❓ Opposition questions the Premier's appointment of Chris Ellison as facilitator for the Kimberley science and conservation strategy, citing conflict of interest due to Ellison's lobbying ties. Premier defends the appointment, highlighting Ellison's experience and the transparency of the role.
AnsweredQoN 511Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
CHRIS ELLISON — APPOINTMENT AS INDEPENDENT FACILITATOR
I refer to the Premier’s statement that the decision to employ Chris Ellison as the independent chair for the Kimberley science and conservation strategy was his and his alone. (1) Was the Premier aware that Mr Ellison was a registered lobbyist and an associate director of Enhance Group, working on behalf of mining and oil and gas companies that have interests in the Kimberley, at the time the Premier hand-picked him for the job? (2) Does the Premier accept that his temporary removal from the lobbyist register is little more than a cynical gesture to defend this conflict of interest? (3) What travel allowance and additional expenses will Mr Ellison be entitled to in his role? (4) Does the Premier seriously expect the people of the Kimberley to have any confidence in a report produced by someone with such a gross, untenable conflict of interest? Mr C.J. BARNETT
I refer to the Premier’s statement that the decision to employ Chris Ellison as the independent chair for the Kimberley science and conservation strategy was his and his alone. (1) Was the Premier aware that Mr Ellison was a registered lobbyist and an associate director of Enhance Group, working on behalf of mining and oil and gas companies that have interests in the Kimberley, at the time the Premier hand-picked him for the job? (2) Does the Premier accept that his temporary removal from the lobbyist register is little more than a cynical gesture to defend this conflict of interest? (3) What travel allowance and additional expenses will Mr Ellison be entitled to in his role? (4) Does the Premier seriously expect the people of the Kimberley to have any confidence in a report produced by someone with such a gross, untenable conflict of interest? Mr C.J. BARNETT
AnswerView source ↗
How extraordinary! (1)-(4) Was I the sole person who appointed Chris Ellison? No, I was not. The choice of Chris Ellison came from my recommendation; I thought he was a most suitable person to undertake the role that we had in mind. Obviously the Minister for Environment, Hon Donna Faragher, was involved in that decision. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : She said, “No, Colin; I’m not going to do that, Colin”. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Armadale! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Another brilliant interjection! Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : It is a brilliant interjection because it displays just how absolutely gullible you must believe that the public of Western Australia is. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Armadale! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am happy to answer the question. The SPEAKER : Take a seat, Premier. I could ask the member for Armadale to withdraw recent references she made in her interjection. I think she knows what I am referring to in terms of personal names. That should not happen in this place. I ask the member to cease interjecting and I formally call her to order for the first time. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes. It was my idea that Chris Ellison would be a good person to chair the public forums relating to the Kimberley Science and Conservation Strategy. Obviously, I made that suggestion and discussed it with the minister responsible. She raised the point that she had worked for Chris Ellison, albeit five years ago. I do not consider that to be of any great consequence now. The issue of employing him was then handed over to the appropriate process through the public service. Chris Ellison’s involvement with, I guess, the lobbying firm, if we want to call it that, became clear. He make it absolutely clear, almost to the point of obsession, that he would take on this role only if there was no sense of any potential conflict of interest. I am disappointed, I have to say, with the degree of publicity this has received. However, that is politics. Mr W.J. Johnston : You bet you are. Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is politics and Chris Ellison is well able to deal with that, as, indeed, am I. Can I state again for the house: Chris Ellison is one of the finest, most highly respected senators Western Australia has ever had. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite will try to cast a slur on him and I will not let them do that. He is a very fine person. Mr R.H. Cook : It is hopelessly conflicting. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite want to talk about conflicts, we can go all day, one by one. I suggest they do not raise that. Let me talk about Chris Ellison. He has a long-term legal career, has a wide knowledge of the law, has worked as a senator for Western Australia, I think, for 16 years and has spent 10 years as a minister in the Howard government. What is he being engaged to do? He is being engaged, not as an environmental consultant, not as an advisor to the minister and not as an advisor to me. Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s for something that is worth $1 000 a day. He must be doing something. The SPEAKER : Order, Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : He has simply been engaged to chair public forums—no private meetings—that will be open to anyone and everyone, including the media and Labor members of Parliament, if they have an interest in the Kimberley. It will be a totally public, open process. Because of his standing in the community, his knowledge of the area and of various groups and his skill as a chairman and facilitator, I suggested that he do that role. That is all he will be doing. He has a contract over a three-month period. It is estimated that probably less than 20 days will be involved and he will be paid the princely sum of $125 an hour. I got it wrong yesterday when I think I said $145. Have members been to the dentist or physio or called an electrician to their houses lately? The amount of $125 an hour is what he is being paid, with the cap that, no matter how many hours he works in a day—knowing Chris Ellison, he will work long and hard at this task—he cannot be paid more than $1 000 a day. Mr M. McGowan : What about allowances? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Allowances? I do not expect him to walk to the Kimberley. I expect he will catch a plane and fly to the Kimberley, so the government will pay the airfare. I do not expect him to camp out on the creek bed so we will pay for him to stay in a hotel. His airfare and basic accommodation will be paid in line with government employment contracts. He will receive no other allowances or perks. Why is it that this miserable, rotten, low Labor Party comes in here — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Look at them, smiling away. The SPEAKER : Order! I presume the member for Collie-Preston was not having some sort of a seizure. I ask that, in future, he not perform in that manner in this house. I formally call him to order for the first time. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The poacher’s polka time! I do not know why it is; Labor Party members, I guess, look in their own ranks of rorting, double dipping, abuse, compromise and inappropriate appointments and they try to denigrate the decent people in our community. I have to say that Chris Ellison is a friend of mine, not a close friend — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oh, how uncanny! There he goes! The brains trust of the Labor Party, the sleaze machine himself, the dirty tricks man—look at him! There he goes! Withdrawal of Remark Mr M. McGOWAN : The Premier used a phrase in referring to another member that is clearly unparliamentary. I ask him to withdraw the phrase that he used about the member for Cannington. A government member: What was it? Mr M. McGOWAN : He used the phrase “sleaze machine” to describe the member for Cannington. I ask the Premier to withdraw. Further to the point of order, the member for Collie-Preston performed an act earlier for which there is a precedent and I think that needs to be noted. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! To the member for Rockingham’s first point of order, indeed, if the Premier did refer to the member using those words, I did not hear them; however, if he did, I certainly ask him to withdraw. On the second point of order the member raised, I have made a different determination about the behaviour of the member I have formally called to order. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I did not refer to the member by name but I was certainly looking him in the eye when I said those words, so I withdraw that. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : Chris Ellison is an entirely appropriate appointment; the appointment will hold. Members opposite had their little win; they had a photo of an eminent Western Australian on the front page of The West Australian —congratulations! If members opposite want to drag people down—do they want me to start? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do they want me to start working my way around the Labor Party; because we will do it? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite want to start, I can unchain the member for Jandakot! I can unchain the Treasurer, if that is what members opposite want! Chris Ellison is a decent Australian and a very proud Western Australian. I tell members opposite that we will not go down to those levels; we will not go into the gutter with the Labor Party! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite can stay in the gutter with themselves! They can stay right in that gutter with themselves. I will tell members what Chris Ellison has done, because he was so offended by the way he has been treated. Like I and others, he cares about the Kimberley and he wants to see the work there done properly. Chris Ellison has advised my office today that he has severed all ties with Enhance Group—he had a pretty loose arrangement so he has given that away. Is the opposition happy now? He has walked away from it. There is no conflict, but he has walked away from that because he would rather walk away than be on the front page and have slurs from the Labor Party. That is the sort of man he is; that is the sort of integrity he has. Is the Leader of the Opposition happy about that? Chris Ellison has walked away from Enhance because he is committed to helping out in the Kimberley. How does that compare with the Labor Party’s standards on pecuniary interest? How does that compare? Not too flash! Therefore, Chris Ellison will provide a letter to the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet to that effect. He will do the job and he will do it well. There is no report; there is no advice to government. With the assistance of staff from the Department of Environment and Conservation, who will provide him with a secretary, a report will be prepared about what was said at the various meetings. As a facilitator, he is someone who is able to get all groups to have the confidence to get up and express their point of view—a good thing. What is all this about? This is the first step in a $9 million commitment by the Liberal-National government to understand the science of the Kimberley and to commission scientific work so that we know more about the Kimberley so that when we take measures, which we will be doing, to conserve the most important parts of the Kimberley, we will get it right. Why is the opposition so upset about that? Was it because members opposite did nothing for eight years? What did they do in the Kimberley? What did members opposite achieve in the Kimberley in eight years? Nothing! Members opposite resent the fact that this government will do the science and conserve parts of the Kimberley and do it properly. I can think of no-one better qualified than Chris Ellison to chair the public forums. Although she is not in this place today, I am sure the member for Kimberley will attend those public forums and, indeed, I have invited her to come along and take part. I know she will because she cares about the Kimberley and she cares about the real issues, unlike the grovelling and the gutter sniping that we get from members opposite.
(1) Was the Premier aware that Mr Ellison was a registered lobbyist and an associate director of Enhance Group, working on behalf of mining and oil and gas companies that have interests in the Kimberley, at the time the Premier hand-picked him for the job? (2) Does the Premier accept that his temporary removal from the lobbyist register is little more than a cynical gesture to defend this conflict of interest? (3) What travel allowance and additional expenses will Mr Ellison be entitled to in his role? (4) Does the Premier seriously expect the people of the Kimberley to have any confidence in a report produced by someone with such a gross, untenable conflict of interest? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: How extraordinary! (1)-(4) Was I the sole person who appointed Chris Ellison? No, I was not. The choice of Chris Ellison came from my recommendation; I thought he was a most suitable person to undertake the role that we had in mind. Obviously the Minister for Environment, Hon Donna Faragher, was involved in that decision. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : She said, “No, Colin; I’m not going to do that, Colin”. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Armadale! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Another brilliant interjection! Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : It is a brilliant interjection because it displays just how absolutely gullible you must believe that the public of Western Australia is. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Armadale! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am happy to answer the question. The SPEAKER : Take a seat, Premier. I could ask the member for Armadale to withdraw recent references she made in her interjection. I think she knows what I am referring to in terms of personal names. That should not happen in this place. I ask the member to cease interjecting and I formally call her to order for the first time. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes. It was my idea that Chris Ellison would be a good person to chair the public forums relating to the Kimberley Science and Conservation Strategy. Obviously, I made that suggestion and discussed it with the minister responsible. She raised the point that she had worked for Chris Ellison, albeit five years ago. I do not consider that to be of any great consequence now. The issue of employing him was then handed over to the appropriate process through the public service. Chris Ellison’s involvement with, I guess, the lobbying firm, if we want to call it that, became clear. He make it absolutely clear, almost to the point of obsession, that he would take on this role only if there was no sense of any potential conflict of interest. I am disappointed, I have to say, with the degree of publicity this has received. However, that is politics. Mr W.J. Johnston : You bet you are. Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is politics and Chris Ellison is well able to deal with that, as, indeed, am I. Can I state again for the house: Chris Ellison is one of the finest, most highly respected senators Western Australia has ever had. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite will try to cast a slur on him and I will not let them do that. He is a very fine person. Mr R.H. Cook : It is hopelessly conflicting. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite want to talk about conflicts, we can go all day, one by one. I suggest they do not raise that. Let me talk about Chris Ellison. He has a long-term legal career, has a wide knowledge of the law, has worked as a senator for Western Australia, I think, for 16 years and has spent 10 years as a minister in the Howard government. What is he being engaged to do? He is being engaged, not as an environmental consultant, not as an advisor to the minister and not as an advisor to me. Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s for something that is worth $1 000 a day. He must be doing something. The SPEAKER : Order, Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : He has simply been engaged to chair public forums—no private meetings—that will be open to anyone and everyone, including the media and Labor members of Parliament, if they have an interest in the Kimberley. It will be a totally public, open process. Because of his standing in the community, his knowledge of the area and of various groups and his skill as a chairman and facilitator, I suggested that he do that role. That is all he will be doing. He has a contract over a three-month period. It is estimated that probably less than 20 days will be involved and he will be paid the princely sum of $125 an hour. I got it wrong yesterday when I think I said $145. Have members been to the dentist or physio or called an electrician to their houses lately? The amount of $125 an hour is what he is being paid, with the cap that, no matter how many hours he works in a day—knowing Chris Ellison, he will work long and hard at this task—he cannot be paid more than $1 000 a day. Mr M. McGowan : What about allowances? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Allowances? I do not expect him to walk to the Kimberley. I expect he will catch a plane and fly to the Kimberley, so the government will pay the airfare. I do not expect him to camp out on the creek bed so we will pay for him to stay in a hotel. His airfare and basic accommodation will be paid in line with government employment contracts. He will receive no other allowances or perks. Why is it that this miserable, rotten, low Labor Party comes in here — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Look at them, smiling away. The SPEAKER : Order! I presume the member for Collie-Preston was not having some sort of a seizure. I ask that, in future, he not perform in that manner in this house. I formally call him to order for the first time. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The poacher’s polka time! I do not know why it is; Labor Party members, I guess, look in their own ranks of rorting, double dipping, abuse, compromise and inappropriate appointments and they try to denigrate the decent people in our community. I have to say that Chris Ellison is a friend of mine, not a close friend — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oh, how uncanny! There he goes! The brains trust of the Labor Party, the sleaze machine himself, the dirty tricks man—look at him! There he goes! Withdrawal of Remark Mr M. McGOWAN : The Premier used a phrase in referring to another member that is clearly unparliamentary. I ask him to withdraw the phrase that he used about the member for Cannington. A government member: What was it? Mr M. McGOWAN : He used the phrase “sleaze machine” to describe the member for Cannington. I ask the Premier to withdraw. Further to the point of order, the member for Collie-Preston performed an act earlier for which there is a precedent and I think that needs to be noted. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! To the member for Rockingham’s first point of order, indeed, if the Premier did refer to the member using those words, I did not hear them; however, if he did, I certainly ask him to withdraw. On the second point of order the member raised, I have made a different determination about the behaviour of the member I have formally called to order. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I did not refer to the member by name but I was certainly looking him in the eye when I said those words, so I withdraw that. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : Chris Ellison is an entirely appropriate appointment; the appointment will hold. Members opposite had their little win; they had a photo of an eminent Western Australian on the front page of The West Australian —congratulations! If members opposite want to drag people down—do they want me to start? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do they want me to start working my way around the Labor Party; because we will do it? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite want to start, I can unchain the member for Jandakot! I can unchain the Treasurer, if that is what members opposite want! Chris Ellison is a decent Australian and a very proud Western Australian. I tell members opposite that we will not go down to those levels; we will not go into the gutter with the Labor Party! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite can stay in the gutter with themselves! They can stay right in that gutter with themselves. I will tell members what Chris Ellison has done, because he was so offended by the way he has been treated. Like I and others, he cares about the Kimberley and he wants to see the work there done properly. Chris Ellison has advised my office today that he has severed all ties with Enhance Group—he had a pretty loose arrangement so he has given that away. Is the opposition happy now? He has walked away from it. There is no conflict, but he has walked away from that because he would rather walk away than be on the front page and have slurs from the Labor Party. That is the sort of man he is; that is the sort of integrity he has. Is the Leader of the Opposition happy about that? Chris Ellison has walked away from Enhance because he is committed to helping out in the Kimberley. How does that compare with the Labor Party’s standards on pecuniary interest? How does that compare? Not too flash! Therefore, Chris Ellison will provide a letter to the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet to that effect. He will do the job and he will do it well. There is no report; there is no advice to government. With the assistance of staff from the Department of Environment and Conservation, who will provide him with a secretary, a report will be prepared about what was said at the various meetings. As a facilitator, he is someone who is able to get all groups to have the confidence to get up and express their point of view—a good thing. What is all this about? This is the first step in a $9 million commitment by the Liberal-National government to understand the science of the Kimberley and to commission scientific work so that we know more about the Kimberley so that when we take measures, which we will be doing, to conserve the most important parts of the Kimberley, we will get it right. Why is the opposition so upset about that? Was it because members opposite did nothing for eight years? What did they do in the Kimberley? What did members opposite achieve in the Kimberley in eight years? Nothing! Members opposite resent the fact that this government will do the science and conserve parts of the Kimberley and do it properly. I can think of no-one better qualified than Chris Ellison to chair the public forums. Although she is not in this place today, I am sure the member for Kimberley will attend those public forums and, indeed, I have invited her to come along and take part. I know she will because she cares about the Kimberley and she cares about the real issues, unlike the grovelling and the gutter sniping that we get from members opposite.
(2) Does the Premier accept that his temporary removal from the lobbyist register is little more than a cynical gesture to defend this conflict of interest? (3) What travel allowance and additional expenses will Mr Ellison be entitled to in his role? (4) Does the Premier seriously expect the people of the Kimberley to have any confidence in a report produced by someone with such a gross, untenable conflict of interest? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: How extraordinary! (1)-(4) Was I the sole person who appointed Chris Ellison? No, I was not. The choice of Chris Ellison came from my recommendation; I thought he was a most suitable person to undertake the role that we had in mind. Obviously the Minister for Environment, Hon Donna Faragher, was involved in that decision. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : She said, “No, Colin; I’m not going to do that, Colin”. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Armadale! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Another brilliant interjection! Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : It is a brilliant interjection because it displays just how absolutely gullible you must believe that the public of Western Australia is. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Armadale! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am happy to answer the question. The SPEAKER : Take a seat, Premier. I could ask the member for Armadale to withdraw recent references she made in her interjection. I think she knows what I am referring to in terms of personal names. That should not happen in this place. I ask the member to cease interjecting and I formally call her to order for the first time. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes. It was my idea that Chris Ellison would be a good person to chair the public forums relating to the Kimberley Science and Conservation Strategy. Obviously, I made that suggestion and discussed it with the minister responsible. She raised the point that she had worked for Chris Ellison, albeit five years ago. I do not consider that to be of any great consequence now. The issue of employing him was then handed over to the appropriate process through the public service. Chris Ellison’s involvement with, I guess, the lobbying firm, if we want to call it that, became clear. He make it absolutely clear, almost to the point of obsession, that he would take on this role only if there was no sense of any potential conflict of interest. I am disappointed, I have to say, with the degree of publicity this has received. However, that is politics. Mr W.J. Johnston : You bet you are. Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is politics and Chris Ellison is well able to deal with that, as, indeed, am I. Can I state again for the house: Chris Ellison is one of the finest, most highly respected senators Western Australia has ever had. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite will try to cast a slur on him and I will not let them do that. He is a very fine person. Mr R.H. Cook : It is hopelessly conflicting. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite want to talk about conflicts, we can go all day, one by one. I suggest they do not raise that. Let me talk about Chris Ellison. He has a long-term legal career, has a wide knowledge of the law, has worked as a senator for Western Australia, I think, for 16 years and has spent 10 years as a minister in the Howard government. What is he being engaged to do? He is being engaged, not as an environmental consultant, not as an advisor to the minister and not as an advisor to me. Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s for something that is worth $1 000 a day. He must be doing something. The SPEAKER : Order, Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : He has simply been engaged to chair public forums—no private meetings—that will be open to anyone and everyone, including the media and Labor members of Parliament, if they have an interest in the Kimberley. It will be a totally public, open process. Because of his standing in the community, his knowledge of the area and of various groups and his skill as a chairman and facilitator, I suggested that he do that role. That is all he will be doing. He has a contract over a three-month period. It is estimated that probably less than 20 days will be involved and he will be paid the princely sum of $125 an hour. I got it wrong yesterday when I think I said $145. Have members been to the dentist or physio or called an electrician to their houses lately? The amount of $125 an hour is what he is being paid, with the cap that, no matter how many hours he works in a day—knowing Chris Ellison, he will work long and hard at this task—he cannot be paid more than $1 000 a day. Mr M. McGowan : What about allowances? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Allowances? I do not expect him to walk to the Kimberley. I expect he will catch a plane and fly to the Kimberley, so the government will pay the airfare. I do not expect him to camp out on the creek bed so we will pay for him to stay in a hotel. His airfare and basic accommodation will be paid in line with government employment contracts. He will receive no other allowances or perks. Why is it that this miserable, rotten, low Labor Party comes in here — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Look at them, smiling away. The SPEAKER : Order! I presume the member for Collie-Preston was not having some sort of a seizure. I ask that, in future, he not perform in that manner in this house. I formally call him to order for the first time. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The poacher’s polka time! I do not know why it is; Labor Party members, I guess, look in their own ranks of rorting, double dipping, abuse, compromise and inappropriate appointments and they try to denigrate the decent people in our community. I have to say that Chris Ellison is a friend of mine, not a close friend — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oh, how uncanny! There he goes! The brains trust of the Labor Party, the sleaze machine himself, the dirty tricks man—look at him! There he goes! Withdrawal of Remark Mr M. McGOWAN : The Premier used a phrase in referring to another member that is clearly unparliamentary. I ask him to withdraw the phrase that he used about the member for Cannington. A government member: What was it? Mr M. McGOWAN : He used the phrase “sleaze machine” to describe the member for Cannington. I ask the Premier to withdraw. Further to the point of order, the member for Collie-Preston performed an act earlier for which there is a precedent and I think that needs to be noted. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! To the member for Rockingham’s first point of order, indeed, if the Premier did refer to the member using those words, I did not hear them; however, if he did, I certainly ask him to withdraw. On the second point of order the member raised, I have made a different determination about the behaviour of the member I have formally called to order. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I did not refer to the member by name but I was certainly looking him in the eye when I said those words, so I withdraw that. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : Chris Ellison is an entirely appropriate appointment; the appointment will hold. Members opposite had their little win; they had a photo of an eminent Western Australian on the front page of The West Australian —congratulations! If members opposite want to drag people down—do they want me to start? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do they want me to start working my way around the Labor Party; because we will do it? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite want to start, I can unchain the member for Jandakot! I can unchain the Treasurer, if that is what members opposite want! Chris Ellison is a decent Australian and a very proud Western Australian. I tell members opposite that we will not go down to those levels; we will not go into the gutter with the Labor Party! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite can stay in the gutter with themselves! They can stay right in that gutter with themselves. I will tell members what Chris Ellison has done, because he was so offended by the way he has been treated. Like I and others, he cares about the Kimberley and he wants to see the work there done properly. Chris Ellison has advised my office today that he has severed all ties with Enhance Group—he had a pretty loose arrangement so he has given that away. Is the opposition happy now? He has walked away from it. There is no conflict, but he has walked away from that because he would rather walk away than be on the front page and have slurs from the Labor Party. That is the sort of man he is; that is the sort of integrity he has. Is the Leader of the Opposition happy about that? Chris Ellison has walked away from Enhance because he is committed to helping out in the Kimberley. How does that compare with the Labor Party’s standards on pecuniary interest? How does that compare? Not too flash! Therefore, Chris Ellison will provide a letter to the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet to that effect. He will do the job and he will do it well. There is no report; there is no advice to government. With the assistance of staff from the Department of Environment and Conservation, who will provide him with a secretary, a report will be prepared about what was said at the various meetings. As a facilitator, he is someone who is able to get all groups to have the confidence to get up and express their point of view—a good thing. What is all this about? This is the first step in a $9 million commitment by the Liberal-National government to understand the science of the Kimberley and to commission scientific work so that we know more about the Kimberley so that when we take measures, which we will be doing, to conserve the most important parts of the Kimberley, we will get it right. Why is the opposition so upset about that? Was it because members opposite did nothing for eight years? What did they do in the Kimberley? What did members opposite achieve in the Kimberley in eight years? Nothing! Members opposite resent the fact that this government will do the science and conserve parts of the Kimberley and do it properly. I can think of no-one better qualified than Chris Ellison to chair the public forums. Although she is not in this place today, I am sure the member for Kimberley will attend those public forums and, indeed, I have invited her to come along and take part. I know she will because she cares about the Kimberley and she cares about the real issues, unlike the grovelling and the gutter sniping that we get from members opposite.
(3) What travel allowance and additional expenses will Mr Ellison be entitled to in his role? (4) Does the Premier seriously expect the people of the Kimberley to have any confidence in a report produced by someone with such a gross, untenable conflict of interest? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: How extraordinary! (1)-(4) Was I the sole person who appointed Chris Ellison? No, I was not. The choice of Chris Ellison came from my recommendation; I thought he was a most suitable person to undertake the role that we had in mind. Obviously the Minister for Environment, Hon Donna Faragher, was involved in that decision. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : She said, “No, Colin; I’m not going to do that, Colin”. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Armadale! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Another brilliant interjection! Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : It is a brilliant interjection because it displays just how absolutely gullible you must believe that the public of Western Australia is. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Armadale! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am happy to answer the question. The SPEAKER : Take a seat, Premier. I could ask the member for Armadale to withdraw recent references she made in her interjection. I think she knows what I am referring to in terms of personal names. That should not happen in this place. I ask the member to cease interjecting and I formally call her to order for the first time. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes. It was my idea that Chris Ellison would be a good person to chair the public forums relating to the Kimberley Science and Conservation Strategy. Obviously, I made that suggestion and discussed it with the minister responsible. She raised the point that she had worked for Chris Ellison, albeit five years ago. I do not consider that to be of any great consequence now. The issue of employing him was then handed over to the appropriate process through the public service. Chris Ellison’s involvement with, I guess, the lobbying firm, if we want to call it that, became clear. He make it absolutely clear, almost to the point of obsession, that he would take on this role only if there was no sense of any potential conflict of interest. I am disappointed, I have to say, with the degree of publicity this has received. However, that is politics. Mr W.J. Johnston : You bet you are. Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is politics and Chris Ellison is well able to deal with that, as, indeed, am I. Can I state again for the house: Chris Ellison is one of the finest, most highly respected senators Western Australia has ever had. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite will try to cast a slur on him and I will not let them do that. He is a very fine person. Mr R.H. Cook : It is hopelessly conflicting. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite want to talk about conflicts, we can go all day, one by one. I suggest they do not raise that. Let me talk about Chris Ellison. He has a long-term legal career, has a wide knowledge of the law, has worked as a senator for Western Australia, I think, for 16 years and has spent 10 years as a minister in the Howard government. What is he being engaged to do? He is being engaged, not as an environmental consultant, not as an advisor to the minister and not as an advisor to me. Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s for something that is worth $1 000 a day. He must be doing something. The SPEAKER : Order, Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : He has simply been engaged to chair public forums—no private meetings—that will be open to anyone and everyone, including the media and Labor members of Parliament, if they have an interest in the Kimberley. It will be a totally public, open process. Because of his standing in the community, his knowledge of the area and of various groups and his skill as a chairman and facilitator, I suggested that he do that role. That is all he will be doing. He has a contract over a three-month period. It is estimated that probably less than 20 days will be involved and he will be paid the princely sum of $125 an hour. I got it wrong yesterday when I think I said $145. Have members been to the dentist or physio or called an electrician to their houses lately? The amount of $125 an hour is what he is being paid, with the cap that, no matter how many hours he works in a day—knowing Chris Ellison, he will work long and hard at this task—he cannot be paid more than $1 000 a day. Mr M. McGowan : What about allowances? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Allowances? I do not expect him to walk to the Kimberley. I expect he will catch a plane and fly to the Kimberley, so the government will pay the airfare. I do not expect him to camp out on the creek bed so we will pay for him to stay in a hotel. His airfare and basic accommodation will be paid in line with government employment contracts. He will receive no other allowances or perks. Why is it that this miserable, rotten, low Labor Party comes in here — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Look at them, smiling away. The SPEAKER : Order! I presume the member for Collie-Preston was not having some sort of a seizure. I ask that, in future, he not perform in that manner in this house. I formally call him to order for the first time. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The poacher’s polka time! I do not know why it is; Labor Party members, I guess, look in their own ranks of rorting, double dipping, abuse, compromise and inappropriate appointments and they try to denigrate the decent people in our community. I have to say that Chris Ellison is a friend of mine, not a close friend — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oh, how uncanny! There he goes! The brains trust of the Labor Party, the sleaze machine himself, the dirty tricks man—look at him! There he goes! Withdrawal of Remark Mr M. McGOWAN : The Premier used a phrase in referring to another member that is clearly unparliamentary. I ask him to withdraw the phrase that he used about the member for Cannington. A government member: What was it? Mr M. McGOWAN : He used the phrase “sleaze machine” to describe the member for Cannington. I ask the Premier to withdraw. Further to the point of order, the member for Collie-Preston performed an act earlier for which there is a precedent and I think that needs to be noted. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! To the member for Rockingham’s first point of order, indeed, if the Premier did refer to the member using those words, I did not hear them; however, if he did, I certainly ask him to withdraw. On the second point of order the member raised, I have made a different determination about the behaviour of the member I have formally called to order. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I did not refer to the member by name but I was certainly looking him in the eye when I said those words, so I withdraw that. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : Chris Ellison is an entirely appropriate appointment; the appointment will hold. Members opposite had their little win; they had a photo of an eminent Western Australian on the front page of The West Australian —congratulations! If members opposite want to drag people down—do they want me to start? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do they want me to start working my way around the Labor Party; because we will do it? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite want to start, I can unchain the member for Jandakot! I can unchain the Treasurer, if that is what members opposite want! Chris Ellison is a decent Australian and a very proud Western Australian. I tell members opposite that we will not go down to those levels; we will not go into the gutter with the Labor Party! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite can stay in the gutter with themselves! They can stay right in that gutter with themselves. I will tell members what Chris Ellison has done, because he was so offended by the way he has been treated. Like I and others, he cares about the Kimberley and he wants to see the work there done properly. Chris Ellison has advised my office today that he has severed all ties with Enhance Group—he had a pretty loose arrangement so he has given that away. Is the opposition happy now? He has walked away from it. There is no conflict, but he has walked away from that because he would rather walk away than be on the front page and have slurs from the Labor Party. That is the sort of man he is; that is the sort of integrity he has. Is the Leader of the Opposition happy about that? Chris Ellison has walked away from Enhance because he is committed to helping out in the Kimberley. How does that compare with the Labor Party’s standards on pecuniary interest? How does that compare? Not too flash! Therefore, Chris Ellison will provide a letter to the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet to that effect. He will do the job and he will do it well. There is no report; there is no advice to government. With the assistance of staff from the Department of Environment and Conservation, who will provide him with a secretary, a report will be prepared about what was said at the various meetings. As a facilitator, he is someone who is able to get all groups to have the confidence to get up and express their point of view—a good thing. What is all this about? This is the first step in a $9 million commitment by the Liberal-National government to understand the science of the Kimberley and to commission scientific work so that we know more about the Kimberley so that when we take measures, which we will be doing, to conserve the most important parts of the Kimberley, we will get it right. Why is the opposition so upset about that? Was it because members opposite did nothing for eight years? What did they do in the Kimberley? What did members opposite achieve in the Kimberley in eight years? Nothing! Members opposite resent the fact that this government will do the science and conserve parts of the Kimberley and do it properly. I can think of no-one better qualified than Chris Ellison to chair the public forums. Although she is not in this place today, I am sure the member for Kimberley will attend those public forums and, indeed, I have invited her to come along and take part. I know she will because she cares about the Kimberley and she cares about the real issues, unlike the grovelling and the gutter sniping that we get from members opposite.
(4) Does the Premier seriously expect the people of the Kimberley to have any confidence in a report produced by someone with such a gross, untenable conflict of interest? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: How extraordinary! (1)-(4) Was I the sole person who appointed Chris Ellison? No, I was not. The choice of Chris Ellison came from my recommendation; I thought he was a most suitable person to undertake the role that we had in mind. Obviously the Minister for Environment, Hon Donna Faragher, was involved in that decision. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : She said, “No, Colin; I’m not going to do that, Colin”. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Armadale! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Another brilliant interjection! Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : It is a brilliant interjection because it displays just how absolutely gullible you must believe that the public of Western Australia is. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Armadale! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am happy to answer the question. The SPEAKER : Take a seat, Premier. I could ask the member for Armadale to withdraw recent references she made in her interjection. I think she knows what I am referring to in terms of personal names. That should not happen in this place. I ask the member to cease interjecting and I formally call her to order for the first time. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes. It was my idea that Chris Ellison would be a good person to chair the public forums relating to the Kimberley Science and Conservation Strategy. Obviously, I made that suggestion and discussed it with the minister responsible. She raised the point that she had worked for Chris Ellison, albeit five years ago. I do not consider that to be of any great consequence now. The issue of employing him was then handed over to the appropriate process through the public service. Chris Ellison’s involvement with, I guess, the lobbying firm, if we want to call it that, became clear. He make it absolutely clear, almost to the point of obsession, that he would take on this role only if there was no sense of any potential conflict of interest. I am disappointed, I have to say, with the degree of publicity this has received. However, that is politics. Mr W.J. Johnston : You bet you are. Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is politics and Chris Ellison is well able to deal with that, as, indeed, am I. Can I state again for the house: Chris Ellison is one of the finest, most highly respected senators Western Australia has ever had. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite will try to cast a slur on him and I will not let them do that. He is a very fine person. Mr R.H. Cook : It is hopelessly conflicting. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite want to talk about conflicts, we can go all day, one by one. I suggest they do not raise that. Let me talk about Chris Ellison. He has a long-term legal career, has a wide knowledge of the law, has worked as a senator for Western Australia, I think, for 16 years and has spent 10 years as a minister in the Howard government. What is he being engaged to do? He is being engaged, not as an environmental consultant, not as an advisor to the minister and not as an advisor to me. Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s for something that is worth $1 000 a day. He must be doing something. The SPEAKER : Order, Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : He has simply been engaged to chair public forums—no private meetings—that will be open to anyone and everyone, including the media and Labor members of Parliament, if they have an interest in the Kimberley. It will be a totally public, open process. Because of his standing in the community, his knowledge of the area and of various groups and his skill as a chairman and facilitator, I suggested that he do that role. That is all he will be doing. He has a contract over a three-month period. It is estimated that probably less than 20 days will be involved and he will be paid the princely sum of $125 an hour. I got it wrong yesterday when I think I said $145. Have members been to the dentist or physio or called an electrician to their houses lately? The amount of $125 an hour is what he is being paid, with the cap that, no matter how many hours he works in a day—knowing Chris Ellison, he will work long and hard at this task—he cannot be paid more than $1 000 a day. Mr M. McGowan : What about allowances? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Allowances? I do not expect him to walk to the Kimberley. I expect he will catch a plane and fly to the Kimberley, so the government will pay the airfare. I do not expect him to camp out on the creek bed so we will pay for him to stay in a hotel. His airfare and basic accommodation will be paid in line with government employment contracts. He will receive no other allowances or perks. Why is it that this miserable, rotten, low Labor Party comes in here — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Look at them, smiling away. The SPEAKER : Order! I presume the member for Collie-Preston was not having some sort of a seizure. I ask that, in future, he not perform in that manner in this house. I formally call him to order for the first time. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The poacher’s polka time! I do not know why it is; Labor Party members, I guess, look in their own ranks of rorting, double dipping, abuse, compromise and inappropriate appointments and they try to denigrate the decent people in our community. I have to say that Chris Ellison is a friend of mine, not a close friend — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oh, how uncanny! There he goes! The brains trust of the Labor Party, the sleaze machine himself, the dirty tricks man—look at him! There he goes! Withdrawal of Remark Mr M. McGOWAN : The Premier used a phrase in referring to another member that is clearly unparliamentary. I ask him to withdraw the phrase that he used about the member for Cannington. A government member: What was it? Mr M. McGOWAN : He used the phrase “sleaze machine” to describe the member for Cannington. I ask the Premier to withdraw. Further to the point of order, the member for Collie-Preston performed an act earlier for which there is a precedent and I think that needs to be noted. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! To the member for Rockingham’s first point of order, indeed, if the Premier did refer to the member using those words, I did not hear them; however, if he did, I certainly ask him to withdraw. On the second point of order the member raised, I have made a different determination about the behaviour of the member I have formally called to order. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I did not refer to the member by name but I was certainly looking him in the eye when I said those words, so I withdraw that. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : Chris Ellison is an entirely appropriate appointment; the appointment will hold. Members opposite had their little win; they had a photo of an eminent Western Australian on the front page of The West Australian —congratulations! If members opposite want to drag people down—do they want me to start? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do they want me to start working my way around the Labor Party; because we will do it? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite want to start, I can unchain the member for Jandakot! I can unchain the Treasurer, if that is what members opposite want! Chris Ellison is a decent Australian and a very proud Western Australian. I tell members opposite that we will not go down to those levels; we will not go into the gutter with the Labor Party! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite can stay in the gutter with themselves! They can stay right in that gutter with themselves. I will tell members what Chris Ellison has done, because he was so offended by the way he has been treated. Like I and others, he cares about the Kimberley and he wants to see the work there done properly. Chris Ellison has advised my office today that he has severed all ties with Enhance Group—he had a pretty loose arrangement so he has given that away. Is the opposition happy now? He has walked away from it. There is no conflict, but he has walked away from that because he would rather walk away than be on the front page and have slurs from the Labor Party. That is the sort of man he is; that is the sort of integrity he has. Is the Leader of the Opposition happy about that? Chris Ellison has walked away from Enhance because he is committed to helping out in the Kimberley. How does that compare with the Labor Party’s standards on pecuniary interest? How does that compare? Not too flash! Therefore, Chris Ellison will provide a letter to the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet to that effect. He will do the job and he will do it well. There is no report; there is no advice to government. With the assistance of staff from the Department of Environment and Conservation, who will provide him with a secretary, a report will be prepared about what was said at the various meetings. As a facilitator, he is someone who is able to get all groups to have the confidence to get up and express their point of view—a good thing. What is all this about? This is the first step in a $9 million commitment by the Liberal-National government to understand the science of the Kimberley and to commission scientific work so that we know more about the Kimberley so that when we take measures, which we will be doing, to conserve the most important parts of the Kimberley, we will get it right. Why is the opposition so upset about that? Was it because members opposite did nothing for eight years? What did they do in the Kimberley? What did members opposite achieve in the Kimberley in eight years? Nothing! Members opposite resent the fact that this government will do the science and conserve parts of the Kimberley and do it properly. I can think of no-one better qualified than Chris Ellison to chair the public forums. Although she is not in this place today, I am sure the member for Kimberley will attend those public forums and, indeed, I have invited her to come along and take part. I know she will because she cares about the Kimberley and she cares about the real issues, unlike the grovelling and the gutter sniping that we get from members opposite.
Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: How extraordinary! (1)-(4) Was I the sole person who appointed Chris Ellison? No, I was not. The choice of Chris Ellison came from my recommendation; I thought he was a most suitable person to undertake the role that we had in mind. Obviously the Minister for Environment, Hon Donna Faragher, was involved in that decision. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : She said, “No, Colin; I’m not going to do that, Colin”. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Armadale! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Another brilliant interjection! Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : It is a brilliant interjection because it displays just how absolutely gullible you must believe that the public of Western Australia is. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Armadale! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am happy to answer the question. The SPEAKER : Take a seat, Premier. I could ask the member for Armadale to withdraw recent references she made in her interjection. I think she knows what I am referring to in terms of personal names. That should not happen in this place. I ask the member to cease interjecting and I formally call her to order for the first time. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes. It was my idea that Chris Ellison would be a good person to chair the public forums relating to the Kimberley Science and Conservation Strategy. Obviously, I made that suggestion and discussed it with the minister responsible. She raised the point that she had worked for Chris Ellison, albeit five years ago. I do not consider that to be of any great consequence now. The issue of employing him was then handed over to the appropriate process through the public service. Chris Ellison’s involvement with, I guess, the lobbying firm, if we want to call it that, became clear. He make it absolutely clear, almost to the point of obsession, that he would take on this role only if there was no sense of any potential conflict of interest. I am disappointed, I have to say, with the degree of publicity this has received. However, that is politics. Mr W.J. Johnston : You bet you are. Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is politics and Chris Ellison is well able to deal with that, as, indeed, am I. Can I state again for the house: Chris Ellison is one of the finest, most highly respected senators Western Australia has ever had. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite will try to cast a slur on him and I will not let them do that. He is a very fine person. Mr R.H. Cook : It is hopelessly conflicting. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite want to talk about conflicts, we can go all day, one by one. I suggest they do not raise that. Let me talk about Chris Ellison. He has a long-term legal career, has a wide knowledge of the law, has worked as a senator for Western Australia, I think, for 16 years and has spent 10 years as a minister in the Howard government. What is he being engaged to do? He is being engaged, not as an environmental consultant, not as an advisor to the minister and not as an advisor to me. Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s for something that is worth $1 000 a day. He must be doing something. The SPEAKER : Order, Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : He has simply been engaged to chair public forums—no private meetings—that will be open to anyone and everyone, including the media and Labor members of Parliament, if they have an interest in the Kimberley. It will be a totally public, open process. Because of his standing in the community, his knowledge of the area and of various groups and his skill as a chairman and facilitator, I suggested that he do that role. That is all he will be doing. He has a contract over a three-month period. It is estimated that probably less than 20 days will be involved and he will be paid the princely sum of $125 an hour. I got it wrong yesterday when I think I said $145. Have members been to the dentist or physio or called an electrician to their houses lately? The amount of $125 an hour is what he is being paid, with the cap that, no matter how many hours he works in a day—knowing Chris Ellison, he will work long and hard at this task—he cannot be paid more than $1 000 a day. Mr M. McGowan : What about allowances? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Allowances? I do not expect him to walk to the Kimberley. I expect he will catch a plane and fly to the Kimberley, so the government will pay the airfare. I do not expect him to camp out on the creek bed so we will pay for him to stay in a hotel. His airfare and basic accommodation will be paid in line with government employment contracts. He will receive no other allowances or perks. Why is it that this miserable, rotten, low Labor Party comes in here — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Look at them, smiling away. The SPEAKER : Order! I presume the member for Collie-Preston was not having some sort of a seizure. I ask that, in future, he not perform in that manner in this house. I formally call him to order for the first time. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The poacher’s polka time! I do not know why it is; Labor Party members, I guess, look in their own ranks of rorting, double dipping, abuse, compromise and inappropriate appointments and they try to denigrate the decent people in our community. I have to say that Chris Ellison is a friend of mine, not a close friend — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oh, how uncanny! There he goes! The brains trust of the Labor Party, the sleaze machine himself, the dirty tricks man—look at him! There he goes! Withdrawal of Remark Mr M. McGOWAN : The Premier used a phrase in referring to another member that is clearly unparliamentary. I ask him to withdraw the phrase that he used about the member for Cannington. A government member: What was it? Mr M. McGOWAN : He used the phrase “sleaze machine” to describe the member for Cannington. I ask the Premier to withdraw. Further to the point of order, the member for Collie-Preston performed an act earlier for which there is a precedent and I think that needs to be noted. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! To the member for Rockingham’s first point of order, indeed, if the Premier did refer to the member using those words, I did not hear them; however, if he did, I certainly ask him to withdraw. On the second point of order the member raised, I have made a different determination about the behaviour of the member I have formally called to order. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I did not refer to the member by name but I was certainly looking him in the eye when I said those words, so I withdraw that. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : Chris Ellison is an entirely appropriate appointment; the appointment will hold. Members opposite had their little win; they had a photo of an eminent Western Australian on the front page of The West Australian —congratulations! If members opposite want to drag people down—do they want me to start? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do they want me to start working my way around the Labor Party; because we will do it? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite want to start, I can unchain the member for Jandakot! I can unchain the Treasurer, if that is what members opposite want! Chris Ellison is a decent Australian and a very proud Western Australian. I tell members opposite that we will not go down to those levels; we will not go into the gutter with the Labor Party! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite can stay in the gutter with themselves! They can stay right in that gutter with themselves. I will tell members what Chris Ellison has done, because he was so offended by the way he has been treated. Like I and others, he cares about the Kimberley and he wants to see the work there done properly. Chris Ellison has advised my office today that he has severed all ties with Enhance Group—he had a pretty loose arrangement so he has given that away. Is the opposition happy now? He has walked away from it. There is no conflict, but he has walked away from that because he would rather walk away than be on the front page and have slurs from the Labor Party. That is the sort of man he is; that is the sort of integrity he has. Is the Leader of the Opposition happy about that? Chris Ellison has walked away from Enhance because he is committed to helping out in the Kimberley. How does that compare with the Labor Party’s standards on pecuniary interest? How does that compare? Not too flash! Therefore, Chris Ellison will provide a letter to the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet to that effect. He will do the job and he will do it well. There is no report; there is no advice to government. With the assistance of staff from the Department of Environment and Conservation, who will provide him with a secretary, a report will be prepared about what was said at the various meetings. As a facilitator, he is someone who is able to get all groups to have the confidence to get up and express their point of view—a good thing. What is all this about? This is the first step in a $9 million commitment by the Liberal-National government to understand the science of the Kimberley and to commission scientific work so that we know more about the Kimberley so that when we take measures, which we will be doing, to conserve the most important parts of the Kimberley, we will get it right. Why is the opposition so upset about that? Was it because members opposite did nothing for eight years? What did they do in the Kimberley? What did members opposite achieve in the Kimberley in eight years? Nothing! Members opposite resent the fact that this government will do the science and conserve parts of the Kimberley and do it properly. I can think of no-one better qualified than Chris Ellison to chair the public forums. Although she is not in this place today, I am sure the member for Kimberley will attend those public forums and, indeed, I have invited her to come along and take part. I know she will because she cares about the Kimberley and she cares about the real issues, unlike the grovelling and the gutter sniping that we get from members opposite.
How extraordinary! (1)-(4) Was I the sole person who appointed Chris Ellison? No, I was not. The choice of Chris Ellison came from my recommendation; I thought he was a most suitable person to undertake the role that we had in mind. Obviously the Minister for Environment, Hon Donna Faragher, was involved in that decision. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : She said, “No, Colin; I’m not going to do that, Colin”. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Armadale! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Another brilliant interjection! Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : It is a brilliant interjection because it displays just how absolutely gullible you must believe that the public of Western Australia is. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Armadale! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am happy to answer the question. The SPEAKER : Take a seat, Premier. I could ask the member for Armadale to withdraw recent references she made in her interjection. I think she knows what I am referring to in terms of personal names. That should not happen in this place. I ask the member to cease interjecting and I formally call her to order for the first time. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes. It was my idea that Chris Ellison would be a good person to chair the public forums relating to the Kimberley Science and Conservation Strategy. Obviously, I made that suggestion and discussed it with the minister responsible. She raised the point that she had worked for Chris Ellison, albeit five years ago. I do not consider that to be of any great consequence now. The issue of employing him was then handed over to the appropriate process through the public service. Chris Ellison’s involvement with, I guess, the lobbying firm, if we want to call it that, became clear. He make it absolutely clear, almost to the point of obsession, that he would take on this role only if there was no sense of any potential conflict of interest. I am disappointed, I have to say, with the degree of publicity this has received. However, that is politics. Mr W.J. Johnston : You bet you are. Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is politics and Chris Ellison is well able to deal with that, as, indeed, am I. Can I state again for the house: Chris Ellison is one of the finest, most highly respected senators Western Australia has ever had. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite will try to cast a slur on him and I will not let them do that. He is a very fine person. Mr R.H. Cook : It is hopelessly conflicting. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite want to talk about conflicts, we can go all day, one by one. I suggest they do not raise that. Let me talk about Chris Ellison. He has a long-term legal career, has a wide knowledge of the law, has worked as a senator for Western Australia, I think, for 16 years and has spent 10 years as a minister in the Howard government. What is he being engaged to do? He is being engaged, not as an environmental consultant, not as an advisor to the minister and not as an advisor to me. Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s for something that is worth $1 000 a day. He must be doing something. The SPEAKER : Order, Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : He has simply been engaged to chair public forums—no private meetings—that will be open to anyone and everyone, including the media and Labor members of Parliament, if they have an interest in the Kimberley. It will be a totally public, open process. Because of his standing in the community, his knowledge of the area and of various groups and his skill as a chairman and facilitator, I suggested that he do that role. That is all he will be doing. He has a contract over a three-month period. It is estimated that probably less than 20 days will be involved and he will be paid the princely sum of $125 an hour. I got it wrong yesterday when I think I said $145. Have members been to the dentist or physio or called an electrician to their houses lately? The amount of $125 an hour is what he is being paid, with the cap that, no matter how many hours he works in a day—knowing Chris Ellison, he will work long and hard at this task—he cannot be paid more than $1 000 a day. Mr M. McGowan : What about allowances? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Allowances? I do not expect him to walk to the Kimberley. I expect he will catch a plane and fly to the Kimberley, so the government will pay the airfare. I do not expect him to camp out on the creek bed so we will pay for him to stay in a hotel. His airfare and basic accommodation will be paid in line with government employment contracts. He will receive no other allowances or perks. Why is it that this miserable, rotten, low Labor Party comes in here — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Look at them, smiling away. The SPEAKER : Order! I presume the member for Collie-Preston was not having some sort of a seizure. I ask that, in future, he not perform in that manner in this house. I formally call him to order for the first time. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The poacher’s polka time! I do not know why it is; Labor Party members, I guess, look in their own ranks of rorting, double dipping, abuse, compromise and inappropriate appointments and they try to denigrate the decent people in our community. I have to say that Chris Ellison is a friend of mine, not a close friend — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oh, how uncanny! There he goes! The brains trust of the Labor Party, the sleaze machine himself, the dirty tricks man—look at him! There he goes! Withdrawal of Remark Mr M. McGOWAN : The Premier used a phrase in referring to another member that is clearly unparliamentary. I ask him to withdraw the phrase that he used about the member for Cannington. A government member: What was it? Mr M. McGOWAN : He used the phrase “sleaze machine” to describe the member for Cannington. I ask the Premier to withdraw. Further to the point of order, the member for Collie-Preston performed an act earlier for which there is a precedent and I think that needs to be noted. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! To the member for Rockingham’s first point of order, indeed, if the Premier did refer to the member using those words, I did not hear them; however, if he did, I certainly ask him to withdraw. On the second point of order the member raised, I have made a different determination about the behaviour of the member I have formally called to order. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I did not refer to the member by name but I was certainly looking him in the eye when I said those words, so I withdraw that. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : Chris Ellison is an entirely appropriate appointment; the appointment will hold. Members opposite had their little win; they had a photo of an eminent Western Australian on the front page of The West Australian —congratulations! If members opposite want to drag people down—do they want me to start? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do they want me to start working my way around the Labor Party; because we will do it? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite want to start, I can unchain the member for Jandakot! I can unchain the Treasurer, if that is what members opposite want! Chris Ellison is a decent Australian and a very proud Western Australian. I tell members opposite that we will not go down to those levels; we will not go into the gutter with the Labor Party! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite can stay in the gutter with themselves! They can stay right in that gutter with themselves. I will tell members what Chris Ellison has done, because he was so offended by the way he has been treated. Like I and others, he cares about the Kimberley and he wants to see the work there done properly. Chris Ellison has advised my office today that he has severed all ties with Enhance Group—he had a pretty loose arrangement so he has given that away. Is the opposition happy now? He has walked away from it. There is no conflict, but he has walked away from that because he would rather walk away than be on the front page and have slurs from the Labor Party. That is the sort of man he is; that is the sort of integrity he has. Is the Leader of the Opposition happy about that? Chris Ellison has walked away from Enhance because he is committed to helping out in the Kimberley. How does that compare with the Labor Party’s standards on pecuniary interest? How does that compare? Not too flash! Therefore, Chris Ellison will provide a letter to the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet to that effect. He will do the job and he will do it well. There is no report; there is no advice to government. With the assistance of staff from the Department of Environment and Conservation, who will provide him with a secretary, a report will be prepared about what was said at the various meetings. As a facilitator, he is someone who is able to get all groups to have the confidence to get up and express their point of view—a good thing. What is all this about? This is the first step in a $9 million commitment by the Liberal-National government to understand the science of the Kimberley and to commission scientific work so that we know more about the Kimberley so that when we take measures, which we will be doing, to conserve the most important parts of the Kimberley, we will get it right. Why is the opposition so upset about that? Was it because members opposite did nothing for eight years? What did they do in the Kimberley? What did members opposite achieve in the Kimberley in eight years? Nothing! Members opposite resent the fact that this government will do the science and conserve parts of the Kimberley and do it properly. I can think of no-one better qualified than Chris Ellison to chair the public forums. Although she is not in this place today, I am sure the member for Kimberley will attend those public forums and, indeed, I have invited her to come along and take part. I know she will because she cares about the Kimberley and she cares about the real issues, unlike the grovelling and the gutter sniping that we get from members opposite.
