❓ Hon Norman Moore questions Hon Tom Stephens' absence from Parliament, citing prior missed sitting days. Hon Stephens defends his absence due to prior commitments, including meetings with the Premier and WALGA, and opening a telecentre in Marble Bar.
AnsweredQoN 386Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer the minister to a note sent to me from the office of the Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council advising of the ministerial pairs for this sitting week. I am advised that the minister will not be here on Wednesday, 2 June or Friday, 4 June. In view of the fact that the minister already misses a number of sitting days of this House, will he explain why it is necessary to miss half of this week’s sitting? Hon TOM STEPHENS
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his question. I note that he is notorious for complaining when I am here and when I am not here! He groans and moans. The Leader of the Opposition would be a good double for the program called the mooner and moaner show! That is when Colin Barnett speaks to Paul Murray. The Leader of the Opposition in this House could join in that show. I have an appointment tomorrow with the Premier and the Western Australian Local Government Association in Perth. However, I do not have my diary with me but I know I have other commitments. I know I will be in Bunbury at the beginning of the day. I believe I leave at five o’clock. I will be back by 10 o’clock. I regret to say that I do not have complete recall of my full diary movements for tomorrow. Hon Peter Foss: You should if you are missing Parliament and if it is that important. The PRESIDENT: Order! This is not a debate, members! Hon TOM STEPHENS: I know that members opposite will be unhappy about this, because they seem to resent the attention I lavish upon the regional and remote areas of Western Australia, but on Friday I am taking - Several members interjected. Hon TOM STEPHENS: When the Leader of the Opposition turns up in some parts of the electorate that we share, they send out an ambulance because they think it must be an emergency if Hon Norman Moore has turned up in town! On Friday I will go to Marble Bar, where I will have the pleasure of opening the new telecentre. I take great pleasure in supporting that facility. After a number of commitments in Marble Bar, I will go to Port Hedland. I think I will be arriving in Port Hedland after Parliament has risen. I do not think members opposite would expect me to race back to Parliament from Marble Bar, just to put up with them! Do they really? Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Order, members! Thank you, minister. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I will miss the company of the President and a few others, but I will not miss the moaner over there!
Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his question. I note that he is notorious for complaining when I am here and when I am not here! He groans and moans. The Leader of the Opposition would be a good double for the program called the mooner and moaner show! That is when Colin Barnett speaks to Paul Murray. The Leader of the Opposition in this House could join in that show. I have an appointment tomorrow with the Premier and the Western Australian Local Government Association in Perth. However, I do not have my diary with me but I know I have other commitments. I know I will be in Bunbury at the beginning of the day. I believe I leave at five o’clock. I will be back by 10 o’clock. I regret to say that I do not have complete recall of my full diary movements for tomorrow. Hon Peter Foss: You should if you are missing Parliament and if it is that important. The PRESIDENT: Order! This is not a debate, members! Hon TOM STEPHENS: I know that members opposite will be unhappy about this, because they seem to resent the attention I lavish upon the regional and remote areas of Western Australia, but on Friday I am taking - Several members interjected. Hon TOM STEPHENS: When the Leader of the Opposition turns up in some parts of the electorate that we share, they send out an ambulance because they think it must be an emergency if Hon Norman Moore has turned up in town! On Friday I will go to Marble Bar, where I will have the pleasure of opening the new telecentre. I take great pleasure in supporting that facility. After a number of commitments in Marble Bar, I will go to Port Hedland. I think I will be arriving in Port Hedland after Parliament has risen. I do not think members opposite would expect me to race back to Parliament from Marble Bar, just to put up with them! Do they really? Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Order, members! Thank you, minister. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I will miss the company of the President and a few others, but I will not miss the moaner over there!
I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his question. I note that he is notorious for complaining when I am here and when I am not here! He groans and moans. The Leader of the Opposition would be a good double for the program called the mooner and moaner show! That is when Colin Barnett speaks to Paul Murray. The Leader of the Opposition in this House could join in that show. I have an appointment tomorrow with the Premier and the Western Australian Local Government Association in Perth. However, I do not have my diary with me but I know I have other commitments. I know I will be in Bunbury at the beginning of the day. I believe I leave at five o’clock. I will be back by 10 o’clock. I regret to say that I do not have complete recall of my full diary movements for tomorrow. Hon Peter Foss: You should if you are missing Parliament and if it is that important. The PRESIDENT: Order! This is not a debate, members! Hon TOM STEPHENS: I know that members opposite will be unhappy about this, because they seem to resent the attention I lavish upon the regional and remote areas of Western Australia, but on Friday I am taking - Several members interjected. Hon TOM STEPHENS: When the Leader of the Opposition turns up in some parts of the electorate that we share, they send out an ambulance because they think it must be an emergency if Hon Norman Moore has turned up in town! On Friday I will go to Marble Bar, where I will have the pleasure of opening the new telecentre. I take great pleasure in supporting that facility. After a number of commitments in Marble Bar, I will go to Port Hedland. I think I will be arriving in Port Hedland after Parliament has risen. I do not think members opposite would expect me to race back to Parliament from Marble Bar, just to put up with them! Do they really? Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Order, members! Thank you, minister. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I will miss the company of the President and a few others, but I will not miss the moaner over there!
