seen the member for Vasse fill in his ballot paper and knew it was untrue. Mr P.D. Omodei : What a load of rubbish! That is desperation! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : And in fact provoked - Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : It is amazing, is it not? It provoked the member for Hillarys to say that he would never support this member. The Leader of the Opposition has asked me whether any member of the cabinet or any parliamentary secretary and so on has told me that he or she has been summonsed to appear before the CCC. I said that to the best of my knowledge, no. Mr P.D. Omodei : Or to any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What court proceedings? Mr P.D. Omodei : Any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Give me one. Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What related court proceedings? Can anybody enlighten me as to what - Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Did you ask your ministers? Why didn’t you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition is so bad at this. Mr P.D. Omodei : This is about a corrupt government. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : This is what is called “kicking yourself fair up the backside”. That is what the Leader of the Opposition has just done. The only person I know of who would fit the category that he is trying to assign to members on this side of the house is his deputy, who was summonsed to appear at the CCC and who never informed him, but who sat - Mr P.D. Omodei : You are the Premier of Western Australia and you are obliged to answer this question. You did not ask your ministers. You admitted it just then. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Let me raise the possibility with the general public of Western Australia. If the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party is summonsed to appear before the CCC to give evidence about a matter pertaining to alleged corruption, and the day before he goes there to give that evidence he gets into a car in the car park and has a secret meeting with a man who is central to that inquiry and discusses the evidence, is that the sort of behaviour that would normally warrant his immediate dismissal from his position? I think it is.
Mr T. Buswell : When I was summonsed. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition became the leader on 24 March. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition had a meeting outside Parliament with Noel Crichton-Browne on 21 or 22 March. He attended the CCC on 23 March. Do we have a question of credibility here? Do we have a question of somebody not telling the truth? Does it follow a pattern that some misleading of the Parliament has been attempted? Does it follow a pattern that we know of; that is, the member for Vasse has been proved to be dishonest in his dealings with his own members of Parliament? They have said so publicly, have they not? Mr P.D. Omodei : Who is being dishonest? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Did the member for Vasse turn to the then leader of the Liberal Party and tell him that he supported him in a ballot when the truth was that he had not; and was that a direct lie? Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Was it a direct lie? Did the Deputy Leader of the Opposition tell a direct lie? If he lied then, and we know he lied then, can we assume that he is lying now? Withdrawal of Remark Mr C.J. BARNETT : Point of order, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : I ask the member for Cottesloe to take his seat. The Premier knows the standing orders as well as any member does. It is not parliamentary to imply that a member of this house is a liar, and I direct that he withdraw that comment. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will do so, Mr Speaker. I withdraw any inference that the Deputy Leader of the Opposition is a liar, as that would be a habit of having told the lie. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will quote this article from The West Australian of 28 March - MPs are particularly incensed that immediately after the vote Mr Buswell assured Mr Birney that he had voted for him only to ring him and apologise for “misleading” him. Why did the member for Vasse ring the Leader of the Opposition and apologise for misleading him? It was because the member for Hillarys had seen the member for Vasse fill in his ballot paper and knew it was untrue. Mr P.D. Omodei : What a load of rubbish! That is desperation! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : And in fact provoked - Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : It is amazing, is it not? It provoked the member for Hillarys to say that he would never support this member. The Leader of the Opposition has asked me whether any member of the cabinet or any parliamentary secretary and so on has told me that he or she has been summonsed to appear before the CCC. I said that to the best of my knowledge, no. Mr P.D. Omodei : Or to any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What court proceedings? Mr P.D. Omodei : Any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Give me one. Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What related court proceedings? Can anybody enlighten me as to what - Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Did you ask your ministers? Why didn’t you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition is so bad at this. Mr P.D. Omodei : This is about a corrupt government. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : This is what is called “kicking yourself fair up the backside”. That is what the Leader of the Opposition has just done. The only person I know of who would fit the category that he is trying to assign to members on this side of the house is his deputy, who was summonsed to appear at the CCC and who never informed him, but who sat - Mr P.D. Omodei : You are the Premier of Western Australia and you are obliged to answer this question. You did not ask your ministers. You admitted it just then. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Let me raise the possibility with the general public of Western Australia. If the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party is summonsed to appear before the CCC to give evidence about a matter pertaining to alleged corruption, and the day before he goes there to give that evidence he gets into a car in the car park and has a secret meeting with a man who is central to that inquiry and discusses the evidence, is that the sort of behaviour that would normally warrant his immediate dismissal from his position? I think it is.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition became the leader on 24 March. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition had a meeting outside Parliament with Noel Crichton-Browne on 21 or 22 March. He attended the CCC on 23 March. Do we have a question of credibility here? Do we have a question of somebody not telling the truth? Does it follow a pattern that some misleading of the Parliament has been attempted? Does it follow a pattern that we know of; that is, the member for Vasse has been proved to be dishonest in his dealings with his own members of Parliament? They have said so publicly, have they not? Mr P.D. Omodei : Who is being dishonest? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Did the member for Vasse turn to the then leader of the Liberal Party and tell him that he supported him in a ballot when the truth was that he had not; and was that a direct lie? Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Was it a direct lie? Did the Deputy Leader of the Opposition tell a direct lie? If he lied then, and we know he lied then, can we assume that he is lying now? Withdrawal of Remark Mr C.J. BARNETT : Point of order, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : I ask the member for Cottesloe to take his seat. The Premier knows the standing orders as well as any member does. It is not parliamentary to imply that a member of this house is a liar, and I direct that he withdraw that comment. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will do so, Mr Speaker. I withdraw any inference that the Deputy Leader of the Opposition is a liar, as that would be a habit of having told the lie. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will quote this article from The West Australian of 28 March - MPs are particularly incensed that immediately after the vote Mr Buswell assured Mr Birney that he had voted for him only to ring him and apologise for “misleading” him. Why did the member for Vasse ring the Leader of the Opposition and apologise for misleading him? It was because the member for Hillarys had seen the member for Vasse fill in his ballot paper and knew it was untrue. Mr P.D. Omodei : What a load of rubbish! That is desperation! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : And in fact provoked - Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : It is amazing, is it not? It provoked the member for Hillarys to say that he would never support this member. The Leader of the Opposition has asked me whether any member of the cabinet or any parliamentary secretary and so on has told me that he or she has been summonsed to appear before the CCC. I said that to the best of my knowledge, no. Mr P.D. Omodei : Or to any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What court proceedings? Mr P.D. Omodei : Any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Give me one. Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What related court proceedings? Can anybody enlighten me as to what - Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Did you ask your ministers? Why didn’t you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition is so bad at this. Mr P.D. Omodei : This is about a corrupt government. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : This is what is called “kicking yourself fair up the backside”. That is what the Leader of the Opposition has just done. The only person I know of who would fit the category that he is trying to assign to members on this side of the house is his deputy, who was summonsed to appear at the CCC and who never informed him, but who sat - Mr P.D. Omodei : You are the Premier of Western Australia and you are obliged to answer this question. You did not ask your ministers. You admitted it just then. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Let me raise the possibility with the general public of Western Australia. If the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party is summonsed to appear before the CCC to give evidence about a matter pertaining to alleged corruption, and the day before he goes there to give that evidence he gets into a car in the car park and has a secret meeting with a man who is central to that inquiry and discusses the evidence, is that the sort of behaviour that would normally warrant his immediate dismissal from his position? I think it is.
Mr P.D. Omodei : Who is being dishonest? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Did the member for Vasse turn to the then leader of the Liberal Party and tell him that he supported him in a ballot when the truth was that he had not; and was that a direct lie? Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Was it a direct lie? Did the Deputy Leader of the Opposition tell a direct lie? If he lied then, and we know he lied then, can we assume that he is lying now? Withdrawal of Remark Mr C.J. BARNETT : Point of order, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : I ask the member for Cottesloe to take his seat. The Premier knows the standing orders as well as any member does. It is not parliamentary to imply that a member of this house is a liar, and I direct that he withdraw that comment. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will do so, Mr Speaker. I withdraw any inference that the Deputy Leader of the Opposition is a liar, as that would be a habit of having told the lie. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will quote this article from The West Australian of 28 March - MPs are particularly incensed that immediately after the vote Mr Buswell assured Mr Birney that he had voted for him only to ring him and apologise for “misleading” him. Why did the member for Vasse ring the Leader of the Opposition and apologise for misleading him? It was because the member for Hillarys had seen the member for Vasse fill in his ballot paper and knew it was untrue. Mr P.D. Omodei : What a load of rubbish! That is desperation! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : And in fact provoked - Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : It is amazing, is it not? It provoked the member for Hillarys to say that he would never support this member. The Leader of the Opposition has asked me whether any member of the cabinet or any parliamentary secretary and so on has told me that he or she has been summonsed to appear before the CCC. I said that to the best of my knowledge, no. Mr P.D. Omodei : Or to any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What court proceedings? Mr P.D. Omodei : Any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Give me one. Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What related court proceedings? Can anybody enlighten me as to what - Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Did you ask your ministers? Why didn’t you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition is so bad at this. Mr P.D. Omodei : This is about a corrupt government. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : This is what is called “kicking yourself fair up the backside”. That is what the Leader of the Opposition has just done. The only person I know of who would fit the category that he is trying to assign to members on this side of the house is his deputy, who was summonsed to appear at the CCC and who never informed him, but who sat - Mr P.D. Omodei : You are the Premier of Western Australia and you are obliged to answer this question. You did not ask your ministers. You admitted it just then. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Let me raise the possibility with the general public of Western Australia. If the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party is summonsed to appear before the CCC to give evidence about a matter pertaining to alleged corruption, and the day before he goes there to give that evidence he gets into a car in the car park and has a secret meeting with a man who is central to that inquiry and discusses the evidence, is that the sort of behaviour that would normally warrant his immediate dismissal from his position? I think it is.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Did the member for Vasse turn to the then leader of the Liberal Party and tell him that he supported him in a ballot when the truth was that he had not; and was that a direct lie? Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Was it a direct lie? Did the Deputy Leader of the Opposition tell a direct lie? If he lied then, and we know he lied then, can we assume that he is lying now? Withdrawal of Remark Mr C.J. BARNETT : Point of order, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : I ask the member for Cottesloe to take his seat. The Premier knows the standing orders as well as any member does. It is not parliamentary to imply that a member of this house is a liar, and I direct that he withdraw that comment. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will do so, Mr Speaker. I withdraw any inference that the Deputy Leader of the Opposition is a liar, as that would be a habit of having told the lie. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will quote this article from The West Australian of 28 March - MPs are particularly incensed that immediately after the vote Mr Buswell assured Mr Birney that he had voted for him only to ring him and apologise for “misleading” him. Why did the member for Vasse ring the Leader of the Opposition and apologise for misleading him? It was because the member for Hillarys had seen the member for Vasse fill in his ballot paper and knew it was untrue. Mr P.D. Omodei : What a load of rubbish! That is desperation! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : And in fact provoked - Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : It is amazing, is it not? It provoked the member for Hillarys to say that he would never support this member. The Leader of the Opposition has asked me whether any member of the cabinet or any parliamentary secretary and so on has told me that he or she has been summonsed to appear before the CCC. I said that to the best of my knowledge, no. Mr P.D. Omodei : Or to any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What court proceedings? Mr P.D. Omodei : Any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Give me one. Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What related court proceedings? Can anybody enlighten me as to what - Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Did you ask your ministers? Why didn’t you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition is so bad at this. Mr P.D. Omodei : This is about a corrupt government. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : This is what is called “kicking yourself fair up the backside”. That is what the Leader of the Opposition has just done. The only person I know of who would fit the category that he is trying to assign to members on this side of the house is his deputy, who was summonsed to appear at the CCC and who never informed him, but who sat - Mr P.D. Omodei : You are the Premier of Western Australia and you are obliged to answer this question. You did not ask your ministers. You admitted it just then. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Let me raise the possibility with the general public of Western Australia. If the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party is summonsed to appear before the CCC to give evidence about a matter pertaining to alleged corruption, and the day before he goes there to give that evidence he gets into a car in the car park and has a secret meeting with a man who is central to that inquiry and discusses the evidence, is that the sort of behaviour that would normally warrant his immediate dismissal from his position? I think it is.
Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Was it a direct lie? Did the Deputy Leader of the Opposition tell a direct lie? If he lied then, and we know he lied then, can we assume that he is lying now? Withdrawal of Remark Mr C.J. BARNETT : Point of order, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : I ask the member for Cottesloe to take his seat. The Premier knows the standing orders as well as any member does. It is not parliamentary to imply that a member of this house is a liar, and I direct that he withdraw that comment. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will do so, Mr Speaker. I withdraw any inference that the Deputy Leader of the Opposition is a liar, as that would be a habit of having told the lie. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will quote this article from The West Australian of 28 March - MPs are particularly incensed that immediately after the vote Mr Buswell assured Mr Birney that he had voted for him only to ring him and apologise for “misleading” him. Why did the member for Vasse ring the Leader of the Opposition and apologise for misleading him? It was because the member for Hillarys had seen the member for Vasse fill in his ballot paper and knew it was untrue. Mr P.D. Omodei : What a load of rubbish! That is desperation! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : And in fact provoked - Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : It is amazing, is it not? It provoked the member for Hillarys to say that he would never support this member. The Leader of the Opposition has asked me whether any member of the cabinet or any parliamentary secretary and so on has told me that he or she has been summonsed to appear before the CCC. I said that to the best of my knowledge, no. Mr P.D. Omodei : Or to any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What court proceedings? Mr P.D. Omodei : Any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Give me one. Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What related court proceedings? Can anybody enlighten me as to what - Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Did you ask your ministers? Why didn’t you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition is so bad at this. Mr P.D. Omodei : This is about a corrupt government. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : This is what is called “kicking yourself fair up the backside”. That is what the Leader of the Opposition has just done. The only person I know of who would fit the category that he is trying to assign to members on this side of the house is his deputy, who was summonsed to appear at the CCC and who never informed him, but who sat - Mr P.D. Omodei : You are the Premier of Western Australia and you are obliged to answer this question. You did not ask your ministers. You admitted it just then. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Let me raise the possibility with the general public of Western Australia. If the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party is summonsed to appear before the CCC to give evidence about a matter pertaining to alleged corruption, and the day before he goes there to give that evidence he gets into a car in the car park and has a secret meeting with a man who is central to that inquiry and discusses the evidence, is that the sort of behaviour that would normally warrant his immediate dismissal from his position? I think it is.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Was it a direct lie? Did the Deputy Leader of the Opposition tell a direct lie? If he lied then, and we know he lied then, can we assume that he is lying now? Withdrawal of Remark Mr C.J. BARNETT : Point of order, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : I ask the member for Cottesloe to take his seat. The Premier knows the standing orders as well as any member does. It is not parliamentary to imply that a member of this house is a liar, and I direct that he withdraw that comment. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will do so, Mr Speaker. I withdraw any inference that the Deputy Leader of the Opposition is a liar, as that would be a habit of having told the lie. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will quote this article from The West Australian of 28 March - MPs are particularly incensed that immediately after the vote Mr Buswell assured Mr Birney that he had voted for him only to ring him and apologise for “misleading” him. Why did the member for Vasse ring the Leader of the Opposition and apologise for misleading him? It was because the member for Hillarys had seen the member for Vasse fill in his ballot paper and knew it was untrue. Mr P.D. Omodei : What a load of rubbish! That is desperation! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : And in fact provoked - Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : It is amazing, is it not? It provoked the member for Hillarys to say that he would never support this member. The Leader of the Opposition has asked me whether any member of the cabinet or any parliamentary secretary and so on has told me that he or she has been summonsed to appear before the CCC. I said that to the best of my knowledge, no. Mr P.D. Omodei : Or to any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What court proceedings? Mr P.D. Omodei : Any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Give me one. Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What related court proceedings? Can anybody enlighten me as to what - Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Did you ask your ministers? Why didn’t you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition is so bad at this. Mr P.D. Omodei : This is about a corrupt government. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : This is what is called “kicking yourself fair up the backside”. That is what the Leader of the Opposition has just done. The only person I know of who would fit the category that he is trying to assign to members on this side of the house is his deputy, who was summonsed to appear at the CCC and who never informed him, but who sat - Mr P.D. Omodei : You are the Premier of Western Australia and you are obliged to answer this question. You did not ask your ministers. You admitted it just then. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Let me raise the possibility with the general public of Western Australia. If the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party is summonsed to appear before the CCC to give evidence about a matter pertaining to alleged corruption, and the day before he goes there to give that evidence he gets into a car in the car park and has a secret meeting with a man who is central to that inquiry and discusses the evidence, is that the sort of behaviour that would normally warrant his immediate dismissal from his position? I think it is.
The SPEAKER : I ask the member for Cottesloe to take his seat. The Premier knows the standing orders as well as any member does. It is not parliamentary to imply that a member of this house is a liar, and I direct that he withdraw that comment. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will do so, Mr Speaker. I withdraw any inference that the Deputy Leader of the Opposition is a liar, as that would be a habit of having told the lie. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will quote this article from The West Australian of 28 March - MPs are particularly incensed that immediately after the vote Mr Buswell assured Mr Birney that he had voted for him only to ring him and apologise for “misleading” him. Why did the member for Vasse ring the Leader of the Opposition and apologise for misleading him? It was because the member for Hillarys had seen the member for Vasse fill in his ballot paper and knew it was untrue. Mr P.D. Omodei : What a load of rubbish! That is desperation! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : And in fact provoked - Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : It is amazing, is it not? It provoked the member for Hillarys to say that he would never support this member. The Leader of the Opposition has asked me whether any member of the cabinet or any parliamentary secretary and so on has told me that he or she has been summonsed to appear before the CCC. I said that to the best of my knowledge, no. Mr P.D. Omodei : Or to any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What court proceedings? Mr P.D. Omodei : Any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Give me one. Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What related court proceedings? Can anybody enlighten me as to what - Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Did you ask your ministers? Why didn’t you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition is so bad at this. Mr P.D. Omodei : This is about a corrupt government. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : This is what is called “kicking yourself fair up the backside”. That is what the Leader of the Opposition has just done. The only person I know of who would fit the category that he is trying to assign to members on this side of the house is his deputy, who was summonsed to appear at the CCC and who never informed him, but who sat - Mr P.D. Omodei : You are the Premier of Western Australia and you are obliged to answer this question. You did not ask your ministers. You admitted it just then. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Let me raise the possibility with the general public of Western Australia. If the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party is summonsed to appear before the CCC to give evidence about a matter pertaining to alleged corruption, and the day before he goes there to give that evidence he gets into a car in the car park and has a secret meeting with a man who is central to that inquiry and discusses the evidence, is that the sort of behaviour that would normally warrant his immediate dismissal from his position? I think it is.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will do so, Mr Speaker. I withdraw any inference that the Deputy Leader of the Opposition is a liar, as that would be a habit of having told the lie. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will quote this article from The West Australian of 28 March - MPs are particularly incensed that immediately after the vote Mr Buswell assured Mr Birney that he had voted for him only to ring him and apologise for “misleading” him. Why did the member for Vasse ring the Leader of the Opposition and apologise for misleading him? It was because the member for Hillarys had seen the member for Vasse fill in his ballot paper and knew it was untrue. Mr P.D. Omodei : What a load of rubbish! That is desperation! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : And in fact provoked - Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : It is amazing, is it not? It provoked the member for Hillarys to say that he would never support this member. The Leader of the Opposition has asked me whether any member of the cabinet or any parliamentary secretary and so on has told me that he or she has been summonsed to appear before the CCC. I said that to the best of my knowledge, no. Mr P.D. Omodei : Or to any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What court proceedings? Mr P.D. Omodei : Any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Give me one. Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What related court proceedings? Can anybody enlighten me as to what - Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Did you ask your ministers? Why didn’t you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition is so bad at this. Mr P.D. Omodei : This is about a corrupt government. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : This is what is called “kicking yourself fair up the backside”. That is what the Leader of the Opposition has just done. The only person I know of who would fit the category that he is trying to assign to members on this side of the house is his deputy, who was summonsed to appear at the CCC and who never informed him, but who sat - Mr P.D. Omodei : You are the Premier of Western Australia and you are obliged to answer this question. You did not ask your ministers. You admitted it just then. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Let me raise the possibility with the general public of Western Australia. If the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party is summonsed to appear before the CCC to give evidence about a matter pertaining to alleged corruption, and the day before he goes there to give that evidence he gets into a car in the car park and has a secret meeting with a man who is central to that inquiry and discusses the evidence, is that the sort of behaviour that would normally warrant his immediate dismissal from his position? I think it is.
Mr P.D. Omodei : What a load of rubbish! That is desperation! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : And in fact provoked - Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : It is amazing, is it not? It provoked the member for Hillarys to say that he would never support this member. The Leader of the Opposition has asked me whether any member of the cabinet or any parliamentary secretary and so on has told me that he or she has been summonsed to appear before the CCC. I said that to the best of my knowledge, no. Mr P.D. Omodei : Or to any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What court proceedings? Mr P.D. Omodei : Any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Give me one. Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What related court proceedings? Can anybody enlighten me as to what - Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Did you ask your ministers? Why didn’t you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition is so bad at this. Mr P.D. Omodei : This is about a corrupt government. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : This is what is called “kicking yourself fair up the backside”. That is what the Leader of the Opposition has just done. The only person I know of who would fit the category that he is trying to assign to members on this side of the house is his deputy, who was summonsed to appear at the CCC and who never informed him, but who sat - Mr P.D. Omodei : You are the Premier of Western Australia and you are obliged to answer this question. You did not ask your ministers. You admitted it just then. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Let me raise the possibility with the general public of Western Australia. If the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party is summonsed to appear before the CCC to give evidence about a matter pertaining to alleged corruption, and the day before he goes there to give that evidence he gets into a car in the car park and has a secret meeting with a man who is central to that inquiry and discusses the evidence, is that the sort of behaviour that would normally warrant his immediate dismissal from his position? I think it is.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : And in fact provoked - Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : It is amazing, is it not? It provoked the member for Hillarys to say that he would never support this member. The Leader of the Opposition has asked me whether any member of the cabinet or any parliamentary secretary and so on has told me that he or she has been summonsed to appear before the CCC. I said that to the best of my knowledge, no. Mr P.D. Omodei : Or to any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What court proceedings? Mr P.D. Omodei : Any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Give me one. Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What related court proceedings? Can anybody enlighten me as to what - Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Did you ask your ministers? Why didn’t you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition is so bad at this. Mr P.D. Omodei : This is about a corrupt government. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : This is what is called “kicking yourself fair up the backside”. That is what the Leader of the Opposition has just done. The only person I know of who would fit the category that he is trying to assign to members on this side of the house is his deputy, who was summonsed to appear at the CCC and who never informed him, but who sat - Mr P.D. Omodei : You are the Premier of Western Australia and you are obliged to answer this question. You did not ask your ministers. You admitted it just then. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Let me raise the possibility with the general public of Western Australia. If the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party is summonsed to appear before the CCC to give evidence about a matter pertaining to alleged corruption, and the day before he goes there to give that evidence he gets into a car in the car park and has a secret meeting with a man who is central to that inquiry and discusses the evidence, is that the sort of behaviour that would normally warrant his immediate dismissal from his position? I think it is.
Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : It is amazing, is it not? It provoked the member for Hillarys to say that he would never support this member. The Leader of the Opposition has asked me whether any member of the cabinet or any parliamentary secretary and so on has told me that he or she has been summonsed to appear before the CCC. I said that to the best of my knowledge, no. Mr P.D. Omodei : Or to any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What court proceedings? Mr P.D. Omodei : Any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Give me one. Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What related court proceedings? Can anybody enlighten me as to what - Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Did you ask your ministers? Why didn’t you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition is so bad at this. Mr P.D. Omodei : This is about a corrupt government. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : This is what is called “kicking yourself fair up the backside”. That is what the Leader of the Opposition has just done. The only person I know of who would fit the category that he is trying to assign to members on this side of the house is his deputy, who was summonsed to appear at the CCC and who never informed him, but who sat - Mr P.D. Omodei : You are the Premier of Western Australia and you are obliged to answer this question. You did not ask your ministers. You admitted it just then. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Let me raise the possibility with the general public of Western Australia. If the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party is summonsed to appear before the CCC to give evidence about a matter pertaining to alleged corruption, and the day before he goes there to give that evidence he gets into a car in the car park and has a secret meeting with a man who is central to that inquiry and discusses the evidence, is that the sort of behaviour that would normally warrant his immediate dismissal from his position? I think it is.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : It is amazing, is it not? It provoked the member for Hillarys to say that he would never support this member. The Leader of the Opposition has asked me whether any member of the cabinet or any parliamentary secretary and so on has told me that he or she has been summonsed to appear before the CCC. I said that to the best of my knowledge, no. Mr P.D. Omodei : Or to any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What court proceedings? Mr P.D. Omodei : Any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Give me one. Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What related court proceedings? Can anybody enlighten me as to what - Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Did you ask your ministers? Why didn’t you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition is so bad at this. Mr P.D. Omodei : This is about a corrupt government. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : This is what is called “kicking yourself fair up the backside”. That is what the Leader of the Opposition has just done. The only person I know of who would fit the category that he is trying to assign to members on this side of the house is his deputy, who was summonsed to appear at the CCC and who never informed him, but who sat - Mr P.D. Omodei : You are the Premier of Western Australia and you are obliged to answer this question. You did not ask your ministers. You admitted it just then. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Let me raise the possibility with the general public of Western Australia. If the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party is summonsed to appear before the CCC to give evidence about a matter pertaining to alleged corruption, and the day before he goes there to give that evidence he gets into a car in the car park and has a secret meeting with a man who is central to that inquiry and discusses the evidence, is that the sort of behaviour that would normally warrant his immediate dismissal from his position? I think it is.
Mr P.D. Omodei : Or to any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What court proceedings? Mr P.D. Omodei : Any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Give me one. Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What related court proceedings? Can anybody enlighten me as to what - Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Did you ask your ministers? Why didn’t you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition is so bad at this. Mr P.D. Omodei : This is about a corrupt government. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : This is what is called “kicking yourself fair up the backside”. That is what the Leader of the Opposition has just done. The only person I know of who would fit the category that he is trying to assign to members on this side of the house is his deputy, who was summonsed to appear at the CCC and who never informed him, but who sat - Mr P.D. Omodei : You are the Premier of Western Australia and you are obliged to answer this question. You did not ask your ministers. You admitted it just then. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Let me raise the possibility with the general public of Western Australia. If the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party is summonsed to appear before the CCC to give evidence about a matter pertaining to alleged corruption, and the day before he goes there to give that evidence he gets into a car in the car park and has a secret meeting with a man who is central to that inquiry and discusses the evidence, is that the sort of behaviour that would normally warrant his immediate dismissal from his position? I think it is.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What court proceedings? Mr P.D. Omodei : Any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Give me one. Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What related court proceedings? Can anybody enlighten me as to what - Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Did you ask your ministers? Why didn’t you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition is so bad at this. Mr P.D. Omodei : This is about a corrupt government. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : This is what is called “kicking yourself fair up the backside”. That is what the Leader of the Opposition has just done. The only person I know of who would fit the category that he is trying to assign to members on this side of the house is his deputy, who was summonsed to appear at the CCC and who never informed him, but who sat - Mr P.D. Omodei : You are the Premier of Western Australia and you are obliged to answer this question. You did not ask your ministers. You admitted it just then. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Let me raise the possibility with the general public of Western Australia. If the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party is summonsed to appear before the CCC to give evidence about a matter pertaining to alleged corruption, and the day before he goes there to give that evidence he gets into a car in the car park and has a secret meeting with a man who is central to that inquiry and discusses the evidence, is that the sort of behaviour that would normally warrant his immediate dismissal from his position? I think it is.
Mr P.D. Omodei : Any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Give me one. Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What related court proceedings? Can anybody enlighten me as to what - Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Did you ask your ministers? Why didn’t you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition is so bad at this. Mr P.D. Omodei : This is about a corrupt government. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : This is what is called “kicking yourself fair up the backside”. That is what the Leader of the Opposition has just done. The only person I know of who would fit the category that he is trying to assign to members on this side of the house is his deputy, who was summonsed to appear at the CCC and who never informed him, but who sat - Mr P.D. Omodei : You are the Premier of Western Australia and you are obliged to answer this question. You did not ask your ministers. You admitted it just then. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Let me raise the possibility with the general public of Western Australia. If the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party is summonsed to appear before the CCC to give evidence about a matter pertaining to alleged corruption, and the day before he goes there to give that evidence he gets into a car in the car park and has a secret meeting with a man who is central to that inquiry and discusses the evidence, is that the sort of behaviour that would normally warrant his immediate dismissal from his position? I think it is.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Give me one. Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What related court proceedings? Can anybody enlighten me as to what - Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Did you ask your ministers? Why didn’t you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition is so bad at this. Mr P.D. Omodei : This is about a corrupt government. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : This is what is called “kicking yourself fair up the backside”. That is what the Leader of the Opposition has just done. The only person I know of who would fit the category that he is trying to assign to members on this side of the house is his deputy, who was summonsed to appear at the CCC and who never informed him, but who sat - Mr P.D. Omodei : You are the Premier of Western Australia and you are obliged to answer this question. You did not ask your ministers. You admitted it just then. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Let me raise the possibility with the general public of Western Australia. If the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party is summonsed to appear before the CCC to give evidence about a matter pertaining to alleged corruption, and the day before he goes there to give that evidence he gets into a car in the car park and has a secret meeting with a man who is central to that inquiry and discusses the evidence, is that the sort of behaviour that would normally warrant his immediate dismissal from his position? I think it is.
Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What related court proceedings? Can anybody enlighten me as to what - Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Did you ask your ministers? Why didn’t you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition is so bad at this. Mr P.D. Omodei : This is about a corrupt government. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : This is what is called “kicking yourself fair up the backside”. That is what the Leader of the Opposition has just done. The only person I know of who would fit the category that he is trying to assign to members on this side of the house is his deputy, who was summonsed to appear at the CCC and who never informed him, but who sat - Mr P.D. Omodei : You are the Premier of Western Australia and you are obliged to answer this question. You did not ask your ministers. You admitted it just then. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Let me raise the possibility with the general public of Western Australia. If the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party is summonsed to appear before the CCC to give evidence about a matter pertaining to alleged corruption, and the day before he goes there to give that evidence he gets into a car in the car park and has a secret meeting with a man who is central to that inquiry and discusses the evidence, is that the sort of behaviour that would normally warrant his immediate dismissal from his position? I think it is.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What related court proceedings? Can anybody enlighten me as to what - Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Did you ask your ministers? Why didn’t you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition is so bad at this. Mr P.D. Omodei : This is about a corrupt government. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : This is what is called “kicking yourself fair up the backside”. That is what the Leader of the Opposition has just done. The only person I know of who would fit the category that he is trying to assign to members on this side of the house is his deputy, who was summonsed to appear at the CCC and who never informed him, but who sat - Mr P.D. Omodei : You are the Premier of Western Australia and you are obliged to answer this question. You did not ask your ministers. You admitted it just then. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Let me raise the possibility with the general public of Western Australia. If the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party is summonsed to appear before the CCC to give evidence about a matter pertaining to alleged corruption, and the day before he goes there to give that evidence he gets into a car in the car park and has a secret meeting with a man who is central to that inquiry and discusses the evidence, is that the sort of behaviour that would normally warrant his immediate dismissal from his position? I think it is.
Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Did you ask your ministers? Why didn’t you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition is so bad at this. Mr P.D. Omodei : This is about a corrupt government. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : This is what is called “kicking yourself fair up the backside”. That is what the Leader of the Opposition has just done. The only person I know of who would fit the category that he is trying to assign to members on this side of the house is his deputy, who was summonsed to appear at the CCC and who never informed him, but who sat - Mr P.D. Omodei : You are the Premier of Western Australia and you are obliged to answer this question. You did not ask your ministers. You admitted it just then. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Let me raise the possibility with the general public of Western Australia. If the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party is summonsed to appear before the CCC to give evidence about a matter pertaining to alleged corruption, and the day before he goes there to give that evidence he gets into a car in the car park and has a secret meeting with a man who is central to that inquiry and discusses the evidence, is that the sort of behaviour that would normally warrant his immediate dismissal from his position? I think it is.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition is so bad at this. Mr P.D. Omodei : This is about a corrupt government. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : This is what is called “kicking yourself fair up the backside”. That is what the Leader of the Opposition has just done. The only person I know of who would fit the category that he is trying to assign to members on this side of the house is his deputy, who was summonsed to appear at the CCC and who never informed him, but who sat - Mr P.D. Omodei : You are the Premier of Western Australia and you are obliged to answer this question. You did not ask your ministers. You admitted it just then. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Let me raise the possibility with the general public of Western Australia. If the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party is summonsed to appear before the CCC to give evidence about a matter pertaining to alleged corruption, and the day before he goes there to give that evidence he gets into a car in the car park and has a secret meeting with a man who is central to that inquiry and discusses the evidence, is that the sort of behaviour that would normally warrant his immediate dismissal from his position? I think it is.
Mr P.D. Omodei : This is about a corrupt government. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : This is what is called “kicking yourself fair up the backside”. That is what the Leader of the Opposition has just done. The only person I know of who would fit the category that he is trying to assign to members on this side of the house is his deputy, who was summonsed to appear at the CCC and who never informed him, but who sat - Mr P.D. Omodei : You are the Premier of Western Australia and you are obliged to answer this question. You did not ask your ministers. You admitted it just then. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Let me raise the possibility with the general public of Western Australia. If the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party is summonsed to appear before the CCC to give evidence about a matter pertaining to alleged corruption, and the day before he goes there to give that evidence he gets into a car in the car park and has a secret meeting with a man who is central to that inquiry and discusses the evidence, is that the sort of behaviour that would normally warrant his immediate dismissal from his position? I think it is.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : This is what is called “kicking yourself fair up the backside”. That is what the Leader of the Opposition has just done. The only person I know of who would fit the category that he is trying to assign to members on this side of the house is his deputy, who was summonsed to appear at the CCC and who never informed him, but who sat - Mr P.D. Omodei : You are the Premier of Western Australia and you are obliged to answer this question. You did not ask your ministers. You admitted it just then. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Let me raise the possibility with the general public of Western Australia. If the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party is summonsed to appear before the CCC to give evidence about a matter pertaining to alleged corruption, and the day before he goes there to give that evidence he gets into a car in the car park and has a secret meeting with a man who is central to that inquiry and discusses the evidence, is that the sort of behaviour that would normally warrant his immediate dismissal from his position? I think it is.
Mr P.D. Omodei : You are the Premier of Western Australia and you are obliged to answer this question. You did not ask your ministers. You admitted it just then. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Let me raise the possibility with the general public of Western Australia. If the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party is summonsed to appear before the CCC to give evidence about a matter pertaining to alleged corruption, and the day before he goes there to give that evidence he gets into a car in the car park and has a secret meeting with a man who is central to that inquiry and discusses the evidence, is that the sort of behaviour that would normally warrant his immediate dismissal from his position? I think it is.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Let me raise the possibility with the general public of Western Australia. If the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party is summonsed to appear before the CCC to give evidence about a matter pertaining to alleged corruption, and the day before he goes there to give that evidence he gets into a car in the car park and has a secret meeting with a man who is central to that inquiry and discusses the evidence, is that the sort of behaviour that would normally warrant his immediate dismissal from his position? I think it is.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: I thank the member for the question. Certainly from my point of view, I have not, and as far as I am aware no-one has on this side. I am not sure, however, about the legal technicalities of providing that sort of information. However, the answer is as I gave it: I am not aware of any member on this side, or any member of the cabinet - is that what the Leader of the Opposition asked? Mr P.D. Omodei : Yes, cabinet, parliamentary secretaries or any member of your government, in regard to court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Court proceedings? I do not know. Has anyone had a speeding fine? Fair go! Mr R.F. Johnson : You know what we are talking about. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : However, let me launch into this one: has the Leader of the Opposition at any time been informed by any member of his side that he or she would be summonsed as a witness by the CCC? Mr P.D. Omodei : I am asking the questions. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Has the Leader of the Opposition or any member of his side of the Parliament been so informed? If so, when did that notification take place? If not, is the Leader of the Opposition concerned that the member sitting on his left was summonsed to be questioned at the CCC, sat in a car park with Noel Crichton-Browne, consulted with Noel Crichton-Browne about the evidence that he would give, and was apparently coached on how to answer the questions? Can the Leader of the Opposition get some advice from his shadow Attorney General as to whether or not it is in fact a breach of the law that this parliamentarian, having been asked to attend the CCC and answer questions about a matter involving Noel Crichton-Browne, then took it upon himself to sit in a car in the car park of the Parliament and discuss with Noel Crichton-Browne the issues about which he had been asked to appear at the CCC? Not only that, but also, on the evidence of Noel Crichton-Browne, he apparently received coaching on how to answer those questions. Was the Leader of the Opposition ever informed of that? Mr P.D. Omodei : Rubbish! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Was the Leader of the Opposition ever informed that his deputy was called to provide evidence to the CCC about the Canal Rocks development? Mr P.D. Omodei : Yes. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When? Mr P.D. Omodei : He told me as soon as he got advice. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When? Mr P.D. Omodei : He told me immediately then. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When? Give me the date. I do not believe the Leader of the Opposition was the leader at that stage. Mr P.D. Omodei : Come on! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : He was not. He became the leader on 24 March, did he not? Is the Leader of the Opposition sitting in this chamber lying to us? Mr P.D. Omodei : I am asking you whether any of your ministers or their staff were involved in any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Is the Leader of the Opposition following the habit - Mr P.D. Omodei : Why haven’t you asked them, Premier? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have asked. I have told the Leader of the Opposition that to the best of my knowledge the answer to the question is no. Mr P.D. Omodei : You are losing the plot. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am asking the Leader of the Opposition a question. He just told me and the Parliament that he was informed immediately that his deputy knew. I am saying to him that he was not the leader at that stage; so why was he informed? Mr P.D. Omodei : He told me as soon as he was summonsed that he was going to the CCC. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition was not the leader then. Mr T. Buswell : Yes, he was. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When? Mr T. Buswell : When I was summonsed. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition became the leader on 24 March. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition had a meeting outside Parliament with Noel Crichton-Browne on 21 or 22 March. He attended the CCC on 23 March. Do we have a question of credibility here? Do we have a question of somebody not telling the truth? Does it follow a pattern that some misleading of the Parliament has been attempted? Does it follow a pattern that we know of; that is, the member for Vasse has been proved to be dishonest in his dealings with his own members of Parliament? They have said so publicly, have they not? Mr P.D. Omodei : Who is being dishonest? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Did the member for Vasse turn to the then leader of the Liberal Party and tell him that he supported him in a ballot when the truth was that he had not; and was that a direct lie? Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Was it a direct lie? Did the Deputy Leader of the Opposition tell a direct lie? If he lied then, and we know he lied then, can we assume that he is lying now? Withdrawal of Remark Mr C.J. BARNETT : Point of order, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : I ask the member for Cottesloe to take his seat. The Premier knows the standing orders as well as any member does. It is not parliamentary to imply that a member of this house is a liar, and I direct that he withdraw that comment. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will do so, Mr Speaker. I withdraw any inference that the Deputy Leader of the Opposition is a liar, as that would be a habit of having told the lie. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will quote this article from The West Australian of 28 March - MPs are particularly incensed that immediately after the vote Mr Buswell assured Mr Birney that he had voted for him only to ring him and apologise for “misleading” him. Why did the member for Vasse ring the Leader of the Opposition and apologise for misleading him? It was because the member for Hillarys had seen the member for Vasse fill in his ballot paper and knew it was untrue. Mr P.D. Omodei : What a load of rubbish! That is desperation! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : And in fact provoked - Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : It is amazing, is it not? It provoked the member for Hillarys to say that he would never support this member. The Leader of the Opposition has asked me whether any member of the cabinet or any parliamentary secretary and so on has told me that he or she has been summonsed to appear before the CCC. I said that to the best of my knowledge, no. Mr P.D. Omodei : Or to any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What court proceedings? Mr P.D. Omodei : Any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Give me one. Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What related court proceedings? Can anybody enlighten me as to what - Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Did you ask your ministers? Why didn’t you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition is so bad at this. Mr P.D. Omodei : This is about a corrupt government. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : This is what is called “kicking yourself fair up the backside”. That is what the Leader of the Opposition has just done. The only person I know of who would fit the category that he is trying to assign to members on this side of the house is his deputy, who was summonsed to appear at the CCC and who never informed him, but who sat - Mr P.D. Omodei : You are the Premier of Western Australia and you are obliged to answer this question. You did not ask your ministers. You admitted it just then. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Let me raise the possibility with the general public of Western Australia. If the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party is summonsed to appear before the CCC to give evidence about a matter pertaining to alleged corruption, and the day before he goes there to give that evidence he gets into a car in the car park and has a secret meeting with a man who is central to that inquiry and discusses the evidence, is that the sort of behaviour that would normally warrant his immediate dismissal from his position? I think it is.
I thank the member for the question. Certainly from my point of view, I have not, and as far as I am aware no-one has on this side. I am not sure, however, about the legal technicalities of providing that sort of information. However, the answer is as I gave it: I am not aware of any member on this side, or any member of the cabinet - is that what the Leader of the Opposition asked? Mr P.D. Omodei : Yes, cabinet, parliamentary secretaries or any member of your government, in regard to court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Court proceedings? I do not know. Has anyone had a speeding fine? Fair go! Mr R.F. Johnson : You know what we are talking about. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : However, let me launch into this one: has the Leader of the Opposition at any time been informed by any member of his side that he or she would be summonsed as a witness by the CCC? Mr P.D. Omodei : I am asking the questions. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Has the Leader of the Opposition or any member of his side of the Parliament been so informed? If so, when did that notification take place? If not, is the Leader of the Opposition concerned that the member sitting on his left was summonsed to be questioned at the CCC, sat in a car park with Noel Crichton-Browne, consulted with Noel Crichton-Browne about the evidence that he would give, and was apparently coached on how to answer the questions? Can the Leader of the Opposition get some advice from his shadow Attorney General as to whether or not it is in fact a breach of the law that this parliamentarian, having been asked to attend the CCC and answer questions about a matter involving Noel Crichton-Browne, then took it upon himself to sit in a car in the car park of the Parliament and discuss with Noel Crichton-Browne the issues about which he had been asked to appear at the CCC? Not only that, but also, on the evidence of Noel Crichton-Browne, he apparently received coaching on how to answer those questions. Was the Leader of the Opposition ever informed of that? Mr P.D. Omodei : Rubbish! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Was the Leader of the Opposition ever informed that his deputy was called to provide evidence to the CCC about the Canal Rocks development? Mr P.D. Omodei : Yes. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When? Mr P.D. Omodei : He told me as soon as he got advice. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When? Mr P.D. Omodei : He told me immediately then. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When? Give me the date. I do not believe the Leader of the Opposition was the leader at that stage. Mr P.D. Omodei : Come on! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : He was not. He became the leader on 24 March, did he not? Is the Leader of the Opposition sitting in this chamber lying to us? Mr P.D. Omodei : I am asking you whether any of your ministers or their staff were involved in any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Is the Leader of the Opposition following the habit - Mr P.D. Omodei : Why haven’t you asked them, Premier? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have asked. I have told the Leader of the Opposition that to the best of my knowledge the answer to the question is no. Mr P.D. Omodei : You are losing the plot. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am asking the Leader of the Opposition a question. He just told me and the Parliament that he was informed immediately that his deputy knew. I am saying to him that he was not the leader at that stage; so why was he informed? Mr P.D. Omodei : He told me as soon as he was summonsed that he was going to the CCC. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition was not the leader then. Mr T. Buswell : Yes, he was. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When? Mr T. Buswell : When I was summonsed. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition became the leader on 24 March. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition had a meeting outside Parliament with Noel Crichton-Browne on 21 or 22 March. He attended the CCC on 23 March. Do we have a question of credibility here? Do we have a question of somebody not telling the truth? Does it follow a pattern that some misleading of the Parliament has been attempted? Does it follow a pattern that we know of; that is, the member for Vasse has been proved to be dishonest in his dealings with his own members of Parliament? They have said so publicly, have they not? Mr P.D. Omodei : Who is being dishonest? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Did the member for Vasse turn to the then leader of the Liberal Party and tell him that he supported him in a ballot when the truth was that he had not; and was that a direct lie? Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Was it a direct lie? Did the Deputy Leader of the Opposition tell a direct lie? If he lied then, and we know he lied then, can we assume that he is lying now? Withdrawal of Remark Mr C.J. BARNETT : Point of order, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : I ask the member for Cottesloe to take his seat. The Premier knows the standing orders as well as any member does. It is not parliamentary to imply that a member of this house is a liar, and I direct that he withdraw that comment. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will do so, Mr Speaker. I withdraw any inference that the Deputy Leader of the Opposition is a liar, as that would be a habit of having told the lie. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will quote this article from The West Australian of 28 March - MPs are particularly incensed that immediately after the vote Mr Buswell assured Mr Birney that he had voted for him only to ring him and apologise for “misleading” him. Why did the member for Vasse ring the Leader of the Opposition and apologise for misleading him? It was because the member for Hillarys had seen the member for Vasse fill in his ballot paper and knew it was untrue. Mr P.D. Omodei : What a load of rubbish! That is desperation! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : And in fact provoked - Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : It is amazing, is it not? It provoked the member for Hillarys to say that he would never support this member. The Leader of the Opposition has asked me whether any member of the cabinet or any parliamentary secretary and so on has told me that he or she has been summonsed to appear before the CCC. I said that to the best of my knowledge, no. Mr P.D. Omodei : Or to any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What court proceedings? Mr P.D. Omodei : Any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Give me one. Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What related court proceedings? Can anybody enlighten me as to what - Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Did you ask your ministers? Why didn’t you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition is so bad at this. Mr P.D. Omodei : This is about a corrupt government. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : This is what is called “kicking yourself fair up the backside”. That is what the Leader of the Opposition has just done. The only person I know of who would fit the category that he is trying to assign to members on this side of the house is his deputy, who was summonsed to appear at the CCC and who never informed him, but who sat - Mr P.D. Omodei : You are the Premier of Western Australia and you are obliged to answer this question. You did not ask your ministers. You admitted it just then. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Let me raise the possibility with the general public of Western Australia. If the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party is summonsed to appear before the CCC to give evidence about a matter pertaining to alleged corruption, and the day before he goes there to give that evidence he gets into a car in the car park and has a secret meeting with a man who is central to that inquiry and discusses the evidence, is that the sort of behaviour that would normally warrant his immediate dismissal from his position? I think it is.
