Opposition Leader McGowan questions the Premier about the appropriateness of the Liberal Party President acting as a lobbyist, given concerns raised by the Prime Minister. The Premier defends the Liberal Party's autonomy and accuses the Labor Party of hypocrisy regarding lobbying scandals.

AnsweredQoN 575Legislative Assembly
Asked
14 August 2014
Portfolio
Premier

QuestionView source ↗

CANNINGS
PURPLE CHAIRMAN — LIBERAL PARTY PRESIDENT
575. Mr M. McGOWAN to the
Premier:
Mr
M. McGOWAN : I have a supplementary question. The Prime Minister Tony Abbott
has expressed grave concerns about lobbyists holding party positions. Is it not
still inappropriate then, despite the message put in place by the Premier, for
someone in such a senior lay-party position to be acting as a lobbyist?

AnswerView source ↗

That is a matter for the lay party
of the Liberal Party.
Mr
M. McGowan : No, it's not.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : It is. I do not direct them. That is a matter for the lay
party if people have objections. Is it not a bit rich for the Labor Party to
talk to us about lobbyist activities? Is it not just a little bit rich when
minister after minister in the previous Labor government were marched down to
the Corruption and Crime Commission because of their disgraceful conduct with
lobbyists, including giving information from cabinet out to lobbyists? What a
disgraceful level of behaviour it was!
Mr W.J. Johnston interjected.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
And you were the director of the Labor Party! Has anything changed, given the
conduct of the member for Girrawheen, who should resign right now?
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Order, members!
Point of Order
Mr
M. McGOWAN : I refer again to standing order 92 headed, ''Imputations
and personal reflections''. It states that such comments are ''disorderly
other than by substantive motion''. I once again challenge the Premier
to move the motion because what he is doing is out of order.
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Order, members! That concludes question time.
Several members interjected.
Withdrawal of Remark
Mr
J.H.D. DAY : I think the member for Kwinana used a very
unparliamentary term that needs to be withdrawn. He used the word ''coward''.
The
SPEAKER : I did not hear anything.
Mr P.B. Watson interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Albany, I call you now to order for the second time.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : I
want to proceed with the business of the house.

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