❓ Opposition questions the Premier regarding the Health Minister's handling of Dr. Neale Fong's contract and payout. The Premier defends the Minister and the payout, citing legal advice.
AnsweredQoN 35Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
DR NEALE FONG — PAYOUT
I refer to the critical involvement of the part-time Minister for Health in negotiating the massive salary package for Dr Neale Fong with a contract that, firstly, altered legislation to enable Dr Fong to become Australia’s highest paid public servant; secondly, contained no key performance indicators; and, thirdly, incorporated a payout clause that allowed a payment of $43 000 to help Dr Fong find another job and allowed Dr Fong to be paid $43 000 in lieu of notice when he resigned. (1) Does the Premier support the minister’s handling of the Dr Fong scandal? (2) Does the Premier support the massive payout, which included the $43 000 re-establishment fee and the $43 000 in lieu of notice fee that Dr Fong received after he effectively resigned in disgrace? Mr A.J. CARPENTER
I refer to the critical involvement of the part-time Minister for Health in negotiating the massive salary package for Dr Neale Fong with a contract that, firstly, altered legislation to enable Dr Fong to become Australia’s highest paid public servant; secondly, contained no key performance indicators; and, thirdly, incorporated a payout clause that allowed a payment of $43 000 to help Dr Fong find another job and allowed Dr Fong to be paid $43 000 in lieu of notice when he resigned. (1) Does the Premier support the minister’s handling of the Dr Fong scandal? (2) Does the Premier support the massive payout, which included the $43 000 re-establishment fee and the $43 000 in lieu of notice fee that Dr Fong received after he effectively resigned in disgrace? Mr A.J. CARPENTER
AnswerView source ↗
(1)-(2) I address three issues here. First, there is no part-time Minister for Health. It is the ludicrous sort of assertion made by an immature and inexperienced — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : It is the sort of assertion, if that is the way to categorise it, made by an immature and inexperienced leader who quite obviously has not done the groundwork necessary to fulfil the position that he now holds. There is no substitute for hard work in this game. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call to order the member for South Perth, the member for Murray and the Leader of the Opposition. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : This sort of trite question could have been thought up 15 seconds before question time. Mr J.E. McGrath interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for South Perth to order for the second time. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : There are some pretty simple indicators in politics of whether someone is or is not doing the work. The Leader of the Opposition is not doing it. All our ministers work very hard, but there would be no more hardworking minister in this government or any other government. I think it is recognised nationally that the minister in Western Australia is the pre-eminent health minister at state level. That is a fact; he is recognised in that way. Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : He is undertaking the biggest health reform project undertaken by any state government in Western Australia, and I have not seen any example in the country that matches it, but we will leave it at that before I overplay my hand. Mr J.A. McGinty : Keep going; I’m enjoying it! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Anyway, that is the context; it is not a part-time job, believe me. If members opposite want, we can rake back over the previous government’s ministerial portfolio distribution, and members opposite would see that it was common for ministers to have more than one portfolio. Given that there are 30 or 40 portfolios, can members imagine what the situation would be if every minister had a single portfolio? Imagine the reaction of members opposite to that! However, they might want to use that model, if they ever get the chance. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : In answer to the second question, yes, I have full confidence in the minister. In relation to the contract details, we sought legal advice from the Solicitor-General about what Dr Fong’s entitlements were, and he was paid in strict accordance with that contractual entitlement.
(1) Does the Premier support the minister’s handling of the Dr Fong scandal? (2) Does the Premier support the massive payout, which included the $43 000 re-establishment fee and the $43 000 in lieu of notice fee that Dr Fong received after he effectively resigned in disgrace? Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: (1)-(2) I address three issues here. First, there is no part-time Minister for Health. It is the ludicrous sort of assertion made by an immature and inexperienced — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : It is the sort of assertion, if that is the way to categorise it, made by an immature and inexperienced leader who quite obviously has not done the groundwork necessary to fulfil the position that he now holds. There is no substitute for hard work in this game. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call to order the member for South Perth, the member for Murray and the Leader of the Opposition. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : This sort of trite question could have been thought up 15 seconds before question time. Mr J.E. McGrath interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for South Perth to order for the second time. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : There are some pretty simple indicators in politics of whether someone is or is not doing the work. The Leader of the Opposition is not doing it. All our ministers work very hard, but there would be no more hardworking minister in this government or any other government. I think it is recognised nationally that the minister in Western Australia is the pre-eminent health minister at state level. That is a fact; he is recognised in that way. Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : He is undertaking the biggest health reform project undertaken by any state government in Western Australia, and I have not seen any example in the country that matches it, but we will leave it at that before I overplay my hand. Mr J.A. McGinty : Keep going; I’m enjoying it! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Anyway, that is the context; it is not a part-time job, believe me. If members opposite want, we can rake back over the previous government’s ministerial portfolio distribution, and members opposite would see that it was common for ministers to have more than one portfolio. Given that there are 30 or 40 portfolios, can members imagine what the situation would be if every minister had a single portfolio? Imagine the reaction of members opposite to that! However, they might want to use that model, if they ever get the chance. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : In answer to the second question, yes, I have full confidence in the minister. In relation to the contract details, we sought legal advice from the Solicitor-General about what Dr Fong’s entitlements were, and he was paid in strict accordance with that contractual entitlement.