Mr P.D. Omodei : Yes, cabinet, parliamentary secretaries or any member of your government, in regard to court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Court proceedings? I do not know. Has anyone had a speeding fine? Fair go! Mr R.F. Johnson : You know what we are talking about. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : However, let me launch into this one: has the Leader of the Opposition at any time been informed by any member of his side that he or she would be summonsed as a witness by the CCC? Mr P.D. Omodei : I am asking the questions. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Has the Leader of the Opposition or any member of his side of the Parliament been so informed? If so, when did that notification take place? If not, is the Leader of the Opposition concerned that the member sitting on his left was summonsed to be questioned at the CCC, sat in a car park with Noel Crichton-Browne, consulted with Noel Crichton-Browne about the evidence that he would give, and was apparently coached on how to answer the questions? Can the Leader of the Opposition get some advice from his shadow Attorney General as to whether or not it is in fact a breach of the law that this parliamentarian, having been asked to attend the CCC and answer questions about a matter involving Noel Crichton-Browne, then took it upon himself to sit in a car in the car park of the Parliament and discuss with Noel Crichton-Browne the issues about which he had been asked to appear at the CCC? Not only that, but also, on the evidence of Noel Crichton-Browne, he apparently received coaching on how to answer those questions. Was the Leader of the Opposition ever informed of that? Mr P.D. Omodei : Rubbish! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Was the Leader of the Opposition ever informed that his deputy was called to provide evidence to the CCC about the Canal Rocks development? Mr P.D. Omodei : Yes. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When? Mr P.D. Omodei : He told me as soon as he got advice. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When? Mr P.D. Omodei : He told me immediately then. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When? Give me the date. I do not believe the Leader of the Opposition was the leader at that stage. Mr P.D. Omodei : Come on! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : He was not. He became the leader on 24 March, did he not? Is the Leader of the Opposition sitting in this chamber lying to us? Mr P.D. Omodei : I am asking you whether any of your ministers or their staff were involved in any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Is the Leader of the Opposition following the habit - Mr P.D. Omodei : Why haven’t you asked them, Premier? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have asked. I have told the Leader of the Opposition that to the best of my knowledge the answer to the question is no. Mr P.D. Omodei : You are losing the plot. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am asking the Leader of the Opposition a question. He just told me and the Parliament that he was informed immediately that his deputy knew. I am saying to him that he was not the leader at that stage; so why was he informed? Mr P.D. Omodei : He told me as soon as he was summonsed that he was going to the CCC. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition was not the leader then. Mr T. Buswell : Yes, he was. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When? Mr T. Buswell : When I was summonsed. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition became the leader on 24 March. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition had a meeting outside Parliament with Noel Crichton-Browne on 21 or 22 March. He attended the CCC on 23 March. Do we have a question of credibility here? Do we have a question of somebody not telling the truth? Does it follow a pattern that some misleading of the Parliament has been attempted? Does it follow a pattern that we know of; that is, the member for Vasse has been proved to be dishonest in his dealings with his own members of Parliament? They have said so publicly, have they not? Mr P.D. Omodei : Who is being dishonest? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Did the member for Vasse turn to the then leader of the Liberal Party and tell him that he supported him in a ballot when the truth was that he had not; and was that a direct lie? Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Was it a direct lie? Did the Deputy Leader of the Opposition tell a direct lie? If he lied then, and we know he lied then, can we assume that he is lying now? Withdrawal of Remark Mr C.J. BARNETT : Point of order, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : I ask the member for Cottesloe to take his seat. The Premier knows the standing orders as well as any member does. It is not parliamentary to imply that a member of this house is a liar, and I direct that he withdraw that comment. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will do so, Mr Speaker. I withdraw any inference that the Deputy Leader of the Opposition is a liar, as that would be a habit of having told the lie. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will quote this article from The West Australian of 28 March - MPs are particularly incensed that immediately after the vote Mr Buswell assured Mr Birney that he had voted for him only to ring him and apologise for “misleading” him. Why did the member for Vasse ring the Leader of the Opposition and apologise for misleading him? It was because the member for Hillarys had seen the member for Vasse fill in his ballot paper and knew it was untrue. Mr P.D. Omodei : What a load of rubbish! That is desperation! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : And in fact provoked - Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : It is amazing, is it not? It provoked the member for Hillarys to say that he would never support this member. The Leader of the Opposition has asked me whether any member of the cabinet or any parliamentary secretary and so on has told me that he or she has been summonsed to appear before the CCC. I said that to the best of my knowledge, no. Mr P.D. Omodei : Or to any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What court proceedings? Mr P.D. Omodei : Any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Give me one. Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What related court proceedings? Can anybody enlighten me as to what - Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Did you ask your ministers? Why didn’t you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition is so bad at this. Mr P.D. Omodei : This is about a corrupt government. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : This is what is called “kicking yourself fair up the backside”. That is what the Leader of the Opposition has just done. The only person I know of who would fit the category that he is trying to assign to members on this side of the house is his deputy, who was summonsed to appear at the CCC and who never informed him, but who sat - Mr P.D. Omodei : You are the Premier of Western Australia and you are obliged to answer this question. You did not ask your ministers. You admitted it just then. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Let me raise the possibility with the general public of Western Australia. If the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party is summonsed to appear before the CCC to give evidence about a matter pertaining to alleged corruption, and the day before he goes there to give that evidence he gets into a car in the car park and has a secret meeting with a man who is central to that inquiry and discusses the evidence, is that the sort of behaviour that would normally warrant his immediate dismissal from his position? I think it is.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Court proceedings? I do not know. Has anyone had a speeding fine? Fair go! Mr R.F. Johnson : You know what we are talking about. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : However, let me launch into this one: has the Leader of the Opposition at any time been informed by any member of his side that he or she would be summonsed as a witness by the CCC? Mr P.D. Omodei : I am asking the questions. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Has the Leader of the Opposition or any member of his side of the Parliament been so informed? If so, when did that notification take place? If not, is the Leader of the Opposition concerned that the member sitting on his left was summonsed to be questioned at the CCC, sat in a car park with Noel Crichton-Browne, consulted with Noel Crichton-Browne about the evidence that he would give, and was apparently coached on how to answer the questions? Can the Leader of the Opposition get some advice from his shadow Attorney General as to whether or not it is in fact a breach of the law that this parliamentarian, having been asked to attend the CCC and answer questions about a matter involving Noel Crichton-Browne, then took it upon himself to sit in a car in the car park of the Parliament and discuss with Noel Crichton-Browne the issues about which he had been asked to appear at the CCC? Not only that, but also, on the evidence of Noel Crichton-Browne, he apparently received coaching on how to answer those questions. Was the Leader of the Opposition ever informed of that? Mr P.D. Omodei : Rubbish! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Was the Leader of the Opposition ever informed that his deputy was called to provide evidence to the CCC about the Canal Rocks development? Mr P.D. Omodei : Yes. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When? Mr P.D. Omodei : He told me as soon as he got advice. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When? Mr P.D. Omodei : He told me immediately then. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When? Give me the date. I do not believe the Leader of the Opposition was the leader at that stage. Mr P.D. Omodei : Come on! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : He was not. He became the leader on 24 March, did he not? Is the Leader of the Opposition sitting in this chamber lying to us? Mr P.D. Omodei : I am asking you whether any of your ministers or their staff were involved in any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Is the Leader of the Opposition following the habit - Mr P.D. Omodei : Why haven’t you asked them, Premier? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have asked. I have told the Leader of the Opposition that to the best of my knowledge the answer to the question is no. Mr P.D. Omodei : You are losing the plot. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am asking the Leader of the Opposition a question. He just told me and the Parliament that he was informed immediately that his deputy knew. I am saying to him that he was not the leader at that stage; so why was he informed? Mr P.D. Omodei : He told me as soon as he was summonsed that he was going to the CCC. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition was not the leader then. Mr T. Buswell : Yes, he was. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When? Mr T. Buswell : When I was summonsed. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition became the leader on 24 March. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition had a meeting outside Parliament with Noel Crichton-Browne on 21 or 22 March. He attended the CCC on 23 March. Do we have a question of credibility here? Do we have a question of somebody not telling the truth? Does it follow a pattern that some misleading of the Parliament has been attempted? Does it follow a pattern that we know of; that is, the member for Vasse has been proved to be dishonest in his dealings with his own members of Parliament? They have said so publicly, have they not? Mr P.D. Omodei : Who is being dishonest? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Did the member for Vasse turn to the then leader of the Liberal Party and tell him that he supported him in a ballot when the truth was that he had not; and was that a direct lie? Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Was it a direct lie? Did the Deputy Leader of the Opposition tell a direct lie? If he lied then, and we know he lied then, can we assume that he is lying now? Withdrawal of Remark Mr C.J. BARNETT : Point of order, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : I ask the member for Cottesloe to take his seat. The Premier knows the standing orders as well as any member does. It is not parliamentary to imply that a member of this house is a liar, and I direct that he withdraw that comment. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will do so, Mr Speaker. I withdraw any inference that the Deputy Leader of the Opposition is a liar, as that would be a habit of having told the lie. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will quote this article from The West Australian of 28 March - MPs are particularly incensed that immediately after the vote Mr Buswell assured Mr Birney that he had voted for him only to ring him and apologise for “misleading” him. Why did the member for Vasse ring the Leader of the Opposition and apologise for misleading him? It was because the member for Hillarys had seen the member for Vasse fill in his ballot paper and knew it was untrue. Mr P.D. Omodei : What a load of rubbish! That is desperation! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : And in fact provoked - Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : It is amazing, is it not? It provoked the member for Hillarys to say that he would never support this member. The Leader of the Opposition has asked me whether any member of the cabinet or any parliamentary secretary and so on has told me that he or she has been summonsed to appear before the CCC. I said that to the best of my knowledge, no. Mr P.D. Omodei : Or to any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What court proceedings? Mr P.D. Omodei : Any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Give me one. Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What related court proceedings? Can anybody enlighten me as to what - Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Did you ask your ministers? Why didn’t you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition is so bad at this. Mr P.D. Omodei : This is about a corrupt government. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : This is what is called “kicking yourself fair up the backside”. That is what the Leader of the Opposition has just done. The only person I know of who would fit the category that he is trying to assign to members on this side of the house is his deputy, who was summonsed to appear at the CCC and who never informed him, but who sat - Mr P.D. Omodei : You are the Premier of Western Australia and you are obliged to answer this question. You did not ask your ministers. You admitted it just then. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Let me raise the possibility with the general public of Western Australia. If the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party is summonsed to appear before the CCC to give evidence about a matter pertaining to alleged corruption, and the day before he goes there to give that evidence he gets into a car in the car park and has a secret meeting with a man who is central to that inquiry and discusses the evidence, is that the sort of behaviour that would normally warrant his immediate dismissal from his position? I think it is.
Mr R.F. Johnson : You know what we are talking about. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : However, let me launch into this one: has the Leader of the Opposition at any time been informed by any member of his side that he or she would be summonsed as a witness by the CCC? Mr P.D. Omodei : I am asking the questions. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Has the Leader of the Opposition or any member of his side of the Parliament been so informed? If so, when did that notification take place? If not, is the Leader of the Opposition concerned that the member sitting on his left was summonsed to be questioned at the CCC, sat in a car park with Noel Crichton-Browne, consulted with Noel Crichton-Browne about the evidence that he would give, and was apparently coached on how to answer the questions? Can the Leader of the Opposition get some advice from his shadow Attorney General as to whether or not it is in fact a breach of the law that this parliamentarian, having been asked to attend the CCC and answer questions about a matter involving Noel Crichton-Browne, then took it upon himself to sit in a car in the car park of the Parliament and discuss with Noel Crichton-Browne the issues about which he had been asked to appear at the CCC? Not only that, but also, on the evidence of Noel Crichton-Browne, he apparently received coaching on how to answer those questions. Was the Leader of the Opposition ever informed of that? Mr P.D. Omodei : Rubbish! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Was the Leader of the Opposition ever informed that his deputy was called to provide evidence to the CCC about the Canal Rocks development? Mr P.D. Omodei : Yes. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When? Mr P.D. Omodei : He told me as soon as he got advice. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When? Mr P.D. Omodei : He told me immediately then. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When? Give me the date. I do not believe the Leader of the Opposition was the leader at that stage. Mr P.D. Omodei : Come on! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : He was not. He became the leader on 24 March, did he not? Is the Leader of the Opposition sitting in this chamber lying to us? Mr P.D. Omodei : I am asking you whether any of your ministers or their staff were involved in any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Is the Leader of the Opposition following the habit - Mr P.D. Omodei : Why haven’t you asked them, Premier? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have asked. I have told the Leader of the Opposition that to the best of my knowledge the answer to the question is no. Mr P.D. Omodei : You are losing the plot. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am asking the Leader of the Opposition a question. He just told me and the Parliament that he was informed immediately that his deputy knew. I am saying to him that he was not the leader at that stage; so why was he informed? Mr P.D. Omodei : He told me as soon as he was summonsed that he was going to the CCC. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition was not the leader then. Mr T. Buswell : Yes, he was. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When? Mr T. Buswell : When I was summonsed. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition became the leader on 24 March. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition had a meeting outside Parliament with Noel Crichton-Browne on 21 or 22 March. He attended the CCC on 23 March. Do we have a question of credibility here? Do we have a question of somebody not telling the truth? Does it follow a pattern that some misleading of the Parliament has been attempted? Does it follow a pattern that we know of; that is, the member for Vasse has been proved to be dishonest in his dealings with his own members of Parliament? They have said so publicly, have they not? Mr P.D. Omodei : Who is being dishonest? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Did the member for Vasse turn to the then leader of the Liberal Party and tell him that he supported him in a ballot when the truth was that he had not; and was that a direct lie? Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Was it a direct lie? Did the Deputy Leader of the Opposition tell a direct lie? If he lied then, and we know he lied then, can we assume that he is lying now? Withdrawal of Remark Mr C.J. BARNETT : Point of order, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : I ask the member for Cottesloe to take his seat. The Premier knows the standing orders as well as any member does. It is not parliamentary to imply that a member of this house is a liar, and I direct that he withdraw that comment. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will do so, Mr Speaker. I withdraw any inference that the Deputy Leader of the Opposition is a liar, as that would be a habit of having told the lie. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will quote this article from The West Australian of 28 March - MPs are particularly incensed that immediately after the vote Mr Buswell assured Mr Birney that he had voted for him only to ring him and apologise for “misleading” him. Why did the member for Vasse ring the Leader of the Opposition and apologise for misleading him? It was because the member for Hillarys had seen the member for Vasse fill in his ballot paper and knew it was untrue. Mr P.D. Omodei : What a load of rubbish! That is desperation! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : And in fact provoked - Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : It is amazing, is it not? It provoked the member for Hillarys to say that he would never support this member. The Leader of the Opposition has asked me whether any member of the cabinet or any parliamentary secretary and so on has told me that he or she has been summonsed to appear before the CCC. I said that to the best of my knowledge, no. Mr P.D. Omodei : Or to any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What court proceedings? Mr P.D. Omodei : Any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Give me one. Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What related court proceedings? Can anybody enlighten me as to what - Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Did you ask your ministers? Why didn’t you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition is so bad at this. Mr P.D. Omodei : This is about a corrupt government. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : This is what is called “kicking yourself fair up the backside”. That is what the Leader of the Opposition has just done. The only person I know of who would fit the category that he is trying to assign to members on this side of the house is his deputy, who was summonsed to appear at the CCC and who never informed him, but who sat - Mr P.D. Omodei : You are the Premier of Western Australia and you are obliged to answer this question. You did not ask your ministers. You admitted it just then. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Let me raise the possibility with the general public of Western Australia. If the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party is summonsed to appear before the CCC to give evidence about a matter pertaining to alleged corruption, and the day before he goes there to give that evidence he gets into a car in the car park and has a secret meeting with a man who is central to that inquiry and discusses the evidence, is that the sort of behaviour that would normally warrant his immediate dismissal from his position? I think it is.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : However, let me launch into this one: has the Leader of the Opposition at any time been informed by any member of his side that he or she would be summonsed as a witness by the CCC? Mr P.D. Omodei : I am asking the questions. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Has the Leader of the Opposition or any member of his side of the Parliament been so informed? If so, when did that notification take place? If not, is the Leader of the Opposition concerned that the member sitting on his left was summonsed to be questioned at the CCC, sat in a car park with Noel Crichton-Browne, consulted with Noel Crichton-Browne about the evidence that he would give, and was apparently coached on how to answer the questions? Can the Leader of the Opposition get some advice from his shadow Attorney General as to whether or not it is in fact a breach of the law that this parliamentarian, having been asked to attend the CCC and answer questions about a matter involving Noel Crichton-Browne, then took it upon himself to sit in a car in the car park of the Parliament and discuss with Noel Crichton-Browne the issues about which he had been asked to appear at the CCC? Not only that, but also, on the evidence of Noel Crichton-Browne, he apparently received coaching on how to answer those questions. Was the Leader of the Opposition ever informed of that? Mr P.D. Omodei : Rubbish! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Was the Leader of the Opposition ever informed that his deputy was called to provide evidence to the CCC about the Canal Rocks development? Mr P.D. Omodei : Yes. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When? Mr P.D. Omodei : He told me as soon as he got advice. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When? Mr P.D. Omodei : He told me immediately then. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When? Give me the date. I do not believe the Leader of the Opposition was the leader at that stage. Mr P.D. Omodei : Come on! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : He was not. He became the leader on 24 March, did he not? Is the Leader of the Opposition sitting in this chamber lying to us? Mr P.D. Omodei : I am asking you whether any of your ministers or their staff were involved in any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Is the Leader of the Opposition following the habit - Mr P.D. Omodei : Why haven’t you asked them, Premier? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have asked. I have told the Leader of the Opposition that to the best of my knowledge the answer to the question is no. Mr P.D. Omodei : You are losing the plot. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am asking the Leader of the Opposition a question. He just told me and the Parliament that he was informed immediately that his deputy knew. I am saying to him that he was not the leader at that stage; so why was he informed? Mr P.D. Omodei : He told me as soon as he was summonsed that he was going to the CCC. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition was not the leader then. Mr T. Buswell : Yes, he was. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When? Mr T. Buswell : When I was summonsed. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition became the leader on 24 March. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition had a meeting outside Parliament with Noel Crichton-Browne on 21 or 22 March. He attended the CCC on 23 March. Do we have a question of credibility here? Do we have a question of somebody not telling the truth? Does it follow a pattern that some misleading of the Parliament has been attempted? Does it follow a pattern that we know of; that is, the member for Vasse has been proved to be dishonest in his dealings with his own members of Parliament? They have said so publicly, have they not? Mr P.D. Omodei : Who is being dishonest? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Did the member for Vasse turn to the then leader of the Liberal Party and tell him that he supported him in a ballot when the truth was that he had not; and was that a direct lie? Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Was it a direct lie? Did the Deputy Leader of the Opposition tell a direct lie? If he lied then, and we know he lied then, can we assume that he is lying now? Withdrawal of Remark Mr C.J. BARNETT : Point of order, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : I ask the member for Cottesloe to take his seat. The Premier knows the standing orders as well as any member does. It is not parliamentary to imply that a member of this house is a liar, and I direct that he withdraw that comment. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will do so, Mr Speaker. I withdraw any inference that the Deputy Leader of the Opposition is a liar, as that would be a habit of having told the lie. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will quote this article from The West Australian of 28 March - MPs are particularly incensed that immediately after the vote Mr Buswell assured Mr Birney that he had voted for him only to ring him and apologise for “misleading” him. Why did the member for Vasse ring the Leader of the Opposition and apologise for misleading him? It was because the member for Hillarys had seen the member for Vasse fill in his ballot paper and knew it was untrue. Mr P.D. Omodei : What a load of rubbish! That is desperation! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : And in fact provoked - Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : It is amazing, is it not? It provoked the member for Hillarys to say that he would never support this member. The Leader of the Opposition has asked me whether any member of the cabinet or any parliamentary secretary and so on has told me that he or she has been summonsed to appear before the CCC. I said that to the best of my knowledge, no. Mr P.D. Omodei : Or to any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What court proceedings? Mr P.D. Omodei : Any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Give me one. Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What related court proceedings? Can anybody enlighten me as to what - Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Did you ask your ministers? Why didn’t you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition is so bad at this. Mr P.D. Omodei : This is about a corrupt government. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : This is what is called “kicking yourself fair up the backside”. That is what the Leader of the Opposition has just done. The only person I know of who would fit the category that he is trying to assign to members on this side of the house is his deputy, who was summonsed to appear at the CCC and who never informed him, but who sat - Mr P.D. Omodei : You are the Premier of Western Australia and you are obliged to answer this question. You did not ask your ministers. You admitted it just then. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Let me raise the possibility with the general public of Western Australia. If the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party is summonsed to appear before the CCC to give evidence about a matter pertaining to alleged corruption, and the day before he goes there to give that evidence he gets into a car in the car park and has a secret meeting with a man who is central to that inquiry and discusses the evidence, is that the sort of behaviour that would normally warrant his immediate dismissal from his position? I think it is.
