❓ Opposition questions Premier Barnett on perceived double standards regarding ministerial conflicts of interest, comparing the Kucera case (Alinta shares) to Hon Norman Moore's situation, focusing on share ownership by ministers' spouses and cabinet decisions.
AnsweredQoN 23Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
MINISTER FOR MINES AND PETROLEUM — CONFLICT OF INTEREST
I refer the Premier to Hansard of Thursday, 17 May 2007, when he said of then Minister Kucera — He failed in a cabinet meeting to declare his wife’s ownership of Alinta shares when cabinet decided on an $88 million grant to the benefit of Alinta and its partners. That forced his resignation. … he breached the ministerial code and he lost his job. Why, under the Premier’s ministerial code, is it okay for the wife of Hon Norman Moore to own shares that directly impact on his portfolio responsibilities and why is it okay for Mr Moore to participate in cabinet discussions on those issues, when it apparently was not okay for Mrs Susan Kucera to own shares while her husband did exactly what Hon Norman Moore is doing under the Premier’s loose standards? Mr C.J. BARNETT
I refer the Premier to Hansard of Thursday, 17 May 2007, when he said of then Minister Kucera — He failed in a cabinet meeting to declare his wife’s ownership of Alinta shares when cabinet decided on an $88 million grant to the benefit of Alinta and its partners. That forced his resignation. … he breached the ministerial code and he lost his job. Why, under the Premier’s ministerial code, is it okay for the wife of Hon Norman Moore to own shares that directly impact on his portfolio responsibilities and why is it okay for Mr Moore to participate in cabinet discussions on those issues, when it apparently was not okay for Mrs Susan Kucera to own shares while her husband did exactly what Hon Norman Moore is doing under the Premier’s loose standards? Mr C.J. BARNETT
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the Leader of the Opposition for the question. Perhaps the Leader of the Opposition should ask former Premier Dr Geoff Gallop why he insisted that Hon Bob Kucera stand down. It was Dr Gallop’s decision, and the Leader of the Opposition will recall that at the time he was the Deputy Premier. Mr E.S. Ripper : The opposition called for his resignation. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Let me answer. No, no, no; it was the former Premier, I presume with the support of the now Leader of the Opposition when he was Deputy Premier. What was the issue? As I understand it, Mrs Kucera owned shares in Alinta. The issue before cabinet was a decision—a flawed decision in my view— to give a cash grant of $80 million directly to Alinta from the Labor government. If there was a conflict, it was because Mr Kucera was involved in making a cabinet decision on a direct capital transfer from taxpayers to Alinta, which was a very, very different situation from that of Hon Norman Moore. It was the call of the then Premier and the then Deputy Premier to stand down Mr Kucera. That is very different from Mrs Moore owning shares in several companies, as did Mrs Kucera — Mr M. McGowan : Are you saying he was making decisions on that? Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, I did not say that. The member for Rockingham needs to concentrate. I can see why he could not settle the teachers’ dispute; he fails to be able to concentrate. This is a very different situation. When I offered Hon Norman Moore the opportunity, he declared that interest and sought the State Solicitor’s advice.
… he breached the ministerial code and he lost his job.
Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: I thank the Leader of the Opposition for the question. Perhaps the Leader of the Opposition should ask former Premier Dr Geoff Gallop why he insisted that Hon Bob Kucera stand down. It was Dr Gallop’s decision, and the Leader of the Opposition will recall that at the time he was the Deputy Premier. Mr E.S. Ripper : The opposition called for his resignation. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Let me answer. No, no, no; it was the former Premier, I presume with the support of the now Leader of the Opposition when he was Deputy Premier. What was the issue? As I understand it, Mrs Kucera owned shares in Alinta. The issue before cabinet was a decision—a flawed decision in my view— to give a cash grant of $80 million directly to Alinta from the Labor government. If there was a conflict, it was because Mr Kucera was involved in making a cabinet decision on a direct capital transfer from taxpayers to Alinta, which was a very, very different situation from that of Hon Norman Moore. It was the call of the then Premier and the then Deputy Premier to stand down Mr Kucera. That is very different from Mrs Moore owning shares in several companies, as did Mrs Kucera — Mr M. McGowan : Are you saying he was making decisions on that? Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, I did not say that. The member for Rockingham needs to concentrate. I can see why he could not settle the teachers’ dispute; he fails to be able to concentrate. This is a very different situation. When I offered Hon Norman Moore the opportunity, he declared that interest and sought the State Solicitor’s advice.
