A parliamentary question regarding allegations that Mr. Ross Bromell was used by the government to communicate with the Busselton Shire Council. The Minister rejects the allegations, clarifying Bromell acted on behalf of the local chamber of commerce to invite government participation in a community event.

AnsweredQoN 1220Legislative Council
Asked
26 March 2002
Portfolio
Local Government and Regional Development

QuestionView source ↗

BROMELL, MR ROSS
Is the minister in a position to respond to the allegations made in the adjournment debate last night by Hon Barry House that Mr Ross Bromell has been used by government to communicate officially with the Busselton Shire Council? Hon TOM STEPHENS

AnswerView source ↗

I am in a position to respond to the member’s extraordinary claims and to reject the assertions contained therein. I am pleased to advise the House of the correct set of circumstances. First, Hon Adele Farina approached me as a local member of Parliament for the south west and asked whether it would be possible for me to make some time available when I next visited Busselton to assist the local community in celebrating an event and drawing attention to the billboards that were soon to be put on display at the entrances to the local township. I indicated to the member, as I endeavour to do to all of my good colleagues, that I would make myself available. I then discovered that she had been approached by Mr Bromell on behalf of the local chamber of commerce, which had been working in conjunction with the local community and with participants from the local shire who were keen to see this event celebrated and marked within their community. On behalf of the chamber of commerce, Mr Bromell approached Hon Adele Farina not as an agent of government, but as an agent of the community, and asked for the Government to participate in a local community event. Half an hour ago, I spoke to the Chief Executive Officer of the Shire of Busselton and was advised that it is a facility that it has funded and that it is very keen to have opened with the presence and support of a minister of the State Government. He indicated that the invitation will now be extended to me to ensure that this local community event can be celebrated. It appears to me that instead of having its good name played politics with in this Chamber by the Opposition member from that area, the local community has been well served by Hon Adele Farina and a local community member, Ross Bromell. They did nothing more than look after the best interests of the local community. I look forward with great delight to being in Busselton to participate in that event.
Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: I am in a position to respond to the member’s extraordinary claims and to reject the assertions contained therein. I am pleased to advise the House of the correct set of circumstances. First, Hon Adele Farina approached me as a local member of Parliament for the south west and asked whether it would be possible for me to make some time available when I next visited Busselton to assist the local community in celebrating an event and drawing attention to the billboards that were soon to be put on display at the entrances to the local township. I indicated to the member, as I endeavour to do to all of my good colleagues, that I would make myself available. I then discovered that she had been approached by Mr Bromell on behalf of the local chamber of commerce, which had been working in conjunction with the local community and with participants from the local shire who were keen to see this event celebrated and marked within their community. On behalf of the chamber of commerce, Mr Bromell approached Hon Adele Farina not as an agent of government, but as an agent of the community, and asked for the Government to participate in a local community event. Half an hour ago, I spoke to the Chief Executive Officer of the Shire of Busselton and was advised that it is a facility that it has funded and that it is very keen to have opened with the presence and support of a minister of the State Government. He indicated that the invitation will now be extended to me to ensure that this local community event can be celebrated. It appears to me that instead of having its good name played politics with in this Chamber by the Opposition member from that area, the local community has been well served by Hon Adele Farina and a local community member, Ross Bromell. They did nothing more than look after the best interests of the local community. I look forward with great delight to being in Busselton to participate in that event.
I am in a position to respond to the member’s extraordinary claims and to reject the assertions contained therein. I am pleased to advise the House of the correct set of circumstances. First, Hon Adele Farina approached me as a local member of Parliament for the south west and asked whether it would be possible for me to make some time available when I next visited Busselton to assist the local community in celebrating an event and drawing attention to the billboards that were soon to be put on display at the entrances to the local township. I indicated to the member, as I endeavour to do to all of my good colleagues, that I would make myself available. I then discovered that she had been approached by Mr Bromell on behalf of the local chamber of commerce, which had been working in conjunction with the local community and with participants from the local shire who were keen to see this event celebrated and marked within their community. On behalf of the chamber of commerce, Mr Bromell approached Hon Adele Farina not as an agent of government, but as an agent of the community, and asked for the Government to participate in a local community event. Half an hour ago, I spoke to the Chief Executive Officer of the Shire of Busselton and was advised that it is a facility that it has funded and that it is very keen to have opened with the presence and support of a minister of the State Government. He indicated that the invitation will now be extended to me to ensure that this local community event can be celebrated. It appears to me that instead of having its good name played politics with in this Chamber by the Opposition member from that area, the local community has been well served by Hon Adele Farina and a local community member, Ross Bromell. They did nothing more than look after the best interests of the local community. I look forward with great delight to being in Busselton to participate in that event.
Half an hour ago, I spoke to the Chief Executive Officer of the Shire of Busselton and was advised that it is a facility that it has funded and that it is very keen to have opened with the presence and support of a minister of the State Government. He indicated that the invitation will now be extended to me to ensure that this local community event can be celebrated. It appears to me that instead of having its good name played politics with in this Chamber by the Opposition member from that area, the local community has been well served by Hon Adele Farina and a local community member, Ross Bromell. They did nothing more than look after the best interests of the local community. I look forward with great delight to being in Busselton to participate in that event.

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