Mr P.D. Omodei : I am asking the questions. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Has the Leader of the Opposition or any member of his side of the Parliament been so informed? If so, when did that notification take place? If not, is the Leader of the Opposition concerned that the member sitting on his left was summonsed to be questioned at the CCC, sat in a car park with Noel Crichton-Browne, consulted with Noel Crichton-Browne about the evidence that he would give, and was apparently coached on how to answer the questions? Can the Leader of the Opposition get some advice from his shadow Attorney General as to whether or not it is in fact a breach of the law that this parliamentarian, having been asked to attend the CCC and answer questions about a matter involving Noel Crichton-Browne, then took it upon himself to sit in a car in the car park of the Parliament and discuss with Noel Crichton-Browne the issues about which he had been asked to appear at the CCC? Not only that, but also, on the evidence of Noel Crichton-Browne, he apparently received coaching on how to answer those questions. Was the Leader of the Opposition ever informed of that? Mr P.D. Omodei : Rubbish! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Was the Leader of the Opposition ever informed that his deputy was called to provide evidence to the CCC about the Canal Rocks development? Mr P.D. Omodei : Yes. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When? Mr P.D. Omodei : He told me as soon as he got advice. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When? Mr P.D. Omodei : He told me immediately then. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When? Give me the date. I do not believe the Leader of the Opposition was the leader at that stage. Mr P.D. Omodei : Come on! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : He was not. He became the leader on 24 March, did he not? Is the Leader of the Opposition sitting in this chamber lying to us? Mr P.D. Omodei : I am asking you whether any of your ministers or their staff were involved in any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Is the Leader of the Opposition following the habit - Mr P.D. Omodei : Why haven’t you asked them, Premier? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have asked. I have told the Leader of the Opposition that to the best of my knowledge the answer to the question is no. Mr P.D. Omodei : You are losing the plot. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am asking the Leader of the Opposition a question. He just told me and the Parliament that he was informed immediately that his deputy knew. I am saying to him that he was not the leader at that stage; so why was he informed? Mr P.D. Omodei : He told me as soon as he was summonsed that he was going to the CCC. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition was not the leader then. Mr T. Buswell : Yes, he was. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When? Mr T. Buswell : When I was summonsed. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition became the leader on 24 March. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition had a meeting outside Parliament with Noel Crichton-Browne on 21 or 22 March. He attended the CCC on 23 March. Do we have a question of credibility here? Do we have a question of somebody not telling the truth? Does it follow a pattern that some misleading of the Parliament has been attempted? Does it follow a pattern that we know of; that is, the member for Vasse has been proved to be dishonest in his dealings with his own members of Parliament? They have said so publicly, have they not? Mr P.D. Omodei : Who is being dishonest? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Did the member for Vasse turn to the then leader of the Liberal Party and tell him that he supported him in a ballot when the truth was that he had not; and was that a direct lie? Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Was it a direct lie? Did the Deputy Leader of the Opposition tell a direct lie? If he lied then, and we know he lied then, can we assume that he is lying now? Withdrawal of Remark Mr C.J. BARNETT : Point of order, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : I ask the member for Cottesloe to take his seat. The Premier knows the standing orders as well as any member does. It is not parliamentary to imply that a member of this house is a liar, and I direct that he withdraw that comment. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will do so, Mr Speaker. I withdraw any inference that the Deputy Leader of the Opposition is a liar, as that would be a habit of having told the lie. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will quote this article from The West Australian of 28 March - MPs are particularly incensed that immediately after the vote Mr Buswell assured Mr Birney that he had voted for him only to ring him and apologise for “misleading” him. Why did the member for Vasse ring the Leader of the Opposition and apologise for misleading him? It was because the member for Hillarys had seen the member for Vasse fill in his ballot paper and knew it was untrue. Mr P.D. Omodei : What a load of rubbish! That is desperation! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : And in fact provoked - Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : It is amazing, is it not? It provoked the member for Hillarys to say that he would never support this member. The Leader of the Opposition has asked me whether any member of the cabinet or any parliamentary secretary and so on has told me that he or she has been summonsed to appear before the CCC. I said that to the best of my knowledge, no. Mr P.D. Omodei : Or to any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What court proceedings? Mr P.D. Omodei : Any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Give me one. Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What related court proceedings? Can anybody enlighten me as to what - Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Did you ask your ministers? Why didn’t you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition is so bad at this. Mr P.D. Omodei : This is about a corrupt government. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : This is what is called “kicking yourself fair up the backside”. That is what the Leader of the Opposition has just done. The only person I know of who would fit the category that he is trying to assign to members on this side of the house is his deputy, who was summonsed to appear at the CCC and who never informed him, but who sat - Mr P.D. Omodei : You are the Premier of Western Australia and you are obliged to answer this question. You did not ask your ministers. You admitted it just then. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Let me raise the possibility with the general public of Western Australia. If the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party is summonsed to appear before the CCC to give evidence about a matter pertaining to alleged corruption, and the day before he goes there to give that evidence he gets into a car in the car park and has a secret meeting with a man who is central to that inquiry and discusses the evidence, is that the sort of behaviour that would normally warrant his immediate dismissal from his position? I think it is.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Has the Leader of the Opposition or any member of his side of the Parliament been so informed? If so, when did that notification take place? If not, is the Leader of the Opposition concerned that the member sitting on his left was summonsed to be questioned at the CCC, sat in a car park with Noel Crichton-Browne, consulted with Noel Crichton-Browne about the evidence that he would give, and was apparently coached on how to answer the questions? Can the Leader of the Opposition get some advice from his shadow Attorney General as to whether or not it is in fact a breach of the law that this parliamentarian, having been asked to attend the CCC and answer questions about a matter involving Noel Crichton-Browne, then took it upon himself to sit in a car in the car park of the Parliament and discuss with Noel Crichton-Browne the issues about which he had been asked to appear at the CCC? Not only that, but also, on the evidence of Noel Crichton-Browne, he apparently received coaching on how to answer those questions. Was the Leader of the Opposition ever informed of that? Mr P.D. Omodei : Rubbish! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Was the Leader of the Opposition ever informed that his deputy was called to provide evidence to the CCC about the Canal Rocks development? Mr P.D. Omodei : Yes. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When? Mr P.D. Omodei : He told me as soon as he got advice. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When? Mr P.D. Omodei : He told me immediately then. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When? Give me the date. I do not believe the Leader of the Opposition was the leader at that stage. Mr P.D. Omodei : Come on! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : He was not. He became the leader on 24 March, did he not? Is the Leader of the Opposition sitting in this chamber lying to us? Mr P.D. Omodei : I am asking you whether any of your ministers or their staff were involved in any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Is the Leader of the Opposition following the habit - Mr P.D. Omodei : Why haven’t you asked them, Premier? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have asked. I have told the Leader of the Opposition that to the best of my knowledge the answer to the question is no. Mr P.D. Omodei : You are losing the plot. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am asking the Leader of the Opposition a question. He just told me and the Parliament that he was informed immediately that his deputy knew. I am saying to him that he was not the leader at that stage; so why was he informed? Mr P.D. Omodei : He told me as soon as he was summonsed that he was going to the CCC. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition was not the leader then. Mr T. Buswell : Yes, he was. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When? Mr T. Buswell : When I was summonsed. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition became the leader on 24 March. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition had a meeting outside Parliament with Noel Crichton-Browne on 21 or 22 March. He attended the CCC on 23 March. Do we have a question of credibility here? Do we have a question of somebody not telling the truth? Does it follow a pattern that some misleading of the Parliament has been attempted? Does it follow a pattern that we know of; that is, the member for Vasse has been proved to be dishonest in his dealings with his own members of Parliament? They have said so publicly, have they not? Mr P.D. Omodei : Who is being dishonest? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Did the member for Vasse turn to the then leader of the Liberal Party and tell him that he supported him in a ballot when the truth was that he had not; and was that a direct lie? Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Was it a direct lie? Did the Deputy Leader of the Opposition tell a direct lie? If he lied then, and we know he lied then, can we assume that he is lying now? Withdrawal of Remark Mr C.J. BARNETT : Point of order, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : I ask the member for Cottesloe to take his seat. The Premier knows the standing orders as well as any member does. It is not parliamentary to imply that a member of this house is a liar, and I direct that he withdraw that comment. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will do so, Mr Speaker. I withdraw any inference that the Deputy Leader of the Opposition is a liar, as that would be a habit of having told the lie. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will quote this article from The West Australian of 28 March - MPs are particularly incensed that immediately after the vote Mr Buswell assured Mr Birney that he had voted for him only to ring him and apologise for “misleading” him. Why did the member for Vasse ring the Leader of the Opposition and apologise for misleading him? It was because the member for Hillarys had seen the member for Vasse fill in his ballot paper and knew it was untrue. Mr P.D. Omodei : What a load of rubbish! That is desperation! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : And in fact provoked - Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : It is amazing, is it not? It provoked the member for Hillarys to say that he would never support this member. The Leader of the Opposition has asked me whether any member of the cabinet or any parliamentary secretary and so on has told me that he or she has been summonsed to appear before the CCC. I said that to the best of my knowledge, no. Mr P.D. Omodei : Or to any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What court proceedings? Mr P.D. Omodei : Any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Give me one. Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What related court proceedings? Can anybody enlighten me as to what - Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Did you ask your ministers? Why didn’t you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition is so bad at this. Mr P.D. Omodei : This is about a corrupt government. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : This is what is called “kicking yourself fair up the backside”. That is what the Leader of the Opposition has just done. The only person I know of who would fit the category that he is trying to assign to members on this side of the house is his deputy, who was summonsed to appear at the CCC and who never informed him, but who sat - Mr P.D. Omodei : You are the Premier of Western Australia and you are obliged to answer this question. You did not ask your ministers. You admitted it just then. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Let me raise the possibility with the general public of Western Australia. If the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party is summonsed to appear before the CCC to give evidence about a matter pertaining to alleged corruption, and the day before he goes there to give that evidence he gets into a car in the car park and has a secret meeting with a man who is central to that inquiry and discusses the evidence, is that the sort of behaviour that would normally warrant his immediate dismissal from his position? I think it is.
Mr P.D. Omodei : Rubbish! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Was the Leader of the Opposition ever informed that his deputy was called to provide evidence to the CCC about the Canal Rocks development? Mr P.D. Omodei : Yes. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When? Mr P.D. Omodei : He told me as soon as he got advice. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When? Mr P.D. Omodei : He told me immediately then. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When? Give me the date. I do not believe the Leader of the Opposition was the leader at that stage. Mr P.D. Omodei : Come on! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : He was not. He became the leader on 24 March, did he not? Is the Leader of the Opposition sitting in this chamber lying to us? Mr P.D. Omodei : I am asking you whether any of your ministers or their staff were involved in any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Is the Leader of the Opposition following the habit - Mr P.D. Omodei : Why haven’t you asked them, Premier? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have asked. I have told the Leader of the Opposition that to the best of my knowledge the answer to the question is no. Mr P.D. Omodei : You are losing the plot. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am asking the Leader of the Opposition a question. He just told me and the Parliament that he was informed immediately that his deputy knew. I am saying to him that he was not the leader at that stage; so why was he informed? Mr P.D. Omodei : He told me as soon as he was summonsed that he was going to the CCC. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition was not the leader then. Mr T. Buswell : Yes, he was. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When? Mr T. Buswell : When I was summonsed. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition became the leader on 24 March. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition had a meeting outside Parliament with Noel Crichton-Browne on 21 or 22 March. He attended the CCC on 23 March. Do we have a question of credibility here? Do we have a question of somebody not telling the truth? Does it follow a pattern that some misleading of the Parliament has been attempted? Does it follow a pattern that we know of; that is, the member for Vasse has been proved to be dishonest in his dealings with his own members of Parliament? They have said so publicly, have they not? Mr P.D. Omodei : Who is being dishonest? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Did the member for Vasse turn to the then leader of the Liberal Party and tell him that he supported him in a ballot when the truth was that he had not; and was that a direct lie? Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Was it a direct lie? Did the Deputy Leader of the Opposition tell a direct lie? If he lied then, and we know he lied then, can we assume that he is lying now? Withdrawal of Remark Mr C.J. BARNETT : Point of order, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : I ask the member for Cottesloe to take his seat. The Premier knows the standing orders as well as any member does. It is not parliamentary to imply that a member of this house is a liar, and I direct that he withdraw that comment. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will do so, Mr Speaker. I withdraw any inference that the Deputy Leader of the Opposition is a liar, as that would be a habit of having told the lie. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will quote this article from The West Australian of 28 March - MPs are particularly incensed that immediately after the vote Mr Buswell assured Mr Birney that he had voted for him only to ring him and apologise for “misleading” him. Why did the member for Vasse ring the Leader of the Opposition and apologise for misleading him? It was because the member for Hillarys had seen the member for Vasse fill in his ballot paper and knew it was untrue. Mr P.D. Omodei : What a load of rubbish! That is desperation! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : And in fact provoked - Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : It is amazing, is it not? It provoked the member for Hillarys to say that he would never support this member. The Leader of the Opposition has asked me whether any member of the cabinet or any parliamentary secretary and so on has told me that he or she has been summonsed to appear before the CCC. I said that to the best of my knowledge, no. Mr P.D. Omodei : Or to any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What court proceedings? Mr P.D. Omodei : Any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Give me one. Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What related court proceedings? Can anybody enlighten me as to what - Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Did you ask your ministers? Why didn’t you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition is so bad at this. Mr P.D. Omodei : This is about a corrupt government. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : This is what is called “kicking yourself fair up the backside”. That is what the Leader of the Opposition has just done. The only person I know of who would fit the category that he is trying to assign to members on this side of the house is his deputy, who was summonsed to appear at the CCC and who never informed him, but who sat - Mr P.D. Omodei : You are the Premier of Western Australia and you are obliged to answer this question. You did not ask your ministers. You admitted it just then. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Let me raise the possibility with the general public of Western Australia. If the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party is summonsed to appear before the CCC to give evidence about a matter pertaining to alleged corruption, and the day before he goes there to give that evidence he gets into a car in the car park and has a secret meeting with a man who is central to that inquiry and discusses the evidence, is that the sort of behaviour that would normally warrant his immediate dismissal from his position? I think it is.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Was the Leader of the Opposition ever informed that his deputy was called to provide evidence to the CCC about the Canal Rocks development? Mr P.D. Omodei : Yes. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When? Mr P.D. Omodei : He told me as soon as he got advice. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When? Mr P.D. Omodei : He told me immediately then. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When? Give me the date. I do not believe the Leader of the Opposition was the leader at that stage. Mr P.D. Omodei : Come on! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : He was not. He became the leader on 24 March, did he not? Is the Leader of the Opposition sitting in this chamber lying to us? Mr P.D. Omodei : I am asking you whether any of your ministers or their staff were involved in any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Is the Leader of the Opposition following the habit - Mr P.D. Omodei : Why haven’t you asked them, Premier? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have asked. I have told the Leader of the Opposition that to the best of my knowledge the answer to the question is no. Mr P.D. Omodei : You are losing the plot. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am asking the Leader of the Opposition a question. He just told me and the Parliament that he was informed immediately that his deputy knew. I am saying to him that he was not the leader at that stage; so why was he informed? Mr P.D. Omodei : He told me as soon as he was summonsed that he was going to the CCC. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition was not the leader then. Mr T. Buswell : Yes, he was. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When? Mr T. Buswell : When I was summonsed. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition became the leader on 24 March. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition had a meeting outside Parliament with Noel Crichton-Browne on 21 or 22 March. He attended the CCC on 23 March. Do we have a question of credibility here? Do we have a question of somebody not telling the truth? Does it follow a pattern that some misleading of the Parliament has been attempted? Does it follow a pattern that we know of; that is, the member for Vasse has been proved to be dishonest in his dealings with his own members of Parliament? They have said so publicly, have they not? Mr P.D. Omodei : Who is being dishonest? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Did the member for Vasse turn to the then leader of the Liberal Party and tell him that he supported him in a ballot when the truth was that he had not; and was that a direct lie? Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Was it a direct lie? Did the Deputy Leader of the Opposition tell a direct lie? If he lied then, and we know he lied then, can we assume that he is lying now? Withdrawal of Remark Mr C.J. BARNETT : Point of order, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : I ask the member for Cottesloe to take his seat. The Premier knows the standing orders as well as any member does. It is not parliamentary to imply that a member of this house is a liar, and I direct that he withdraw that comment. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will do so, Mr Speaker. I withdraw any inference that the Deputy Leader of the Opposition is a liar, as that would be a habit of having told the lie. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will quote this article from The West Australian of 28 March - MPs are particularly incensed that immediately after the vote Mr Buswell assured Mr Birney that he had voted for him only to ring him and apologise for “misleading” him. Why did the member for Vasse ring the Leader of the Opposition and apologise for misleading him? It was because the member for Hillarys had seen the member for Vasse fill in his ballot paper and knew it was untrue. Mr P.D. Omodei : What a load of rubbish! That is desperation! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : And in fact provoked - Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : It is amazing, is it not? It provoked the member for Hillarys to say that he would never support this member. The Leader of the Opposition has asked me whether any member of the cabinet or any parliamentary secretary and so on has told me that he or she has been summonsed to appear before the CCC. I said that to the best of my knowledge, no. Mr P.D. Omodei : Or to any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What court proceedings? Mr P.D. Omodei : Any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Give me one. Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What related court proceedings? Can anybody enlighten me as to what - Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Did you ask your ministers? Why didn’t you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition is so bad at this. Mr P.D. Omodei : This is about a corrupt government. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : This is what is called “kicking yourself fair up the backside”. That is what the Leader of the Opposition has just done. The only person I know of who would fit the category that he is trying to assign to members on this side of the house is his deputy, who was summonsed to appear at the CCC and who never informed him, but who sat - Mr P.D. Omodei : You are the Premier of Western Australia and you are obliged to answer this question. You did not ask your ministers. You admitted it just then. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Let me raise the possibility with the general public of Western Australia. If the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party is summonsed to appear before the CCC to give evidence about a matter pertaining to alleged corruption, and the day before he goes there to give that evidence he gets into a car in the car park and has a secret meeting with a man who is central to that inquiry and discusses the evidence, is that the sort of behaviour that would normally warrant his immediate dismissal from his position? I think it is.
Mr P.D. Omodei : Yes. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When? Mr P.D. Omodei : He told me as soon as he got advice. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When? Mr P.D. Omodei : He told me immediately then. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When? Give me the date. I do not believe the Leader of the Opposition was the leader at that stage. Mr P.D. Omodei : Come on! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : He was not. He became the leader on 24 March, did he not? Is the Leader of the Opposition sitting in this chamber lying to us? Mr P.D. Omodei : I am asking you whether any of your ministers or their staff were involved in any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Is the Leader of the Opposition following the habit - Mr P.D. Omodei : Why haven’t you asked them, Premier? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have asked. I have told the Leader of the Opposition that to the best of my knowledge the answer to the question is no. Mr P.D. Omodei : You are losing the plot. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am asking the Leader of the Opposition a question. He just told me and the Parliament that he was informed immediately that his deputy knew. I am saying to him that he was not the leader at that stage; so why was he informed? Mr P.D. Omodei : He told me as soon as he was summonsed that he was going to the CCC. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition was not the leader then. Mr T. Buswell : Yes, he was. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When? Mr T. Buswell : When I was summonsed. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition became the leader on 24 March. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition had a meeting outside Parliament with Noel Crichton-Browne on 21 or 22 March. He attended the CCC on 23 March. Do we have a question of credibility here? Do we have a question of somebody not telling the truth? Does it follow a pattern that some misleading of the Parliament has been attempted? Does it follow a pattern that we know of; that is, the member for Vasse has been proved to be dishonest in his dealings with his own members of Parliament? They have said so publicly, have they not? Mr P.D. Omodei : Who is being dishonest? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Did the member for Vasse turn to the then leader of the Liberal Party and tell him that he supported him in a ballot when the truth was that he had not; and was that a direct lie? Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Was it a direct lie? Did the Deputy Leader of the Opposition tell a direct lie? If he lied then, and we know he lied then, can we assume that he is lying now? Withdrawal of Remark Mr C.J. BARNETT : Point of order, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : I ask the member for Cottesloe to take his seat. The Premier knows the standing orders as well as any member does. It is not parliamentary to imply that a member of this house is a liar, and I direct that he withdraw that comment. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will do so, Mr Speaker. I withdraw any inference that the Deputy Leader of the Opposition is a liar, as that would be a habit of having told the lie. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will quote this article from The West Australian of 28 March - MPs are particularly incensed that immediately after the vote Mr Buswell assured Mr Birney that he had voted for him only to ring him and apologise for “misleading” him. Why did the member for Vasse ring the Leader of the Opposition and apologise for misleading him? It was because the member for Hillarys had seen the member for Vasse fill in his ballot paper and knew it was untrue. Mr P.D. Omodei : What a load of rubbish! That is desperation! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : And in fact provoked - Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : It is amazing, is it not? It provoked the member for Hillarys to say that he would never support this member. The Leader of the Opposition has asked me whether any member of the cabinet or any parliamentary secretary and so on has told me that he or she has been summonsed to appear before the CCC. I said that to the best of my knowledge, no. Mr P.D. Omodei : Or to any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What court proceedings? Mr P.D. Omodei : Any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Give me one. Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What related court proceedings? Can anybody enlighten me as to what - Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Did you ask your ministers? Why didn’t you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition is so bad at this. Mr P.D. Omodei : This is about a corrupt government. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : This is what is called “kicking yourself fair up the backside”. That is what the Leader of the Opposition has just done. The only person I know of who would fit the category that he is trying to assign to members on this side of the house is his deputy, who was summonsed to appear at the CCC and who never informed him, but who sat - Mr P.D. Omodei : You are the Premier of Western Australia and you are obliged to answer this question. You did not ask your ministers. You admitted it just then. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Let me raise the possibility with the general public of Western Australia. If the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party is summonsed to appear before the CCC to give evidence about a matter pertaining to alleged corruption, and the day before he goes there to give that evidence he gets into a car in the car park and has a secret meeting with a man who is central to that inquiry and discusses the evidence, is that the sort of behaviour that would normally warrant his immediate dismissal from his position? I think it is.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When? Mr P.D. Omodei : He told me as soon as he got advice. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When? Mr P.D. Omodei : He told me immediately then. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When? Give me the date. I do not believe the Leader of the Opposition was the leader at that stage. Mr P.D. Omodei : Come on! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : He was not. He became the leader on 24 March, did he not? Is the Leader of the Opposition sitting in this chamber lying to us? Mr P.D. Omodei : I am asking you whether any of your ministers or their staff were involved in any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Is the Leader of the Opposition following the habit - Mr P.D. Omodei : Why haven’t you asked them, Premier? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have asked. I have told the Leader of the Opposition that to the best of my knowledge the answer to the question is no. Mr P.D. Omodei : You are losing the plot. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am asking the Leader of the Opposition a question. He just told me and the Parliament that he was informed immediately that his deputy knew. I am saying to him that he was not the leader at that stage; so why was he informed? Mr P.D. Omodei : He told me as soon as he was summonsed that he was going to the CCC. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition was not the leader then. Mr T. Buswell : Yes, he was. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When? Mr T. Buswell : When I was summonsed. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition became the leader on 24 March. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition had a meeting outside Parliament with Noel Crichton-Browne on 21 or 22 March. He attended the CCC on 23 March. Do we have a question of credibility here? Do we have a question of somebody not telling the truth? Does it follow a pattern that some misleading of the Parliament has been attempted? Does it follow a pattern that we know of; that is, the member for Vasse has been proved to be dishonest in his dealings with his own members of Parliament? They have said so publicly, have they not? Mr P.D. Omodei : Who is being dishonest? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Did the member for Vasse turn to the then leader of the Liberal Party and tell him that he supported him in a ballot when the truth was that he had not; and was that a direct lie? Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Was it a direct lie? Did the Deputy Leader of the Opposition tell a direct lie? If he lied then, and we know he lied then, can we assume that he is lying now? Withdrawal of Remark Mr C.J. BARNETT : Point of order, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : I ask the member for Cottesloe to take his seat. The Premier knows the standing orders as well as any member does. It is not parliamentary to imply that a member of this house is a liar, and I direct that he withdraw that comment. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will do so, Mr Speaker. I withdraw any inference that the Deputy Leader of the Opposition is a liar, as that would be a habit of having told the lie. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will quote this article from The West Australian of 28 March - MPs are particularly incensed that immediately after the vote Mr Buswell assured Mr Birney that he had voted for him only to ring him and apologise for “misleading” him. Why did the member for Vasse ring the Leader of the Opposition and apologise for misleading him? It was because the member for Hillarys had seen the member for Vasse fill in his ballot paper and knew it was untrue. Mr P.D. Omodei : What a load of rubbish! That is desperation! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : And in fact provoked - Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : It is amazing, is it not? It provoked the member for Hillarys to say that he would never support this member. The Leader of the Opposition has asked me whether any member of the cabinet or any parliamentary secretary and so on has told me that he or she has been summonsed to appear before the CCC. I said that to the best of my knowledge, no. Mr P.D. Omodei : Or to any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What court proceedings? Mr P.D. Omodei : Any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Give me one. Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What related court proceedings? Can anybody enlighten me as to what - Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Did you ask your ministers? Why didn’t you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition is so bad at this. Mr P.D. Omodei : This is about a corrupt government. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : This is what is called “kicking yourself fair up the backside”. That is what the Leader of the Opposition has just done. The only person I know of who would fit the category that he is trying to assign to members on this side of the house is his deputy, who was summonsed to appear at the CCC and who never informed him, but who sat - Mr P.D. Omodei : You are the Premier of Western Australia and you are obliged to answer this question. You did not ask your ministers. You admitted it just then. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Let me raise the possibility with the general public of Western Australia. If the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party is summonsed to appear before the CCC to give evidence about a matter pertaining to alleged corruption, and the day before he goes there to give that evidence he gets into a car in the car park and has a secret meeting with a man who is central to that inquiry and discusses the evidence, is that the sort of behaviour that would normally warrant his immediate dismissal from his position? I think it is.