I thank the Leader of the Opposition for the question. Perhaps the Leader of the Opposition should ask former Premier Dr Geoff Gallop why he insisted that Hon Bob Kucera stand down. It was Dr Gallop’s decision, and the Leader of the Opposition will recall that at the time he was the Deputy Premier. Mr E.S. Ripper : The opposition called for his resignation. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Let me answer. No, no, no; it was the former Premier, I presume with the support of the now Leader of the Opposition when he was Deputy Premier. What was the issue? As I understand it, Mrs Kucera owned shares in Alinta. The issue before cabinet was a decision—a flawed decision in my view— to give a cash grant of $80 million directly to Alinta from the Labor government. If there was a conflict, it was because Mr Kucera was involved in making a cabinet decision on a direct capital transfer from taxpayers to Alinta, which was a very, very different situation from that of Hon Norman Moore. It was the call of the then Premier and the then Deputy Premier to stand down Mr Kucera. That is very different from Mrs Moore owning shares in several companies, as did Mrs Kucera — Mr M. McGowan : Are you saying he was making decisions on that? Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, I did not say that. The member for Rockingham needs to concentrate. I can see why he could not settle the teachers’ dispute; he fails to be able to concentrate. This is a very different situation. When I offered Hon Norman Moore the opportunity, he declared that interest and sought the State Solicitor’s advice.
Mr E.S. Ripper : The opposition called for his resignation. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Let me answer. No, no, no; it was the former Premier, I presume with the support of the now Leader of the Opposition when he was Deputy Premier. What was the issue? As I understand it, Mrs Kucera owned shares in Alinta. The issue before cabinet was a decision—a flawed decision in my view— to give a cash grant of $80 million directly to Alinta from the Labor government. If there was a conflict, it was because Mr Kucera was involved in making a cabinet decision on a direct capital transfer from taxpayers to Alinta, which was a very, very different situation from that of Hon Norman Moore. It was the call of the then Premier and the then Deputy Premier to stand down Mr Kucera. That is very different from Mrs Moore owning shares in several companies, as did Mrs Kucera — Mr M. McGowan : Are you saying he was making decisions on that? Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, I did not say that. The member for Rockingham needs to concentrate. I can see why he could not settle the teachers’ dispute; he fails to be able to concentrate. This is a very different situation. When I offered Hon Norman Moore the opportunity, he declared that interest and sought the State Solicitor’s advice.
Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Let me answer. No, no, no; it was the former Premier, I presume with the support of the now Leader of the Opposition when he was Deputy Premier. What was the issue? As I understand it, Mrs Kucera owned shares in Alinta. The issue before cabinet was a decision—a flawed decision in my view— to give a cash grant of $80 million directly to Alinta from the Labor government. If there was a conflict, it was because Mr Kucera was involved in making a cabinet decision on a direct capital transfer from taxpayers to Alinta, which was a very, very different situation from that of Hon Norman Moore. It was the call of the then Premier and the then Deputy Premier to stand down Mr Kucera. That is very different from Mrs Moore owning shares in several companies, as did Mrs Kucera — Mr M. McGowan : Are you saying he was making decisions on that? Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, I did not say that. The member for Rockingham needs to concentrate. I can see why he could not settle the teachers’ dispute; he fails to be able to concentrate. This is a very different situation. When I offered Hon Norman Moore the opportunity, he declared that interest and sought the State Solicitor’s advice.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Let me answer. No, no, no; it was the former Premier, I presume with the support of the now Leader of the Opposition when he was Deputy Premier. What was the issue? As I understand it, Mrs Kucera owned shares in Alinta. The issue before cabinet was a decision—a flawed decision in my view— to give a cash grant of $80 million directly to Alinta from the Labor government. If there was a conflict, it was because Mr Kucera was involved in making a cabinet decision on a direct capital transfer from taxpayers to Alinta, which was a very, very different situation from that of Hon Norman Moore. It was the call of the then Premier and the then Deputy Premier to stand down Mr Kucera. That is very different from Mrs Moore owning shares in several companies, as did Mrs Kucera — Mr M. McGowan : Are you saying he was making decisions on that? Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, I did not say that. The member for Rockingham needs to concentrate. I can see why he could not settle the teachers’ dispute; he fails to be able to concentrate. This is a very different situation. When I offered Hon Norman Moore the opportunity, he declared that interest and sought the State Solicitor’s advice.