(1)-(4) Was I the sole person who appointed Chris Ellison? No, I was not. The choice of Chris Ellison came from my recommendation; I thought he was a most suitable person to undertake the role that we had in mind. Obviously the Minister for Environment, Hon Donna Faragher, was involved in that decision. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : She said, “No, Colin; I’m not going to do that, Colin”. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Armadale! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Another brilliant interjection! Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : It is a brilliant interjection because it displays just how absolutely gullible you must believe that the public of Western Australia is. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Armadale! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am happy to answer the question. The SPEAKER : Take a seat, Premier. I could ask the member for Armadale to withdraw recent references she made in her interjection. I think she knows what I am referring to in terms of personal names. That should not happen in this place. I ask the member to cease interjecting and I formally call her to order for the first time. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes. It was my idea that Chris Ellison would be a good person to chair the public forums relating to the Kimberley Science and Conservation Strategy. Obviously, I made that suggestion and discussed it with the minister responsible. She raised the point that she had worked for Chris Ellison, albeit five years ago. I do not consider that to be of any great consequence now. The issue of employing him was then handed over to the appropriate process through the public service. Chris Ellison’s involvement with, I guess, the lobbying firm, if we want to call it that, became clear. He make it absolutely clear, almost to the point of obsession, that he would take on this role only if there was no sense of any potential conflict of interest. I am disappointed, I have to say, with the degree of publicity this has received. However, that is politics. Mr W.J. Johnston : You bet you are. Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is politics and Chris Ellison is well able to deal with that, as, indeed, am I. Can I state again for the house: Chris Ellison is one of the finest, most highly respected senators Western Australia has ever had. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite will try to cast a slur on him and I will not let them do that. He is a very fine person. Mr R.H. Cook : It is hopelessly conflicting. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite want to talk about conflicts, we can go all day, one by one. I suggest they do not raise that. Let me talk about Chris Ellison. He has a long-term legal career, has a wide knowledge of the law, has worked as a senator for Western Australia, I think, for 16 years and has spent 10 years as a minister in the Howard government. What is he being engaged to do? He is being engaged, not as an environmental consultant, not as an advisor to the minister and not as an advisor to me. Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s for something that is worth $1 000 a day. He must be doing something. The SPEAKER : Order, Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : He has simply been engaged to chair public forums—no private meetings—that will be open to anyone and everyone, including the media and Labor members of Parliament, if they have an interest in the Kimberley. It will be a totally public, open process. Because of his standing in the community, his knowledge of the area and of various groups and his skill as a chairman and facilitator, I suggested that he do that role. That is all he will be doing. He has a contract over a three-month period. It is estimated that probably less than 20 days will be involved and he will be paid the princely sum of $125 an hour. I got it wrong yesterday when I think I said $145. Have members been to the dentist or physio or called an electrician to their houses lately? The amount of $125 an hour is what he is being paid, with the cap that, no matter how many hours he works in a day—knowing Chris Ellison, he will work long and hard at this task—he cannot be paid more than $1 000 a day. Mr M. McGowan : What about allowances? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Allowances? I do not expect him to walk to the Kimberley. I expect he will catch a plane and fly to the Kimberley, so the government will pay the airfare. I do not expect him to camp out on the creek bed so we will pay for him to stay in a hotel. His airfare and basic accommodation will be paid in line with government employment contracts. He will receive no other allowances or perks. Why is it that this miserable, rotten, low Labor Party comes in here — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Look at them, smiling away. The SPEAKER : Order! I presume the member for Collie-Preston was not having some sort of a seizure. I ask that, in future, he not perform in that manner in this house. I formally call him to order for the first time. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The poacher’s polka time! I do not know why it is; Labor Party members, I guess, look in their own ranks of rorting, double dipping, abuse, compromise and inappropriate appointments and they try to denigrate the decent people in our community. I have to say that Chris Ellison is a friend of mine, not a close friend — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oh, how uncanny! There he goes! The brains trust of the Labor Party, the sleaze machine himself, the dirty tricks man—look at him! There he goes! Withdrawal of Remark Mr M. McGOWAN : The Premier used a phrase in referring to another member that is clearly unparliamentary. I ask him to withdraw the phrase that he used about the member for Cannington. A government member: What was it? Mr M. McGOWAN : He used the phrase “sleaze machine” to describe the member for Cannington. I ask the Premier to withdraw. Further to the point of order, the member for Collie-Preston performed an act earlier for which there is a precedent and I think that needs to be noted. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! To the member for Rockingham’s first point of order, indeed, if the Premier did refer to the member using those words, I did not hear them; however, if he did, I certainly ask him to withdraw. On the second point of order the member raised, I have made a different determination about the behaviour of the member I have formally called to order. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I did not refer to the member by name but I was certainly looking him in the eye when I said those words, so I withdraw that. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : Chris Ellison is an entirely appropriate appointment; the appointment will hold. Members opposite had their little win; they had a photo of an eminent Western Australian on the front page of The West Australian —congratulations! If members opposite want to drag people down—do they want me to start? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do they want me to start working my way around the Labor Party; because we will do it? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite want to start, I can unchain the member for Jandakot! I can unchain the Treasurer, if that is what members opposite want! Chris Ellison is a decent Australian and a very proud Western Australian. I tell members opposite that we will not go down to those levels; we will not go into the gutter with the Labor Party! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite can stay in the gutter with themselves! They can stay right in that gutter with themselves. I will tell members what Chris Ellison has done, because he was so offended by the way he has been treated. Like I and others, he cares about the Kimberley and he wants to see the work there done properly. Chris Ellison has advised my office today that he has severed all ties with Enhance Group—he had a pretty loose arrangement so he has given that away. Is the opposition happy now? He has walked away from it. There is no conflict, but he has walked away from that because he would rather walk away than be on the front page and have slurs from the Labor Party. That is the sort of man he is; that is the sort of integrity he has. Is the Leader of the Opposition happy about that? Chris Ellison has walked away from Enhance because he is committed to helping out in the Kimberley. How does that compare with the Labor Party’s standards on pecuniary interest? How does that compare? Not too flash! Therefore, Chris Ellison will provide a letter to the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet to that effect. He will do the job and he will do it well. There is no report; there is no advice to government. With the assistance of staff from the Department of Environment and Conservation, who will provide him with a secretary, a report will be prepared about what was said at the various meetings. As a facilitator, he is someone who is able to get all groups to have the confidence to get up and express their point of view—a good thing. What is all this about? This is the first step in a $9 million commitment by the Liberal-National government to understand the science of the Kimberley and to commission scientific work so that we know more about the Kimberley so that when we take measures, which we will be doing, to conserve the most important parts of the Kimberley, we will get it right. Why is the opposition so upset about that? Was it because members opposite did nothing for eight years? What did they do in the Kimberley? What did members opposite achieve in the Kimberley in eight years? Nothing! Members opposite resent the fact that this government will do the science and conserve parts of the Kimberley and do it properly. I can think of no-one better qualified than Chris Ellison to chair the public forums. Although she is not in this place today, I am sure the member for Kimberley will attend those public forums and, indeed, I have invited her to come along and take part. I know she will because she cares about the Kimberley and she cares about the real issues, unlike the grovelling and the gutter sniping that we get from members opposite.
Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : She said, “No, Colin; I’m not going to do that, Colin”. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Armadale! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Another brilliant interjection! Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : It is a brilliant interjection because it displays just how absolutely gullible you must believe that the public of Western Australia is. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Armadale! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am happy to answer the question. The SPEAKER : Take a seat, Premier. I could ask the member for Armadale to withdraw recent references she made in her interjection. I think she knows what I am referring to in terms of personal names. That should not happen in this place. I ask the member to cease interjecting and I formally call her to order for the first time. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes. It was my idea that Chris Ellison would be a good person to chair the public forums relating to the Kimberley Science and Conservation Strategy. Obviously, I made that suggestion and discussed it with the minister responsible. She raised the point that she had worked for Chris Ellison, albeit five years ago. I do not consider that to be of any great consequence now. The issue of employing him was then handed over to the appropriate process through the public service. Chris Ellison’s involvement with, I guess, the lobbying firm, if we want to call it that, became clear. He make it absolutely clear, almost to the point of obsession, that he would take on this role only if there was no sense of any potential conflict of interest. I am disappointed, I have to say, with the degree of publicity this has received. However, that is politics. Mr W.J. Johnston : You bet you are. Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is politics and Chris Ellison is well able to deal with that, as, indeed, am I. Can I state again for the house: Chris Ellison is one of the finest, most highly respected senators Western Australia has ever had. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite will try to cast a slur on him and I will not let them do that. He is a very fine person. Mr R.H. Cook : It is hopelessly conflicting. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite want to talk about conflicts, we can go all day, one by one. I suggest they do not raise that. Let me talk about Chris Ellison. He has a long-term legal career, has a wide knowledge of the law, has worked as a senator for Western Australia, I think, for 16 years and has spent 10 years as a minister in the Howard government. What is he being engaged to do? He is being engaged, not as an environmental consultant, not as an advisor to the minister and not as an advisor to me. Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s for something that is worth $1 000 a day. He must be doing something. The SPEAKER : Order, Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : He has simply been engaged to chair public forums—no private meetings—that will be open to anyone and everyone, including the media and Labor members of Parliament, if they have an interest in the Kimberley. It will be a totally public, open process. Because of his standing in the community, his knowledge of the area and of various groups and his skill as a chairman and facilitator, I suggested that he do that role. That is all he will be doing. He has a contract over a three-month period. It is estimated that probably less than 20 days will be involved and he will be paid the princely sum of $125 an hour. I got it wrong yesterday when I think I said $145. Have members been to the dentist or physio or called an electrician to their houses lately? The amount of $125 an hour is what he is being paid, with the cap that, no matter how many hours he works in a day—knowing Chris Ellison, he will work long and hard at this task—he cannot be paid more than $1 000 a day. Mr M. McGowan : What about allowances? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Allowances? I do not expect him to walk to the Kimberley. I expect he will catch a plane and fly to the Kimberley, so the government will pay the airfare. I do not expect him to camp out on the creek bed so we will pay for him to stay in a hotel. His airfare and basic accommodation will be paid in line with government employment contracts. He will receive no other allowances or perks. Why is it that this miserable, rotten, low Labor Party comes in here — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Look at them, smiling away. The SPEAKER : Order! I presume the member for Collie-Preston was not having some sort of a seizure. I ask that, in future, he not perform in that manner in this house. I formally call him to order for the first time. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The poacher’s polka time! I do not know why it is; Labor Party members, I guess, look in their own ranks of rorting, double dipping, abuse, compromise and inappropriate appointments and they try to denigrate the decent people in our community. I have to say that Chris Ellison is a friend of mine, not a close friend — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oh, how uncanny! There he goes! The brains trust of the Labor Party, the sleaze machine himself, the dirty tricks man—look at him! There he goes! Withdrawal of Remark Mr M. McGOWAN : The Premier used a phrase in referring to another member that is clearly unparliamentary. I ask him to withdraw the phrase that he used about the member for Cannington. A government member: What was it? Mr M. McGOWAN : He used the phrase “sleaze machine” to describe the member for Cannington. I ask the Premier to withdraw. Further to the point of order, the member for Collie-Preston performed an act earlier for which there is a precedent and I think that needs to be noted. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! To the member for Rockingham’s first point of order, indeed, if the Premier did refer to the member using those words, I did not hear them; however, if he did, I certainly ask him to withdraw. On the second point of order the member raised, I have made a different determination about the behaviour of the member I have formally called to order. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I did not refer to the member by name but I was certainly looking him in the eye when I said those words, so I withdraw that. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : Chris Ellison is an entirely appropriate appointment; the appointment will hold. Members opposite had their little win; they had a photo of an eminent Western Australian on the front page of The West Australian —congratulations! If members opposite want to drag people down—do they want me to start? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do they want me to start working my way around the Labor Party; because we will do it? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite want to start, I can unchain the member for Jandakot! I can unchain the Treasurer, if that is what members opposite want! Chris Ellison is a decent Australian and a very proud Western Australian. I tell members opposite that we will not go down to those levels; we will not go into the gutter with the Labor Party! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite can stay in the gutter with themselves! They can stay right in that gutter with themselves. I will tell members what Chris Ellison has done, because he was so offended by the way he has been treated. Like I and others, he cares about the Kimberley and he wants to see the work there done properly. Chris Ellison has advised my office today that he has severed all ties with Enhance Group—he had a pretty loose arrangement so he has given that away. Is the opposition happy now? He has walked away from it. There is no conflict, but he has walked away from that because he would rather walk away than be on the front page and have slurs from the Labor Party. That is the sort of man he is; that is the sort of integrity he has. Is the Leader of the Opposition happy about that? Chris Ellison has walked away from Enhance because he is committed to helping out in the Kimberley. How does that compare with the Labor Party’s standards on pecuniary interest? How does that compare? Not too flash! Therefore, Chris Ellison will provide a letter to the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet to that effect. He will do the job and he will do it well. There is no report; there is no advice to government. With the assistance of staff from the Department of Environment and Conservation, who will provide him with a secretary, a report will be prepared about what was said at the various meetings. As a facilitator, he is someone who is able to get all groups to have the confidence to get up and express their point of view—a good thing. What is all this about? This is the first step in a $9 million commitment by the Liberal-National government to understand the science of the Kimberley and to commission scientific work so that we know more about the Kimberley so that when we take measures, which we will be doing, to conserve the most important parts of the Kimberley, we will get it right. Why is the opposition so upset about that? Was it because members opposite did nothing for eight years? What did they do in the Kimberley? What did members opposite achieve in the Kimberley in eight years? Nothing! Members opposite resent the fact that this government will do the science and conserve parts of the Kimberley and do it properly. I can think of no-one better qualified than Chris Ellison to chair the public forums. Although she is not in this place today, I am sure the member for Kimberley will attend those public forums and, indeed, I have invited her to come along and take part. I know she will because she cares about the Kimberley and she cares about the real issues, unlike the grovelling and the gutter sniping that we get from members opposite.
The SPEAKER : Order, member for Armadale! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Another brilliant interjection! Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : It is a brilliant interjection because it displays just how absolutely gullible you must believe that the public of Western Australia is. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Armadale! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am happy to answer the question. The SPEAKER : Take a seat, Premier. I could ask the member for Armadale to withdraw recent references she made in her interjection. I think she knows what I am referring to in terms of personal names. That should not happen in this place. I ask the member to cease interjecting and I formally call her to order for the first time. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes. It was my idea that Chris Ellison would be a good person to chair the public forums relating to the Kimberley Science and Conservation Strategy. Obviously, I made that suggestion and discussed it with the minister responsible. She raised the point that she had worked for Chris Ellison, albeit five years ago. I do not consider that to be of any great consequence now. The issue of employing him was then handed over to the appropriate process through the public service. Chris Ellison’s involvement with, I guess, the lobbying firm, if we want to call it that, became clear. He make it absolutely clear, almost to the point of obsession, that he would take on this role only if there was no sense of any potential conflict of interest. I am disappointed, I have to say, with the degree of publicity this has received. However, that is politics. Mr W.J. Johnston : You bet you are. Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is politics and Chris Ellison is well able to deal with that, as, indeed, am I. Can I state again for the house: Chris Ellison is one of the finest, most highly respected senators Western Australia has ever had. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite will try to cast a slur on him and I will not let them do that. He is a very fine person. Mr R.H. Cook : It is hopelessly conflicting. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite want to talk about conflicts, we can go all day, one by one. I suggest they do not raise that. Let me talk about Chris Ellison. He has a long-term legal career, has a wide knowledge of the law, has worked as a senator for Western Australia, I think, for 16 years and has spent 10 years as a minister in the Howard government. What is he being engaged to do? He is being engaged, not as an environmental consultant, not as an advisor to the minister and not as an advisor to me. Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s for something that is worth $1 000 a day. He must be doing something. The SPEAKER : Order, Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : He has simply been engaged to chair public forums—no private meetings—that will be open to anyone and everyone, including the media and Labor members of Parliament, if they have an interest in the Kimberley. It will be a totally public, open process. Because of his standing in the community, his knowledge of the area and of various groups and his skill as a chairman and facilitator, I suggested that he do that role. That is all he will be doing. He has a contract over a three-month period. It is estimated that probably less than 20 days will be involved and he will be paid the princely sum of $125 an hour. I got it wrong yesterday when I think I said $145. Have members been to the dentist or physio or called an electrician to their houses lately? The amount of $125 an hour is what he is being paid, with the cap that, no matter how many hours he works in a day—knowing Chris Ellison, he will work long and hard at this task—he cannot be paid more than $1 000 a day. Mr M. McGowan : What about allowances? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Allowances? I do not expect him to walk to the Kimberley. I expect he will catch a plane and fly to the Kimberley, so the government will pay the airfare. I do not expect him to camp out on the creek bed so we will pay for him to stay in a hotel. His airfare and basic accommodation will be paid in line with government employment contracts. He will receive no other allowances or perks. Why is it that this miserable, rotten, low Labor Party comes in here — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Look at them, smiling away. The SPEAKER : Order! I presume the member for Collie-Preston was not having some sort of a seizure. I ask that, in future, he not perform in that manner in this house. I formally call him to order for the first time. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The poacher’s polka time! I do not know why it is; Labor Party members, I guess, look in their own ranks of rorting, double dipping, abuse, compromise and inappropriate appointments and they try to denigrate the decent people in our community. I have to say that Chris Ellison is a friend of mine, not a close friend — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oh, how uncanny! There he goes! The brains trust of the Labor Party, the sleaze machine himself, the dirty tricks man—look at him! There he goes! Withdrawal of Remark Mr M. McGOWAN : The Premier used a phrase in referring to another member that is clearly unparliamentary. I ask him to withdraw the phrase that he used about the member for Cannington. A government member: What was it? Mr M. McGOWAN : He used the phrase “sleaze machine” to describe the member for Cannington. I ask the Premier to withdraw. Further to the point of order, the member for Collie-Preston performed an act earlier for which there is a precedent and I think that needs to be noted. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! To the member for Rockingham’s first point of order, indeed, if the Premier did refer to the member using those words, I did not hear them; however, if he did, I certainly ask him to withdraw. On the second point of order the member raised, I have made a different determination about the behaviour of the member I have formally called to order. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I did not refer to the member by name but I was certainly looking him in the eye when I said those words, so I withdraw that. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : Chris Ellison is an entirely appropriate appointment; the appointment will hold. Members opposite had their little win; they had a photo of an eminent Western Australian on the front page of The West Australian —congratulations! If members opposite want to drag people down—do they want me to start? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do they want me to start working my way around the Labor Party; because we will do it? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite want to start, I can unchain the member for Jandakot! I can unchain the Treasurer, if that is what members opposite want! Chris Ellison is a decent Australian and a very proud Western Australian. I tell members opposite that we will not go down to those levels; we will not go into the gutter with the Labor Party! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite can stay in the gutter with themselves! They can stay right in that gutter with themselves. I will tell members what Chris Ellison has done, because he was so offended by the way he has been treated. Like I and others, he cares about the Kimberley and he wants to see the work there done properly. Chris Ellison has advised my office today that he has severed all ties with Enhance Group—he had a pretty loose arrangement so he has given that away. Is the opposition happy now? He has walked away from it. There is no conflict, but he has walked away from that because he would rather walk away than be on the front page and have slurs from the Labor Party. That is the sort of man he is; that is the sort of integrity he has. Is the Leader of the Opposition happy about that? Chris Ellison has walked away from Enhance because he is committed to helping out in the Kimberley. How does that compare with the Labor Party’s standards on pecuniary interest? How does that compare? Not too flash! Therefore, Chris Ellison will provide a letter to the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet to that effect. He will do the job and he will do it well. There is no report; there is no advice to government. With the assistance of staff from the Department of Environment and Conservation, who will provide him with a secretary, a report will be prepared about what was said at the various meetings. As a facilitator, he is someone who is able to get all groups to have the confidence to get up and express their point of view—a good thing. What is all this about? This is the first step in a $9 million commitment by the Liberal-National government to understand the science of the Kimberley and to commission scientific work so that we know more about the Kimberley so that when we take measures, which we will be doing, to conserve the most important parts of the Kimberley, we will get it right. Why is the opposition so upset about that? Was it because members opposite did nothing for eight years? What did they do in the Kimberley? What did members opposite achieve in the Kimberley in eight years? Nothing! Members opposite resent the fact that this government will do the science and conserve parts of the Kimberley and do it properly. I can think of no-one better qualified than Chris Ellison to chair the public forums. Although she is not in this place today, I am sure the member for Kimberley will attend those public forums and, indeed, I have invited her to come along and take part. I know she will because she cares about the Kimberley and she cares about the real issues, unlike the grovelling and the gutter sniping that we get from members opposite.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Another brilliant interjection! Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : It is a brilliant interjection because it displays just how absolutely gullible you must believe that the public of Western Australia is. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Armadale! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am happy to answer the question. The SPEAKER : Take a seat, Premier. I could ask the member for Armadale to withdraw recent references she made in her interjection. I think she knows what I am referring to in terms of personal names. That should not happen in this place. I ask the member to cease interjecting and I formally call her to order for the first time. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes. It was my idea that Chris Ellison would be a good person to chair the public forums relating to the Kimberley Science and Conservation Strategy. Obviously, I made that suggestion and discussed it with the minister responsible. She raised the point that she had worked for Chris Ellison, albeit five years ago. I do not consider that to be of any great consequence now. The issue of employing him was then handed over to the appropriate process through the public service. Chris Ellison’s involvement with, I guess, the lobbying firm, if we want to call it that, became clear. He make it absolutely clear, almost to the point of obsession, that he would take on this role only if there was no sense of any potential conflict of interest. I am disappointed, I have to say, with the degree of publicity this has received. However, that is politics. Mr W.J. Johnston : You bet you are. Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is politics and Chris Ellison is well able to deal with that, as, indeed, am I. Can I state again for the house: Chris Ellison is one of the finest, most highly respected senators Western Australia has ever had. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite will try to cast a slur on him and I will not let them do that. He is a very fine person. Mr R.H. Cook : It is hopelessly conflicting. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite want to talk about conflicts, we can go all day, one by one. I suggest they do not raise that. Let me talk about Chris Ellison. He has a long-term legal career, has a wide knowledge of the law, has worked as a senator for Western Australia, I think, for 16 years and has spent 10 years as a minister in the Howard government. What is he being engaged to do? He is being engaged, not as an environmental consultant, not as an advisor to the minister and not as an advisor to me. Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s for something that is worth $1 000 a day. He must be doing something. The SPEAKER : Order, Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : He has simply been engaged to chair public forums—no private meetings—that will be open to anyone and everyone, including the media and Labor members of Parliament, if they have an interest in the Kimberley. It will be a totally public, open process. Because of his standing in the community, his knowledge of the area and of various groups and his skill as a chairman and facilitator, I suggested that he do that role. That is all he will be doing. He has a contract over a three-month period. It is estimated that probably less than 20 days will be involved and he will be paid the princely sum of $125 an hour. I got it wrong yesterday when I think I said $145. Have members been to the dentist or physio or called an electrician to their houses lately? The amount of $125 an hour is what he is being paid, with the cap that, no matter how many hours he works in a day—knowing Chris Ellison, he will work long and hard at this task—he cannot be paid more than $1 000 a day. Mr M. McGowan : What about allowances? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Allowances? I do not expect him to walk to the Kimberley. I expect he will catch a plane and fly to the Kimberley, so the government will pay the airfare. I do not expect him to camp out on the creek bed so we will pay for him to stay in a hotel. His airfare and basic accommodation will be paid in line with government employment contracts. He will receive no other allowances or perks. Why is it that this miserable, rotten, low Labor Party comes in here — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Look at them, smiling away. The SPEAKER : Order! I presume the member for Collie-Preston was not having some sort of a seizure. I ask that, in future, he not perform in that manner in this house. I formally call him to order for the first time. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The poacher’s polka time! I do not know why it is; Labor Party members, I guess, look in their own ranks of rorting, double dipping, abuse, compromise and inappropriate appointments and they try to denigrate the decent people in our community. I have to say that Chris Ellison is a friend of mine, not a close friend — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oh, how uncanny! There he goes! The brains trust of the Labor Party, the sleaze machine himself, the dirty tricks man—look at him! There he goes! Withdrawal of Remark Mr M. McGOWAN : The Premier used a phrase in referring to another member that is clearly unparliamentary. I ask him to withdraw the phrase that he used about the member for Cannington. A government member: What was it? Mr M. McGOWAN : He used the phrase “sleaze machine” to describe the member for Cannington. I ask the Premier to withdraw. Further to the point of order, the member for Collie-Preston performed an act earlier for which there is a precedent and I think that needs to be noted. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! To the member for Rockingham’s first point of order, indeed, if the Premier did refer to the member using those words, I did not hear them; however, if he did, I certainly ask him to withdraw. On the second point of order the member raised, I have made a different determination about the behaviour of the member I have formally called to order. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I did not refer to the member by name but I was certainly looking him in the eye when I said those words, so I withdraw that. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : Chris Ellison is an entirely appropriate appointment; the appointment will hold. Members opposite had their little win; they had a photo of an eminent Western Australian on the front page of The West Australian —congratulations! If members opposite want to drag people down—do they want me to start? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do they want me to start working my way around the Labor Party; because we will do it? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite want to start, I can unchain the member for Jandakot! I can unchain the Treasurer, if that is what members opposite want! Chris Ellison is a decent Australian and a very proud Western Australian. I tell members opposite that we will not go down to those levels; we will not go into the gutter with the Labor Party! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite can stay in the gutter with themselves! They can stay right in that gutter with themselves. I will tell members what Chris Ellison has done, because he was so offended by the way he has been treated. Like I and others, he cares about the Kimberley and he wants to see the work there done properly. Chris Ellison has advised my office today that he has severed all ties with Enhance Group—he had a pretty loose arrangement so he has given that away. Is the opposition happy now? He has walked away from it. There is no conflict, but he has walked away from that because he would rather walk away than be on the front page and have slurs from the Labor Party. That is the sort of man he is; that is the sort of integrity he has. Is the Leader of the Opposition happy about that? Chris Ellison has walked away from Enhance because he is committed to helping out in the Kimberley. How does that compare with the Labor Party’s standards on pecuniary interest? How does that compare? Not too flash! Therefore, Chris Ellison will provide a letter to the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet to that effect. He will do the job and he will do it well. There is no report; there is no advice to government. With the assistance of staff from the Department of Environment and Conservation, who will provide him with a secretary, a report will be prepared about what was said at the various meetings. As a facilitator, he is someone who is able to get all groups to have the confidence to get up and express their point of view—a good thing. What is all this about? This is the first step in a $9 million commitment by the Liberal-National government to understand the science of the Kimberley and to commission scientific work so that we know more about the Kimberley so that when we take measures, which we will be doing, to conserve the most important parts of the Kimberley, we will get it right. Why is the opposition so upset about that? Was it because members opposite did nothing for eight years? What did they do in the Kimberley? What did members opposite achieve in the Kimberley in eight years? Nothing! Members opposite resent the fact that this government will do the science and conserve parts of the Kimberley and do it properly. I can think of no-one better qualified than Chris Ellison to chair the public forums. Although she is not in this place today, I am sure the member for Kimberley will attend those public forums and, indeed, I have invited her to come along and take part. I know she will because she cares about the Kimberley and she cares about the real issues, unlike the grovelling and the gutter sniping that we get from members opposite.
Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : It is a brilliant interjection because it displays just how absolutely gullible you must believe that the public of Western Australia is. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Armadale! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am happy to answer the question. The SPEAKER : Take a seat, Premier. I could ask the member for Armadale to withdraw recent references she made in her interjection. I think she knows what I am referring to in terms of personal names. That should not happen in this place. I ask the member to cease interjecting and I formally call her to order for the first time. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes. It was my idea that Chris Ellison would be a good person to chair the public forums relating to the Kimberley Science and Conservation Strategy. Obviously, I made that suggestion and discussed it with the minister responsible. She raised the point that she had worked for Chris Ellison, albeit five years ago. I do not consider that to be of any great consequence now. The issue of employing him was then handed over to the appropriate process through the public service. Chris Ellison’s involvement with, I guess, the lobbying firm, if we want to call it that, became clear. He make it absolutely clear, almost to the point of obsession, that he would take on this role only if there was no sense of any potential conflict of interest. I am disappointed, I have to say, with the degree of publicity this has received. However, that is politics. Mr W.J. Johnston : You bet you are. Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is politics and Chris Ellison is well able to deal with that, as, indeed, am I. Can I state again for the house: Chris Ellison is one of the finest, most highly respected senators Western Australia has ever had. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite will try to cast a slur on him and I will not let them do that. He is a very fine person. Mr R.H. Cook : It is hopelessly conflicting. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite want to talk about conflicts, we can go all day, one by one. I suggest they do not raise that. Let me talk about Chris Ellison. He has a long-term legal career, has a wide knowledge of the law, has worked as a senator for Western Australia, I think, for 16 years and has spent 10 years as a minister in the Howard government. What is he being engaged to do? He is being engaged, not as an environmental consultant, not as an advisor to the minister and not as an advisor to me. Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s for something that is worth $1 000 a day. He must be doing something. The SPEAKER : Order, Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : He has simply been engaged to chair public forums—no private meetings—that will be open to anyone and everyone, including the media and Labor members of Parliament, if they have an interest in the Kimberley. It will be a totally public, open process. Because of his standing in the community, his knowledge of the area and of various groups and his skill as a chairman and facilitator, I suggested that he do that role. That is all he will be doing. He has a contract over a three-month period. It is estimated that probably less than 20 days will be involved and he will be paid the princely sum of $125 an hour. I got it wrong yesterday when I think I said $145. Have members been to the dentist or physio or called an electrician to their houses lately? The amount of $125 an hour is what he is being paid, with the cap that, no matter how many hours he works in a day—knowing Chris Ellison, he will work long and hard at this task—he cannot be paid more than $1 000 a day. Mr M. McGowan : What about allowances? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Allowances? I do not expect him to walk to the Kimberley. I expect he will catch a plane and fly to the Kimberley, so the government will pay the airfare. I do not expect him to camp out on the creek bed so we will pay for him to stay in a hotel. His airfare and basic accommodation will be paid in line with government employment contracts. He will receive no other allowances or perks. Why is it that this miserable, rotten, low Labor Party comes in here — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Look at them, smiling away. The SPEAKER : Order! I presume the member for Collie-Preston was not having some sort of a seizure. I ask that, in future, he not perform in that manner in this house. I formally call him to order for the first time. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The poacher’s polka time! I do not know why it is; Labor Party members, I guess, look in their own ranks of rorting, double dipping, abuse, compromise and inappropriate appointments and they try to denigrate the decent people in our community. I have to say that Chris Ellison is a friend of mine, not a close friend — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oh, how uncanny! There he goes! The brains trust of the Labor Party, the sleaze machine himself, the dirty tricks man—look at him! There he goes! Withdrawal of Remark Mr M. McGOWAN : The Premier used a phrase in referring to another member that is clearly unparliamentary. I ask him to withdraw the phrase that he used about the member for Cannington. A government member: What was it? Mr M. McGOWAN : He used the phrase “sleaze machine” to describe the member for Cannington. I ask the Premier to withdraw. Further to the point of order, the member for Collie-Preston performed an act earlier for which there is a precedent and I think that needs to be noted. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! To the member for Rockingham’s first point of order, indeed, if the Premier did refer to the member using those words, I did not hear them; however, if he did, I certainly ask him to withdraw. On the second point of order the member raised, I have made a different determination about the behaviour of the member I have formally called to order. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I did not refer to the member by name but I was certainly looking him in the eye when I said those words, so I withdraw that. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : Chris Ellison is an entirely appropriate appointment; the appointment will hold. Members opposite had their little win; they had a photo of an eminent Western Australian on the front page of The West Australian —congratulations! If members opposite want to drag people down—do they want me to start? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do they want me to start working my way around the Labor Party; because we will do it? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite want to start, I can unchain the member for Jandakot! I can unchain the Treasurer, if that is what members opposite want! Chris Ellison is a decent Australian and a very proud Western Australian. I tell members opposite that we will not go down to those levels; we will not go into the gutter with the Labor Party! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite can stay in the gutter with themselves! They can stay right in that gutter with themselves. I will tell members what Chris Ellison has done, because he was so offended by the way he has been treated. Like I and others, he cares about the Kimberley and he wants to see the work there done properly. Chris Ellison has advised my office today that he has severed all ties with Enhance Group—he had a pretty loose arrangement so he has given that away. Is the opposition happy now? He has walked away from it. There is no conflict, but he has walked away from that because he would rather walk away than be on the front page and have slurs from the Labor Party. That is the sort of man he is; that is the sort of integrity he has. Is the Leader of the Opposition happy about that? Chris Ellison has walked away from Enhance because he is committed to helping out in the Kimberley. How does that compare with the Labor Party’s standards on pecuniary interest? How does that compare? Not too flash! Therefore, Chris Ellison will provide a letter to the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet to that effect. He will do the job and he will do it well. There is no report; there is no advice to government. With the assistance of staff from the Department of Environment and Conservation, who will provide him with a secretary, a report will be prepared about what was said at the various meetings. As a facilitator, he is someone who is able to get all groups to have the confidence to get up and express their point of view—a good thing. What is all this about? This is the first step in a $9 million commitment by the Liberal-National government to understand the science of the Kimberley and to commission scientific work so that we know more about the Kimberley so that when we take measures, which we will be doing, to conserve the most important parts of the Kimberley, we will get it right. Why is the opposition so upset about that? Was it because members opposite did nothing for eight years? What did they do in the Kimberley? What did members opposite achieve in the Kimberley in eight years? Nothing! Members opposite resent the fact that this government will do the science and conserve parts of the Kimberley and do it properly. I can think of no-one better qualified than Chris Ellison to chair the public forums. Although she is not in this place today, I am sure the member for Kimberley will attend those public forums and, indeed, I have invited her to come along and take part. I know she will because she cares about the Kimberley and she cares about the real issues, unlike the grovelling and the gutter sniping that we get from members opposite.
The SPEAKER : Order, member for Armadale! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am happy to answer the question. The SPEAKER : Take a seat, Premier. I could ask the member for Armadale to withdraw recent references she made in her interjection. I think she knows what I am referring to in terms of personal names. That should not happen in this place. I ask the member to cease interjecting and I formally call her to order for the first time. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes. It was my idea that Chris Ellison would be a good person to chair the public forums relating to the Kimberley Science and Conservation Strategy. Obviously, I made that suggestion and discussed it with the minister responsible. She raised the point that she had worked for Chris Ellison, albeit five years ago. I do not consider that to be of any great consequence now. The issue of employing him was then handed over to the appropriate process through the public service. Chris Ellison’s involvement with, I guess, the lobbying firm, if we want to call it that, became clear. He make it absolutely clear, almost to the point of obsession, that he would take on this role only if there was no sense of any potential conflict of interest. I am disappointed, I have to say, with the degree of publicity this has received. However, that is politics. Mr W.J. Johnston : You bet you are. Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is politics and Chris Ellison is well able to deal with that, as, indeed, am I. Can I state again for the house: Chris Ellison is one of the finest, most highly respected senators Western Australia has ever had. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite will try to cast a slur on him and I will not let them do that. He is a very fine person. Mr R.H. Cook : It is hopelessly conflicting. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite want to talk about conflicts, we can go all day, one by one. I suggest they do not raise that. Let me talk about Chris Ellison. He has a long-term legal career, has a wide knowledge of the law, has worked as a senator for Western Australia, I think, for 16 years and has spent 10 years as a minister in the Howard government. What is he being engaged to do? He is being engaged, not as an environmental consultant, not as an advisor to the minister and not as an advisor to me. Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s for something that is worth $1 000 a day. He must be doing something. The SPEAKER : Order, Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : He has simply been engaged to chair public forums—no private meetings—that will be open to anyone and everyone, including the media and Labor members of Parliament, if they have an interest in the Kimberley. It will be a totally public, open process. Because of his standing in the community, his knowledge of the area and of various groups and his skill as a chairman and facilitator, I suggested that he do that role. That is all he will be doing. He has a contract over a three-month period. It is estimated that probably less than 20 days will be involved and he will be paid the princely sum of $125 an hour. I got it wrong yesterday when I think I said $145. Have members been to the dentist or physio or called an electrician to their houses lately? The amount of $125 an hour is what he is being paid, with the cap that, no matter how many hours he works in a day—knowing Chris Ellison, he will work long and hard at this task—he cannot be paid more than $1 000 a day. Mr M. McGowan : What about allowances? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Allowances? I do not expect him to walk to the Kimberley. I expect he will catch a plane and fly to the Kimberley, so the government will pay the airfare. I do not expect him to camp out on the creek bed so we will pay for him to stay in a hotel. His airfare and basic accommodation will be paid in line with government employment contracts. He will receive no other allowances or perks. Why is it that this miserable, rotten, low Labor Party comes in here — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Look at them, smiling away. The SPEAKER : Order! I presume the member for Collie-Preston was not having some sort of a seizure. I ask that, in future, he not perform in that manner in this house. I formally call him to order for the first time. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The poacher’s polka time! I do not know why it is; Labor Party members, I guess, look in their own ranks of rorting, double dipping, abuse, compromise and inappropriate appointments and they try to denigrate the decent people in our community. I have to say that Chris Ellison is a friend of mine, not a close friend — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oh, how uncanny! There he goes! The brains trust of the Labor Party, the sleaze machine himself, the dirty tricks man—look at him! There he goes! Withdrawal of Remark Mr M. McGOWAN : The Premier used a phrase in referring to another member that is clearly unparliamentary. I ask him to withdraw the phrase that he used about the member for Cannington. A government member: What was it? Mr M. McGOWAN : He used the phrase “sleaze machine” to describe the member for Cannington. I ask the Premier to withdraw. Further to the point of order, the member for Collie-Preston performed an act earlier for which there is a precedent and I think that needs to be noted. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! To the member for Rockingham’s first point of order, indeed, if the Premier did refer to the member using those words, I did not hear them; however, if he did, I certainly ask him to withdraw. On the second point of order the member raised, I have made a different determination about the behaviour of the member I have formally called to order. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I did not refer to the member by name but I was certainly looking him in the eye when I said those words, so I withdraw that. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : Chris Ellison is an entirely appropriate appointment; the appointment will hold. Members opposite had their little win; they had a photo of an eminent Western Australian on the front page of The West Australian —congratulations! If members opposite want to drag people down—do they want me to start? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do they want me to start working my way around the Labor Party; because we will do it? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite want to start, I can unchain the member for Jandakot! I can unchain the Treasurer, if that is what members opposite want! Chris Ellison is a decent Australian and a very proud Western Australian. I tell members opposite that we will not go down to those levels; we will not go into the gutter with the Labor Party! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite can stay in the gutter with themselves! They can stay right in that gutter with themselves. I will tell members what Chris Ellison has done, because he was so offended by the way he has been treated. Like I and others, he cares about the Kimberley and he wants to see the work there done properly. Chris Ellison has advised my office today that he has severed all ties with Enhance Group—he had a pretty loose arrangement so he has given that away. Is the opposition happy now? He has walked away from it. There is no conflict, but he has walked away from that because he would rather walk away than be on the front page and have slurs from the Labor Party. That is the sort of man he is; that is the sort of integrity he has. Is the Leader of the Opposition happy about that? Chris Ellison has walked away from Enhance because he is committed to helping out in the Kimberley. How does that compare with the Labor Party’s standards on pecuniary interest? How does that compare? Not too flash! Therefore, Chris Ellison will provide a letter to the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet to that effect. He will do the job and he will do it well. There is no report; there is no advice to government. With the assistance of staff from the Department of Environment and Conservation, who will provide him with a secretary, a report will be prepared about what was said at the various meetings. As a facilitator, he is someone who is able to get all groups to have the confidence to get up and express their point of view—a good thing. What is all this about? This is the first step in a $9 million commitment by the Liberal-National government to understand the science of the Kimberley and to commission scientific work so that we know more about the Kimberley so that when we take measures, which we will be doing, to conserve the most important parts of the Kimberley, we will get it right. Why is the opposition so upset about that? Was it because members opposite did nothing for eight years? What did they do in the Kimberley? What did members opposite achieve in the Kimberley in eight years? Nothing! Members opposite resent the fact that this government will do the science and conserve parts of the Kimberley and do it properly. I can think of no-one better qualified than Chris Ellison to chair the public forums. Although she is not in this place today, I am sure the member for Kimberley will attend those public forums and, indeed, I have invited her to come along and take part. I know she will because she cares about the Kimberley and she cares about the real issues, unlike the grovelling and the gutter sniping that we get from members opposite.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am happy to answer the question. The SPEAKER : Take a seat, Premier. I could ask the member for Armadale to withdraw recent references she made in her interjection. I think she knows what I am referring to in terms of personal names. That should not happen in this place. I ask the member to cease interjecting and I formally call her to order for the first time. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes. It was my idea that Chris Ellison would be a good person to chair the public forums relating to the Kimberley Science and Conservation Strategy. Obviously, I made that suggestion and discussed it with the minister responsible. She raised the point that she had worked for Chris Ellison, albeit five years ago. I do not consider that to be of any great consequence now. The issue of employing him was then handed over to the appropriate process through the public service. Chris Ellison’s involvement with, I guess, the lobbying firm, if we want to call it that, became clear. He make it absolutely clear, almost to the point of obsession, that he would take on this role only if there was no sense of any potential conflict of interest. I am disappointed, I have to say, with the degree of publicity this has received. However, that is politics. Mr W.J. Johnston : You bet you are. Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is politics and Chris Ellison is well able to deal with that, as, indeed, am I. Can I state again for the house: Chris Ellison is one of the finest, most highly respected senators Western Australia has ever had. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite will try to cast a slur on him and I will not let them do that. He is a very fine person. Mr R.H. Cook : It is hopelessly conflicting. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite want to talk about conflicts, we can go all day, one by one. I suggest they do not raise that. Let me talk about Chris Ellison. He has a long-term legal career, has a wide knowledge of the law, has worked as a senator for Western Australia, I think, for 16 years and has spent 10 years as a minister in the Howard government. What is he being engaged to do? He is being engaged, not as an environmental consultant, not as an advisor to the minister and not as an advisor to me. Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s for something that is worth $1 000 a day. He must be doing something. The SPEAKER : Order, Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : He has simply been engaged to chair public forums—no private meetings—that will be open to anyone and everyone, including the media and Labor members of Parliament, if they have an interest in the Kimberley. It will be a totally public, open process. Because of his standing in the community, his knowledge of the area and of various groups and his skill as a chairman and facilitator, I suggested that he do that role. That is all he will be doing. He has a contract over a three-month period. It is estimated that probably less than 20 days will be involved and he will be paid the princely sum of $125 an hour. I got it wrong yesterday when I think I said $145. Have members been to the dentist or physio or called an electrician to their houses lately? The amount of $125 an hour is what he is being paid, with the cap that, no matter how many hours he works in a day—knowing Chris Ellison, he will work long and hard at this task—he cannot be paid more than $1 000 a day. Mr M. McGowan : What about allowances? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Allowances? I do not expect him to walk to the Kimberley. I expect he will catch a plane and fly to the Kimberley, so the government will pay the airfare. I do not expect him to camp out on the creek bed so we will pay for him to stay in a hotel. His airfare and basic accommodation will be paid in line with government employment contracts. He will receive no other allowances or perks. Why is it that this miserable, rotten, low Labor Party comes in here — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Look at them, smiling away. The SPEAKER : Order! I presume the member for Collie-Preston was not having some sort of a seizure. I ask that, in future, he not perform in that manner in this house. I formally call him to order for the first time. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The poacher’s polka time! I do not know why it is; Labor Party members, I guess, look in their own ranks of rorting, double dipping, abuse, compromise and inappropriate appointments and they try to denigrate the decent people in our community. I have to say that Chris Ellison is a friend of mine, not a close friend — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oh, how uncanny! There he goes! The brains trust of the Labor Party, the sleaze machine himself, the dirty tricks man—look at him! There he goes! Withdrawal of Remark Mr M. McGOWAN : The Premier used a phrase in referring to another member that is clearly unparliamentary. I ask him to withdraw the phrase that he used about the member for Cannington. A government member: What was it? Mr M. McGOWAN : He used the phrase “sleaze machine” to describe the member for Cannington. I ask the Premier to withdraw. Further to the point of order, the member for Collie-Preston performed an act earlier for which there is a precedent and I think that needs to be noted. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! To the member for Rockingham’s first point of order, indeed, if the Premier did refer to the member using those words, I did not hear them; however, if he did, I certainly ask him to withdraw. On the second point of order the member raised, I have made a different determination about the behaviour of the member I have formally called to order. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I did not refer to the member by name but I was certainly looking him in the eye when I said those words, so I withdraw that. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : Chris Ellison is an entirely appropriate appointment; the appointment will hold. Members opposite had their little win; they had a photo of an eminent Western Australian on the front page of The West Australian —congratulations! If members opposite want to drag people down—do they want me to start? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do they want me to start working my way around the Labor Party; because we will do it? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite want to start, I can unchain the member for Jandakot! I can unchain the Treasurer, if that is what members opposite want! Chris Ellison is a decent Australian and a very proud Western Australian. I tell members opposite that we will not go down to those levels; we will not go into the gutter with the Labor Party! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite can stay in the gutter with themselves! They can stay right in that gutter with themselves. I will tell members what Chris Ellison has done, because he was so offended by the way he has been treated. Like I and others, he cares about the Kimberley and he wants to see the work there done properly. Chris Ellison has advised my office today that he has severed all ties with Enhance Group—he had a pretty loose arrangement so he has given that away. Is the opposition happy now? He has walked away from it. There is no conflict, but he has walked away from that because he would rather walk away than be on the front page and have slurs from the Labor Party. That is the sort of man he is; that is the sort of integrity he has. Is the Leader of the Opposition happy about that? Chris Ellison has walked away from Enhance because he is committed to helping out in the Kimberley. How does that compare with the Labor Party’s standards on pecuniary interest? How does that compare? Not too flash! Therefore, Chris Ellison will provide a letter to the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet to that effect. He will do the job and he will do it well. There is no report; there is no advice to government. With the assistance of staff from the Department of Environment and Conservation, who will provide him with a secretary, a report will be prepared about what was said at the various meetings. As a facilitator, he is someone who is able to get all groups to have the confidence to get up and express their point of view—a good thing. What is all this about? This is the first step in a $9 million commitment by the Liberal-National government to understand the science of the Kimberley and to commission scientific work so that we know more about the Kimberley so that when we take measures, which we will be doing, to conserve the most important parts of the Kimberley, we will get it right. Why is the opposition so upset about that? Was it because members opposite did nothing for eight years? What did they do in the Kimberley? What did members opposite achieve in the Kimberley in eight years? Nothing! Members opposite resent the fact that this government will do the science and conserve parts of the Kimberley and do it properly. I can think of no-one better qualified than Chris Ellison to chair the public forums. Although she is not in this place today, I am sure the member for Kimberley will attend those public forums and, indeed, I have invited her to come along and take part. I know she will because she cares about the Kimberley and she cares about the real issues, unlike the grovelling and the gutter sniping that we get from members opposite.
