❓ Hon. Sally Talbot questions Hon. Donna Faragher, the Minister for Environment, regarding a potential conflict of interest due to her husband's employment and shareholding with Woodside. Talbot probes the Minister's continued contact with Woodside despite the declared conflict.
AnsweredQoN 82Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
MINISTER FOR ENVIRONMENT — CONFLICT OF INTEREST 82. Hon SALLY TALBOT to the Minister for Environment: My question relates to the minister’s conflict of interest arising from her husband’s employment with Woodside. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! This is question time; it is not a time for debate. Hon SALLY TALBOT : My question is based on the fact that the minister has already declared her conflict of interest. I have no idea what Hon Norman Moore is going on about. The PRESIDENT : Order! I have said that this is not a time for debate. In particular, it is not a time for Hon Sally Talbot to debate the words I have used. She will please ask her question. Hon SALLY TALBOT : Thank you, Mr President. I refer the minister to her answer last week to question 45, when she said that she would continue to meet officers from Woodside. The minister has already informed the house, first, that she is required not to make decisions about matters surrounding Woodside because of her declared conflict of interest; second, that her husband not only works for Woodside but also owns Woodside shares; and, third, that she wants to avoid both potential conflicts of interest on specific matters and any perception of a conflict of interest more generally. Given that, will the minister explain to the house — (a) why she will not refer all contact with Woodside to the Minister for Planning, who is supposed to be handling Woodside matters in her place; (b) whether she has conveyed to Woodside the information about this extraordinary arrangement; and (c) how she thinks her self-management of this ongoing contact with Woodside avoids the perception that she is involving herself in issues in which she cannot possibly be seen to be objective? Hon DONNA FARAGHER
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for her question. I am not involving myself in matters surrounding Woodside. A clear process has been put in place to manage the fact that my husband works for Woodside and that I am the Minister for Environment. Hon Sally Talbot : You said last week that you — The PRESIDENT : Order, Hon Sally Talbot! I understand that the member wishes to ask another question, and I will put her on the list. Hon DONNA FARAGHER : With respect to the question last week on my capacity to meet with Woodside, the advice I had received was that if Woodside wanted to meet with me, it would be unreasonable for me to say, “No, you cannot meet with me”, but that if a meeting took place—I can say that there has been no meeting with Woodside and that it has not requested a meeting with me—an officer from the Department of Environment and Conservation would also be present, and there would obviously also be an officer from my office. The declaration would be made that I would have no involvement in approvals or decisions involving Woodside. That is the clear process. I cannot add any further information to that.
MINISTER FOR ENVIRONMENT — CONFLICT OF INTEREST
My question relates to the minister’s conflict of interest arising from her husband’s employment with Woodside. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! This is question time; it is not a time for debate. Hon SALLY TALBOT : My question is based on the fact that the minister has already declared her conflict of interest. I have no idea what Hon Norman Moore is going on about. The PRESIDENT : Order! I have said that this is not a time for debate. In particular, it is not a time for Hon Sally Talbot to debate the words I have used. She will please ask her question. Hon SALLY TALBOT : Thank you, Mr President. I refer the minister to her answer last week to question 45, when she said that she would continue to meet officers from Woodside. The minister has already informed the house, first, that she is required not to make decisions about matters surrounding Woodside because of her declared conflict of interest; second, that her husband not only works for Woodside but also owns Woodside shares; and, third, that she wants to avoid both potential conflicts of interest on specific matters and any perception of a conflict of interest more generally. Given that, will the minister explain to the house — (a) why she will not refer all contact with Woodside to the Minister for Planning, who is supposed to be handling Woodside matters in her place; (b) whether she has conveyed to Woodside the information about this extraordinary arrangement; and (c) how she thinks her self-management of this ongoing contact with Woodside avoids the perception that she is involving herself in issues in which she cannot possibly be seen to be objective? Hon DONNA FARAGHER replied: I thank the member for her question. I am not involving myself in matters surrounding Woodside. A clear process has been put in place to manage the fact that my husband works for Woodside and that I am the Minister for Environment. Hon Sally Talbot : You said last week that you — The PRESIDENT : Order, Hon Sally Talbot! I understand that the member wishes to ask another question, and I will put her on the list. Hon DONNA FARAGHER : With respect to the question last week on my capacity to meet with Woodside, the advice I had received was that if Woodside wanted to meet with me, it would be unreasonable for me to say, “No, you cannot meet with me”, but that if a meeting took place—I can say that there has been no meeting with Woodside and that it has not requested a meeting with me—an officer from the Department of Environment and Conservation would also be present, and there would obviously also be an officer from my office. The declaration would be made that I would have no involvement in approvals or decisions involving Woodside. That is the clear process. I cannot add any further information to that.
Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! This is question time; it is not a time for debate. Hon SALLY TALBOT : My question is based on the fact that the minister has already declared her conflict of interest. I have no idea what Hon Norman Moore is going on about. The PRESIDENT : Order! I have said that this is not a time for debate. In particular, it is not a time for Hon Sally Talbot to debate the words I have used. She will please ask her question. Hon SALLY TALBOT : Thank you, Mr President. I refer the minister to her answer last week to question 45, when she said that she would continue to meet officers from Woodside. The minister has already informed the house, first, that she is required not to make decisions about matters surrounding Woodside because of her declared conflict of interest; second, that her husband not only works for Woodside but also owns Woodside shares; and, third, that she wants to avoid both potential conflicts of interest on specific matters and any perception of a conflict of interest more generally. Given that, will the minister explain to the house — (a) why she will not refer all contact with Woodside to the Minister for Planning, who is supposed to be handling Woodside matters in her place; (b) whether she has conveyed to Woodside the information about this extraordinary arrangement; and (c) how she thinks her self-management of this ongoing contact with Woodside avoids the perception that she is involving herself in issues in which she cannot possibly be seen to be objective? Hon DONNA FARAGHER replied: I thank the member for her question. I am not involving myself in matters surrounding Woodside. A clear process has been put in place to manage the fact that my husband works for Woodside and that I am the Minister for Environment. Hon Sally Talbot : You said last week that you — The PRESIDENT : Order, Hon Sally Talbot! I understand that the member wishes to ask another question, and I will put her on the list. Hon DONNA FARAGHER : With respect to the question last week on my capacity to meet with Woodside, the advice I had received was that if Woodside wanted to meet with me, it would be unreasonable for me to say, “No, you cannot meet with me”, but that if a meeting took place—I can say that there has been no meeting with Woodside and that it has not requested a meeting with me—an officer from the Department of Environment and Conservation would also be present, and there would obviously also be an officer from my office. The declaration would be made that I would have no involvement in approvals or decisions involving Woodside. That is the clear process. I cannot add any further information to that.
The PRESIDENT : Order! This is question time; it is not a time for debate. Hon SALLY TALBOT : My question is based on the fact that the minister has already declared her conflict of interest. I have no idea what Hon Norman Moore is going on about. The PRESIDENT : Order! I have said that this is not a time for debate. In particular, it is not a time for Hon Sally Talbot to debate the words I have used. She will please ask her question. Hon SALLY TALBOT : Thank you, Mr President. I refer the minister to her answer last week to question 45, when she said that she would continue to meet officers from Woodside. The minister has already informed the house, first, that she is required not to make decisions about matters surrounding Woodside because of her declared conflict of interest; second, that her husband not only works for Woodside but also owns Woodside shares; and, third, that she wants to avoid both potential conflicts of interest on specific matters and any perception of a conflict of interest more generally. Given that, will the minister explain to the house — (a) why she will not refer all contact with Woodside to the Minister for Planning, who is supposed to be handling Woodside matters in her place; (b) whether she has conveyed to Woodside the information about this extraordinary arrangement; and (c) how she thinks her self-management of this ongoing contact with Woodside avoids the perception that she is involving herself in issues in which she cannot possibly be seen to be objective? Hon DONNA FARAGHER replied: I thank the member for her question. I am not involving myself in matters surrounding Woodside. A clear process has been put in place to manage the fact that my husband works for Woodside and that I am the Minister for Environment. Hon Sally Talbot : You said last week that you — The PRESIDENT : Order, Hon Sally Talbot! I understand that the member wishes to ask another question, and I will put her on the list. Hon DONNA FARAGHER : With respect to the question last week on my capacity to meet with Woodside, the advice I had received was that if Woodside wanted to meet with me, it would be unreasonable for me to say, “No, you cannot meet with me”, but that if a meeting took place—I can say that there has been no meeting with Woodside and that it has not requested a meeting with me—an officer from the Department of Environment and Conservation would also be present, and there would obviously also be an officer from my office. The declaration would be made that I would have no involvement in approvals or decisions involving Woodside. That is the clear process. I cannot add any further information to that.
