❓ Opposition questions the timing and purpose of an options paper regarding the future of the Perth Mint, suggesting it's a pretext to sell and avoid responsibility for alleged breaches. Premier deflects with humor, then states the review aims to minimize risk and ensure value for taxpayers.
AnsweredQoN 261Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
GOLD CORPORATION — OPTIONS ANALYSIS
261. Mr R.S. LOVE to the Premier:
I refer to the announcement of an
options paper regarding the future of the Perth Mint, one made under the cover
of the solar eclipse and while the Premier was out of the state.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Order, please!
Mr R.S. LOVE : It certainly
was keeping people in the dark.
The SPEAKER : Leader of the
Opposition, can you just pause, because I would like to be able to hear the
question.
Mr P.J. Rundle interjected.
The SPEAKER : I would like the
Premier to be able to hear it, too, Deputy Leader of the Opposition.
Mr R.S. LOVE : Would you like
me to start again?
The SPEAKER : No, I would like
you to —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Order, member
for Balcatta and others. I think we will hear it from the start now.
Mr R.S. LOVE : I refer to the
announcement of an options paper regarding the future of the Perth Mint, one
made under the cover of the solar eclipse
while the Premier was out of the state. Is this options paper simply a ruse to
find an excuse to sell and abrogate any further responsibility that the
Premier and the Minister for Mines and Petroleum have for the litany of alleged
breaches in the operations of the Mint?
261. Mr R.S. LOVE to the Premier:
I refer to the announcement of an
options paper regarding the future of the Perth Mint, one made under the cover
of the solar eclipse and while the Premier was out of the state.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Order, please!
Mr R.S. LOVE : It certainly
was keeping people in the dark.
The SPEAKER : Leader of the
Opposition, can you just pause, because I would like to be able to hear the
question.
Mr P.J. Rundle interjected.
The SPEAKER : I would like the
Premier to be able to hear it, too, Deputy Leader of the Opposition.
Mr R.S. LOVE : Would you like
me to start again?
The SPEAKER : No, I would like
you to —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Order, member
for Balcatta and others. I think we will hear it from the start now.
Mr R.S. LOVE : I refer to the
announcement of an options paper regarding the future of the Perth Mint, one
made under the cover of the solar eclipse
while the Premier was out of the state. Is this options paper simply a ruse to
find an excuse to sell and abrogate any further responsibility that the
Premier and the Minister for Mines and Petroleum have for the litany of alleged
breaches in the operations of the Mint?
AnswerView source ↗
It is true that I was out of the
state and I did not see the solar eclipse, but I am advised that it went for a minute.
I am not sure whether the minister rushed out there and did it during that
minute, because I was not here to observe, but if he actually did that, I think
the Leader of the Opposition might have a case! He is not here to explain
himself but when I next see him, I will say to him, ''Did you go out
there and announce this while it was dark? Did you?'' If he did that, I will
be very cross!
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Order, please!
Mr M. McGOWAN : The minister
has announced a review involving the —
Several members interjected.
Mr M. McGOWAN : I am very
cross with you—very cross!
Mr W.J. Johnston : What's
it about?
Mr M. McGOWAN : Any number of
things.
The SPEAKER : Order, please!
Mr M. McGOWAN : The state
government has announced a review involving a commercial adviser and it will look at a range of issues surrounding Gold
Corporation to minimise the risk and ensure value for Western Australian taxpayers. This options analysis will assess the role that Gold Corporation
performs for its many stakeholders, whether it is the Western Australian community
or the state government, to receive value from it and the extent to which its
ownership structure aligns with state government goals.
This review has been a long time
coming for the Perth Mint. It is one of the things that I think other
governments have considered, but we will see
what the review throws up about what further steps we take in relation to the
Mint.
state and I did not see the solar eclipse, but I am advised that it went for a minute.
I am not sure whether the minister rushed out there and did it during that
minute, because I was not here to observe, but if he actually did that, I think
the Leader of the Opposition might have a case! He is not here to explain
himself but when I next see him, I will say to him, ''Did you go out
there and announce this while it was dark? Did you?'' If he did that, I will
be very cross!
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Order, please!
Mr M. McGOWAN : The minister
has announced a review involving the —
Several members interjected.
Mr M. McGOWAN : I am very
cross with you—very cross!
Mr W.J. Johnston : What's
it about?
Mr M. McGOWAN : Any number of
things.
The SPEAKER : Order, please!
Mr M. McGOWAN : The state
government has announced a review involving a commercial adviser and it will look at a range of issues surrounding Gold
Corporation to minimise the risk and ensure value for Western Australian taxpayers. This options analysis will assess the role that Gold Corporation
performs for its many stakeholders, whether it is the Western Australian community
or the state government, to receive value from it and the extent to which its
ownership structure aligns with state government goals.
This review has been a long time
coming for the Perth Mint. It is one of the things that I think other
governments have considered, but we will see
what the review throws up about what further steps we take in relation to the
Mint.
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