(2) Does the Premier support the massive payout, which included the $43 000 re-establishment fee and the $43 000 in lieu of notice fee that Dr Fong received after he effectively resigned in disgrace? Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: (1)-(2) I address three issues here. First, there is no part-time Minister for Health. It is the ludicrous sort of assertion made by an immature and inexperienced — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : It is the sort of assertion, if that is the way to categorise it, made by an immature and inexperienced leader who quite obviously has not done the groundwork necessary to fulfil the position that he now holds. There is no substitute for hard work in this game. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call to order the member for South Perth, the member for Murray and the Leader of the Opposition. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : This sort of trite question could have been thought up 15 seconds before question time. Mr J.E. McGrath interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for South Perth to order for the second time. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : There are some pretty simple indicators in politics of whether someone is or is not doing the work. The Leader of the Opposition is not doing it. All our ministers work very hard, but there would be no more hardworking minister in this government or any other government. I think it is recognised nationally that the minister in Western Australia is the pre-eminent health minister at state level. That is a fact; he is recognised in that way. Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : He is undertaking the biggest health reform project undertaken by any state government in Western Australia, and I have not seen any example in the country that matches it, but we will leave it at that before I overplay my hand. Mr J.A. McGinty : Keep going; I’m enjoying it! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Anyway, that is the context; it is not a part-time job, believe me. If members opposite want, we can rake back over the previous government’s ministerial portfolio distribution, and members opposite would see that it was common for ministers to have more than one portfolio. Given that there are 30 or 40 portfolios, can members imagine what the situation would be if every minister had a single portfolio? Imagine the reaction of members opposite to that! However, they might want to use that model, if they ever get the chance. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : In answer to the second question, yes, I have full confidence in the minister. In relation to the contract details, we sought legal advice from the Solicitor-General about what Dr Fong’s entitlements were, and he was paid in strict accordance with that contractual entitlement.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: (1)-(2) I address three issues here. First, there is no part-time Minister for Health. It is the ludicrous sort of assertion made by an immature and inexperienced — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : It is the sort of assertion, if that is the way to categorise it, made by an immature and inexperienced leader who quite obviously has not done the groundwork necessary to fulfil the position that he now holds. There is no substitute for hard work in this game. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call to order the member for South Perth, the member for Murray and the Leader of the Opposition. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : This sort of trite question could have been thought up 15 seconds before question time. Mr J.E. McGrath interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for South Perth to order for the second time. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : There are some pretty simple indicators in politics of whether someone is or is not doing the work. The Leader of the Opposition is not doing it. All our ministers work very hard, but there would be no more hardworking minister in this government or any other government. I think it is recognised nationally that the minister in Western Australia is the pre-eminent health minister at state level. That is a fact; he is recognised in that way. Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : He is undertaking the biggest health reform project undertaken by any state government in Western Australia, and I have not seen any example in the country that matches it, but we will leave it at that before I overplay my hand. Mr J.A. McGinty : Keep going; I’m enjoying it! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Anyway, that is the context; it is not a part-time job, believe me. If members opposite want, we can rake back over the previous government’s ministerial portfolio distribution, and members opposite would see that it was common for ministers to have more than one portfolio. Given that there are 30 or 40 portfolios, can members imagine what the situation would be if every minister had a single portfolio? Imagine the reaction of members opposite to that! However, they might want to use that model, if they ever get the chance. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : In answer to the second question, yes, I have full confidence in the minister. In relation to the contract details, we sought legal advice from the Solicitor-General about what Dr Fong’s entitlements were, and he was paid in strict accordance with that contractual entitlement.
(1)-(2) I address three issues here. First, there is no part-time Minister for Health. It is the ludicrous sort of assertion made by an immature and inexperienced — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : It is the sort of assertion, if that is the way to categorise it, made by an immature and inexperienced leader who quite obviously has not done the groundwork necessary to fulfil the position that he now holds. There is no substitute for hard work in this game. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call to order the member for South Perth, the member for Murray and the Leader of the Opposition. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : This sort of trite question could have been thought up 15 seconds before question time. Mr J.E. McGrath interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for South Perth to order for the second time. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : There are some pretty simple indicators in politics of whether someone is or is not doing the work. The Leader of the Opposition is not doing it. All our ministers work very hard, but there would be no more hardworking minister in this government or any other government. I think it is recognised nationally that the minister in Western Australia is the pre-eminent health minister at state level. That is a fact; he is recognised in that way. Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : He is undertaking the biggest health reform project undertaken by any state government in Western Australia, and I have not seen any example in the country that matches it, but we will leave it at that before I overplay my hand. Mr J.A. McGinty : Keep going; I’m enjoying it! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Anyway, that is the context; it is not a part-time job, believe me. If members opposite want, we can rake back over the previous government’s ministerial portfolio distribution, and members opposite would see that it was common for ministers to have more than one portfolio. Given that there are 30 or 40 portfolios, can members imagine what the situation would be if every minister had a single portfolio? Imagine the reaction of members opposite to that! However, they might want to use that model, if they ever get the chance. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : In answer to the second question, yes, I have full confidence in the minister. In relation to the contract details, we sought legal advice from the Solicitor-General about what Dr Fong’s entitlements were, and he was paid in strict accordance with that contractual entitlement.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : It is the sort of assertion, if that is the way to categorise it, made by an immature and inexperienced leader who quite obviously has not done the groundwork necessary to fulfil the position that he now holds. There is no substitute for hard work in this game. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call to order the member for South Perth, the member for Murray and the Leader of the Opposition. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : This sort of trite question could have been thought up 15 seconds before question time. Mr J.E. McGrath interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for South Perth to order for the second time. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : There are some pretty simple indicators in politics of whether someone is or is not doing the work. The Leader of the Opposition is not doing it. All our ministers work very hard, but there would be no more hardworking minister in this government or any other government. I think it is recognised nationally that the minister in Western Australia is the pre-eminent health minister at state level. That is a fact; he is recognised in that way. Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : He is undertaking the biggest health reform project undertaken by any state government in Western Australia, and I have not seen any example in the country that matches it, but we will leave it at that before I overplay my hand. Mr J.A. McGinty : Keep going; I’m enjoying it! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Anyway, that is the context; it is not a part-time job, believe me. If members opposite want, we can rake back over the previous government’s ministerial portfolio distribution, and members opposite would see that it was common for ministers to have more than one portfolio. Given that there are 30 or 40 portfolios, can members imagine what the situation would be if every minister had a single portfolio? Imagine the reaction of members opposite to that! However, they might want to use that model, if they ever get the chance. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : In answer to the second question, yes, I have full confidence in the minister. In relation to the contract details, we sought legal advice from the Solicitor-General about what Dr Fong’s entitlements were, and he was paid in strict accordance with that contractual entitlement.