Hon SALLY TALBOT : My question is based on the fact that the minister has already declared her conflict of interest. I have no idea what Hon Norman Moore is going on about. The PRESIDENT : Order! I have said that this is not a time for debate. In particular, it is not a time for Hon Sally Talbot to debate the words I have used. She will please ask her question. Hon SALLY TALBOT : Thank you, Mr President. I refer the minister to her answer last week to question 45, when she said that she would continue to meet officers from Woodside. The minister has already informed the house, first, that she is required not to make decisions about matters surrounding Woodside because of her declared conflict of interest; second, that her husband not only works for Woodside but also owns Woodside shares; and, third, that she wants to avoid both potential conflicts of interest on specific matters and any perception of a conflict of interest more generally. Given that, will the minister explain to the house — (a) why she will not refer all contact with Woodside to the Minister for Planning, who is supposed to be handling Woodside matters in her place; (b) whether she has conveyed to Woodside the information about this extraordinary arrangement; and (c) how she thinks her self-management of this ongoing contact with Woodside avoids the perception that she is involving herself in issues in which she cannot possibly be seen to be objective? Hon DONNA FARAGHER replied: I thank the member for her question. I am not involving myself in matters surrounding Woodside. A clear process has been put in place to manage the fact that my husband works for Woodside and that I am the Minister for Environment. Hon Sally Talbot : You said last week that you — The PRESIDENT : Order, Hon Sally Talbot! I understand that the member wishes to ask another question, and I will put her on the list. Hon DONNA FARAGHER : With respect to the question last week on my capacity to meet with Woodside, the advice I had received was that if Woodside wanted to meet with me, it would be unreasonable for me to say, “No, you cannot meet with me”, but that if a meeting took place—I can say that there has been no meeting with Woodside and that it has not requested a meeting with me—an officer from the Department of Environment and Conservation would also be present, and there would obviously also be an officer from my office. The declaration would be made that I would have no involvement in approvals or decisions involving Woodside. That is the clear process. I cannot add any further information to that.
The PRESIDENT : Order! I have said that this is not a time for debate. In particular, it is not a time for Hon Sally Talbot to debate the words I have used. She will please ask her question. Hon SALLY TALBOT : Thank you, Mr President. I refer the minister to her answer last week to question 45, when she said that she would continue to meet officers from Woodside. The minister has already informed the house, first, that she is required not to make decisions about matters surrounding Woodside because of her declared conflict of interest; second, that her husband not only works for Woodside but also owns Woodside shares; and, third, that she wants to avoid both potential conflicts of interest on specific matters and any perception of a conflict of interest more generally. Given that, will the minister explain to the house — (a) why she will not refer all contact with Woodside to the Minister for Planning, who is supposed to be handling Woodside matters in her place; (b) whether she has conveyed to Woodside the information about this extraordinary arrangement; and (c) how she thinks her self-management of this ongoing contact with Woodside avoids the perception that she is involving herself in issues in which she cannot possibly be seen to be objective? Hon DONNA FARAGHER replied: I thank the member for her question. I am not involving myself in matters surrounding Woodside. A clear process has been put in place to manage the fact that my husband works for Woodside and that I am the Minister for Environment. Hon Sally Talbot : You said last week that you — The PRESIDENT : Order, Hon Sally Talbot! I understand that the member wishes to ask another question, and I will put her on the list. Hon DONNA FARAGHER : With respect to the question last week on my capacity to meet with Woodside, the advice I had received was that if Woodside wanted to meet with me, it would be unreasonable for me to say, “No, you cannot meet with me”, but that if a meeting took place—I can say that there has been no meeting with Woodside and that it has not requested a meeting with me—an officer from the Department of Environment and Conservation would also be present, and there would obviously also be an officer from my office. The declaration would be made that I would have no involvement in approvals or decisions involving Woodside. That is the clear process. I cannot add any further information to that.
