Mr. Wyatt questions whether the Attorney General approved contracts rejected by the government. The Treasurer, Mr. Buswell, denies knowledge of the specifics but defends the practice of redirecting funds within a portfolio.

AnsweredQoN 42Legislative Assembly
Asked
20 February 2014
Portfolio
Treasurer

QuestionView source ↗

DEPARTMENT
OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL — CONTRACTUAL COMMITMENTS
42. Mr B.S. WYATT to the
Treasurer:
I have a supplementary
question. Can the Treasurer confirm that the Attorney General approved the
entering into of those contracts after it was rejected by the government?

AnswerView source ↗

No, I cannot. I am
not familiar with the detail around those contracts.
Ms R. Saffioti interjected.
Mr T.R. BUSWELL : Of course I have seen it reported that the
department is spending the money in those particular areas, but as to whether
the Attorney General was involved in the signing of those contracts, if indeed
they were signed, and to what extent, I do not know. What I do know is that
finding $12 million —
Mr B.S. Wyatt interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for Victoria Park, I call you to order for the first time.
Mr B.S. Wyatt : Is it a bad practice?
The SPEAKER : Member for Victoria Park, I call you to order for the second time.
Can you bring this to a close, please, minister.
Mr T.R. BUSWELL : I do not think it is a bad practice. It is
bad practice to spend more money than one has. If a minister has a priority
within their portfolio that they can meet by redirecting spending from within
that portfolio, they should do it.

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