❓ Opposition questions the integrity of the Minister for Health based on a witness affidavit recanting previous testimony. The Premier defends the Minister, highlights the government's establishment of a Royal Commission into police corruption, and accuses the opposition of hypocrisy.
AnsweredQoN 1062Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the affidavit of Anthony Lewandowski which alleges that he and the late Don Hancock fabricated evidence to incriminate Peter Mickelberg. (1) Given that the now Minister for Health corroborated under oath the evidence of Hancock and Lewandowski in the Court of Criminal Appeal, will the Premier concede this now draws into question the integrity of his Minister for Health? (2) Will the Premier stand his minister aside from Cabinet until such time as the minister’s involvement is clarified and the matter is satisfactorily resolved? Dr GALLOP
AnswerView source ↗
First, I apologise to the House for the state of my vocal cords today. Unfortunately, I have an infection in my throat. (1)-(2) As the Attorney General said, the most interesting and important aspect of the developments in this case in the past two days is the statement by Mr Lewandowski. It is that statement that is creating the controversy and its implications will follow through in the way the case is handled. Another interesting aspect of the case is that in Western Australia today, courtesy of the Labor Government, we have established the Royal Commission Into Whether There Has Been Any Corrupt or Criminal Conduct by Western Australian Police Officers. That royal commission, which was set up by this Labor Government, is opposed by the Liberal Opposition. The same Liberal Opposition swept under the carpet year in, year out questions related to police corruption in Western Australia. It is a bit rich for the Liberal Party to rise today with these sorts of questions when for eight years it swept under the carpet allegations of police corruption. Not only did it do that but also it turned a blind eye to downright robbery by people in the finance broking industry. Let us get to the question about the Minister for Health. The specific development is the statement by Mr Lewandowski. That statement makes no reference whatsoever to Mr Kucera in his previous position as a police officer in this State. In other words, the basis of this discussion in this place today, the Lewandowski statement, says nothing about the Minister for Health. Until the Opposition can produce evidence today to contradict the points made by Mr Kucera in his previous capacity or to doubt his credibility, it stands accused of engaging in pure politics. The Opposition is the party that swept under the carpet for eight years allegations of police corruption and the party that turned a blind eye to robbery in the finance broking industry. What a party! What an approach it is adopting to this issue. We have referred the matter to the royal commission that we set up and which the Opposition opposed. We now have a forum for investigating police corruption. I am sure the Minister for Health will be only too happy to cooperate with any royal commission into these matters because he is a person who takes these matters very seriously. The Opposition can continue to play politics, but I repeat my fundamental point: the statement by Mr Lewandowski upon which we are conducting this discussion today makes no reference to the Minister for Health.
(1) Given that the now Minister for Health corroborated under oath the evidence of Hancock and Lewandowski in the Court of Criminal Appeal, will the Premier concede this now draws into question the integrity of his Minister for Health? (2) Will the Premier stand his minister aside from Cabinet until such time as the minister’s involvement is clarified and the matter is satisfactorily resolved? Dr GALLOP replied: First, I apologise to the House for the state of my vocal cords today. Unfortunately, I have an infection in my throat. (1)-(2) As the Attorney General said, the most interesting and important aspect of the developments in this case in the past two days is the statement by Mr Lewandowski. It is that statement that is creating the controversy and its implications will follow through in the way the case is handled. Another interesting aspect of the case is that in Western Australia today, courtesy of the Labor Government, we have established the Royal Commission Into Whether There Has Been Any Corrupt or Criminal Conduct by Western Australian Police Officers. That royal commission, which was set up by this Labor Government, is opposed by the Liberal Opposition. The same Liberal Opposition swept under the carpet year in, year out questions related to police corruption in Western Australia. It is a bit rich for the Liberal Party to rise today with these sorts of questions when for eight years it swept under the carpet allegations of police corruption. Not only did it do that but also it turned a blind eye to downright robbery by people in the finance broking industry. Let us get to the question about the Minister for Health. The specific development is the statement by Mr Lewandowski. That statement makes no reference whatsoever to Mr Kucera in his previous position as a police officer in this State. In other words, the basis of this discussion in this place today, the Lewandowski statement, says nothing about the Minister for Health. Until the Opposition can produce evidence today to contradict the points made by Mr Kucera in his previous capacity or to doubt his credibility, it stands accused of engaging in pure politics. The Opposition is the party that swept under the carpet for eight years allegations of police corruption and the party that turned a blind eye to robbery in the finance broking industry. What a party! What an approach it is adopting to this issue. We have referred the matter to the royal commission that we set up and which the Opposition opposed. We now have a forum for investigating police corruption. I am sure the Minister for Health will be only too happy to cooperate with any royal commission into these matters because he is a person who takes these matters very seriously. The Opposition can continue to play politics, but I repeat my fundamental point: the statement by Mr Lewandowski upon which we are conducting this discussion today makes no reference to the Minister for Health.