The SPEAKER : Take a seat, Premier. I could ask the member for Armadale to withdraw recent references she made in her interjection. I think she knows what I am referring to in terms of personal names. That should not happen in this place. I ask the member to cease interjecting and I formally call her to order for the first time. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes. It was my idea that Chris Ellison would be a good person to chair the public forums relating to the Kimberley Science and Conservation Strategy. Obviously, I made that suggestion and discussed it with the minister responsible. She raised the point that she had worked for Chris Ellison, albeit five years ago. I do not consider that to be of any great consequence now. The issue of employing him was then handed over to the appropriate process through the public service. Chris Ellison’s involvement with, I guess, the lobbying firm, if we want to call it that, became clear. He make it absolutely clear, almost to the point of obsession, that he would take on this role only if there was no sense of any potential conflict of interest. I am disappointed, I have to say, with the degree of publicity this has received. However, that is politics. Mr W.J. Johnston : You bet you are. Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is politics and Chris Ellison is well able to deal with that, as, indeed, am I. Can I state again for the house: Chris Ellison is one of the finest, most highly respected senators Western Australia has ever had. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite will try to cast a slur on him and I will not let them do that. He is a very fine person. Mr R.H. Cook : It is hopelessly conflicting. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite want to talk about conflicts, we can go all day, one by one. I suggest they do not raise that. Let me talk about Chris Ellison. He has a long-term legal career, has a wide knowledge of the law, has worked as a senator for Western Australia, I think, for 16 years and has spent 10 years as a minister in the Howard government. What is he being engaged to do? He is being engaged, not as an environmental consultant, not as an advisor to the minister and not as an advisor to me. Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s for something that is worth $1 000 a day. He must be doing something. The SPEAKER : Order, Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : He has simply been engaged to chair public forums—no private meetings—that will be open to anyone and everyone, including the media and Labor members of Parliament, if they have an interest in the Kimberley. It will be a totally public, open process. Because of his standing in the community, his knowledge of the area and of various groups and his skill as a chairman and facilitator, I suggested that he do that role. That is all he will be doing. He has a contract over a three-month period. It is estimated that probably less than 20 days will be involved and he will be paid the princely sum of $125 an hour. I got it wrong yesterday when I think I said $145. Have members been to the dentist or physio or called an electrician to their houses lately? The amount of $125 an hour is what he is being paid, with the cap that, no matter how many hours he works in a day—knowing Chris Ellison, he will work long and hard at this task—he cannot be paid more than $1 000 a day. Mr M. McGowan : What about allowances? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Allowances? I do not expect him to walk to the Kimberley. I expect he will catch a plane and fly to the Kimberley, so the government will pay the airfare. I do not expect him to camp out on the creek bed so we will pay for him to stay in a hotel. His airfare and basic accommodation will be paid in line with government employment contracts. He will receive no other allowances or perks. Why is it that this miserable, rotten, low Labor Party comes in here — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Look at them, smiling away. The SPEAKER : Order! I presume the member for Collie-Preston was not having some sort of a seizure. I ask that, in future, he not perform in that manner in this house. I formally call him to order for the first time. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The poacher’s polka time! I do not know why it is; Labor Party members, I guess, look in their own ranks of rorting, double dipping, abuse, compromise and inappropriate appointments and they try to denigrate the decent people in our community. I have to say that Chris Ellison is a friend of mine, not a close friend — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oh, how uncanny! There he goes! The brains trust of the Labor Party, the sleaze machine himself, the dirty tricks man—look at him! There he goes! Withdrawal of Remark Mr M. McGOWAN : The Premier used a phrase in referring to another member that is clearly unparliamentary. I ask him to withdraw the phrase that he used about the member for Cannington. A government member: What was it? Mr M. McGOWAN : He used the phrase “sleaze machine” to describe the member for Cannington. I ask the Premier to withdraw. Further to the point of order, the member for Collie-Preston performed an act earlier for which there is a precedent and I think that needs to be noted. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! To the member for Rockingham’s first point of order, indeed, if the Premier did refer to the member using those words, I did not hear them; however, if he did, I certainly ask him to withdraw. On the second point of order the member raised, I have made a different determination about the behaviour of the member I have formally called to order. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I did not refer to the member by name but I was certainly looking him in the eye when I said those words, so I withdraw that. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : Chris Ellison is an entirely appropriate appointment; the appointment will hold. Members opposite had their little win; they had a photo of an eminent Western Australian on the front page of The West Australian —congratulations! If members opposite want to drag people down—do they want me to start? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do they want me to start working my way around the Labor Party; because we will do it? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite want to start, I can unchain the member for Jandakot! I can unchain the Treasurer, if that is what members opposite want! Chris Ellison is a decent Australian and a very proud Western Australian. I tell members opposite that we will not go down to those levels; we will not go into the gutter with the Labor Party! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite can stay in the gutter with themselves! They can stay right in that gutter with themselves. I will tell members what Chris Ellison has done, because he was so offended by the way he has been treated. Like I and others, he cares about the Kimberley and he wants to see the work there done properly. Chris Ellison has advised my office today that he has severed all ties with Enhance Group—he had a pretty loose arrangement so he has given that away. Is the opposition happy now? He has walked away from it. There is no conflict, but he has walked away from that because he would rather walk away than be on the front page and have slurs from the Labor Party. That is the sort of man he is; that is the sort of integrity he has. Is the Leader of the Opposition happy about that? Chris Ellison has walked away from Enhance because he is committed to helping out in the Kimberley. How does that compare with the Labor Party’s standards on pecuniary interest? How does that compare? Not too flash! Therefore, Chris Ellison will provide a letter to the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet to that effect. He will do the job and he will do it well. There is no report; there is no advice to government. With the assistance of staff from the Department of Environment and Conservation, who will provide him with a secretary, a report will be prepared about what was said at the various meetings. As a facilitator, he is someone who is able to get all groups to have the confidence to get up and express their point of view—a good thing. What is all this about? This is the first step in a $9 million commitment by the Liberal-National government to understand the science of the Kimberley and to commission scientific work so that we know more about the Kimberley so that when we take measures, which we will be doing, to conserve the most important parts of the Kimberley, we will get it right. Why is the opposition so upset about that? Was it because members opposite did nothing for eight years? What did they do in the Kimberley? What did members opposite achieve in the Kimberley in eight years? Nothing! Members opposite resent the fact that this government will do the science and conserve parts of the Kimberley and do it properly. I can think of no-one better qualified than Chris Ellison to chair the public forums. Although she is not in this place today, I am sure the member for Kimberley will attend those public forums and, indeed, I have invited her to come along and take part. I know she will because she cares about the Kimberley and she cares about the real issues, unlike the grovelling and the gutter sniping that we get from members opposite.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes. It was my idea that Chris Ellison would be a good person to chair the public forums relating to the Kimberley Science and Conservation Strategy. Obviously, I made that suggestion and discussed it with the minister responsible. She raised the point that she had worked for Chris Ellison, albeit five years ago. I do not consider that to be of any great consequence now. The issue of employing him was then handed over to the appropriate process through the public service. Chris Ellison’s involvement with, I guess, the lobbying firm, if we want to call it that, became clear. He make it absolutely clear, almost to the point of obsession, that he would take on this role only if there was no sense of any potential conflict of interest. I am disappointed, I have to say, with the degree of publicity this has received. However, that is politics. Mr W.J. Johnston : You bet you are. Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is politics and Chris Ellison is well able to deal with that, as, indeed, am I. Can I state again for the house: Chris Ellison is one of the finest, most highly respected senators Western Australia has ever had. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite will try to cast a slur on him and I will not let them do that. He is a very fine person. Mr R.H. Cook : It is hopelessly conflicting. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite want to talk about conflicts, we can go all day, one by one. I suggest they do not raise that. Let me talk about Chris Ellison. He has a long-term legal career, has a wide knowledge of the law, has worked as a senator for Western Australia, I think, for 16 years and has spent 10 years as a minister in the Howard government. What is he being engaged to do? He is being engaged, not as an environmental consultant, not as an advisor to the minister and not as an advisor to me. Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s for something that is worth $1 000 a day. He must be doing something. The SPEAKER : Order, Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : He has simply been engaged to chair public forums—no private meetings—that will be open to anyone and everyone, including the media and Labor members of Parliament, if they have an interest in the Kimberley. It will be a totally public, open process. Because of his standing in the community, his knowledge of the area and of various groups and his skill as a chairman and facilitator, I suggested that he do that role. That is all he will be doing. He has a contract over a three-month period. It is estimated that probably less than 20 days will be involved and he will be paid the princely sum of $125 an hour. I got it wrong yesterday when I think I said $145. Have members been to the dentist or physio or called an electrician to their houses lately? The amount of $125 an hour is what he is being paid, with the cap that, no matter how many hours he works in a day—knowing Chris Ellison, he will work long and hard at this task—he cannot be paid more than $1 000 a day. Mr M. McGowan : What about allowances? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Allowances? I do not expect him to walk to the Kimberley. I expect he will catch a plane and fly to the Kimberley, so the government will pay the airfare. I do not expect him to camp out on the creek bed so we will pay for him to stay in a hotel. His airfare and basic accommodation will be paid in line with government employment contracts. He will receive no other allowances or perks. Why is it that this miserable, rotten, low Labor Party comes in here — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Look at them, smiling away. The SPEAKER : Order! I presume the member for Collie-Preston was not having some sort of a seizure. I ask that, in future, he not perform in that manner in this house. I formally call him to order for the first time. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The poacher’s polka time! I do not know why it is; Labor Party members, I guess, look in their own ranks of rorting, double dipping, abuse, compromise and inappropriate appointments and they try to denigrate the decent people in our community. I have to say that Chris Ellison is a friend of mine, not a close friend — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oh, how uncanny! There he goes! The brains trust of the Labor Party, the sleaze machine himself, the dirty tricks man—look at him! There he goes! Withdrawal of Remark Mr M. McGOWAN : The Premier used a phrase in referring to another member that is clearly unparliamentary. I ask him to withdraw the phrase that he used about the member for Cannington. A government member: What was it? Mr M. McGOWAN : He used the phrase “sleaze machine” to describe the member for Cannington. I ask the Premier to withdraw. Further to the point of order, the member for Collie-Preston performed an act earlier for which there is a precedent and I think that needs to be noted. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! To the member for Rockingham’s first point of order, indeed, if the Premier did refer to the member using those words, I did not hear them; however, if he did, I certainly ask him to withdraw. On the second point of order the member raised, I have made a different determination about the behaviour of the member I have formally called to order. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I did not refer to the member by name but I was certainly looking him in the eye when I said those words, so I withdraw that. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : Chris Ellison is an entirely appropriate appointment; the appointment will hold. Members opposite had their little win; they had a photo of an eminent Western Australian on the front page of The West Australian —congratulations! If members opposite want to drag people down—do they want me to start? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do they want me to start working my way around the Labor Party; because we will do it? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite want to start, I can unchain the member for Jandakot! I can unchain the Treasurer, if that is what members opposite want! Chris Ellison is a decent Australian and a very proud Western Australian. I tell members opposite that we will not go down to those levels; we will not go into the gutter with the Labor Party! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite can stay in the gutter with themselves! They can stay right in that gutter with themselves. I will tell members what Chris Ellison has done, because he was so offended by the way he has been treated. Like I and others, he cares about the Kimberley and he wants to see the work there done properly. Chris Ellison has advised my office today that he has severed all ties with Enhance Group—he had a pretty loose arrangement so he has given that away. Is the opposition happy now? He has walked away from it. There is no conflict, but he has walked away from that because he would rather walk away than be on the front page and have slurs from the Labor Party. That is the sort of man he is; that is the sort of integrity he has. Is the Leader of the Opposition happy about that? Chris Ellison has walked away from Enhance because he is committed to helping out in the Kimberley. How does that compare with the Labor Party’s standards on pecuniary interest? How does that compare? Not too flash! Therefore, Chris Ellison will provide a letter to the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet to that effect. He will do the job and he will do it well. There is no report; there is no advice to government. With the assistance of staff from the Department of Environment and Conservation, who will provide him with a secretary, a report will be prepared about what was said at the various meetings. As a facilitator, he is someone who is able to get all groups to have the confidence to get up and express their point of view—a good thing. What is all this about? This is the first step in a $9 million commitment by the Liberal-National government to understand the science of the Kimberley and to commission scientific work so that we know more about the Kimberley so that when we take measures, which we will be doing, to conserve the most important parts of the Kimberley, we will get it right. Why is the opposition so upset about that? Was it because members opposite did nothing for eight years? What did they do in the Kimberley? What did members opposite achieve in the Kimberley in eight years? Nothing! Members opposite resent the fact that this government will do the science and conserve parts of the Kimberley and do it properly. I can think of no-one better qualified than Chris Ellison to chair the public forums. Although she is not in this place today, I am sure the member for Kimberley will attend those public forums and, indeed, I have invited her to come along and take part. I know she will because she cares about the Kimberley and she cares about the real issues, unlike the grovelling and the gutter sniping that we get from members opposite.
Mr W.J. Johnston : You bet you are. Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is politics and Chris Ellison is well able to deal with that, as, indeed, am I. Can I state again for the house: Chris Ellison is one of the finest, most highly respected senators Western Australia has ever had. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite will try to cast a slur on him and I will not let them do that. He is a very fine person. Mr R.H. Cook : It is hopelessly conflicting. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite want to talk about conflicts, we can go all day, one by one. I suggest they do not raise that. Let me talk about Chris Ellison. He has a long-term legal career, has a wide knowledge of the law, has worked as a senator for Western Australia, I think, for 16 years and has spent 10 years as a minister in the Howard government. What is he being engaged to do? He is being engaged, not as an environmental consultant, not as an advisor to the minister and not as an advisor to me. Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s for something that is worth $1 000 a day. He must be doing something. The SPEAKER : Order, Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : He has simply been engaged to chair public forums—no private meetings—that will be open to anyone and everyone, including the media and Labor members of Parliament, if they have an interest in the Kimberley. It will be a totally public, open process. Because of his standing in the community, his knowledge of the area and of various groups and his skill as a chairman and facilitator, I suggested that he do that role. That is all he will be doing. He has a contract over a three-month period. It is estimated that probably less than 20 days will be involved and he will be paid the princely sum of $125 an hour. I got it wrong yesterday when I think I said $145. Have members been to the dentist or physio or called an electrician to their houses lately? The amount of $125 an hour is what he is being paid, with the cap that, no matter how many hours he works in a day—knowing Chris Ellison, he will work long and hard at this task—he cannot be paid more than $1 000 a day. Mr M. McGowan : What about allowances? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Allowances? I do not expect him to walk to the Kimberley. I expect he will catch a plane and fly to the Kimberley, so the government will pay the airfare. I do not expect him to camp out on the creek bed so we will pay for him to stay in a hotel. His airfare and basic accommodation will be paid in line with government employment contracts. He will receive no other allowances or perks. Why is it that this miserable, rotten, low Labor Party comes in here — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Look at them, smiling away. The SPEAKER : Order! I presume the member for Collie-Preston was not having some sort of a seizure. I ask that, in future, he not perform in that manner in this house. I formally call him to order for the first time. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The poacher’s polka time! I do not know why it is; Labor Party members, I guess, look in their own ranks of rorting, double dipping, abuse, compromise and inappropriate appointments and they try to denigrate the decent people in our community. I have to say that Chris Ellison is a friend of mine, not a close friend — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oh, how uncanny! There he goes! The brains trust of the Labor Party, the sleaze machine himself, the dirty tricks man—look at him! There he goes! Withdrawal of Remark Mr M. McGOWAN : The Premier used a phrase in referring to another member that is clearly unparliamentary. I ask him to withdraw the phrase that he used about the member for Cannington. A government member: What was it? Mr M. McGOWAN : He used the phrase “sleaze machine” to describe the member for Cannington. I ask the Premier to withdraw. Further to the point of order, the member for Collie-Preston performed an act earlier for which there is a precedent and I think that needs to be noted. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! To the member for Rockingham’s first point of order, indeed, if the Premier did refer to the member using those words, I did not hear them; however, if he did, I certainly ask him to withdraw. On the second point of order the member raised, I have made a different determination about the behaviour of the member I have formally called to order. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I did not refer to the member by name but I was certainly looking him in the eye when I said those words, so I withdraw that. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : Chris Ellison is an entirely appropriate appointment; the appointment will hold. Members opposite had their little win; they had a photo of an eminent Western Australian on the front page of The West Australian —congratulations! If members opposite want to drag people down—do they want me to start? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do they want me to start working my way around the Labor Party; because we will do it? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite want to start, I can unchain the member for Jandakot! I can unchain the Treasurer, if that is what members opposite want! Chris Ellison is a decent Australian and a very proud Western Australian. I tell members opposite that we will not go down to those levels; we will not go into the gutter with the Labor Party! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite can stay in the gutter with themselves! They can stay right in that gutter with themselves. I will tell members what Chris Ellison has done, because he was so offended by the way he has been treated. Like I and others, he cares about the Kimberley and he wants to see the work there done properly. Chris Ellison has advised my office today that he has severed all ties with Enhance Group—he had a pretty loose arrangement so he has given that away. Is the opposition happy now? He has walked away from it. There is no conflict, but he has walked away from that because he would rather walk away than be on the front page and have slurs from the Labor Party. That is the sort of man he is; that is the sort of integrity he has. Is the Leader of the Opposition happy about that? Chris Ellison has walked away from Enhance because he is committed to helping out in the Kimberley. How does that compare with the Labor Party’s standards on pecuniary interest? How does that compare? Not too flash! Therefore, Chris Ellison will provide a letter to the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet to that effect. He will do the job and he will do it well. There is no report; there is no advice to government. With the assistance of staff from the Department of Environment and Conservation, who will provide him with a secretary, a report will be prepared about what was said at the various meetings. As a facilitator, he is someone who is able to get all groups to have the confidence to get up and express their point of view—a good thing. What is all this about? This is the first step in a $9 million commitment by the Liberal-National government to understand the science of the Kimberley and to commission scientific work so that we know more about the Kimberley so that when we take measures, which we will be doing, to conserve the most important parts of the Kimberley, we will get it right. Why is the opposition so upset about that? Was it because members opposite did nothing for eight years? What did they do in the Kimberley? What did members opposite achieve in the Kimberley in eight years? Nothing! Members opposite resent the fact that this government will do the science and conserve parts of the Kimberley and do it properly. I can think of no-one better qualified than Chris Ellison to chair the public forums. Although she is not in this place today, I am sure the member for Kimberley will attend those public forums and, indeed, I have invited her to come along and take part. I know she will because she cares about the Kimberley and she cares about the real issues, unlike the grovelling and the gutter sniping that we get from members opposite.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is politics and Chris Ellison is well able to deal with that, as, indeed, am I. Can I state again for the house: Chris Ellison is one of the finest, most highly respected senators Western Australia has ever had. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite will try to cast a slur on him and I will not let them do that. He is a very fine person. Mr R.H. Cook : It is hopelessly conflicting. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite want to talk about conflicts, we can go all day, one by one. I suggest they do not raise that. Let me talk about Chris Ellison. He has a long-term legal career, has a wide knowledge of the law, has worked as a senator for Western Australia, I think, for 16 years and has spent 10 years as a minister in the Howard government. What is he being engaged to do? He is being engaged, not as an environmental consultant, not as an advisor to the minister and not as an advisor to me. Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s for something that is worth $1 000 a day. He must be doing something. The SPEAKER : Order, Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : He has simply been engaged to chair public forums—no private meetings—that will be open to anyone and everyone, including the media and Labor members of Parliament, if they have an interest in the Kimberley. It will be a totally public, open process. Because of his standing in the community, his knowledge of the area and of various groups and his skill as a chairman and facilitator, I suggested that he do that role. That is all he will be doing. He has a contract over a three-month period. It is estimated that probably less than 20 days will be involved and he will be paid the princely sum of $125 an hour. I got it wrong yesterday when I think I said $145. Have members been to the dentist or physio or called an electrician to their houses lately? The amount of $125 an hour is what he is being paid, with the cap that, no matter how many hours he works in a day—knowing Chris Ellison, he will work long and hard at this task—he cannot be paid more than $1 000 a day. Mr M. McGowan : What about allowances? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Allowances? I do not expect him to walk to the Kimberley. I expect he will catch a plane and fly to the Kimberley, so the government will pay the airfare. I do not expect him to camp out on the creek bed so we will pay for him to stay in a hotel. His airfare and basic accommodation will be paid in line with government employment contracts. He will receive no other allowances or perks. Why is it that this miserable, rotten, low Labor Party comes in here — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Look at them, smiling away. The SPEAKER : Order! I presume the member for Collie-Preston was not having some sort of a seizure. I ask that, in future, he not perform in that manner in this house. I formally call him to order for the first time. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The poacher’s polka time! I do not know why it is; Labor Party members, I guess, look in their own ranks of rorting, double dipping, abuse, compromise and inappropriate appointments and they try to denigrate the decent people in our community. I have to say that Chris Ellison is a friend of mine, not a close friend — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oh, how uncanny! There he goes! The brains trust of the Labor Party, the sleaze machine himself, the dirty tricks man—look at him! There he goes! Withdrawal of Remark Mr M. McGOWAN : The Premier used a phrase in referring to another member that is clearly unparliamentary. I ask him to withdraw the phrase that he used about the member for Cannington. A government member: What was it? Mr M. McGOWAN : He used the phrase “sleaze machine” to describe the member for Cannington. I ask the Premier to withdraw. Further to the point of order, the member for Collie-Preston performed an act earlier for which there is a precedent and I think that needs to be noted. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! To the member for Rockingham’s first point of order, indeed, if the Premier did refer to the member using those words, I did not hear them; however, if he did, I certainly ask him to withdraw. On the second point of order the member raised, I have made a different determination about the behaviour of the member I have formally called to order. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I did not refer to the member by name but I was certainly looking him in the eye when I said those words, so I withdraw that. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : Chris Ellison is an entirely appropriate appointment; the appointment will hold. Members opposite had their little win; they had a photo of an eminent Western Australian on the front page of The West Australian —congratulations! If members opposite want to drag people down—do they want me to start? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do they want me to start working my way around the Labor Party; because we will do it? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite want to start, I can unchain the member for Jandakot! I can unchain the Treasurer, if that is what members opposite want! Chris Ellison is a decent Australian and a very proud Western Australian. I tell members opposite that we will not go down to those levels; we will not go into the gutter with the Labor Party! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite can stay in the gutter with themselves! They can stay right in that gutter with themselves. I will tell members what Chris Ellison has done, because he was so offended by the way he has been treated. Like I and others, he cares about the Kimberley and he wants to see the work there done properly. Chris Ellison has advised my office today that he has severed all ties with Enhance Group—he had a pretty loose arrangement so he has given that away. Is the opposition happy now? He has walked away from it. There is no conflict, but he has walked away from that because he would rather walk away than be on the front page and have slurs from the Labor Party. That is the sort of man he is; that is the sort of integrity he has. Is the Leader of the Opposition happy about that? Chris Ellison has walked away from Enhance because he is committed to helping out in the Kimberley. How does that compare with the Labor Party’s standards on pecuniary interest? How does that compare? Not too flash! Therefore, Chris Ellison will provide a letter to the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet to that effect. He will do the job and he will do it well. There is no report; there is no advice to government. With the assistance of staff from the Department of Environment and Conservation, who will provide him with a secretary, a report will be prepared about what was said at the various meetings. As a facilitator, he is someone who is able to get all groups to have the confidence to get up and express their point of view—a good thing. What is all this about? This is the first step in a $9 million commitment by the Liberal-National government to understand the science of the Kimberley and to commission scientific work so that we know more about the Kimberley so that when we take measures, which we will be doing, to conserve the most important parts of the Kimberley, we will get it right. Why is the opposition so upset about that? Was it because members opposite did nothing for eight years? What did they do in the Kimberley? What did members opposite achieve in the Kimberley in eight years? Nothing! Members opposite resent the fact that this government will do the science and conserve parts of the Kimberley and do it properly. I can think of no-one better qualified than Chris Ellison to chair the public forums. Although she is not in this place today, I am sure the member for Kimberley will attend those public forums and, indeed, I have invited her to come along and take part. I know she will because she cares about the Kimberley and she cares about the real issues, unlike the grovelling and the gutter sniping that we get from members opposite.
Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite will try to cast a slur on him and I will not let them do that. He is a very fine person. Mr R.H. Cook : It is hopelessly conflicting. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite want to talk about conflicts, we can go all day, one by one. I suggest they do not raise that. Let me talk about Chris Ellison. He has a long-term legal career, has a wide knowledge of the law, has worked as a senator for Western Australia, I think, for 16 years and has spent 10 years as a minister in the Howard government. What is he being engaged to do? He is being engaged, not as an environmental consultant, not as an advisor to the minister and not as an advisor to me. Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s for something that is worth $1 000 a day. He must be doing something. The SPEAKER : Order, Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : He has simply been engaged to chair public forums—no private meetings—that will be open to anyone and everyone, including the media and Labor members of Parliament, if they have an interest in the Kimberley. It will be a totally public, open process. Because of his standing in the community, his knowledge of the area and of various groups and his skill as a chairman and facilitator, I suggested that he do that role. That is all he will be doing. He has a contract over a three-month period. It is estimated that probably less than 20 days will be involved and he will be paid the princely sum of $125 an hour. I got it wrong yesterday when I think I said $145. Have members been to the dentist or physio or called an electrician to their houses lately? The amount of $125 an hour is what he is being paid, with the cap that, no matter how many hours he works in a day—knowing Chris Ellison, he will work long and hard at this task—he cannot be paid more than $1 000 a day. Mr M. McGowan : What about allowances? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Allowances? I do not expect him to walk to the Kimberley. I expect he will catch a plane and fly to the Kimberley, so the government will pay the airfare. I do not expect him to camp out on the creek bed so we will pay for him to stay in a hotel. His airfare and basic accommodation will be paid in line with government employment contracts. He will receive no other allowances or perks. Why is it that this miserable, rotten, low Labor Party comes in here — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Look at them, smiling away. The SPEAKER : Order! I presume the member for Collie-Preston was not having some sort of a seizure. I ask that, in future, he not perform in that manner in this house. I formally call him to order for the first time. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The poacher’s polka time! I do not know why it is; Labor Party members, I guess, look in their own ranks of rorting, double dipping, abuse, compromise and inappropriate appointments and they try to denigrate the decent people in our community. I have to say that Chris Ellison is a friend of mine, not a close friend — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oh, how uncanny! There he goes! The brains trust of the Labor Party, the sleaze machine himself, the dirty tricks man—look at him! There he goes! Withdrawal of Remark Mr M. McGOWAN : The Premier used a phrase in referring to another member that is clearly unparliamentary. I ask him to withdraw the phrase that he used about the member for Cannington. A government member: What was it? Mr M. McGOWAN : He used the phrase “sleaze machine” to describe the member for Cannington. I ask the Premier to withdraw. Further to the point of order, the member for Collie-Preston performed an act earlier for which there is a precedent and I think that needs to be noted. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! To the member for Rockingham’s first point of order, indeed, if the Premier did refer to the member using those words, I did not hear them; however, if he did, I certainly ask him to withdraw. On the second point of order the member raised, I have made a different determination about the behaviour of the member I have formally called to order. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I did not refer to the member by name but I was certainly looking him in the eye when I said those words, so I withdraw that. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : Chris Ellison is an entirely appropriate appointment; the appointment will hold. Members opposite had their little win; they had a photo of an eminent Western Australian on the front page of The West Australian —congratulations! If members opposite want to drag people down—do they want me to start? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do they want me to start working my way around the Labor Party; because we will do it? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite want to start, I can unchain the member for Jandakot! I can unchain the Treasurer, if that is what members opposite want! Chris Ellison is a decent Australian and a very proud Western Australian. I tell members opposite that we will not go down to those levels; we will not go into the gutter with the Labor Party! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite can stay in the gutter with themselves! They can stay right in that gutter with themselves. I will tell members what Chris Ellison has done, because he was so offended by the way he has been treated. Like I and others, he cares about the Kimberley and he wants to see the work there done properly. Chris Ellison has advised my office today that he has severed all ties with Enhance Group—he had a pretty loose arrangement so he has given that away. Is the opposition happy now? He has walked away from it. There is no conflict, but he has walked away from that because he would rather walk away than be on the front page and have slurs from the Labor Party. That is the sort of man he is; that is the sort of integrity he has. Is the Leader of the Opposition happy about that? Chris Ellison has walked away from Enhance because he is committed to helping out in the Kimberley. How does that compare with the Labor Party’s standards on pecuniary interest? How does that compare? Not too flash! Therefore, Chris Ellison will provide a letter to the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet to that effect. He will do the job and he will do it well. There is no report; there is no advice to government. With the assistance of staff from the Department of Environment and Conservation, who will provide him with a secretary, a report will be prepared about what was said at the various meetings. As a facilitator, he is someone who is able to get all groups to have the confidence to get up and express their point of view—a good thing. What is all this about? This is the first step in a $9 million commitment by the Liberal-National government to understand the science of the Kimberley and to commission scientific work so that we know more about the Kimberley so that when we take measures, which we will be doing, to conserve the most important parts of the Kimberley, we will get it right. Why is the opposition so upset about that? Was it because members opposite did nothing for eight years? What did they do in the Kimberley? What did members opposite achieve in the Kimberley in eight years? Nothing! Members opposite resent the fact that this government will do the science and conserve parts of the Kimberley and do it properly. I can think of no-one better qualified than Chris Ellison to chair the public forums. Although she is not in this place today, I am sure the member for Kimberley will attend those public forums and, indeed, I have invited her to come along and take part. I know she will because she cares about the Kimberley and she cares about the real issues, unlike the grovelling and the gutter sniping that we get from members opposite.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite will try to cast a slur on him and I will not let them do that. He is a very fine person. Mr R.H. Cook : It is hopelessly conflicting. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite want to talk about conflicts, we can go all day, one by one. I suggest they do not raise that. Let me talk about Chris Ellison. He has a long-term legal career, has a wide knowledge of the law, has worked as a senator for Western Australia, I think, for 16 years and has spent 10 years as a minister in the Howard government. What is he being engaged to do? He is being engaged, not as an environmental consultant, not as an advisor to the minister and not as an advisor to me. Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s for something that is worth $1 000 a day. He must be doing something. The SPEAKER : Order, Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : He has simply been engaged to chair public forums—no private meetings—that will be open to anyone and everyone, including the media and Labor members of Parliament, if they have an interest in the Kimberley. It will be a totally public, open process. Because of his standing in the community, his knowledge of the area and of various groups and his skill as a chairman and facilitator, I suggested that he do that role. That is all he will be doing. He has a contract over a three-month period. It is estimated that probably less than 20 days will be involved and he will be paid the princely sum of $125 an hour. I got it wrong yesterday when I think I said $145. Have members been to the dentist or physio or called an electrician to their houses lately? The amount of $125 an hour is what he is being paid, with the cap that, no matter how many hours he works in a day—knowing Chris Ellison, he will work long and hard at this task—he cannot be paid more than $1 000 a day. Mr M. McGowan : What about allowances? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Allowances? I do not expect him to walk to the Kimberley. I expect he will catch a plane and fly to the Kimberley, so the government will pay the airfare. I do not expect him to camp out on the creek bed so we will pay for him to stay in a hotel. His airfare and basic accommodation will be paid in line with government employment contracts. He will receive no other allowances or perks. Why is it that this miserable, rotten, low Labor Party comes in here — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Look at them, smiling away. The SPEAKER : Order! I presume the member for Collie-Preston was not having some sort of a seizure. I ask that, in future, he not perform in that manner in this house. I formally call him to order for the first time. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The poacher’s polka time! I do not know why it is; Labor Party members, I guess, look in their own ranks of rorting, double dipping, abuse, compromise and inappropriate appointments and they try to denigrate the decent people in our community. I have to say that Chris Ellison is a friend of mine, not a close friend — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oh, how uncanny! There he goes! The brains trust of the Labor Party, the sleaze machine himself, the dirty tricks man—look at him! There he goes! Withdrawal of Remark Mr M. McGOWAN : The Premier used a phrase in referring to another member that is clearly unparliamentary. I ask him to withdraw the phrase that he used about the member for Cannington. A government member: What was it? Mr M. McGOWAN : He used the phrase “sleaze machine” to describe the member for Cannington. I ask the Premier to withdraw. Further to the point of order, the member for Collie-Preston performed an act earlier for which there is a precedent and I think that needs to be noted. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! To the member for Rockingham’s first point of order, indeed, if the Premier did refer to the member using those words, I did not hear them; however, if he did, I certainly ask him to withdraw. On the second point of order the member raised, I have made a different determination about the behaviour of the member I have formally called to order. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I did not refer to the member by name but I was certainly looking him in the eye when I said those words, so I withdraw that. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : Chris Ellison is an entirely appropriate appointment; the appointment will hold. Members opposite had their little win; they had a photo of an eminent Western Australian on the front page of The West Australian —congratulations! If members opposite want to drag people down—do they want me to start? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do they want me to start working my way around the Labor Party; because we will do it? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite want to start, I can unchain the member for Jandakot! I can unchain the Treasurer, if that is what members opposite want! Chris Ellison is a decent Australian and a very proud Western Australian. I tell members opposite that we will not go down to those levels; we will not go into the gutter with the Labor Party! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite can stay in the gutter with themselves! They can stay right in that gutter with themselves. I will tell members what Chris Ellison has done, because he was so offended by the way he has been treated. Like I and others, he cares about the Kimberley and he wants to see the work there done properly. Chris Ellison has advised my office today that he has severed all ties with Enhance Group—he had a pretty loose arrangement so he has given that away. Is the opposition happy now? He has walked away from it. There is no conflict, but he has walked away from that because he would rather walk away than be on the front page and have slurs from the Labor Party. That is the sort of man he is; that is the sort of integrity he has. Is the Leader of the Opposition happy about that? Chris Ellison has walked away from Enhance because he is committed to helping out in the Kimberley. How does that compare with the Labor Party’s standards on pecuniary interest? How does that compare? Not too flash! Therefore, Chris Ellison will provide a letter to the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet to that effect. He will do the job and he will do it well. There is no report; there is no advice to government. With the assistance of staff from the Department of Environment and Conservation, who will provide him with a secretary, a report will be prepared about what was said at the various meetings. As a facilitator, he is someone who is able to get all groups to have the confidence to get up and express their point of view—a good thing. What is all this about? This is the first step in a $9 million commitment by the Liberal-National government to understand the science of the Kimberley and to commission scientific work so that we know more about the Kimberley so that when we take measures, which we will be doing, to conserve the most important parts of the Kimberley, we will get it right. Why is the opposition so upset about that? Was it because members opposite did nothing for eight years? What did they do in the Kimberley? What did members opposite achieve in the Kimberley in eight years? Nothing! Members opposite resent the fact that this government will do the science and conserve parts of the Kimberley and do it properly. I can think of no-one better qualified than Chris Ellison to chair the public forums. Although she is not in this place today, I am sure the member for Kimberley will attend those public forums and, indeed, I have invited her to come along and take part. I know she will because she cares about the Kimberley and she cares about the real issues, unlike the grovelling and the gutter sniping that we get from members opposite.
Mr R.H. Cook : It is hopelessly conflicting. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite want to talk about conflicts, we can go all day, one by one. I suggest they do not raise that. Let me talk about Chris Ellison. He has a long-term legal career, has a wide knowledge of the law, has worked as a senator for Western Australia, I think, for 16 years and has spent 10 years as a minister in the Howard government. What is he being engaged to do? He is being engaged, not as an environmental consultant, not as an advisor to the minister and not as an advisor to me. Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s for something that is worth $1 000 a day. He must be doing something. The SPEAKER : Order, Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : He has simply been engaged to chair public forums—no private meetings—that will be open to anyone and everyone, including the media and Labor members of Parliament, if they have an interest in the Kimberley. It will be a totally public, open process. Because of his standing in the community, his knowledge of the area and of various groups and his skill as a chairman and facilitator, I suggested that he do that role. That is all he will be doing. He has a contract over a three-month period. It is estimated that probably less than 20 days will be involved and he will be paid the princely sum of $125 an hour. I got it wrong yesterday when I think I said $145. Have members been to the dentist or physio or called an electrician to their houses lately? The amount of $125 an hour is what he is being paid, with the cap that, no matter how many hours he works in a day—knowing Chris Ellison, he will work long and hard at this task—he cannot be paid more than $1 000 a day. Mr M. McGowan : What about allowances? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Allowances? I do not expect him to walk to the Kimberley. I expect he will catch a plane and fly to the Kimberley, so the government will pay the airfare. I do not expect him to camp out on the creek bed so we will pay for him to stay in a hotel. His airfare and basic accommodation will be paid in line with government employment contracts. He will receive no other allowances or perks. Why is it that this miserable, rotten, low Labor Party comes in here — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Look at them, smiling away. The SPEAKER : Order! I presume the member for Collie-Preston was not having some sort of a seizure. I ask that, in future, he not perform in that manner in this house. I formally call him to order for the first time. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The poacher’s polka time! I do not know why it is; Labor Party members, I guess, look in their own ranks of rorting, double dipping, abuse, compromise and inappropriate appointments and they try to denigrate the decent people in our community. I have to say that Chris Ellison is a friend of mine, not a close friend — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oh, how uncanny! There he goes! The brains trust of the Labor Party, the sleaze machine himself, the dirty tricks man—look at him! There he goes! Withdrawal of Remark Mr M. McGOWAN : The Premier used a phrase in referring to another member that is clearly unparliamentary. I ask him to withdraw the phrase that he used about the member for Cannington. A government member: What was it? Mr M. McGOWAN : He used the phrase “sleaze machine” to describe the member for Cannington. I ask the Premier to withdraw. Further to the point of order, the member for Collie-Preston performed an act earlier for which there is a precedent and I think that needs to be noted. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! To the member for Rockingham’s first point of order, indeed, if the Premier did refer to the member using those words, I did not hear them; however, if he did, I certainly ask him to withdraw. On the second point of order the member raised, I have made a different determination about the behaviour of the member I have formally called to order. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I did not refer to the member by name but I was certainly looking him in the eye when I said those words, so I withdraw that. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : Chris Ellison is an entirely appropriate appointment; the appointment will hold. Members opposite had their little win; they had a photo of an eminent Western Australian on the front page of The West Australian —congratulations! If members opposite want to drag people down—do they want me to start? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do they want me to start working my way around the Labor Party; because we will do it? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite want to start, I can unchain the member for Jandakot! I can unchain the Treasurer, if that is what members opposite want! Chris Ellison is a decent Australian and a very proud Western Australian. I tell members opposite that we will not go down to those levels; we will not go into the gutter with the Labor Party! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite can stay in the gutter with themselves! They can stay right in that gutter with themselves. I will tell members what Chris Ellison has done, because he was so offended by the way he has been treated. Like I and others, he cares about the Kimberley and he wants to see the work there done properly. Chris Ellison has advised my office today that he has severed all ties with Enhance Group—he had a pretty loose arrangement so he has given that away. Is the opposition happy now? He has walked away from it. There is no conflict, but he has walked away from that because he would rather walk away than be on the front page and have slurs from the Labor Party. That is the sort of man he is; that is the sort of integrity he has. Is the Leader of the Opposition happy about that? Chris Ellison has walked away from Enhance because he is committed to helping out in the Kimberley. How does that compare with the Labor Party’s standards on pecuniary interest? How does that compare? Not too flash! Therefore, Chris Ellison will provide a letter to the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet to that effect. He will do the job and he will do it well. There is no report; there is no advice to government. With the assistance of staff from the Department of Environment and Conservation, who will provide him with a secretary, a report will be prepared about what was said at the various meetings. As a facilitator, he is someone who is able to get all groups to have the confidence to get up and express their point of view—a good thing. What is all this about? This is the first step in a $9 million commitment by the Liberal-National government to understand the science of the Kimberley and to commission scientific work so that we know more about the Kimberley so that when we take measures, which we will be doing, to conserve the most important parts of the Kimberley, we will get it right. Why is the opposition so upset about that? Was it because members opposite did nothing for eight years? What did they do in the Kimberley? What did members opposite achieve in the Kimberley in eight years? Nothing! Members opposite resent the fact that this government will do the science and conserve parts of the Kimberley and do it properly. I can think of no-one better qualified than Chris Ellison to chair the public forums. Although she is not in this place today, I am sure the member for Kimberley will attend those public forums and, indeed, I have invited her to come along and take part. I know she will because she cares about the Kimberley and she cares about the real issues, unlike the grovelling and the gutter sniping that we get from members opposite.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite want to talk about conflicts, we can go all day, one by one. I suggest they do not raise that. Let me talk about Chris Ellison. He has a long-term legal career, has a wide knowledge of the law, has worked as a senator for Western Australia, I think, for 16 years and has spent 10 years as a minister in the Howard government. What is he being engaged to do? He is being engaged, not as an environmental consultant, not as an advisor to the minister and not as an advisor to me. Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s for something that is worth $1 000 a day. He must be doing something. The SPEAKER : Order, Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : He has simply been engaged to chair public forums—no private meetings—that will be open to anyone and everyone, including the media and Labor members of Parliament, if they have an interest in the Kimberley. It will be a totally public, open process. Because of his standing in the community, his knowledge of the area and of various groups and his skill as a chairman and facilitator, I suggested that he do that role. That is all he will be doing. He has a contract over a three-month period. It is estimated that probably less than 20 days will be involved and he will be paid the princely sum of $125 an hour. I got it wrong yesterday when I think I said $145. Have members been to the dentist or physio or called an electrician to their houses lately? The amount of $125 an hour is what he is being paid, with the cap that, no matter how many hours he works in a day—knowing Chris Ellison, he will work long and hard at this task—he cannot be paid more than $1 000 a day. Mr M. McGowan : What about allowances? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Allowances? I do not expect him to walk to the Kimberley. I expect he will catch a plane and fly to the Kimberley, so the government will pay the airfare. I do not expect him to camp out on the creek bed so we will pay for him to stay in a hotel. His airfare and basic accommodation will be paid in line with government employment contracts. He will receive no other allowances or perks. Why is it that this miserable, rotten, low Labor Party comes in here — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Look at them, smiling away. The SPEAKER : Order! I presume the member for Collie-Preston was not having some sort of a seizure. I ask that, in future, he not perform in that manner in this house. I formally call him to order for the first time. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The poacher’s polka time! I do not know why it is; Labor Party members, I guess, look in their own ranks of rorting, double dipping, abuse, compromise and inappropriate appointments and they try to denigrate the decent people in our community. I have to say that Chris Ellison is a friend of mine, not a close friend — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oh, how uncanny! There he goes! The brains trust of the Labor Party, the sleaze machine himself, the dirty tricks man—look at him! There he goes! Withdrawal of Remark Mr M. McGOWAN : The Premier used a phrase in referring to another member that is clearly unparliamentary. I ask him to withdraw the phrase that he used about the member for Cannington. A government member: What was it? Mr M. McGOWAN : He used the phrase “sleaze machine” to describe the member for Cannington. I ask the Premier to withdraw. Further to the point of order, the member for Collie-Preston performed an act earlier for which there is a precedent and I think that needs to be noted. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! To the member for Rockingham’s first point of order, indeed, if the Premier did refer to the member using those words, I did not hear them; however, if he did, I certainly ask him to withdraw. On the second point of order the member raised, I have made a different determination about the behaviour of the member I have formally called to order. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I did not refer to the member by name but I was certainly looking him in the eye when I said those words, so I withdraw that. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : Chris Ellison is an entirely appropriate appointment; the appointment will hold. Members opposite had their little win; they had a photo of an eminent Western Australian on the front page of The West Australian —congratulations! If members opposite want to drag people down—do they want me to start? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do they want me to start working my way around the Labor Party; because we will do it? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite want to start, I can unchain the member for Jandakot! I can unchain the Treasurer, if that is what members opposite want! Chris Ellison is a decent Australian and a very proud Western Australian. I tell members opposite that we will not go down to those levels; we will not go into the gutter with the Labor Party! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite can stay in the gutter with themselves! They can stay right in that gutter with themselves. I will tell members what Chris Ellison has done, because he was so offended by the way he has been treated. Like I and others, he cares about the Kimberley and he wants to see the work there done properly. Chris Ellison has advised my office today that he has severed all ties with Enhance Group—he had a pretty loose arrangement so he has given that away. Is the opposition happy now? He has walked away from it. There is no conflict, but he has walked away from that because he would rather walk away than be on the front page and have slurs from the Labor Party. That is the sort of man he is; that is the sort of integrity he has. Is the Leader of the Opposition happy about that? Chris Ellison has walked away from Enhance because he is committed to helping out in the Kimberley. How does that compare with the Labor Party’s standards on pecuniary interest? How does that compare? Not too flash! Therefore, Chris Ellison will provide a letter to the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet to that effect. He will do the job and he will do it well. There is no report; there is no advice to government. With the assistance of staff from the Department of Environment and Conservation, who will provide him with a secretary, a report will be prepared about what was said at the various meetings. As a facilitator, he is someone who is able to get all groups to have the confidence to get up and express their point of view—a good thing. What is all this about? This is the first step in a $9 million commitment by the Liberal-National government to understand the science of the Kimberley and to commission scientific work so that we know more about the Kimberley so that when we take measures, which we will be doing, to conserve the most important parts of the Kimberley, we will get it right. Why is the opposition so upset about that? Was it because members opposite did nothing for eight years? What did they do in the Kimberley? What did members opposite achieve in the Kimberley in eight years? Nothing! Members opposite resent the fact that this government will do the science and conserve parts of the Kimberley and do it properly. I can think of no-one better qualified than Chris Ellison to chair the public forums. Although she is not in this place today, I am sure the member for Kimberley will attend those public forums and, indeed, I have invited her to come along and take part. I know she will because she cares about the Kimberley and she cares about the real issues, unlike the grovelling and the gutter sniping that we get from members opposite.
Let me talk about Chris Ellison. He has a long-term legal career, has a wide knowledge of the law, has worked as a senator for Western Australia, I think, for 16 years and has spent 10 years as a minister in the Howard government. What is he being engaged to do? He is being engaged, not as an environmental consultant, not as an advisor to the minister and not as an advisor to me. Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s for something that is worth $1 000 a day. He must be doing something. The SPEAKER : Order, Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : He has simply been engaged to chair public forums—no private meetings—that will be open to anyone and everyone, including the media and Labor members of Parliament, if they have an interest in the Kimberley. It will be a totally public, open process. Because of his standing in the community, his knowledge of the area and of various groups and his skill as a chairman and facilitator, I suggested that he do that role. That is all he will be doing. He has a contract over a three-month period. It is estimated that probably less than 20 days will be involved and he will be paid the princely sum of $125 an hour. I got it wrong yesterday when I think I said $145. Have members been to the dentist or physio or called an electrician to their houses lately? The amount of $125 an hour is what he is being paid, with the cap that, no matter how many hours he works in a day—knowing Chris Ellison, he will work long and hard at this task—he cannot be paid more than $1 000 a day. Mr M. McGowan : What about allowances? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Allowances? I do not expect him to walk to the Kimberley. I expect he will catch a plane and fly to the Kimberley, so the government will pay the airfare. I do not expect him to camp out on the creek bed so we will pay for him to stay in a hotel. His airfare and basic accommodation will be paid in line with government employment contracts. He will receive no other allowances or perks. Why is it that this miserable, rotten, low Labor Party comes in here — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Look at them, smiling away. The SPEAKER : Order! I presume the member for Collie-Preston was not having some sort of a seizure. I ask that, in future, he not perform in that manner in this house. I formally call him to order for the first time. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The poacher’s polka time! I do not know why it is; Labor Party members, I guess, look in their own ranks of rorting, double dipping, abuse, compromise and inappropriate appointments and they try to denigrate the decent people in our community. I have to say that Chris Ellison is a friend of mine, not a close friend — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oh, how uncanny! There he goes! The brains trust of the Labor Party, the sleaze machine himself, the dirty tricks man—look at him! There he goes! Withdrawal of Remark Mr M. McGOWAN : The Premier used a phrase in referring to another member that is clearly unparliamentary. I ask him to withdraw the phrase that he used about the member for Cannington. A government member: What was it? Mr M. McGOWAN : He used the phrase “sleaze machine” to describe the member for Cannington. I ask the Premier to withdraw. Further to the point of order, the member for Collie-Preston performed an act earlier for which there is a precedent and I think that needs to be noted. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! To the member for Rockingham’s first point of order, indeed, if the Premier did refer to the member using those words, I did not hear them; however, if he did, I certainly ask him to withdraw. On the second point of order the member raised, I have made a different determination about the behaviour of the member I have formally called to order. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I did not refer to the member by name but I was certainly looking him in the eye when I said those words, so I withdraw that. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : Chris Ellison is an entirely appropriate appointment; the appointment will hold. Members opposite had their little win; they had a photo of an eminent Western Australian on the front page of The West Australian —congratulations! If members opposite want to drag people down—do they want me to start? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do they want me to start working my way around the Labor Party; because we will do it? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite want to start, I can unchain the member for Jandakot! I can unchain the Treasurer, if that is what members opposite want! Chris Ellison is a decent Australian and a very proud Western Australian. I tell members opposite that we will not go down to those levels; we will not go into the gutter with the Labor Party! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite can stay in the gutter with themselves! They can stay right in that gutter with themselves. I will tell members what Chris Ellison has done, because he was so offended by the way he has been treated. Like I and others, he cares about the Kimberley and he wants to see the work there done properly. Chris Ellison has advised my office today that he has severed all ties with Enhance Group—he had a pretty loose arrangement so he has given that away. Is the opposition happy now? He has walked away from it. There is no conflict, but he has walked away from that because he would rather walk away than be on the front page and have slurs from the Labor Party. That is the sort of man he is; that is the sort of integrity he has. Is the Leader of the Opposition happy about that? Chris Ellison has walked away from Enhance because he is committed to helping out in the Kimberley. How does that compare with the Labor Party’s standards on pecuniary interest? How does that compare? Not too flash! Therefore, Chris Ellison will provide a letter to the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet to that effect. He will do the job and he will do it well. There is no report; there is no advice to government. With the assistance of staff from the Department of Environment and Conservation, who will provide him with a secretary, a report will be prepared about what was said at the various meetings. As a facilitator, he is someone who is able to get all groups to have the confidence to get up and express their point of view—a good thing. What is all this about? This is the first step in a $9 million commitment by the Liberal-National government to understand the science of the Kimberley and to commission scientific work so that we know more about the Kimberley so that when we take measures, which we will be doing, to conserve the most important parts of the Kimberley, we will get it right. Why is the opposition so upset about that? Was it because members opposite did nothing for eight years? What did they do in the Kimberley? What did members opposite achieve in the Kimberley in eight years? Nothing! Members opposite resent the fact that this government will do the science and conserve parts of the Kimberley and do it properly. I can think of no-one better qualified than Chris Ellison to chair the public forums. Although she is not in this place today, I am sure the member for Kimberley will attend those public forums and, indeed, I have invited her to come along and take part. I know she will because she cares about the Kimberley and she cares about the real issues, unlike the grovelling and the gutter sniping that we get from members opposite.
Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s for something that is worth $1 000 a day. He must be doing something. The SPEAKER : Order, Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : He has simply been engaged to chair public forums—no private meetings—that will be open to anyone and everyone, including the media and Labor members of Parliament, if they have an interest in the Kimberley. It will be a totally public, open process. Because of his standing in the community, his knowledge of the area and of various groups and his skill as a chairman and facilitator, I suggested that he do that role. That is all he will be doing. He has a contract over a three-month period. It is estimated that probably less than 20 days will be involved and he will be paid the princely sum of $125 an hour. I got it wrong yesterday when I think I said $145. Have members been to the dentist or physio or called an electrician to their houses lately? The amount of $125 an hour is what he is being paid, with the cap that, no matter how many hours he works in a day—knowing Chris Ellison, he will work long and hard at this task—he cannot be paid more than $1 000 a day. Mr M. McGowan : What about allowances? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Allowances? I do not expect him to walk to the Kimberley. I expect he will catch a plane and fly to the Kimberley, so the government will pay the airfare. I do not expect him to camp out on the creek bed so we will pay for him to stay in a hotel. His airfare and basic accommodation will be paid in line with government employment contracts. He will receive no other allowances or perks. Why is it that this miserable, rotten, low Labor Party comes in here — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Look at them, smiling away. The SPEAKER : Order! I presume the member for Collie-Preston was not having some sort of a seizure. I ask that, in future, he not perform in that manner in this house. I formally call him to order for the first time. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The poacher’s polka time! I do not know why it is; Labor Party members, I guess, look in their own ranks of rorting, double dipping, abuse, compromise and inappropriate appointments and they try to denigrate the decent people in our community. I have to say that Chris Ellison is a friend of mine, not a close friend — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oh, how uncanny! There he goes! The brains trust of the Labor Party, the sleaze machine himself, the dirty tricks man—look at him! There he goes! Withdrawal of Remark Mr M. McGOWAN : The Premier used a phrase in referring to another member that is clearly unparliamentary. I ask him to withdraw the phrase that he used about the member for Cannington. A government member: What was it? Mr M. McGOWAN : He used the phrase “sleaze machine” to describe the member for Cannington. I ask the Premier to withdraw. Further to the point of order, the member for Collie-Preston performed an act earlier for which there is a precedent and I think that needs to be noted. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! To the member for Rockingham’s first point of order, indeed, if the Premier did refer to the member using those words, I did not hear them; however, if he did, I certainly ask him to withdraw. On the second point of order the member raised, I have made a different determination about the behaviour of the member I have formally called to order. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I did not refer to the member by name but I was certainly looking him in the eye when I said those words, so I withdraw that. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : Chris Ellison is an entirely appropriate appointment; the appointment will hold. Members opposite had their little win; they had a photo of an eminent Western Australian on the front page of The West Australian —congratulations! If members opposite want to drag people down—do they want me to start? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do they want me to start working my way around the Labor Party; because we will do it? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite want to start, I can unchain the member for Jandakot! I can unchain the Treasurer, if that is what members opposite want! Chris Ellison is a decent Australian and a very proud Western Australian. I tell members opposite that we will not go down to those levels; we will not go into the gutter with the Labor Party! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite can stay in the gutter with themselves! They can stay right in that gutter with themselves. I will tell members what Chris Ellison has done, because he was so offended by the way he has been treated. Like I and others, he cares about the Kimberley and he wants to see the work there done properly. Chris Ellison has advised my office today that he has severed all ties with Enhance Group—he had a pretty loose arrangement so he has given that away. Is the opposition happy now? He has walked away from it. There is no conflict, but he has walked away from that because he would rather walk away than be on the front page and have slurs from the Labor Party. That is the sort of man he is; that is the sort of integrity he has. Is the Leader of the Opposition happy about that? Chris Ellison has walked away from Enhance because he is committed to helping out in the Kimberley. How does that compare with the Labor Party’s standards on pecuniary interest? How does that compare? Not too flash! Therefore, Chris Ellison will provide a letter to the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet to that effect. He will do the job and he will do it well. There is no report; there is no advice to government. With the assistance of staff from the Department of Environment and Conservation, who will provide him with a secretary, a report will be prepared about what was said at the various meetings. As a facilitator, he is someone who is able to get all groups to have the confidence to get up and express their point of view—a good thing. What is all this about? This is the first step in a $9 million commitment by the Liberal-National government to understand the science of the Kimberley and to commission scientific work so that we know more about the Kimberley so that when we take measures, which we will be doing, to conserve the most important parts of the Kimberley, we will get it right. Why is the opposition so upset about that? Was it because members opposite did nothing for eight years? What did they do in the Kimberley? What did members opposite achieve in the Kimberley in eight years? Nothing! Members opposite resent the fact that this government will do the science and conserve parts of the Kimberley and do it properly. I can think of no-one better qualified than Chris Ellison to chair the public forums. Although she is not in this place today, I am sure the member for Kimberley will attend those public forums and, indeed, I have invited her to come along and take part. I know she will because she cares about the Kimberley and she cares about the real issues, unlike the grovelling and the gutter sniping that we get from members opposite.
The SPEAKER : Order, Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : He has simply been engaged to chair public forums—no private meetings—that will be open to anyone and everyone, including the media and Labor members of Parliament, if they have an interest in the Kimberley. It will be a totally public, open process. Because of his standing in the community, his knowledge of the area and of various groups and his skill as a chairman and facilitator, I suggested that he do that role. That is all he will be doing. He has a contract over a three-month period. It is estimated that probably less than 20 days will be involved and he will be paid the princely sum of $125 an hour. I got it wrong yesterday when I think I said $145. Have members been to the dentist or physio or called an electrician to their houses lately? The amount of $125 an hour is what he is being paid, with the cap that, no matter how many hours he works in a day—knowing Chris Ellison, he will work long and hard at this task—he cannot be paid more than $1 000 a day. Mr M. McGowan : What about allowances? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Allowances? I do not expect him to walk to the Kimberley. I expect he will catch a plane and fly to the Kimberley, so the government will pay the airfare. I do not expect him to camp out on the creek bed so we will pay for him to stay in a hotel. His airfare and basic accommodation will be paid in line with government employment contracts. He will receive no other allowances or perks. Why is it that this miserable, rotten, low Labor Party comes in here — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Look at them, smiling away. The SPEAKER : Order! I presume the member for Collie-Preston was not having some sort of a seizure. I ask that, in future, he not perform in that manner in this house. I formally call him to order for the first time. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The poacher’s polka time! I do not know why it is; Labor Party members, I guess, look in their own ranks of rorting, double dipping, abuse, compromise and inappropriate appointments and they try to denigrate the decent people in our community. I have to say that Chris Ellison is a friend of mine, not a close friend — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oh, how uncanny! There he goes! The brains trust of the Labor Party, the sleaze machine himself, the dirty tricks man—look at him! There he goes! Withdrawal of Remark Mr M. McGOWAN : The Premier used a phrase in referring to another member that is clearly unparliamentary. I ask him to withdraw the phrase that he used about the member for Cannington. A government member: What was it? Mr M. McGOWAN : He used the phrase “sleaze machine” to describe the member for Cannington. I ask the Premier to withdraw. Further to the point of order, the member for Collie-Preston performed an act earlier for which there is a precedent and I think that needs to be noted. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! To the member for Rockingham’s first point of order, indeed, if the Premier did refer to the member using those words, I did not hear them; however, if he did, I certainly ask him to withdraw. On the second point of order the member raised, I have made a different determination about the behaviour of the member I have formally called to order. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I did not refer to the member by name but I was certainly looking him in the eye when I said those words, so I withdraw that. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : Chris Ellison is an entirely appropriate appointment; the appointment will hold. Members opposite had their little win; they had a photo of an eminent Western Australian on the front page of The West Australian —congratulations! If members opposite want to drag people down—do they want me to start? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do they want me to start working my way around the Labor Party; because we will do it? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite want to start, I can unchain the member for Jandakot! I can unchain the Treasurer, if that is what members opposite want! Chris Ellison is a decent Australian and a very proud Western Australian. I tell members opposite that we will not go down to those levels; we will not go into the gutter with the Labor Party! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite can stay in the gutter with themselves! They can stay right in that gutter with themselves. I will tell members what Chris Ellison has done, because he was so offended by the way he has been treated. Like I and others, he cares about the Kimberley and he wants to see the work there done properly. Chris Ellison has advised my office today that he has severed all ties with Enhance Group—he had a pretty loose arrangement so he has given that away. Is the opposition happy now? He has walked away from it. There is no conflict, but he has walked away from that because he would rather walk away than be on the front page and have slurs from the Labor Party. That is the sort of man he is; that is the sort of integrity he has. Is the Leader of the Opposition happy about that? Chris Ellison has walked away from Enhance because he is committed to helping out in the Kimberley. How does that compare with the Labor Party’s standards on pecuniary interest? How does that compare? Not too flash! Therefore, Chris Ellison will provide a letter to the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet to that effect. He will do the job and he will do it well. There is no report; there is no advice to government. With the assistance of staff from the Department of Environment and Conservation, who will provide him with a secretary, a report will be prepared about what was said at the various meetings. As a facilitator, he is someone who is able to get all groups to have the confidence to get up and express their point of view—a good thing. What is all this about? This is the first step in a $9 million commitment by the Liberal-National government to understand the science of the Kimberley and to commission scientific work so that we know more about the Kimberley so that when we take measures, which we will be doing, to conserve the most important parts of the Kimberley, we will get it right. Why is the opposition so upset about that? Was it because members opposite did nothing for eight years? What did they do in the Kimberley? What did members opposite achieve in the Kimberley in eight years? Nothing! Members opposite resent the fact that this government will do the science and conserve parts of the Kimberley and do it properly. I can think of no-one better qualified than Chris Ellison to chair the public forums. Although she is not in this place today, I am sure the member for Kimberley will attend those public forums and, indeed, I have invited her to come along and take part. I know she will because she cares about the Kimberley and she cares about the real issues, unlike the grovelling and the gutter sniping that we get from members opposite.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : He has simply been engaged to chair public forums—no private meetings—that will be open to anyone and everyone, including the media and Labor members of Parliament, if they have an interest in the Kimberley. It will be a totally public, open process. Because of his standing in the community, his knowledge of the area and of various groups and his skill as a chairman and facilitator, I suggested that he do that role. That is all he will be doing. He has a contract over a three-month period. It is estimated that probably less than 20 days will be involved and he will be paid the princely sum of $125 an hour. I got it wrong yesterday when I think I said $145. Have members been to the dentist or physio or called an electrician to their houses lately? The amount of $125 an hour is what he is being paid, with the cap that, no matter how many hours he works in a day—knowing Chris Ellison, he will work long and hard at this task—he cannot be paid more than $1 000 a day. Mr M. McGowan : What about allowances? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Allowances? I do not expect him to walk to the Kimberley. I expect he will catch a plane and fly to the Kimberley, so the government will pay the airfare. I do not expect him to camp out on the creek bed so we will pay for him to stay in a hotel. His airfare and basic accommodation will be paid in line with government employment contracts. He will receive no other allowances or perks. Why is it that this miserable, rotten, low Labor Party comes in here — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Look at them, smiling away. The SPEAKER : Order! I presume the member for Collie-Preston was not having some sort of a seizure. I ask that, in future, he not perform in that manner in this house. I formally call him to order for the first time. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The poacher’s polka time! I do not know why it is; Labor Party members, I guess, look in their own ranks of rorting, double dipping, abuse, compromise and inappropriate appointments and they try to denigrate the decent people in our community. I have to say that Chris Ellison is a friend of mine, not a close friend — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oh, how uncanny! There he goes! The brains trust of the Labor Party, the sleaze machine himself, the dirty tricks man—look at him! There he goes! Withdrawal of Remark Mr M. McGOWAN : The Premier used a phrase in referring to another member that is clearly unparliamentary. I ask him to withdraw the phrase that he used about the member for Cannington. A government member: What was it? Mr M. McGOWAN : He used the phrase “sleaze machine” to describe the member for Cannington. I ask the Premier to withdraw. Further to the point of order, the member for Collie-Preston performed an act earlier for which there is a precedent and I think that needs to be noted. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! To the member for Rockingham’s first point of order, indeed, if the Premier did refer to the member using those words, I did not hear them; however, if he did, I certainly ask him to withdraw. On the second point of order the member raised, I have made a different determination about the behaviour of the member I have formally called to order. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I did not refer to the member by name but I was certainly looking him in the eye when I said those words, so I withdraw that. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : Chris Ellison is an entirely appropriate appointment; the appointment will hold. Members opposite had their little win; they had a photo of an eminent Western Australian on the front page of The West Australian —congratulations! If members opposite want to drag people down—do they want me to start? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do they want me to start working my way around the Labor Party; because we will do it? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite want to start, I can unchain the member for Jandakot! I can unchain the Treasurer, if that is what members opposite want! Chris Ellison is a decent Australian and a very proud Western Australian. I tell members opposite that we will not go down to those levels; we will not go into the gutter with the Labor Party! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite can stay in the gutter with themselves! They can stay right in that gutter with themselves. I will tell members what Chris Ellison has done, because he was so offended by the way he has been treated. Like I and others, he cares about the Kimberley and he wants to see the work there done properly. Chris Ellison has advised my office today that he has severed all ties with Enhance Group—he had a pretty loose arrangement so he has given that away. Is the opposition happy now? He has walked away from it. There is no conflict, but he has walked away from that because he would rather walk away than be on the front page and have slurs from the Labor Party. That is the sort of man he is; that is the sort of integrity he has. Is the Leader of the Opposition happy about that? Chris Ellison has walked away from Enhance because he is committed to helping out in the Kimberley. How does that compare with the Labor Party’s standards on pecuniary interest? How does that compare? Not too flash! Therefore, Chris Ellison will provide a letter to the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet to that effect. He will do the job and he will do it well. There is no report; there is no advice to government. With the assistance of staff from the Department of Environment and Conservation, who will provide him with a secretary, a report will be prepared about what was said at the various meetings. As a facilitator, he is someone who is able to get all groups to have the confidence to get up and express their point of view—a good thing. What is all this about? This is the first step in a $9 million commitment by the Liberal-National government to understand the science of the Kimberley and to commission scientific work so that we know more about the Kimberley so that when we take measures, which we will be doing, to conserve the most important parts of the Kimberley, we will get it right. Why is the opposition so upset about that? Was it because members opposite did nothing for eight years? What did they do in the Kimberley? What did members opposite achieve in the Kimberley in eight years? Nothing! Members opposite resent the fact that this government will do the science and conserve parts of the Kimberley and do it properly. I can think of no-one better qualified than Chris Ellison to chair the public forums. Although she is not in this place today, I am sure the member for Kimberley will attend those public forums and, indeed, I have invited her to come along and take part. I know she will because she cares about the Kimberley and she cares about the real issues, unlike the grovelling and the gutter sniping that we get from members opposite.
Mr M. McGowan : What about allowances? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Allowances? I do not expect him to walk to the Kimberley. I expect he will catch a plane and fly to the Kimberley, so the government will pay the airfare. I do not expect him to camp out on the creek bed so we will pay for him to stay in a hotel. His airfare and basic accommodation will be paid in line with government employment contracts. He will receive no other allowances or perks. Why is it that this miserable, rotten, low Labor Party comes in here — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Look at them, smiling away. The SPEAKER : Order! I presume the member for Collie-Preston was not having some sort of a seizure. I ask that, in future, he not perform in that manner in this house. I formally call him to order for the first time. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The poacher’s polka time! I do not know why it is; Labor Party members, I guess, look in their own ranks of rorting, double dipping, abuse, compromise and inappropriate appointments and they try to denigrate the decent people in our community. I have to say that Chris Ellison is a friend of mine, not a close friend — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oh, how uncanny! There he goes! The brains trust of the Labor Party, the sleaze machine himself, the dirty tricks man—look at him! There he goes! Withdrawal of Remark Mr M. McGOWAN : The Premier used a phrase in referring to another member that is clearly unparliamentary. I ask him to withdraw the phrase that he used about the member for Cannington. A government member: What was it? Mr M. McGOWAN : He used the phrase “sleaze machine” to describe the member for Cannington. I ask the Premier to withdraw. Further to the point of order, the member for Collie-Preston performed an act earlier for which there is a precedent and I think that needs to be noted. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! To the member for Rockingham’s first point of order, indeed, if the Premier did refer to the member using those words, I did not hear them; however, if he did, I certainly ask him to withdraw. On the second point of order the member raised, I have made a different determination about the behaviour of the member I have formally called to order. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I did not refer to the member by name but I was certainly looking him in the eye when I said those words, so I withdraw that. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : Chris Ellison is an entirely appropriate appointment; the appointment will hold. Members opposite had their little win; they had a photo of an eminent Western Australian on the front page of The West Australian —congratulations! If members opposite want to drag people down—do they want me to start? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do they want me to start working my way around the Labor Party; because we will do it? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite want to start, I can unchain the member for Jandakot! I can unchain the Treasurer, if that is what members opposite want! Chris Ellison is a decent Australian and a very proud Western Australian. I tell members opposite that we will not go down to those levels; we will not go into the gutter with the Labor Party! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite can stay in the gutter with themselves! They can stay right in that gutter with themselves. I will tell members what Chris Ellison has done, because he was so offended by the way he has been treated. Like I and others, he cares about the Kimberley and he wants to see the work there done properly. Chris Ellison has advised my office today that he has severed all ties with Enhance Group—he had a pretty loose arrangement so he has given that away. Is the opposition happy now? He has walked away from it. There is no conflict, but he has walked away from that because he would rather walk away than be on the front page and have slurs from the Labor Party. That is the sort of man he is; that is the sort of integrity he has. Is the Leader of the Opposition happy about that? Chris Ellison has walked away from Enhance because he is committed to helping out in the Kimberley. How does that compare with the Labor Party’s standards on pecuniary interest? How does that compare? Not too flash! Therefore, Chris Ellison will provide a letter to the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet to that effect. He will do the job and he will do it well. There is no report; there is no advice to government. With the assistance of staff from the Department of Environment and Conservation, who will provide him with a secretary, a report will be prepared about what was said at the various meetings. As a facilitator, he is someone who is able to get all groups to have the confidence to get up and express their point of view—a good thing. What is all this about? This is the first step in a $9 million commitment by the Liberal-National government to understand the science of the Kimberley and to commission scientific work so that we know more about the Kimberley so that when we take measures, which we will be doing, to conserve the most important parts of the Kimberley, we will get it right. Why is the opposition so upset about that? Was it because members opposite did nothing for eight years? What did they do in the Kimberley? What did members opposite achieve in the Kimberley in eight years? Nothing! Members opposite resent the fact that this government will do the science and conserve parts of the Kimberley and do it properly. I can think of no-one better qualified than Chris Ellison to chair the public forums. Although she is not in this place today, I am sure the member for Kimberley will attend those public forums and, indeed, I have invited her to come along and take part. I know she will because she cares about the Kimberley and she cares about the real issues, unlike the grovelling and the gutter sniping that we get from members opposite.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Allowances? I do not expect him to walk to the Kimberley. I expect he will catch a plane and fly to the Kimberley, so the government will pay the airfare. I do not expect him to camp out on the creek bed so we will pay for him to stay in a hotel. His airfare and basic accommodation will be paid in line with government employment contracts. He will receive no other allowances or perks. Why is it that this miserable, rotten, low Labor Party comes in here — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Look at them, smiling away. The SPEAKER : Order! I presume the member for Collie-Preston was not having some sort of a seizure. I ask that, in future, he not perform in that manner in this house. I formally call him to order for the first time. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The poacher’s polka time! I do not know why it is; Labor Party members, I guess, look in their own ranks of rorting, double dipping, abuse, compromise and inappropriate appointments and they try to denigrate the decent people in our community. I have to say that Chris Ellison is a friend of mine, not a close friend — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oh, how uncanny! There he goes! The brains trust of the Labor Party, the sleaze machine himself, the dirty tricks man—look at him! There he goes! Withdrawal of Remark Mr M. McGOWAN : The Premier used a phrase in referring to another member that is clearly unparliamentary. I ask him to withdraw the phrase that he used about the member for Cannington. A government member: What was it? Mr M. McGOWAN : He used the phrase “sleaze machine” to describe the member for Cannington. I ask the Premier to withdraw. Further to the point of order, the member for Collie-Preston performed an act earlier for which there is a precedent and I think that needs to be noted. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! To the member for Rockingham’s first point of order, indeed, if the Premier did refer to the member using those words, I did not hear them; however, if he did, I certainly ask him to withdraw. On the second point of order the member raised, I have made a different determination about the behaviour of the member I have formally called to order. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I did not refer to the member by name but I was certainly looking him in the eye when I said those words, so I withdraw that. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : Chris Ellison is an entirely appropriate appointment; the appointment will hold. Members opposite had their little win; they had a photo of an eminent Western Australian on the front page of The West Australian —congratulations! If members opposite want to drag people down—do they want me to start? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do they want me to start working my way around the Labor Party; because we will do it? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite want to start, I can unchain the member for Jandakot! I can unchain the Treasurer, if that is what members opposite want! Chris Ellison is a decent Australian and a very proud Western Australian. I tell members opposite that we will not go down to those levels; we will not go into the gutter with the Labor Party! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite can stay in the gutter with themselves! They can stay right in that gutter with themselves. I will tell members what Chris Ellison has done, because he was so offended by the way he has been treated. Like I and others, he cares about the Kimberley and he wants to see the work there done properly. Chris Ellison has advised my office today that he has severed all ties with Enhance Group—he had a pretty loose arrangement so he has given that away. Is the opposition happy now? He has walked away from it. There is no conflict, but he has walked away from that because he would rather walk away than be on the front page and have slurs from the Labor Party. That is the sort of man he is; that is the sort of integrity he has. Is the Leader of the Opposition happy about that? Chris Ellison has walked away from Enhance because he is committed to helping out in the Kimberley. How does that compare with the Labor Party’s standards on pecuniary interest? How does that compare? Not too flash! Therefore, Chris Ellison will provide a letter to the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet to that effect. He will do the job and he will do it well. There is no report; there is no advice to government. With the assistance of staff from the Department of Environment and Conservation, who will provide him with a secretary, a report will be prepared about what was said at the various meetings. As a facilitator, he is someone who is able to get all groups to have the confidence to get up and express their point of view—a good thing. What is all this about? This is the first step in a $9 million commitment by the Liberal-National government to understand the science of the Kimberley and to commission scientific work so that we know more about the Kimberley so that when we take measures, which we will be doing, to conserve the most important parts of the Kimberley, we will get it right. Why is the opposition so upset about that? Was it because members opposite did nothing for eight years? What did they do in the Kimberley? What did members opposite achieve in the Kimberley in eight years? Nothing! Members opposite resent the fact that this government will do the science and conserve parts of the Kimberley and do it properly. I can think of no-one better qualified than Chris Ellison to chair the public forums. Although she is not in this place today, I am sure the member for Kimberley will attend those public forums and, indeed, I have invited her to come along and take part. I know she will because she cares about the Kimberley and she cares about the real issues, unlike the grovelling and the gutter sniping that we get from members opposite.
Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Look at them, smiling away. The SPEAKER : Order! I presume the member for Collie-Preston was not having some sort of a seizure. I ask that, in future, he not perform in that manner in this house. I formally call him to order for the first time. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The poacher’s polka time! I do not know why it is; Labor Party members, I guess, look in their own ranks of rorting, double dipping, abuse, compromise and inappropriate appointments and they try to denigrate the decent people in our community. I have to say that Chris Ellison is a friend of mine, not a close friend — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oh, how uncanny! There he goes! The brains trust of the Labor Party, the sleaze machine himself, the dirty tricks man—look at him! There he goes! Withdrawal of Remark Mr M. McGOWAN : The Premier used a phrase in referring to another member that is clearly unparliamentary. I ask him to withdraw the phrase that he used about the member for Cannington. A government member: What was it? Mr M. McGOWAN : He used the phrase “sleaze machine” to describe the member for Cannington. I ask the Premier to withdraw. Further to the point of order, the member for Collie-Preston performed an act earlier for which there is a precedent and I think that needs to be noted. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! To the member for Rockingham’s first point of order, indeed, if the Premier did refer to the member using those words, I did not hear them; however, if he did, I certainly ask him to withdraw. On the second point of order the member raised, I have made a different determination about the behaviour of the member I have formally called to order. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I did not refer to the member by name but I was certainly looking him in the eye when I said those words, so I withdraw that. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : Chris Ellison is an entirely appropriate appointment; the appointment will hold. Members opposite had their little win; they had a photo of an eminent Western Australian on the front page of The West Australian —congratulations! If members opposite want to drag people down—do they want me to start? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do they want me to start working my way around the Labor Party; because we will do it? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite want to start, I can unchain the member for Jandakot! I can unchain the Treasurer, if that is what members opposite want! Chris Ellison is a decent Australian and a very proud Western Australian. I tell members opposite that we will not go down to those levels; we will not go into the gutter with the Labor Party! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite can stay in the gutter with themselves! They can stay right in that gutter with themselves. I will tell members what Chris Ellison has done, because he was so offended by the way he has been treated. Like I and others, he cares about the Kimberley and he wants to see the work there done properly. Chris Ellison has advised my office today that he has severed all ties with Enhance Group—he had a pretty loose arrangement so he has given that away. Is the opposition happy now? He has walked away from it. There is no conflict, but he has walked away from that because he would rather walk away than be on the front page and have slurs from the Labor Party. That is the sort of man he is; that is the sort of integrity he has. Is the Leader of the Opposition happy about that? Chris Ellison has walked away from Enhance because he is committed to helping out in the Kimberley. How does that compare with the Labor Party’s standards on pecuniary interest? How does that compare? Not too flash! Therefore, Chris Ellison will provide a letter to the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet to that effect. He will do the job and he will do it well. There is no report; there is no advice to government. With the assistance of staff from the Department of Environment and Conservation, who will provide him with a secretary, a report will be prepared about what was said at the various meetings. As a facilitator, he is someone who is able to get all groups to have the confidence to get up and express their point of view—a good thing. What is all this about? This is the first step in a $9 million commitment by the Liberal-National government to understand the science of the Kimberley and to commission scientific work so that we know more about the Kimberley so that when we take measures, which we will be doing, to conserve the most important parts of the Kimberley, we will get it right. Why is the opposition so upset about that? Was it because members opposite did nothing for eight years? What did they do in the Kimberley? What did members opposite achieve in the Kimberley in eight years? Nothing! Members opposite resent the fact that this government will do the science and conserve parts of the Kimberley and do it properly. I can think of no-one better qualified than Chris Ellison to chair the public forums. Although she is not in this place today, I am sure the member for Kimberley will attend those public forums and, indeed, I have invited her to come along and take part. I know she will because she cares about the Kimberley and she cares about the real issues, unlike the grovelling and the gutter sniping that we get from members opposite.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Look at them, smiling away. The SPEAKER : Order! I presume the member for Collie-Preston was not having some sort of a seizure. I ask that, in future, he not perform in that manner in this house. I formally call him to order for the first time. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The poacher’s polka time! I do not know why it is; Labor Party members, I guess, look in their own ranks of rorting, double dipping, abuse, compromise and inappropriate appointments and they try to denigrate the decent people in our community. I have to say that Chris Ellison is a friend of mine, not a close friend — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oh, how uncanny! There he goes! The brains trust of the Labor Party, the sleaze machine himself, the dirty tricks man—look at him! There he goes! Withdrawal of Remark Mr M. McGOWAN : The Premier used a phrase in referring to another member that is clearly unparliamentary. I ask him to withdraw the phrase that he used about the member for Cannington. A government member: What was it? Mr M. McGOWAN : He used the phrase “sleaze machine” to describe the member for Cannington. I ask the Premier to withdraw. Further to the point of order, the member for Collie-Preston performed an act earlier for which there is a precedent and I think that needs to be noted. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! To the member for Rockingham’s first point of order, indeed, if the Premier did refer to the member using those words, I did not hear them; however, if he did, I certainly ask him to withdraw. On the second point of order the member raised, I have made a different determination about the behaviour of the member I have formally called to order. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I did not refer to the member by name but I was certainly looking him in the eye when I said those words, so I withdraw that. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : Chris Ellison is an entirely appropriate appointment; the appointment will hold. Members opposite had their little win; they had a photo of an eminent Western Australian on the front page of The West Australian —congratulations! If members opposite want to drag people down—do they want me to start? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do they want me to start working my way around the Labor Party; because we will do it? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite want to start, I can unchain the member for Jandakot! I can unchain the Treasurer, if that is what members opposite want! Chris Ellison is a decent Australian and a very proud Western Australian. I tell members opposite that we will not go down to those levels; we will not go into the gutter with the Labor Party! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite can stay in the gutter with themselves! They can stay right in that gutter with themselves. I will tell members what Chris Ellison has done, because he was so offended by the way he has been treated. Like I and others, he cares about the Kimberley and he wants to see the work there done properly. Chris Ellison has advised my office today that he has severed all ties with Enhance Group—he had a pretty loose arrangement so he has given that away. Is the opposition happy now? He has walked away from it. There is no conflict, but he has walked away from that because he would rather walk away than be on the front page and have slurs from the Labor Party. That is the sort of man he is; that is the sort of integrity he has. Is the Leader of the Opposition happy about that? Chris Ellison has walked away from Enhance because he is committed to helping out in the Kimberley. How does that compare with the Labor Party’s standards on pecuniary interest? How does that compare? Not too flash! Therefore, Chris Ellison will provide a letter to the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet to that effect. He will do the job and he will do it well. There is no report; there is no advice to government. With the assistance of staff from the Department of Environment and Conservation, who will provide him with a secretary, a report will be prepared about what was said at the various meetings. As a facilitator, he is someone who is able to get all groups to have the confidence to get up and express their point of view—a good thing. What is all this about? This is the first step in a $9 million commitment by the Liberal-National government to understand the science of the Kimberley and to commission scientific work so that we know more about the Kimberley so that when we take measures, which we will be doing, to conserve the most important parts of the Kimberley, we will get it right. Why is the opposition so upset about that? Was it because members opposite did nothing for eight years? What did they do in the Kimberley? What did members opposite achieve in the Kimberley in eight years? Nothing! Members opposite resent the fact that this government will do the science and conserve parts of the Kimberley and do it properly. I can think of no-one better qualified than Chris Ellison to chair the public forums. Although she is not in this place today, I am sure the member for Kimberley will attend those public forums and, indeed, I have invited her to come along and take part. I know she will because she cares about the Kimberley and she cares about the real issues, unlike the grovelling and the gutter sniping that we get from members opposite.
The SPEAKER : Order! I presume the member for Collie-Preston was not having some sort of a seizure. I ask that, in future, he not perform in that manner in this house. I formally call him to order for the first time. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The poacher’s polka time! I do not know why it is; Labor Party members, I guess, look in their own ranks of rorting, double dipping, abuse, compromise and inappropriate appointments and they try to denigrate the decent people in our community. I have to say that Chris Ellison is a friend of mine, not a close friend — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oh, how uncanny! There he goes! The brains trust of the Labor Party, the sleaze machine himself, the dirty tricks man—look at him! There he goes! Withdrawal of Remark Mr M. McGOWAN : The Premier used a phrase in referring to another member that is clearly unparliamentary. I ask him to withdraw the phrase that he used about the member for Cannington. A government member: What was it? Mr M. McGOWAN : He used the phrase “sleaze machine” to describe the member for Cannington. I ask the Premier to withdraw. Further to the point of order, the member for Collie-Preston performed an act earlier for which there is a precedent and I think that needs to be noted. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! To the member for Rockingham’s first point of order, indeed, if the Premier did refer to the member using those words, I did not hear them; however, if he did, I certainly ask him to withdraw. On the second point of order the member raised, I have made a different determination about the behaviour of the member I have formally called to order. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I did not refer to the member by name but I was certainly looking him in the eye when I said those words, so I withdraw that. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : Chris Ellison is an entirely appropriate appointment; the appointment will hold. Members opposite had their little win; they had a photo of an eminent Western Australian on the front page of The West Australian —congratulations! If members opposite want to drag people down—do they want me to start? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do they want me to start working my way around the Labor Party; because we will do it? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite want to start, I can unchain the member for Jandakot! I can unchain the Treasurer, if that is what members opposite want! Chris Ellison is a decent Australian and a very proud Western Australian. I tell members opposite that we will not go down to those levels; we will not go into the gutter with the Labor Party! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite can stay in the gutter with themselves! They can stay right in that gutter with themselves. I will tell members what Chris Ellison has done, because he was so offended by the way he has been treated. Like I and others, he cares about the Kimberley and he wants to see the work there done properly. Chris Ellison has advised my office today that he has severed all ties with Enhance Group—he had a pretty loose arrangement so he has given that away. Is the opposition happy now? He has walked away from it. There is no conflict, but he has walked away from that because he would rather walk away than be on the front page and have slurs from the Labor Party. That is the sort of man he is; that is the sort of integrity he has. Is the Leader of the Opposition happy about that? Chris Ellison has walked away from Enhance because he is committed to helping out in the Kimberley. How does that compare with the Labor Party’s standards on pecuniary interest? How does that compare? Not too flash! Therefore, Chris Ellison will provide a letter to the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet to that effect. He will do the job and he will do it well. There is no report; there is no advice to government. With the assistance of staff from the Department of Environment and Conservation, who will provide him with a secretary, a report will be prepared about what was said at the various meetings. As a facilitator, he is someone who is able to get all groups to have the confidence to get up and express their point of view—a good thing. What is all this about? This is the first step in a $9 million commitment by the Liberal-National government to understand the science of the Kimberley and to commission scientific work so that we know more about the Kimberley so that when we take measures, which we will be doing, to conserve the most important parts of the Kimberley, we will get it right. Why is the opposition so upset about that? Was it because members opposite did nothing for eight years? What did they do in the Kimberley? What did members opposite achieve in the Kimberley in eight years? Nothing! Members opposite resent the fact that this government will do the science and conserve parts of the Kimberley and do it properly. I can think of no-one better qualified than Chris Ellison to chair the public forums. Although she is not in this place today, I am sure the member for Kimberley will attend those public forums and, indeed, I have invited her to come along and take part. I know she will because she cares about the Kimberley and she cares about the real issues, unlike the grovelling and the gutter sniping that we get from members opposite.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : The poacher’s polka time! I do not know why it is; Labor Party members, I guess, look in their own ranks of rorting, double dipping, abuse, compromise and inappropriate appointments and they try to denigrate the decent people in our community. I have to say that Chris Ellison is a friend of mine, not a close friend — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oh, how uncanny! There he goes! The brains trust of the Labor Party, the sleaze machine himself, the dirty tricks man—look at him! There he goes! Withdrawal of Remark Mr M. McGOWAN : The Premier used a phrase in referring to another member that is clearly unparliamentary. I ask him to withdraw the phrase that he used about the member for Cannington. A government member: What was it? Mr M. McGOWAN : He used the phrase “sleaze machine” to describe the member for Cannington. I ask the Premier to withdraw. Further to the point of order, the member for Collie-Preston performed an act earlier for which there is a precedent and I think that needs to be noted. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! To the member for Rockingham’s first point of order, indeed, if the Premier did refer to the member using those words, I did not hear them; however, if he did, I certainly ask him to withdraw. On the second point of order the member raised, I have made a different determination about the behaviour of the member I have formally called to order. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I did not refer to the member by name but I was certainly looking him in the eye when I said those words, so I withdraw that. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : Chris Ellison is an entirely appropriate appointment; the appointment will hold. Members opposite had their little win; they had a photo of an eminent Western Australian on the front page of The West Australian —congratulations! If members opposite want to drag people down—do they want me to start? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do they want me to start working my way around the Labor Party; because we will do it? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite want to start, I can unchain the member for Jandakot! I can unchain the Treasurer, if that is what members opposite want! Chris Ellison is a decent Australian and a very proud Western Australian. I tell members opposite that we will not go down to those levels; we will not go into the gutter with the Labor Party! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite can stay in the gutter with themselves! They can stay right in that gutter with themselves. I will tell members what Chris Ellison has done, because he was so offended by the way he has been treated. Like I and others, he cares about the Kimberley and he wants to see the work there done properly. Chris Ellison has advised my office today that he has severed all ties with Enhance Group—he had a pretty loose arrangement so he has given that away. Is the opposition happy now? He has walked away from it. There is no conflict, but he has walked away from that because he would rather walk away than be on the front page and have slurs from the Labor Party. That is the sort of man he is; that is the sort of integrity he has. Is the Leader of the Opposition happy about that? Chris Ellison has walked away from Enhance because he is committed to helping out in the Kimberley. How does that compare with the Labor Party’s standards on pecuniary interest? How does that compare? Not too flash! Therefore, Chris Ellison will provide a letter to the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet to that effect. He will do the job and he will do it well. There is no report; there is no advice to government. With the assistance of staff from the Department of Environment and Conservation, who will provide him with a secretary, a report will be prepared about what was said at the various meetings. As a facilitator, he is someone who is able to get all groups to have the confidence to get up and express their point of view—a good thing. What is all this about? This is the first step in a $9 million commitment by the Liberal-National government to understand the science of the Kimberley and to commission scientific work so that we know more about the Kimberley so that when we take measures, which we will be doing, to conserve the most important parts of the Kimberley, we will get it right. Why is the opposition so upset about that? Was it because members opposite did nothing for eight years? What did they do in the Kimberley? What did members opposite achieve in the Kimberley in eight years? Nothing! Members opposite resent the fact that this government will do the science and conserve parts of the Kimberley and do it properly. I can think of no-one better qualified than Chris Ellison to chair the public forums. Although she is not in this place today, I am sure the member for Kimberley will attend those public forums and, indeed, I have invited her to come along and take part. I know she will because she cares about the Kimberley and she cares about the real issues, unlike the grovelling and the gutter sniping that we get from members opposite.
I do not know why it is; Labor Party members, I guess, look in their own ranks of rorting, double dipping, abuse, compromise and inappropriate appointments and they try to denigrate the decent people in our community. I have to say that Chris Ellison is a friend of mine, not a close friend — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oh, how uncanny! There he goes! The brains trust of the Labor Party, the sleaze machine himself, the dirty tricks man—look at him! There he goes! Withdrawal of Remark Mr M. McGOWAN : The Premier used a phrase in referring to another member that is clearly unparliamentary. I ask him to withdraw the phrase that he used about the member for Cannington. A government member: What was it? Mr M. McGOWAN : He used the phrase “sleaze machine” to describe the member for Cannington. I ask the Premier to withdraw. Further to the point of order, the member for Collie-Preston performed an act earlier for which there is a precedent and I think that needs to be noted. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! To the member for Rockingham’s first point of order, indeed, if the Premier did refer to the member using those words, I did not hear them; however, if he did, I certainly ask him to withdraw. On the second point of order the member raised, I have made a different determination about the behaviour of the member I have formally called to order. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I did not refer to the member by name but I was certainly looking him in the eye when I said those words, so I withdraw that. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : Chris Ellison is an entirely appropriate appointment; the appointment will hold. Members opposite had their little win; they had a photo of an eminent Western Australian on the front page of The West Australian —congratulations! If members opposite want to drag people down—do they want me to start? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do they want me to start working my way around the Labor Party; because we will do it? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite want to start, I can unchain the member for Jandakot! I can unchain the Treasurer, if that is what members opposite want! Chris Ellison is a decent Australian and a very proud Western Australian. I tell members opposite that we will not go down to those levels; we will not go into the gutter with the Labor Party! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite can stay in the gutter with themselves! They can stay right in that gutter with themselves. I will tell members what Chris Ellison has done, because he was so offended by the way he has been treated. Like I and others, he cares about the Kimberley and he wants to see the work there done properly. Chris Ellison has advised my office today that he has severed all ties with Enhance Group—he had a pretty loose arrangement so he has given that away. Is the opposition happy now? He has walked away from it. There is no conflict, but he has walked away from that because he would rather walk away than be on the front page and have slurs from the Labor Party. That is the sort of man he is; that is the sort of integrity he has. Is the Leader of the Opposition happy about that? Chris Ellison has walked away from Enhance because he is committed to helping out in the Kimberley. How does that compare with the Labor Party’s standards on pecuniary interest? How does that compare? Not too flash! Therefore, Chris Ellison will provide a letter to the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet to that effect. He will do the job and he will do it well. There is no report; there is no advice to government. With the assistance of staff from the Department of Environment and Conservation, who will provide him with a secretary, a report will be prepared about what was said at the various meetings. As a facilitator, he is someone who is able to get all groups to have the confidence to get up and express their point of view—a good thing. What is all this about? This is the first step in a $9 million commitment by the Liberal-National government to understand the science of the Kimberley and to commission scientific work so that we know more about the Kimberley so that when we take measures, which we will be doing, to conserve the most important parts of the Kimberley, we will get it right. Why is the opposition so upset about that? Was it because members opposite did nothing for eight years? What did they do in the Kimberley? What did members opposite achieve in the Kimberley in eight years? Nothing! Members opposite resent the fact that this government will do the science and conserve parts of the Kimberley and do it properly. I can think of no-one better qualified than Chris Ellison to chair the public forums. Although she is not in this place today, I am sure the member for Kimberley will attend those public forums and, indeed, I have invited her to come along and take part. I know she will because she cares about the Kimberley and she cares about the real issues, unlike the grovelling and the gutter sniping that we get from members opposite.
Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oh, how uncanny! There he goes! The brains trust of the Labor Party, the sleaze machine himself, the dirty tricks man—look at him! There he goes! Withdrawal of Remark Mr M. McGOWAN : The Premier used a phrase in referring to another member that is clearly unparliamentary. I ask him to withdraw the phrase that he used about the member for Cannington. A government member: What was it? Mr M. McGOWAN : He used the phrase “sleaze machine” to describe the member for Cannington. I ask the Premier to withdraw. Further to the point of order, the member for Collie-Preston performed an act earlier for which there is a precedent and I think that needs to be noted. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! To the member for Rockingham’s first point of order, indeed, if the Premier did refer to the member using those words, I did not hear them; however, if he did, I certainly ask him to withdraw. On the second point of order the member raised, I have made a different determination about the behaviour of the member I have formally called to order. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I did not refer to the member by name but I was certainly looking him in the eye when I said those words, so I withdraw that. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : Chris Ellison is an entirely appropriate appointment; the appointment will hold. Members opposite had their little win; they had a photo of an eminent Western Australian on the front page of The West Australian —congratulations! If members opposite want to drag people down—do they want me to start? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do they want me to start working my way around the Labor Party; because we will do it? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite want to start, I can unchain the member for Jandakot! I can unchain the Treasurer, if that is what members opposite want! Chris Ellison is a decent Australian and a very proud Western Australian. I tell members opposite that we will not go down to those levels; we will not go into the gutter with the Labor Party! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite can stay in the gutter with themselves! They can stay right in that gutter with themselves. I will tell members what Chris Ellison has done, because he was so offended by the way he has been treated. Like I and others, he cares about the Kimberley and he wants to see the work there done properly. Chris Ellison has advised my office today that he has severed all ties with Enhance Group—he had a pretty loose arrangement so he has given that away. Is the opposition happy now? He has walked away from it. There is no conflict, but he has walked away from that because he would rather walk away than be on the front page and have slurs from the Labor Party. That is the sort of man he is; that is the sort of integrity he has. Is the Leader of the Opposition happy about that? Chris Ellison has walked away from Enhance because he is committed to helping out in the Kimberley. How does that compare with the Labor Party’s standards on pecuniary interest? How does that compare? Not too flash! Therefore, Chris Ellison will provide a letter to the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet to that effect. He will do the job and he will do it well. There is no report; there is no advice to government. With the assistance of staff from the Department of Environment and Conservation, who will provide him with a secretary, a report will be prepared about what was said at the various meetings. As a facilitator, he is someone who is able to get all groups to have the confidence to get up and express their point of view—a good thing. What is all this about? This is the first step in a $9 million commitment by the Liberal-National government to understand the science of the Kimberley and to commission scientific work so that we know more about the Kimberley so that when we take measures, which we will be doing, to conserve the most important parts of the Kimberley, we will get it right. Why is the opposition so upset about that? Was it because members opposite did nothing for eight years? What did they do in the Kimberley? What did members opposite achieve in the Kimberley in eight years? Nothing! Members opposite resent the fact that this government will do the science and conserve parts of the Kimberley and do it properly. I can think of no-one better qualified than Chris Ellison to chair the public forums. Although she is not in this place today, I am sure the member for Kimberley will attend those public forums and, indeed, I have invited her to come along and take part. I know she will because she cares about the Kimberley and she cares about the real issues, unlike the grovelling and the gutter sniping that we get from members opposite.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oh, how uncanny! There he goes! The brains trust of the Labor Party, the sleaze machine himself, the dirty tricks man—look at him! There he goes! Withdrawal of Remark Mr M. McGOWAN : The Premier used a phrase in referring to another member that is clearly unparliamentary. I ask him to withdraw the phrase that he used about the member for Cannington. A government member: What was it? Mr M. McGOWAN : He used the phrase “sleaze machine” to describe the member for Cannington. I ask the Premier to withdraw. Further to the point of order, the member for Collie-Preston performed an act earlier for which there is a precedent and I think that needs to be noted. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! To the member for Rockingham’s first point of order, indeed, if the Premier did refer to the member using those words, I did not hear them; however, if he did, I certainly ask him to withdraw. On the second point of order the member raised, I have made a different determination about the behaviour of the member I have formally called to order. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I did not refer to the member by name but I was certainly looking him in the eye when I said those words, so I withdraw that. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : Chris Ellison is an entirely appropriate appointment; the appointment will hold. Members opposite had their little win; they had a photo of an eminent Western Australian on the front page of The West Australian —congratulations! If members opposite want to drag people down—do they want me to start? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do they want me to start working my way around the Labor Party; because we will do it? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite want to start, I can unchain the member for Jandakot! I can unchain the Treasurer, if that is what members opposite want! Chris Ellison is a decent Australian and a very proud Western Australian. I tell members opposite that we will not go down to those levels; we will not go into the gutter with the Labor Party! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite can stay in the gutter with themselves! They can stay right in that gutter with themselves. I will tell members what Chris Ellison has done, because he was so offended by the way he has been treated. Like I and others, he cares about the Kimberley and he wants to see the work there done properly. Chris Ellison has advised my office today that he has severed all ties with Enhance Group—he had a pretty loose arrangement so he has given that away. Is the opposition happy now? He has walked away from it. There is no conflict, but he has walked away from that because he would rather walk away than be on the front page and have slurs from the Labor Party. That is the sort of man he is; that is the sort of integrity he has. Is the Leader of the Opposition happy about that? Chris Ellison has walked away from Enhance because he is committed to helping out in the Kimberley. How does that compare with the Labor Party’s standards on pecuniary interest? How does that compare? Not too flash! Therefore, Chris Ellison will provide a letter to the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet to that effect. He will do the job and he will do it well. There is no report; there is no advice to government. With the assistance of staff from the Department of Environment and Conservation, who will provide him with a secretary, a report will be prepared about what was said at the various meetings. As a facilitator, he is someone who is able to get all groups to have the confidence to get up and express their point of view—a good thing. What is all this about? This is the first step in a $9 million commitment by the Liberal-National government to understand the science of the Kimberley and to commission scientific work so that we know more about the Kimberley so that when we take measures, which we will be doing, to conserve the most important parts of the Kimberley, we will get it right. Why is the opposition so upset about that? Was it because members opposite did nothing for eight years? What did they do in the Kimberley? What did members opposite achieve in the Kimberley in eight years? Nothing! Members opposite resent the fact that this government will do the science and conserve parts of the Kimberley and do it properly. I can think of no-one better qualified than Chris Ellison to chair the public forums. Although she is not in this place today, I am sure the member for Kimberley will attend those public forums and, indeed, I have invited her to come along and take part. I know she will because she cares about the Kimberley and she cares about the real issues, unlike the grovelling and the gutter sniping that we get from members opposite.
A government member: What was it? Mr M. McGOWAN : He used the phrase “sleaze machine” to describe the member for Cannington. I ask the Premier to withdraw. Further to the point of order, the member for Collie-Preston performed an act earlier for which there is a precedent and I think that needs to be noted. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! To the member for Rockingham’s first point of order, indeed, if the Premier did refer to the member using those words, I did not hear them; however, if he did, I certainly ask him to withdraw. On the second point of order the member raised, I have made a different determination about the behaviour of the member I have formally called to order. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I did not refer to the member by name but I was certainly looking him in the eye when I said those words, so I withdraw that. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : Chris Ellison is an entirely appropriate appointment; the appointment will hold. Members opposite had their little win; they had a photo of an eminent Western Australian on the front page of The West Australian —congratulations! If members opposite want to drag people down—do they want me to start? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do they want me to start working my way around the Labor Party; because we will do it? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite want to start, I can unchain the member for Jandakot! I can unchain the Treasurer, if that is what members opposite want! Chris Ellison is a decent Australian and a very proud Western Australian. I tell members opposite that we will not go down to those levels; we will not go into the gutter with the Labor Party! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite can stay in the gutter with themselves! They can stay right in that gutter with themselves. I will tell members what Chris Ellison has done, because he was so offended by the way he has been treated. Like I and others, he cares about the Kimberley and he wants to see the work there done properly. Chris Ellison has advised my office today that he has severed all ties with Enhance Group—he had a pretty loose arrangement so he has given that away. Is the opposition happy now? He has walked away from it. There is no conflict, but he has walked away from that because he would rather walk away than be on the front page and have slurs from the Labor Party. That is the sort of man he is; that is the sort of integrity he has. Is the Leader of the Opposition happy about that? Chris Ellison has walked away from Enhance because he is committed to helping out in the Kimberley. How does that compare with the Labor Party’s standards on pecuniary interest? How does that compare? Not too flash! Therefore, Chris Ellison will provide a letter to the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet to that effect. He will do the job and he will do it well. There is no report; there is no advice to government. With the assistance of staff from the Department of Environment and Conservation, who will provide him with a secretary, a report will be prepared about what was said at the various meetings. As a facilitator, he is someone who is able to get all groups to have the confidence to get up and express their point of view—a good thing. What is all this about? This is the first step in a $9 million commitment by the Liberal-National government to understand the science of the Kimberley and to commission scientific work so that we know more about the Kimberley so that when we take measures, which we will be doing, to conserve the most important parts of the Kimberley, we will get it right. Why is the opposition so upset about that? Was it because members opposite did nothing for eight years? What did they do in the Kimberley? What did members opposite achieve in the Kimberley in eight years? Nothing! Members opposite resent the fact that this government will do the science and conserve parts of the Kimberley and do it properly. I can think of no-one better qualified than Chris Ellison to chair the public forums. Although she is not in this place today, I am sure the member for Kimberley will attend those public forums and, indeed, I have invited her to come along and take part. I know she will because she cares about the Kimberley and she cares about the real issues, unlike the grovelling and the gutter sniping that we get from members opposite.