The SPEAKER : Order! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : It is the sort of assertion, if that is the way to categorise it, made by an immature and inexperienced leader who quite obviously has not done the groundwork necessary to fulfil the position that he now holds. There is no substitute for hard work in this game. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call to order the member for South Perth, the member for Murray and the Leader of the Opposition. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : This sort of trite question could have been thought up 15 seconds before question time. Mr J.E. McGrath interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for South Perth to order for the second time. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : There are some pretty simple indicators in politics of whether someone is or is not doing the work. The Leader of the Opposition is not doing it. All our ministers work very hard, but there would be no more hardworking minister in this government or any other government. I think it is recognised nationally that the minister in Western Australia is the pre-eminent health minister at state level. That is a fact; he is recognised in that way. Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : He is undertaking the biggest health reform project undertaken by any state government in Western Australia, and I have not seen any example in the country that matches it, but we will leave it at that before I overplay my hand. Mr J.A. McGinty : Keep going; I’m enjoying it! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Anyway, that is the context; it is not a part-time job, believe me. If members opposite want, we can rake back over the previous government’s ministerial portfolio distribution, and members opposite would see that it was common for ministers to have more than one portfolio. Given that there are 30 or 40 portfolios, can members imagine what the situation would be if every minister had a single portfolio? Imagine the reaction of members opposite to that! However, they might want to use that model, if they ever get the chance. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : In answer to the second question, yes, I have full confidence in the minister. In relation to the contract details, we sought legal advice from the Solicitor-General about what Dr Fong’s entitlements were, and he was paid in strict accordance with that contractual entitlement.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : It is the sort of assertion, if that is the way to categorise it, made by an immature and inexperienced leader who quite obviously has not done the groundwork necessary to fulfil the position that he now holds. There is no substitute for hard work in this game. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call to order the member for South Perth, the member for Murray and the Leader of the Opposition. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : This sort of trite question could have been thought up 15 seconds before question time. Mr J.E. McGrath interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for South Perth to order for the second time. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : There are some pretty simple indicators in politics of whether someone is or is not doing the work. The Leader of the Opposition is not doing it. All our ministers work very hard, but there would be no more hardworking minister in this government or any other government. I think it is recognised nationally that the minister in Western Australia is the pre-eminent health minister at state level. That is a fact; he is recognised in that way. Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : He is undertaking the biggest health reform project undertaken by any state government in Western Australia, and I have not seen any example in the country that matches it, but we will leave it at that before I overplay my hand. Mr J.A. McGinty : Keep going; I’m enjoying it! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Anyway, that is the context; it is not a part-time job, believe me. If members opposite want, we can rake back over the previous government’s ministerial portfolio distribution, and members opposite would see that it was common for ministers to have more than one portfolio. Given that there are 30 or 40 portfolios, can members imagine what the situation would be if every minister had a single portfolio? Imagine the reaction of members opposite to that! However, they might want to use that model, if they ever get the chance. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : In answer to the second question, yes, I have full confidence in the minister. In relation to the contract details, we sought legal advice from the Solicitor-General about what Dr Fong’s entitlements were, and he was paid in strict accordance with that contractual entitlement.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call to order the member for South Perth, the member for Murray and the Leader of the Opposition. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : This sort of trite question could have been thought up 15 seconds before question time. Mr J.E. McGrath interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for South Perth to order for the second time. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : There are some pretty simple indicators in politics of whether someone is or is not doing the work. The Leader of the Opposition is not doing it. All our ministers work very hard, but there would be no more hardworking minister in this government or any other government. I think it is recognised nationally that the minister in Western Australia is the pre-eminent health minister at state level. That is a fact; he is recognised in that way. Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : He is undertaking the biggest health reform project undertaken by any state government in Western Australia, and I have not seen any example in the country that matches it, but we will leave it at that before I overplay my hand. Mr J.A. McGinty : Keep going; I’m enjoying it! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Anyway, that is the context; it is not a part-time job, believe me. If members opposite want, we can rake back over the previous government’s ministerial portfolio distribution, and members opposite would see that it was common for ministers to have more than one portfolio. Given that there are 30 or 40 portfolios, can members imagine what the situation would be if every minister had a single portfolio? Imagine the reaction of members opposite to that! However, they might want to use that model, if they ever get the chance. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : In answer to the second question, yes, I have full confidence in the minister. In relation to the contract details, we sought legal advice from the Solicitor-General about what Dr Fong’s entitlements were, and he was paid in strict accordance with that contractual entitlement.
The SPEAKER : Order! I call to order the member for South Perth, the member for Murray and the Leader of the Opposition. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : This sort of trite question could have been thought up 15 seconds before question time. Mr J.E. McGrath interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for South Perth to order for the second time. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : There are some pretty simple indicators in politics of whether someone is or is not doing the work. The Leader of the Opposition is not doing it. All our ministers work very hard, but there would be no more hardworking minister in this government or any other government. I think it is recognised nationally that the minister in Western Australia is the pre-eminent health minister at state level. That is a fact; he is recognised in that way. Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : He is undertaking the biggest health reform project undertaken by any state government in Western Australia, and I have not seen any example in the country that matches it, but we will leave it at that before I overplay my hand. Mr J.A. McGinty : Keep going; I’m enjoying it! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Anyway, that is the context; it is not a part-time job, believe me. If members opposite want, we can rake back over the previous government’s ministerial portfolio distribution, and members opposite would see that it was common for ministers to have more than one portfolio. Given that there are 30 or 40 portfolios, can members imagine what the situation would be if every minister had a single portfolio? Imagine the reaction of members opposite to that! However, they might want to use that model, if they ever get the chance. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : In answer to the second question, yes, I have full confidence in the minister. In relation to the contract details, we sought legal advice from the Solicitor-General about what Dr Fong’s entitlements were, and he was paid in strict accordance with that contractual entitlement.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : This sort of trite question could have been thought up 15 seconds before question time. Mr J.E. McGrath interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for South Perth to order for the second time. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : There are some pretty simple indicators in politics of whether someone is or is not doing the work. The Leader of the Opposition is not doing it. All our ministers work very hard, but there would be no more hardworking minister in this government or any other government. I think it is recognised nationally that the minister in Western Australia is the pre-eminent health minister at state level. That is a fact; he is recognised in that way. Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : He is undertaking the biggest health reform project undertaken by any state government in Western Australia, and I have not seen any example in the country that matches it, but we will leave it at that before I overplay my hand. Mr J.A. McGinty : Keep going; I’m enjoying it! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Anyway, that is the context; it is not a part-time job, believe me. If members opposite want, we can rake back over the previous government’s ministerial portfolio distribution, and members opposite would see that it was common for ministers to have more than one portfolio. Given that there are 30 or 40 portfolios, can members imagine what the situation would be if every minister had a single portfolio? Imagine the reaction of members opposite to that! However, they might want to use that model, if they ever get the chance. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : In answer to the second question, yes, I have full confidence in the minister. In relation to the contract details, we sought legal advice from the Solicitor-General about what Dr Fong’s entitlements were, and he was paid in strict accordance with that contractual entitlement.