Mr M. McGowan : Are you saying he was making decisions on that? Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, I did not say that. The member for Rockingham needs to concentrate. I can see why he could not settle the teachers’ dispute; he fails to be able to concentrate. This is a very different situation. When I offered Hon Norman Moore the opportunity, he declared that interest and sought the State Solicitor’s advice.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, I did not say that. The member for Rockingham needs to concentrate. I can see why he could not settle the teachers’ dispute; he fails to be able to concentrate. This is a very different situation. When I offered Hon Norman Moore the opportunity, he declared that interest and sought the State Solicitor’s advice.
… he breached the ministerial code and he lost his job.
Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: I thank the Leader of the Opposition for the question. Perhaps the Leader of the Opposition should ask former Premier Dr Geoff Gallop why he insisted that Hon Bob Kucera stand down. It was Dr Gallop’s decision, and the Leader of the Opposition will recall that at the time he was the Deputy Premier. Mr E.S. Ripper : The opposition called for his resignation. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Let me answer. No, no, no; it was the former Premier, I presume with the support of the now Leader of the Opposition when he was Deputy Premier. What was the issue? As I understand it, Mrs Kucera owned shares in Alinta. The issue before cabinet was a decision—a flawed decision in my view— to give a cash grant of $80 million directly to Alinta from the Labor government. If there was a conflict, it was because Mr Kucera was involved in making a cabinet decision on a direct capital transfer from taxpayers to Alinta, which was a very, very different situation from that of Hon Norman Moore. It was the call of the then Premier and the then Deputy Premier to stand down Mr Kucera. That is very different from Mrs Moore owning shares in several companies, as did Mrs Kucera — Mr M. McGowan : Are you saying he was making decisions on that? Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, I did not say that. The member for Rockingham needs to concentrate. I can see why he could not settle the teachers’ dispute; he fails to be able to concentrate. This is a very different situation. When I offered Hon Norman Moore the opportunity, he declared that interest and sought the State Solicitor’s advice.
I thank the Leader of the Opposition for the question. Perhaps the Leader of the Opposition should ask former Premier Dr Geoff Gallop why he insisted that Hon Bob Kucera stand down. It was Dr Gallop’s decision, and the Leader of the Opposition will recall that at the time he was the Deputy Premier. Mr E.S. Ripper : The opposition called for his resignation. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Let me answer. No, no, no; it was the former Premier, I presume with the support of the now Leader of the Opposition when he was Deputy Premier. What was the issue? As I understand it, Mrs Kucera owned shares in Alinta. The issue before cabinet was a decision—a flawed decision in my view— to give a cash grant of $80 million directly to Alinta from the Labor government. If there was a conflict, it was because Mr Kucera was involved in making a cabinet decision on a direct capital transfer from taxpayers to Alinta, which was a very, very different situation from that of Hon Norman Moore. It was the call of the then Premier and the then Deputy Premier to stand down Mr Kucera. That is very different from Mrs Moore owning shares in several companies, as did Mrs Kucera — Mr M. McGowan : Are you saying he was making decisions on that? Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, I did not say that. The member for Rockingham needs to concentrate. I can see why he could not settle the teachers’ dispute; he fails to be able to concentrate. This is a very different situation. When I offered Hon Norman Moore the opportunity, he declared that interest and sought the State Solicitor’s advice.