Mr M. McGOWAN : He used the phrase “sleaze machine” to describe the member for Cannington. I ask the Premier to withdraw. Further to the point of order, the member for Collie-Preston performed an act earlier for which there is a precedent and I think that needs to be noted. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! To the member for Rockingham’s first point of order, indeed, if the Premier did refer to the member using those words, I did not hear them; however, if he did, I certainly ask him to withdraw. On the second point of order the member raised, I have made a different determination about the behaviour of the member I have formally called to order. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I did not refer to the member by name but I was certainly looking him in the eye when I said those words, so I withdraw that. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : Chris Ellison is an entirely appropriate appointment; the appointment will hold. Members opposite had their little win; they had a photo of an eminent Western Australian on the front page of The West Australian —congratulations! If members opposite want to drag people down—do they want me to start? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do they want me to start working my way around the Labor Party; because we will do it? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite want to start, I can unchain the member for Jandakot! I can unchain the Treasurer, if that is what members opposite want! Chris Ellison is a decent Australian and a very proud Western Australian. I tell members opposite that we will not go down to those levels; we will not go into the gutter with the Labor Party! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite can stay in the gutter with themselves! They can stay right in that gutter with themselves. I will tell members what Chris Ellison has done, because he was so offended by the way he has been treated. Like I and others, he cares about the Kimberley and he wants to see the work there done properly. Chris Ellison has advised my office today that he has severed all ties with Enhance Group—he had a pretty loose arrangement so he has given that away. Is the opposition happy now? He has walked away from it. There is no conflict, but he has walked away from that because he would rather walk away than be on the front page and have slurs from the Labor Party. That is the sort of man he is; that is the sort of integrity he has. Is the Leader of the Opposition happy about that? Chris Ellison has walked away from Enhance because he is committed to helping out in the Kimberley. How does that compare with the Labor Party’s standards on pecuniary interest? How does that compare? Not too flash! Therefore, Chris Ellison will provide a letter to the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet to that effect. He will do the job and he will do it well. There is no report; there is no advice to government. With the assistance of staff from the Department of Environment and Conservation, who will provide him with a secretary, a report will be prepared about what was said at the various meetings. As a facilitator, he is someone who is able to get all groups to have the confidence to get up and express their point of view—a good thing. What is all this about? This is the first step in a $9 million commitment by the Liberal-National government to understand the science of the Kimberley and to commission scientific work so that we know more about the Kimberley so that when we take measures, which we will be doing, to conserve the most important parts of the Kimberley, we will get it right. Why is the opposition so upset about that? Was it because members opposite did nothing for eight years? What did they do in the Kimberley? What did members opposite achieve in the Kimberley in eight years? Nothing! Members opposite resent the fact that this government will do the science and conserve parts of the Kimberley and do it properly. I can think of no-one better qualified than Chris Ellison to chair the public forums. Although she is not in this place today, I am sure the member for Kimberley will attend those public forums and, indeed, I have invited her to come along and take part. I know she will because she cares about the Kimberley and she cares about the real issues, unlike the grovelling and the gutter sniping that we get from members opposite.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! To the member for Rockingham’s first point of order, indeed, if the Premier did refer to the member using those words, I did not hear them; however, if he did, I certainly ask him to withdraw. On the second point of order the member raised, I have made a different determination about the behaviour of the member I have formally called to order. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I did not refer to the member by name but I was certainly looking him in the eye when I said those words, so I withdraw that. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : Chris Ellison is an entirely appropriate appointment; the appointment will hold. Members opposite had their little win; they had a photo of an eminent Western Australian on the front page of The West Australian —congratulations! If members opposite want to drag people down—do they want me to start? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do they want me to start working my way around the Labor Party; because we will do it? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite want to start, I can unchain the member for Jandakot! I can unchain the Treasurer, if that is what members opposite want! Chris Ellison is a decent Australian and a very proud Western Australian. I tell members opposite that we will not go down to those levels; we will not go into the gutter with the Labor Party! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite can stay in the gutter with themselves! They can stay right in that gutter with themselves. I will tell members what Chris Ellison has done, because he was so offended by the way he has been treated. Like I and others, he cares about the Kimberley and he wants to see the work there done properly. Chris Ellison has advised my office today that he has severed all ties with Enhance Group—he had a pretty loose arrangement so he has given that away. Is the opposition happy now? He has walked away from it. There is no conflict, but he has walked away from that because he would rather walk away than be on the front page and have slurs from the Labor Party. That is the sort of man he is; that is the sort of integrity he has. Is the Leader of the Opposition happy about that? Chris Ellison has walked away from Enhance because he is committed to helping out in the Kimberley. How does that compare with the Labor Party’s standards on pecuniary interest? How does that compare? Not too flash! Therefore, Chris Ellison will provide a letter to the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet to that effect. He will do the job and he will do it well. There is no report; there is no advice to government. With the assistance of staff from the Department of Environment and Conservation, who will provide him with a secretary, a report will be prepared about what was said at the various meetings. As a facilitator, he is someone who is able to get all groups to have the confidence to get up and express their point of view—a good thing. What is all this about? This is the first step in a $9 million commitment by the Liberal-National government to understand the science of the Kimberley and to commission scientific work so that we know more about the Kimberley so that when we take measures, which we will be doing, to conserve the most important parts of the Kimberley, we will get it right. Why is the opposition so upset about that? Was it because members opposite did nothing for eight years? What did they do in the Kimberley? What did members opposite achieve in the Kimberley in eight years? Nothing! Members opposite resent the fact that this government will do the science and conserve parts of the Kimberley and do it properly. I can think of no-one better qualified than Chris Ellison to chair the public forums. Although she is not in this place today, I am sure the member for Kimberley will attend those public forums and, indeed, I have invited her to come along and take part. I know she will because she cares about the Kimberley and she cares about the real issues, unlike the grovelling and the gutter sniping that we get from members opposite.
The SPEAKER : Order, members! To the member for Rockingham’s first point of order, indeed, if the Premier did refer to the member using those words, I did not hear them; however, if he did, I certainly ask him to withdraw. On the second point of order the member raised, I have made a different determination about the behaviour of the member I have formally called to order. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I did not refer to the member by name but I was certainly looking him in the eye when I said those words, so I withdraw that. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : Chris Ellison is an entirely appropriate appointment; the appointment will hold. Members opposite had their little win; they had a photo of an eminent Western Australian on the front page of The West Australian —congratulations! If members opposite want to drag people down—do they want me to start? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do they want me to start working my way around the Labor Party; because we will do it? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite want to start, I can unchain the member for Jandakot! I can unchain the Treasurer, if that is what members opposite want! Chris Ellison is a decent Australian and a very proud Western Australian. I tell members opposite that we will not go down to those levels; we will not go into the gutter with the Labor Party! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite can stay in the gutter with themselves! They can stay right in that gutter with themselves. I will tell members what Chris Ellison has done, because he was so offended by the way he has been treated. Like I and others, he cares about the Kimberley and he wants to see the work there done properly. Chris Ellison has advised my office today that he has severed all ties with Enhance Group—he had a pretty loose arrangement so he has given that away. Is the opposition happy now? He has walked away from it. There is no conflict, but he has walked away from that because he would rather walk away than be on the front page and have slurs from the Labor Party. That is the sort of man he is; that is the sort of integrity he has. Is the Leader of the Opposition happy about that? Chris Ellison has walked away from Enhance because he is committed to helping out in the Kimberley. How does that compare with the Labor Party’s standards on pecuniary interest? How does that compare? Not too flash! Therefore, Chris Ellison will provide a letter to the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet to that effect. He will do the job and he will do it well. There is no report; there is no advice to government. With the assistance of staff from the Department of Environment and Conservation, who will provide him with a secretary, a report will be prepared about what was said at the various meetings. As a facilitator, he is someone who is able to get all groups to have the confidence to get up and express their point of view—a good thing. What is all this about? This is the first step in a $9 million commitment by the Liberal-National government to understand the science of the Kimberley and to commission scientific work so that we know more about the Kimberley so that when we take measures, which we will be doing, to conserve the most important parts of the Kimberley, we will get it right. Why is the opposition so upset about that? Was it because members opposite did nothing for eight years? What did they do in the Kimberley? What did members opposite achieve in the Kimberley in eight years? Nothing! Members opposite resent the fact that this government will do the science and conserve parts of the Kimberley and do it properly. I can think of no-one better qualified than Chris Ellison to chair the public forums. Although she is not in this place today, I am sure the member for Kimberley will attend those public forums and, indeed, I have invited her to come along and take part. I know she will because she cares about the Kimberley and she cares about the real issues, unlike the grovelling and the gutter sniping that we get from members opposite.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I did not refer to the member by name but I was certainly looking him in the eye when I said those words, so I withdraw that. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : Chris Ellison is an entirely appropriate appointment; the appointment will hold. Members opposite had their little win; they had a photo of an eminent Western Australian on the front page of The West Australian —congratulations! If members opposite want to drag people down—do they want me to start? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do they want me to start working my way around the Labor Party; because we will do it? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite want to start, I can unchain the member for Jandakot! I can unchain the Treasurer, if that is what members opposite want! Chris Ellison is a decent Australian and a very proud Western Australian. I tell members opposite that we will not go down to those levels; we will not go into the gutter with the Labor Party! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite can stay in the gutter with themselves! They can stay right in that gutter with themselves. I will tell members what Chris Ellison has done, because he was so offended by the way he has been treated. Like I and others, he cares about the Kimberley and he wants to see the work there done properly. Chris Ellison has advised my office today that he has severed all ties with Enhance Group—he had a pretty loose arrangement so he has given that away. Is the opposition happy now? He has walked away from it. There is no conflict, but he has walked away from that because he would rather walk away than be on the front page and have slurs from the Labor Party. That is the sort of man he is; that is the sort of integrity he has. Is the Leader of the Opposition happy about that? Chris Ellison has walked away from Enhance because he is committed to helping out in the Kimberley. How does that compare with the Labor Party’s standards on pecuniary interest? How does that compare? Not too flash! Therefore, Chris Ellison will provide a letter to the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet to that effect. He will do the job and he will do it well. There is no report; there is no advice to government. With the assistance of staff from the Department of Environment and Conservation, who will provide him with a secretary, a report will be prepared about what was said at the various meetings. As a facilitator, he is someone who is able to get all groups to have the confidence to get up and express their point of view—a good thing. What is all this about? This is the first step in a $9 million commitment by the Liberal-National government to understand the science of the Kimberley and to commission scientific work so that we know more about the Kimberley so that when we take measures, which we will be doing, to conserve the most important parts of the Kimberley, we will get it right. Why is the opposition so upset about that? Was it because members opposite did nothing for eight years? What did they do in the Kimberley? What did members opposite achieve in the Kimberley in eight years? Nothing! Members opposite resent the fact that this government will do the science and conserve parts of the Kimberley and do it properly. I can think of no-one better qualified than Chris Ellison to chair the public forums. Although she is not in this place today, I am sure the member for Kimberley will attend those public forums and, indeed, I have invited her to come along and take part. I know she will because she cares about the Kimberley and she cares about the real issues, unlike the grovelling and the gutter sniping that we get from members opposite.
Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do they want me to start working my way around the Labor Party; because we will do it? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite want to start, I can unchain the member for Jandakot! I can unchain the Treasurer, if that is what members opposite want! Chris Ellison is a decent Australian and a very proud Western Australian. I tell members opposite that we will not go down to those levels; we will not go into the gutter with the Labor Party! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite can stay in the gutter with themselves! They can stay right in that gutter with themselves. I will tell members what Chris Ellison has done, because he was so offended by the way he has been treated. Like I and others, he cares about the Kimberley and he wants to see the work there done properly. Chris Ellison has advised my office today that he has severed all ties with Enhance Group—he had a pretty loose arrangement so he has given that away. Is the opposition happy now? He has walked away from it. There is no conflict, but he has walked away from that because he would rather walk away than be on the front page and have slurs from the Labor Party. That is the sort of man he is; that is the sort of integrity he has. Is the Leader of the Opposition happy about that? Chris Ellison has walked away from Enhance because he is committed to helping out in the Kimberley. How does that compare with the Labor Party’s standards on pecuniary interest? How does that compare? Not too flash! Therefore, Chris Ellison will provide a letter to the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet to that effect. He will do the job and he will do it well. There is no report; there is no advice to government. With the assistance of staff from the Department of Environment and Conservation, who will provide him with a secretary, a report will be prepared about what was said at the various meetings. As a facilitator, he is someone who is able to get all groups to have the confidence to get up and express their point of view—a good thing. What is all this about? This is the first step in a $9 million commitment by the Liberal-National government to understand the science of the Kimberley and to commission scientific work so that we know more about the Kimberley so that when we take measures, which we will be doing, to conserve the most important parts of the Kimberley, we will get it right. Why is the opposition so upset about that? Was it because members opposite did nothing for eight years? What did they do in the Kimberley? What did members opposite achieve in the Kimberley in eight years? Nothing! Members opposite resent the fact that this government will do the science and conserve parts of the Kimberley and do it properly. I can think of no-one better qualified than Chris Ellison to chair the public forums. Although she is not in this place today, I am sure the member for Kimberley will attend those public forums and, indeed, I have invited her to come along and take part. I know she will because she cares about the Kimberley and she cares about the real issues, unlike the grovelling and the gutter sniping that we get from members opposite.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do they want me to start working my way around the Labor Party; because we will do it? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite want to start, I can unchain the member for Jandakot! I can unchain the Treasurer, if that is what members opposite want! Chris Ellison is a decent Australian and a very proud Western Australian. I tell members opposite that we will not go down to those levels; we will not go into the gutter with the Labor Party! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite can stay in the gutter with themselves! They can stay right in that gutter with themselves. I will tell members what Chris Ellison has done, because he was so offended by the way he has been treated. Like I and others, he cares about the Kimberley and he wants to see the work there done properly. Chris Ellison has advised my office today that he has severed all ties with Enhance Group—he had a pretty loose arrangement so he has given that away. Is the opposition happy now? He has walked away from it. There is no conflict, but he has walked away from that because he would rather walk away than be on the front page and have slurs from the Labor Party. That is the sort of man he is; that is the sort of integrity he has. Is the Leader of the Opposition happy about that? Chris Ellison has walked away from Enhance because he is committed to helping out in the Kimberley. How does that compare with the Labor Party’s standards on pecuniary interest? How does that compare? Not too flash! Therefore, Chris Ellison will provide a letter to the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet to that effect. He will do the job and he will do it well. There is no report; there is no advice to government. With the assistance of staff from the Department of Environment and Conservation, who will provide him with a secretary, a report will be prepared about what was said at the various meetings. As a facilitator, he is someone who is able to get all groups to have the confidence to get up and express their point of view—a good thing. What is all this about? This is the first step in a $9 million commitment by the Liberal-National government to understand the science of the Kimberley and to commission scientific work so that we know more about the Kimberley so that when we take measures, which we will be doing, to conserve the most important parts of the Kimberley, we will get it right. Why is the opposition so upset about that? Was it because members opposite did nothing for eight years? What did they do in the Kimberley? What did members opposite achieve in the Kimberley in eight years? Nothing! Members opposite resent the fact that this government will do the science and conserve parts of the Kimberley and do it properly. I can think of no-one better qualified than Chris Ellison to chair the public forums. Although she is not in this place today, I am sure the member for Kimberley will attend those public forums and, indeed, I have invited her to come along and take part. I know she will because she cares about the Kimberley and she cares about the real issues, unlike the grovelling and the gutter sniping that we get from members opposite.
Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite want to start, I can unchain the member for Jandakot! I can unchain the Treasurer, if that is what members opposite want! Chris Ellison is a decent Australian and a very proud Western Australian. I tell members opposite that we will not go down to those levels; we will not go into the gutter with the Labor Party! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite can stay in the gutter with themselves! They can stay right in that gutter with themselves. I will tell members what Chris Ellison has done, because he was so offended by the way he has been treated. Like I and others, he cares about the Kimberley and he wants to see the work there done properly. Chris Ellison has advised my office today that he has severed all ties with Enhance Group—he had a pretty loose arrangement so he has given that away. Is the opposition happy now? He has walked away from it. There is no conflict, but he has walked away from that because he would rather walk away than be on the front page and have slurs from the Labor Party. That is the sort of man he is; that is the sort of integrity he has. Is the Leader of the Opposition happy about that? Chris Ellison has walked away from Enhance because he is committed to helping out in the Kimberley. How does that compare with the Labor Party’s standards on pecuniary interest? How does that compare? Not too flash! Therefore, Chris Ellison will provide a letter to the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet to that effect. He will do the job and he will do it well. There is no report; there is no advice to government. With the assistance of staff from the Department of Environment and Conservation, who will provide him with a secretary, a report will be prepared about what was said at the various meetings. As a facilitator, he is someone who is able to get all groups to have the confidence to get up and express their point of view—a good thing. What is all this about? This is the first step in a $9 million commitment by the Liberal-National government to understand the science of the Kimberley and to commission scientific work so that we know more about the Kimberley so that when we take measures, which we will be doing, to conserve the most important parts of the Kimberley, we will get it right. Why is the opposition so upset about that? Was it because members opposite did nothing for eight years? What did they do in the Kimberley? What did members opposite achieve in the Kimberley in eight years? Nothing! Members opposite resent the fact that this government will do the science and conserve parts of the Kimberley and do it properly. I can think of no-one better qualified than Chris Ellison to chair the public forums. Although she is not in this place today, I am sure the member for Kimberley will attend those public forums and, indeed, I have invited her to come along and take part. I know she will because she cares about the Kimberley and she cares about the real issues, unlike the grovelling and the gutter sniping that we get from members opposite.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite want to start, I can unchain the member for Jandakot! I can unchain the Treasurer, if that is what members opposite want! Chris Ellison is a decent Australian and a very proud Western Australian. I tell members opposite that we will not go down to those levels; we will not go into the gutter with the Labor Party! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite can stay in the gutter with themselves! They can stay right in that gutter with themselves. I will tell members what Chris Ellison has done, because he was so offended by the way he has been treated. Like I and others, he cares about the Kimberley and he wants to see the work there done properly. Chris Ellison has advised my office today that he has severed all ties with Enhance Group—he had a pretty loose arrangement so he has given that away. Is the opposition happy now? He has walked away from it. There is no conflict, but he has walked away from that because he would rather walk away than be on the front page and have slurs from the Labor Party. That is the sort of man he is; that is the sort of integrity he has. Is the Leader of the Opposition happy about that? Chris Ellison has walked away from Enhance because he is committed to helping out in the Kimberley. How does that compare with the Labor Party’s standards on pecuniary interest? How does that compare? Not too flash! Therefore, Chris Ellison will provide a letter to the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet to that effect. He will do the job and he will do it well. There is no report; there is no advice to government. With the assistance of staff from the Department of Environment and Conservation, who will provide him with a secretary, a report will be prepared about what was said at the various meetings. As a facilitator, he is someone who is able to get all groups to have the confidence to get up and express their point of view—a good thing. What is all this about? This is the first step in a $9 million commitment by the Liberal-National government to understand the science of the Kimberley and to commission scientific work so that we know more about the Kimberley so that when we take measures, which we will be doing, to conserve the most important parts of the Kimberley, we will get it right. Why is the opposition so upset about that? Was it because members opposite did nothing for eight years? What did they do in the Kimberley? What did members opposite achieve in the Kimberley in eight years? Nothing! Members opposite resent the fact that this government will do the science and conserve parts of the Kimberley and do it properly. I can think of no-one better qualified than Chris Ellison to chair the public forums. Although she is not in this place today, I am sure the member for Kimberley will attend those public forums and, indeed, I have invited her to come along and take part. I know she will because she cares about the Kimberley and she cares about the real issues, unlike the grovelling and the gutter sniping that we get from members opposite.
Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite can stay in the gutter with themselves! They can stay right in that gutter with themselves. I will tell members what Chris Ellison has done, because he was so offended by the way he has been treated. Like I and others, he cares about the Kimberley and he wants to see the work there done properly. Chris Ellison has advised my office today that he has severed all ties with Enhance Group—he had a pretty loose arrangement so he has given that away. Is the opposition happy now? He has walked away from it. There is no conflict, but he has walked away from that because he would rather walk away than be on the front page and have slurs from the Labor Party. That is the sort of man he is; that is the sort of integrity he has. Is the Leader of the Opposition happy about that? Chris Ellison has walked away from Enhance because he is committed to helping out in the Kimberley. How does that compare with the Labor Party’s standards on pecuniary interest? How does that compare? Not too flash! Therefore, Chris Ellison will provide a letter to the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet to that effect. He will do the job and he will do it well. There is no report; there is no advice to government. With the assistance of staff from the Department of Environment and Conservation, who will provide him with a secretary, a report will be prepared about what was said at the various meetings. As a facilitator, he is someone who is able to get all groups to have the confidence to get up and express their point of view—a good thing. What is all this about? This is the first step in a $9 million commitment by the Liberal-National government to understand the science of the Kimberley and to commission scientific work so that we know more about the Kimberley so that when we take measures, which we will be doing, to conserve the most important parts of the Kimberley, we will get it right. Why is the opposition so upset about that? Was it because members opposite did nothing for eight years? What did they do in the Kimberley? What did members opposite achieve in the Kimberley in eight years? Nothing! Members opposite resent the fact that this government will do the science and conserve parts of the Kimberley and do it properly. I can think of no-one better qualified than Chris Ellison to chair the public forums. Although she is not in this place today, I am sure the member for Kimberley will attend those public forums and, indeed, I have invited her to come along and take part. I know she will because she cares about the Kimberley and she cares about the real issues, unlike the grovelling and the gutter sniping that we get from members opposite.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite can stay in the gutter with themselves! They can stay right in that gutter with themselves. I will tell members what Chris Ellison has done, because he was so offended by the way he has been treated. Like I and others, he cares about the Kimberley and he wants to see the work there done properly. Chris Ellison has advised my office today that he has severed all ties with Enhance Group—he had a pretty loose arrangement so he has given that away. Is the opposition happy now? He has walked away from it. There is no conflict, but he has walked away from that because he would rather walk away than be on the front page and have slurs from the Labor Party. That is the sort of man he is; that is the sort of integrity he has. Is the Leader of the Opposition happy about that? Chris Ellison has walked away from Enhance because he is committed to helping out in the Kimberley. How does that compare with the Labor Party’s standards on pecuniary interest? How does that compare? Not too flash! Therefore, Chris Ellison will provide a letter to the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet to that effect. He will do the job and he will do it well. There is no report; there is no advice to government. With the assistance of staff from the Department of Environment and Conservation, who will provide him with a secretary, a report will be prepared about what was said at the various meetings. As a facilitator, he is someone who is able to get all groups to have the confidence to get up and express their point of view—a good thing. What is all this about? This is the first step in a $9 million commitment by the Liberal-National government to understand the science of the Kimberley and to commission scientific work so that we know more about the Kimberley so that when we take measures, which we will be doing, to conserve the most important parts of the Kimberley, we will get it right. Why is the opposition so upset about that? Was it because members opposite did nothing for eight years? What did they do in the Kimberley? What did members opposite achieve in the Kimberley in eight years? Nothing! Members opposite resent the fact that this government will do the science and conserve parts of the Kimberley and do it properly. I can think of no-one better qualified than Chris Ellison to chair the public forums. Although she is not in this place today, I am sure the member for Kimberley will attend those public forums and, indeed, I have invited her to come along and take part. I know she will because she cares about the Kimberley and she cares about the real issues, unlike the grovelling and the gutter sniping that we get from members opposite.
I will tell members what Chris Ellison has done, because he was so offended by the way he has been treated. Like I and others, he cares about the Kimberley and he wants to see the work there done properly. Chris Ellison has advised my office today that he has severed all ties with Enhance Group—he had a pretty loose arrangement so he has given that away. Is the opposition happy now? He has walked away from it. There is no conflict, but he has walked away from that because he would rather walk away than be on the front page and have slurs from the Labor Party. That is the sort of man he is; that is the sort of integrity he has. Is the Leader of the Opposition happy about that? Chris Ellison has walked away from Enhance because he is committed to helping out in the Kimberley. How does that compare with the Labor Party’s standards on pecuniary interest? How does that compare? Not too flash! Therefore, Chris Ellison will provide a letter to the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet to that effect. He will do the job and he will do it well. There is no report; there is no advice to government. With the assistance of staff from the Department of Environment and Conservation, who will provide him with a secretary, a report will be prepared about what was said at the various meetings. As a facilitator, he is someone who is able to get all groups to have the confidence to get up and express their point of view—a good thing. What is all this about? This is the first step in a $9 million commitment by the Liberal-National government to understand the science of the Kimberley and to commission scientific work so that we know more about the Kimberley so that when we take measures, which we will be doing, to conserve the most important parts of the Kimberley, we will get it right. Why is the opposition so upset about that? Was it because members opposite did nothing for eight years? What did they do in the Kimberley? What did members opposite achieve in the Kimberley in eight years? Nothing! Members opposite resent the fact that this government will do the science and conserve parts of the Kimberley and do it properly. I can think of no-one better qualified than Chris Ellison to chair the public forums. Although she is not in this place today, I am sure the member for Kimberley will attend those public forums and, indeed, I have invited her to come along and take part. I know she will because she cares about the Kimberley and she cares about the real issues, unlike the grovelling and the gutter sniping that we get from members opposite.
What is all this about? This is the first step in a $9 million commitment by the Liberal-National government to understand the science of the Kimberley and to commission scientific work so that we know more about the Kimberley so that when we take measures, which we will be doing, to conserve the most important parts of the Kimberley, we will get it right. Why is the opposition so upset about that? Was it because members opposite did nothing for eight years? What did they do in the Kimberley? What did members opposite achieve in the Kimberley in eight years? Nothing! Members opposite resent the fact that this government will do the science and conserve parts of the Kimberley and do it properly. I can think of no-one better qualified than Chris Ellison to chair the public forums. Although she is not in this place today, I am sure the member for Kimberley will attend those public forums and, indeed, I have invited her to come along and take part. I know she will because she cares about the Kimberley and she cares about the real issues, unlike the grovelling and the gutter sniping that we get from members opposite.
(1) Was the Premier aware that Mr Ellison was a registered lobbyist and an associate director of Enhance Group, working on behalf of mining and oil and gas companies that have interests in the Kimberley, at the time the Premier hand-picked him for the job? (2) Does the Premier accept that his temporary removal from the lobbyist register is little more than a cynical gesture to defend this conflict of interest? (3) What travel allowance and additional expenses will Mr Ellison be entitled to in his role? (4) Does the Premier seriously expect the people of the Kimberley to have any confidence in a report produced by someone with such a gross, untenable conflict of interest? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: How extraordinary! (1)-(4) Was I the sole person who appointed Chris Ellison? No, I was not. The choice of Chris Ellison came from my recommendation; I thought he was a most suitable person to undertake the role that we had in mind. Obviously the Minister for Environment, Hon Donna Faragher, was involved in that decision. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : She said, “No, Colin; I’m not going to do that, Colin”. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Armadale! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Another brilliant interjection! Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : It is a brilliant interjection because it displays just how absolutely gullible you must believe that the public of Western Australia is. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Armadale! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am happy to answer the question. The SPEAKER : Take a seat, Premier. I could ask the member for Armadale to withdraw recent references she made in her interjection. I think she knows what I am referring to in terms of personal names. That should not happen in this place. I ask the member to cease interjecting and I formally call her to order for the first time. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes. It was my idea that Chris Ellison would be a good person to chair the public forums relating to the Kimberley Science and Conservation Strategy. Obviously, I made that suggestion and discussed it with the minister responsible. She raised the point that she had worked for Chris Ellison, albeit five years ago. I do not consider that to be of any great consequence now. The issue of employing him was then handed over to the appropriate process through the public service. Chris Ellison’s involvement with, I guess, the lobbying firm, if we want to call it that, became clear. He make it absolutely clear, almost to the point of obsession, that he would take on this role only if there was no sense of any potential conflict of interest. I am disappointed, I have to say, with the degree of publicity this has received. However, that is politics. Mr W.J. Johnston : You bet you are. Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is politics and Chris Ellison is well able to deal with that, as, indeed, am I. Can I state again for the house: Chris Ellison is one of the finest, most highly respected senators Western Australia has ever had. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite will try to cast a slur on him and I will not let them do that. He is a very fine person. Mr R.H. Cook : It is hopelessly conflicting. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite want to talk about conflicts, we can go all day, one by one. I suggest they do not raise that. Let me talk about Chris Ellison. He has a long-term legal career, has a wide knowledge of the law, has worked as a senator for Western Australia, I think, for 16 years and has spent 10 years as a minister in the Howard government. What is he being engaged to do? He is being engaged, not as an environmental consultant, not as an advisor to the minister and not as an advisor to me. Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s for something that is worth $1 000 a day. He must be doing something. The SPEAKER : Order, Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : He has simply been engaged to chair public forums—no private meetings—that will be open to anyone and everyone, including the media and Labor members of Parliament, if they have an interest in the Kimberley. It will be a totally public, open process. Because of his standing in the community, his knowledge of the area and of various groups and his skill as a chairman and facilitator, I suggested that he do that role. That is all he will be doing. He has a contract over a three-month period. It is estimated that probably less than 20 days will be involved and he will be paid the princely sum of $125 an hour. I got it wrong yesterday when I think I said $145. Have members been to the dentist or physio or called an electrician to their houses lately? The amount of $125 an hour is what he is being paid, with the cap that, no matter how many hours he works in a day—knowing Chris Ellison, he will work long and hard at this task—he cannot be paid more than $1 000 a day. Mr M. McGowan : What about allowances? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Allowances? I do not expect him to walk to the Kimberley. I expect he will catch a plane and fly to the Kimberley, so the government will pay the airfare. I do not expect him to camp out on the creek bed so we will pay for him to stay in a hotel. His airfare and basic accommodation will be paid in line with government employment contracts. He will receive no other allowances or perks. Why is it that this miserable, rotten, low Labor Party comes in here — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Look at them, smiling away. The SPEAKER : Order! I presume the member for Collie-Preston was not having some sort of a seizure. I ask that, in future, he not perform in that manner in this house. I formally call him to order for the first time. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The poacher’s polka time! I do not know why it is; Labor Party members, I guess, look in their own ranks of rorting, double dipping, abuse, compromise and inappropriate appointments and they try to denigrate the decent people in our community. I have to say that Chris Ellison is a friend of mine, not a close friend — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oh, how uncanny! There he goes! The brains trust of the Labor Party, the sleaze machine himself, the dirty tricks man—look at him! There he goes! Withdrawal of Remark Mr M. McGOWAN : The Premier used a phrase in referring to another member that is clearly unparliamentary. I ask him to withdraw the phrase that he used about the member for Cannington. A government member: What was it? Mr M. McGOWAN : He used the phrase “sleaze machine” to describe the member for Cannington. I ask the Premier to withdraw. Further to the point of order, the member for Collie-Preston performed an act earlier for which there is a precedent and I think that needs to be noted. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! To the member for Rockingham’s first point of order, indeed, if the Premier did refer to the member using those words, I did not hear them; however, if he did, I certainly ask him to withdraw. On the second point of order the member raised, I have made a different determination about the behaviour of the member I have formally called to order. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I did not refer to the member by name but I was certainly looking him in the eye when I said those words, so I withdraw that. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : Chris Ellison is an entirely appropriate appointment; the appointment will hold. Members opposite had their little win; they had a photo of an eminent Western Australian on the front page of The West Australian —congratulations! If members opposite want to drag people down—do they want me to start? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do they want me to start working my way around the Labor Party; because we will do it? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite want to start, I can unchain the member for Jandakot! I can unchain the Treasurer, if that is what members opposite want! Chris Ellison is a decent Australian and a very proud Western Australian. I tell members opposite that we will not go down to those levels; we will not go into the gutter with the Labor Party! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite can stay in the gutter with themselves! They can stay right in that gutter with themselves. I will tell members what Chris Ellison has done, because he was so offended by the way he has been treated. Like I and others, he cares about the Kimberley and he wants to see the work there done properly. Chris Ellison has advised my office today that he has severed all ties with Enhance Group—he had a pretty loose arrangement so he has given that away. Is the opposition happy now? He has walked away from it. There is no conflict, but he has walked away from that because he would rather walk away than be on the front page and have slurs from the Labor Party. That is the sort of man he is; that is the sort of integrity he has. Is the Leader of the Opposition happy about that? Chris Ellison has walked away from Enhance because he is committed to helping out in the Kimberley. How does that compare with the Labor Party’s standards on pecuniary interest? How does that compare? Not too flash! Therefore, Chris Ellison will provide a letter to the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet to that effect. He will do the job and he will do it well. There is no report; there is no advice to government. With the assistance of staff from the Department of Environment and Conservation, who will provide him with a secretary, a report will be prepared about what was said at the various meetings. As a facilitator, he is someone who is able to get all groups to have the confidence to get up and express their point of view—a good thing. What is all this about? This is the first step in a $9 million commitment by the Liberal-National government to understand the science of the Kimberley and to commission scientific work so that we know more about the Kimberley so that when we take measures, which we will be doing, to conserve the most important parts of the Kimberley, we will get it right. Why is the opposition so upset about that? Was it because members opposite did nothing for eight years? What did they do in the Kimberley? What did members opposite achieve in the Kimberley in eight years? Nothing! Members opposite resent the fact that this government will do the science and conserve parts of the Kimberley and do it properly. I can think of no-one better qualified than Chris Ellison to chair the public forums. Although she is not in this place today, I am sure the member for Kimberley will attend those public forums and, indeed, I have invited her to come along and take part. I know she will because she cares about the Kimberley and she cares about the real issues, unlike the grovelling and the gutter sniping that we get from members opposite.
(2) Does the Premier accept that his temporary removal from the lobbyist register is little more than a cynical gesture to defend this conflict of interest? (3) What travel allowance and additional expenses will Mr Ellison be entitled to in his role? (4) Does the Premier seriously expect the people of the Kimberley to have any confidence in a report produced by someone with such a gross, untenable conflict of interest? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: How extraordinary! (1)-(4) Was I the sole person who appointed Chris Ellison? No, I was not. The choice of Chris Ellison came from my recommendation; I thought he was a most suitable person to undertake the role that we had in mind. Obviously the Minister for Environment, Hon Donna Faragher, was involved in that decision. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : She said, “No, Colin; I’m not going to do that, Colin”. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Armadale! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Another brilliant interjection! Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : It is a brilliant interjection because it displays just how absolutely gullible you must believe that the public of Western Australia is. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Armadale! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am happy to answer the question. The SPEAKER : Take a seat, Premier. I could ask the member for Armadale to withdraw recent references she made in her interjection. I think she knows what I am referring to in terms of personal names. That should not happen in this place. I ask the member to cease interjecting and I formally call her to order for the first time. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes. It was my idea that Chris Ellison would be a good person to chair the public forums relating to the Kimberley Science and Conservation Strategy. Obviously, I made that suggestion and discussed it with the minister responsible. She raised the point that she had worked for Chris Ellison, albeit five years ago. I do not consider that to be of any great consequence now. The issue of employing him was then handed over to the appropriate process through the public service. Chris Ellison’s involvement with, I guess, the lobbying firm, if we want to call it that, became clear. He make it absolutely clear, almost to the point of obsession, that he would take on this role only if there was no sense of any potential conflict of interest. I am disappointed, I have to say, with the degree of publicity this has received. However, that is politics. Mr W.J. Johnston : You bet you are. Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is politics and Chris Ellison is well able to deal with that, as, indeed, am I. Can I state again for the house: Chris Ellison is one of the finest, most highly respected senators Western Australia has ever had. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite will try to cast a slur on him and I will not let them do that. He is a very fine person. Mr R.H. Cook : It is hopelessly conflicting. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite want to talk about conflicts, we can go all day, one by one. I suggest they do not raise that. Let me talk about Chris Ellison. He has a long-term legal career, has a wide knowledge of the law, has worked as a senator for Western Australia, I think, for 16 years and has spent 10 years as a minister in the Howard government. What is he being engaged to do? He is being engaged, not as an environmental consultant, not as an advisor to the minister and not as an advisor to me. Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s for something that is worth $1 000 a day. He must be doing something. The SPEAKER : Order, Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : He has simply been engaged to chair public forums—no private meetings—that will be open to anyone and everyone, including the media and Labor members of Parliament, if they have an interest in the Kimberley. It will be a totally public, open process. Because of his standing in the community, his knowledge of the area and of various groups and his skill as a chairman and facilitator, I suggested that he do that role. That is all he will be doing. He has a contract over a three-month period. It is estimated that probably less than 20 days will be involved and he will be paid the princely sum of $125 an hour. I got it wrong yesterday when I think I said $145. Have members been to the dentist or physio or called an electrician to their houses lately? The amount of $125 an hour is what he is being paid, with the cap that, no matter how many hours he works in a day—knowing Chris Ellison, he will work long and hard at this task—he cannot be paid more than $1 000 a day. Mr M. McGowan : What about allowances? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Allowances? I do not expect him to walk to the Kimberley. I expect he will catch a plane and fly to the Kimberley, so the government will pay the airfare. I do not expect him to camp out on the creek bed so we will pay for him to stay in a hotel. His airfare and basic accommodation will be paid in line with government employment contracts. He will receive no other allowances or perks. Why is it that this miserable, rotten, low Labor Party comes in here — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Look at them, smiling away. The SPEAKER : Order! I presume the member for Collie-Preston was not having some sort of a seizure. I ask that, in future, he not perform in that manner in this house. I formally call him to order for the first time. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The poacher’s polka time! I do not know why it is; Labor Party members, I guess, look in their own ranks of rorting, double dipping, abuse, compromise and inappropriate appointments and they try to denigrate the decent people in our community. I have to say that Chris Ellison is a friend of mine, not a close friend — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oh, how uncanny! There he goes! The brains trust of the Labor Party, the sleaze machine himself, the dirty tricks man—look at him! There he goes! Withdrawal of Remark Mr M. McGOWAN : The Premier used a phrase in referring to another member that is clearly unparliamentary. I ask him to withdraw the phrase that he used about the member for Cannington. A government member: What was it? Mr M. McGOWAN : He used the phrase “sleaze machine” to describe the member for Cannington. I ask the Premier to withdraw. Further to the point of order, the member for Collie-Preston performed an act earlier for which there is a precedent and I think that needs to be noted. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! To the member for Rockingham’s first point of order, indeed, if the Premier did refer to the member using those words, I did not hear them; however, if he did, I certainly ask him to withdraw. On the second point of order the member raised, I have made a different determination about the behaviour of the member I have formally called to order. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I did not refer to the member by name but I was certainly looking him in the eye when I said those words, so I withdraw that. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : Chris Ellison is an entirely appropriate appointment; the appointment will hold. Members opposite had their little win; they had a photo of an eminent Western Australian on the front page of The West Australian —congratulations! If members opposite want to drag people down—do they want me to start? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do they want me to start working my way around the Labor Party; because we will do it? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite want to start, I can unchain the member for Jandakot! I can unchain the Treasurer, if that is what members opposite want! Chris Ellison is a decent Australian and a very proud Western Australian. I tell members opposite that we will not go down to those levels; we will not go into the gutter with the Labor Party! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite can stay in the gutter with themselves! They can stay right in that gutter with themselves. I will tell members what Chris Ellison has done, because he was so offended by the way he has been treated. Like I and others, he cares about the Kimberley and he wants to see the work there done properly. Chris Ellison has advised my office today that he has severed all ties with Enhance Group—he had a pretty loose arrangement so he has given that away. Is the opposition happy now? He has walked away from it. There is no conflict, but he has walked away from that because he would rather walk away than be on the front page and have slurs from the Labor Party. That is the sort of man he is; that is the sort of integrity he has. Is the Leader of the Opposition happy about that? Chris Ellison has walked away from Enhance because he is committed to helping out in the Kimberley. How does that compare with the Labor Party’s standards on pecuniary interest? How does that compare? Not too flash! Therefore, Chris Ellison will provide a letter to the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet to that effect. He will do the job and he will do it well. There is no report; there is no advice to government. With the assistance of staff from the Department of Environment and Conservation, who will provide him with a secretary, a report will be prepared about what was said at the various meetings. As a facilitator, he is someone who is able to get all groups to have the confidence to get up and express their point of view—a good thing. What is all this about? This is the first step in a $9 million commitment by the Liberal-National government to understand the science of the Kimberley and to commission scientific work so that we know more about the Kimberley so that when we take measures, which we will be doing, to conserve the most important parts of the Kimberley, we will get it right. Why is the opposition so upset about that? Was it because members opposite did nothing for eight years? What did they do in the Kimberley? What did members opposite achieve in the Kimberley in eight years? Nothing! Members opposite resent the fact that this government will do the science and conserve parts of the Kimberley and do it properly. I can think of no-one better qualified than Chris Ellison to chair the public forums. Although she is not in this place today, I am sure the member for Kimberley will attend those public forums and, indeed, I have invited her to come along and take part. I know she will because she cares about the Kimberley and she cares about the real issues, unlike the grovelling and the gutter sniping that we get from members opposite.
(3) What travel allowance and additional expenses will Mr Ellison be entitled to in his role? (4) Does the Premier seriously expect the people of the Kimberley to have any confidence in a report produced by someone with such a gross, untenable conflict of interest? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: How extraordinary! (1)-(4) Was I the sole person who appointed Chris Ellison? No, I was not. The choice of Chris Ellison came from my recommendation; I thought he was a most suitable person to undertake the role that we had in mind. Obviously the Minister for Environment, Hon Donna Faragher, was involved in that decision. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : She said, “No, Colin; I’m not going to do that, Colin”. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Armadale! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Another brilliant interjection! Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : It is a brilliant interjection because it displays just how absolutely gullible you must believe that the public of Western Australia is. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Armadale! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am happy to answer the question. The SPEAKER : Take a seat, Premier. I could ask the member for Armadale to withdraw recent references she made in her interjection. I think she knows what I am referring to in terms of personal names. That should not happen in this place. I ask the member to cease interjecting and I formally call her to order for the first time. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes. It was my idea that Chris Ellison would be a good person to chair the public forums relating to the Kimberley Science and Conservation Strategy. Obviously, I made that suggestion and discussed it with the minister responsible. She raised the point that she had worked for Chris Ellison, albeit five years ago. I do not consider that to be of any great consequence now. The issue of employing him was then handed over to the appropriate process through the public service. Chris Ellison’s involvement with, I guess, the lobbying firm, if we want to call it that, became clear. He make it absolutely clear, almost to the point of obsession, that he would take on this role only if there was no sense of any potential conflict of interest. I am disappointed, I have to say, with the degree of publicity this has received. However, that is politics. Mr W.J. Johnston : You bet you are. Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is politics and Chris Ellison is well able to deal with that, as, indeed, am I. Can I state again for the house: Chris Ellison is one of the finest, most highly respected senators Western Australia has ever had. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite will try to cast a slur on him and I will not let them do that. He is a very fine person. Mr R.H. Cook : It is hopelessly conflicting. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite want to talk about conflicts, we can go all day, one by one. I suggest they do not raise that. Let me talk about Chris Ellison. He has a long-term legal career, has a wide knowledge of the law, has worked as a senator for Western Australia, I think, for 16 years and has spent 10 years as a minister in the Howard government. What is he being engaged to do? He is being engaged, not as an environmental consultant, not as an advisor to the minister and not as an advisor to me. Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s for something that is worth $1 000 a day. He must be doing something. The SPEAKER : Order, Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : He has simply been engaged to chair public forums—no private meetings—that will be open to anyone and everyone, including the media and Labor members of Parliament, if they have an interest in the Kimberley. It will be a totally public, open process. Because of his standing in the community, his knowledge of the area and of various groups and his skill as a chairman and facilitator, I suggested that he do that role. That is all he will be doing. He has a contract over a three-month period. It is estimated that probably less than 20 days will be involved and he will be paid the princely sum of $125 an hour. I got it wrong yesterday when I think I said $145. Have members been to the dentist or physio or called an electrician to their houses lately? The amount of $125 an hour is what he is being paid, with the cap that, no matter how many hours he works in a day—knowing Chris Ellison, he will work long and hard at this task—he cannot be paid more than $1 000 a day. Mr M. McGowan : What about allowances? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Allowances? I do not expect him to walk to the Kimberley. I expect he will catch a plane and fly to the Kimberley, so the government will pay the airfare. I do not expect him to camp out on the creek bed so we will pay for him to stay in a hotel. His airfare and basic accommodation will be paid in line with government employment contracts. He will receive no other allowances or perks. Why is it that this miserable, rotten, low Labor Party comes in here — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Look at them, smiling away. The SPEAKER : Order! I presume the member for Collie-Preston was not having some sort of a seizure. I ask that, in future, he not perform in that manner in this house. I formally call him to order for the first time. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The poacher’s polka time! I do not know why it is; Labor Party members, I guess, look in their own ranks of rorting, double dipping, abuse, compromise and inappropriate appointments and they try to denigrate the decent people in our community. I have to say that Chris Ellison is a friend of mine, not a close friend — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oh, how uncanny! There he goes! The brains trust of the Labor Party, the sleaze machine himself, the dirty tricks man—look at him! There he goes! Withdrawal of Remark Mr M. McGOWAN : The Premier used a phrase in referring to another member that is clearly unparliamentary. I ask him to withdraw the phrase that he used about the member for Cannington. A government member: What was it? Mr M. McGOWAN : He used the phrase “sleaze machine” to describe the member for Cannington. I ask the Premier to withdraw. Further to the point of order, the member for Collie-Preston performed an act earlier for which there is a precedent and I think that needs to be noted. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! To the member for Rockingham’s first point of order, indeed, if the Premier did refer to the member using those words, I did not hear them; however, if he did, I certainly ask him to withdraw. On the second point of order the member raised, I have made a different determination about the behaviour of the member I have formally called to order. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I did not refer to the member by name but I was certainly looking him in the eye when I said those words, so I withdraw that. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : Chris Ellison is an entirely appropriate appointment; the appointment will hold. Members opposite had their little win; they had a photo of an eminent Western Australian on the front page of The West Australian —congratulations! If members opposite want to drag people down—do they want me to start? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do they want me to start working my way around the Labor Party; because we will do it? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite want to start, I can unchain the member for Jandakot! I can unchain the Treasurer, if that is what members opposite want! Chris Ellison is a decent Australian and a very proud Western Australian. I tell members opposite that we will not go down to those levels; we will not go into the gutter with the Labor Party! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite can stay in the gutter with themselves! They can stay right in that gutter with themselves. I will tell members what Chris Ellison has done, because he was so offended by the way he has been treated. Like I and others, he cares about the Kimberley and he wants to see the work there done properly. Chris Ellison has advised my office today that he has severed all ties with Enhance Group—he had a pretty loose arrangement so he has given that away. Is the opposition happy now? He has walked away from it. There is no conflict, but he has walked away from that because he would rather walk away than be on the front page and have slurs from the Labor Party. That is the sort of man he is; that is the sort of integrity he has. Is the Leader of the Opposition happy about that? Chris Ellison has walked away from Enhance because he is committed to helping out in the Kimberley. How does that compare with the Labor Party’s standards on pecuniary interest? How does that compare? Not too flash! Therefore, Chris Ellison will provide a letter to the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet to that effect. He will do the job and he will do it well. There is no report; there is no advice to government. With the assistance of staff from the Department of Environment and Conservation, who will provide him with a secretary, a report will be prepared about what was said at the various meetings. As a facilitator, he is someone who is able to get all groups to have the confidence to get up and express their point of view—a good thing. What is all this about? This is the first step in a $9 million commitment by the Liberal-National government to understand the science of the Kimberley and to commission scientific work so that we know more about the Kimberley so that when we take measures, which we will be doing, to conserve the most important parts of the Kimberley, we will get it right. Why is the opposition so upset about that? Was it because members opposite did nothing for eight years? What did they do in the Kimberley? What did members opposite achieve in the Kimberley in eight years? Nothing! Members opposite resent the fact that this government will do the science and conserve parts of the Kimberley and do it properly. I can think of no-one better qualified than Chris Ellison to chair the public forums. Although she is not in this place today, I am sure the member for Kimberley will attend those public forums and, indeed, I have invited her to come along and take part. I know she will because she cares about the Kimberley and she cares about the real issues, unlike the grovelling and the gutter sniping that we get from members opposite.
(4) Does the Premier seriously expect the people of the Kimberley to have any confidence in a report produced by someone with such a gross, untenable conflict of interest? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: How extraordinary! (1)-(4) Was I the sole person who appointed Chris Ellison? No, I was not. The choice of Chris Ellison came from my recommendation; I thought he was a most suitable person to undertake the role that we had in mind. Obviously the Minister for Environment, Hon Donna Faragher, was involved in that decision. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : She said, “No, Colin; I’m not going to do that, Colin”. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Armadale! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Another brilliant interjection! Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : It is a brilliant interjection because it displays just how absolutely gullible you must believe that the public of Western Australia is. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Armadale! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am happy to answer the question. The SPEAKER : Take a seat, Premier. I could ask the member for Armadale to withdraw recent references she made in her interjection. I think she knows what I am referring to in terms of personal names. That should not happen in this place. I ask the member to cease interjecting and I formally call her to order for the first time. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes. It was my idea that Chris Ellison would be a good person to chair the public forums relating to the Kimberley Science and Conservation Strategy. Obviously, I made that suggestion and discussed it with the minister responsible. She raised the point that she had worked for Chris Ellison, albeit five years ago. I do not consider that to be of any great consequence now. The issue of employing him was then handed over to the appropriate process through the public service. Chris Ellison’s involvement with, I guess, the lobbying firm, if we want to call it that, became clear. He make it absolutely clear, almost to the point of obsession, that he would take on this role only if there was no sense of any potential conflict of interest. I am disappointed, I have to say, with the degree of publicity this has received. However, that is politics. Mr W.J. Johnston : You bet you are. Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is politics and Chris Ellison is well able to deal with that, as, indeed, am I. Can I state again for the house: Chris Ellison is one of the finest, most highly respected senators Western Australia has ever had. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite will try to cast a slur on him and I will not let them do that. He is a very fine person. Mr R.H. Cook : It is hopelessly conflicting. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite want to talk about conflicts, we can go all day, one by one. I suggest they do not raise that. Let me talk about Chris Ellison. He has a long-term legal career, has a wide knowledge of the law, has worked as a senator for Western Australia, I think, for 16 years and has spent 10 years as a minister in the Howard government. What is he being engaged to do? He is being engaged, not as an environmental consultant, not as an advisor to the minister and not as an advisor to me. Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s for something that is worth $1 000 a day. He must be doing something. The SPEAKER : Order, Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : He has simply been engaged to chair public forums—no private meetings—that will be open to anyone and everyone, including the media and Labor members of Parliament, if they have an interest in the Kimberley. It will be a totally public, open process. Because of his standing in the community, his knowledge of the area and of various groups and his skill as a chairman and facilitator, I suggested that he do that role. That is all he will be doing. He has a contract over a three-month period. It is estimated that probably less than 20 days will be involved and he will be paid the princely sum of $125 an hour. I got it wrong yesterday when I think I said $145. Have members been to the dentist or physio or called an electrician to their houses lately? The amount of $125 an hour is what he is being paid, with the cap that, no matter how many hours he works in a day—knowing Chris Ellison, he will work long and hard at this task—he cannot be paid more than $1 000 a day. Mr M. McGowan : What about allowances? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Allowances? I do not expect him to walk to the Kimberley. I expect he will catch a plane and fly to the Kimberley, so the government will pay the airfare. I do not expect him to camp out on the creek bed so we will pay for him to stay in a hotel. His airfare and basic accommodation will be paid in line with government employment contracts. He will receive no other allowances or perks. Why is it that this miserable, rotten, low Labor Party comes in here — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Look at them, smiling away. The SPEAKER : Order! I presume the member for Collie-Preston was not having some sort of a seizure. I ask that, in future, he not perform in that manner in this house. I formally call him to order for the first time. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The poacher’s polka time! I do not know why it is; Labor Party members, I guess, look in their own ranks of rorting, double dipping, abuse, compromise and inappropriate appointments and they try to denigrate the decent people in our community. I have to say that Chris Ellison is a friend of mine, not a close friend — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oh, how uncanny! There he goes! The brains trust of the Labor Party, the sleaze machine himself, the dirty tricks man—look at him! There he goes! Withdrawal of Remark Mr M. McGOWAN : The Premier used a phrase in referring to another member that is clearly unparliamentary. I ask him to withdraw the phrase that he used about the member for Cannington. A government member: What was it? Mr M. McGOWAN : He used the phrase “sleaze machine” to describe the member for Cannington. I ask the Premier to withdraw. Further to the point of order, the member for Collie-Preston performed an act earlier for which there is a precedent and I think that needs to be noted. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! To the member for Rockingham’s first point of order, indeed, if the Premier did refer to the member using those words, I did not hear them; however, if he did, I certainly ask him to withdraw. On the second point of order the member raised, I have made a different determination about the behaviour of the member I have formally called to order. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I did not refer to the member by name but I was certainly looking him in the eye when I said those words, so I withdraw that. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : Chris Ellison is an entirely appropriate appointment; the appointment will hold. Members opposite had their little win; they had a photo of an eminent Western Australian on the front page of The West Australian —congratulations! If members opposite want to drag people down—do they want me to start? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do they want me to start working my way around the Labor Party; because we will do it? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite want to start, I can unchain the member for Jandakot! I can unchain the Treasurer, if that is what members opposite want! Chris Ellison is a decent Australian and a very proud Western Australian. I tell members opposite that we will not go down to those levels; we will not go into the gutter with the Labor Party! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite can stay in the gutter with themselves! They can stay right in that gutter with themselves. I will tell members what Chris Ellison has done, because he was so offended by the way he has been treated. Like I and others, he cares about the Kimberley and he wants to see the work there done properly. Chris Ellison has advised my office today that he has severed all ties with Enhance Group—he had a pretty loose arrangement so he has given that away. Is the opposition happy now? He has walked away from it. There is no conflict, but he has walked away from that because he would rather walk away than be on the front page and have slurs from the Labor Party. That is the sort of man he is; that is the sort of integrity he has. Is the Leader of the Opposition happy about that? Chris Ellison has walked away from Enhance because he is committed to helping out in the Kimberley. How does that compare with the Labor Party’s standards on pecuniary interest? How does that compare? Not too flash! Therefore, Chris Ellison will provide a letter to the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet to that effect. He will do the job and he will do it well. There is no report; there is no advice to government. With the assistance of staff from the Department of Environment and Conservation, who will provide him with a secretary, a report will be prepared about what was said at the various meetings. As a facilitator, he is someone who is able to get all groups to have the confidence to get up and express their point of view—a good thing. What is all this about? This is the first step in a $9 million commitment by the Liberal-National government to understand the science of the Kimberley and to commission scientific work so that we know more about the Kimberley so that when we take measures, which we will be doing, to conserve the most important parts of the Kimberley, we will get it right. Why is the opposition so upset about that? Was it because members opposite did nothing for eight years? What did they do in the Kimberley? What did members opposite achieve in the Kimberley in eight years? Nothing! Members opposite resent the fact that this government will do the science and conserve parts of the Kimberley and do it properly. I can think of no-one better qualified than Chris Ellison to chair the public forums. Although she is not in this place today, I am sure the member for Kimberley will attend those public forums and, indeed, I have invited her to come along and take part. I know she will because she cares about the Kimberley and she cares about the real issues, unlike the grovelling and the gutter sniping that we get from members opposite.
Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: How extraordinary! (1)-(4) Was I the sole person who appointed Chris Ellison? No, I was not. The choice of Chris Ellison came from my recommendation; I thought he was a most suitable person to undertake the role that we had in mind. Obviously the Minister for Environment, Hon Donna Faragher, was involved in that decision. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : She said, “No, Colin; I’m not going to do that, Colin”. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Armadale! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Another brilliant interjection! Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : It is a brilliant interjection because it displays just how absolutely gullible you must believe that the public of Western Australia is. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Armadale! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am happy to answer the question. The SPEAKER : Take a seat, Premier. I could ask the member for Armadale to withdraw recent references she made in her interjection. I think she knows what I am referring to in terms of personal names. That should not happen in this place. I ask the member to cease interjecting and I formally call her to order for the first time. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes. It was my idea that Chris Ellison would be a good person to chair the public forums relating to the Kimberley Science and Conservation Strategy. Obviously, I made that suggestion and discussed it with the minister responsible. She raised the point that she had worked for Chris Ellison, albeit five years ago. I do not consider that to be of any great consequence now. The issue of employing him was then handed over to the appropriate process through the public service. Chris Ellison’s involvement with, I guess, the lobbying firm, if we want to call it that, became clear. He make it absolutely clear, almost to the point of obsession, that he would take on this role only if there was no sense of any potential conflict of interest. I am disappointed, I have to say, with the degree of publicity this has received. However, that is politics. Mr W.J. Johnston : You bet you are. Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is politics and Chris Ellison is well able to deal with that, as, indeed, am I. Can I state again for the house: Chris Ellison is one of the finest, most highly respected senators Western Australia has ever had. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite will try to cast a slur on him and I will not let them do that. He is a very fine person. Mr R.H. Cook : It is hopelessly conflicting. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite want to talk about conflicts, we can go all day, one by one. I suggest they do not raise that. Let me talk about Chris Ellison. He has a long-term legal career, has a wide knowledge of the law, has worked as a senator for Western Australia, I think, for 16 years and has spent 10 years as a minister in the Howard government. What is he being engaged to do? He is being engaged, not as an environmental consultant, not as an advisor to the minister and not as an advisor to me. Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s for something that is worth $1 000 a day. He must be doing something. The SPEAKER : Order, Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : He has simply been engaged to chair public forums—no private meetings—that will be open to anyone and everyone, including the media and Labor members of Parliament, if they have an interest in the Kimberley. It will be a totally public, open process. Because of his standing in the community, his knowledge of the area and of various groups and his skill as a chairman and facilitator, I suggested that he do that role. That is all he will be doing. He has a contract over a three-month period. It is estimated that probably less than 20 days will be involved and he will be paid the princely sum of $125 an hour. I got it wrong yesterday when I think I said $145. Have members been to the dentist or physio or called an electrician to their houses lately? The amount of $125 an hour is what he is being paid, with the cap that, no matter how many hours he works in a day—knowing Chris Ellison, he will work long and hard at this task—he cannot be paid more than $1 000 a day. Mr M. McGowan : What about allowances? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Allowances? I do not expect him to walk to the Kimberley. I expect he will catch a plane and fly to the Kimberley, so the government will pay the airfare. I do not expect him to camp out on the creek bed so we will pay for him to stay in a hotel. His airfare and basic accommodation will be paid in line with government employment contracts. He will receive no other allowances or perks. Why is it that this miserable, rotten, low Labor Party comes in here — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Look at them, smiling away. The SPEAKER : Order! I presume the member for Collie-Preston was not having some sort of a seizure. I ask that, in future, he not perform in that manner in this house. I formally call him to order for the first time. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The poacher’s polka time! I do not know why it is; Labor Party members, I guess, look in their own ranks of rorting, double dipping, abuse, compromise and inappropriate appointments and they try to denigrate the decent people in our community. I have to say that Chris Ellison is a friend of mine, not a close friend — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oh, how uncanny! There he goes! The brains trust of the Labor Party, the sleaze machine himself, the dirty tricks man—look at him! There he goes! Withdrawal of Remark Mr M. McGOWAN : The Premier used a phrase in referring to another member that is clearly unparliamentary. I ask him to withdraw the phrase that he used about the member for Cannington. A government member: What was it? Mr M. McGOWAN : He used the phrase “sleaze machine” to describe the member for Cannington. I ask the Premier to withdraw. Further to the point of order, the member for Collie-Preston performed an act earlier for which there is a precedent and I think that needs to be noted. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! To the member for Rockingham’s first point of order, indeed, if the Premier did refer to the member using those words, I did not hear them; however, if he did, I certainly ask him to withdraw. On the second point of order the member raised, I have made a different determination about the behaviour of the member I have formally called to order. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I did not refer to the member by name but I was certainly looking him in the eye when I said those words, so I withdraw that. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : Chris Ellison is an entirely appropriate appointment; the appointment will hold. Members opposite had their little win; they had a photo of an eminent Western Australian on the front page of The West Australian —congratulations! If members opposite want to drag people down—do they want me to start? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do they want me to start working my way around the Labor Party; because we will do it? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite want to start, I can unchain the member for Jandakot! I can unchain the Treasurer, if that is what members opposite want! Chris Ellison is a decent Australian and a very proud Western Australian. I tell members opposite that we will not go down to those levels; we will not go into the gutter with the Labor Party! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite can stay in the gutter with themselves! They can stay right in that gutter with themselves. I will tell members what Chris Ellison has done, because he was so offended by the way he has been treated. Like I and others, he cares about the Kimberley and he wants to see the work there done properly. Chris Ellison has advised my office today that he has severed all ties with Enhance Group—he had a pretty loose arrangement so he has given that away. Is the opposition happy now? He has walked away from it. There is no conflict, but he has walked away from that because he would rather walk away than be on the front page and have slurs from the Labor Party. That is the sort of man he is; that is the sort of integrity he has. Is the Leader of the Opposition happy about that? Chris Ellison has walked away from Enhance because he is committed to helping out in the Kimberley. How does that compare with the Labor Party’s standards on pecuniary interest? How does that compare? Not too flash! Therefore, Chris Ellison will provide a letter to the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet to that effect. He will do the job and he will do it well. There is no report; there is no advice to government. With the assistance of staff from the Department of Environment and Conservation, who will provide him with a secretary, a report will be prepared about what was said at the various meetings. As a facilitator, he is someone who is able to get all groups to have the confidence to get up and express their point of view—a good thing. What is all this about? This is the first step in a $9 million commitment by the Liberal-National government to understand the science of the Kimberley and to commission scientific work so that we know more about the Kimberley so that when we take measures, which we will be doing, to conserve the most important parts of the Kimberley, we will get it right. Why is the opposition so upset about that? Was it because members opposite did nothing for eight years? What did they do in the Kimberley? What did members opposite achieve in the Kimberley in eight years? Nothing! Members opposite resent the fact that this government will do the science and conserve parts of the Kimberley and do it properly. I can think of no-one better qualified than Chris Ellison to chair the public forums. Although she is not in this place today, I am sure the member for Kimberley will attend those public forums and, indeed, I have invited her to come along and take part. I know she will because she cares about the Kimberley and she cares about the real issues, unlike the grovelling and the gutter sniping that we get from members opposite.
How extraordinary! (1)-(4) Was I the sole person who appointed Chris Ellison? No, I was not. The choice of Chris Ellison came from my recommendation; I thought he was a most suitable person to undertake the role that we had in mind. Obviously the Minister for Environment, Hon Donna Faragher, was involved in that decision. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : She said, “No, Colin; I’m not going to do that, Colin”. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Armadale! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Another brilliant interjection! Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : It is a brilliant interjection because it displays just how absolutely gullible you must believe that the public of Western Australia is. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Armadale! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am happy to answer the question. The SPEAKER : Take a seat, Premier. I could ask the member for Armadale to withdraw recent references she made in her interjection. I think she knows what I am referring to in terms of personal names. That should not happen in this place. I ask the member to cease interjecting and I formally call her to order for the first time. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes. It was my idea that Chris Ellison would be a good person to chair the public forums relating to the Kimberley Science and Conservation Strategy. Obviously, I made that suggestion and discussed it with the minister responsible. She raised the point that she had worked for Chris Ellison, albeit five years ago. I do not consider that to be of any great consequence now. The issue of employing him was then handed over to the appropriate process through the public service. Chris Ellison’s involvement with, I guess, the lobbying firm, if we want to call it that, became clear. He make it absolutely clear, almost to the point of obsession, that he would take on this role only if there was no sense of any potential conflict of interest. I am disappointed, I have to say, with the degree of publicity this has received. However, that is politics. Mr W.J. Johnston : You bet you are. Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is politics and Chris Ellison is well able to deal with that, as, indeed, am I. Can I state again for the house: Chris Ellison is one of the finest, most highly respected senators Western Australia has ever had. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite will try to cast a slur on him and I will not let them do that. He is a very fine person. Mr R.H. Cook : It is hopelessly conflicting. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite want to talk about conflicts, we can go all day, one by one. I suggest they do not raise that. Let me talk about Chris Ellison. He has a long-term legal career, has a wide knowledge of the law, has worked as a senator for Western Australia, I think, for 16 years and has spent 10 years as a minister in the Howard government. What is he being engaged to do? He is being engaged, not as an environmental consultant, not as an advisor to the minister and not as an advisor to me. Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s for something that is worth $1 000 a day. He must be doing something. The SPEAKER : Order, Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : He has simply been engaged to chair public forums—no private meetings—that will be open to anyone and everyone, including the media and Labor members of Parliament, if they have an interest in the Kimberley. It will be a totally public, open process. Because of his standing in the community, his knowledge of the area and of various groups and his skill as a chairman and facilitator, I suggested that he do that role. That is all he will be doing. He has a contract over a three-month period. It is estimated that probably less than 20 days will be involved and he will be paid the princely sum of $125 an hour. I got it wrong yesterday when I think I said $145. Have members been to the dentist or physio or called an electrician to their houses lately? The amount of $125 an hour is what he is being paid, with the cap that, no matter how many hours he works in a day—knowing Chris Ellison, he will work long and hard at this task—he cannot be paid more than $1 000 a day. Mr M. McGowan : What about allowances? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Allowances? I do not expect him to walk to the Kimberley. I expect he will catch a plane and fly to the Kimberley, so the government will pay the airfare. I do not expect him to camp out on the creek bed so we will pay for him to stay in a hotel. His airfare and basic accommodation will be paid in line with government employment contracts. He will receive no other allowances or perks. Why is it that this miserable, rotten, low Labor Party comes in here — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Look at them, smiling away. The SPEAKER : Order! I presume the member for Collie-Preston was not having some sort of a seizure. I ask that, in future, he not perform in that manner in this house. I formally call him to order for the first time. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The poacher’s polka time! I do not know why it is; Labor Party members, I guess, look in their own ranks of rorting, double dipping, abuse, compromise and inappropriate appointments and they try to denigrate the decent people in our community. I have to say that Chris Ellison is a friend of mine, not a close friend — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oh, how uncanny! There he goes! The brains trust of the Labor Party, the sleaze machine himself, the dirty tricks man—look at him! There he goes! Withdrawal of Remark Mr M. McGOWAN : The Premier used a phrase in referring to another member that is clearly unparliamentary. I ask him to withdraw the phrase that he used about the member for Cannington. A government member: What was it? Mr M. McGOWAN : He used the phrase “sleaze machine” to describe the member for Cannington. I ask the Premier to withdraw. Further to the point of order, the member for Collie-Preston performed an act earlier for which there is a precedent and I think that needs to be noted. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! To the member for Rockingham’s first point of order, indeed, if the Premier did refer to the member using those words, I did not hear them; however, if he did, I certainly ask him to withdraw. On the second point of order the member raised, I have made a different determination about the behaviour of the member I have formally called to order. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I did not refer to the member by name but I was certainly looking him in the eye when I said those words, so I withdraw that. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : Chris Ellison is an entirely appropriate appointment; the appointment will hold. Members opposite had their little win; they had a photo of an eminent Western Australian on the front page of The West Australian —congratulations! If members opposite want to drag people down—do they want me to start? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do they want me to start working my way around the Labor Party; because we will do it? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite want to start, I can unchain the member for Jandakot! I can unchain the Treasurer, if that is what members opposite want! Chris Ellison is a decent Australian and a very proud Western Australian. I tell members opposite that we will not go down to those levels; we will not go into the gutter with the Labor Party! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite can stay in the gutter with themselves! They can stay right in that gutter with themselves. I will tell members what Chris Ellison has done, because he was so offended by the way he has been treated. Like I and others, he cares about the Kimberley and he wants to see the work there done properly. Chris Ellison has advised my office today that he has severed all ties with Enhance Group—he had a pretty loose arrangement so he has given that away. Is the opposition happy now? He has walked away from it. There is no conflict, but he has walked away from that because he would rather walk away than be on the front page and have slurs from the Labor Party. That is the sort of man he is; that is the sort of integrity he has. Is the Leader of the Opposition happy about that? Chris Ellison has walked away from Enhance because he is committed to helping out in the Kimberley. How does that compare with the Labor Party’s standards on pecuniary interest? How does that compare? Not too flash! Therefore, Chris Ellison will provide a letter to the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet to that effect. He will do the job and he will do it well. There is no report; there is no advice to government. With the assistance of staff from the Department of Environment and Conservation, who will provide him with a secretary, a report will be prepared about what was said at the various meetings. As a facilitator, he is someone who is able to get all groups to have the confidence to get up and express their point of view—a good thing. What is all this about? This is the first step in a $9 million commitment by the Liberal-National government to understand the science of the Kimberley and to commission scientific work so that we know more about the Kimberley so that when we take measures, which we will be doing, to conserve the most important parts of the Kimberley, we will get it right. Why is the opposition so upset about that? Was it because members opposite did nothing for eight years? What did they do in the Kimberley? What did members opposite achieve in the Kimberley in eight years? Nothing! Members opposite resent the fact that this government will do the science and conserve parts of the Kimberley and do it properly. I can think of no-one better qualified than Chris Ellison to chair the public forums. Although she is not in this place today, I am sure the member for Kimberley will attend those public forums and, indeed, I have invited her to come along and take part. I know she will because she cares about the Kimberley and she cares about the real issues, unlike the grovelling and the gutter sniping that we get from members opposite.
(1)-(4) Was I the sole person who appointed Chris Ellison? No, I was not. The choice of Chris Ellison came from my recommendation; I thought he was a most suitable person to undertake the role that we had in mind. Obviously the Minister for Environment, Hon Donna Faragher, was involved in that decision. Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : She said, “No, Colin; I’m not going to do that, Colin”. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Armadale! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Another brilliant interjection! Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : It is a brilliant interjection because it displays just how absolutely gullible you must believe that the public of Western Australia is. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Armadale! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am happy to answer the question. The SPEAKER : Take a seat, Premier. I could ask the member for Armadale to withdraw recent references she made in her interjection. I think she knows what I am referring to in terms of personal names. That should not happen in this place. I ask the member to cease interjecting and I formally call her to order for the first time. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes. It was my idea that Chris Ellison would be a good person to chair the public forums relating to the Kimberley Science and Conservation Strategy. Obviously, I made that suggestion and discussed it with the minister responsible. She raised the point that she had worked for Chris Ellison, albeit five years ago. I do not consider that to be of any great consequence now. The issue of employing him was then handed over to the appropriate process through the public service. Chris Ellison’s involvement with, I guess, the lobbying firm, if we want to call it that, became clear. He make it absolutely clear, almost to the point of obsession, that he would take on this role only if there was no sense of any potential conflict of interest. I am disappointed, I have to say, with the degree of publicity this has received. However, that is politics. Mr W.J. Johnston : You bet you are. Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is politics and Chris Ellison is well able to deal with that, as, indeed, am I. Can I state again for the house: Chris Ellison is one of the finest, most highly respected senators Western Australia has ever had. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite will try to cast a slur on him and I will not let them do that. He is a very fine person. Mr R.H. Cook : It is hopelessly conflicting. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite want to talk about conflicts, we can go all day, one by one. I suggest they do not raise that. Let me talk about Chris Ellison. He has a long-term legal career, has a wide knowledge of the law, has worked as a senator for Western Australia, I think, for 16 years and has spent 10 years as a minister in the Howard government. What is he being engaged to do? He is being engaged, not as an environmental consultant, not as an advisor to the minister and not as an advisor to me. Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s for something that is worth $1 000 a day. He must be doing something. The SPEAKER : Order, Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : He has simply been engaged to chair public forums—no private meetings—that will be open to anyone and everyone, including the media and Labor members of Parliament, if they have an interest in the Kimberley. It will be a totally public, open process. Because of his standing in the community, his knowledge of the area and of various groups and his skill as a chairman and facilitator, I suggested that he do that role. That is all he will be doing. He has a contract over a three-month period. It is estimated that probably less than 20 days will be involved and he will be paid the princely sum of $125 an hour. I got it wrong yesterday when I think I said $145. Have members been to the dentist or physio or called an electrician to their houses lately? The amount of $125 an hour is what he is being paid, with the cap that, no matter how many hours he works in a day—knowing Chris Ellison, he will work long and hard at this task—he cannot be paid more than $1 000 a day. Mr M. McGowan : What about allowances? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Allowances? I do not expect him to walk to the Kimberley. I expect he will catch a plane and fly to the Kimberley, so the government will pay the airfare. I do not expect him to camp out on the creek bed so we will pay for him to stay in a hotel. His airfare and basic accommodation will be paid in line with government employment contracts. He will receive no other allowances or perks. Why is it that this miserable, rotten, low Labor Party comes in here — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Look at them, smiling away. The SPEAKER : Order! I presume the member for Collie-Preston was not having some sort of a seizure. I ask that, in future, he not perform in that manner in this house. I formally call him to order for the first time. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The poacher’s polka time! I do not know why it is; Labor Party members, I guess, look in their own ranks of rorting, double dipping, abuse, compromise and inappropriate appointments and they try to denigrate the decent people in our community. I have to say that Chris Ellison is a friend of mine, not a close friend — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oh, how uncanny! There he goes! The brains trust of the Labor Party, the sleaze machine himself, the dirty tricks man—look at him! There he goes! Withdrawal of Remark Mr M. McGOWAN : The Premier used a phrase in referring to another member that is clearly unparliamentary. I ask him to withdraw the phrase that he used about the member for Cannington. A government member: What was it? Mr M. McGOWAN : He used the phrase “sleaze machine” to describe the member for Cannington. I ask the Premier to withdraw. Further to the point of order, the member for Collie-Preston performed an act earlier for which there is a precedent and I think that needs to be noted. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! To the member for Rockingham’s first point of order, indeed, if the Premier did refer to the member using those words, I did not hear them; however, if he did, I certainly ask him to withdraw. On the second point of order the member raised, I have made a different determination about the behaviour of the member I have formally called to order. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I did not refer to the member by name but I was certainly looking him in the eye when I said those words, so I withdraw that. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : Chris Ellison is an entirely appropriate appointment; the appointment will hold. Members opposite had their little win; they had a photo of an eminent Western Australian on the front page of The West Australian —congratulations! If members opposite want to drag people down—do they want me to start? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do they want me to start working my way around the Labor Party; because we will do it? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite want to start, I can unchain the member for Jandakot! I can unchain the Treasurer, if that is what members opposite want! Chris Ellison is a decent Australian and a very proud Western Australian. I tell members opposite that we will not go down to those levels; we will not go into the gutter with the Labor Party! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite can stay in the gutter with themselves! They can stay right in that gutter with themselves. I will tell members what Chris Ellison has done, because he was so offended by the way he has been treated. Like I and others, he cares about the Kimberley and he wants to see the work there done properly. Chris Ellison has advised my office today that he has severed all ties with Enhance Group—he had a pretty loose arrangement so he has given that away. Is the opposition happy now? He has walked away from it. There is no conflict, but he has walked away from that because he would rather walk away than be on the front page and have slurs from the Labor Party. That is the sort of man he is; that is the sort of integrity he has. Is the Leader of the Opposition happy about that? Chris Ellison has walked away from Enhance because he is committed to helping out in the Kimberley. How does that compare with the Labor Party’s standards on pecuniary interest? How does that compare? Not too flash! Therefore, Chris Ellison will provide a letter to the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet to that effect. He will do the job and he will do it well. There is no report; there is no advice to government. With the assistance of staff from the Department of Environment and Conservation, who will provide him with a secretary, a report will be prepared about what was said at the various meetings. As a facilitator, he is someone who is able to get all groups to have the confidence to get up and express their point of view—a good thing. What is all this about? This is the first step in a $9 million commitment by the Liberal-National government to understand the science of the Kimberley and to commission scientific work so that we know more about the Kimberley so that when we take measures, which we will be doing, to conserve the most important parts of the Kimberley, we will get it right. Why is the opposition so upset about that? Was it because members opposite did nothing for eight years? What did they do in the Kimberley? What did members opposite achieve in the Kimberley in eight years? Nothing! Members opposite resent the fact that this government will do the science and conserve parts of the Kimberley and do it properly. I can think of no-one better qualified than Chris Ellison to chair the public forums. Although she is not in this place today, I am sure the member for Kimberley will attend those public forums and, indeed, I have invited her to come along and take part. I know she will because she cares about the Kimberley and she cares about the real issues, unlike the grovelling and the gutter sniping that we get from members opposite.
Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : She said, “No, Colin; I’m not going to do that, Colin”. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Armadale! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Another brilliant interjection! Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : It is a brilliant interjection because it displays just how absolutely gullible you must believe that the public of Western Australia is. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Armadale! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am happy to answer the question. The SPEAKER : Take a seat, Premier. I could ask the member for Armadale to withdraw recent references she made in her interjection. I think she knows what I am referring to in terms of personal names. That should not happen in this place. I ask the member to cease interjecting and I formally call her to order for the first time. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes. It was my idea that Chris Ellison would be a good person to chair the public forums relating to the Kimberley Science and Conservation Strategy. Obviously, I made that suggestion and discussed it with the minister responsible. She raised the point that she had worked for Chris Ellison, albeit five years ago. I do not consider that to be of any great consequence now. The issue of employing him was then handed over to the appropriate process through the public service. Chris Ellison’s involvement with, I guess, the lobbying firm, if we want to call it that, became clear. He make it absolutely clear, almost to the point of obsession, that he would take on this role only if there was no sense of any potential conflict of interest. I am disappointed, I have to say, with the degree of publicity this has received. However, that is politics. Mr W.J. Johnston : You bet you are. Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is politics and Chris Ellison is well able to deal with that, as, indeed, am I. Can I state again for the house: Chris Ellison is one of the finest, most highly respected senators Western Australia has ever had. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite will try to cast a slur on him and I will not let them do that. He is a very fine person. Mr R.H. Cook : It is hopelessly conflicting. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite want to talk about conflicts, we can go all day, one by one. I suggest they do not raise that. Let me talk about Chris Ellison. He has a long-term legal career, has a wide knowledge of the law, has worked as a senator for Western Australia, I think, for 16 years and has spent 10 years as a minister in the Howard government. What is he being engaged to do? He is being engaged, not as an environmental consultant, not as an advisor to the minister and not as an advisor to me. Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s for something that is worth $1 000 a day. He must be doing something. The SPEAKER : Order, Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : He has simply been engaged to chair public forums—no private meetings—that will be open to anyone and everyone, including the media and Labor members of Parliament, if they have an interest in the Kimberley. It will be a totally public, open process. Because of his standing in the community, his knowledge of the area and of various groups and his skill as a chairman and facilitator, I suggested that he do that role. That is all he will be doing. He has a contract over a three-month period. It is estimated that probably less than 20 days will be involved and he will be paid the princely sum of $125 an hour. I got it wrong yesterday when I think I said $145. Have members been to the dentist or physio or called an electrician to their houses lately? The amount of $125 an hour is what he is being paid, with the cap that, no matter how many hours he works in a day—knowing Chris Ellison, he will work long and hard at this task—he cannot be paid more than $1 000 a day. Mr M. McGowan : What about allowances? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Allowances? I do not expect him to walk to the Kimberley. I expect he will catch a plane and fly to the Kimberley, so the government will pay the airfare. I do not expect him to camp out on the creek bed so we will pay for him to stay in a hotel. His airfare and basic accommodation will be paid in line with government employment contracts. He will receive no other allowances or perks. Why is it that this miserable, rotten, low Labor Party comes in here — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Look at them, smiling away. The SPEAKER : Order! I presume the member for Collie-Preston was not having some sort of a seizure. I ask that, in future, he not perform in that manner in this house. I formally call him to order for the first time. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The poacher’s polka time! I do not know why it is; Labor Party members, I guess, look in their own ranks of rorting, double dipping, abuse, compromise and inappropriate appointments and they try to denigrate the decent people in our community. I have to say that Chris Ellison is a friend of mine, not a close friend — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oh, how uncanny! There he goes! The brains trust of the Labor Party, the sleaze machine himself, the dirty tricks man—look at him! There he goes! Withdrawal of Remark Mr M. McGOWAN : The Premier used a phrase in referring to another member that is clearly unparliamentary. I ask him to withdraw the phrase that he used about the member for Cannington. A government member: What was it? Mr M. McGOWAN : He used the phrase “sleaze machine” to describe the member for Cannington. I ask the Premier to withdraw. Further to the point of order, the member for Collie-Preston performed an act earlier for which there is a precedent and I think that needs to be noted. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! To the member for Rockingham’s first point of order, indeed, if the Premier did refer to the member using those words, I did not hear them; however, if he did, I certainly ask him to withdraw. On the second point of order the member raised, I have made a different determination about the behaviour of the member I have formally called to order. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I did not refer to the member by name but I was certainly looking him in the eye when I said those words, so I withdraw that. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : Chris Ellison is an entirely appropriate appointment; the appointment will hold. Members opposite had their little win; they had a photo of an eminent Western Australian on the front page of The West Australian —congratulations! If members opposite want to drag people down—do they want me to start? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do they want me to start working my way around the Labor Party; because we will do it? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite want to start, I can unchain the member for Jandakot! I can unchain the Treasurer, if that is what members opposite want! Chris Ellison is a decent Australian and a very proud Western Australian. I tell members opposite that we will not go down to those levels; we will not go into the gutter with the Labor Party! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite can stay in the gutter with themselves! They can stay right in that gutter with themselves. I will tell members what Chris Ellison has done, because he was so offended by the way he has been treated. Like I and others, he cares about the Kimberley and he wants to see the work there done properly. Chris Ellison has advised my office today that he has severed all ties with Enhance Group—he had a pretty loose arrangement so he has given that away. Is the opposition happy now? He has walked away from it. There is no conflict, but he has walked away from that because he would rather walk away than be on the front page and have slurs from the Labor Party. That is the sort of man he is; that is the sort of integrity he has. Is the Leader of the Opposition happy about that? Chris Ellison has walked away from Enhance because he is committed to helping out in the Kimberley. How does that compare with the Labor Party’s standards on pecuniary interest? How does that compare? Not too flash! Therefore, Chris Ellison will provide a letter to the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet to that effect. He will do the job and he will do it well. There is no report; there is no advice to government. With the assistance of staff from the Department of Environment and Conservation, who will provide him with a secretary, a report will be prepared about what was said at the various meetings. As a facilitator, he is someone who is able to get all groups to have the confidence to get up and express their point of view—a good thing. What is all this about? This is the first step in a $9 million commitment by the Liberal-National government to understand the science of the Kimberley and to commission scientific work so that we know more about the Kimberley so that when we take measures, which we will be doing, to conserve the most important parts of the Kimberley, we will get it right. Why is the opposition so upset about that? Was it because members opposite did nothing for eight years? What did they do in the Kimberley? What did members opposite achieve in the Kimberley in eight years? Nothing! Members opposite resent the fact that this government will do the science and conserve parts of the Kimberley and do it properly. I can think of no-one better qualified than Chris Ellison to chair the public forums. Although she is not in this place today, I am sure the member for Kimberley will attend those public forums and, indeed, I have invited her to come along and take part. I know she will because she cares about the Kimberley and she cares about the real issues, unlike the grovelling and the gutter sniping that we get from members opposite.
The SPEAKER : Order, member for Armadale! Mr C.J. BARNETT : Another brilliant interjection! Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : It is a brilliant interjection because it displays just how absolutely gullible you must believe that the public of Western Australia is. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Armadale! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am happy to answer the question. The SPEAKER : Take a seat, Premier. I could ask the member for Armadale to withdraw recent references she made in her interjection. I think she knows what I am referring to in terms of personal names. That should not happen in this place. I ask the member to cease interjecting and I formally call her to order for the first time. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes. It was my idea that Chris Ellison would be a good person to chair the public forums relating to the Kimberley Science and Conservation Strategy. Obviously, I made that suggestion and discussed it with the minister responsible. She raised the point that she had worked for Chris Ellison, albeit five years ago. I do not consider that to be of any great consequence now. The issue of employing him was then handed over to the appropriate process through the public service. Chris Ellison’s involvement with, I guess, the lobbying firm, if we want to call it that, became clear. He make it absolutely clear, almost to the point of obsession, that he would take on this role only if there was no sense of any potential conflict of interest. I am disappointed, I have to say, with the degree of publicity this has received. However, that is politics. Mr W.J. Johnston : You bet you are. Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is politics and Chris Ellison is well able to deal with that, as, indeed, am I. Can I state again for the house: Chris Ellison is one of the finest, most highly respected senators Western Australia has ever had. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite will try to cast a slur on him and I will not let them do that. He is a very fine person. Mr R.H. Cook : It is hopelessly conflicting. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite want to talk about conflicts, we can go all day, one by one. I suggest they do not raise that. Let me talk about Chris Ellison. He has a long-term legal career, has a wide knowledge of the law, has worked as a senator for Western Australia, I think, for 16 years and has spent 10 years as a minister in the Howard government. What is he being engaged to do? He is being engaged, not as an environmental consultant, not as an advisor to the minister and not as an advisor to me. Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s for something that is worth $1 000 a day. He must be doing something. The SPEAKER : Order, Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : He has simply been engaged to chair public forums—no private meetings—that will be open to anyone and everyone, including the media and Labor members of Parliament, if they have an interest in the Kimberley. It will be a totally public, open process. Because of his standing in the community, his knowledge of the area and of various groups and his skill as a chairman and facilitator, I suggested that he do that role. That is all he will be doing. He has a contract over a three-month period. It is estimated that probably less than 20 days will be involved and he will be paid the princely sum of $125 an hour. I got it wrong yesterday when I think I said $145. Have members been to the dentist or physio or called an electrician to their houses lately? The amount of $125 an hour is what he is being paid, with the cap that, no matter how many hours he works in a day—knowing Chris Ellison, he will work long and hard at this task—he cannot be paid more than $1 000 a day. Mr M. McGowan : What about allowances? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Allowances? I do not expect him to walk to the Kimberley. I expect he will catch a plane and fly to the Kimberley, so the government will pay the airfare. I do not expect him to camp out on the creek bed so we will pay for him to stay in a hotel. His airfare and basic accommodation will be paid in line with government employment contracts. He will receive no other allowances or perks. Why is it that this miserable, rotten, low Labor Party comes in here — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Look at them, smiling away. The SPEAKER : Order! I presume the member for Collie-Preston was not having some sort of a seizure. I ask that, in future, he not perform in that manner in this house. I formally call him to order for the first time. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The poacher’s polka time! I do not know why it is; Labor Party members, I guess, look in their own ranks of rorting, double dipping, abuse, compromise and inappropriate appointments and they try to denigrate the decent people in our community. I have to say that Chris Ellison is a friend of mine, not a close friend — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oh, how uncanny! There he goes! The brains trust of the Labor Party, the sleaze machine himself, the dirty tricks man—look at him! There he goes! Withdrawal of Remark Mr M. McGOWAN : The Premier used a phrase in referring to another member that is clearly unparliamentary. I ask him to withdraw the phrase that he used about the member for Cannington. A government member: What was it? Mr M. McGOWAN : He used the phrase “sleaze machine” to describe the member for Cannington. I ask the Premier to withdraw. Further to the point of order, the member for Collie-Preston performed an act earlier for which there is a precedent and I think that needs to be noted. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! To the member for Rockingham’s first point of order, indeed, if the Premier did refer to the member using those words, I did not hear them; however, if he did, I certainly ask him to withdraw. On the second point of order the member raised, I have made a different determination about the behaviour of the member I have formally called to order. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I did not refer to the member by name but I was certainly looking him in the eye when I said those words, so I withdraw that. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : Chris Ellison is an entirely appropriate appointment; the appointment will hold. Members opposite had their little win; they had a photo of an eminent Western Australian on the front page of The West Australian —congratulations! If members opposite want to drag people down—do they want me to start? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do they want me to start working my way around the Labor Party; because we will do it? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite want to start, I can unchain the member for Jandakot! I can unchain the Treasurer, if that is what members opposite want! Chris Ellison is a decent Australian and a very proud Western Australian. I tell members opposite that we will not go down to those levels; we will not go into the gutter with the Labor Party! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite can stay in the gutter with themselves! They can stay right in that gutter with themselves. I will tell members what Chris Ellison has done, because he was so offended by the way he has been treated. Like I and others, he cares about the Kimberley and he wants to see the work there done properly. Chris Ellison has advised my office today that he has severed all ties with Enhance Group—he had a pretty loose arrangement so he has given that away. Is the opposition happy now? He has walked away from it. There is no conflict, but he has walked away from that because he would rather walk away than be on the front page and have slurs from the Labor Party. That is the sort of man he is; that is the sort of integrity he has. Is the Leader of the Opposition happy about that? Chris Ellison has walked away from Enhance because he is committed to helping out in the Kimberley. How does that compare with the Labor Party’s standards on pecuniary interest? How does that compare? Not too flash! Therefore, Chris Ellison will provide a letter to the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet to that effect. He will do the job and he will do it well. There is no report; there is no advice to government. With the assistance of staff from the Department of Environment and Conservation, who will provide him with a secretary, a report will be prepared about what was said at the various meetings. As a facilitator, he is someone who is able to get all groups to have the confidence to get up and express their point of view—a good thing. What is all this about? This is the first step in a $9 million commitment by the Liberal-National government to understand the science of the Kimberley and to commission scientific work so that we know more about the Kimberley so that when we take measures, which we will be doing, to conserve the most important parts of the Kimberley, we will get it right. Why is the opposition so upset about that? Was it because members opposite did nothing for eight years? What did they do in the Kimberley? What did members opposite achieve in the Kimberley in eight years? Nothing! Members opposite resent the fact that this government will do the science and conserve parts of the Kimberley and do it properly. I can think of no-one better qualified than Chris Ellison to chair the public forums. Although she is not in this place today, I am sure the member for Kimberley will attend those public forums and, indeed, I have invited her to come along and take part. I know she will because she cares about the Kimberley and she cares about the real issues, unlike the grovelling and the gutter sniping that we get from members opposite.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Another brilliant interjection! Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : It is a brilliant interjection because it displays just how absolutely gullible you must believe that the public of Western Australia is. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Armadale! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am happy to answer the question. The SPEAKER : Take a seat, Premier. I could ask the member for Armadale to withdraw recent references she made in her interjection. I think she knows what I am referring to in terms of personal names. That should not happen in this place. I ask the member to cease interjecting and I formally call her to order for the first time. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes. It was my idea that Chris Ellison would be a good person to chair the public forums relating to the Kimberley Science and Conservation Strategy. Obviously, I made that suggestion and discussed it with the minister responsible. She raised the point that she had worked for Chris Ellison, albeit five years ago. I do not consider that to be of any great consequence now. The issue of employing him was then handed over to the appropriate process through the public service. Chris Ellison’s involvement with, I guess, the lobbying firm, if we want to call it that, became clear. He make it absolutely clear, almost to the point of obsession, that he would take on this role only if there was no sense of any potential conflict of interest. I am disappointed, I have to say, with the degree of publicity this has received. However, that is politics. Mr W.J. Johnston : You bet you are. Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is politics and Chris Ellison is well able to deal with that, as, indeed, am I. Can I state again for the house: Chris Ellison is one of the finest, most highly respected senators Western Australia has ever had. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite will try to cast a slur on him and I will not let them do that. He is a very fine person. Mr R.H. Cook : It is hopelessly conflicting. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite want to talk about conflicts, we can go all day, one by one. I suggest they do not raise that. Let me talk about Chris Ellison. He has a long-term legal career, has a wide knowledge of the law, has worked as a senator for Western Australia, I think, for 16 years and has spent 10 years as a minister in the Howard government. What is he being engaged to do? He is being engaged, not as an environmental consultant, not as an advisor to the minister and not as an advisor to me. Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s for something that is worth $1 000 a day. He must be doing something. The SPEAKER : Order, Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : He has simply been engaged to chair public forums—no private meetings—that will be open to anyone and everyone, including the media and Labor members of Parliament, if they have an interest in the Kimberley. It will be a totally public, open process. Because of his standing in the community, his knowledge of the area and of various groups and his skill as a chairman and facilitator, I suggested that he do that role. That is all he will be doing. He has a contract over a three-month period. It is estimated that probably less than 20 days will be involved and he will be paid the princely sum of $125 an hour. I got it wrong yesterday when I think I said $145. Have members been to the dentist or physio or called an electrician to their houses lately? The amount of $125 an hour is what he is being paid, with the cap that, no matter how many hours he works in a day—knowing Chris Ellison, he will work long and hard at this task—he cannot be paid more than $1 000 a day. Mr M. McGowan : What about allowances? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Allowances? I do not expect him to walk to the Kimberley. I expect he will catch a plane and fly to the Kimberley, so the government will pay the airfare. I do not expect him to camp out on the creek bed so we will pay for him to stay in a hotel. His airfare and basic accommodation will be paid in line with government employment contracts. He will receive no other allowances or perks. Why is it that this miserable, rotten, low Labor Party comes in here — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Look at them, smiling away. The SPEAKER : Order! I presume the member for Collie-Preston was not having some sort of a seizure. I ask that, in future, he not perform in that manner in this house. I formally call him to order for the first time. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The poacher’s polka time! I do not know why it is; Labor Party members, I guess, look in their own ranks of rorting, double dipping, abuse, compromise and inappropriate appointments and they try to denigrate the decent people in our community. I have to say that Chris Ellison is a friend of mine, not a close friend — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oh, how uncanny! There he goes! The brains trust of the Labor Party, the sleaze machine himself, the dirty tricks man—look at him! There he goes! Withdrawal of Remark Mr M. McGOWAN : The Premier used a phrase in referring to another member that is clearly unparliamentary. I ask him to withdraw the phrase that he used about the member for Cannington. A government member: What was it? Mr M. McGOWAN : He used the phrase “sleaze machine” to describe the member for Cannington. I ask the Premier to withdraw. Further to the point of order, the member for Collie-Preston performed an act earlier for which there is a precedent and I think that needs to be noted. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! To the member for Rockingham’s first point of order, indeed, if the Premier did refer to the member using those words, I did not hear them; however, if he did, I certainly ask him to withdraw. On the second point of order the member raised, I have made a different determination about the behaviour of the member I have formally called to order. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I did not refer to the member by name but I was certainly looking him in the eye when I said those words, so I withdraw that. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : Chris Ellison is an entirely appropriate appointment; the appointment will hold. Members opposite had their little win; they had a photo of an eminent Western Australian on the front page of The West Australian —congratulations! If members opposite want to drag people down—do they want me to start? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do they want me to start working my way around the Labor Party; because we will do it? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite want to start, I can unchain the member for Jandakot! I can unchain the Treasurer, if that is what members opposite want! Chris Ellison is a decent Australian and a very proud Western Australian. I tell members opposite that we will not go down to those levels; we will not go into the gutter with the Labor Party! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite can stay in the gutter with themselves! They can stay right in that gutter with themselves. I will tell members what Chris Ellison has done, because he was so offended by the way he has been treated. Like I and others, he cares about the Kimberley and he wants to see the work there done properly. Chris Ellison has advised my office today that he has severed all ties with Enhance Group—he had a pretty loose arrangement so he has given that away. Is the opposition happy now? He has walked away from it. There is no conflict, but he has walked away from that because he would rather walk away than be on the front page and have slurs from the Labor Party. That is the sort of man he is; that is the sort of integrity he has. Is the Leader of the Opposition happy about that? Chris Ellison has walked away from Enhance because he is committed to helping out in the Kimberley. How does that compare with the Labor Party’s standards on pecuniary interest? How does that compare? Not too flash! Therefore, Chris Ellison will provide a letter to the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet to that effect. He will do the job and he will do it well. There is no report; there is no advice to government. With the assistance of staff from the Department of Environment and Conservation, who will provide him with a secretary, a report will be prepared about what was said at the various meetings. As a facilitator, he is someone who is able to get all groups to have the confidence to get up and express their point of view—a good thing. What is all this about? This is the first step in a $9 million commitment by the Liberal-National government to understand the science of the Kimberley and to commission scientific work so that we know more about the Kimberley so that when we take measures, which we will be doing, to conserve the most important parts of the Kimberley, we will get it right. Why is the opposition so upset about that? Was it because members opposite did nothing for eight years? What did they do in the Kimberley? What did members opposite achieve in the Kimberley in eight years? Nothing! Members opposite resent the fact that this government will do the science and conserve parts of the Kimberley and do it properly. I can think of no-one better qualified than Chris Ellison to chair the public forums. Although she is not in this place today, I am sure the member for Kimberley will attend those public forums and, indeed, I have invited her to come along and take part. I know she will because she cares about the Kimberley and she cares about the real issues, unlike the grovelling and the gutter sniping that we get from members opposite.
Ms A.J.G. MacTiernan : It is a brilliant interjection because it displays just how absolutely gullible you must believe that the public of Western Australia is. The SPEAKER : Order, member for Armadale! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am happy to answer the question. The SPEAKER : Take a seat, Premier. I could ask the member for Armadale to withdraw recent references she made in her interjection. I think she knows what I am referring to in terms of personal names. That should not happen in this place. I ask the member to cease interjecting and I formally call her to order for the first time. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes. It was my idea that Chris Ellison would be a good person to chair the public forums relating to the Kimberley Science and Conservation Strategy. Obviously, I made that suggestion and discussed it with the minister responsible. She raised the point that she had worked for Chris Ellison, albeit five years ago. I do not consider that to be of any great consequence now. The issue of employing him was then handed over to the appropriate process through the public service. Chris Ellison’s involvement with, I guess, the lobbying firm, if we want to call it that, became clear. He make it absolutely clear, almost to the point of obsession, that he would take on this role only if there was no sense of any potential conflict of interest. I am disappointed, I have to say, with the degree of publicity this has received. However, that is politics. Mr W.J. Johnston : You bet you are. Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is politics and Chris Ellison is well able to deal with that, as, indeed, am I. Can I state again for the house: Chris Ellison is one of the finest, most highly respected senators Western Australia has ever had. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite will try to cast a slur on him and I will not let them do that. He is a very fine person. Mr R.H. Cook : It is hopelessly conflicting. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite want to talk about conflicts, we can go all day, one by one. I suggest they do not raise that. Let me talk about Chris Ellison. He has a long-term legal career, has a wide knowledge of the law, has worked as a senator for Western Australia, I think, for 16 years and has spent 10 years as a minister in the Howard government. What is he being engaged to do? He is being engaged, not as an environmental consultant, not as an advisor to the minister and not as an advisor to me. Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s for something that is worth $1 000 a day. He must be doing something. The SPEAKER : Order, Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : He has simply been engaged to chair public forums—no private meetings—that will be open to anyone and everyone, including the media and Labor members of Parliament, if they have an interest in the Kimberley. It will be a totally public, open process. Because of his standing in the community, his knowledge of the area and of various groups and his skill as a chairman and facilitator, I suggested that he do that role. That is all he will be doing. He has a contract over a three-month period. It is estimated that probably less than 20 days will be involved and he will be paid the princely sum of $125 an hour. I got it wrong yesterday when I think I said $145. Have members been to the dentist or physio or called an electrician to their houses lately? The amount of $125 an hour is what he is being paid, with the cap that, no matter how many hours he works in a day—knowing Chris Ellison, he will work long and hard at this task—he cannot be paid more than $1 000 a day. Mr M. McGowan : What about allowances? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Allowances? I do not expect him to walk to the Kimberley. I expect he will catch a plane and fly to the Kimberley, so the government will pay the airfare. I do not expect him to camp out on the creek bed so we will pay for him to stay in a hotel. His airfare and basic accommodation will be paid in line with government employment contracts. He will receive no other allowances or perks. Why is it that this miserable, rotten, low Labor Party comes in here — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Look at them, smiling away. The SPEAKER : Order! I presume the member for Collie-Preston was not having some sort of a seizure. I ask that, in future, he not perform in that manner in this house. I formally call him to order for the first time. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The poacher’s polka time! I do not know why it is; Labor Party members, I guess, look in their own ranks of rorting, double dipping, abuse, compromise and inappropriate appointments and they try to denigrate the decent people in our community. I have to say that Chris Ellison is a friend of mine, not a close friend — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oh, how uncanny! There he goes! The brains trust of the Labor Party, the sleaze machine himself, the dirty tricks man—look at him! There he goes! Withdrawal of Remark Mr M. McGOWAN : The Premier used a phrase in referring to another member that is clearly unparliamentary. I ask him to withdraw the phrase that he used about the member for Cannington. A government member: What was it? Mr M. McGOWAN : He used the phrase “sleaze machine” to describe the member for Cannington. I ask the Premier to withdraw. Further to the point of order, the member for Collie-Preston performed an act earlier for which there is a precedent and I think that needs to be noted. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! To the member for Rockingham’s first point of order, indeed, if the Premier did refer to the member using those words, I did not hear them; however, if he did, I certainly ask him to withdraw. On the second point of order the member raised, I have made a different determination about the behaviour of the member I have formally called to order. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I did not refer to the member by name but I was certainly looking him in the eye when I said those words, so I withdraw that. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : Chris Ellison is an entirely appropriate appointment; the appointment will hold. Members opposite had their little win; they had a photo of an eminent Western Australian on the front page of The West Australian —congratulations! If members opposite want to drag people down—do they want me to start? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do they want me to start working my way around the Labor Party; because we will do it? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite want to start, I can unchain the member for Jandakot! I can unchain the Treasurer, if that is what members opposite want! Chris Ellison is a decent Australian and a very proud Western Australian. I tell members opposite that we will not go down to those levels; we will not go into the gutter with the Labor Party! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite can stay in the gutter with themselves! They can stay right in that gutter with themselves. I will tell members what Chris Ellison has done, because he was so offended by the way he has been treated. Like I and others, he cares about the Kimberley and he wants to see the work there done properly. Chris Ellison has advised my office today that he has severed all ties with Enhance Group—he had a pretty loose arrangement so he has given that away. Is the opposition happy now? He has walked away from it. There is no conflict, but he has walked away from that because he would rather walk away than be on the front page and have slurs from the Labor Party. That is the sort of man he is; that is the sort of integrity he has. Is the Leader of the Opposition happy about that? Chris Ellison has walked away from Enhance because he is committed to helping out in the Kimberley. How does that compare with the Labor Party’s standards on pecuniary interest? How does that compare? Not too flash! Therefore, Chris Ellison will provide a letter to the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet to that effect. He will do the job and he will do it well. There is no report; there is no advice to government. With the assistance of staff from the Department of Environment and Conservation, who will provide him with a secretary, a report will be prepared about what was said at the various meetings. As a facilitator, he is someone who is able to get all groups to have the confidence to get up and express their point of view—a good thing. What is all this about? This is the first step in a $9 million commitment by the Liberal-National government to understand the science of the Kimberley and to commission scientific work so that we know more about the Kimberley so that when we take measures, which we will be doing, to conserve the most important parts of the Kimberley, we will get it right. Why is the opposition so upset about that? Was it because members opposite did nothing for eight years? What did they do in the Kimberley? What did members opposite achieve in the Kimberley in eight years? Nothing! Members opposite resent the fact that this government will do the science and conserve parts of the Kimberley and do it properly. I can think of no-one better qualified than Chris Ellison to chair the public forums. Although she is not in this place today, I am sure the member for Kimberley will attend those public forums and, indeed, I have invited her to come along and take part. I know she will because she cares about the Kimberley and she cares about the real issues, unlike the grovelling and the gutter sniping that we get from members opposite.