Mr P.D. Omodei : He told me as soon as he got advice. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When? Mr P.D. Omodei : He told me immediately then. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When? Give me the date. I do not believe the Leader of the Opposition was the leader at that stage. Mr P.D. Omodei : Come on! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : He was not. He became the leader on 24 March, did he not? Is the Leader of the Opposition sitting in this chamber lying to us? Mr P.D. Omodei : I am asking you whether any of your ministers or their staff were involved in any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Is the Leader of the Opposition following the habit - Mr P.D. Omodei : Why haven’t you asked them, Premier? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have asked. I have told the Leader of the Opposition that to the best of my knowledge the answer to the question is no. Mr P.D. Omodei : You are losing the plot. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am asking the Leader of the Opposition a question. He just told me and the Parliament that he was informed immediately that his deputy knew. I am saying to him that he was not the leader at that stage; so why was he informed? Mr P.D. Omodei : He told me as soon as he was summonsed that he was going to the CCC. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition was not the leader then. Mr T. Buswell : Yes, he was. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When? Mr T. Buswell : When I was summonsed. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition became the leader on 24 March. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition had a meeting outside Parliament with Noel Crichton-Browne on 21 or 22 March. He attended the CCC on 23 March. Do we have a question of credibility here? Do we have a question of somebody not telling the truth? Does it follow a pattern that some misleading of the Parliament has been attempted? Does it follow a pattern that we know of; that is, the member for Vasse has been proved to be dishonest in his dealings with his own members of Parliament? They have said so publicly, have they not? Mr P.D. Omodei : Who is being dishonest? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Did the member for Vasse turn to the then leader of the Liberal Party and tell him that he supported him in a ballot when the truth was that he had not; and was that a direct lie? Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Was it a direct lie? Did the Deputy Leader of the Opposition tell a direct lie? If he lied then, and we know he lied then, can we assume that he is lying now? Withdrawal of Remark Mr C.J. BARNETT : Point of order, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : I ask the member for Cottesloe to take his seat. The Premier knows the standing orders as well as any member does. It is not parliamentary to imply that a member of this house is a liar, and I direct that he withdraw that comment. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will do so, Mr Speaker. I withdraw any inference that the Deputy Leader of the Opposition is a liar, as that would be a habit of having told the lie. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will quote this article from The West Australian of 28 March - MPs are particularly incensed that immediately after the vote Mr Buswell assured Mr Birney that he had voted for him only to ring him and apologise for “misleading” him. Why did the member for Vasse ring the Leader of the Opposition and apologise for misleading him? It was because the member for Hillarys had seen the member for Vasse fill in his ballot paper and knew it was untrue. Mr P.D. Omodei : What a load of rubbish! That is desperation! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : And in fact provoked - Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : It is amazing, is it not? It provoked the member for Hillarys to say that he would never support this member. The Leader of the Opposition has asked me whether any member of the cabinet or any parliamentary secretary and so on has told me that he or she has been summonsed to appear before the CCC. I said that to the best of my knowledge, no. Mr P.D. Omodei : Or to any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What court proceedings? Mr P.D. Omodei : Any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Give me one. Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What related court proceedings? Can anybody enlighten me as to what - Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Did you ask your ministers? Why didn’t you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition is so bad at this. Mr P.D. Omodei : This is about a corrupt government. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : This is what is called “kicking yourself fair up the backside”. That is what the Leader of the Opposition has just done. The only person I know of who would fit the category that he is trying to assign to members on this side of the house is his deputy, who was summonsed to appear at the CCC and who never informed him, but who sat - Mr P.D. Omodei : You are the Premier of Western Australia and you are obliged to answer this question. You did not ask your ministers. You admitted it just then. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Let me raise the possibility with the general public of Western Australia. If the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party is summonsed to appear before the CCC to give evidence about a matter pertaining to alleged corruption, and the day before he goes there to give that evidence he gets into a car in the car park and has a secret meeting with a man who is central to that inquiry and discusses the evidence, is that the sort of behaviour that would normally warrant his immediate dismissal from his position? I think it is.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When? Mr P.D. Omodei : He told me immediately then. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When? Give me the date. I do not believe the Leader of the Opposition was the leader at that stage. Mr P.D. Omodei : Come on! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : He was not. He became the leader on 24 March, did he not? Is the Leader of the Opposition sitting in this chamber lying to us? Mr P.D. Omodei : I am asking you whether any of your ministers or their staff were involved in any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Is the Leader of the Opposition following the habit - Mr P.D. Omodei : Why haven’t you asked them, Premier? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have asked. I have told the Leader of the Opposition that to the best of my knowledge the answer to the question is no. Mr P.D. Omodei : You are losing the plot. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am asking the Leader of the Opposition a question. He just told me and the Parliament that he was informed immediately that his deputy knew. I am saying to him that he was not the leader at that stage; so why was he informed? Mr P.D. Omodei : He told me as soon as he was summonsed that he was going to the CCC. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition was not the leader then. Mr T. Buswell : Yes, he was. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When? Mr T. Buswell : When I was summonsed. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition became the leader on 24 March. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition had a meeting outside Parliament with Noel Crichton-Browne on 21 or 22 March. He attended the CCC on 23 March. Do we have a question of credibility here? Do we have a question of somebody not telling the truth? Does it follow a pattern that some misleading of the Parliament has been attempted? Does it follow a pattern that we know of; that is, the member for Vasse has been proved to be dishonest in his dealings with his own members of Parliament? They have said so publicly, have they not? Mr P.D. Omodei : Who is being dishonest? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Did the member for Vasse turn to the then leader of the Liberal Party and tell him that he supported him in a ballot when the truth was that he had not; and was that a direct lie? Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Was it a direct lie? Did the Deputy Leader of the Opposition tell a direct lie? If he lied then, and we know he lied then, can we assume that he is lying now? Withdrawal of Remark Mr C.J. BARNETT : Point of order, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : I ask the member for Cottesloe to take his seat. The Premier knows the standing orders as well as any member does. It is not parliamentary to imply that a member of this house is a liar, and I direct that he withdraw that comment. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will do so, Mr Speaker. I withdraw any inference that the Deputy Leader of the Opposition is a liar, as that would be a habit of having told the lie. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will quote this article from The West Australian of 28 March - MPs are particularly incensed that immediately after the vote Mr Buswell assured Mr Birney that he had voted for him only to ring him and apologise for “misleading” him. Why did the member for Vasse ring the Leader of the Opposition and apologise for misleading him? It was because the member for Hillarys had seen the member for Vasse fill in his ballot paper and knew it was untrue. Mr P.D. Omodei : What a load of rubbish! That is desperation! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : And in fact provoked - Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : It is amazing, is it not? It provoked the member for Hillarys to say that he would never support this member. The Leader of the Opposition has asked me whether any member of the cabinet or any parliamentary secretary and so on has told me that he or she has been summonsed to appear before the CCC. I said that to the best of my knowledge, no. Mr P.D. Omodei : Or to any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What court proceedings? Mr P.D. Omodei : Any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Give me one. Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What related court proceedings? Can anybody enlighten me as to what - Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Did you ask your ministers? Why didn’t you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition is so bad at this. Mr P.D. Omodei : This is about a corrupt government. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : This is what is called “kicking yourself fair up the backside”. That is what the Leader of the Opposition has just done. The only person I know of who would fit the category that he is trying to assign to members on this side of the house is his deputy, who was summonsed to appear at the CCC and who never informed him, but who sat - Mr P.D. Omodei : You are the Premier of Western Australia and you are obliged to answer this question. You did not ask your ministers. You admitted it just then. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Let me raise the possibility with the general public of Western Australia. If the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party is summonsed to appear before the CCC to give evidence about a matter pertaining to alleged corruption, and the day before he goes there to give that evidence he gets into a car in the car park and has a secret meeting with a man who is central to that inquiry and discusses the evidence, is that the sort of behaviour that would normally warrant his immediate dismissal from his position? I think it is.
Mr P.D. Omodei : He told me immediately then. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When? Give me the date. I do not believe the Leader of the Opposition was the leader at that stage. Mr P.D. Omodei : Come on! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : He was not. He became the leader on 24 March, did he not? Is the Leader of the Opposition sitting in this chamber lying to us? Mr P.D. Omodei : I am asking you whether any of your ministers or their staff were involved in any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Is the Leader of the Opposition following the habit - Mr P.D. Omodei : Why haven’t you asked them, Premier? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have asked. I have told the Leader of the Opposition that to the best of my knowledge the answer to the question is no. Mr P.D. Omodei : You are losing the plot. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am asking the Leader of the Opposition a question. He just told me and the Parliament that he was informed immediately that his deputy knew. I am saying to him that he was not the leader at that stage; so why was he informed? Mr P.D. Omodei : He told me as soon as he was summonsed that he was going to the CCC. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition was not the leader then. Mr T. Buswell : Yes, he was. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When? Mr T. Buswell : When I was summonsed. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition became the leader on 24 March. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition had a meeting outside Parliament with Noel Crichton-Browne on 21 or 22 March. He attended the CCC on 23 March. Do we have a question of credibility here? Do we have a question of somebody not telling the truth? Does it follow a pattern that some misleading of the Parliament has been attempted? Does it follow a pattern that we know of; that is, the member for Vasse has been proved to be dishonest in his dealings with his own members of Parliament? They have said so publicly, have they not? Mr P.D. Omodei : Who is being dishonest? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Did the member for Vasse turn to the then leader of the Liberal Party and tell him that he supported him in a ballot when the truth was that he had not; and was that a direct lie? Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Was it a direct lie? Did the Deputy Leader of the Opposition tell a direct lie? If he lied then, and we know he lied then, can we assume that he is lying now? Withdrawal of Remark Mr C.J. BARNETT : Point of order, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : I ask the member for Cottesloe to take his seat. The Premier knows the standing orders as well as any member does. It is not parliamentary to imply that a member of this house is a liar, and I direct that he withdraw that comment. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will do so, Mr Speaker. I withdraw any inference that the Deputy Leader of the Opposition is a liar, as that would be a habit of having told the lie. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will quote this article from The West Australian of 28 March - MPs are particularly incensed that immediately after the vote Mr Buswell assured Mr Birney that he had voted for him only to ring him and apologise for “misleading” him. Why did the member for Vasse ring the Leader of the Opposition and apologise for misleading him? It was because the member for Hillarys had seen the member for Vasse fill in his ballot paper and knew it was untrue. Mr P.D. Omodei : What a load of rubbish! That is desperation! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : And in fact provoked - Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : It is amazing, is it not? It provoked the member for Hillarys to say that he would never support this member. The Leader of the Opposition has asked me whether any member of the cabinet or any parliamentary secretary and so on has told me that he or she has been summonsed to appear before the CCC. I said that to the best of my knowledge, no. Mr P.D. Omodei : Or to any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What court proceedings? Mr P.D. Omodei : Any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Give me one. Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What related court proceedings? Can anybody enlighten me as to what - Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Did you ask your ministers? Why didn’t you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition is so bad at this. Mr P.D. Omodei : This is about a corrupt government. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : This is what is called “kicking yourself fair up the backside”. That is what the Leader of the Opposition has just done. The only person I know of who would fit the category that he is trying to assign to members on this side of the house is his deputy, who was summonsed to appear at the CCC and who never informed him, but who sat - Mr P.D. Omodei : You are the Premier of Western Australia and you are obliged to answer this question. You did not ask your ministers. You admitted it just then. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Let me raise the possibility with the general public of Western Australia. If the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party is summonsed to appear before the CCC to give evidence about a matter pertaining to alleged corruption, and the day before he goes there to give that evidence he gets into a car in the car park and has a secret meeting with a man who is central to that inquiry and discusses the evidence, is that the sort of behaviour that would normally warrant his immediate dismissal from his position? I think it is.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When? Give me the date. I do not believe the Leader of the Opposition was the leader at that stage. Mr P.D. Omodei : Come on! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : He was not. He became the leader on 24 March, did he not? Is the Leader of the Opposition sitting in this chamber lying to us? Mr P.D. Omodei : I am asking you whether any of your ministers or their staff were involved in any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Is the Leader of the Opposition following the habit - Mr P.D. Omodei : Why haven’t you asked them, Premier? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have asked. I have told the Leader of the Opposition that to the best of my knowledge the answer to the question is no. Mr P.D. Omodei : You are losing the plot. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am asking the Leader of the Opposition a question. He just told me and the Parliament that he was informed immediately that his deputy knew. I am saying to him that he was not the leader at that stage; so why was he informed? Mr P.D. Omodei : He told me as soon as he was summonsed that he was going to the CCC. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition was not the leader then. Mr T. Buswell : Yes, he was. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When? Mr T. Buswell : When I was summonsed. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition became the leader on 24 March. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition had a meeting outside Parliament with Noel Crichton-Browne on 21 or 22 March. He attended the CCC on 23 March. Do we have a question of credibility here? Do we have a question of somebody not telling the truth? Does it follow a pattern that some misleading of the Parliament has been attempted? Does it follow a pattern that we know of; that is, the member for Vasse has been proved to be dishonest in his dealings with his own members of Parliament? They have said so publicly, have they not? Mr P.D. Omodei : Who is being dishonest? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Did the member for Vasse turn to the then leader of the Liberal Party and tell him that he supported him in a ballot when the truth was that he had not; and was that a direct lie? Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Was it a direct lie? Did the Deputy Leader of the Opposition tell a direct lie? If he lied then, and we know he lied then, can we assume that he is lying now? Withdrawal of Remark Mr C.J. BARNETT : Point of order, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : I ask the member for Cottesloe to take his seat. The Premier knows the standing orders as well as any member does. It is not parliamentary to imply that a member of this house is a liar, and I direct that he withdraw that comment. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will do so, Mr Speaker. I withdraw any inference that the Deputy Leader of the Opposition is a liar, as that would be a habit of having told the lie. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will quote this article from The West Australian of 28 March - MPs are particularly incensed that immediately after the vote Mr Buswell assured Mr Birney that he had voted for him only to ring him and apologise for “misleading” him. Why did the member for Vasse ring the Leader of the Opposition and apologise for misleading him? It was because the member for Hillarys had seen the member for Vasse fill in his ballot paper and knew it was untrue. Mr P.D. Omodei : What a load of rubbish! That is desperation! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : And in fact provoked - Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : It is amazing, is it not? It provoked the member for Hillarys to say that he would never support this member. The Leader of the Opposition has asked me whether any member of the cabinet or any parliamentary secretary and so on has told me that he or she has been summonsed to appear before the CCC. I said that to the best of my knowledge, no. Mr P.D. Omodei : Or to any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What court proceedings? Mr P.D. Omodei : Any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Give me one. Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What related court proceedings? Can anybody enlighten me as to what - Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Did you ask your ministers? Why didn’t you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition is so bad at this. Mr P.D. Omodei : This is about a corrupt government. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : This is what is called “kicking yourself fair up the backside”. That is what the Leader of the Opposition has just done. The only person I know of who would fit the category that he is trying to assign to members on this side of the house is his deputy, who was summonsed to appear at the CCC and who never informed him, but who sat - Mr P.D. Omodei : You are the Premier of Western Australia and you are obliged to answer this question. You did not ask your ministers. You admitted it just then. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Let me raise the possibility with the general public of Western Australia. If the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party is summonsed to appear before the CCC to give evidence about a matter pertaining to alleged corruption, and the day before he goes there to give that evidence he gets into a car in the car park and has a secret meeting with a man who is central to that inquiry and discusses the evidence, is that the sort of behaviour that would normally warrant his immediate dismissal from his position? I think it is.
Mr P.D. Omodei : Come on! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : He was not. He became the leader on 24 March, did he not? Is the Leader of the Opposition sitting in this chamber lying to us? Mr P.D. Omodei : I am asking you whether any of your ministers or their staff were involved in any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Is the Leader of the Opposition following the habit - Mr P.D. Omodei : Why haven’t you asked them, Premier? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have asked. I have told the Leader of the Opposition that to the best of my knowledge the answer to the question is no. Mr P.D. Omodei : You are losing the plot. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am asking the Leader of the Opposition a question. He just told me and the Parliament that he was informed immediately that his deputy knew. I am saying to him that he was not the leader at that stage; so why was he informed? Mr P.D. Omodei : He told me as soon as he was summonsed that he was going to the CCC. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition was not the leader then. Mr T. Buswell : Yes, he was. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When? Mr T. Buswell : When I was summonsed. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition became the leader on 24 March. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition had a meeting outside Parliament with Noel Crichton-Browne on 21 or 22 March. He attended the CCC on 23 March. Do we have a question of credibility here? Do we have a question of somebody not telling the truth? Does it follow a pattern that some misleading of the Parliament has been attempted? Does it follow a pattern that we know of; that is, the member for Vasse has been proved to be dishonest in his dealings with his own members of Parliament? They have said so publicly, have they not? Mr P.D. Omodei : Who is being dishonest? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Did the member for Vasse turn to the then leader of the Liberal Party and tell him that he supported him in a ballot when the truth was that he had not; and was that a direct lie? Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Was it a direct lie? Did the Deputy Leader of the Opposition tell a direct lie? If he lied then, and we know he lied then, can we assume that he is lying now? Withdrawal of Remark Mr C.J. BARNETT : Point of order, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : I ask the member for Cottesloe to take his seat. The Premier knows the standing orders as well as any member does. It is not parliamentary to imply that a member of this house is a liar, and I direct that he withdraw that comment. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will do so, Mr Speaker. I withdraw any inference that the Deputy Leader of the Opposition is a liar, as that would be a habit of having told the lie. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will quote this article from The West Australian of 28 March - MPs are particularly incensed that immediately after the vote Mr Buswell assured Mr Birney that he had voted for him only to ring him and apologise for “misleading” him. Why did the member for Vasse ring the Leader of the Opposition and apologise for misleading him? It was because the member for Hillarys had seen the member for Vasse fill in his ballot paper and knew it was untrue. Mr P.D. Omodei : What a load of rubbish! That is desperation! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : And in fact provoked - Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : It is amazing, is it not? It provoked the member for Hillarys to say that he would never support this member. The Leader of the Opposition has asked me whether any member of the cabinet or any parliamentary secretary and so on has told me that he or she has been summonsed to appear before the CCC. I said that to the best of my knowledge, no. Mr P.D. Omodei : Or to any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What court proceedings? Mr P.D. Omodei : Any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Give me one. Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What related court proceedings? Can anybody enlighten me as to what - Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Did you ask your ministers? Why didn’t you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition is so bad at this. Mr P.D. Omodei : This is about a corrupt government. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : This is what is called “kicking yourself fair up the backside”. That is what the Leader of the Opposition has just done. The only person I know of who would fit the category that he is trying to assign to members on this side of the house is his deputy, who was summonsed to appear at the CCC and who never informed him, but who sat - Mr P.D. Omodei : You are the Premier of Western Australia and you are obliged to answer this question. You did not ask your ministers. You admitted it just then. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Let me raise the possibility with the general public of Western Australia. If the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party is summonsed to appear before the CCC to give evidence about a matter pertaining to alleged corruption, and the day before he goes there to give that evidence he gets into a car in the car park and has a secret meeting with a man who is central to that inquiry and discusses the evidence, is that the sort of behaviour that would normally warrant his immediate dismissal from his position? I think it is.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : He was not. He became the leader on 24 March, did he not? Is the Leader of the Opposition sitting in this chamber lying to us? Mr P.D. Omodei : I am asking you whether any of your ministers or their staff were involved in any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Is the Leader of the Opposition following the habit - Mr P.D. Omodei : Why haven’t you asked them, Premier? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have asked. I have told the Leader of the Opposition that to the best of my knowledge the answer to the question is no. Mr P.D. Omodei : You are losing the plot. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am asking the Leader of the Opposition a question. He just told me and the Parliament that he was informed immediately that his deputy knew. I am saying to him that he was not the leader at that stage; so why was he informed? Mr P.D. Omodei : He told me as soon as he was summonsed that he was going to the CCC. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition was not the leader then. Mr T. Buswell : Yes, he was. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When? Mr T. Buswell : When I was summonsed. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition became the leader on 24 March. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition had a meeting outside Parliament with Noel Crichton-Browne on 21 or 22 March. He attended the CCC on 23 March. Do we have a question of credibility here? Do we have a question of somebody not telling the truth? Does it follow a pattern that some misleading of the Parliament has been attempted? Does it follow a pattern that we know of; that is, the member for Vasse has been proved to be dishonest in his dealings with his own members of Parliament? They have said so publicly, have they not? Mr P.D. Omodei : Who is being dishonest? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Did the member for Vasse turn to the then leader of the Liberal Party and tell him that he supported him in a ballot when the truth was that he had not; and was that a direct lie? Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Was it a direct lie? Did the Deputy Leader of the Opposition tell a direct lie? If he lied then, and we know he lied then, can we assume that he is lying now? Withdrawal of Remark Mr C.J. BARNETT : Point of order, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : I ask the member for Cottesloe to take his seat. The Premier knows the standing orders as well as any member does. It is not parliamentary to imply that a member of this house is a liar, and I direct that he withdraw that comment. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will do so, Mr Speaker. I withdraw any inference that the Deputy Leader of the Opposition is a liar, as that would be a habit of having told the lie. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will quote this article from The West Australian of 28 March - MPs are particularly incensed that immediately after the vote Mr Buswell assured Mr Birney that he had voted for him only to ring him and apologise for “misleading” him. Why did the member for Vasse ring the Leader of the Opposition and apologise for misleading him? It was because the member for Hillarys had seen the member for Vasse fill in his ballot paper and knew it was untrue. Mr P.D. Omodei : What a load of rubbish! That is desperation! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : And in fact provoked - Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : It is amazing, is it not? It provoked the member for Hillarys to say that he would never support this member. The Leader of the Opposition has asked me whether any member of the cabinet or any parliamentary secretary and so on has told me that he or she has been summonsed to appear before the CCC. I said that to the best of my knowledge, no. Mr P.D. Omodei : Or to any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What court proceedings? Mr P.D. Omodei : Any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Give me one. Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What related court proceedings? Can anybody enlighten me as to what - Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Did you ask your ministers? Why didn’t you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition is so bad at this. Mr P.D. Omodei : This is about a corrupt government. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : This is what is called “kicking yourself fair up the backside”. That is what the Leader of the Opposition has just done. The only person I know of who would fit the category that he is trying to assign to members on this side of the house is his deputy, who was summonsed to appear at the CCC and who never informed him, but who sat - Mr P.D. Omodei : You are the Premier of Western Australia and you are obliged to answer this question. You did not ask your ministers. You admitted it just then. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Let me raise the possibility with the general public of Western Australia. If the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party is summonsed to appear before the CCC to give evidence about a matter pertaining to alleged corruption, and the day before he goes there to give that evidence he gets into a car in the car park and has a secret meeting with a man who is central to that inquiry and discusses the evidence, is that the sort of behaviour that would normally warrant his immediate dismissal from his position? I think it is.