Hon SALLY TALBOT : Thank you, Mr President. I refer the minister to her answer last week to question 45, when she said that she would continue to meet officers from Woodside. The minister has already informed the house, first, that she is required not to make decisions about matters surrounding Woodside because of her declared conflict of interest; second, that her husband not only works for Woodside but also owns Woodside shares; and, third, that she wants to avoid both potential conflicts of interest on specific matters and any perception of a conflict of interest more generally. Given that, will the minister explain to the house — (a) why she will not refer all contact with Woodside to the Minister for Planning, who is supposed to be handling Woodside matters in her place; (b) whether she has conveyed to Woodside the information about this extraordinary arrangement; and (c) how she thinks her self-management of this ongoing contact with Woodside avoids the perception that she is involving herself in issues in which she cannot possibly be seen to be objective? Hon DONNA FARAGHER replied: I thank the member for her question. I am not involving myself in matters surrounding Woodside. A clear process has been put in place to manage the fact that my husband works for Woodside and that I am the Minister for Environment. Hon Sally Talbot : You said last week that you — The PRESIDENT : Order, Hon Sally Talbot! I understand that the member wishes to ask another question, and I will put her on the list. Hon DONNA FARAGHER : With respect to the question last week on my capacity to meet with Woodside, the advice I had received was that if Woodside wanted to meet with me, it would be unreasonable for me to say, “No, you cannot meet with me”, but that if a meeting took place—I can say that there has been no meeting with Woodside and that it has not requested a meeting with me—an officer from the Department of Environment and Conservation would also be present, and there would obviously also be an officer from my office. The declaration would be made that I would have no involvement in approvals or decisions involving Woodside. That is the clear process. I cannot add any further information to that.
(b) whether she has conveyed to Woodside the information about this extraordinary arrangement; and (c) how she thinks her self-management of this ongoing contact with Woodside avoids the perception that she is involving herself in issues in which she cannot possibly be seen to be objective?
(c) how she thinks her self-management of this ongoing contact with Woodside avoids the perception that she is involving herself in issues in which she cannot possibly be seen to be objective?
I thank the member for her question. I am not involving myself in matters surrounding Woodside. A clear process has been put in place to manage the fact that my husband works for Woodside and that I am the Minister for Environment. Hon Sally Talbot : You said last week that you — The PRESIDENT : Order, Hon Sally Talbot! I understand that the member wishes to ask another question, and I will put her on the list. Hon DONNA FARAGHER : With respect to the question last week on my capacity to meet with Woodside, the advice I had received was that if Woodside wanted to meet with me, it would be unreasonable for me to say, “No, you cannot meet with me”, but that if a meeting took place—I can say that there has been no meeting with Woodside and that it has not requested a meeting with me—an officer from the Department of Environment and Conservation would also be present, and there would obviously also be an officer from my office. The declaration would be made that I would have no involvement in approvals or decisions involving Woodside. That is the clear process. I cannot add any further information to that.
I am not involving myself in matters surrounding Woodside. A clear process has been put in place to manage the fact that my husband works for Woodside and that I am the Minister for Environment. Hon Sally Talbot : You said last week that you — The PRESIDENT : Order, Hon Sally Talbot! I understand that the member wishes to ask another question, and I will put her on the list. Hon DONNA FARAGHER : With respect to the question last week on my capacity to meet with Woodside, the advice I had received was that if Woodside wanted to meet with me, it would be unreasonable for me to say, “No, you cannot meet with me”, but that if a meeting took place—I can say that there has been no meeting with Woodside and that it has not requested a meeting with me—an officer from the Department of Environment and Conservation would also be present, and there would obviously also be an officer from my office. The declaration would be made that I would have no involvement in approvals or decisions involving Woodside. That is the clear process. I cannot add any further information to that.
Hon Sally Talbot : You said last week that you — The PRESIDENT : Order, Hon Sally Talbot! I understand that the member wishes to ask another question, and I will put her on the list. Hon DONNA FARAGHER : With respect to the question last week on my capacity to meet with Woodside, the advice I had received was that if Woodside wanted to meet with me, it would be unreasonable for me to say, “No, you cannot meet with me”, but that if a meeting took place—I can say that there has been no meeting with Woodside and that it has not requested a meeting with me—an officer from the Department of Environment and Conservation would also be present, and there would obviously also be an officer from my office. The declaration would be made that I would have no involvement in approvals or decisions involving Woodside. That is the clear process. I cannot add any further information to that.