Hon Peter Foss: You should if you are missing Parliament and if it is that important. The PRESIDENT: Order! This is not a debate, members! Hon TOM STEPHENS: I know that members opposite will be unhappy about this, because they seem to resent the attention I lavish upon the regional and remote areas of Western Australia, but on Friday I am taking - Several members interjected. Hon TOM STEPHENS: When the Leader of the Opposition turns up in some parts of the electorate that we share, they send out an ambulance because they think it must be an emergency if Hon Norman Moore has turned up in town! On Friday I will go to Marble Bar, where I will have the pleasure of opening the new telecentre. I take great pleasure in supporting that facility. After a number of commitments in Marble Bar, I will go to Port Hedland. I think I will be arriving in Port Hedland after Parliament has risen. I do not think members opposite would expect me to race back to Parliament from Marble Bar, just to put up with them! Do they really? Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Order, members! Thank you, minister. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I will miss the company of the President and a few others, but I will not miss the moaner over there!
The PRESIDENT: Order! This is not a debate, members! Hon TOM STEPHENS: I know that members opposite will be unhappy about this, because they seem to resent the attention I lavish upon the regional and remote areas of Western Australia, but on Friday I am taking - Several members interjected. Hon TOM STEPHENS: When the Leader of the Opposition turns up in some parts of the electorate that we share, they send out an ambulance because they think it must be an emergency if Hon Norman Moore has turned up in town! On Friday I will go to Marble Bar, where I will have the pleasure of opening the new telecentre. I take great pleasure in supporting that facility. After a number of commitments in Marble Bar, I will go to Port Hedland. I think I will be arriving in Port Hedland after Parliament has risen. I do not think members opposite would expect me to race back to Parliament from Marble Bar, just to put up with them! Do they really? Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Order, members! Thank you, minister. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I will miss the company of the President and a few others, but I will not miss the moaner over there!
Hon TOM STEPHENS: I know that members opposite will be unhappy about this, because they seem to resent the attention I lavish upon the regional and remote areas of Western Australia, but on Friday I am taking - Several members interjected. Hon TOM STEPHENS: When the Leader of the Opposition turns up in some parts of the electorate that we share, they send out an ambulance because they think it must be an emergency if Hon Norman Moore has turned up in town! On Friday I will go to Marble Bar, where I will have the pleasure of opening the new telecentre. I take great pleasure in supporting that facility. After a number of commitments in Marble Bar, I will go to Port Hedland. I think I will be arriving in Port Hedland after Parliament has risen. I do not think members opposite would expect me to race back to Parliament from Marble Bar, just to put up with them! Do they really? Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Order, members! Thank you, minister. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I will miss the company of the President and a few others, but I will not miss the moaner over there!
Several members interjected. Hon TOM STEPHENS: When the Leader of the Opposition turns up in some parts of the electorate that we share, they send out an ambulance because they think it must be an emergency if Hon Norman Moore has turned up in town! On Friday I will go to Marble Bar, where I will have the pleasure of opening the new telecentre. I take great pleasure in supporting that facility. After a number of commitments in Marble Bar, I will go to Port Hedland. I think I will be arriving in Port Hedland after Parliament has risen. I do not think members opposite would expect me to race back to Parliament from Marble Bar, just to put up with them! Do they really? Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Order, members! Thank you, minister. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I will miss the company of the President and a few others, but I will not miss the moaner over there!
Hon TOM STEPHENS: When the Leader of the Opposition turns up in some parts of the electorate that we share, they send out an ambulance because they think it must be an emergency if Hon Norman Moore has turned up in town! On Friday I will go to Marble Bar, where I will have the pleasure of opening the new telecentre. I take great pleasure in supporting that facility. After a number of commitments in Marble Bar, I will go to Port Hedland. I think I will be arriving in Port Hedland after Parliament has risen. I do not think members opposite would expect me to race back to Parliament from Marble Bar, just to put up with them! Do they really? Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Order, members! Thank you, minister. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I will miss the company of the President and a few others, but I will not miss the moaner over there!