Mr E.S. Ripper : The opposition called for his resignation. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Let me answer. No, no, no; it was the former Premier, I presume with the support of the now Leader of the Opposition when he was Deputy Premier. What was the issue? As I understand it, Mrs Kucera owned shares in Alinta. The issue before cabinet was a decision—a flawed decision in my view— to give a cash grant of $80 million directly to Alinta from the Labor government. If there was a conflict, it was because Mr Kucera was involved in making a cabinet decision on a direct capital transfer from taxpayers to Alinta, which was a very, very different situation from that of Hon Norman Moore. It was the call of the then Premier and the then Deputy Premier to stand down Mr Kucera. That is very different from Mrs Moore owning shares in several companies, as did Mrs Kucera — Mr M. McGowan : Are you saying he was making decisions on that? Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, I did not say that. The member for Rockingham needs to concentrate. I can see why he could not settle the teachers’ dispute; he fails to be able to concentrate. This is a very different situation. When I offered Hon Norman Moore the opportunity, he declared that interest and sought the State Solicitor’s advice.
Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Let me answer. No, no, no; it was the former Premier, I presume with the support of the now Leader of the Opposition when he was Deputy Premier. What was the issue? As I understand it, Mrs Kucera owned shares in Alinta. The issue before cabinet was a decision—a flawed decision in my view— to give a cash grant of $80 million directly to Alinta from the Labor government. If there was a conflict, it was because Mr Kucera was involved in making a cabinet decision on a direct capital transfer from taxpayers to Alinta, which was a very, very different situation from that of Hon Norman Moore. It was the call of the then Premier and the then Deputy Premier to stand down Mr Kucera. That is very different from Mrs Moore owning shares in several companies, as did Mrs Kucera — Mr M. McGowan : Are you saying he was making decisions on that? Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, I did not say that. The member for Rockingham needs to concentrate. I can see why he could not settle the teachers’ dispute; he fails to be able to concentrate. This is a very different situation. When I offered Hon Norman Moore the opportunity, he declared that interest and sought the State Solicitor’s advice.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Let me answer. No, no, no; it was the former Premier, I presume with the support of the now Leader of the Opposition when he was Deputy Premier. What was the issue? As I understand it, Mrs Kucera owned shares in Alinta. The issue before cabinet was a decision—a flawed decision in my view— to give a cash grant of $80 million directly to Alinta from the Labor government. If there was a conflict, it was because Mr Kucera was involved in making a cabinet decision on a direct capital transfer from taxpayers to Alinta, which was a very, very different situation from that of Hon Norman Moore. It was the call of the then Premier and the then Deputy Premier to stand down Mr Kucera. That is very different from Mrs Moore owning shares in several companies, as did Mrs Kucera — Mr M. McGowan : Are you saying he was making decisions on that? Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, I did not say that. The member for Rockingham needs to concentrate. I can see why he could not settle the teachers’ dispute; he fails to be able to concentrate. This is a very different situation. When I offered Hon Norman Moore the opportunity, he declared that interest and sought the State Solicitor’s advice.
Mr M. McGowan : Are you saying he was making decisions on that? Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, I did not say that. The member for Rockingham needs to concentrate. I can see why he could not settle the teachers’ dispute; he fails to be able to concentrate. This is a very different situation. When I offered Hon Norman Moore the opportunity, he declared that interest and sought the State Solicitor’s advice.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : No, I did not say that. The member for Rockingham needs to concentrate. I can see why he could not settle the teachers’ dispute; he fails to be able to concentrate. This is a very different situation. When I offered Hon Norman Moore the opportunity, he declared that interest and sought the State Solicitor’s advice.
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