(2) Will the Premier stand his minister aside from Cabinet until such time as the minister’s involvement is clarified and the matter is satisfactorily resolved? Dr GALLOP replied: First, I apologise to the House for the state of my vocal cords today. Unfortunately, I have an infection in my throat. (1)-(2) As the Attorney General said, the most interesting and important aspect of the developments in this case in the past two days is the statement by Mr Lewandowski. It is that statement that is creating the controversy and its implications will follow through in the way the case is handled. Another interesting aspect of the case is that in Western Australia today, courtesy of the Labor Government, we have established the Royal Commission Into Whether There Has Been Any Corrupt or Criminal Conduct by Western Australian Police Officers. That royal commission, which was set up by this Labor Government, is opposed by the Liberal Opposition. The same Liberal Opposition swept under the carpet year in, year out questions related to police corruption in Western Australia. It is a bit rich for the Liberal Party to rise today with these sorts of questions when for eight years it swept under the carpet allegations of police corruption. Not only did it do that but also it turned a blind eye to downright robbery by people in the finance broking industry. Let us get to the question about the Minister for Health. The specific development is the statement by Mr Lewandowski. That statement makes no reference whatsoever to Mr Kucera in his previous position as a police officer in this State. In other words, the basis of this discussion in this place today, the Lewandowski statement, says nothing about the Minister for Health. Until the Opposition can produce evidence today to contradict the points made by Mr Kucera in his previous capacity or to doubt his credibility, it stands accused of engaging in pure politics. The Opposition is the party that swept under the carpet for eight years allegations of police corruption and the party that turned a blind eye to robbery in the finance broking industry. What a party! What an approach it is adopting to this issue. We have referred the matter to the royal commission that we set up and which the Opposition opposed. We now have a forum for investigating police corruption. I am sure the Minister for Health will be only too happy to cooperate with any royal commission into these matters because he is a person who takes these matters very seriously. The Opposition can continue to play politics, but I repeat my fundamental point: the statement by Mr Lewandowski upon which we are conducting this discussion today makes no reference to the Minister for Health.
Dr GALLOP replied: First, I apologise to the House for the state of my vocal cords today. Unfortunately, I have an infection in my throat. (1)-(2) As the Attorney General said, the most interesting and important aspect of the developments in this case in the past two days is the statement by Mr Lewandowski. It is that statement that is creating the controversy and its implications will follow through in the way the case is handled. Another interesting aspect of the case is that in Western Australia today, courtesy of the Labor Government, we have established the Royal Commission Into Whether There Has Been Any Corrupt or Criminal Conduct by Western Australian Police Officers. That royal commission, which was set up by this Labor Government, is opposed by the Liberal Opposition. The same Liberal Opposition swept under the carpet year in, year out questions related to police corruption in Western Australia. It is a bit rich for the Liberal Party to rise today with these sorts of questions when for eight years it swept under the carpet allegations of police corruption. Not only did it do that but also it turned a blind eye to downright robbery by people in the finance broking industry. Let us get to the question about the Minister for Health. The specific development is the statement by Mr Lewandowski. That statement makes no reference whatsoever to Mr Kucera in his previous position as a police officer in this State. In other words, the basis of this discussion in this place today, the Lewandowski statement, says nothing about the Minister for Health. Until the Opposition can produce evidence today to contradict the points made by Mr Kucera in his previous capacity or to doubt his credibility, it stands accused of engaging in pure politics. The Opposition is the party that swept under the carpet for eight years allegations of police corruption and the party that turned a blind eye to robbery in the finance broking industry. What a party! What an approach it is adopting to this issue. We have referred the matter to the royal commission that we set up and which the Opposition opposed. We now have a forum for investigating police corruption. I am sure the Minister for Health will be only too happy to cooperate with any royal commission into these matters because he is a person who takes these matters very seriously. The Opposition can continue to play politics, but I repeat my fundamental point: the statement by Mr Lewandowski upon which we are conducting this discussion today makes no reference to the Minister for Health.