The SPEAKER : Order, member for Armadale! Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am happy to answer the question. The SPEAKER : Take a seat, Premier. I could ask the member for Armadale to withdraw recent references she made in her interjection. I think she knows what I am referring to in terms of personal names. That should not happen in this place. I ask the member to cease interjecting and I formally call her to order for the first time. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes. It was my idea that Chris Ellison would be a good person to chair the public forums relating to the Kimberley Science and Conservation Strategy. Obviously, I made that suggestion and discussed it with the minister responsible. She raised the point that she had worked for Chris Ellison, albeit five years ago. I do not consider that to be of any great consequence now. The issue of employing him was then handed over to the appropriate process through the public service. Chris Ellison’s involvement with, I guess, the lobbying firm, if we want to call it that, became clear. He make it absolutely clear, almost to the point of obsession, that he would take on this role only if there was no sense of any potential conflict of interest. I am disappointed, I have to say, with the degree of publicity this has received. However, that is politics. Mr W.J. Johnston : You bet you are. Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is politics and Chris Ellison is well able to deal with that, as, indeed, am I. Can I state again for the house: Chris Ellison is one of the finest, most highly respected senators Western Australia has ever had. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite will try to cast a slur on him and I will not let them do that. He is a very fine person. Mr R.H. Cook : It is hopelessly conflicting. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite want to talk about conflicts, we can go all day, one by one. I suggest they do not raise that. Let me talk about Chris Ellison. He has a long-term legal career, has a wide knowledge of the law, has worked as a senator for Western Australia, I think, for 16 years and has spent 10 years as a minister in the Howard government. What is he being engaged to do? He is being engaged, not as an environmental consultant, not as an advisor to the minister and not as an advisor to me. Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s for something that is worth $1 000 a day. He must be doing something. The SPEAKER : Order, Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : He has simply been engaged to chair public forums—no private meetings—that will be open to anyone and everyone, including the media and Labor members of Parliament, if they have an interest in the Kimberley. It will be a totally public, open process. Because of his standing in the community, his knowledge of the area and of various groups and his skill as a chairman and facilitator, I suggested that he do that role. That is all he will be doing. He has a contract over a three-month period. It is estimated that probably less than 20 days will be involved and he will be paid the princely sum of $125 an hour. I got it wrong yesterday when I think I said $145. Have members been to the dentist or physio or called an electrician to their houses lately? The amount of $125 an hour is what he is being paid, with the cap that, no matter how many hours he works in a day—knowing Chris Ellison, he will work long and hard at this task—he cannot be paid more than $1 000 a day. Mr M. McGowan : What about allowances? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Allowances? I do not expect him to walk to the Kimberley. I expect he will catch a plane and fly to the Kimberley, so the government will pay the airfare. I do not expect him to camp out on the creek bed so we will pay for him to stay in a hotel. His airfare and basic accommodation will be paid in line with government employment contracts. He will receive no other allowances or perks. Why is it that this miserable, rotten, low Labor Party comes in here — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Look at them, smiling away. The SPEAKER : Order! I presume the member for Collie-Preston was not having some sort of a seizure. I ask that, in future, he not perform in that manner in this house. I formally call him to order for the first time. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The poacher’s polka time! I do not know why it is; Labor Party members, I guess, look in their own ranks of rorting, double dipping, abuse, compromise and inappropriate appointments and they try to denigrate the decent people in our community. I have to say that Chris Ellison is a friend of mine, not a close friend — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oh, how uncanny! There he goes! The brains trust of the Labor Party, the sleaze machine himself, the dirty tricks man—look at him! There he goes! Withdrawal of Remark Mr M. McGOWAN : The Premier used a phrase in referring to another member that is clearly unparliamentary. I ask him to withdraw the phrase that he used about the member for Cannington. A government member: What was it? Mr M. McGOWAN : He used the phrase “sleaze machine” to describe the member for Cannington. I ask the Premier to withdraw. Further to the point of order, the member for Collie-Preston performed an act earlier for which there is a precedent and I think that needs to be noted. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! To the member for Rockingham’s first point of order, indeed, if the Premier did refer to the member using those words, I did not hear them; however, if he did, I certainly ask him to withdraw. On the second point of order the member raised, I have made a different determination about the behaviour of the member I have formally called to order. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I did not refer to the member by name but I was certainly looking him in the eye when I said those words, so I withdraw that. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : Chris Ellison is an entirely appropriate appointment; the appointment will hold. Members opposite had their little win; they had a photo of an eminent Western Australian on the front page of The West Australian —congratulations! If members opposite want to drag people down—do they want me to start? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do they want me to start working my way around the Labor Party; because we will do it? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite want to start, I can unchain the member for Jandakot! I can unchain the Treasurer, if that is what members opposite want! Chris Ellison is a decent Australian and a very proud Western Australian. I tell members opposite that we will not go down to those levels; we will not go into the gutter with the Labor Party! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite can stay in the gutter with themselves! They can stay right in that gutter with themselves. I will tell members what Chris Ellison has done, because he was so offended by the way he has been treated. Like I and others, he cares about the Kimberley and he wants to see the work there done properly. Chris Ellison has advised my office today that he has severed all ties with Enhance Group—he had a pretty loose arrangement so he has given that away. Is the opposition happy now? He has walked away from it. There is no conflict, but he has walked away from that because he would rather walk away than be on the front page and have slurs from the Labor Party. That is the sort of man he is; that is the sort of integrity he has. Is the Leader of the Opposition happy about that? Chris Ellison has walked away from Enhance because he is committed to helping out in the Kimberley. How does that compare with the Labor Party’s standards on pecuniary interest? How does that compare? Not too flash! Therefore, Chris Ellison will provide a letter to the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet to that effect. He will do the job and he will do it well. There is no report; there is no advice to government. With the assistance of staff from the Department of Environment and Conservation, who will provide him with a secretary, a report will be prepared about what was said at the various meetings. As a facilitator, he is someone who is able to get all groups to have the confidence to get up and express their point of view—a good thing. What is all this about? This is the first step in a $9 million commitment by the Liberal-National government to understand the science of the Kimberley and to commission scientific work so that we know more about the Kimberley so that when we take measures, which we will be doing, to conserve the most important parts of the Kimberley, we will get it right. Why is the opposition so upset about that? Was it because members opposite did nothing for eight years? What did they do in the Kimberley? What did members opposite achieve in the Kimberley in eight years? Nothing! Members opposite resent the fact that this government will do the science and conserve parts of the Kimberley and do it properly. I can think of no-one better qualified than Chris Ellison to chair the public forums. Although she is not in this place today, I am sure the member for Kimberley will attend those public forums and, indeed, I have invited her to come along and take part. I know she will because she cares about the Kimberley and she cares about the real issues, unlike the grovelling and the gutter sniping that we get from members opposite.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am happy to answer the question. The SPEAKER : Take a seat, Premier. I could ask the member for Armadale to withdraw recent references she made in her interjection. I think she knows what I am referring to in terms of personal names. That should not happen in this place. I ask the member to cease interjecting and I formally call her to order for the first time. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes. It was my idea that Chris Ellison would be a good person to chair the public forums relating to the Kimberley Science and Conservation Strategy. Obviously, I made that suggestion and discussed it with the minister responsible. She raised the point that she had worked for Chris Ellison, albeit five years ago. I do not consider that to be of any great consequence now. The issue of employing him was then handed over to the appropriate process through the public service. Chris Ellison’s involvement with, I guess, the lobbying firm, if we want to call it that, became clear. He make it absolutely clear, almost to the point of obsession, that he would take on this role only if there was no sense of any potential conflict of interest. I am disappointed, I have to say, with the degree of publicity this has received. However, that is politics. Mr W.J. Johnston : You bet you are. Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is politics and Chris Ellison is well able to deal with that, as, indeed, am I. Can I state again for the house: Chris Ellison is one of the finest, most highly respected senators Western Australia has ever had. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite will try to cast a slur on him and I will not let them do that. He is a very fine person. Mr R.H. Cook : It is hopelessly conflicting. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite want to talk about conflicts, we can go all day, one by one. I suggest they do not raise that. Let me talk about Chris Ellison. He has a long-term legal career, has a wide knowledge of the law, has worked as a senator for Western Australia, I think, for 16 years and has spent 10 years as a minister in the Howard government. What is he being engaged to do? He is being engaged, not as an environmental consultant, not as an advisor to the minister and not as an advisor to me. Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s for something that is worth $1 000 a day. He must be doing something. The SPEAKER : Order, Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : He has simply been engaged to chair public forums—no private meetings—that will be open to anyone and everyone, including the media and Labor members of Parliament, if they have an interest in the Kimberley. It will be a totally public, open process. Because of his standing in the community, his knowledge of the area and of various groups and his skill as a chairman and facilitator, I suggested that he do that role. That is all he will be doing. He has a contract over a three-month period. It is estimated that probably less than 20 days will be involved and he will be paid the princely sum of $125 an hour. I got it wrong yesterday when I think I said $145. Have members been to the dentist or physio or called an electrician to their houses lately? The amount of $125 an hour is what he is being paid, with the cap that, no matter how many hours he works in a day—knowing Chris Ellison, he will work long and hard at this task—he cannot be paid more than $1 000 a day. Mr M. McGowan : What about allowances? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Allowances? I do not expect him to walk to the Kimberley. I expect he will catch a plane and fly to the Kimberley, so the government will pay the airfare. I do not expect him to camp out on the creek bed so we will pay for him to stay in a hotel. His airfare and basic accommodation will be paid in line with government employment contracts. He will receive no other allowances or perks. Why is it that this miserable, rotten, low Labor Party comes in here — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Look at them, smiling away. The SPEAKER : Order! I presume the member for Collie-Preston was not having some sort of a seizure. I ask that, in future, he not perform in that manner in this house. I formally call him to order for the first time. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The poacher’s polka time! I do not know why it is; Labor Party members, I guess, look in their own ranks of rorting, double dipping, abuse, compromise and inappropriate appointments and they try to denigrate the decent people in our community. I have to say that Chris Ellison is a friend of mine, not a close friend — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oh, how uncanny! There he goes! The brains trust of the Labor Party, the sleaze machine himself, the dirty tricks man—look at him! There he goes! Withdrawal of Remark Mr M. McGOWAN : The Premier used a phrase in referring to another member that is clearly unparliamentary. I ask him to withdraw the phrase that he used about the member for Cannington. A government member: What was it? Mr M. McGOWAN : He used the phrase “sleaze machine” to describe the member for Cannington. I ask the Premier to withdraw. Further to the point of order, the member for Collie-Preston performed an act earlier for which there is a precedent and I think that needs to be noted. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! To the member for Rockingham’s first point of order, indeed, if the Premier did refer to the member using those words, I did not hear them; however, if he did, I certainly ask him to withdraw. On the second point of order the member raised, I have made a different determination about the behaviour of the member I have formally called to order. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I did not refer to the member by name but I was certainly looking him in the eye when I said those words, so I withdraw that. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : Chris Ellison is an entirely appropriate appointment; the appointment will hold. Members opposite had their little win; they had a photo of an eminent Western Australian on the front page of The West Australian —congratulations! If members opposite want to drag people down—do they want me to start? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do they want me to start working my way around the Labor Party; because we will do it? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite want to start, I can unchain the member for Jandakot! I can unchain the Treasurer, if that is what members opposite want! Chris Ellison is a decent Australian and a very proud Western Australian. I tell members opposite that we will not go down to those levels; we will not go into the gutter with the Labor Party! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite can stay in the gutter with themselves! They can stay right in that gutter with themselves. I will tell members what Chris Ellison has done, because he was so offended by the way he has been treated. Like I and others, he cares about the Kimberley and he wants to see the work there done properly. Chris Ellison has advised my office today that he has severed all ties with Enhance Group—he had a pretty loose arrangement so he has given that away. Is the opposition happy now? He has walked away from it. There is no conflict, but he has walked away from that because he would rather walk away than be on the front page and have slurs from the Labor Party. That is the sort of man he is; that is the sort of integrity he has. Is the Leader of the Opposition happy about that? Chris Ellison has walked away from Enhance because he is committed to helping out in the Kimberley. How does that compare with the Labor Party’s standards on pecuniary interest? How does that compare? Not too flash! Therefore, Chris Ellison will provide a letter to the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet to that effect. He will do the job and he will do it well. There is no report; there is no advice to government. With the assistance of staff from the Department of Environment and Conservation, who will provide him with a secretary, a report will be prepared about what was said at the various meetings. As a facilitator, he is someone who is able to get all groups to have the confidence to get up and express their point of view—a good thing. What is all this about? This is the first step in a $9 million commitment by the Liberal-National government to understand the science of the Kimberley and to commission scientific work so that we know more about the Kimberley so that when we take measures, which we will be doing, to conserve the most important parts of the Kimberley, we will get it right. Why is the opposition so upset about that? Was it because members opposite did nothing for eight years? What did they do in the Kimberley? What did members opposite achieve in the Kimberley in eight years? Nothing! Members opposite resent the fact that this government will do the science and conserve parts of the Kimberley and do it properly. I can think of no-one better qualified than Chris Ellison to chair the public forums. Although she is not in this place today, I am sure the member for Kimberley will attend those public forums and, indeed, I have invited her to come along and take part. I know she will because she cares about the Kimberley and she cares about the real issues, unlike the grovelling and the gutter sniping that we get from members opposite.
The SPEAKER : Take a seat, Premier. I could ask the member for Armadale to withdraw recent references she made in her interjection. I think she knows what I am referring to in terms of personal names. That should not happen in this place. I ask the member to cease interjecting and I formally call her to order for the first time. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes. It was my idea that Chris Ellison would be a good person to chair the public forums relating to the Kimberley Science and Conservation Strategy. Obviously, I made that suggestion and discussed it with the minister responsible. She raised the point that she had worked for Chris Ellison, albeit five years ago. I do not consider that to be of any great consequence now. The issue of employing him was then handed over to the appropriate process through the public service. Chris Ellison’s involvement with, I guess, the lobbying firm, if we want to call it that, became clear. He make it absolutely clear, almost to the point of obsession, that he would take on this role only if there was no sense of any potential conflict of interest. I am disappointed, I have to say, with the degree of publicity this has received. However, that is politics. Mr W.J. Johnston : You bet you are. Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is politics and Chris Ellison is well able to deal with that, as, indeed, am I. Can I state again for the house: Chris Ellison is one of the finest, most highly respected senators Western Australia has ever had. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite will try to cast a slur on him and I will not let them do that. He is a very fine person. Mr R.H. Cook : It is hopelessly conflicting. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite want to talk about conflicts, we can go all day, one by one. I suggest they do not raise that. Let me talk about Chris Ellison. He has a long-term legal career, has a wide knowledge of the law, has worked as a senator for Western Australia, I think, for 16 years and has spent 10 years as a minister in the Howard government. What is he being engaged to do? He is being engaged, not as an environmental consultant, not as an advisor to the minister and not as an advisor to me. Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s for something that is worth $1 000 a day. He must be doing something. The SPEAKER : Order, Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : He has simply been engaged to chair public forums—no private meetings—that will be open to anyone and everyone, including the media and Labor members of Parliament, if they have an interest in the Kimberley. It will be a totally public, open process. Because of his standing in the community, his knowledge of the area and of various groups and his skill as a chairman and facilitator, I suggested that he do that role. That is all he will be doing. He has a contract over a three-month period. It is estimated that probably less than 20 days will be involved and he will be paid the princely sum of $125 an hour. I got it wrong yesterday when I think I said $145. Have members been to the dentist or physio or called an electrician to their houses lately? The amount of $125 an hour is what he is being paid, with the cap that, no matter how many hours he works in a day—knowing Chris Ellison, he will work long and hard at this task—he cannot be paid more than $1 000 a day. Mr M. McGowan : What about allowances? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Allowances? I do not expect him to walk to the Kimberley. I expect he will catch a plane and fly to the Kimberley, so the government will pay the airfare. I do not expect him to camp out on the creek bed so we will pay for him to stay in a hotel. His airfare and basic accommodation will be paid in line with government employment contracts. He will receive no other allowances or perks. Why is it that this miserable, rotten, low Labor Party comes in here — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Look at them, smiling away. The SPEAKER : Order! I presume the member for Collie-Preston was not having some sort of a seizure. I ask that, in future, he not perform in that manner in this house. I formally call him to order for the first time. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The poacher’s polka time! I do not know why it is; Labor Party members, I guess, look in their own ranks of rorting, double dipping, abuse, compromise and inappropriate appointments and they try to denigrate the decent people in our community. I have to say that Chris Ellison is a friend of mine, not a close friend — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oh, how uncanny! There he goes! The brains trust of the Labor Party, the sleaze machine himself, the dirty tricks man—look at him! There he goes! Withdrawal of Remark Mr M. McGOWAN : The Premier used a phrase in referring to another member that is clearly unparliamentary. I ask him to withdraw the phrase that he used about the member for Cannington. A government member: What was it? Mr M. McGOWAN : He used the phrase “sleaze machine” to describe the member for Cannington. I ask the Premier to withdraw. Further to the point of order, the member for Collie-Preston performed an act earlier for which there is a precedent and I think that needs to be noted. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! To the member for Rockingham’s first point of order, indeed, if the Premier did refer to the member using those words, I did not hear them; however, if he did, I certainly ask him to withdraw. On the second point of order the member raised, I have made a different determination about the behaviour of the member I have formally called to order. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I did not refer to the member by name but I was certainly looking him in the eye when I said those words, so I withdraw that. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : Chris Ellison is an entirely appropriate appointment; the appointment will hold. Members opposite had their little win; they had a photo of an eminent Western Australian on the front page of The West Australian —congratulations! If members opposite want to drag people down—do they want me to start? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do they want me to start working my way around the Labor Party; because we will do it? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite want to start, I can unchain the member for Jandakot! I can unchain the Treasurer, if that is what members opposite want! Chris Ellison is a decent Australian and a very proud Western Australian. I tell members opposite that we will not go down to those levels; we will not go into the gutter with the Labor Party! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite can stay in the gutter with themselves! They can stay right in that gutter with themselves. I will tell members what Chris Ellison has done, because he was so offended by the way he has been treated. Like I and others, he cares about the Kimberley and he wants to see the work there done properly. Chris Ellison has advised my office today that he has severed all ties with Enhance Group—he had a pretty loose arrangement so he has given that away. Is the opposition happy now? He has walked away from it. There is no conflict, but he has walked away from that because he would rather walk away than be on the front page and have slurs from the Labor Party. That is the sort of man he is; that is the sort of integrity he has. Is the Leader of the Opposition happy about that? Chris Ellison has walked away from Enhance because he is committed to helping out in the Kimberley. How does that compare with the Labor Party’s standards on pecuniary interest? How does that compare? Not too flash! Therefore, Chris Ellison will provide a letter to the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet to that effect. He will do the job and he will do it well. There is no report; there is no advice to government. With the assistance of staff from the Department of Environment and Conservation, who will provide him with a secretary, a report will be prepared about what was said at the various meetings. As a facilitator, he is someone who is able to get all groups to have the confidence to get up and express their point of view—a good thing. What is all this about? This is the first step in a $9 million commitment by the Liberal-National government to understand the science of the Kimberley and to commission scientific work so that we know more about the Kimberley so that when we take measures, which we will be doing, to conserve the most important parts of the Kimberley, we will get it right. Why is the opposition so upset about that? Was it because members opposite did nothing for eight years? What did they do in the Kimberley? What did members opposite achieve in the Kimberley in eight years? Nothing! Members opposite resent the fact that this government will do the science and conserve parts of the Kimberley and do it properly. I can think of no-one better qualified than Chris Ellison to chair the public forums. Although she is not in this place today, I am sure the member for Kimberley will attend those public forums and, indeed, I have invited her to come along and take part. I know she will because she cares about the Kimberley and she cares about the real issues, unlike the grovelling and the gutter sniping that we get from members opposite.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes. It was my idea that Chris Ellison would be a good person to chair the public forums relating to the Kimberley Science and Conservation Strategy. Obviously, I made that suggestion and discussed it with the minister responsible. She raised the point that she had worked for Chris Ellison, albeit five years ago. I do not consider that to be of any great consequence now. The issue of employing him was then handed over to the appropriate process through the public service. Chris Ellison’s involvement with, I guess, the lobbying firm, if we want to call it that, became clear. He make it absolutely clear, almost to the point of obsession, that he would take on this role only if there was no sense of any potential conflict of interest. I am disappointed, I have to say, with the degree of publicity this has received. However, that is politics. Mr W.J. Johnston : You bet you are. Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is politics and Chris Ellison is well able to deal with that, as, indeed, am I. Can I state again for the house: Chris Ellison is one of the finest, most highly respected senators Western Australia has ever had. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite will try to cast a slur on him and I will not let them do that. He is a very fine person. Mr R.H. Cook : It is hopelessly conflicting. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite want to talk about conflicts, we can go all day, one by one. I suggest they do not raise that. Let me talk about Chris Ellison. He has a long-term legal career, has a wide knowledge of the law, has worked as a senator for Western Australia, I think, for 16 years and has spent 10 years as a minister in the Howard government. What is he being engaged to do? He is being engaged, not as an environmental consultant, not as an advisor to the minister and not as an advisor to me. Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s for something that is worth $1 000 a day. He must be doing something. The SPEAKER : Order, Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : He has simply been engaged to chair public forums—no private meetings—that will be open to anyone and everyone, including the media and Labor members of Parliament, if they have an interest in the Kimberley. It will be a totally public, open process. Because of his standing in the community, his knowledge of the area and of various groups and his skill as a chairman and facilitator, I suggested that he do that role. That is all he will be doing. He has a contract over a three-month period. It is estimated that probably less than 20 days will be involved and he will be paid the princely sum of $125 an hour. I got it wrong yesterday when I think I said $145. Have members been to the dentist or physio or called an electrician to their houses lately? The amount of $125 an hour is what he is being paid, with the cap that, no matter how many hours he works in a day—knowing Chris Ellison, he will work long and hard at this task—he cannot be paid more than $1 000 a day. Mr M. McGowan : What about allowances? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Allowances? I do not expect him to walk to the Kimberley. I expect he will catch a plane and fly to the Kimberley, so the government will pay the airfare. I do not expect him to camp out on the creek bed so we will pay for him to stay in a hotel. His airfare and basic accommodation will be paid in line with government employment contracts. He will receive no other allowances or perks. Why is it that this miserable, rotten, low Labor Party comes in here — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Look at them, smiling away. The SPEAKER : Order! I presume the member for Collie-Preston was not having some sort of a seizure. I ask that, in future, he not perform in that manner in this house. I formally call him to order for the first time. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The poacher’s polka time! I do not know why it is; Labor Party members, I guess, look in their own ranks of rorting, double dipping, abuse, compromise and inappropriate appointments and they try to denigrate the decent people in our community. I have to say that Chris Ellison is a friend of mine, not a close friend — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oh, how uncanny! There he goes! The brains trust of the Labor Party, the sleaze machine himself, the dirty tricks man—look at him! There he goes! Withdrawal of Remark Mr M. McGOWAN : The Premier used a phrase in referring to another member that is clearly unparliamentary. I ask him to withdraw the phrase that he used about the member for Cannington. A government member: What was it? Mr M. McGOWAN : He used the phrase “sleaze machine” to describe the member for Cannington. I ask the Premier to withdraw. Further to the point of order, the member for Collie-Preston performed an act earlier for which there is a precedent and I think that needs to be noted. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! To the member for Rockingham’s first point of order, indeed, if the Premier did refer to the member using those words, I did not hear them; however, if he did, I certainly ask him to withdraw. On the second point of order the member raised, I have made a different determination about the behaviour of the member I have formally called to order. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I did not refer to the member by name but I was certainly looking him in the eye when I said those words, so I withdraw that. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : Chris Ellison is an entirely appropriate appointment; the appointment will hold. Members opposite had their little win; they had a photo of an eminent Western Australian on the front page of The West Australian —congratulations! If members opposite want to drag people down—do they want me to start? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do they want me to start working my way around the Labor Party; because we will do it? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite want to start, I can unchain the member for Jandakot! I can unchain the Treasurer, if that is what members opposite want! Chris Ellison is a decent Australian and a very proud Western Australian. I tell members opposite that we will not go down to those levels; we will not go into the gutter with the Labor Party! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite can stay in the gutter with themselves! They can stay right in that gutter with themselves. I will tell members what Chris Ellison has done, because he was so offended by the way he has been treated. Like I and others, he cares about the Kimberley and he wants to see the work there done properly. Chris Ellison has advised my office today that he has severed all ties with Enhance Group—he had a pretty loose arrangement so he has given that away. Is the opposition happy now? He has walked away from it. There is no conflict, but he has walked away from that because he would rather walk away than be on the front page and have slurs from the Labor Party. That is the sort of man he is; that is the sort of integrity he has. Is the Leader of the Opposition happy about that? Chris Ellison has walked away from Enhance because he is committed to helping out in the Kimberley. How does that compare with the Labor Party’s standards on pecuniary interest? How does that compare? Not too flash! Therefore, Chris Ellison will provide a letter to the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet to that effect. He will do the job and he will do it well. There is no report; there is no advice to government. With the assistance of staff from the Department of Environment and Conservation, who will provide him with a secretary, a report will be prepared about what was said at the various meetings. As a facilitator, he is someone who is able to get all groups to have the confidence to get up and express their point of view—a good thing. What is all this about? This is the first step in a $9 million commitment by the Liberal-National government to understand the science of the Kimberley and to commission scientific work so that we know more about the Kimberley so that when we take measures, which we will be doing, to conserve the most important parts of the Kimberley, we will get it right. Why is the opposition so upset about that? Was it because members opposite did nothing for eight years? What did they do in the Kimberley? What did members opposite achieve in the Kimberley in eight years? Nothing! Members opposite resent the fact that this government will do the science and conserve parts of the Kimberley and do it properly. I can think of no-one better qualified than Chris Ellison to chair the public forums. Although she is not in this place today, I am sure the member for Kimberley will attend those public forums and, indeed, I have invited her to come along and take part. I know she will because she cares about the Kimberley and she cares about the real issues, unlike the grovelling and the gutter sniping that we get from members opposite.
Mr W.J. Johnston : You bet you are. Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is politics and Chris Ellison is well able to deal with that, as, indeed, am I. Can I state again for the house: Chris Ellison is one of the finest, most highly respected senators Western Australia has ever had. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite will try to cast a slur on him and I will not let them do that. He is a very fine person. Mr R.H. Cook : It is hopelessly conflicting. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite want to talk about conflicts, we can go all day, one by one. I suggest they do not raise that. Let me talk about Chris Ellison. He has a long-term legal career, has a wide knowledge of the law, has worked as a senator for Western Australia, I think, for 16 years and has spent 10 years as a minister in the Howard government. What is he being engaged to do? He is being engaged, not as an environmental consultant, not as an advisor to the minister and not as an advisor to me. Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s for something that is worth $1 000 a day. He must be doing something. The SPEAKER : Order, Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : He has simply been engaged to chair public forums—no private meetings—that will be open to anyone and everyone, including the media and Labor members of Parliament, if they have an interest in the Kimberley. It will be a totally public, open process. Because of his standing in the community, his knowledge of the area and of various groups and his skill as a chairman and facilitator, I suggested that he do that role. That is all he will be doing. He has a contract over a three-month period. It is estimated that probably less than 20 days will be involved and he will be paid the princely sum of $125 an hour. I got it wrong yesterday when I think I said $145. Have members been to the dentist or physio or called an electrician to their houses lately? The amount of $125 an hour is what he is being paid, with the cap that, no matter how many hours he works in a day—knowing Chris Ellison, he will work long and hard at this task—he cannot be paid more than $1 000 a day. Mr M. McGowan : What about allowances? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Allowances? I do not expect him to walk to the Kimberley. I expect he will catch a plane and fly to the Kimberley, so the government will pay the airfare. I do not expect him to camp out on the creek bed so we will pay for him to stay in a hotel. His airfare and basic accommodation will be paid in line with government employment contracts. He will receive no other allowances or perks. Why is it that this miserable, rotten, low Labor Party comes in here — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Look at them, smiling away. The SPEAKER : Order! I presume the member for Collie-Preston was not having some sort of a seizure. I ask that, in future, he not perform in that manner in this house. I formally call him to order for the first time. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The poacher’s polka time! I do not know why it is; Labor Party members, I guess, look in their own ranks of rorting, double dipping, abuse, compromise and inappropriate appointments and they try to denigrate the decent people in our community. I have to say that Chris Ellison is a friend of mine, not a close friend — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oh, how uncanny! There he goes! The brains trust of the Labor Party, the sleaze machine himself, the dirty tricks man—look at him! There he goes! Withdrawal of Remark Mr M. McGOWAN : The Premier used a phrase in referring to another member that is clearly unparliamentary. I ask him to withdraw the phrase that he used about the member for Cannington. A government member: What was it? Mr M. McGOWAN : He used the phrase “sleaze machine” to describe the member for Cannington. I ask the Premier to withdraw. Further to the point of order, the member for Collie-Preston performed an act earlier for which there is a precedent and I think that needs to be noted. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! To the member for Rockingham’s first point of order, indeed, if the Premier did refer to the member using those words, I did not hear them; however, if he did, I certainly ask him to withdraw. On the second point of order the member raised, I have made a different determination about the behaviour of the member I have formally called to order. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I did not refer to the member by name but I was certainly looking him in the eye when I said those words, so I withdraw that. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : Chris Ellison is an entirely appropriate appointment; the appointment will hold. Members opposite had their little win; they had a photo of an eminent Western Australian on the front page of The West Australian —congratulations! If members opposite want to drag people down—do they want me to start? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do they want me to start working my way around the Labor Party; because we will do it? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite want to start, I can unchain the member for Jandakot! I can unchain the Treasurer, if that is what members opposite want! Chris Ellison is a decent Australian and a very proud Western Australian. I tell members opposite that we will not go down to those levels; we will not go into the gutter with the Labor Party! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite can stay in the gutter with themselves! They can stay right in that gutter with themselves. I will tell members what Chris Ellison has done, because he was so offended by the way he has been treated. Like I and others, he cares about the Kimberley and he wants to see the work there done properly. Chris Ellison has advised my office today that he has severed all ties with Enhance Group—he had a pretty loose arrangement so he has given that away. Is the opposition happy now? He has walked away from it. There is no conflict, but he has walked away from that because he would rather walk away than be on the front page and have slurs from the Labor Party. That is the sort of man he is; that is the sort of integrity he has. Is the Leader of the Opposition happy about that? Chris Ellison has walked away from Enhance because he is committed to helping out in the Kimberley. How does that compare with the Labor Party’s standards on pecuniary interest? How does that compare? Not too flash! Therefore, Chris Ellison will provide a letter to the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet to that effect. He will do the job and he will do it well. There is no report; there is no advice to government. With the assistance of staff from the Department of Environment and Conservation, who will provide him with a secretary, a report will be prepared about what was said at the various meetings. As a facilitator, he is someone who is able to get all groups to have the confidence to get up and express their point of view—a good thing. What is all this about? This is the first step in a $9 million commitment by the Liberal-National government to understand the science of the Kimberley and to commission scientific work so that we know more about the Kimberley so that when we take measures, which we will be doing, to conserve the most important parts of the Kimberley, we will get it right. Why is the opposition so upset about that? Was it because members opposite did nothing for eight years? What did they do in the Kimberley? What did members opposite achieve in the Kimberley in eight years? Nothing! Members opposite resent the fact that this government will do the science and conserve parts of the Kimberley and do it properly. I can think of no-one better qualified than Chris Ellison to chair the public forums. Although she is not in this place today, I am sure the member for Kimberley will attend those public forums and, indeed, I have invited her to come along and take part. I know she will because she cares about the Kimberley and she cares about the real issues, unlike the grovelling and the gutter sniping that we get from members opposite.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : That is politics and Chris Ellison is well able to deal with that, as, indeed, am I. Can I state again for the house: Chris Ellison is one of the finest, most highly respected senators Western Australia has ever had. Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite will try to cast a slur on him and I will not let them do that. He is a very fine person. Mr R.H. Cook : It is hopelessly conflicting. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite want to talk about conflicts, we can go all day, one by one. I suggest they do not raise that. Let me talk about Chris Ellison. He has a long-term legal career, has a wide knowledge of the law, has worked as a senator for Western Australia, I think, for 16 years and has spent 10 years as a minister in the Howard government. What is he being engaged to do? He is being engaged, not as an environmental consultant, not as an advisor to the minister and not as an advisor to me. Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s for something that is worth $1 000 a day. He must be doing something. The SPEAKER : Order, Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : He has simply been engaged to chair public forums—no private meetings—that will be open to anyone and everyone, including the media and Labor members of Parliament, if they have an interest in the Kimberley. It will be a totally public, open process. Because of his standing in the community, his knowledge of the area and of various groups and his skill as a chairman and facilitator, I suggested that he do that role. That is all he will be doing. He has a contract over a three-month period. It is estimated that probably less than 20 days will be involved and he will be paid the princely sum of $125 an hour. I got it wrong yesterday when I think I said $145. Have members been to the dentist or physio or called an electrician to their houses lately? The amount of $125 an hour is what he is being paid, with the cap that, no matter how many hours he works in a day—knowing Chris Ellison, he will work long and hard at this task—he cannot be paid more than $1 000 a day. Mr M. McGowan : What about allowances? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Allowances? I do not expect him to walk to the Kimberley. I expect he will catch a plane and fly to the Kimberley, so the government will pay the airfare. I do not expect him to camp out on the creek bed so we will pay for him to stay in a hotel. His airfare and basic accommodation will be paid in line with government employment contracts. He will receive no other allowances or perks. Why is it that this miserable, rotten, low Labor Party comes in here — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Look at them, smiling away. The SPEAKER : Order! I presume the member for Collie-Preston was not having some sort of a seizure. I ask that, in future, he not perform in that manner in this house. I formally call him to order for the first time. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The poacher’s polka time! I do not know why it is; Labor Party members, I guess, look in their own ranks of rorting, double dipping, abuse, compromise and inappropriate appointments and they try to denigrate the decent people in our community. I have to say that Chris Ellison is a friend of mine, not a close friend — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oh, how uncanny! There he goes! The brains trust of the Labor Party, the sleaze machine himself, the dirty tricks man—look at him! There he goes! Withdrawal of Remark Mr M. McGOWAN : The Premier used a phrase in referring to another member that is clearly unparliamentary. I ask him to withdraw the phrase that he used about the member for Cannington. A government member: What was it? Mr M. McGOWAN : He used the phrase “sleaze machine” to describe the member for Cannington. I ask the Premier to withdraw. Further to the point of order, the member for Collie-Preston performed an act earlier for which there is a precedent and I think that needs to be noted. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! To the member for Rockingham’s first point of order, indeed, if the Premier did refer to the member using those words, I did not hear them; however, if he did, I certainly ask him to withdraw. On the second point of order the member raised, I have made a different determination about the behaviour of the member I have formally called to order. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I did not refer to the member by name but I was certainly looking him in the eye when I said those words, so I withdraw that. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : Chris Ellison is an entirely appropriate appointment; the appointment will hold. Members opposite had their little win; they had a photo of an eminent Western Australian on the front page of The West Australian —congratulations! If members opposite want to drag people down—do they want me to start? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do they want me to start working my way around the Labor Party; because we will do it? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite want to start, I can unchain the member for Jandakot! I can unchain the Treasurer, if that is what members opposite want! Chris Ellison is a decent Australian and a very proud Western Australian. I tell members opposite that we will not go down to those levels; we will not go into the gutter with the Labor Party! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite can stay in the gutter with themselves! They can stay right in that gutter with themselves. I will tell members what Chris Ellison has done, because he was so offended by the way he has been treated. Like I and others, he cares about the Kimberley and he wants to see the work there done properly. Chris Ellison has advised my office today that he has severed all ties with Enhance Group—he had a pretty loose arrangement so he has given that away. Is the opposition happy now? He has walked away from it. There is no conflict, but he has walked away from that because he would rather walk away than be on the front page and have slurs from the Labor Party. That is the sort of man he is; that is the sort of integrity he has. Is the Leader of the Opposition happy about that? Chris Ellison has walked away from Enhance because he is committed to helping out in the Kimberley. How does that compare with the Labor Party’s standards on pecuniary interest? How does that compare? Not too flash! Therefore, Chris Ellison will provide a letter to the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet to that effect. He will do the job and he will do it well. There is no report; there is no advice to government. With the assistance of staff from the Department of Environment and Conservation, who will provide him with a secretary, a report will be prepared about what was said at the various meetings. As a facilitator, he is someone who is able to get all groups to have the confidence to get up and express their point of view—a good thing. What is all this about? This is the first step in a $9 million commitment by the Liberal-National government to understand the science of the Kimberley and to commission scientific work so that we know more about the Kimberley so that when we take measures, which we will be doing, to conserve the most important parts of the Kimberley, we will get it right. Why is the opposition so upset about that? Was it because members opposite did nothing for eight years? What did they do in the Kimberley? What did members opposite achieve in the Kimberley in eight years? Nothing! Members opposite resent the fact that this government will do the science and conserve parts of the Kimberley and do it properly. I can think of no-one better qualified than Chris Ellison to chair the public forums. Although she is not in this place today, I am sure the member for Kimberley will attend those public forums and, indeed, I have invited her to come along and take part. I know she will because she cares about the Kimberley and she cares about the real issues, unlike the grovelling and the gutter sniping that we get from members opposite.
Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite will try to cast a slur on him and I will not let them do that. He is a very fine person. Mr R.H. Cook : It is hopelessly conflicting. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite want to talk about conflicts, we can go all day, one by one. I suggest they do not raise that. Let me talk about Chris Ellison. He has a long-term legal career, has a wide knowledge of the law, has worked as a senator for Western Australia, I think, for 16 years and has spent 10 years as a minister in the Howard government. What is he being engaged to do? He is being engaged, not as an environmental consultant, not as an advisor to the minister and not as an advisor to me. Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s for something that is worth $1 000 a day. He must be doing something. The SPEAKER : Order, Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : He has simply been engaged to chair public forums—no private meetings—that will be open to anyone and everyone, including the media and Labor members of Parliament, if they have an interest in the Kimberley. It will be a totally public, open process. Because of his standing in the community, his knowledge of the area and of various groups and his skill as a chairman and facilitator, I suggested that he do that role. That is all he will be doing. He has a contract over a three-month period. It is estimated that probably less than 20 days will be involved and he will be paid the princely sum of $125 an hour. I got it wrong yesterday when I think I said $145. Have members been to the dentist or physio or called an electrician to their houses lately? The amount of $125 an hour is what he is being paid, with the cap that, no matter how many hours he works in a day—knowing Chris Ellison, he will work long and hard at this task—he cannot be paid more than $1 000 a day. Mr M. McGowan : What about allowances? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Allowances? I do not expect him to walk to the Kimberley. I expect he will catch a plane and fly to the Kimberley, so the government will pay the airfare. I do not expect him to camp out on the creek bed so we will pay for him to stay in a hotel. His airfare and basic accommodation will be paid in line with government employment contracts. He will receive no other allowances or perks. Why is it that this miserable, rotten, low Labor Party comes in here — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Look at them, smiling away. The SPEAKER : Order! I presume the member for Collie-Preston was not having some sort of a seizure. I ask that, in future, he not perform in that manner in this house. I formally call him to order for the first time. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The poacher’s polka time! I do not know why it is; Labor Party members, I guess, look in their own ranks of rorting, double dipping, abuse, compromise and inappropriate appointments and they try to denigrate the decent people in our community. I have to say that Chris Ellison is a friend of mine, not a close friend — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oh, how uncanny! There he goes! The brains trust of the Labor Party, the sleaze machine himself, the dirty tricks man—look at him! There he goes! Withdrawal of Remark Mr M. McGOWAN : The Premier used a phrase in referring to another member that is clearly unparliamentary. I ask him to withdraw the phrase that he used about the member for Cannington. A government member: What was it? Mr M. McGOWAN : He used the phrase “sleaze machine” to describe the member for Cannington. I ask the Premier to withdraw. Further to the point of order, the member for Collie-Preston performed an act earlier for which there is a precedent and I think that needs to be noted. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! To the member for Rockingham’s first point of order, indeed, if the Premier did refer to the member using those words, I did not hear them; however, if he did, I certainly ask him to withdraw. On the second point of order the member raised, I have made a different determination about the behaviour of the member I have formally called to order. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I did not refer to the member by name but I was certainly looking him in the eye when I said those words, so I withdraw that. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : Chris Ellison is an entirely appropriate appointment; the appointment will hold. Members opposite had their little win; they had a photo of an eminent Western Australian on the front page of The West Australian —congratulations! If members opposite want to drag people down—do they want me to start? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do they want me to start working my way around the Labor Party; because we will do it? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite want to start, I can unchain the member for Jandakot! I can unchain the Treasurer, if that is what members opposite want! Chris Ellison is a decent Australian and a very proud Western Australian. I tell members opposite that we will not go down to those levels; we will not go into the gutter with the Labor Party! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite can stay in the gutter with themselves! They can stay right in that gutter with themselves. I will tell members what Chris Ellison has done, because he was so offended by the way he has been treated. Like I and others, he cares about the Kimberley and he wants to see the work there done properly. Chris Ellison has advised my office today that he has severed all ties with Enhance Group—he had a pretty loose arrangement so he has given that away. Is the opposition happy now? He has walked away from it. There is no conflict, but he has walked away from that because he would rather walk away than be on the front page and have slurs from the Labor Party. That is the sort of man he is; that is the sort of integrity he has. Is the Leader of the Opposition happy about that? Chris Ellison has walked away from Enhance because he is committed to helping out in the Kimberley. How does that compare with the Labor Party’s standards on pecuniary interest? How does that compare? Not too flash! Therefore, Chris Ellison will provide a letter to the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet to that effect. He will do the job and he will do it well. There is no report; there is no advice to government. With the assistance of staff from the Department of Environment and Conservation, who will provide him with a secretary, a report will be prepared about what was said at the various meetings. As a facilitator, he is someone who is able to get all groups to have the confidence to get up and express their point of view—a good thing. What is all this about? This is the first step in a $9 million commitment by the Liberal-National government to understand the science of the Kimberley and to commission scientific work so that we know more about the Kimberley so that when we take measures, which we will be doing, to conserve the most important parts of the Kimberley, we will get it right. Why is the opposition so upset about that? Was it because members opposite did nothing for eight years? What did they do in the Kimberley? What did members opposite achieve in the Kimberley in eight years? Nothing! Members opposite resent the fact that this government will do the science and conserve parts of the Kimberley and do it properly. I can think of no-one better qualified than Chris Ellison to chair the public forums. Although she is not in this place today, I am sure the member for Kimberley will attend those public forums and, indeed, I have invited her to come along and take part. I know she will because she cares about the Kimberley and she cares about the real issues, unlike the grovelling and the gutter sniping that we get from members opposite.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite will try to cast a slur on him and I will not let them do that. He is a very fine person. Mr R.H. Cook : It is hopelessly conflicting. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite want to talk about conflicts, we can go all day, one by one. I suggest they do not raise that. Let me talk about Chris Ellison. He has a long-term legal career, has a wide knowledge of the law, has worked as a senator for Western Australia, I think, for 16 years and has spent 10 years as a minister in the Howard government. What is he being engaged to do? He is being engaged, not as an environmental consultant, not as an advisor to the minister and not as an advisor to me. Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s for something that is worth $1 000 a day. He must be doing something. The SPEAKER : Order, Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : He has simply been engaged to chair public forums—no private meetings—that will be open to anyone and everyone, including the media and Labor members of Parliament, if they have an interest in the Kimberley. It will be a totally public, open process. Because of his standing in the community, his knowledge of the area and of various groups and his skill as a chairman and facilitator, I suggested that he do that role. That is all he will be doing. He has a contract over a three-month period. It is estimated that probably less than 20 days will be involved and he will be paid the princely sum of $125 an hour. I got it wrong yesterday when I think I said $145. Have members been to the dentist or physio or called an electrician to their houses lately? The amount of $125 an hour is what he is being paid, with the cap that, no matter how many hours he works in a day—knowing Chris Ellison, he will work long and hard at this task—he cannot be paid more than $1 000 a day. Mr M. McGowan : What about allowances? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Allowances? I do not expect him to walk to the Kimberley. I expect he will catch a plane and fly to the Kimberley, so the government will pay the airfare. I do not expect him to camp out on the creek bed so we will pay for him to stay in a hotel. His airfare and basic accommodation will be paid in line with government employment contracts. He will receive no other allowances or perks. Why is it that this miserable, rotten, low Labor Party comes in here — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Look at them, smiling away. The SPEAKER : Order! I presume the member for Collie-Preston was not having some sort of a seizure. I ask that, in future, he not perform in that manner in this house. I formally call him to order for the first time. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The poacher’s polka time! I do not know why it is; Labor Party members, I guess, look in their own ranks of rorting, double dipping, abuse, compromise and inappropriate appointments and they try to denigrate the decent people in our community. I have to say that Chris Ellison is a friend of mine, not a close friend — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oh, how uncanny! There he goes! The brains trust of the Labor Party, the sleaze machine himself, the dirty tricks man—look at him! There he goes! Withdrawal of Remark Mr M. McGOWAN : The Premier used a phrase in referring to another member that is clearly unparliamentary. I ask him to withdraw the phrase that he used about the member for Cannington. A government member: What was it? Mr M. McGOWAN : He used the phrase “sleaze machine” to describe the member for Cannington. I ask the Premier to withdraw. Further to the point of order, the member for Collie-Preston performed an act earlier for which there is a precedent and I think that needs to be noted. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! To the member for Rockingham’s first point of order, indeed, if the Premier did refer to the member using those words, I did not hear them; however, if he did, I certainly ask him to withdraw. On the second point of order the member raised, I have made a different determination about the behaviour of the member I have formally called to order. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I did not refer to the member by name but I was certainly looking him in the eye when I said those words, so I withdraw that. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : Chris Ellison is an entirely appropriate appointment; the appointment will hold. Members opposite had their little win; they had a photo of an eminent Western Australian on the front page of The West Australian —congratulations! If members opposite want to drag people down—do they want me to start? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do they want me to start working my way around the Labor Party; because we will do it? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite want to start, I can unchain the member for Jandakot! I can unchain the Treasurer, if that is what members opposite want! Chris Ellison is a decent Australian and a very proud Western Australian. I tell members opposite that we will not go down to those levels; we will not go into the gutter with the Labor Party! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite can stay in the gutter with themselves! They can stay right in that gutter with themselves. I will tell members what Chris Ellison has done, because he was so offended by the way he has been treated. Like I and others, he cares about the Kimberley and he wants to see the work there done properly. Chris Ellison has advised my office today that he has severed all ties with Enhance Group—he had a pretty loose arrangement so he has given that away. Is the opposition happy now? He has walked away from it. There is no conflict, but he has walked away from that because he would rather walk away than be on the front page and have slurs from the Labor Party. That is the sort of man he is; that is the sort of integrity he has. Is the Leader of the Opposition happy about that? Chris Ellison has walked away from Enhance because he is committed to helping out in the Kimberley. How does that compare with the Labor Party’s standards on pecuniary interest? How does that compare? Not too flash! Therefore, Chris Ellison will provide a letter to the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet to that effect. He will do the job and he will do it well. There is no report; there is no advice to government. With the assistance of staff from the Department of Environment and Conservation, who will provide him with a secretary, a report will be prepared about what was said at the various meetings. As a facilitator, he is someone who is able to get all groups to have the confidence to get up and express their point of view—a good thing. What is all this about? This is the first step in a $9 million commitment by the Liberal-National government to understand the science of the Kimberley and to commission scientific work so that we know more about the Kimberley so that when we take measures, which we will be doing, to conserve the most important parts of the Kimberley, we will get it right. Why is the opposition so upset about that? Was it because members opposite did nothing for eight years? What did they do in the Kimberley? What did members opposite achieve in the Kimberley in eight years? Nothing! Members opposite resent the fact that this government will do the science and conserve parts of the Kimberley and do it properly. I can think of no-one better qualified than Chris Ellison to chair the public forums. Although she is not in this place today, I am sure the member for Kimberley will attend those public forums and, indeed, I have invited her to come along and take part. I know she will because she cares about the Kimberley and she cares about the real issues, unlike the grovelling and the gutter sniping that we get from members opposite.