Mr J.E. McGrath interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for South Perth to order for the second time. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : There are some pretty simple indicators in politics of whether someone is or is not doing the work. The Leader of the Opposition is not doing it. All our ministers work very hard, but there would be no more hardworking minister in this government or any other government. I think it is recognised nationally that the minister in Western Australia is the pre-eminent health minister at state level. That is a fact; he is recognised in that way. Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : He is undertaking the biggest health reform project undertaken by any state government in Western Australia, and I have not seen any example in the country that matches it, but we will leave it at that before I overplay my hand. Mr J.A. McGinty : Keep going; I’m enjoying it! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Anyway, that is the context; it is not a part-time job, believe me. If members opposite want, we can rake back over the previous government’s ministerial portfolio distribution, and members opposite would see that it was common for ministers to have more than one portfolio. Given that there are 30 or 40 portfolios, can members imagine what the situation would be if every minister had a single portfolio? Imagine the reaction of members opposite to that! However, they might want to use that model, if they ever get the chance. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : In answer to the second question, yes, I have full confidence in the minister. In relation to the contract details, we sought legal advice from the Solicitor-General about what Dr Fong’s entitlements were, and he was paid in strict accordance with that contractual entitlement.
The SPEAKER : I call the member for South Perth to order for the second time. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : There are some pretty simple indicators in politics of whether someone is or is not doing the work. The Leader of the Opposition is not doing it. All our ministers work very hard, but there would be no more hardworking minister in this government or any other government. I think it is recognised nationally that the minister in Western Australia is the pre-eminent health minister at state level. That is a fact; he is recognised in that way. Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : He is undertaking the biggest health reform project undertaken by any state government in Western Australia, and I have not seen any example in the country that matches it, but we will leave it at that before I overplay my hand. Mr J.A. McGinty : Keep going; I’m enjoying it! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Anyway, that is the context; it is not a part-time job, believe me. If members opposite want, we can rake back over the previous government’s ministerial portfolio distribution, and members opposite would see that it was common for ministers to have more than one portfolio. Given that there are 30 or 40 portfolios, can members imagine what the situation would be if every minister had a single portfolio? Imagine the reaction of members opposite to that! However, they might want to use that model, if they ever get the chance. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : In answer to the second question, yes, I have full confidence in the minister. In relation to the contract details, we sought legal advice from the Solicitor-General about what Dr Fong’s entitlements were, and he was paid in strict accordance with that contractual entitlement.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : There are some pretty simple indicators in politics of whether someone is or is not doing the work. The Leader of the Opposition is not doing it. All our ministers work very hard, but there would be no more hardworking minister in this government or any other government. I think it is recognised nationally that the minister in Western Australia is the pre-eminent health minister at state level. That is a fact; he is recognised in that way. Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : He is undertaking the biggest health reform project undertaken by any state government in Western Australia, and I have not seen any example in the country that matches it, but we will leave it at that before I overplay my hand. Mr J.A. McGinty : Keep going; I’m enjoying it! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Anyway, that is the context; it is not a part-time job, believe me. If members opposite want, we can rake back over the previous government’s ministerial portfolio distribution, and members opposite would see that it was common for ministers to have more than one portfolio. Given that there are 30 or 40 portfolios, can members imagine what the situation would be if every minister had a single portfolio? Imagine the reaction of members opposite to that! However, they might want to use that model, if they ever get the chance. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : In answer to the second question, yes, I have full confidence in the minister. In relation to the contract details, we sought legal advice from the Solicitor-General about what Dr Fong’s entitlements were, and he was paid in strict accordance with that contractual entitlement.
Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : He is undertaking the biggest health reform project undertaken by any state government in Western Australia, and I have not seen any example in the country that matches it, but we will leave it at that before I overplay my hand. Mr J.A. McGinty : Keep going; I’m enjoying it! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Anyway, that is the context; it is not a part-time job, believe me. If members opposite want, we can rake back over the previous government’s ministerial portfolio distribution, and members opposite would see that it was common for ministers to have more than one portfolio. Given that there are 30 or 40 portfolios, can members imagine what the situation would be if every minister had a single portfolio? Imagine the reaction of members opposite to that! However, they might want to use that model, if they ever get the chance. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : In answer to the second question, yes, I have full confidence in the minister. In relation to the contract details, we sought legal advice from the Solicitor-General about what Dr Fong’s entitlements were, and he was paid in strict accordance with that contractual entitlement.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : He is undertaking the biggest health reform project undertaken by any state government in Western Australia, and I have not seen any example in the country that matches it, but we will leave it at that before I overplay my hand. Mr J.A. McGinty : Keep going; I’m enjoying it! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Anyway, that is the context; it is not a part-time job, believe me. If members opposite want, we can rake back over the previous government’s ministerial portfolio distribution, and members opposite would see that it was common for ministers to have more than one portfolio. Given that there are 30 or 40 portfolios, can members imagine what the situation would be if every minister had a single portfolio? Imagine the reaction of members opposite to that! However, they might want to use that model, if they ever get the chance. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : In answer to the second question, yes, I have full confidence in the minister. In relation to the contract details, we sought legal advice from the Solicitor-General about what Dr Fong’s entitlements were, and he was paid in strict accordance with that contractual entitlement.