First, I apologise to the House for the state of my vocal cords today. Unfortunately, I have an infection in my throat. (1)-(2) As the Attorney General said, the most interesting and important aspect of the developments in this case in the past two days is the statement by Mr Lewandowski. It is that statement that is creating the controversy and its implications will follow through in the way the case is handled. Another interesting aspect of the case is that in Western Australia today, courtesy of the Labor Government, we have established the Royal Commission Into Whether There Has Been Any Corrupt or Criminal Conduct by Western Australian Police Officers. That royal commission, which was set up by this Labor Government, is opposed by the Liberal Opposition. The same Liberal Opposition swept under the carpet year in, year out questions related to police corruption in Western Australia. It is a bit rich for the Liberal Party to rise today with these sorts of questions when for eight years it swept under the carpet allegations of police corruption. Not only did it do that but also it turned a blind eye to downright robbery by people in the finance broking industry. Let us get to the question about the Minister for Health. The specific development is the statement by Mr Lewandowski. That statement makes no reference whatsoever to Mr Kucera in his previous position as a police officer in this State. In other words, the basis of this discussion in this place today, the Lewandowski statement, says nothing about the Minister for Health. Until the Opposition can produce evidence today to contradict the points made by Mr Kucera in his previous capacity or to doubt his credibility, it stands accused of engaging in pure politics. The Opposition is the party that swept under the carpet for eight years allegations of police corruption and the party that turned a blind eye to robbery in the finance broking industry. What a party! What an approach it is adopting to this issue. We have referred the matter to the royal commission that we set up and which the Opposition opposed. We now have a forum for investigating police corruption. I am sure the Minister for Health will be only too happy to cooperate with any royal commission into these matters because he is a person who takes these matters very seriously. The Opposition can continue to play politics, but I repeat my fundamental point: the statement by Mr Lewandowski upon which we are conducting this discussion today makes no reference to the Minister for Health.
(1)-(2) As the Attorney General said, the most interesting and important aspect of the developments in this case in the past two days is the statement by Mr Lewandowski. It is that statement that is creating the controversy and its implications will follow through in the way the case is handled. Another interesting aspect of the case is that in Western Australia today, courtesy of the Labor Government, we have established the Royal Commission Into Whether There Has Been Any Corrupt or Criminal Conduct by Western Australian Police Officers. That royal commission, which was set up by this Labor Government, is opposed by the Liberal Opposition. The same Liberal Opposition swept under the carpet year in, year out questions related to police corruption in Western Australia. It is a bit rich for the Liberal Party to rise today with these sorts of questions when for eight years it swept under the carpet allegations of police corruption. Not only did it do that but also it turned a blind eye to downright robbery by people in the finance broking industry. Let us get to the question about the Minister for Health. The specific development is the statement by Mr Lewandowski. That statement makes no reference whatsoever to Mr Kucera in his previous position as a police officer in this State. In other words, the basis of this discussion in this place today, the Lewandowski statement, says nothing about the Minister for Health. Until the Opposition can produce evidence today to contradict the points made by Mr Kucera in his previous capacity or to doubt his credibility, it stands accused of engaging in pure politics. The Opposition is the party that swept under the carpet for eight years allegations of police corruption and the party that turned a blind eye to robbery in the finance broking industry. What a party! What an approach it is adopting to this issue. We have referred the matter to the royal commission that we set up and which the Opposition opposed. We now have a forum for investigating police corruption. I am sure the Minister for Health will be only too happy to cooperate with any royal commission into these matters because he is a person who takes these matters very seriously. The Opposition can continue to play politics, but I repeat my fundamental point: the statement by Mr Lewandowski upon which we are conducting this discussion today makes no reference to the Minister for Health.