On Friday I will go to Marble Bar, where I will have the pleasure of opening the new telecentre. I take great pleasure in supporting that facility. After a number of commitments in Marble Bar, I will go to Port Hedland. I think I will be arriving in Port Hedland after Parliament has risen. I do not think members opposite would expect me to race back to Parliament from Marble Bar, just to put up with them! Do they really? Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Order, members! Thank you, minister. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I will miss the company of the President and a few others, but I will not miss the moaner over there!
Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Order, members! Thank you, minister. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I will miss the company of the President and a few others, but I will not miss the moaner over there!
The PRESIDENT: Order, members! Thank you, minister. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I will miss the company of the President and a few others, but I will not miss the moaner over there!
Hon TOM STEPHENS: I will miss the company of the President and a few others, but I will not miss the moaner over there!
Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his question. I note that he is notorious for complaining when I am here and when I am not here! He groans and moans. The Leader of the Opposition would be a good double for the program called the mooner and moaner show! That is when Colin Barnett speaks to Paul Murray. The Leader of the Opposition in this House could join in that show. I have an appointment tomorrow with the Premier and the Western Australian Local Government Association in Perth. However, I do not have my diary with me but I know I have other commitments. I know I will be in Bunbury at the beginning of the day. I believe I leave at five o’clock. I will be back by 10 o’clock. I regret to say that I do not have complete recall of my full diary movements for tomorrow. Hon Peter Foss: You should if you are missing Parliament and if it is that important. The PRESIDENT: Order! This is not a debate, members! Hon TOM STEPHENS: I know that members opposite will be unhappy about this, because they seem to resent the attention I lavish upon the regional and remote areas of Western Australia, but on Friday I am taking - Several members interjected. Hon TOM STEPHENS: When the Leader of the Opposition turns up in some parts of the electorate that we share, they send out an ambulance because they think it must be an emergency if Hon Norman Moore has turned up in town! On Friday I will go to Marble Bar, where I will have the pleasure of opening the new telecentre. I take great pleasure in supporting that facility. After a number of commitments in Marble Bar, I will go to Port Hedland. I think I will be arriving in Port Hedland after Parliament has risen. I do not think members opposite would expect me to race back to Parliament from Marble Bar, just to put up with them! Do they really? Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Order, members! Thank you, minister. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I will miss the company of the President and a few others, but I will not miss the moaner over there!
I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his question. I note that he is notorious for complaining when I am here and when I am not here! He groans and moans. The Leader of the Opposition would be a good double for the program called the mooner and moaner show! That is when Colin Barnett speaks to Paul Murray. The Leader of the Opposition in this House could join in that show. I have an appointment tomorrow with the Premier and the Western Australian Local Government Association in Perth. However, I do not have my diary with me but I know I have other commitments. I know I will be in Bunbury at the beginning of the day. I believe I leave at five o’clock. I will be back by 10 o’clock. I regret to say that I do not have complete recall of my full diary movements for tomorrow. Hon Peter Foss: You should if you are missing Parliament and if it is that important. The PRESIDENT: Order! This is not a debate, members! Hon TOM STEPHENS: I know that members opposite will be unhappy about this, because they seem to resent the attention I lavish upon the regional and remote areas of Western Australia, but on Friday I am taking - Several members interjected. Hon TOM STEPHENS: When the Leader of the Opposition turns up in some parts of the electorate that we share, they send out an ambulance because they think it must be an emergency if Hon Norman Moore has turned up in town! On Friday I will go to Marble Bar, where I will have the pleasure of opening the new telecentre. I take great pleasure in supporting that facility. After a number of commitments in Marble Bar, I will go to Port Hedland. I think I will be arriving in Port Hedland after Parliament has risen. I do not think members opposite would expect me to race back to Parliament from Marble Bar, just to put up with them! Do they really? Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Order, members! Thank you, minister. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I will miss the company of the President and a few others, but I will not miss the moaner over there!