Mr J.A. McGinty : Keep going; I’m enjoying it! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Anyway, that is the context; it is not a part-time job, believe me. If members opposite want, we can rake back over the previous government’s ministerial portfolio distribution, and members opposite would see that it was common for ministers to have more than one portfolio. Given that there are 30 or 40 portfolios, can members imagine what the situation would be if every minister had a single portfolio? Imagine the reaction of members opposite to that! However, they might want to use that model, if they ever get the chance. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : In answer to the second question, yes, I have full confidence in the minister. In relation to the contract details, we sought legal advice from the Solicitor-General about what Dr Fong’s entitlements were, and he was paid in strict accordance with that contractual entitlement.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Anyway, that is the context; it is not a part-time job, believe me. If members opposite want, we can rake back over the previous government’s ministerial portfolio distribution, and members opposite would see that it was common for ministers to have more than one portfolio. Given that there are 30 or 40 portfolios, can members imagine what the situation would be if every minister had a single portfolio? Imagine the reaction of members opposite to that! However, they might want to use that model, if they ever get the chance. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : In answer to the second question, yes, I have full confidence in the minister. In relation to the contract details, we sought legal advice from the Solicitor-General about what Dr Fong’s entitlements were, and he was paid in strict accordance with that contractual entitlement.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : In answer to the second question, yes, I have full confidence in the minister. In relation to the contract details, we sought legal advice from the Solicitor-General about what Dr Fong’s entitlements were, and he was paid in strict accordance with that contractual entitlement.
The SPEAKER : Order! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : In answer to the second question, yes, I have full confidence in the minister. In relation to the contract details, we sought legal advice from the Solicitor-General about what Dr Fong’s entitlements were, and he was paid in strict accordance with that contractual entitlement.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : In answer to the second question, yes, I have full confidence in the minister. In relation to the contract details, we sought legal advice from the Solicitor-General about what Dr Fong’s entitlements were, and he was paid in strict accordance with that contractual entitlement.
(1) Does the Premier support the minister’s handling of the Dr Fong scandal? (2) Does the Premier support the massive payout, which included the $43 000 re-establishment fee and the $43 000 in lieu of notice fee that Dr Fong received after he effectively resigned in disgrace? Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: (1)-(2) I address three issues here. First, there is no part-time Minister for Health. It is the ludicrous sort of assertion made by an immature and inexperienced — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : It is the sort of assertion, if that is the way to categorise it, made by an immature and inexperienced leader who quite obviously has not done the groundwork necessary to fulfil the position that he now holds. There is no substitute for hard work in this game. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call to order the member for South Perth, the member for Murray and the Leader of the Opposition. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : This sort of trite question could have been thought up 15 seconds before question time. Mr J.E. McGrath interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for South Perth to order for the second time. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : There are some pretty simple indicators in politics of whether someone is or is not doing the work. The Leader of the Opposition is not doing it. All our ministers work very hard, but there would be no more hardworking minister in this government or any other government. I think it is recognised nationally that the minister in Western Australia is the pre-eminent health minister at state level. That is a fact; he is recognised in that way. Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : He is undertaking the biggest health reform project undertaken by any state government in Western Australia, and I have not seen any example in the country that matches it, but we will leave it at that before I overplay my hand. Mr J.A. McGinty : Keep going; I’m enjoying it! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Anyway, that is the context; it is not a part-time job, believe me. If members opposite want, we can rake back over the previous government’s ministerial portfolio distribution, and members opposite would see that it was common for ministers to have more than one portfolio. Given that there are 30 or 40 portfolios, can members imagine what the situation would be if every minister had a single portfolio? Imagine the reaction of members opposite to that! However, they might want to use that model, if they ever get the chance. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : In answer to the second question, yes, I have full confidence in the minister. In relation to the contract details, we sought legal advice from the Solicitor-General about what Dr Fong’s entitlements were, and he was paid in strict accordance with that contractual entitlement.
(2) Does the Premier support the massive payout, which included the $43 000 re-establishment fee and the $43 000 in lieu of notice fee that Dr Fong received after he effectively resigned in disgrace? Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: (1)-(2) I address three issues here. First, there is no part-time Minister for Health. It is the ludicrous sort of assertion made by an immature and inexperienced — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : It is the sort of assertion, if that is the way to categorise it, made by an immature and inexperienced leader who quite obviously has not done the groundwork necessary to fulfil the position that he now holds. There is no substitute for hard work in this game. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call to order the member for South Perth, the member for Murray and the Leader of the Opposition. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : This sort of trite question could have been thought up 15 seconds before question time. Mr J.E. McGrath interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for South Perth to order for the second time. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : There are some pretty simple indicators in politics of whether someone is or is not doing the work. The Leader of the Opposition is not doing it. All our ministers work very hard, but there would be no more hardworking minister in this government or any other government. I think it is recognised nationally that the minister in Western Australia is the pre-eminent health minister at state level. That is a fact; he is recognised in that way. Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : He is undertaking the biggest health reform project undertaken by any state government in Western Australia, and I have not seen any example in the country that matches it, but we will leave it at that before I overplay my hand. Mr J.A. McGinty : Keep going; I’m enjoying it! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Anyway, that is the context; it is not a part-time job, believe me. If members opposite want, we can rake back over the previous government’s ministerial portfolio distribution, and members opposite would see that it was common for ministers to have more than one portfolio. Given that there are 30 or 40 portfolios, can members imagine what the situation would be if every minister had a single portfolio? Imagine the reaction of members opposite to that! However, they might want to use that model, if they ever get the chance. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : In answer to the second question, yes, I have full confidence in the minister. In relation to the contract details, we sought legal advice from the Solicitor-General about what Dr Fong’s entitlements were, and he was paid in strict accordance with that contractual entitlement.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: (1)-(2) I address three issues here. First, there is no part-time Minister for Health. It is the ludicrous sort of assertion made by an immature and inexperienced — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : It is the sort of assertion, if that is the way to categorise it, made by an immature and inexperienced leader who quite obviously has not done the groundwork necessary to fulfil the position that he now holds. There is no substitute for hard work in this game. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call to order the member for South Perth, the member for Murray and the Leader of the Opposition. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : This sort of trite question could have been thought up 15 seconds before question time. Mr J.E. McGrath interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for South Perth to order for the second time. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : There are some pretty simple indicators in politics of whether someone is or is not doing the work. The Leader of the Opposition is not doing it. All our ministers work very hard, but there would be no more hardworking minister in this government or any other government. I think it is recognised nationally that the minister in Western Australia is the pre-eminent health minister at state level. That is a fact; he is recognised in that way. Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : He is undertaking the biggest health reform project undertaken by any state government in Western Australia, and I have not seen any example in the country that matches it, but we will leave it at that before I overplay my hand. Mr J.A. McGinty : Keep going; I’m enjoying it! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Anyway, that is the context; it is not a part-time job, believe me. If members opposite want, we can rake back over the previous government’s ministerial portfolio distribution, and members opposite would see that it was common for ministers to have more than one portfolio. Given that there are 30 or 40 portfolios, can members imagine what the situation would be if every minister had a single portfolio? Imagine the reaction of members opposite to that! However, they might want to use that model, if they ever get the chance. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : In answer to the second question, yes, I have full confidence in the minister. In relation to the contract details, we sought legal advice from the Solicitor-General about what Dr Fong’s entitlements were, and he was paid in strict accordance with that contractual entitlement.