Let us get to the question about the Minister for Health. The specific development is the statement by Mr Lewandowski. That statement makes no reference whatsoever to Mr Kucera in his previous position as a police officer in this State. In other words, the basis of this discussion in this place today, the Lewandowski statement, says nothing about the Minister for Health. Until the Opposition can produce evidence today to contradict the points made by Mr Kucera in his previous capacity or to doubt his credibility, it stands accused of engaging in pure politics. The Opposition is the party that swept under the carpet for eight years allegations of police corruption and the party that turned a blind eye to robbery in the finance broking industry. What a party! What an approach it is adopting to this issue. We have referred the matter to the royal commission that we set up and which the Opposition opposed. We now have a forum for investigating police corruption. I am sure the Minister for Health will be only too happy to cooperate with any royal commission into these matters because he is a person who takes these matters very seriously. The Opposition can continue to play politics, but I repeat my fundamental point: the statement by Mr Lewandowski upon which we are conducting this discussion today makes no reference to the Minister for Health.
(1) Given that the now Minister for Health corroborated under oath the evidence of Hancock and Lewandowski in the Court of Criminal Appeal, will the Premier concede this now draws into question the integrity of his Minister for Health? (2) Will the Premier stand his minister aside from Cabinet until such time as the minister’s involvement is clarified and the matter is satisfactorily resolved? Dr GALLOP replied: First, I apologise to the House for the state of my vocal cords today. Unfortunately, I have an infection in my throat. (1)-(2) As the Attorney General said, the most interesting and important aspect of the developments in this case in the past two days is the statement by Mr Lewandowski. It is that statement that is creating the controversy and its implications will follow through in the way the case is handled. Another interesting aspect of the case is that in Western Australia today, courtesy of the Labor Government, we have established the Royal Commission Into Whether There Has Been Any Corrupt or Criminal Conduct by Western Australian Police Officers. That royal commission, which was set up by this Labor Government, is opposed by the Liberal Opposition. The same Liberal Opposition swept under the carpet year in, year out questions related to police corruption in Western Australia. It is a bit rich for the Liberal Party to rise today with these sorts of questions when for eight years it swept under the carpet allegations of police corruption. Not only did it do that but also it turned a blind eye to downright robbery by people in the finance broking industry. Let us get to the question about the Minister for Health. The specific development is the statement by Mr Lewandowski. That statement makes no reference whatsoever to Mr Kucera in his previous position as a police officer in this State. In other words, the basis of this discussion in this place today, the Lewandowski statement, says nothing about the Minister for Health. Until the Opposition can produce evidence today to contradict the points made by Mr Kucera in his previous capacity or to doubt his credibility, it stands accused of engaging in pure politics. The Opposition is the party that swept under the carpet for eight years allegations of police corruption and the party that turned a blind eye to robbery in the finance broking industry. What a party! What an approach it is adopting to this issue. We have referred the matter to the royal commission that we set up and which the Opposition opposed. We now have a forum for investigating police corruption. I am sure the Minister for Health will be only too happy to cooperate with any royal commission into these matters because he is a person who takes these matters very seriously. The Opposition can continue to play politics, but I repeat my fundamental point: the statement by Mr Lewandowski upon which we are conducting this discussion today makes no reference to the Minister for Health.