Mr P.D. Omodei : I am asking you whether any of your ministers or their staff were involved in any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Is the Leader of the Opposition following the habit - Mr P.D. Omodei : Why haven’t you asked them, Premier? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have asked. I have told the Leader of the Opposition that to the best of my knowledge the answer to the question is no. Mr P.D. Omodei : You are losing the plot. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am asking the Leader of the Opposition a question. He just told me and the Parliament that he was informed immediately that his deputy knew. I am saying to him that he was not the leader at that stage; so why was he informed? Mr P.D. Omodei : He told me as soon as he was summonsed that he was going to the CCC. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition was not the leader then. Mr T. Buswell : Yes, he was. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When? Mr T. Buswell : When I was summonsed. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition became the leader on 24 March. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition had a meeting outside Parliament with Noel Crichton-Browne on 21 or 22 March. He attended the CCC on 23 March. Do we have a question of credibility here? Do we have a question of somebody not telling the truth? Does it follow a pattern that some misleading of the Parliament has been attempted? Does it follow a pattern that we know of; that is, the member for Vasse has been proved to be dishonest in his dealings with his own members of Parliament? They have said so publicly, have they not? Mr P.D. Omodei : Who is being dishonest? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Did the member for Vasse turn to the then leader of the Liberal Party and tell him that he supported him in a ballot when the truth was that he had not; and was that a direct lie? Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Was it a direct lie? Did the Deputy Leader of the Opposition tell a direct lie? If he lied then, and we know he lied then, can we assume that he is lying now? Withdrawal of Remark Mr C.J. BARNETT : Point of order, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : I ask the member for Cottesloe to take his seat. The Premier knows the standing orders as well as any member does. It is not parliamentary to imply that a member of this house is a liar, and I direct that he withdraw that comment. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will do so, Mr Speaker. I withdraw any inference that the Deputy Leader of the Opposition is a liar, as that would be a habit of having told the lie. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will quote this article from The West Australian of 28 March - MPs are particularly incensed that immediately after the vote Mr Buswell assured Mr Birney that he had voted for him only to ring him and apologise for “misleading” him. Why did the member for Vasse ring the Leader of the Opposition and apologise for misleading him? It was because the member for Hillarys had seen the member for Vasse fill in his ballot paper and knew it was untrue. Mr P.D. Omodei : What a load of rubbish! That is desperation! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : And in fact provoked - Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : It is amazing, is it not? It provoked the member for Hillarys to say that he would never support this member. The Leader of the Opposition has asked me whether any member of the cabinet or any parliamentary secretary and so on has told me that he or she has been summonsed to appear before the CCC. I said that to the best of my knowledge, no. Mr P.D. Omodei : Or to any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What court proceedings? Mr P.D. Omodei : Any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Give me one. Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What related court proceedings? Can anybody enlighten me as to what - Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Did you ask your ministers? Why didn’t you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition is so bad at this. Mr P.D. Omodei : This is about a corrupt government. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : This is what is called “kicking yourself fair up the backside”. That is what the Leader of the Opposition has just done. The only person I know of who would fit the category that he is trying to assign to members on this side of the house is his deputy, who was summonsed to appear at the CCC and who never informed him, but who sat - Mr P.D. Omodei : You are the Premier of Western Australia and you are obliged to answer this question. You did not ask your ministers. You admitted it just then. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Let me raise the possibility with the general public of Western Australia. If the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party is summonsed to appear before the CCC to give evidence about a matter pertaining to alleged corruption, and the day before he goes there to give that evidence he gets into a car in the car park and has a secret meeting with a man who is central to that inquiry and discusses the evidence, is that the sort of behaviour that would normally warrant his immediate dismissal from his position? I think it is.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Is the Leader of the Opposition following the habit - Mr P.D. Omodei : Why haven’t you asked them, Premier? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have asked. I have told the Leader of the Opposition that to the best of my knowledge the answer to the question is no. Mr P.D. Omodei : You are losing the plot. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am asking the Leader of the Opposition a question. He just told me and the Parliament that he was informed immediately that his deputy knew. I am saying to him that he was not the leader at that stage; so why was he informed? Mr P.D. Omodei : He told me as soon as he was summonsed that he was going to the CCC. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition was not the leader then. Mr T. Buswell : Yes, he was. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When? Mr T. Buswell : When I was summonsed. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition became the leader on 24 March. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition had a meeting outside Parliament with Noel Crichton-Browne on 21 or 22 March. He attended the CCC on 23 March. Do we have a question of credibility here? Do we have a question of somebody not telling the truth? Does it follow a pattern that some misleading of the Parliament has been attempted? Does it follow a pattern that we know of; that is, the member for Vasse has been proved to be dishonest in his dealings with his own members of Parliament? They have said so publicly, have they not? Mr P.D. Omodei : Who is being dishonest? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Did the member for Vasse turn to the then leader of the Liberal Party and tell him that he supported him in a ballot when the truth was that he had not; and was that a direct lie? Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Was it a direct lie? Did the Deputy Leader of the Opposition tell a direct lie? If he lied then, and we know he lied then, can we assume that he is lying now? Withdrawal of Remark Mr C.J. BARNETT : Point of order, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : I ask the member for Cottesloe to take his seat. The Premier knows the standing orders as well as any member does. It is not parliamentary to imply that a member of this house is a liar, and I direct that he withdraw that comment. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will do so, Mr Speaker. I withdraw any inference that the Deputy Leader of the Opposition is a liar, as that would be a habit of having told the lie. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will quote this article from The West Australian of 28 March - MPs are particularly incensed that immediately after the vote Mr Buswell assured Mr Birney that he had voted for him only to ring him and apologise for “misleading” him. Why did the member for Vasse ring the Leader of the Opposition and apologise for misleading him? It was because the member for Hillarys had seen the member for Vasse fill in his ballot paper and knew it was untrue. Mr P.D. Omodei : What a load of rubbish! That is desperation! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : And in fact provoked - Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : It is amazing, is it not? It provoked the member for Hillarys to say that he would never support this member. The Leader of the Opposition has asked me whether any member of the cabinet or any parliamentary secretary and so on has told me that he or she has been summonsed to appear before the CCC. I said that to the best of my knowledge, no. Mr P.D. Omodei : Or to any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What court proceedings? Mr P.D. Omodei : Any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Give me one. Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What related court proceedings? Can anybody enlighten me as to what - Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Did you ask your ministers? Why didn’t you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition is so bad at this. Mr P.D. Omodei : This is about a corrupt government. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : This is what is called “kicking yourself fair up the backside”. That is what the Leader of the Opposition has just done. The only person I know of who would fit the category that he is trying to assign to members on this side of the house is his deputy, who was summonsed to appear at the CCC and who never informed him, but who sat - Mr P.D. Omodei : You are the Premier of Western Australia and you are obliged to answer this question. You did not ask your ministers. You admitted it just then. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Let me raise the possibility with the general public of Western Australia. If the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party is summonsed to appear before the CCC to give evidence about a matter pertaining to alleged corruption, and the day before he goes there to give that evidence he gets into a car in the car park and has a secret meeting with a man who is central to that inquiry and discusses the evidence, is that the sort of behaviour that would normally warrant his immediate dismissal from his position? I think it is.
Mr P.D. Omodei : Why haven’t you asked them, Premier? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have asked. I have told the Leader of the Opposition that to the best of my knowledge the answer to the question is no. Mr P.D. Omodei : You are losing the plot. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am asking the Leader of the Opposition a question. He just told me and the Parliament that he was informed immediately that his deputy knew. I am saying to him that he was not the leader at that stage; so why was he informed? Mr P.D. Omodei : He told me as soon as he was summonsed that he was going to the CCC. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition was not the leader then. Mr T. Buswell : Yes, he was. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When? Mr T. Buswell : When I was summonsed. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition became the leader on 24 March. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition had a meeting outside Parliament with Noel Crichton-Browne on 21 or 22 March. He attended the CCC on 23 March. Do we have a question of credibility here? Do we have a question of somebody not telling the truth? Does it follow a pattern that some misleading of the Parliament has been attempted? Does it follow a pattern that we know of; that is, the member for Vasse has been proved to be dishonest in his dealings with his own members of Parliament? They have said so publicly, have they not? Mr P.D. Omodei : Who is being dishonest? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Did the member for Vasse turn to the then leader of the Liberal Party and tell him that he supported him in a ballot when the truth was that he had not; and was that a direct lie? Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Was it a direct lie? Did the Deputy Leader of the Opposition tell a direct lie? If he lied then, and we know he lied then, can we assume that he is lying now? Withdrawal of Remark Mr C.J. BARNETT : Point of order, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : I ask the member for Cottesloe to take his seat. The Premier knows the standing orders as well as any member does. It is not parliamentary to imply that a member of this house is a liar, and I direct that he withdraw that comment. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will do so, Mr Speaker. I withdraw any inference that the Deputy Leader of the Opposition is a liar, as that would be a habit of having told the lie. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will quote this article from The West Australian of 28 March - MPs are particularly incensed that immediately after the vote Mr Buswell assured Mr Birney that he had voted for him only to ring him and apologise for “misleading” him. Why did the member for Vasse ring the Leader of the Opposition and apologise for misleading him? It was because the member for Hillarys had seen the member for Vasse fill in his ballot paper and knew it was untrue. Mr P.D. Omodei : What a load of rubbish! That is desperation! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : And in fact provoked - Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : It is amazing, is it not? It provoked the member for Hillarys to say that he would never support this member. The Leader of the Opposition has asked me whether any member of the cabinet or any parliamentary secretary and so on has told me that he or she has been summonsed to appear before the CCC. I said that to the best of my knowledge, no. Mr P.D. Omodei : Or to any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What court proceedings? Mr P.D. Omodei : Any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Give me one. Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What related court proceedings? Can anybody enlighten me as to what - Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Did you ask your ministers? Why didn’t you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition is so bad at this. Mr P.D. Omodei : This is about a corrupt government. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : This is what is called “kicking yourself fair up the backside”. That is what the Leader of the Opposition has just done. The only person I know of who would fit the category that he is trying to assign to members on this side of the house is his deputy, who was summonsed to appear at the CCC and who never informed him, but who sat - Mr P.D. Omodei : You are the Premier of Western Australia and you are obliged to answer this question. You did not ask your ministers. You admitted it just then. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Let me raise the possibility with the general public of Western Australia. If the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party is summonsed to appear before the CCC to give evidence about a matter pertaining to alleged corruption, and the day before he goes there to give that evidence he gets into a car in the car park and has a secret meeting with a man who is central to that inquiry and discusses the evidence, is that the sort of behaviour that would normally warrant his immediate dismissal from his position? I think it is.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I have asked. I have told the Leader of the Opposition that to the best of my knowledge the answer to the question is no. Mr P.D. Omodei : You are losing the plot. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am asking the Leader of the Opposition a question. He just told me and the Parliament that he was informed immediately that his deputy knew. I am saying to him that he was not the leader at that stage; so why was he informed? Mr P.D. Omodei : He told me as soon as he was summonsed that he was going to the CCC. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition was not the leader then. Mr T. Buswell : Yes, he was. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When? Mr T. Buswell : When I was summonsed. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition became the leader on 24 March. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition had a meeting outside Parliament with Noel Crichton-Browne on 21 or 22 March. He attended the CCC on 23 March. Do we have a question of credibility here? Do we have a question of somebody not telling the truth? Does it follow a pattern that some misleading of the Parliament has been attempted? Does it follow a pattern that we know of; that is, the member for Vasse has been proved to be dishonest in his dealings with his own members of Parliament? They have said so publicly, have they not? Mr P.D. Omodei : Who is being dishonest? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Did the member for Vasse turn to the then leader of the Liberal Party and tell him that he supported him in a ballot when the truth was that he had not; and was that a direct lie? Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Was it a direct lie? Did the Deputy Leader of the Opposition tell a direct lie? If he lied then, and we know he lied then, can we assume that he is lying now? Withdrawal of Remark Mr C.J. BARNETT : Point of order, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : I ask the member for Cottesloe to take his seat. The Premier knows the standing orders as well as any member does. It is not parliamentary to imply that a member of this house is a liar, and I direct that he withdraw that comment. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will do so, Mr Speaker. I withdraw any inference that the Deputy Leader of the Opposition is a liar, as that would be a habit of having told the lie. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will quote this article from The West Australian of 28 March - MPs are particularly incensed that immediately after the vote Mr Buswell assured Mr Birney that he had voted for him only to ring him and apologise for “misleading” him. Why did the member for Vasse ring the Leader of the Opposition and apologise for misleading him? It was because the member for Hillarys had seen the member for Vasse fill in his ballot paper and knew it was untrue. Mr P.D. Omodei : What a load of rubbish! That is desperation! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : And in fact provoked - Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : It is amazing, is it not? It provoked the member for Hillarys to say that he would never support this member. The Leader of the Opposition has asked me whether any member of the cabinet or any parliamentary secretary and so on has told me that he or she has been summonsed to appear before the CCC. I said that to the best of my knowledge, no. Mr P.D. Omodei : Or to any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What court proceedings? Mr P.D. Omodei : Any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Give me one. Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What related court proceedings? Can anybody enlighten me as to what - Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Did you ask your ministers? Why didn’t you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition is so bad at this. Mr P.D. Omodei : This is about a corrupt government. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : This is what is called “kicking yourself fair up the backside”. That is what the Leader of the Opposition has just done. The only person I know of who would fit the category that he is trying to assign to members on this side of the house is his deputy, who was summonsed to appear at the CCC and who never informed him, but who sat - Mr P.D. Omodei : You are the Premier of Western Australia and you are obliged to answer this question. You did not ask your ministers. You admitted it just then. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Let me raise the possibility with the general public of Western Australia. If the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party is summonsed to appear before the CCC to give evidence about a matter pertaining to alleged corruption, and the day before he goes there to give that evidence he gets into a car in the car park and has a secret meeting with a man who is central to that inquiry and discusses the evidence, is that the sort of behaviour that would normally warrant his immediate dismissal from his position? I think it is.
Mr P.D. Omodei : You are losing the plot. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am asking the Leader of the Opposition a question. He just told me and the Parliament that he was informed immediately that his deputy knew. I am saying to him that he was not the leader at that stage; so why was he informed? Mr P.D. Omodei : He told me as soon as he was summonsed that he was going to the CCC. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition was not the leader then. Mr T. Buswell : Yes, he was. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When? Mr T. Buswell : When I was summonsed. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition became the leader on 24 March. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition had a meeting outside Parliament with Noel Crichton-Browne on 21 or 22 March. He attended the CCC on 23 March. Do we have a question of credibility here? Do we have a question of somebody not telling the truth? Does it follow a pattern that some misleading of the Parliament has been attempted? Does it follow a pattern that we know of; that is, the member for Vasse has been proved to be dishonest in his dealings with his own members of Parliament? They have said so publicly, have they not? Mr P.D. Omodei : Who is being dishonest? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Did the member for Vasse turn to the then leader of the Liberal Party and tell him that he supported him in a ballot when the truth was that he had not; and was that a direct lie? Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Was it a direct lie? Did the Deputy Leader of the Opposition tell a direct lie? If he lied then, and we know he lied then, can we assume that he is lying now? Withdrawal of Remark Mr C.J. BARNETT : Point of order, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : I ask the member for Cottesloe to take his seat. The Premier knows the standing orders as well as any member does. It is not parliamentary to imply that a member of this house is a liar, and I direct that he withdraw that comment. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will do so, Mr Speaker. I withdraw any inference that the Deputy Leader of the Opposition is a liar, as that would be a habit of having told the lie. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will quote this article from The West Australian of 28 March - MPs are particularly incensed that immediately after the vote Mr Buswell assured Mr Birney that he had voted for him only to ring him and apologise for “misleading” him. Why did the member for Vasse ring the Leader of the Opposition and apologise for misleading him? It was because the member for Hillarys had seen the member for Vasse fill in his ballot paper and knew it was untrue. Mr P.D. Omodei : What a load of rubbish! That is desperation! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : And in fact provoked - Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : It is amazing, is it not? It provoked the member for Hillarys to say that he would never support this member. The Leader of the Opposition has asked me whether any member of the cabinet or any parliamentary secretary and so on has told me that he or she has been summonsed to appear before the CCC. I said that to the best of my knowledge, no. Mr P.D. Omodei : Or to any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What court proceedings? Mr P.D. Omodei : Any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Give me one. Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What related court proceedings? Can anybody enlighten me as to what - Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Did you ask your ministers? Why didn’t you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition is so bad at this. Mr P.D. Omodei : This is about a corrupt government. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : This is what is called “kicking yourself fair up the backside”. That is what the Leader of the Opposition has just done. The only person I know of who would fit the category that he is trying to assign to members on this side of the house is his deputy, who was summonsed to appear at the CCC and who never informed him, but who sat - Mr P.D. Omodei : You are the Premier of Western Australia and you are obliged to answer this question. You did not ask your ministers. You admitted it just then. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Let me raise the possibility with the general public of Western Australia. If the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party is summonsed to appear before the CCC to give evidence about a matter pertaining to alleged corruption, and the day before he goes there to give that evidence he gets into a car in the car park and has a secret meeting with a man who is central to that inquiry and discusses the evidence, is that the sort of behaviour that would normally warrant his immediate dismissal from his position? I think it is.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I am asking the Leader of the Opposition a question. He just told me and the Parliament that he was informed immediately that his deputy knew. I am saying to him that he was not the leader at that stage; so why was he informed? Mr P.D. Omodei : He told me as soon as he was summonsed that he was going to the CCC. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition was not the leader then. Mr T. Buswell : Yes, he was. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When? Mr T. Buswell : When I was summonsed. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition became the leader on 24 March. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition had a meeting outside Parliament with Noel Crichton-Browne on 21 or 22 March. He attended the CCC on 23 March. Do we have a question of credibility here? Do we have a question of somebody not telling the truth? Does it follow a pattern that some misleading of the Parliament has been attempted? Does it follow a pattern that we know of; that is, the member for Vasse has been proved to be dishonest in his dealings with his own members of Parliament? They have said so publicly, have they not? Mr P.D. Omodei : Who is being dishonest? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Did the member for Vasse turn to the then leader of the Liberal Party and tell him that he supported him in a ballot when the truth was that he had not; and was that a direct lie? Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Was it a direct lie? Did the Deputy Leader of the Opposition tell a direct lie? If he lied then, and we know he lied then, can we assume that he is lying now? Withdrawal of Remark Mr C.J. BARNETT : Point of order, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : I ask the member for Cottesloe to take his seat. The Premier knows the standing orders as well as any member does. It is not parliamentary to imply that a member of this house is a liar, and I direct that he withdraw that comment. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will do so, Mr Speaker. I withdraw any inference that the Deputy Leader of the Opposition is a liar, as that would be a habit of having told the lie. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will quote this article from The West Australian of 28 March - MPs are particularly incensed that immediately after the vote Mr Buswell assured Mr Birney that he had voted for him only to ring him and apologise for “misleading” him. Why did the member for Vasse ring the Leader of the Opposition and apologise for misleading him? It was because the member for Hillarys had seen the member for Vasse fill in his ballot paper and knew it was untrue. Mr P.D. Omodei : What a load of rubbish! That is desperation! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : And in fact provoked - Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : It is amazing, is it not? It provoked the member for Hillarys to say that he would never support this member. The Leader of the Opposition has asked me whether any member of the cabinet or any parliamentary secretary and so on has told me that he or she has been summonsed to appear before the CCC. I said that to the best of my knowledge, no. Mr P.D. Omodei : Or to any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What court proceedings? Mr P.D. Omodei : Any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Give me one. Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What related court proceedings? Can anybody enlighten me as to what - Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Did you ask your ministers? Why didn’t you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition is so bad at this. Mr P.D. Omodei : This is about a corrupt government. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : This is what is called “kicking yourself fair up the backside”. That is what the Leader of the Opposition has just done. The only person I know of who would fit the category that he is trying to assign to members on this side of the house is his deputy, who was summonsed to appear at the CCC and who never informed him, but who sat - Mr P.D. Omodei : You are the Premier of Western Australia and you are obliged to answer this question. You did not ask your ministers. You admitted it just then. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Let me raise the possibility with the general public of Western Australia. If the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party is summonsed to appear before the CCC to give evidence about a matter pertaining to alleged corruption, and the day before he goes there to give that evidence he gets into a car in the car park and has a secret meeting with a man who is central to that inquiry and discusses the evidence, is that the sort of behaviour that would normally warrant his immediate dismissal from his position? I think it is.