(1)-(2) I address three issues here. First, there is no part-time Minister for Health. It is the ludicrous sort of assertion made by an immature and inexperienced — Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : It is the sort of assertion, if that is the way to categorise it, made by an immature and inexperienced leader who quite obviously has not done the groundwork necessary to fulfil the position that he now holds. There is no substitute for hard work in this game. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call to order the member for South Perth, the member for Murray and the Leader of the Opposition. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : This sort of trite question could have been thought up 15 seconds before question time. Mr J.E. McGrath interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for South Perth to order for the second time. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : There are some pretty simple indicators in politics of whether someone is or is not doing the work. The Leader of the Opposition is not doing it. All our ministers work very hard, but there would be no more hardworking minister in this government or any other government. I think it is recognised nationally that the minister in Western Australia is the pre-eminent health minister at state level. That is a fact; he is recognised in that way. Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : He is undertaking the biggest health reform project undertaken by any state government in Western Australia, and I have not seen any example in the country that matches it, but we will leave it at that before I overplay my hand. Mr J.A. McGinty : Keep going; I’m enjoying it! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Anyway, that is the context; it is not a part-time job, believe me. If members opposite want, we can rake back over the previous government’s ministerial portfolio distribution, and members opposite would see that it was common for ministers to have more than one portfolio. Given that there are 30 or 40 portfolios, can members imagine what the situation would be if every minister had a single portfolio? Imagine the reaction of members opposite to that! However, they might want to use that model, if they ever get the chance. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : In answer to the second question, yes, I have full confidence in the minister. In relation to the contract details, we sought legal advice from the Solicitor-General about what Dr Fong’s entitlements were, and he was paid in strict accordance with that contractual entitlement.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : It is the sort of assertion, if that is the way to categorise it, made by an immature and inexperienced leader who quite obviously has not done the groundwork necessary to fulfil the position that he now holds. There is no substitute for hard work in this game. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call to order the member for South Perth, the member for Murray and the Leader of the Opposition. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : This sort of trite question could have been thought up 15 seconds before question time. Mr J.E. McGrath interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for South Perth to order for the second time. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : There are some pretty simple indicators in politics of whether someone is or is not doing the work. The Leader of the Opposition is not doing it. All our ministers work very hard, but there would be no more hardworking minister in this government or any other government. I think it is recognised nationally that the minister in Western Australia is the pre-eminent health minister at state level. That is a fact; he is recognised in that way. Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : He is undertaking the biggest health reform project undertaken by any state government in Western Australia, and I have not seen any example in the country that matches it, but we will leave it at that before I overplay my hand. Mr J.A. McGinty : Keep going; I’m enjoying it! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Anyway, that is the context; it is not a part-time job, believe me. If members opposite want, we can rake back over the previous government’s ministerial portfolio distribution, and members opposite would see that it was common for ministers to have more than one portfolio. Given that there are 30 or 40 portfolios, can members imagine what the situation would be if every minister had a single portfolio? Imagine the reaction of members opposite to that! However, they might want to use that model, if they ever get the chance. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : In answer to the second question, yes, I have full confidence in the minister. In relation to the contract details, we sought legal advice from the Solicitor-General about what Dr Fong’s entitlements were, and he was paid in strict accordance with that contractual entitlement.
The SPEAKER : Order! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : It is the sort of assertion, if that is the way to categorise it, made by an immature and inexperienced leader who quite obviously has not done the groundwork necessary to fulfil the position that he now holds. There is no substitute for hard work in this game. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call to order the member for South Perth, the member for Murray and the Leader of the Opposition. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : This sort of trite question could have been thought up 15 seconds before question time. Mr J.E. McGrath interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for South Perth to order for the second time. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : There are some pretty simple indicators in politics of whether someone is or is not doing the work. The Leader of the Opposition is not doing it. All our ministers work very hard, but there would be no more hardworking minister in this government or any other government. I think it is recognised nationally that the minister in Western Australia is the pre-eminent health minister at state level. That is a fact; he is recognised in that way. Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : He is undertaking the biggest health reform project undertaken by any state government in Western Australia, and I have not seen any example in the country that matches it, but we will leave it at that before I overplay my hand. Mr J.A. McGinty : Keep going; I’m enjoying it! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Anyway, that is the context; it is not a part-time job, believe me. If members opposite want, we can rake back over the previous government’s ministerial portfolio distribution, and members opposite would see that it was common for ministers to have more than one portfolio. Given that there are 30 or 40 portfolios, can members imagine what the situation would be if every minister had a single portfolio? Imagine the reaction of members opposite to that! However, they might want to use that model, if they ever get the chance. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : In answer to the second question, yes, I have full confidence in the minister. In relation to the contract details, we sought legal advice from the Solicitor-General about what Dr Fong’s entitlements were, and he was paid in strict accordance with that contractual entitlement.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : It is the sort of assertion, if that is the way to categorise it, made by an immature and inexperienced leader who quite obviously has not done the groundwork necessary to fulfil the position that he now holds. There is no substitute for hard work in this game. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call to order the member for South Perth, the member for Murray and the Leader of the Opposition. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : This sort of trite question could have been thought up 15 seconds before question time. Mr J.E. McGrath interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for South Perth to order for the second time. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : There are some pretty simple indicators in politics of whether someone is or is not doing the work. The Leader of the Opposition is not doing it. All our ministers work very hard, but there would be no more hardworking minister in this government or any other government. I think it is recognised nationally that the minister in Western Australia is the pre-eminent health minister at state level. That is a fact; he is recognised in that way. Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : He is undertaking the biggest health reform project undertaken by any state government in Western Australia, and I have not seen any example in the country that matches it, but we will leave it at that before I overplay my hand. Mr J.A. McGinty : Keep going; I’m enjoying it! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Anyway, that is the context; it is not a part-time job, believe me. If members opposite want, we can rake back over the previous government’s ministerial portfolio distribution, and members opposite would see that it was common for ministers to have more than one portfolio. Given that there are 30 or 40 portfolios, can members imagine what the situation would be if every minister had a single portfolio? Imagine the reaction of members opposite to that! However, they might want to use that model, if they ever get the chance. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : In answer to the second question, yes, I have full confidence in the minister. In relation to the contract details, we sought legal advice from the Solicitor-General about what Dr Fong’s entitlements were, and he was paid in strict accordance with that contractual entitlement.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! I call to order the member for South Perth, the member for Murray and the Leader of the Opposition. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : This sort of trite question could have been thought up 15 seconds before question time. Mr J.E. McGrath interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for South Perth to order for the second time. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : There are some pretty simple indicators in politics of whether someone is or is not doing the work. The Leader of the Opposition is not doing it. All our ministers work very hard, but there would be no more hardworking minister in this government or any other government. I think it is recognised nationally that the minister in Western Australia is the pre-eminent health minister at state level. That is a fact; he is recognised in that way. Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : He is undertaking the biggest health reform project undertaken by any state government in Western Australia, and I have not seen any example in the country that matches it, but we will leave it at that before I overplay my hand. Mr J.A. McGinty : Keep going; I’m enjoying it! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Anyway, that is the context; it is not a part-time job, believe me. If members opposite want, we can rake back over the previous government’s ministerial portfolio distribution, and members opposite would see that it was common for ministers to have more than one portfolio. Given that there are 30 or 40 portfolios, can members imagine what the situation would be if every minister had a single portfolio? Imagine the reaction of members opposite to that! However, they might want to use that model, if they ever get the chance. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : In answer to the second question, yes, I have full confidence in the minister. In relation to the contract details, we sought legal advice from the Solicitor-General about what Dr Fong’s entitlements were, and he was paid in strict accordance with that contractual entitlement.
The SPEAKER : Order! I call to order the member for South Perth, the member for Murray and the Leader of the Opposition. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : This sort of trite question could have been thought up 15 seconds before question time. Mr J.E. McGrath interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for South Perth to order for the second time. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : There are some pretty simple indicators in politics of whether someone is or is not doing the work. The Leader of the Opposition is not doing it. All our ministers work very hard, but there would be no more hardworking minister in this government or any other government. I think it is recognised nationally that the minister in Western Australia is the pre-eminent health minister at state level. That is a fact; he is recognised in that way. Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : He is undertaking the biggest health reform project undertaken by any state government in Western Australia, and I have not seen any example in the country that matches it, but we will leave it at that before I overplay my hand. Mr J.A. McGinty : Keep going; I’m enjoying it! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Anyway, that is the context; it is not a part-time job, believe me. If members opposite want, we can rake back over the previous government’s ministerial portfolio distribution, and members opposite would see that it was common for ministers to have more than one portfolio. Given that there are 30 or 40 portfolios, can members imagine what the situation would be if every minister had a single portfolio? Imagine the reaction of members opposite to that! However, they might want to use that model, if they ever get the chance. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : In answer to the second question, yes, I have full confidence in the minister. In relation to the contract details, we sought legal advice from the Solicitor-General about what Dr Fong’s entitlements were, and he was paid in strict accordance with that contractual entitlement.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : This sort of trite question could have been thought up 15 seconds before question time. Mr J.E. McGrath interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for South Perth to order for the second time. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : There are some pretty simple indicators in politics of whether someone is or is not doing the work. The Leader of the Opposition is not doing it. All our ministers work very hard, but there would be no more hardworking minister in this government or any other government. I think it is recognised nationally that the minister in Western Australia is the pre-eminent health minister at state level. That is a fact; he is recognised in that way. Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : He is undertaking the biggest health reform project undertaken by any state government in Western Australia, and I have not seen any example in the country that matches it, but we will leave it at that before I overplay my hand. Mr J.A. McGinty : Keep going; I’m enjoying it! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Anyway, that is the context; it is not a part-time job, believe me. If members opposite want, we can rake back over the previous government’s ministerial portfolio distribution, and members opposite would see that it was common for ministers to have more than one portfolio. Given that there are 30 or 40 portfolios, can members imagine what the situation would be if every minister had a single portfolio? Imagine the reaction of members opposite to that! However, they might want to use that model, if they ever get the chance. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : In answer to the second question, yes, I have full confidence in the minister. In relation to the contract details, we sought legal advice from the Solicitor-General about what Dr Fong’s entitlements were, and he was paid in strict accordance with that contractual entitlement.
Mr J.E. McGrath interjected. The SPEAKER : I call the member for South Perth to order for the second time. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : There are some pretty simple indicators in politics of whether someone is or is not doing the work. The Leader of the Opposition is not doing it. All our ministers work very hard, but there would be no more hardworking minister in this government or any other government. I think it is recognised nationally that the minister in Western Australia is the pre-eminent health minister at state level. That is a fact; he is recognised in that way. Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : He is undertaking the biggest health reform project undertaken by any state government in Western Australia, and I have not seen any example in the country that matches it, but we will leave it at that before I overplay my hand. Mr J.A. McGinty : Keep going; I’m enjoying it! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Anyway, that is the context; it is not a part-time job, believe me. If members opposite want, we can rake back over the previous government’s ministerial portfolio distribution, and members opposite would see that it was common for ministers to have more than one portfolio. Given that there are 30 or 40 portfolios, can members imagine what the situation would be if every minister had a single portfolio? Imagine the reaction of members opposite to that! However, they might want to use that model, if they ever get the chance. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : In answer to the second question, yes, I have full confidence in the minister. In relation to the contract details, we sought legal advice from the Solicitor-General about what Dr Fong’s entitlements were, and he was paid in strict accordance with that contractual entitlement.