(2) Will the Premier stand his minister aside from Cabinet until such time as the minister’s involvement is clarified and the matter is satisfactorily resolved? Dr GALLOP replied: First, I apologise to the House for the state of my vocal cords today. Unfortunately, I have an infection in my throat. (1)-(2) As the Attorney General said, the most interesting and important aspect of the developments in this case in the past two days is the statement by Mr Lewandowski. It is that statement that is creating the controversy and its implications will follow through in the way the case is handled. Another interesting aspect of the case is that in Western Australia today, courtesy of the Labor Government, we have established the Royal Commission Into Whether There Has Been Any Corrupt or Criminal Conduct by Western Australian Police Officers. That royal commission, which was set up by this Labor Government, is opposed by the Liberal Opposition. The same Liberal Opposition swept under the carpet year in, year out questions related to police corruption in Western Australia. It is a bit rich for the Liberal Party to rise today with these sorts of questions when for eight years it swept under the carpet allegations of police corruption. Not only did it do that but also it turned a blind eye to downright robbery by people in the finance broking industry. Let us get to the question about the Minister for Health. The specific development is the statement by Mr Lewandowski. That statement makes no reference whatsoever to Mr Kucera in his previous position as a police officer in this State. In other words, the basis of this discussion in this place today, the Lewandowski statement, says nothing about the Minister for Health. Until the Opposition can produce evidence today to contradict the points made by Mr Kucera in his previous capacity or to doubt his credibility, it stands accused of engaging in pure politics. The Opposition is the party that swept under the carpet for eight years allegations of police corruption and the party that turned a blind eye to robbery in the finance broking industry. What a party! What an approach it is adopting to this issue. We have referred the matter to the royal commission that we set up and which the Opposition opposed. We now have a forum for investigating police corruption. I am sure the Minister for Health will be only too happy to cooperate with any royal commission into these matters because he is a person who takes these matters very seriously. The Opposition can continue to play politics, but I repeat my fundamental point: the statement by Mr Lewandowski upon which we are conducting this discussion today makes no reference to the Minister for Health.
Dr GALLOP replied: First, I apologise to the House for the state of my vocal cords today. Unfortunately, I have an infection in my throat. (1)-(2) As the Attorney General said, the most interesting and important aspect of the developments in this case in the past two days is the statement by Mr Lewandowski. It is that statement that is creating the controversy and its implications will follow through in the way the case is handled. Another interesting aspect of the case is that in Western Australia today, courtesy of the Labor Government, we have established the Royal Commission Into Whether There Has Been Any Corrupt or Criminal Conduct by Western Australian Police Officers. That royal commission, which was set up by this Labor Government, is opposed by the Liberal Opposition. The same Liberal Opposition swept under the carpet year in, year out questions related to police corruption in Western Australia. It is a bit rich for the Liberal Party to rise today with these sorts of questions when for eight years it swept under the carpet allegations of police corruption. Not only did it do that but also it turned a blind eye to downright robbery by people in the finance broking industry. Let us get to the question about the Minister for Health. The specific development is the statement by Mr Lewandowski. That statement makes no reference whatsoever to Mr Kucera in his previous position as a police officer in this State. In other words, the basis of this discussion in this place today, the Lewandowski statement, says nothing about the Minister for Health. Until the Opposition can produce evidence today to contradict the points made by Mr Kucera in his previous capacity or to doubt his credibility, it stands accused of engaging in pure politics. The Opposition is the party that swept under the carpet for eight years allegations of police corruption and the party that turned a blind eye to robbery in the finance broking industry. What a party! What an approach it is adopting to this issue. We have referred the matter to the royal commission that we set up and which the Opposition opposed. We now have a forum for investigating police corruption. I am sure the Minister for Health will be only too happy to cooperate with any royal commission into these matters because he is a person who takes these matters very seriously. The Opposition can continue to play politics, but I repeat my fundamental point: the statement by Mr Lewandowski upon which we are conducting this discussion today makes no reference to the Minister for Health.