The PRESIDENT : Order, Hon Sally Talbot! I understand that the member wishes to ask another question, and I will put her on the list. Hon DONNA FARAGHER : With respect to the question last week on my capacity to meet with Woodside, the advice I had received was that if Woodside wanted to meet with me, it would be unreasonable for me to say, “No, you cannot meet with me”, but that if a meeting took place—I can say that there has been no meeting with Woodside and that it has not requested a meeting with me—an officer from the Department of Environment and Conservation would also be present, and there would obviously also be an officer from my office. The declaration would be made that I would have no involvement in approvals or decisions involving Woodside. That is the clear process. I cannot add any further information to that.
Hon DONNA FARAGHER : With respect to the question last week on my capacity to meet with Woodside, the advice I had received was that if Woodside wanted to meet with me, it would be unreasonable for me to say, “No, you cannot meet with me”, but that if a meeting took place—I can say that there has been no meeting with Woodside and that it has not requested a meeting with me—an officer from the Department of Environment and Conservation would also be present, and there would obviously also be an officer from my office. The declaration would be made that I would have no involvement in approvals or decisions involving Woodside. That is the clear process. I cannot add any further information to that.
MINISTER FOR ENVIRONMENT — CONFLICT OF INTEREST
My question relates to the minister’s conflict of interest arising from her husband’s employment with Woodside. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! This is question time; it is not a time for debate. Hon SALLY TALBOT : My question is based on the fact that the minister has already declared her conflict of interest. I have no idea what Hon Norman Moore is going on about. The PRESIDENT : Order! I have said that this is not a time for debate. In particular, it is not a time for Hon Sally Talbot to debate the words I have used. She will please ask her question. Hon SALLY TALBOT : Thank you, Mr President. I refer the minister to her answer last week to question 45, when she said that she would continue to meet officers from Woodside. The minister has already informed the house, first, that she is required not to make decisions about matters surrounding Woodside because of her declared conflict of interest; second, that her husband not only works for Woodside but also owns Woodside shares; and, third, that she wants to avoid both potential conflicts of interest on specific matters and any perception of a conflict of interest more generally. Given that, will the minister explain to the house — (a) why she will not refer all contact with Woodside to the Minister for Planning, who is supposed to be handling Woodside matters in her place; (b) whether she has conveyed to Woodside the information about this extraordinary arrangement; and (c) how she thinks her self-management of this ongoing contact with Woodside avoids the perception that she is involving herself in issues in which she cannot possibly be seen to be objective? Hon DONNA FARAGHER replied: I thank the member for her question. I am not involving myself in matters surrounding Woodside. A clear process has been put in place to manage the fact that my husband works for Woodside and that I am the Minister for Environment. Hon Sally Talbot : You said last week that you — The PRESIDENT : Order, Hon Sally Talbot! I understand that the member wishes to ask another question, and I will put her on the list. Hon DONNA FARAGHER : With respect to the question last week on my capacity to meet with Woodside, the advice I had received was that if Woodside wanted to meet with me, it would be unreasonable for me to say, “No, you cannot meet with me”, but that if a meeting took place—I can say that there has been no meeting with Woodside and that it has not requested a meeting with me—an officer from the Department of Environment and Conservation would also be present, and there would obviously also be an officer from my office. The declaration would be made that I would have no involvement in approvals or decisions involving Woodside. That is the clear process. I cannot add any further information to that.
Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! This is question time; it is not a time for debate. Hon SALLY TALBOT : My question is based on the fact that the minister has already declared her conflict of interest. I have no idea what Hon Norman Moore is going on about. The PRESIDENT : Order! I have said that this is not a time for debate. In particular, it is not a time for Hon Sally Talbot to debate the words I have used. She will please ask her question. Hon SALLY TALBOT : Thank you, Mr President. I refer the minister to her answer last week to question 45, when she said that she would continue to meet officers from Woodside. The minister has already informed the house, first, that she is required not to make decisions about matters surrounding Woodside because of her declared conflict of interest; second, that her husband not only works for Woodside but also owns Woodside shares; and, third, that she wants to avoid both potential conflicts of interest on specific matters and any perception of a conflict of interest more generally. Given that, will the minister explain to the house — (a) why she will not refer all contact with Woodside to the Minister for Planning, who is supposed to be handling Woodside matters in her place; (b) whether she has conveyed to Woodside the information about this extraordinary arrangement; and (c) how she thinks her self-management of this ongoing contact with Woodside avoids the perception that she is involving herself in issues in which she cannot possibly be seen to be objective? Hon DONNA FARAGHER replied: I thank the member for her question. I am not involving myself in matters surrounding Woodside. A clear process has been put in place to manage the fact that my husband works for Woodside and that I am the Minister for Environment. Hon Sally Talbot : You said last week that you — The PRESIDENT : Order, Hon Sally Talbot! I understand that the member wishes to ask another question, and I will put her on the list. Hon DONNA FARAGHER : With respect to the question last week on my capacity to meet with Woodside, the advice I had received was that if Woodside wanted to meet with me, it would be unreasonable for me to say, “No, you cannot meet with me”, but that if a meeting took place—I can say that there has been no meeting with Woodside and that it has not requested a meeting with me—an officer from the Department of Environment and Conservation would also be present, and there would obviously also be an officer from my office. The declaration would be made that I would have no involvement in approvals or decisions involving Woodside. That is the clear process. I cannot add any further information to that.
The PRESIDENT : Order! This is question time; it is not a time for debate. Hon SALLY TALBOT : My question is based on the fact that the minister has already declared her conflict of interest. I have no idea what Hon Norman Moore is going on about. The PRESIDENT : Order! I have said that this is not a time for debate. In particular, it is not a time for Hon Sally Talbot to debate the words I have used. She will please ask her question. Hon SALLY TALBOT : Thank you, Mr President. I refer the minister to her answer last week to question 45, when she said that she would continue to meet officers from Woodside. The minister has already informed the house, first, that she is required not to make decisions about matters surrounding Woodside because of her declared conflict of interest; second, that her husband not only works for Woodside but also owns Woodside shares; and, third, that she wants to avoid both potential conflicts of interest on specific matters and any perception of a conflict of interest more generally. Given that, will the minister explain to the house — (a) why she will not refer all contact with Woodside to the Minister for Planning, who is supposed to be handling Woodside matters in her place; (b) whether she has conveyed to Woodside the information about this extraordinary arrangement; and (c) how she thinks her self-management of this ongoing contact with Woodside avoids the perception that she is involving herself in issues in which she cannot possibly be seen to be objective? Hon DONNA FARAGHER replied: I thank the member for her question. I am not involving myself in matters surrounding Woodside. A clear process has been put in place to manage the fact that my husband works for Woodside and that I am the Minister for Environment. Hon Sally Talbot : You said last week that you — The PRESIDENT : Order, Hon Sally Talbot! I understand that the member wishes to ask another question, and I will put her on the list. Hon DONNA FARAGHER : With respect to the question last week on my capacity to meet with Woodside, the advice I had received was that if Woodside wanted to meet with me, it would be unreasonable for me to say, “No, you cannot meet with me”, but that if a meeting took place—I can say that there has been no meeting with Woodside and that it has not requested a meeting with me—an officer from the Department of Environment and Conservation would also be present, and there would obviously also be an officer from my office. The declaration would be made that I would have no involvement in approvals or decisions involving Woodside. That is the clear process. I cannot add any further information to that.