Mr P.D. Omodei : He told me as soon as he was summonsed that he was going to the CCC. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition was not the leader then. Mr T. Buswell : Yes, he was. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When? Mr T. Buswell : When I was summonsed. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition became the leader on 24 March. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition had a meeting outside Parliament with Noel Crichton-Browne on 21 or 22 March. He attended the CCC on 23 March. Do we have a question of credibility here? Do we have a question of somebody not telling the truth? Does it follow a pattern that some misleading of the Parliament has been attempted? Does it follow a pattern that we know of; that is, the member for Vasse has been proved to be dishonest in his dealings with his own members of Parliament? They have said so publicly, have they not? Mr P.D. Omodei : Who is being dishonest? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Did the member for Vasse turn to the then leader of the Liberal Party and tell him that he supported him in a ballot when the truth was that he had not; and was that a direct lie? Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Was it a direct lie? Did the Deputy Leader of the Opposition tell a direct lie? If he lied then, and we know he lied then, can we assume that he is lying now? Withdrawal of Remark Mr C.J. BARNETT : Point of order, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : I ask the member for Cottesloe to take his seat. The Premier knows the standing orders as well as any member does. It is not parliamentary to imply that a member of this house is a liar, and I direct that he withdraw that comment. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will do so, Mr Speaker. I withdraw any inference that the Deputy Leader of the Opposition is a liar, as that would be a habit of having told the lie. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will quote this article from The West Australian of 28 March - MPs are particularly incensed that immediately after the vote Mr Buswell assured Mr Birney that he had voted for him only to ring him and apologise for “misleading” him. Why did the member for Vasse ring the Leader of the Opposition and apologise for misleading him? It was because the member for Hillarys had seen the member for Vasse fill in his ballot paper and knew it was untrue. Mr P.D. Omodei : What a load of rubbish! That is desperation! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : And in fact provoked - Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : It is amazing, is it not? It provoked the member for Hillarys to say that he would never support this member. The Leader of the Opposition has asked me whether any member of the cabinet or any parliamentary secretary and so on has told me that he or she has been summonsed to appear before the CCC. I said that to the best of my knowledge, no. Mr P.D. Omodei : Or to any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What court proceedings? Mr P.D. Omodei : Any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Give me one. Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What related court proceedings? Can anybody enlighten me as to what - Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Did you ask your ministers? Why didn’t you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition is so bad at this. Mr P.D. Omodei : This is about a corrupt government. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : This is what is called “kicking yourself fair up the backside”. That is what the Leader of the Opposition has just done. The only person I know of who would fit the category that he is trying to assign to members on this side of the house is his deputy, who was summonsed to appear at the CCC and who never informed him, but who sat - Mr P.D. Omodei : You are the Premier of Western Australia and you are obliged to answer this question. You did not ask your ministers. You admitted it just then. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Let me raise the possibility with the general public of Western Australia. If the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party is summonsed to appear before the CCC to give evidence about a matter pertaining to alleged corruption, and the day before he goes there to give that evidence he gets into a car in the car park and has a secret meeting with a man who is central to that inquiry and discusses the evidence, is that the sort of behaviour that would normally warrant his immediate dismissal from his position? I think it is.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition was not the leader then. Mr T. Buswell : Yes, he was. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When? Mr T. Buswell : When I was summonsed. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition became the leader on 24 March. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition had a meeting outside Parliament with Noel Crichton-Browne on 21 or 22 March. He attended the CCC on 23 March. Do we have a question of credibility here? Do we have a question of somebody not telling the truth? Does it follow a pattern that some misleading of the Parliament has been attempted? Does it follow a pattern that we know of; that is, the member for Vasse has been proved to be dishonest in his dealings with his own members of Parliament? They have said so publicly, have they not? Mr P.D. Omodei : Who is being dishonest? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Did the member for Vasse turn to the then leader of the Liberal Party and tell him that he supported him in a ballot when the truth was that he had not; and was that a direct lie? Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Was it a direct lie? Did the Deputy Leader of the Opposition tell a direct lie? If he lied then, and we know he lied then, can we assume that he is lying now? Withdrawal of Remark Mr C.J. BARNETT : Point of order, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : I ask the member for Cottesloe to take his seat. The Premier knows the standing orders as well as any member does. It is not parliamentary to imply that a member of this house is a liar, and I direct that he withdraw that comment. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will do so, Mr Speaker. I withdraw any inference that the Deputy Leader of the Opposition is a liar, as that would be a habit of having told the lie. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will quote this article from The West Australian of 28 March - MPs are particularly incensed that immediately after the vote Mr Buswell assured Mr Birney that he had voted for him only to ring him and apologise for “misleading” him. Why did the member for Vasse ring the Leader of the Opposition and apologise for misleading him? It was because the member for Hillarys had seen the member for Vasse fill in his ballot paper and knew it was untrue. Mr P.D. Omodei : What a load of rubbish! That is desperation! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : And in fact provoked - Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : It is amazing, is it not? It provoked the member for Hillarys to say that he would never support this member. The Leader of the Opposition has asked me whether any member of the cabinet or any parliamentary secretary and so on has told me that he or she has been summonsed to appear before the CCC. I said that to the best of my knowledge, no. Mr P.D. Omodei : Or to any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What court proceedings? Mr P.D. Omodei : Any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Give me one. Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What related court proceedings? Can anybody enlighten me as to what - Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Did you ask your ministers? Why didn’t you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition is so bad at this. Mr P.D. Omodei : This is about a corrupt government. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : This is what is called “kicking yourself fair up the backside”. That is what the Leader of the Opposition has just done. The only person I know of who would fit the category that he is trying to assign to members on this side of the house is his deputy, who was summonsed to appear at the CCC and who never informed him, but who sat - Mr P.D. Omodei : You are the Premier of Western Australia and you are obliged to answer this question. You did not ask your ministers. You admitted it just then. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Let me raise the possibility with the general public of Western Australia. If the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party is summonsed to appear before the CCC to give evidence about a matter pertaining to alleged corruption, and the day before he goes there to give that evidence he gets into a car in the car park and has a secret meeting with a man who is central to that inquiry and discusses the evidence, is that the sort of behaviour that would normally warrant his immediate dismissal from his position? I think it is.
Mr T. Buswell : Yes, he was. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When? Mr T. Buswell : When I was summonsed. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition became the leader on 24 March. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition had a meeting outside Parliament with Noel Crichton-Browne on 21 or 22 March. He attended the CCC on 23 March. Do we have a question of credibility here? Do we have a question of somebody not telling the truth? Does it follow a pattern that some misleading of the Parliament has been attempted? Does it follow a pattern that we know of; that is, the member for Vasse has been proved to be dishonest in his dealings with his own members of Parliament? They have said so publicly, have they not? Mr P.D. Omodei : Who is being dishonest? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Did the member for Vasse turn to the then leader of the Liberal Party and tell him that he supported him in a ballot when the truth was that he had not; and was that a direct lie? Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Was it a direct lie? Did the Deputy Leader of the Opposition tell a direct lie? If he lied then, and we know he lied then, can we assume that he is lying now? Withdrawal of Remark Mr C.J. BARNETT : Point of order, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : I ask the member for Cottesloe to take his seat. The Premier knows the standing orders as well as any member does. It is not parliamentary to imply that a member of this house is a liar, and I direct that he withdraw that comment. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will do so, Mr Speaker. I withdraw any inference that the Deputy Leader of the Opposition is a liar, as that would be a habit of having told the lie. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will quote this article from The West Australian of 28 March - MPs are particularly incensed that immediately after the vote Mr Buswell assured Mr Birney that he had voted for him only to ring him and apologise for “misleading” him. Why did the member for Vasse ring the Leader of the Opposition and apologise for misleading him? It was because the member for Hillarys had seen the member for Vasse fill in his ballot paper and knew it was untrue. Mr P.D. Omodei : What a load of rubbish! That is desperation! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : And in fact provoked - Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : It is amazing, is it not? It provoked the member for Hillarys to say that he would never support this member. The Leader of the Opposition has asked me whether any member of the cabinet or any parliamentary secretary and so on has told me that he or she has been summonsed to appear before the CCC. I said that to the best of my knowledge, no. Mr P.D. Omodei : Or to any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What court proceedings? Mr P.D. Omodei : Any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Give me one. Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What related court proceedings? Can anybody enlighten me as to what - Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Did you ask your ministers? Why didn’t you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition is so bad at this. Mr P.D. Omodei : This is about a corrupt government. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : This is what is called “kicking yourself fair up the backside”. That is what the Leader of the Opposition has just done. The only person I know of who would fit the category that he is trying to assign to members on this side of the house is his deputy, who was summonsed to appear at the CCC and who never informed him, but who sat - Mr P.D. Omodei : You are the Premier of Western Australia and you are obliged to answer this question. You did not ask your ministers. You admitted it just then. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Let me raise the possibility with the general public of Western Australia. If the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party is summonsed to appear before the CCC to give evidence about a matter pertaining to alleged corruption, and the day before he goes there to give that evidence he gets into a car in the car park and has a secret meeting with a man who is central to that inquiry and discusses the evidence, is that the sort of behaviour that would normally warrant his immediate dismissal from his position? I think it is.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : When? Mr T. Buswell : When I was summonsed. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition became the leader on 24 March. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition had a meeting outside Parliament with Noel Crichton-Browne on 21 or 22 March. He attended the CCC on 23 March. Do we have a question of credibility here? Do we have a question of somebody not telling the truth? Does it follow a pattern that some misleading of the Parliament has been attempted? Does it follow a pattern that we know of; that is, the member for Vasse has been proved to be dishonest in his dealings with his own members of Parliament? They have said so publicly, have they not? Mr P.D. Omodei : Who is being dishonest? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Did the member for Vasse turn to the then leader of the Liberal Party and tell him that he supported him in a ballot when the truth was that he had not; and was that a direct lie? Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Was it a direct lie? Did the Deputy Leader of the Opposition tell a direct lie? If he lied then, and we know he lied then, can we assume that he is lying now? Withdrawal of Remark Mr C.J. BARNETT : Point of order, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : I ask the member for Cottesloe to take his seat. The Premier knows the standing orders as well as any member does. It is not parliamentary to imply that a member of this house is a liar, and I direct that he withdraw that comment. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will do so, Mr Speaker. I withdraw any inference that the Deputy Leader of the Opposition is a liar, as that would be a habit of having told the lie. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will quote this article from The West Australian of 28 March - MPs are particularly incensed that immediately after the vote Mr Buswell assured Mr Birney that he had voted for him only to ring him and apologise for “misleading” him. Why did the member for Vasse ring the Leader of the Opposition and apologise for misleading him? It was because the member for Hillarys had seen the member for Vasse fill in his ballot paper and knew it was untrue. Mr P.D. Omodei : What a load of rubbish! That is desperation! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : And in fact provoked - Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : It is amazing, is it not? It provoked the member for Hillarys to say that he would never support this member. The Leader of the Opposition has asked me whether any member of the cabinet or any parliamentary secretary and so on has told me that he or she has been summonsed to appear before the CCC. I said that to the best of my knowledge, no. Mr P.D. Omodei : Or to any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What court proceedings? Mr P.D. Omodei : Any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Give me one. Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What related court proceedings? Can anybody enlighten me as to what - Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Did you ask your ministers? Why didn’t you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition is so bad at this. Mr P.D. Omodei : This is about a corrupt government. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : This is what is called “kicking yourself fair up the backside”. That is what the Leader of the Opposition has just done. The only person I know of who would fit the category that he is trying to assign to members on this side of the house is his deputy, who was summonsed to appear at the CCC and who never informed him, but who sat - Mr P.D. Omodei : You are the Premier of Western Australia and you are obliged to answer this question. You did not ask your ministers. You admitted it just then. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Let me raise the possibility with the general public of Western Australia. If the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party is summonsed to appear before the CCC to give evidence about a matter pertaining to alleged corruption, and the day before he goes there to give that evidence he gets into a car in the car park and has a secret meeting with a man who is central to that inquiry and discusses the evidence, is that the sort of behaviour that would normally warrant his immediate dismissal from his position? I think it is.
Mr T. Buswell : When I was summonsed. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition became the leader on 24 March. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition had a meeting outside Parliament with Noel Crichton-Browne on 21 or 22 March. He attended the CCC on 23 March. Do we have a question of credibility here? Do we have a question of somebody not telling the truth? Does it follow a pattern that some misleading of the Parliament has been attempted? Does it follow a pattern that we know of; that is, the member for Vasse has been proved to be dishonest in his dealings with his own members of Parliament? They have said so publicly, have they not? Mr P.D. Omodei : Who is being dishonest? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Did the member for Vasse turn to the then leader of the Liberal Party and tell him that he supported him in a ballot when the truth was that he had not; and was that a direct lie? Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Was it a direct lie? Did the Deputy Leader of the Opposition tell a direct lie? If he lied then, and we know he lied then, can we assume that he is lying now? Withdrawal of Remark Mr C.J. BARNETT : Point of order, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : I ask the member for Cottesloe to take his seat. The Premier knows the standing orders as well as any member does. It is not parliamentary to imply that a member of this house is a liar, and I direct that he withdraw that comment. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will do so, Mr Speaker. I withdraw any inference that the Deputy Leader of the Opposition is a liar, as that would be a habit of having told the lie. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will quote this article from The West Australian of 28 March - MPs are particularly incensed that immediately after the vote Mr Buswell assured Mr Birney that he had voted for him only to ring him and apologise for “misleading” him. Why did the member for Vasse ring the Leader of the Opposition and apologise for misleading him? It was because the member for Hillarys had seen the member for Vasse fill in his ballot paper and knew it was untrue. Mr P.D. Omodei : What a load of rubbish! That is desperation! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : And in fact provoked - Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : It is amazing, is it not? It provoked the member for Hillarys to say that he would never support this member. The Leader of the Opposition has asked me whether any member of the cabinet or any parliamentary secretary and so on has told me that he or she has been summonsed to appear before the CCC. I said that to the best of my knowledge, no. Mr P.D. Omodei : Or to any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What court proceedings? Mr P.D. Omodei : Any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Give me one. Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What related court proceedings? Can anybody enlighten me as to what - Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Did you ask your ministers? Why didn’t you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition is so bad at this. Mr P.D. Omodei : This is about a corrupt government. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : This is what is called “kicking yourself fair up the backside”. That is what the Leader of the Opposition has just done. The only person I know of who would fit the category that he is trying to assign to members on this side of the house is his deputy, who was summonsed to appear at the CCC and who never informed him, but who sat - Mr P.D. Omodei : You are the Premier of Western Australia and you are obliged to answer this question. You did not ask your ministers. You admitted it just then. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Let me raise the possibility with the general public of Western Australia. If the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party is summonsed to appear before the CCC to give evidence about a matter pertaining to alleged corruption, and the day before he goes there to give that evidence he gets into a car in the car park and has a secret meeting with a man who is central to that inquiry and discusses the evidence, is that the sort of behaviour that would normally warrant his immediate dismissal from his position? I think it is.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition became the leader on 24 March. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition had a meeting outside Parliament with Noel Crichton-Browne on 21 or 22 March. He attended the CCC on 23 March. Do we have a question of credibility here? Do we have a question of somebody not telling the truth? Does it follow a pattern that some misleading of the Parliament has been attempted? Does it follow a pattern that we know of; that is, the member for Vasse has been proved to be dishonest in his dealings with his own members of Parliament? They have said so publicly, have they not? Mr P.D. Omodei : Who is being dishonest? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Did the member for Vasse turn to the then leader of the Liberal Party and tell him that he supported him in a ballot when the truth was that he had not; and was that a direct lie? Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Was it a direct lie? Did the Deputy Leader of the Opposition tell a direct lie? If he lied then, and we know he lied then, can we assume that he is lying now? Withdrawal of Remark Mr C.J. BARNETT : Point of order, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : I ask the member for Cottesloe to take his seat. The Premier knows the standing orders as well as any member does. It is not parliamentary to imply that a member of this house is a liar, and I direct that he withdraw that comment. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will do so, Mr Speaker. I withdraw any inference that the Deputy Leader of the Opposition is a liar, as that would be a habit of having told the lie. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will quote this article from The West Australian of 28 March - MPs are particularly incensed that immediately after the vote Mr Buswell assured Mr Birney that he had voted for him only to ring him and apologise for “misleading” him. Why did the member for Vasse ring the Leader of the Opposition and apologise for misleading him? It was because the member for Hillarys had seen the member for Vasse fill in his ballot paper and knew it was untrue. Mr P.D. Omodei : What a load of rubbish! That is desperation! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : And in fact provoked - Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : It is amazing, is it not? It provoked the member for Hillarys to say that he would never support this member. The Leader of the Opposition has asked me whether any member of the cabinet or any parliamentary secretary and so on has told me that he or she has been summonsed to appear before the CCC. I said that to the best of my knowledge, no. Mr P.D. Omodei : Or to any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What court proceedings? Mr P.D. Omodei : Any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Give me one. Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What related court proceedings? Can anybody enlighten me as to what - Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Did you ask your ministers? Why didn’t you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition is so bad at this. Mr P.D. Omodei : This is about a corrupt government. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : This is what is called “kicking yourself fair up the backside”. That is what the Leader of the Opposition has just done. The only person I know of who would fit the category that he is trying to assign to members on this side of the house is his deputy, who was summonsed to appear at the CCC and who never informed him, but who sat - Mr P.D. Omodei : You are the Premier of Western Australia and you are obliged to answer this question. You did not ask your ministers. You admitted it just then. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Let me raise the possibility with the general public of Western Australia. If the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party is summonsed to appear before the CCC to give evidence about a matter pertaining to alleged corruption, and the day before he goes there to give that evidence he gets into a car in the car park and has a secret meeting with a man who is central to that inquiry and discusses the evidence, is that the sort of behaviour that would normally warrant his immediate dismissal from his position? I think it is.
Mr P.D. Omodei : Who is being dishonest? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Did the member for Vasse turn to the then leader of the Liberal Party and tell him that he supported him in a ballot when the truth was that he had not; and was that a direct lie? Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Was it a direct lie? Did the Deputy Leader of the Opposition tell a direct lie? If he lied then, and we know he lied then, can we assume that he is lying now? Withdrawal of Remark Mr C.J. BARNETT : Point of order, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : I ask the member for Cottesloe to take his seat. The Premier knows the standing orders as well as any member does. It is not parliamentary to imply that a member of this house is a liar, and I direct that he withdraw that comment. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will do so, Mr Speaker. I withdraw any inference that the Deputy Leader of the Opposition is a liar, as that would be a habit of having told the lie. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will quote this article from The West Australian of 28 March - MPs are particularly incensed that immediately after the vote Mr Buswell assured Mr Birney that he had voted for him only to ring him and apologise for “misleading” him. Why did the member for Vasse ring the Leader of the Opposition and apologise for misleading him? It was because the member for Hillarys had seen the member for Vasse fill in his ballot paper and knew it was untrue. Mr P.D. Omodei : What a load of rubbish! That is desperation! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : And in fact provoked - Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : It is amazing, is it not? It provoked the member for Hillarys to say that he would never support this member. The Leader of the Opposition has asked me whether any member of the cabinet or any parliamentary secretary and so on has told me that he or she has been summonsed to appear before the CCC. I said that to the best of my knowledge, no. Mr P.D. Omodei : Or to any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What court proceedings? Mr P.D. Omodei : Any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Give me one. Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What related court proceedings? Can anybody enlighten me as to what - Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Did you ask your ministers? Why didn’t you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition is so bad at this. Mr P.D. Omodei : This is about a corrupt government. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : This is what is called “kicking yourself fair up the backside”. That is what the Leader of the Opposition has just done. The only person I know of who would fit the category that he is trying to assign to members on this side of the house is his deputy, who was summonsed to appear at the CCC and who never informed him, but who sat - Mr P.D. Omodei : You are the Premier of Western Australia and you are obliged to answer this question. You did not ask your ministers. You admitted it just then. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Let me raise the possibility with the general public of Western Australia. If the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party is summonsed to appear before the CCC to give evidence about a matter pertaining to alleged corruption, and the day before he goes there to give that evidence he gets into a car in the car park and has a secret meeting with a man who is central to that inquiry and discusses the evidence, is that the sort of behaviour that would normally warrant his immediate dismissal from his position? I think it is.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Did the member for Vasse turn to the then leader of the Liberal Party and tell him that he supported him in a ballot when the truth was that he had not; and was that a direct lie? Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Was it a direct lie? Did the Deputy Leader of the Opposition tell a direct lie? If he lied then, and we know he lied then, can we assume that he is lying now? Withdrawal of Remark Mr C.J. BARNETT : Point of order, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : I ask the member for Cottesloe to take his seat. The Premier knows the standing orders as well as any member does. It is not parliamentary to imply that a member of this house is a liar, and I direct that he withdraw that comment. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will do so, Mr Speaker. I withdraw any inference that the Deputy Leader of the Opposition is a liar, as that would be a habit of having told the lie. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will quote this article from The West Australian of 28 March - MPs are particularly incensed that immediately after the vote Mr Buswell assured Mr Birney that he had voted for him only to ring him and apologise for “misleading” him. Why did the member for Vasse ring the Leader of the Opposition and apologise for misleading him? It was because the member for Hillarys had seen the member for Vasse fill in his ballot paper and knew it was untrue. Mr P.D. Omodei : What a load of rubbish! That is desperation! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : And in fact provoked - Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : It is amazing, is it not? It provoked the member for Hillarys to say that he would never support this member. The Leader of the Opposition has asked me whether any member of the cabinet or any parliamentary secretary and so on has told me that he or she has been summonsed to appear before the CCC. I said that to the best of my knowledge, no. Mr P.D. Omodei : Or to any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What court proceedings? Mr P.D. Omodei : Any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Give me one. Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What related court proceedings? Can anybody enlighten me as to what - Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Did you ask your ministers? Why didn’t you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition is so bad at this. Mr P.D. Omodei : This is about a corrupt government. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : This is what is called “kicking yourself fair up the backside”. That is what the Leader of the Opposition has just done. The only person I know of who would fit the category that he is trying to assign to members on this side of the house is his deputy, who was summonsed to appear at the CCC and who never informed him, but who sat - Mr P.D. Omodei : You are the Premier of Western Australia and you are obliged to answer this question. You did not ask your ministers. You admitted it just then. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Let me raise the possibility with the general public of Western Australia. If the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party is summonsed to appear before the CCC to give evidence about a matter pertaining to alleged corruption, and the day before he goes there to give that evidence he gets into a car in the car park and has a secret meeting with a man who is central to that inquiry and discusses the evidence, is that the sort of behaviour that would normally warrant his immediate dismissal from his position? I think it is.
Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Was it a direct lie? Did the Deputy Leader of the Opposition tell a direct lie? If he lied then, and we know he lied then, can we assume that he is lying now? Withdrawal of Remark Mr C.J. BARNETT : Point of order, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : I ask the member for Cottesloe to take his seat. The Premier knows the standing orders as well as any member does. It is not parliamentary to imply that a member of this house is a liar, and I direct that he withdraw that comment. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will do so, Mr Speaker. I withdraw any inference that the Deputy Leader of the Opposition is a liar, as that would be a habit of having told the lie. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will quote this article from The West Australian of 28 March - MPs are particularly incensed that immediately after the vote Mr Buswell assured Mr Birney that he had voted for him only to ring him and apologise for “misleading” him. Why did the member for Vasse ring the Leader of the Opposition and apologise for misleading him? It was because the member for Hillarys had seen the member for Vasse fill in his ballot paper and knew it was untrue. Mr P.D. Omodei : What a load of rubbish! That is desperation! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : And in fact provoked - Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : It is amazing, is it not? It provoked the member for Hillarys to say that he would never support this member. The Leader of the Opposition has asked me whether any member of the cabinet or any parliamentary secretary and so on has told me that he or she has been summonsed to appear before the CCC. I said that to the best of my knowledge, no. Mr P.D. Omodei : Or to any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What court proceedings? Mr P.D. Omodei : Any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Give me one. Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What related court proceedings? Can anybody enlighten me as to what - Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Did you ask your ministers? Why didn’t you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition is so bad at this. Mr P.D. Omodei : This is about a corrupt government. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : This is what is called “kicking yourself fair up the backside”. That is what the Leader of the Opposition has just done. The only person I know of who would fit the category that he is trying to assign to members on this side of the house is his deputy, who was summonsed to appear at the CCC and who never informed him, but who sat - Mr P.D. Omodei : You are the Premier of Western Australia and you are obliged to answer this question. You did not ask your ministers. You admitted it just then. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Let me raise the possibility with the general public of Western Australia. If the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party is summonsed to appear before the CCC to give evidence about a matter pertaining to alleged corruption, and the day before he goes there to give that evidence he gets into a car in the car park and has a secret meeting with a man who is central to that inquiry and discusses the evidence, is that the sort of behaviour that would normally warrant his immediate dismissal from his position? I think it is.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Was it a direct lie? Did the Deputy Leader of the Opposition tell a direct lie? If he lied then, and we know he lied then, can we assume that he is lying now? Withdrawal of Remark Mr C.J. BARNETT : Point of order, Mr Speaker. The SPEAKER : I ask the member for Cottesloe to take his seat. The Premier knows the standing orders as well as any member does. It is not parliamentary to imply that a member of this house is a liar, and I direct that he withdraw that comment. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will do so, Mr Speaker. I withdraw any inference that the Deputy Leader of the Opposition is a liar, as that would be a habit of having told the lie. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will quote this article from The West Australian of 28 March - MPs are particularly incensed that immediately after the vote Mr Buswell assured Mr Birney that he had voted for him only to ring him and apologise for “misleading” him. Why did the member for Vasse ring the Leader of the Opposition and apologise for misleading him? It was because the member for Hillarys had seen the member for Vasse fill in his ballot paper and knew it was untrue. Mr P.D. Omodei : What a load of rubbish! That is desperation! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : And in fact provoked - Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : It is amazing, is it not? It provoked the member for Hillarys to say that he would never support this member. The Leader of the Opposition has asked me whether any member of the cabinet or any parliamentary secretary and so on has told me that he or she has been summonsed to appear before the CCC. I said that to the best of my knowledge, no. Mr P.D. Omodei : Or to any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What court proceedings? Mr P.D. Omodei : Any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Give me one. Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What related court proceedings? Can anybody enlighten me as to what - Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Did you ask your ministers? Why didn’t you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition is so bad at this. Mr P.D. Omodei : This is about a corrupt government. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : This is what is called “kicking yourself fair up the backside”. That is what the Leader of the Opposition has just done. The only person I know of who would fit the category that he is trying to assign to members on this side of the house is his deputy, who was summonsed to appear at the CCC and who never informed him, but who sat - Mr P.D. Omodei : You are the Premier of Western Australia and you are obliged to answer this question. You did not ask your ministers. You admitted it just then. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Let me raise the possibility with the general public of Western Australia. If the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party is summonsed to appear before the CCC to give evidence about a matter pertaining to alleged corruption, and the day before he goes there to give that evidence he gets into a car in the car park and has a secret meeting with a man who is central to that inquiry and discusses the evidence, is that the sort of behaviour that would normally warrant his immediate dismissal from his position? I think it is.
The SPEAKER : I ask the member for Cottesloe to take his seat. The Premier knows the standing orders as well as any member does. It is not parliamentary to imply that a member of this house is a liar, and I direct that he withdraw that comment. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will do so, Mr Speaker. I withdraw any inference that the Deputy Leader of the Opposition is a liar, as that would be a habit of having told the lie. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will quote this article from The West Australian of 28 March - MPs are particularly incensed that immediately after the vote Mr Buswell assured Mr Birney that he had voted for him only to ring him and apologise for “misleading” him. Why did the member for Vasse ring the Leader of the Opposition and apologise for misleading him? It was because the member for Hillarys had seen the member for Vasse fill in his ballot paper and knew it was untrue. Mr P.D. Omodei : What a load of rubbish! That is desperation! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : And in fact provoked - Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : It is amazing, is it not? It provoked the member for Hillarys to say that he would never support this member. The Leader of the Opposition has asked me whether any member of the cabinet or any parliamentary secretary and so on has told me that he or she has been summonsed to appear before the CCC. I said that to the best of my knowledge, no. Mr P.D. Omodei : Or to any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What court proceedings? Mr P.D. Omodei : Any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Give me one. Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What related court proceedings? Can anybody enlighten me as to what - Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Did you ask your ministers? Why didn’t you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition is so bad at this. Mr P.D. Omodei : This is about a corrupt government. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : This is what is called “kicking yourself fair up the backside”. That is what the Leader of the Opposition has just done. The only person I know of who would fit the category that he is trying to assign to members on this side of the house is his deputy, who was summonsed to appear at the CCC and who never informed him, but who sat - Mr P.D. Omodei : You are the Premier of Western Australia and you are obliged to answer this question. You did not ask your ministers. You admitted it just then. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Let me raise the possibility with the general public of Western Australia. If the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party is summonsed to appear before the CCC to give evidence about a matter pertaining to alleged corruption, and the day before he goes there to give that evidence he gets into a car in the car park and has a secret meeting with a man who is central to that inquiry and discusses the evidence, is that the sort of behaviour that would normally warrant his immediate dismissal from his position? I think it is.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will do so, Mr Speaker. I withdraw any inference that the Deputy Leader of the Opposition is a liar, as that would be a habit of having told the lie. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr A.J. CARPENTER : I will quote this article from The West Australian of 28 March - MPs are particularly incensed that immediately after the vote Mr Buswell assured Mr Birney that he had voted for him only to ring him and apologise for “misleading” him. Why did the member for Vasse ring the Leader of the Opposition and apologise for misleading him? It was because the member for Hillarys had seen the member for Vasse fill in his ballot paper and knew it was untrue. Mr P.D. Omodei : What a load of rubbish! That is desperation! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : And in fact provoked - Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : It is amazing, is it not? It provoked the member for Hillarys to say that he would never support this member. The Leader of the Opposition has asked me whether any member of the cabinet or any parliamentary secretary and so on has told me that he or she has been summonsed to appear before the CCC. I said that to the best of my knowledge, no. Mr P.D. Omodei : Or to any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What court proceedings? Mr P.D. Omodei : Any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Give me one. Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What related court proceedings? Can anybody enlighten me as to what - Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Did you ask your ministers? Why didn’t you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition is so bad at this. Mr P.D. Omodei : This is about a corrupt government. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : This is what is called “kicking yourself fair up the backside”. That is what the Leader of the Opposition has just done. The only person I know of who would fit the category that he is trying to assign to members on this side of the house is his deputy, who was summonsed to appear at the CCC and who never informed him, but who sat - Mr P.D. Omodei : You are the Premier of Western Australia and you are obliged to answer this question. You did not ask your ministers. You admitted it just then. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Let me raise the possibility with the general public of Western Australia. If the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party is summonsed to appear before the CCC to give evidence about a matter pertaining to alleged corruption, and the day before he goes there to give that evidence he gets into a car in the car park and has a secret meeting with a man who is central to that inquiry and discusses the evidence, is that the sort of behaviour that would normally warrant his immediate dismissal from his position? I think it is.
Mr P.D. Omodei : What a load of rubbish! That is desperation! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : And in fact provoked - Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : It is amazing, is it not? It provoked the member for Hillarys to say that he would never support this member. The Leader of the Opposition has asked me whether any member of the cabinet or any parliamentary secretary and so on has told me that he or she has been summonsed to appear before the CCC. I said that to the best of my knowledge, no. Mr P.D. Omodei : Or to any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What court proceedings? Mr P.D. Omodei : Any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Give me one. Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What related court proceedings? Can anybody enlighten me as to what - Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Did you ask your ministers? Why didn’t you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition is so bad at this. Mr P.D. Omodei : This is about a corrupt government. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : This is what is called “kicking yourself fair up the backside”. That is what the Leader of the Opposition has just done. The only person I know of who would fit the category that he is trying to assign to members on this side of the house is his deputy, who was summonsed to appear at the CCC and who never informed him, but who sat - Mr P.D. Omodei : You are the Premier of Western Australia and you are obliged to answer this question. You did not ask your ministers. You admitted it just then. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Let me raise the possibility with the general public of Western Australia. If the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party is summonsed to appear before the CCC to give evidence about a matter pertaining to alleged corruption, and the day before he goes there to give that evidence he gets into a car in the car park and has a secret meeting with a man who is central to that inquiry and discusses the evidence, is that the sort of behaviour that would normally warrant his immediate dismissal from his position? I think it is.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : And in fact provoked - Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : It is amazing, is it not? It provoked the member for Hillarys to say that he would never support this member. The Leader of the Opposition has asked me whether any member of the cabinet or any parliamentary secretary and so on has told me that he or she has been summonsed to appear before the CCC. I said that to the best of my knowledge, no. Mr P.D. Omodei : Or to any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What court proceedings? Mr P.D. Omodei : Any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Give me one. Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What related court proceedings? Can anybody enlighten me as to what - Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Did you ask your ministers? Why didn’t you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition is so bad at this. Mr P.D. Omodei : This is about a corrupt government. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : This is what is called “kicking yourself fair up the backside”. That is what the Leader of the Opposition has just done. The only person I know of who would fit the category that he is trying to assign to members on this side of the house is his deputy, who was summonsed to appear at the CCC and who never informed him, but who sat - Mr P.D. Omodei : You are the Premier of Western Australia and you are obliged to answer this question. You did not ask your ministers. You admitted it just then. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Let me raise the possibility with the general public of Western Australia. If the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party is summonsed to appear before the CCC to give evidence about a matter pertaining to alleged corruption, and the day before he goes there to give that evidence he gets into a car in the car park and has a secret meeting with a man who is central to that inquiry and discusses the evidence, is that the sort of behaviour that would normally warrant his immediate dismissal from his position? I think it is.
Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : It is amazing, is it not? It provoked the member for Hillarys to say that he would never support this member. The Leader of the Opposition has asked me whether any member of the cabinet or any parliamentary secretary and so on has told me that he or she has been summonsed to appear before the CCC. I said that to the best of my knowledge, no. Mr P.D. Omodei : Or to any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What court proceedings? Mr P.D. Omodei : Any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Give me one. Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What related court proceedings? Can anybody enlighten me as to what - Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Did you ask your ministers? Why didn’t you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition is so bad at this. Mr P.D. Omodei : This is about a corrupt government. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : This is what is called “kicking yourself fair up the backside”. That is what the Leader of the Opposition has just done. The only person I know of who would fit the category that he is trying to assign to members on this side of the house is his deputy, who was summonsed to appear at the CCC and who never informed him, but who sat - Mr P.D. Omodei : You are the Premier of Western Australia and you are obliged to answer this question. You did not ask your ministers. You admitted it just then. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Let me raise the possibility with the general public of Western Australia. If the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party is summonsed to appear before the CCC to give evidence about a matter pertaining to alleged corruption, and the day before he goes there to give that evidence he gets into a car in the car park and has a secret meeting with a man who is central to that inquiry and discusses the evidence, is that the sort of behaviour that would normally warrant his immediate dismissal from his position? I think it is.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : It is amazing, is it not? It provoked the member for Hillarys to say that he would never support this member. The Leader of the Opposition has asked me whether any member of the cabinet or any parliamentary secretary and so on has told me that he or she has been summonsed to appear before the CCC. I said that to the best of my knowledge, no. Mr P.D. Omodei : Or to any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What court proceedings? Mr P.D. Omodei : Any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Give me one. Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What related court proceedings? Can anybody enlighten me as to what - Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Did you ask your ministers? Why didn’t you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition is so bad at this. Mr P.D. Omodei : This is about a corrupt government. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : This is what is called “kicking yourself fair up the backside”. That is what the Leader of the Opposition has just done. The only person I know of who would fit the category that he is trying to assign to members on this side of the house is his deputy, who was summonsed to appear at the CCC and who never informed him, but who sat - Mr P.D. Omodei : You are the Premier of Western Australia and you are obliged to answer this question. You did not ask your ministers. You admitted it just then. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Let me raise the possibility with the general public of Western Australia. If the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party is summonsed to appear before the CCC to give evidence about a matter pertaining to alleged corruption, and the day before he goes there to give that evidence he gets into a car in the car park and has a secret meeting with a man who is central to that inquiry and discusses the evidence, is that the sort of behaviour that would normally warrant his immediate dismissal from his position? I think it is.
Mr P.D. Omodei : Or to any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What court proceedings? Mr P.D. Omodei : Any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Give me one. Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What related court proceedings? Can anybody enlighten me as to what - Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Did you ask your ministers? Why didn’t you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition is so bad at this. Mr P.D. Omodei : This is about a corrupt government. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : This is what is called “kicking yourself fair up the backside”. That is what the Leader of the Opposition has just done. The only person I know of who would fit the category that he is trying to assign to members on this side of the house is his deputy, who was summonsed to appear at the CCC and who never informed him, but who sat - Mr P.D. Omodei : You are the Premier of Western Australia and you are obliged to answer this question. You did not ask your ministers. You admitted it just then. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Let me raise the possibility with the general public of Western Australia. If the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party is summonsed to appear before the CCC to give evidence about a matter pertaining to alleged corruption, and the day before he goes there to give that evidence he gets into a car in the car park and has a secret meeting with a man who is central to that inquiry and discusses the evidence, is that the sort of behaviour that would normally warrant his immediate dismissal from his position? I think it is.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What court proceedings? Mr P.D. Omodei : Any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Give me one. Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What related court proceedings? Can anybody enlighten me as to what - Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Did you ask your ministers? Why didn’t you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition is so bad at this. Mr P.D. Omodei : This is about a corrupt government. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : This is what is called “kicking yourself fair up the backside”. That is what the Leader of the Opposition has just done. The only person I know of who would fit the category that he is trying to assign to members on this side of the house is his deputy, who was summonsed to appear at the CCC and who never informed him, but who sat - Mr P.D. Omodei : You are the Premier of Western Australia and you are obliged to answer this question. You did not ask your ministers. You admitted it just then. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Let me raise the possibility with the general public of Western Australia. If the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party is summonsed to appear before the CCC to give evidence about a matter pertaining to alleged corruption, and the day before he goes there to give that evidence he gets into a car in the car park and has a secret meeting with a man who is central to that inquiry and discusses the evidence, is that the sort of behaviour that would normally warrant his immediate dismissal from his position? I think it is.
Mr P.D. Omodei : Any related court proceedings. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Give me one. Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What related court proceedings? Can anybody enlighten me as to what - Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Did you ask your ministers? Why didn’t you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition is so bad at this. Mr P.D. Omodei : This is about a corrupt government. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : This is what is called “kicking yourself fair up the backside”. That is what the Leader of the Opposition has just done. The only person I know of who would fit the category that he is trying to assign to members on this side of the house is his deputy, who was summonsed to appear at the CCC and who never informed him, but who sat - Mr P.D. Omodei : You are the Premier of Western Australia and you are obliged to answer this question. You did not ask your ministers. You admitted it just then. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Let me raise the possibility with the general public of Western Australia. If the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party is summonsed to appear before the CCC to give evidence about a matter pertaining to alleged corruption, and the day before he goes there to give that evidence he gets into a car in the car park and has a secret meeting with a man who is central to that inquiry and discusses the evidence, is that the sort of behaviour that would normally warrant his immediate dismissal from his position? I think it is.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Give me one. Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What related court proceedings? Can anybody enlighten me as to what - Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Did you ask your ministers? Why didn’t you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition is so bad at this. Mr P.D. Omodei : This is about a corrupt government. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : This is what is called “kicking yourself fair up the backside”. That is what the Leader of the Opposition has just done. The only person I know of who would fit the category that he is trying to assign to members on this side of the house is his deputy, who was summonsed to appear at the CCC and who never informed him, but who sat - Mr P.D. Omodei : You are the Premier of Western Australia and you are obliged to answer this question. You did not ask your ministers. You admitted it just then. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Let me raise the possibility with the general public of Western Australia. If the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party is summonsed to appear before the CCC to give evidence about a matter pertaining to alleged corruption, and the day before he goes there to give that evidence he gets into a car in the car park and has a secret meeting with a man who is central to that inquiry and discusses the evidence, is that the sort of behaviour that would normally warrant his immediate dismissal from his position? I think it is.
Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What related court proceedings? Can anybody enlighten me as to what - Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Did you ask your ministers? Why didn’t you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition is so bad at this. Mr P.D. Omodei : This is about a corrupt government. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : This is what is called “kicking yourself fair up the backside”. That is what the Leader of the Opposition has just done. The only person I know of who would fit the category that he is trying to assign to members on this side of the house is his deputy, who was summonsed to appear at the CCC and who never informed him, but who sat - Mr P.D. Omodei : You are the Premier of Western Australia and you are obliged to answer this question. You did not ask your ministers. You admitted it just then. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Let me raise the possibility with the general public of Western Australia. If the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party is summonsed to appear before the CCC to give evidence about a matter pertaining to alleged corruption, and the day before he goes there to give that evidence he gets into a car in the car park and has a secret meeting with a man who is central to that inquiry and discusses the evidence, is that the sort of behaviour that would normally warrant his immediate dismissal from his position? I think it is.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : What related court proceedings? Can anybody enlighten me as to what - Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Did you ask your ministers? Why didn’t you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition is so bad at this. Mr P.D. Omodei : This is about a corrupt government. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : This is what is called “kicking yourself fair up the backside”. That is what the Leader of the Opposition has just done. The only person I know of who would fit the category that he is trying to assign to members on this side of the house is his deputy, who was summonsed to appear at the CCC and who never informed him, but who sat - Mr P.D. Omodei : You are the Premier of Western Australia and you are obliged to answer this question. You did not ask your ministers. You admitted it just then. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Let me raise the possibility with the general public of Western Australia. If the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party is summonsed to appear before the CCC to give evidence about a matter pertaining to alleged corruption, and the day before he goes there to give that evidence he gets into a car in the car park and has a secret meeting with a man who is central to that inquiry and discusses the evidence, is that the sort of behaviour that would normally warrant his immediate dismissal from his position? I think it is.
Mr P.D. Omodei : Did you ask them? Did you ask your ministers? Why didn’t you ask them? Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition is so bad at this. Mr P.D. Omodei : This is about a corrupt government. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : This is what is called “kicking yourself fair up the backside”. That is what the Leader of the Opposition has just done. The only person I know of who would fit the category that he is trying to assign to members on this side of the house is his deputy, who was summonsed to appear at the CCC and who never informed him, but who sat - Mr P.D. Omodei : You are the Premier of Western Australia and you are obliged to answer this question. You did not ask your ministers. You admitted it just then. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Let me raise the possibility with the general public of Western Australia. If the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party is summonsed to appear before the CCC to give evidence about a matter pertaining to alleged corruption, and the day before he goes there to give that evidence he gets into a car in the car park and has a secret meeting with a man who is central to that inquiry and discusses the evidence, is that the sort of behaviour that would normally warrant his immediate dismissal from his position? I think it is.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : The Leader of the Opposition is so bad at this. Mr P.D. Omodei : This is about a corrupt government. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : This is what is called “kicking yourself fair up the backside”. That is what the Leader of the Opposition has just done. The only person I know of who would fit the category that he is trying to assign to members on this side of the house is his deputy, who was summonsed to appear at the CCC and who never informed him, but who sat - Mr P.D. Omodei : You are the Premier of Western Australia and you are obliged to answer this question. You did not ask your ministers. You admitted it just then. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Let me raise the possibility with the general public of Western Australia. If the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party is summonsed to appear before the CCC to give evidence about a matter pertaining to alleged corruption, and the day before he goes there to give that evidence he gets into a car in the car park and has a secret meeting with a man who is central to that inquiry and discusses the evidence, is that the sort of behaviour that would normally warrant his immediate dismissal from his position? I think it is.
Mr P.D. Omodei : This is about a corrupt government. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : This is what is called “kicking yourself fair up the backside”. That is what the Leader of the Opposition has just done. The only person I know of who would fit the category that he is trying to assign to members on this side of the house is his deputy, who was summonsed to appear at the CCC and who never informed him, but who sat - Mr P.D. Omodei : You are the Premier of Western Australia and you are obliged to answer this question. You did not ask your ministers. You admitted it just then. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Let me raise the possibility with the general public of Western Australia. If the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party is summonsed to appear before the CCC to give evidence about a matter pertaining to alleged corruption, and the day before he goes there to give that evidence he gets into a car in the car park and has a secret meeting with a man who is central to that inquiry and discusses the evidence, is that the sort of behaviour that would normally warrant his immediate dismissal from his position? I think it is.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : This is what is called “kicking yourself fair up the backside”. That is what the Leader of the Opposition has just done. The only person I know of who would fit the category that he is trying to assign to members on this side of the house is his deputy, who was summonsed to appear at the CCC and who never informed him, but who sat - Mr P.D. Omodei : You are the Premier of Western Australia and you are obliged to answer this question. You did not ask your ministers. You admitted it just then. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Let me raise the possibility with the general public of Western Australia. If the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party is summonsed to appear before the CCC to give evidence about a matter pertaining to alleged corruption, and the day before he goes there to give that evidence he gets into a car in the car park and has a secret meeting with a man who is central to that inquiry and discusses the evidence, is that the sort of behaviour that would normally warrant his immediate dismissal from his position? I think it is.
Mr P.D. Omodei : You are the Premier of Western Australia and you are obliged to answer this question. You did not ask your ministers. You admitted it just then. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Let me raise the possibility with the general public of Western Australia. If the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party is summonsed to appear before the CCC to give evidence about a matter pertaining to alleged corruption, and the day before he goes there to give that evidence he gets into a car in the car park and has a secret meeting with a man who is central to that inquiry and discusses the evidence, is that the sort of behaviour that would normally warrant his immediate dismissal from his position? I think it is.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Let me raise the possibility with the general public of Western Australia. If the Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party is summonsed to appear before the CCC to give evidence about a matter pertaining to alleged corruption, and the day before he goes there to give that evidence he gets into a car in the car park and has a secret meeting with a man who is central to that inquiry and discusses the evidence, is that the sort of behaviour that would normally warrant his immediate dismissal from his position? I think it is.
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