Hon Peter Foss: You should if you are missing Parliament and if it is that important. The PRESIDENT: Order! This is not a debate, members! Hon TOM STEPHENS: I know that members opposite will be unhappy about this, because they seem to resent the attention I lavish upon the regional and remote areas of Western Australia, but on Friday I am taking - Several members interjected. Hon TOM STEPHENS: When the Leader of the Opposition turns up in some parts of the electorate that we share, they send out an ambulance because they think it must be an emergency if Hon Norman Moore has turned up in town! On Friday I will go to Marble Bar, where I will have the pleasure of opening the new telecentre. I take great pleasure in supporting that facility. After a number of commitments in Marble Bar, I will go to Port Hedland. I think I will be arriving in Port Hedland after Parliament has risen. I do not think members opposite would expect me to race back to Parliament from Marble Bar, just to put up with them! Do they really? Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Order, members! Thank you, minister. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I will miss the company of the President and a few others, but I will not miss the moaner over there!
The PRESIDENT: Order! This is not a debate, members! Hon TOM STEPHENS: I know that members opposite will be unhappy about this, because they seem to resent the attention I lavish upon the regional and remote areas of Western Australia, but on Friday I am taking - Several members interjected. Hon TOM STEPHENS: When the Leader of the Opposition turns up in some parts of the electorate that we share, they send out an ambulance because they think it must be an emergency if Hon Norman Moore has turned up in town! On Friday I will go to Marble Bar, where I will have the pleasure of opening the new telecentre. I take great pleasure in supporting that facility. After a number of commitments in Marble Bar, I will go to Port Hedland. I think I will be arriving in Port Hedland after Parliament has risen. I do not think members opposite would expect me to race back to Parliament from Marble Bar, just to put up with them! Do they really? Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Order, members! Thank you, minister. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I will miss the company of the President and a few others, but I will not miss the moaner over there!
Hon TOM STEPHENS: I know that members opposite will be unhappy about this, because they seem to resent the attention I lavish upon the regional and remote areas of Western Australia, but on Friday I am taking - Several members interjected. Hon TOM STEPHENS: When the Leader of the Opposition turns up in some parts of the electorate that we share, they send out an ambulance because they think it must be an emergency if Hon Norman Moore has turned up in town! On Friday I will go to Marble Bar, where I will have the pleasure of opening the new telecentre. I take great pleasure in supporting that facility. After a number of commitments in Marble Bar, I will go to Port Hedland. I think I will be arriving in Port Hedland after Parliament has risen. I do not think members opposite would expect me to race back to Parliament from Marble Bar, just to put up with them! Do they really? Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Order, members! Thank you, minister. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I will miss the company of the President and a few others, but I will not miss the moaner over there!
Several members interjected. Hon TOM STEPHENS: When the Leader of the Opposition turns up in some parts of the electorate that we share, they send out an ambulance because they think it must be an emergency if Hon Norman Moore has turned up in town! On Friday I will go to Marble Bar, where I will have the pleasure of opening the new telecentre. I take great pleasure in supporting that facility. After a number of commitments in Marble Bar, I will go to Port Hedland. I think I will be arriving in Port Hedland after Parliament has risen. I do not think members opposite would expect me to race back to Parliament from Marble Bar, just to put up with them! Do they really? Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Order, members! Thank you, minister. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I will miss the company of the President and a few others, but I will not miss the moaner over there!
Hon TOM STEPHENS: When the Leader of the Opposition turns up in some parts of the electorate that we share, they send out an ambulance because they think it must be an emergency if Hon Norman Moore has turned up in town! On Friday I will go to Marble Bar, where I will have the pleasure of opening the new telecentre. I take great pleasure in supporting that facility. After a number of commitments in Marble Bar, I will go to Port Hedland. I think I will be arriving in Port Hedland after Parliament has risen. I do not think members opposite would expect me to race back to Parliament from Marble Bar, just to put up with them! Do they really? Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Order, members! Thank you, minister. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I will miss the company of the President and a few others, but I will not miss the moaner over there!
On Friday I will go to Marble Bar, where I will have the pleasure of opening the new telecentre. I take great pleasure in supporting that facility. After a number of commitments in Marble Bar, I will go to Port Hedland. I think I will be arriving in Port Hedland after Parliament has risen. I do not think members opposite would expect me to race back to Parliament from Marble Bar, just to put up with them! Do they really? Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Order, members! Thank you, minister. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I will miss the company of the President and a few others, but I will not miss the moaner over there!
Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT: Order, members! Thank you, minister. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I will miss the company of the President and a few others, but I will not miss the moaner over there!
The PRESIDENT: Order, members! Thank you, minister. Hon TOM STEPHENS: I will miss the company of the President and a few others, but I will not miss the moaner over there!
Hon TOM STEPHENS: I will miss the company of the President and a few others, but I will not miss the moaner over there!
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