Hon SALLY TALBOT : My question is based on the fact that the minister has already declared her conflict of interest. I have no idea what Hon Norman Moore is going on about. The PRESIDENT : Order! I have said that this is not a time for debate. In particular, it is not a time for Hon Sally Talbot to debate the words I have used. She will please ask her question. Hon SALLY TALBOT : Thank you, Mr President. I refer the minister to her answer last week to question 45, when she said that she would continue to meet officers from Woodside. The minister has already informed the house, first, that she is required not to make decisions about matters surrounding Woodside because of her declared conflict of interest; second, that her husband not only works for Woodside but also owns Woodside shares; and, third, that she wants to avoid both potential conflicts of interest on specific matters and any perception of a conflict of interest more generally. Given that, will the minister explain to the house — (a) why she will not refer all contact with Woodside to the Minister for Planning, who is supposed to be handling Woodside matters in her place; (b) whether she has conveyed to Woodside the information about this extraordinary arrangement; and (c) how she thinks her self-management of this ongoing contact with Woodside avoids the perception that she is involving herself in issues in which she cannot possibly be seen to be objective? Hon DONNA FARAGHER replied: I thank the member for her question. I am not involving myself in matters surrounding Woodside. A clear process has been put in place to manage the fact that my husband works for Woodside and that I am the Minister for Environment. Hon Sally Talbot : You said last week that you — The PRESIDENT : Order, Hon Sally Talbot! I understand that the member wishes to ask another question, and I will put her on the list. Hon DONNA FARAGHER : With respect to the question last week on my capacity to meet with Woodside, the advice I had received was that if Woodside wanted to meet with me, it would be unreasonable for me to say, “No, you cannot meet with me”, but that if a meeting took place—I can say that there has been no meeting with Woodside and that it has not requested a meeting with me—an officer from the Department of Environment and Conservation would also be present, and there would obviously also be an officer from my office. The declaration would be made that I would have no involvement in approvals or decisions involving Woodside. That is the clear process. I cannot add any further information to that.
The PRESIDENT : Order! I have said that this is not a time for debate. In particular, it is not a time for Hon Sally Talbot to debate the words I have used. She will please ask her question. Hon SALLY TALBOT : Thank you, Mr President. I refer the minister to her answer last week to question 45, when she said that she would continue to meet officers from Woodside. The minister has already informed the house, first, that she is required not to make decisions about matters surrounding Woodside because of her declared conflict of interest; second, that her husband not only works for Woodside but also owns Woodside shares; and, third, that she wants to avoid both potential conflicts of interest on specific matters and any perception of a conflict of interest more generally. Given that, will the minister explain to the house — (a) why she will not refer all contact with Woodside to the Minister for Planning, who is supposed to be handling Woodside matters in her place; (b) whether she has conveyed to Woodside the information about this extraordinary arrangement; and (c) how she thinks her self-management of this ongoing contact with Woodside avoids the perception that she is involving herself in issues in which she cannot possibly be seen to be objective? Hon DONNA FARAGHER replied: I thank the member for her question. I am not involving myself in matters surrounding Woodside. A clear process has been put in place to manage the fact that my husband works for Woodside and that I am the Minister for Environment. Hon Sally Talbot : You said last week that you — The PRESIDENT : Order, Hon Sally Talbot! I understand that the member wishes to ask another question, and I will put her on the list. Hon DONNA FARAGHER : With respect to the question last week on my capacity to meet with Woodside, the advice I had received was that if Woodside wanted to meet with me, it would be unreasonable for me to say, “No, you cannot meet with me”, but that if a meeting took place—I can say that there has been no meeting with Woodside and that it has not requested a meeting with me—an officer from the Department of Environment and Conservation would also be present, and there would obviously also be an officer from my office. The declaration would be made that I would have no involvement in approvals or decisions involving Woodside. That is the clear process. I cannot add any further information to that.
Hon SALLY TALBOT : Thank you, Mr President. I refer the minister to her answer last week to question 45, when she said that she would continue to meet officers from Woodside. The minister has already informed the house, first, that she is required not to make decisions about matters surrounding Woodside because of her declared conflict of interest; second, that her husband not only works for Woodside but also owns Woodside shares; and, third, that she wants to avoid both potential conflicts of interest on specific matters and any perception of a conflict of interest more generally. Given that, will the minister explain to the house — (a) why she will not refer all contact with Woodside to the Minister for Planning, who is supposed to be handling Woodside matters in her place; (b) whether she has conveyed to Woodside the information about this extraordinary arrangement; and (c) how she thinks her self-management of this ongoing contact with Woodside avoids the perception that she is involving herself in issues in which she cannot possibly be seen to be objective? Hon DONNA FARAGHER replied: I thank the member for her question. I am not involving myself in matters surrounding Woodside. A clear process has been put in place to manage the fact that my husband works for Woodside and that I am the Minister for Environment. Hon Sally Talbot : You said last week that you — The PRESIDENT : Order, Hon Sally Talbot! I understand that the member wishes to ask another question, and I will put her on the list. Hon DONNA FARAGHER : With respect to the question last week on my capacity to meet with Woodside, the advice I had received was that if Woodside wanted to meet with me, it would be unreasonable for me to say, “No, you cannot meet with me”, but that if a meeting took place—I can say that there has been no meeting with Woodside and that it has not requested a meeting with me—an officer from the Department of Environment and Conservation would also be present, and there would obviously also be an officer from my office. The declaration would be made that I would have no involvement in approvals or decisions involving Woodside. That is the clear process. I cannot add any further information to that.