The SPEAKER : I call the member for South Perth to order for the second time. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : There are some pretty simple indicators in politics of whether someone is or is not doing the work. The Leader of the Opposition is not doing it. All our ministers work very hard, but there would be no more hardworking minister in this government or any other government. I think it is recognised nationally that the minister in Western Australia is the pre-eminent health minister at state level. That is a fact; he is recognised in that way. Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : He is undertaking the biggest health reform project undertaken by any state government in Western Australia, and I have not seen any example in the country that matches it, but we will leave it at that before I overplay my hand. Mr J.A. McGinty : Keep going; I’m enjoying it! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Anyway, that is the context; it is not a part-time job, believe me. If members opposite want, we can rake back over the previous government’s ministerial portfolio distribution, and members opposite would see that it was common for ministers to have more than one portfolio. Given that there are 30 or 40 portfolios, can members imagine what the situation would be if every minister had a single portfolio? Imagine the reaction of members opposite to that! However, they might want to use that model, if they ever get the chance. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : In answer to the second question, yes, I have full confidence in the minister. In relation to the contract details, we sought legal advice from the Solicitor-General about what Dr Fong’s entitlements were, and he was paid in strict accordance with that contractual entitlement.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : There are some pretty simple indicators in politics of whether someone is or is not doing the work. The Leader of the Opposition is not doing it. All our ministers work very hard, but there would be no more hardworking minister in this government or any other government. I think it is recognised nationally that the minister in Western Australia is the pre-eminent health minister at state level. That is a fact; he is recognised in that way. Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : He is undertaking the biggest health reform project undertaken by any state government in Western Australia, and I have not seen any example in the country that matches it, but we will leave it at that before I overplay my hand. Mr J.A. McGinty : Keep going; I’m enjoying it! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Anyway, that is the context; it is not a part-time job, believe me. If members opposite want, we can rake back over the previous government’s ministerial portfolio distribution, and members opposite would see that it was common for ministers to have more than one portfolio. Given that there are 30 or 40 portfolios, can members imagine what the situation would be if every minister had a single portfolio? Imagine the reaction of members opposite to that! However, they might want to use that model, if they ever get the chance. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : In answer to the second question, yes, I have full confidence in the minister. In relation to the contract details, we sought legal advice from the Solicitor-General about what Dr Fong’s entitlements were, and he was paid in strict accordance with that contractual entitlement.
Several members interjected. Mr A.J. CARPENTER : He is undertaking the biggest health reform project undertaken by any state government in Western Australia, and I have not seen any example in the country that matches it, but we will leave it at that before I overplay my hand. Mr J.A. McGinty : Keep going; I’m enjoying it! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Anyway, that is the context; it is not a part-time job, believe me. If members opposite want, we can rake back over the previous government’s ministerial portfolio distribution, and members opposite would see that it was common for ministers to have more than one portfolio. Given that there are 30 or 40 portfolios, can members imagine what the situation would be if every minister had a single portfolio? Imagine the reaction of members opposite to that! However, they might want to use that model, if they ever get the chance. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : In answer to the second question, yes, I have full confidence in the minister. In relation to the contract details, we sought legal advice from the Solicitor-General about what Dr Fong’s entitlements were, and he was paid in strict accordance with that contractual entitlement.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : He is undertaking the biggest health reform project undertaken by any state government in Western Australia, and I have not seen any example in the country that matches it, but we will leave it at that before I overplay my hand. Mr J.A. McGinty : Keep going; I’m enjoying it! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Anyway, that is the context; it is not a part-time job, believe me. If members opposite want, we can rake back over the previous government’s ministerial portfolio distribution, and members opposite would see that it was common for ministers to have more than one portfolio. Given that there are 30 or 40 portfolios, can members imagine what the situation would be if every minister had a single portfolio? Imagine the reaction of members opposite to that! However, they might want to use that model, if they ever get the chance. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : In answer to the second question, yes, I have full confidence in the minister. In relation to the contract details, we sought legal advice from the Solicitor-General about what Dr Fong’s entitlements were, and he was paid in strict accordance with that contractual entitlement.
Mr J.A. McGinty : Keep going; I’m enjoying it! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Anyway, that is the context; it is not a part-time job, believe me. If members opposite want, we can rake back over the previous government’s ministerial portfolio distribution, and members opposite would see that it was common for ministers to have more than one portfolio. Given that there are 30 or 40 portfolios, can members imagine what the situation would be if every minister had a single portfolio? Imagine the reaction of members opposite to that! However, they might want to use that model, if they ever get the chance. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : In answer to the second question, yes, I have full confidence in the minister. In relation to the contract details, we sought legal advice from the Solicitor-General about what Dr Fong’s entitlements were, and he was paid in strict accordance with that contractual entitlement.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : Anyway, that is the context; it is not a part-time job, believe me. If members opposite want, we can rake back over the previous government’s ministerial portfolio distribution, and members opposite would see that it was common for ministers to have more than one portfolio. Given that there are 30 or 40 portfolios, can members imagine what the situation would be if every minister had a single portfolio? Imagine the reaction of members opposite to that! However, they might want to use that model, if they ever get the chance. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : In answer to the second question, yes, I have full confidence in the minister. In relation to the contract details, we sought legal advice from the Solicitor-General about what Dr Fong’s entitlements were, and he was paid in strict accordance with that contractual entitlement.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : In answer to the second question, yes, I have full confidence in the minister. In relation to the contract details, we sought legal advice from the Solicitor-General about what Dr Fong’s entitlements were, and he was paid in strict accordance with that contractual entitlement.
The SPEAKER : Order! Mr A.J. CARPENTER : In answer to the second question, yes, I have full confidence in the minister. In relation to the contract details, we sought legal advice from the Solicitor-General about what Dr Fong’s entitlements were, and he was paid in strict accordance with that contractual entitlement.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER : In answer to the second question, yes, I have full confidence in the minister. In relation to the contract details, we sought legal advice from the Solicitor-General about what Dr Fong’s entitlements were, and he was paid in strict accordance with that contractual entitlement.
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