First, I apologise to the House for the state of my vocal cords today. Unfortunately, I have an infection in my throat. (1)-(2) As the Attorney General said, the most interesting and important aspect of the developments in this case in the past two days is the statement by Mr Lewandowski. It is that statement that is creating the controversy and its implications will follow through in the way the case is handled. Another interesting aspect of the case is that in Western Australia today, courtesy of the Labor Government, we have established the Royal Commission Into Whether There Has Been Any Corrupt or Criminal Conduct by Western Australian Police Officers. That royal commission, which was set up by this Labor Government, is opposed by the Liberal Opposition. The same Liberal Opposition swept under the carpet year in, year out questions related to police corruption in Western Australia. It is a bit rich for the Liberal Party to rise today with these sorts of questions when for eight years it swept under the carpet allegations of police corruption. Not only did it do that but also it turned a blind eye to downright robbery by people in the finance broking industry. Let us get to the question about the Minister for Health. The specific development is the statement by Mr Lewandowski. That statement makes no reference whatsoever to Mr Kucera in his previous position as a police officer in this State. In other words, the basis of this discussion in this place today, the Lewandowski statement, says nothing about the Minister for Health. Until the Opposition can produce evidence today to contradict the points made by Mr Kucera in his previous capacity or to doubt his credibility, it stands accused of engaging in pure politics. The Opposition is the party that swept under the carpet for eight years allegations of police corruption and the party that turned a blind eye to robbery in the finance broking industry. What a party! What an approach it is adopting to this issue. We have referred the matter to the royal commission that we set up and which the Opposition opposed. We now have a forum for investigating police corruption. I am sure the Minister for Health will be only too happy to cooperate with any royal commission into these matters because he is a person who takes these matters very seriously. The Opposition can continue to play politics, but I repeat my fundamental point: the statement by Mr Lewandowski upon which we are conducting this discussion today makes no reference to the Minister for Health.
(1)-(2) As the Attorney General said, the most interesting and important aspect of the developments in this case in the past two days is the statement by Mr Lewandowski. It is that statement that is creating the controversy and its implications will follow through in the way the case is handled. Another interesting aspect of the case is that in Western Australia today, courtesy of the Labor Government, we have established the Royal Commission Into Whether There Has Been Any Corrupt or Criminal Conduct by Western Australian Police Officers. That royal commission, which was set up by this Labor Government, is opposed by the Liberal Opposition. The same Liberal Opposition swept under the carpet year in, year out questions related to police corruption in Western Australia. It is a bit rich for the Liberal Party to rise today with these sorts of questions when for eight years it swept under the carpet allegations of police corruption. Not only did it do that but also it turned a blind eye to downright robbery by people in the finance broking industry. Let us get to the question about the Minister for Health. The specific development is the statement by Mr Lewandowski. That statement makes no reference whatsoever to Mr Kucera in his previous position as a police officer in this State. In other words, the basis of this discussion in this place today, the Lewandowski statement, says nothing about the Minister for Health. Until the Opposition can produce evidence today to contradict the points made by Mr Kucera in his previous capacity or to doubt his credibility, it stands accused of engaging in pure politics. The Opposition is the party that swept under the carpet for eight years allegations of police corruption and the party that turned a blind eye to robbery in the finance broking industry. What a party! What an approach it is adopting to this issue. We have referred the matter to the royal commission that we set up and which the Opposition opposed. We now have a forum for investigating police corruption. I am sure the Minister for Health will be only too happy to cooperate with any royal commission into these matters because he is a person who takes these matters very seriously. The Opposition can continue to play politics, but I repeat my fundamental point: the statement by Mr Lewandowski upon which we are conducting this discussion today makes no reference to the Minister for Health.
Let us get to the question about the Minister for Health. The specific development is the statement by Mr Lewandowski. That statement makes no reference whatsoever to Mr Kucera in his previous position as a police officer in this State. In other words, the basis of this discussion in this place today, the Lewandowski statement, says nothing about the Minister for Health. Until the Opposition can produce evidence today to contradict the points made by Mr Kucera in his previous capacity or to doubt his credibility, it stands accused of engaging in pure politics. The Opposition is the party that swept under the carpet for eight years allegations of police corruption and the party that turned a blind eye to robbery in the finance broking industry. What a party! What an approach it is adopting to this issue. We have referred the matter to the royal commission that we set up and which the Opposition opposed. We now have a forum for investigating police corruption. I am sure the Minister for Health will be only too happy to cooperate with any royal commission into these matters because he is a person who takes these matters very seriously. The Opposition can continue to play politics, but I repeat my fundamental point: the statement by Mr Lewandowski upon which we are conducting this discussion today makes no reference to the Minister for Health.
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