(b) whether she has conveyed to Woodside the information about this extraordinary arrangement; and (c) how she thinks her self-management of this ongoing contact with Woodside avoids the perception that she is involving herself in issues in which she cannot possibly be seen to be objective?
(c) how she thinks her self-management of this ongoing contact with Woodside avoids the perception that she is involving herself in issues in which she cannot possibly be seen to be objective?
I thank the member for her question. I am not involving myself in matters surrounding Woodside. A clear process has been put in place to manage the fact that my husband works for Woodside and that I am the Minister for Environment. Hon Sally Talbot : You said last week that you — The PRESIDENT : Order, Hon Sally Talbot! I understand that the member wishes to ask another question, and I will put her on the list. Hon DONNA FARAGHER : With respect to the question last week on my capacity to meet with Woodside, the advice I had received was that if Woodside wanted to meet with me, it would be unreasonable for me to say, “No, you cannot meet with me”, but that if a meeting took place—I can say that there has been no meeting with Woodside and that it has not requested a meeting with me—an officer from the Department of Environment and Conservation would also be present, and there would obviously also be an officer from my office. The declaration would be made that I would have no involvement in approvals or decisions involving Woodside. That is the clear process. I cannot add any further information to that.
I am not involving myself in matters surrounding Woodside. A clear process has been put in place to manage the fact that my husband works for Woodside and that I am the Minister for Environment. Hon Sally Talbot : You said last week that you — The PRESIDENT : Order, Hon Sally Talbot! I understand that the member wishes to ask another question, and I will put her on the list. Hon DONNA FARAGHER : With respect to the question last week on my capacity to meet with Woodside, the advice I had received was that if Woodside wanted to meet with me, it would be unreasonable for me to say, “No, you cannot meet with me”, but that if a meeting took place—I can say that there has been no meeting with Woodside and that it has not requested a meeting with me—an officer from the Department of Environment and Conservation would also be present, and there would obviously also be an officer from my office. The declaration would be made that I would have no involvement in approvals or decisions involving Woodside. That is the clear process. I cannot add any further information to that.
Hon Sally Talbot : You said last week that you — The PRESIDENT : Order, Hon Sally Talbot! I understand that the member wishes to ask another question, and I will put her on the list. Hon DONNA FARAGHER : With respect to the question last week on my capacity to meet with Woodside, the advice I had received was that if Woodside wanted to meet with me, it would be unreasonable for me to say, “No, you cannot meet with me”, but that if a meeting took place—I can say that there has been no meeting with Woodside and that it has not requested a meeting with me—an officer from the Department of Environment and Conservation would also be present, and there would obviously also be an officer from my office. The declaration would be made that I would have no involvement in approvals or decisions involving Woodside. That is the clear process. I cannot add any further information to that.
The PRESIDENT : Order, Hon Sally Talbot! I understand that the member wishes to ask another question, and I will put her on the list. Hon DONNA FARAGHER : With respect to the question last week on my capacity to meet with Woodside, the advice I had received was that if Woodside wanted to meet with me, it would be unreasonable for me to say, “No, you cannot meet with me”, but that if a meeting took place—I can say that there has been no meeting with Woodside and that it has not requested a meeting with me—an officer from the Department of Environment and Conservation would also be present, and there would obviously also be an officer from my office. The declaration would be made that I would have no involvement in approvals or decisions involving Woodside. That is the clear process. I cannot add any further information to that.
Hon DONNA FARAGHER : With respect to the question last week on my capacity to meet with Woodside, the advice I had received was that if Woodside wanted to meet with me, it would be unreasonable for me to say, “No, you cannot meet with me”, but that if a meeting took place—I can say that there has been no meeting with Woodside and that it has not requested a meeting with me—an officer from the Department of Environment and Conservation would also be present, and there would obviously also be an officer from my office. The declaration would be made that I would have no involvement in approvals or decisions involving Woodside. That is the clear process. I cannot add any further information to that.
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