Mr R.H. Cook : It is hopelessly conflicting. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite want to talk about conflicts, we can go all day, one by one. I suggest they do not raise that. Let me talk about Chris Ellison. He has a long-term legal career, has a wide knowledge of the law, has worked as a senator for Western Australia, I think, for 16 years and has spent 10 years as a minister in the Howard government. What is he being engaged to do? He is being engaged, not as an environmental consultant, not as an advisor to the minister and not as an advisor to me. Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s for something that is worth $1 000 a day. He must be doing something. The SPEAKER : Order, Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : He has simply been engaged to chair public forums—no private meetings—that will be open to anyone and everyone, including the media and Labor members of Parliament, if they have an interest in the Kimberley. It will be a totally public, open process. Because of his standing in the community, his knowledge of the area and of various groups and his skill as a chairman and facilitator, I suggested that he do that role. That is all he will be doing. He has a contract over a three-month period. It is estimated that probably less than 20 days will be involved and he will be paid the princely sum of $125 an hour. I got it wrong yesterday when I think I said $145. Have members been to the dentist or physio or called an electrician to their houses lately? The amount of $125 an hour is what he is being paid, with the cap that, no matter how many hours he works in a day—knowing Chris Ellison, he will work long and hard at this task—he cannot be paid more than $1 000 a day. Mr M. McGowan : What about allowances? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Allowances? I do not expect him to walk to the Kimberley. I expect he will catch a plane and fly to the Kimberley, so the government will pay the airfare. I do not expect him to camp out on the creek bed so we will pay for him to stay in a hotel. His airfare and basic accommodation will be paid in line with government employment contracts. He will receive no other allowances or perks. Why is it that this miserable, rotten, low Labor Party comes in here — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Look at them, smiling away. The SPEAKER : Order! I presume the member for Collie-Preston was not having some sort of a seizure. I ask that, in future, he not perform in that manner in this house. I formally call him to order for the first time. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The poacher’s polka time! I do not know why it is; Labor Party members, I guess, look in their own ranks of rorting, double dipping, abuse, compromise and inappropriate appointments and they try to denigrate the decent people in our community. I have to say that Chris Ellison is a friend of mine, not a close friend — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oh, how uncanny! There he goes! The brains trust of the Labor Party, the sleaze machine himself, the dirty tricks man—look at him! There he goes! Withdrawal of Remark Mr M. McGOWAN : The Premier used a phrase in referring to another member that is clearly unparliamentary. I ask him to withdraw the phrase that he used about the member for Cannington. A government member: What was it? Mr M. McGOWAN : He used the phrase “sleaze machine” to describe the member for Cannington. I ask the Premier to withdraw. Further to the point of order, the member for Collie-Preston performed an act earlier for which there is a precedent and I think that needs to be noted. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! To the member for Rockingham’s first point of order, indeed, if the Premier did refer to the member using those words, I did not hear them; however, if he did, I certainly ask him to withdraw. On the second point of order the member raised, I have made a different determination about the behaviour of the member I have formally called to order. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I did not refer to the member by name but I was certainly looking him in the eye when I said those words, so I withdraw that. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : Chris Ellison is an entirely appropriate appointment; the appointment will hold. Members opposite had their little win; they had a photo of an eminent Western Australian on the front page of The West Australian —congratulations! If members opposite want to drag people down—do they want me to start? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do they want me to start working my way around the Labor Party; because we will do it? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite want to start, I can unchain the member for Jandakot! I can unchain the Treasurer, if that is what members opposite want! Chris Ellison is a decent Australian and a very proud Western Australian. I tell members opposite that we will not go down to those levels; we will not go into the gutter with the Labor Party! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite can stay in the gutter with themselves! They can stay right in that gutter with themselves. I will tell members what Chris Ellison has done, because he was so offended by the way he has been treated. Like I and others, he cares about the Kimberley and he wants to see the work there done properly. Chris Ellison has advised my office today that he has severed all ties with Enhance Group—he had a pretty loose arrangement so he has given that away. Is the opposition happy now? He has walked away from it. There is no conflict, but he has walked away from that because he would rather walk away than be on the front page and have slurs from the Labor Party. That is the sort of man he is; that is the sort of integrity he has. Is the Leader of the Opposition happy about that? Chris Ellison has walked away from Enhance because he is committed to helping out in the Kimberley. How does that compare with the Labor Party’s standards on pecuniary interest? How does that compare? Not too flash! Therefore, Chris Ellison will provide a letter to the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet to that effect. He will do the job and he will do it well. There is no report; there is no advice to government. With the assistance of staff from the Department of Environment and Conservation, who will provide him with a secretary, a report will be prepared about what was said at the various meetings. As a facilitator, he is someone who is able to get all groups to have the confidence to get up and express their point of view—a good thing. What is all this about? This is the first step in a $9 million commitment by the Liberal-National government to understand the science of the Kimberley and to commission scientific work so that we know more about the Kimberley so that when we take measures, which we will be doing, to conserve the most important parts of the Kimberley, we will get it right. Why is the opposition so upset about that? Was it because members opposite did nothing for eight years? What did they do in the Kimberley? What did members opposite achieve in the Kimberley in eight years? Nothing! Members opposite resent the fact that this government will do the science and conserve parts of the Kimberley and do it properly. I can think of no-one better qualified than Chris Ellison to chair the public forums. Although she is not in this place today, I am sure the member for Kimberley will attend those public forums and, indeed, I have invited her to come along and take part. I know she will because she cares about the Kimberley and she cares about the real issues, unlike the grovelling and the gutter sniping that we get from members opposite.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite want to talk about conflicts, we can go all day, one by one. I suggest they do not raise that. Let me talk about Chris Ellison. He has a long-term legal career, has a wide knowledge of the law, has worked as a senator for Western Australia, I think, for 16 years and has spent 10 years as a minister in the Howard government. What is he being engaged to do? He is being engaged, not as an environmental consultant, not as an advisor to the minister and not as an advisor to me. Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s for something that is worth $1 000 a day. He must be doing something. The SPEAKER : Order, Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : He has simply been engaged to chair public forums—no private meetings—that will be open to anyone and everyone, including the media and Labor members of Parliament, if they have an interest in the Kimberley. It will be a totally public, open process. Because of his standing in the community, his knowledge of the area and of various groups and his skill as a chairman and facilitator, I suggested that he do that role. That is all he will be doing. He has a contract over a three-month period. It is estimated that probably less than 20 days will be involved and he will be paid the princely sum of $125 an hour. I got it wrong yesterday when I think I said $145. Have members been to the dentist or physio or called an electrician to their houses lately? The amount of $125 an hour is what he is being paid, with the cap that, no matter how many hours he works in a day—knowing Chris Ellison, he will work long and hard at this task—he cannot be paid more than $1 000 a day. Mr M. McGowan : What about allowances? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Allowances? I do not expect him to walk to the Kimberley. I expect he will catch a plane and fly to the Kimberley, so the government will pay the airfare. I do not expect him to camp out on the creek bed so we will pay for him to stay in a hotel. His airfare and basic accommodation will be paid in line with government employment contracts. He will receive no other allowances or perks. Why is it that this miserable, rotten, low Labor Party comes in here — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Look at them, smiling away. The SPEAKER : Order! I presume the member for Collie-Preston was not having some sort of a seizure. I ask that, in future, he not perform in that manner in this house. I formally call him to order for the first time. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The poacher’s polka time! I do not know why it is; Labor Party members, I guess, look in their own ranks of rorting, double dipping, abuse, compromise and inappropriate appointments and they try to denigrate the decent people in our community. I have to say that Chris Ellison is a friend of mine, not a close friend — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oh, how uncanny! There he goes! The brains trust of the Labor Party, the sleaze machine himself, the dirty tricks man—look at him! There he goes! Withdrawal of Remark Mr M. McGOWAN : The Premier used a phrase in referring to another member that is clearly unparliamentary. I ask him to withdraw the phrase that he used about the member for Cannington. A government member: What was it? Mr M. McGOWAN : He used the phrase “sleaze machine” to describe the member for Cannington. I ask the Premier to withdraw. Further to the point of order, the member for Collie-Preston performed an act earlier for which there is a precedent and I think that needs to be noted. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! To the member for Rockingham’s first point of order, indeed, if the Premier did refer to the member using those words, I did not hear them; however, if he did, I certainly ask him to withdraw. On the second point of order the member raised, I have made a different determination about the behaviour of the member I have formally called to order. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I did not refer to the member by name but I was certainly looking him in the eye when I said those words, so I withdraw that. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : Chris Ellison is an entirely appropriate appointment; the appointment will hold. Members opposite had their little win; they had a photo of an eminent Western Australian on the front page of The West Australian —congratulations! If members opposite want to drag people down—do they want me to start? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do they want me to start working my way around the Labor Party; because we will do it? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite want to start, I can unchain the member for Jandakot! I can unchain the Treasurer, if that is what members opposite want! Chris Ellison is a decent Australian and a very proud Western Australian. I tell members opposite that we will not go down to those levels; we will not go into the gutter with the Labor Party! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite can stay in the gutter with themselves! They can stay right in that gutter with themselves. I will tell members what Chris Ellison has done, because he was so offended by the way he has been treated. Like I and others, he cares about the Kimberley and he wants to see the work there done properly. Chris Ellison has advised my office today that he has severed all ties with Enhance Group—he had a pretty loose arrangement so he has given that away. Is the opposition happy now? He has walked away from it. There is no conflict, but he has walked away from that because he would rather walk away than be on the front page and have slurs from the Labor Party. That is the sort of man he is; that is the sort of integrity he has. Is the Leader of the Opposition happy about that? Chris Ellison has walked away from Enhance because he is committed to helping out in the Kimberley. How does that compare with the Labor Party’s standards on pecuniary interest? How does that compare? Not too flash! Therefore, Chris Ellison will provide a letter to the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet to that effect. He will do the job and he will do it well. There is no report; there is no advice to government. With the assistance of staff from the Department of Environment and Conservation, who will provide him with a secretary, a report will be prepared about what was said at the various meetings. As a facilitator, he is someone who is able to get all groups to have the confidence to get up and express their point of view—a good thing. What is all this about? This is the first step in a $9 million commitment by the Liberal-National government to understand the science of the Kimberley and to commission scientific work so that we know more about the Kimberley so that when we take measures, which we will be doing, to conserve the most important parts of the Kimberley, we will get it right. Why is the opposition so upset about that? Was it because members opposite did nothing for eight years? What did they do in the Kimberley? What did members opposite achieve in the Kimberley in eight years? Nothing! Members opposite resent the fact that this government will do the science and conserve parts of the Kimberley and do it properly. I can think of no-one better qualified than Chris Ellison to chair the public forums. Although she is not in this place today, I am sure the member for Kimberley will attend those public forums and, indeed, I have invited her to come along and take part. I know she will because she cares about the Kimberley and she cares about the real issues, unlike the grovelling and the gutter sniping that we get from members opposite.
Let me talk about Chris Ellison. He has a long-term legal career, has a wide knowledge of the law, has worked as a senator for Western Australia, I think, for 16 years and has spent 10 years as a minister in the Howard government. What is he being engaged to do? He is being engaged, not as an environmental consultant, not as an advisor to the minister and not as an advisor to me. Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s for something that is worth $1 000 a day. He must be doing something. The SPEAKER : Order, Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : He has simply been engaged to chair public forums—no private meetings—that will be open to anyone and everyone, including the media and Labor members of Parliament, if they have an interest in the Kimberley. It will be a totally public, open process. Because of his standing in the community, his knowledge of the area and of various groups and his skill as a chairman and facilitator, I suggested that he do that role. That is all he will be doing. He has a contract over a three-month period. It is estimated that probably less than 20 days will be involved and he will be paid the princely sum of $125 an hour. I got it wrong yesterday when I think I said $145. Have members been to the dentist or physio or called an electrician to their houses lately? The amount of $125 an hour is what he is being paid, with the cap that, no matter how many hours he works in a day—knowing Chris Ellison, he will work long and hard at this task—he cannot be paid more than $1 000 a day. Mr M. McGowan : What about allowances? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Allowances? I do not expect him to walk to the Kimberley. I expect he will catch a plane and fly to the Kimberley, so the government will pay the airfare. I do not expect him to camp out on the creek bed so we will pay for him to stay in a hotel. His airfare and basic accommodation will be paid in line with government employment contracts. He will receive no other allowances or perks. Why is it that this miserable, rotten, low Labor Party comes in here — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Look at them, smiling away. The SPEAKER : Order! I presume the member for Collie-Preston was not having some sort of a seizure. I ask that, in future, he not perform in that manner in this house. I formally call him to order for the first time. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The poacher’s polka time! I do not know why it is; Labor Party members, I guess, look in their own ranks of rorting, double dipping, abuse, compromise and inappropriate appointments and they try to denigrate the decent people in our community. I have to say that Chris Ellison is a friend of mine, not a close friend — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oh, how uncanny! There he goes! The brains trust of the Labor Party, the sleaze machine himself, the dirty tricks man—look at him! There he goes! Withdrawal of Remark Mr M. McGOWAN : The Premier used a phrase in referring to another member that is clearly unparliamentary. I ask him to withdraw the phrase that he used about the member for Cannington. A government member: What was it? Mr M. McGOWAN : He used the phrase “sleaze machine” to describe the member for Cannington. I ask the Premier to withdraw. Further to the point of order, the member for Collie-Preston performed an act earlier for which there is a precedent and I think that needs to be noted. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! To the member for Rockingham’s first point of order, indeed, if the Premier did refer to the member using those words, I did not hear them; however, if he did, I certainly ask him to withdraw. On the second point of order the member raised, I have made a different determination about the behaviour of the member I have formally called to order. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I did not refer to the member by name but I was certainly looking him in the eye when I said those words, so I withdraw that. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : Chris Ellison is an entirely appropriate appointment; the appointment will hold. Members opposite had their little win; they had a photo of an eminent Western Australian on the front page of The West Australian —congratulations! If members opposite want to drag people down—do they want me to start? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do they want me to start working my way around the Labor Party; because we will do it? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite want to start, I can unchain the member for Jandakot! I can unchain the Treasurer, if that is what members opposite want! Chris Ellison is a decent Australian and a very proud Western Australian. I tell members opposite that we will not go down to those levels; we will not go into the gutter with the Labor Party! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite can stay in the gutter with themselves! They can stay right in that gutter with themselves. I will tell members what Chris Ellison has done, because he was so offended by the way he has been treated. Like I and others, he cares about the Kimberley and he wants to see the work there done properly. Chris Ellison has advised my office today that he has severed all ties with Enhance Group—he had a pretty loose arrangement so he has given that away. Is the opposition happy now? He has walked away from it. There is no conflict, but he has walked away from that because he would rather walk away than be on the front page and have slurs from the Labor Party. That is the sort of man he is; that is the sort of integrity he has. Is the Leader of the Opposition happy about that? Chris Ellison has walked away from Enhance because he is committed to helping out in the Kimberley. How does that compare with the Labor Party’s standards on pecuniary interest? How does that compare? Not too flash! Therefore, Chris Ellison will provide a letter to the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet to that effect. He will do the job and he will do it well. There is no report; there is no advice to government. With the assistance of staff from the Department of Environment and Conservation, who will provide him with a secretary, a report will be prepared about what was said at the various meetings. As a facilitator, he is someone who is able to get all groups to have the confidence to get up and express their point of view—a good thing. What is all this about? This is the first step in a $9 million commitment by the Liberal-National government to understand the science of the Kimberley and to commission scientific work so that we know more about the Kimberley so that when we take measures, which we will be doing, to conserve the most important parts of the Kimberley, we will get it right. Why is the opposition so upset about that? Was it because members opposite did nothing for eight years? What did they do in the Kimberley? What did members opposite achieve in the Kimberley in eight years? Nothing! Members opposite resent the fact that this government will do the science and conserve parts of the Kimberley and do it properly. I can think of no-one better qualified than Chris Ellison to chair the public forums. Although she is not in this place today, I am sure the member for Kimberley will attend those public forums and, indeed, I have invited her to come along and take part. I know she will because she cares about the Kimberley and she cares about the real issues, unlike the grovelling and the gutter sniping that we get from members opposite.
Mr E.S. Ripper : It’s for something that is worth $1 000 a day. He must be doing something. The SPEAKER : Order, Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : He has simply been engaged to chair public forums—no private meetings—that will be open to anyone and everyone, including the media and Labor members of Parliament, if they have an interest in the Kimberley. It will be a totally public, open process. Because of his standing in the community, his knowledge of the area and of various groups and his skill as a chairman and facilitator, I suggested that he do that role. That is all he will be doing. He has a contract over a three-month period. It is estimated that probably less than 20 days will be involved and he will be paid the princely sum of $125 an hour. I got it wrong yesterday when I think I said $145. Have members been to the dentist or physio or called an electrician to their houses lately? The amount of $125 an hour is what he is being paid, with the cap that, no matter how many hours he works in a day—knowing Chris Ellison, he will work long and hard at this task—he cannot be paid more than $1 000 a day. Mr M. McGowan : What about allowances? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Allowances? I do not expect him to walk to the Kimberley. I expect he will catch a plane and fly to the Kimberley, so the government will pay the airfare. I do not expect him to camp out on the creek bed so we will pay for him to stay in a hotel. His airfare and basic accommodation will be paid in line with government employment contracts. He will receive no other allowances or perks. Why is it that this miserable, rotten, low Labor Party comes in here — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Look at them, smiling away. The SPEAKER : Order! I presume the member for Collie-Preston was not having some sort of a seizure. I ask that, in future, he not perform in that manner in this house. I formally call him to order for the first time. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The poacher’s polka time! I do not know why it is; Labor Party members, I guess, look in their own ranks of rorting, double dipping, abuse, compromise and inappropriate appointments and they try to denigrate the decent people in our community. I have to say that Chris Ellison is a friend of mine, not a close friend — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oh, how uncanny! There he goes! The brains trust of the Labor Party, the sleaze machine himself, the dirty tricks man—look at him! There he goes! Withdrawal of Remark Mr M. McGOWAN : The Premier used a phrase in referring to another member that is clearly unparliamentary. I ask him to withdraw the phrase that he used about the member for Cannington. A government member: What was it? Mr M. McGOWAN : He used the phrase “sleaze machine” to describe the member for Cannington. I ask the Premier to withdraw. Further to the point of order, the member for Collie-Preston performed an act earlier for which there is a precedent and I think that needs to be noted. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! To the member for Rockingham’s first point of order, indeed, if the Premier did refer to the member using those words, I did not hear them; however, if he did, I certainly ask him to withdraw. On the second point of order the member raised, I have made a different determination about the behaviour of the member I have formally called to order. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I did not refer to the member by name but I was certainly looking him in the eye when I said those words, so I withdraw that. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : Chris Ellison is an entirely appropriate appointment; the appointment will hold. Members opposite had their little win; they had a photo of an eminent Western Australian on the front page of The West Australian —congratulations! If members opposite want to drag people down—do they want me to start? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do they want me to start working my way around the Labor Party; because we will do it? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite want to start, I can unchain the member for Jandakot! I can unchain the Treasurer, if that is what members opposite want! Chris Ellison is a decent Australian and a very proud Western Australian. I tell members opposite that we will not go down to those levels; we will not go into the gutter with the Labor Party! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite can stay in the gutter with themselves! They can stay right in that gutter with themselves. I will tell members what Chris Ellison has done, because he was so offended by the way he has been treated. Like I and others, he cares about the Kimberley and he wants to see the work there done properly. Chris Ellison has advised my office today that he has severed all ties with Enhance Group—he had a pretty loose arrangement so he has given that away. Is the opposition happy now? He has walked away from it. There is no conflict, but he has walked away from that because he would rather walk away than be on the front page and have slurs from the Labor Party. That is the sort of man he is; that is the sort of integrity he has. Is the Leader of the Opposition happy about that? Chris Ellison has walked away from Enhance because he is committed to helping out in the Kimberley. How does that compare with the Labor Party’s standards on pecuniary interest? How does that compare? Not too flash! Therefore, Chris Ellison will provide a letter to the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet to that effect. He will do the job and he will do it well. There is no report; there is no advice to government. With the assistance of staff from the Department of Environment and Conservation, who will provide him with a secretary, a report will be prepared about what was said at the various meetings. As a facilitator, he is someone who is able to get all groups to have the confidence to get up and express their point of view—a good thing. What is all this about? This is the first step in a $9 million commitment by the Liberal-National government to understand the science of the Kimberley and to commission scientific work so that we know more about the Kimberley so that when we take measures, which we will be doing, to conserve the most important parts of the Kimberley, we will get it right. Why is the opposition so upset about that? Was it because members opposite did nothing for eight years? What did they do in the Kimberley? What did members opposite achieve in the Kimberley in eight years? Nothing! Members opposite resent the fact that this government will do the science and conserve parts of the Kimberley and do it properly. I can think of no-one better qualified than Chris Ellison to chair the public forums. Although she is not in this place today, I am sure the member for Kimberley will attend those public forums and, indeed, I have invited her to come along and take part. I know she will because she cares about the Kimberley and she cares about the real issues, unlike the grovelling and the gutter sniping that we get from members opposite.
The SPEAKER : Order, Leader of the Opposition! Mr C.J. BARNETT : He has simply been engaged to chair public forums—no private meetings—that will be open to anyone and everyone, including the media and Labor members of Parliament, if they have an interest in the Kimberley. It will be a totally public, open process. Because of his standing in the community, his knowledge of the area and of various groups and his skill as a chairman and facilitator, I suggested that he do that role. That is all he will be doing. He has a contract over a three-month period. It is estimated that probably less than 20 days will be involved and he will be paid the princely sum of $125 an hour. I got it wrong yesterday when I think I said $145. Have members been to the dentist or physio or called an electrician to their houses lately? The amount of $125 an hour is what he is being paid, with the cap that, no matter how many hours he works in a day—knowing Chris Ellison, he will work long and hard at this task—he cannot be paid more than $1 000 a day. Mr M. McGowan : What about allowances? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Allowances? I do not expect him to walk to the Kimberley. I expect he will catch a plane and fly to the Kimberley, so the government will pay the airfare. I do not expect him to camp out on the creek bed so we will pay for him to stay in a hotel. His airfare and basic accommodation will be paid in line with government employment contracts. He will receive no other allowances or perks. Why is it that this miserable, rotten, low Labor Party comes in here — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Look at them, smiling away. The SPEAKER : Order! I presume the member for Collie-Preston was not having some sort of a seizure. I ask that, in future, he not perform in that manner in this house. I formally call him to order for the first time. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The poacher’s polka time! I do not know why it is; Labor Party members, I guess, look in their own ranks of rorting, double dipping, abuse, compromise and inappropriate appointments and they try to denigrate the decent people in our community. I have to say that Chris Ellison is a friend of mine, not a close friend — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oh, how uncanny! There he goes! The brains trust of the Labor Party, the sleaze machine himself, the dirty tricks man—look at him! There he goes! Withdrawal of Remark Mr M. McGOWAN : The Premier used a phrase in referring to another member that is clearly unparliamentary. I ask him to withdraw the phrase that he used about the member for Cannington. A government member: What was it? Mr M. McGOWAN : He used the phrase “sleaze machine” to describe the member for Cannington. I ask the Premier to withdraw. Further to the point of order, the member for Collie-Preston performed an act earlier for which there is a precedent and I think that needs to be noted. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! To the member for Rockingham’s first point of order, indeed, if the Premier did refer to the member using those words, I did not hear them; however, if he did, I certainly ask him to withdraw. On the second point of order the member raised, I have made a different determination about the behaviour of the member I have formally called to order. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I did not refer to the member by name but I was certainly looking him in the eye when I said those words, so I withdraw that. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : Chris Ellison is an entirely appropriate appointment; the appointment will hold. Members opposite had their little win; they had a photo of an eminent Western Australian on the front page of The West Australian —congratulations! If members opposite want to drag people down—do they want me to start? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do they want me to start working my way around the Labor Party; because we will do it? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite want to start, I can unchain the member for Jandakot! I can unchain the Treasurer, if that is what members opposite want! Chris Ellison is a decent Australian and a very proud Western Australian. I tell members opposite that we will not go down to those levels; we will not go into the gutter with the Labor Party! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite can stay in the gutter with themselves! They can stay right in that gutter with themselves. I will tell members what Chris Ellison has done, because he was so offended by the way he has been treated. Like I and others, he cares about the Kimberley and he wants to see the work there done properly. Chris Ellison has advised my office today that he has severed all ties with Enhance Group—he had a pretty loose arrangement so he has given that away. Is the opposition happy now? He has walked away from it. There is no conflict, but he has walked away from that because he would rather walk away than be on the front page and have slurs from the Labor Party. That is the sort of man he is; that is the sort of integrity he has. Is the Leader of the Opposition happy about that? Chris Ellison has walked away from Enhance because he is committed to helping out in the Kimberley. How does that compare with the Labor Party’s standards on pecuniary interest? How does that compare? Not too flash! Therefore, Chris Ellison will provide a letter to the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet to that effect. He will do the job and he will do it well. There is no report; there is no advice to government. With the assistance of staff from the Department of Environment and Conservation, who will provide him with a secretary, a report will be prepared about what was said at the various meetings. As a facilitator, he is someone who is able to get all groups to have the confidence to get up and express their point of view—a good thing. What is all this about? This is the first step in a $9 million commitment by the Liberal-National government to understand the science of the Kimberley and to commission scientific work so that we know more about the Kimberley so that when we take measures, which we will be doing, to conserve the most important parts of the Kimberley, we will get it right. Why is the opposition so upset about that? Was it because members opposite did nothing for eight years? What did they do in the Kimberley? What did members opposite achieve in the Kimberley in eight years? Nothing! Members opposite resent the fact that this government will do the science and conserve parts of the Kimberley and do it properly. I can think of no-one better qualified than Chris Ellison to chair the public forums. Although she is not in this place today, I am sure the member for Kimberley will attend those public forums and, indeed, I have invited her to come along and take part. I know she will because she cares about the Kimberley and she cares about the real issues, unlike the grovelling and the gutter sniping that we get from members opposite.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : He has simply been engaged to chair public forums—no private meetings—that will be open to anyone and everyone, including the media and Labor members of Parliament, if they have an interest in the Kimberley. It will be a totally public, open process. Because of his standing in the community, his knowledge of the area and of various groups and his skill as a chairman and facilitator, I suggested that he do that role. That is all he will be doing. He has a contract over a three-month period. It is estimated that probably less than 20 days will be involved and he will be paid the princely sum of $125 an hour. I got it wrong yesterday when I think I said $145. Have members been to the dentist or physio or called an electrician to their houses lately? The amount of $125 an hour is what he is being paid, with the cap that, no matter how many hours he works in a day—knowing Chris Ellison, he will work long and hard at this task—he cannot be paid more than $1 000 a day. Mr M. McGowan : What about allowances? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Allowances? I do not expect him to walk to the Kimberley. I expect he will catch a plane and fly to the Kimberley, so the government will pay the airfare. I do not expect him to camp out on the creek bed so we will pay for him to stay in a hotel. His airfare and basic accommodation will be paid in line with government employment contracts. He will receive no other allowances or perks. Why is it that this miserable, rotten, low Labor Party comes in here — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Look at them, smiling away. The SPEAKER : Order! I presume the member for Collie-Preston was not having some sort of a seizure. I ask that, in future, he not perform in that manner in this house. I formally call him to order for the first time. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The poacher’s polka time! I do not know why it is; Labor Party members, I guess, look in their own ranks of rorting, double dipping, abuse, compromise and inappropriate appointments and they try to denigrate the decent people in our community. I have to say that Chris Ellison is a friend of mine, not a close friend — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oh, how uncanny! There he goes! The brains trust of the Labor Party, the sleaze machine himself, the dirty tricks man—look at him! There he goes! Withdrawal of Remark Mr M. McGOWAN : The Premier used a phrase in referring to another member that is clearly unparliamentary. I ask him to withdraw the phrase that he used about the member for Cannington. A government member: What was it? Mr M. McGOWAN : He used the phrase “sleaze machine” to describe the member for Cannington. I ask the Premier to withdraw. Further to the point of order, the member for Collie-Preston performed an act earlier for which there is a precedent and I think that needs to be noted. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! To the member for Rockingham’s first point of order, indeed, if the Premier did refer to the member using those words, I did not hear them; however, if he did, I certainly ask him to withdraw. On the second point of order the member raised, I have made a different determination about the behaviour of the member I have formally called to order. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I did not refer to the member by name but I was certainly looking him in the eye when I said those words, so I withdraw that. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : Chris Ellison is an entirely appropriate appointment; the appointment will hold. Members opposite had their little win; they had a photo of an eminent Western Australian on the front page of The West Australian —congratulations! If members opposite want to drag people down—do they want me to start? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do they want me to start working my way around the Labor Party; because we will do it? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite want to start, I can unchain the member for Jandakot! I can unchain the Treasurer, if that is what members opposite want! Chris Ellison is a decent Australian and a very proud Western Australian. I tell members opposite that we will not go down to those levels; we will not go into the gutter with the Labor Party! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite can stay in the gutter with themselves! They can stay right in that gutter with themselves. I will tell members what Chris Ellison has done, because he was so offended by the way he has been treated. Like I and others, he cares about the Kimberley and he wants to see the work there done properly. Chris Ellison has advised my office today that he has severed all ties with Enhance Group—he had a pretty loose arrangement so he has given that away. Is the opposition happy now? He has walked away from it. There is no conflict, but he has walked away from that because he would rather walk away than be on the front page and have slurs from the Labor Party. That is the sort of man he is; that is the sort of integrity he has. Is the Leader of the Opposition happy about that? Chris Ellison has walked away from Enhance because he is committed to helping out in the Kimberley. How does that compare with the Labor Party’s standards on pecuniary interest? How does that compare? Not too flash! Therefore, Chris Ellison will provide a letter to the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet to that effect. He will do the job and he will do it well. There is no report; there is no advice to government. With the assistance of staff from the Department of Environment and Conservation, who will provide him with a secretary, a report will be prepared about what was said at the various meetings. As a facilitator, he is someone who is able to get all groups to have the confidence to get up and express their point of view—a good thing. What is all this about? This is the first step in a $9 million commitment by the Liberal-National government to understand the science of the Kimberley and to commission scientific work so that we know more about the Kimberley so that when we take measures, which we will be doing, to conserve the most important parts of the Kimberley, we will get it right. Why is the opposition so upset about that? Was it because members opposite did nothing for eight years? What did they do in the Kimberley? What did members opposite achieve in the Kimberley in eight years? Nothing! Members opposite resent the fact that this government will do the science and conserve parts of the Kimberley and do it properly. I can think of no-one better qualified than Chris Ellison to chair the public forums. Although she is not in this place today, I am sure the member for Kimberley will attend those public forums and, indeed, I have invited her to come along and take part. I know she will because she cares about the Kimberley and she cares about the real issues, unlike the grovelling and the gutter sniping that we get from members opposite.
Mr M. McGowan : What about allowances? Mr C.J. BARNETT : Allowances? I do not expect him to walk to the Kimberley. I expect he will catch a plane and fly to the Kimberley, so the government will pay the airfare. I do not expect him to camp out on the creek bed so we will pay for him to stay in a hotel. His airfare and basic accommodation will be paid in line with government employment contracts. He will receive no other allowances or perks. Why is it that this miserable, rotten, low Labor Party comes in here — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Look at them, smiling away. The SPEAKER : Order! I presume the member for Collie-Preston was not having some sort of a seizure. I ask that, in future, he not perform in that manner in this house. I formally call him to order for the first time. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The poacher’s polka time! I do not know why it is; Labor Party members, I guess, look in their own ranks of rorting, double dipping, abuse, compromise and inappropriate appointments and they try to denigrate the decent people in our community. I have to say that Chris Ellison is a friend of mine, not a close friend — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oh, how uncanny! There he goes! The brains trust of the Labor Party, the sleaze machine himself, the dirty tricks man—look at him! There he goes! Withdrawal of Remark Mr M. McGOWAN : The Premier used a phrase in referring to another member that is clearly unparliamentary. I ask him to withdraw the phrase that he used about the member for Cannington. A government member: What was it? Mr M. McGOWAN : He used the phrase “sleaze machine” to describe the member for Cannington. I ask the Premier to withdraw. Further to the point of order, the member for Collie-Preston performed an act earlier for which there is a precedent and I think that needs to be noted. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! To the member for Rockingham’s first point of order, indeed, if the Premier did refer to the member using those words, I did not hear them; however, if he did, I certainly ask him to withdraw. On the second point of order the member raised, I have made a different determination about the behaviour of the member I have formally called to order. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I did not refer to the member by name but I was certainly looking him in the eye when I said those words, so I withdraw that. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : Chris Ellison is an entirely appropriate appointment; the appointment will hold. Members opposite had their little win; they had a photo of an eminent Western Australian on the front page of The West Australian —congratulations! If members opposite want to drag people down—do they want me to start? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do they want me to start working my way around the Labor Party; because we will do it? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite want to start, I can unchain the member for Jandakot! I can unchain the Treasurer, if that is what members opposite want! Chris Ellison is a decent Australian and a very proud Western Australian. I tell members opposite that we will not go down to those levels; we will not go into the gutter with the Labor Party! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite can stay in the gutter with themselves! They can stay right in that gutter with themselves. I will tell members what Chris Ellison has done, because he was so offended by the way he has been treated. Like I and others, he cares about the Kimberley and he wants to see the work there done properly. Chris Ellison has advised my office today that he has severed all ties with Enhance Group—he had a pretty loose arrangement so he has given that away. Is the opposition happy now? He has walked away from it. There is no conflict, but he has walked away from that because he would rather walk away than be on the front page and have slurs from the Labor Party. That is the sort of man he is; that is the sort of integrity he has. Is the Leader of the Opposition happy about that? Chris Ellison has walked away from Enhance because he is committed to helping out in the Kimberley. How does that compare with the Labor Party’s standards on pecuniary interest? How does that compare? Not too flash! Therefore, Chris Ellison will provide a letter to the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet to that effect. He will do the job and he will do it well. There is no report; there is no advice to government. With the assistance of staff from the Department of Environment and Conservation, who will provide him with a secretary, a report will be prepared about what was said at the various meetings. As a facilitator, he is someone who is able to get all groups to have the confidence to get up and express their point of view—a good thing. What is all this about? This is the first step in a $9 million commitment by the Liberal-National government to understand the science of the Kimberley and to commission scientific work so that we know more about the Kimberley so that when we take measures, which we will be doing, to conserve the most important parts of the Kimberley, we will get it right. Why is the opposition so upset about that? Was it because members opposite did nothing for eight years? What did they do in the Kimberley? What did members opposite achieve in the Kimberley in eight years? Nothing! Members opposite resent the fact that this government will do the science and conserve parts of the Kimberley and do it properly. I can think of no-one better qualified than Chris Ellison to chair the public forums. Although she is not in this place today, I am sure the member for Kimberley will attend those public forums and, indeed, I have invited her to come along and take part. I know she will because she cares about the Kimberley and she cares about the real issues, unlike the grovelling and the gutter sniping that we get from members opposite.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Allowances? I do not expect him to walk to the Kimberley. I expect he will catch a plane and fly to the Kimberley, so the government will pay the airfare. I do not expect him to camp out on the creek bed so we will pay for him to stay in a hotel. His airfare and basic accommodation will be paid in line with government employment contracts. He will receive no other allowances or perks. Why is it that this miserable, rotten, low Labor Party comes in here — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Look at them, smiling away. The SPEAKER : Order! I presume the member for Collie-Preston was not having some sort of a seizure. I ask that, in future, he not perform in that manner in this house. I formally call him to order for the first time. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The poacher’s polka time! I do not know why it is; Labor Party members, I guess, look in their own ranks of rorting, double dipping, abuse, compromise and inappropriate appointments and they try to denigrate the decent people in our community. I have to say that Chris Ellison is a friend of mine, not a close friend — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oh, how uncanny! There he goes! The brains trust of the Labor Party, the sleaze machine himself, the dirty tricks man—look at him! There he goes! Withdrawal of Remark Mr M. McGOWAN : The Premier used a phrase in referring to another member that is clearly unparliamentary. I ask him to withdraw the phrase that he used about the member for Cannington. A government member: What was it? Mr M. McGOWAN : He used the phrase “sleaze machine” to describe the member for Cannington. I ask the Premier to withdraw. Further to the point of order, the member for Collie-Preston performed an act earlier for which there is a precedent and I think that needs to be noted. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! To the member for Rockingham’s first point of order, indeed, if the Premier did refer to the member using those words, I did not hear them; however, if he did, I certainly ask him to withdraw. On the second point of order the member raised, I have made a different determination about the behaviour of the member I have formally called to order. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I did not refer to the member by name but I was certainly looking him in the eye when I said those words, so I withdraw that. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : Chris Ellison is an entirely appropriate appointment; the appointment will hold. Members opposite had their little win; they had a photo of an eminent Western Australian on the front page of The West Australian —congratulations! If members opposite want to drag people down—do they want me to start? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do they want me to start working my way around the Labor Party; because we will do it? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite want to start, I can unchain the member for Jandakot! I can unchain the Treasurer, if that is what members opposite want! Chris Ellison is a decent Australian and a very proud Western Australian. I tell members opposite that we will not go down to those levels; we will not go into the gutter with the Labor Party! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite can stay in the gutter with themselves! They can stay right in that gutter with themselves. I will tell members what Chris Ellison has done, because he was so offended by the way he has been treated. Like I and others, he cares about the Kimberley and he wants to see the work there done properly. Chris Ellison has advised my office today that he has severed all ties with Enhance Group—he had a pretty loose arrangement so he has given that away. Is the opposition happy now? He has walked away from it. There is no conflict, but he has walked away from that because he would rather walk away than be on the front page and have slurs from the Labor Party. That is the sort of man he is; that is the sort of integrity he has. Is the Leader of the Opposition happy about that? Chris Ellison has walked away from Enhance because he is committed to helping out in the Kimberley. How does that compare with the Labor Party’s standards on pecuniary interest? How does that compare? Not too flash! Therefore, Chris Ellison will provide a letter to the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet to that effect. He will do the job and he will do it well. There is no report; there is no advice to government. With the assistance of staff from the Department of Environment and Conservation, who will provide him with a secretary, a report will be prepared about what was said at the various meetings. As a facilitator, he is someone who is able to get all groups to have the confidence to get up and express their point of view—a good thing. What is all this about? This is the first step in a $9 million commitment by the Liberal-National government to understand the science of the Kimberley and to commission scientific work so that we know more about the Kimberley so that when we take measures, which we will be doing, to conserve the most important parts of the Kimberley, we will get it right. Why is the opposition so upset about that? Was it because members opposite did nothing for eight years? What did they do in the Kimberley? What did members opposite achieve in the Kimberley in eight years? Nothing! Members opposite resent the fact that this government will do the science and conserve parts of the Kimberley and do it properly. I can think of no-one better qualified than Chris Ellison to chair the public forums. Although she is not in this place today, I am sure the member for Kimberley will attend those public forums and, indeed, I have invited her to come along and take part. I know she will because she cares about the Kimberley and she cares about the real issues, unlike the grovelling and the gutter sniping that we get from members opposite.
Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Look at them, smiling away. The SPEAKER : Order! I presume the member for Collie-Preston was not having some sort of a seizure. I ask that, in future, he not perform in that manner in this house. I formally call him to order for the first time. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The poacher’s polka time! I do not know why it is; Labor Party members, I guess, look in their own ranks of rorting, double dipping, abuse, compromise and inappropriate appointments and they try to denigrate the decent people in our community. I have to say that Chris Ellison is a friend of mine, not a close friend — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oh, how uncanny! There he goes! The brains trust of the Labor Party, the sleaze machine himself, the dirty tricks man—look at him! There he goes! Withdrawal of Remark Mr M. McGOWAN : The Premier used a phrase in referring to another member that is clearly unparliamentary. I ask him to withdraw the phrase that he used about the member for Cannington. A government member: What was it? Mr M. McGOWAN : He used the phrase “sleaze machine” to describe the member for Cannington. I ask the Premier to withdraw. Further to the point of order, the member for Collie-Preston performed an act earlier for which there is a precedent and I think that needs to be noted. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! To the member for Rockingham’s first point of order, indeed, if the Premier did refer to the member using those words, I did not hear them; however, if he did, I certainly ask him to withdraw. On the second point of order the member raised, I have made a different determination about the behaviour of the member I have formally called to order. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I did not refer to the member by name but I was certainly looking him in the eye when I said those words, so I withdraw that. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : Chris Ellison is an entirely appropriate appointment; the appointment will hold. Members opposite had their little win; they had a photo of an eminent Western Australian on the front page of The West Australian —congratulations! If members opposite want to drag people down—do they want me to start? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do they want me to start working my way around the Labor Party; because we will do it? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite want to start, I can unchain the member for Jandakot! I can unchain the Treasurer, if that is what members opposite want! Chris Ellison is a decent Australian and a very proud Western Australian. I tell members opposite that we will not go down to those levels; we will not go into the gutter with the Labor Party! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite can stay in the gutter with themselves! They can stay right in that gutter with themselves. I will tell members what Chris Ellison has done, because he was so offended by the way he has been treated. Like I and others, he cares about the Kimberley and he wants to see the work there done properly. Chris Ellison has advised my office today that he has severed all ties with Enhance Group—he had a pretty loose arrangement so he has given that away. Is the opposition happy now? He has walked away from it. There is no conflict, but he has walked away from that because he would rather walk away than be on the front page and have slurs from the Labor Party. That is the sort of man he is; that is the sort of integrity he has. Is the Leader of the Opposition happy about that? Chris Ellison has walked away from Enhance because he is committed to helping out in the Kimberley. How does that compare with the Labor Party’s standards on pecuniary interest? How does that compare? Not too flash! Therefore, Chris Ellison will provide a letter to the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet to that effect. He will do the job and he will do it well. There is no report; there is no advice to government. With the assistance of staff from the Department of Environment and Conservation, who will provide him with a secretary, a report will be prepared about what was said at the various meetings. As a facilitator, he is someone who is able to get all groups to have the confidence to get up and express their point of view—a good thing. What is all this about? This is the first step in a $9 million commitment by the Liberal-National government to understand the science of the Kimberley and to commission scientific work so that we know more about the Kimberley so that when we take measures, which we will be doing, to conserve the most important parts of the Kimberley, we will get it right. Why is the opposition so upset about that? Was it because members opposite did nothing for eight years? What did they do in the Kimberley? What did members opposite achieve in the Kimberley in eight years? Nothing! Members opposite resent the fact that this government will do the science and conserve parts of the Kimberley and do it properly. I can think of no-one better qualified than Chris Ellison to chair the public forums. Although she is not in this place today, I am sure the member for Kimberley will attend those public forums and, indeed, I have invited her to come along and take part. I know she will because she cares about the Kimberley and she cares about the real issues, unlike the grovelling and the gutter sniping that we get from members opposite.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Look at them, smiling away. The SPEAKER : Order! I presume the member for Collie-Preston was not having some sort of a seizure. I ask that, in future, he not perform in that manner in this house. I formally call him to order for the first time. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The poacher’s polka time! I do not know why it is; Labor Party members, I guess, look in their own ranks of rorting, double dipping, abuse, compromise and inappropriate appointments and they try to denigrate the decent people in our community. I have to say that Chris Ellison is a friend of mine, not a close friend — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oh, how uncanny! There he goes! The brains trust of the Labor Party, the sleaze machine himself, the dirty tricks man—look at him! There he goes! Withdrawal of Remark Mr M. McGOWAN : The Premier used a phrase in referring to another member that is clearly unparliamentary. I ask him to withdraw the phrase that he used about the member for Cannington. A government member: What was it? Mr M. McGOWAN : He used the phrase “sleaze machine” to describe the member for Cannington. I ask the Premier to withdraw. Further to the point of order, the member for Collie-Preston performed an act earlier for which there is a precedent and I think that needs to be noted. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! To the member for Rockingham’s first point of order, indeed, if the Premier did refer to the member using those words, I did not hear them; however, if he did, I certainly ask him to withdraw. On the second point of order the member raised, I have made a different determination about the behaviour of the member I have formally called to order. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I did not refer to the member by name but I was certainly looking him in the eye when I said those words, so I withdraw that. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : Chris Ellison is an entirely appropriate appointment; the appointment will hold. Members opposite had their little win; they had a photo of an eminent Western Australian on the front page of The West Australian —congratulations! If members opposite want to drag people down—do they want me to start? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do they want me to start working my way around the Labor Party; because we will do it? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite want to start, I can unchain the member for Jandakot! I can unchain the Treasurer, if that is what members opposite want! Chris Ellison is a decent Australian and a very proud Western Australian. I tell members opposite that we will not go down to those levels; we will not go into the gutter with the Labor Party! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite can stay in the gutter with themselves! They can stay right in that gutter with themselves. I will tell members what Chris Ellison has done, because he was so offended by the way he has been treated. Like I and others, he cares about the Kimberley and he wants to see the work there done properly. Chris Ellison has advised my office today that he has severed all ties with Enhance Group—he had a pretty loose arrangement so he has given that away. Is the opposition happy now? He has walked away from it. There is no conflict, but he has walked away from that because he would rather walk away than be on the front page and have slurs from the Labor Party. That is the sort of man he is; that is the sort of integrity he has. Is the Leader of the Opposition happy about that? Chris Ellison has walked away from Enhance because he is committed to helping out in the Kimberley. How does that compare with the Labor Party’s standards on pecuniary interest? How does that compare? Not too flash! Therefore, Chris Ellison will provide a letter to the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet to that effect. He will do the job and he will do it well. There is no report; there is no advice to government. With the assistance of staff from the Department of Environment and Conservation, who will provide him with a secretary, a report will be prepared about what was said at the various meetings. As a facilitator, he is someone who is able to get all groups to have the confidence to get up and express their point of view—a good thing. What is all this about? This is the first step in a $9 million commitment by the Liberal-National government to understand the science of the Kimberley and to commission scientific work so that we know more about the Kimberley so that when we take measures, which we will be doing, to conserve the most important parts of the Kimberley, we will get it right. Why is the opposition so upset about that? Was it because members opposite did nothing for eight years? What did they do in the Kimberley? What did members opposite achieve in the Kimberley in eight years? Nothing! Members opposite resent the fact that this government will do the science and conserve parts of the Kimberley and do it properly. I can think of no-one better qualified than Chris Ellison to chair the public forums. Although she is not in this place today, I am sure the member for Kimberley will attend those public forums and, indeed, I have invited her to come along and take part. I know she will because she cares about the Kimberley and she cares about the real issues, unlike the grovelling and the gutter sniping that we get from members opposite.
The SPEAKER : Order! I presume the member for Collie-Preston was not having some sort of a seizure. I ask that, in future, he not perform in that manner in this house. I formally call him to order for the first time. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The poacher’s polka time! I do not know why it is; Labor Party members, I guess, look in their own ranks of rorting, double dipping, abuse, compromise and inappropriate appointments and they try to denigrate the decent people in our community. I have to say that Chris Ellison is a friend of mine, not a close friend — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oh, how uncanny! There he goes! The brains trust of the Labor Party, the sleaze machine himself, the dirty tricks man—look at him! There he goes! Withdrawal of Remark Mr M. McGOWAN : The Premier used a phrase in referring to another member that is clearly unparliamentary. I ask him to withdraw the phrase that he used about the member for Cannington. A government member: What was it? Mr M. McGOWAN : He used the phrase “sleaze machine” to describe the member for Cannington. I ask the Premier to withdraw. Further to the point of order, the member for Collie-Preston performed an act earlier for which there is a precedent and I think that needs to be noted. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! To the member for Rockingham’s first point of order, indeed, if the Premier did refer to the member using those words, I did not hear them; however, if he did, I certainly ask him to withdraw. On the second point of order the member raised, I have made a different determination about the behaviour of the member I have formally called to order. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I did not refer to the member by name but I was certainly looking him in the eye when I said those words, so I withdraw that. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : Chris Ellison is an entirely appropriate appointment; the appointment will hold. Members opposite had their little win; they had a photo of an eminent Western Australian on the front page of The West Australian —congratulations! If members opposite want to drag people down—do they want me to start? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do they want me to start working my way around the Labor Party; because we will do it? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite want to start, I can unchain the member for Jandakot! I can unchain the Treasurer, if that is what members opposite want! Chris Ellison is a decent Australian and a very proud Western Australian. I tell members opposite that we will not go down to those levels; we will not go into the gutter with the Labor Party! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite can stay in the gutter with themselves! They can stay right in that gutter with themselves. I will tell members what Chris Ellison has done, because he was so offended by the way he has been treated. Like I and others, he cares about the Kimberley and he wants to see the work there done properly. Chris Ellison has advised my office today that he has severed all ties with Enhance Group—he had a pretty loose arrangement so he has given that away. Is the opposition happy now? He has walked away from it. There is no conflict, but he has walked away from that because he would rather walk away than be on the front page and have slurs from the Labor Party. That is the sort of man he is; that is the sort of integrity he has. Is the Leader of the Opposition happy about that? Chris Ellison has walked away from Enhance because he is committed to helping out in the Kimberley. How does that compare with the Labor Party’s standards on pecuniary interest? How does that compare? Not too flash! Therefore, Chris Ellison will provide a letter to the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet to that effect. He will do the job and he will do it well. There is no report; there is no advice to government. With the assistance of staff from the Department of Environment and Conservation, who will provide him with a secretary, a report will be prepared about what was said at the various meetings. As a facilitator, he is someone who is able to get all groups to have the confidence to get up and express their point of view—a good thing. What is all this about? This is the first step in a $9 million commitment by the Liberal-National government to understand the science of the Kimberley and to commission scientific work so that we know more about the Kimberley so that when we take measures, which we will be doing, to conserve the most important parts of the Kimberley, we will get it right. Why is the opposition so upset about that? Was it because members opposite did nothing for eight years? What did they do in the Kimberley? What did members opposite achieve in the Kimberley in eight years? Nothing! Members opposite resent the fact that this government will do the science and conserve parts of the Kimberley and do it properly. I can think of no-one better qualified than Chris Ellison to chair the public forums. Although she is not in this place today, I am sure the member for Kimberley will attend those public forums and, indeed, I have invited her to come along and take part. I know she will because she cares about the Kimberley and she cares about the real issues, unlike the grovelling and the gutter sniping that we get from members opposite.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : The poacher’s polka time! I do not know why it is; Labor Party members, I guess, look in their own ranks of rorting, double dipping, abuse, compromise and inappropriate appointments and they try to denigrate the decent people in our community. I have to say that Chris Ellison is a friend of mine, not a close friend — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oh, how uncanny! There he goes! The brains trust of the Labor Party, the sleaze machine himself, the dirty tricks man—look at him! There he goes! Withdrawal of Remark Mr M. McGOWAN : The Premier used a phrase in referring to another member that is clearly unparliamentary. I ask him to withdraw the phrase that he used about the member for Cannington. A government member: What was it? Mr M. McGOWAN : He used the phrase “sleaze machine” to describe the member for Cannington. I ask the Premier to withdraw. Further to the point of order, the member for Collie-Preston performed an act earlier for which there is a precedent and I think that needs to be noted. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! To the member for Rockingham’s first point of order, indeed, if the Premier did refer to the member using those words, I did not hear them; however, if he did, I certainly ask him to withdraw. On the second point of order the member raised, I have made a different determination about the behaviour of the member I have formally called to order. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I did not refer to the member by name but I was certainly looking him in the eye when I said those words, so I withdraw that. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : Chris Ellison is an entirely appropriate appointment; the appointment will hold. Members opposite had their little win; they had a photo of an eminent Western Australian on the front page of The West Australian —congratulations! If members opposite want to drag people down—do they want me to start? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do they want me to start working my way around the Labor Party; because we will do it? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite want to start, I can unchain the member for Jandakot! I can unchain the Treasurer, if that is what members opposite want! Chris Ellison is a decent Australian and a very proud Western Australian. I tell members opposite that we will not go down to those levels; we will not go into the gutter with the Labor Party! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite can stay in the gutter with themselves! They can stay right in that gutter with themselves. I will tell members what Chris Ellison has done, because he was so offended by the way he has been treated. Like I and others, he cares about the Kimberley and he wants to see the work there done properly. Chris Ellison has advised my office today that he has severed all ties with Enhance Group—he had a pretty loose arrangement so he has given that away. Is the opposition happy now? He has walked away from it. There is no conflict, but he has walked away from that because he would rather walk away than be on the front page and have slurs from the Labor Party. That is the sort of man he is; that is the sort of integrity he has. Is the Leader of the Opposition happy about that? Chris Ellison has walked away from Enhance because he is committed to helping out in the Kimberley. How does that compare with the Labor Party’s standards on pecuniary interest? How does that compare? Not too flash! Therefore, Chris Ellison will provide a letter to the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet to that effect. He will do the job and he will do it well. There is no report; there is no advice to government. With the assistance of staff from the Department of Environment and Conservation, who will provide him with a secretary, a report will be prepared about what was said at the various meetings. As a facilitator, he is someone who is able to get all groups to have the confidence to get up and express their point of view—a good thing. What is all this about? This is the first step in a $9 million commitment by the Liberal-National government to understand the science of the Kimberley and to commission scientific work so that we know more about the Kimberley so that when we take measures, which we will be doing, to conserve the most important parts of the Kimberley, we will get it right. Why is the opposition so upset about that? Was it because members opposite did nothing for eight years? What did they do in the Kimberley? What did members opposite achieve in the Kimberley in eight years? Nothing! Members opposite resent the fact that this government will do the science and conserve parts of the Kimberley and do it properly. I can think of no-one better qualified than Chris Ellison to chair the public forums. Although she is not in this place today, I am sure the member for Kimberley will attend those public forums and, indeed, I have invited her to come along and take part. I know she will because she cares about the Kimberley and she cares about the real issues, unlike the grovelling and the gutter sniping that we get from members opposite.
I do not know why it is; Labor Party members, I guess, look in their own ranks of rorting, double dipping, abuse, compromise and inappropriate appointments and they try to denigrate the decent people in our community. I have to say that Chris Ellison is a friend of mine, not a close friend — Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oh, how uncanny! There he goes! The brains trust of the Labor Party, the sleaze machine himself, the dirty tricks man—look at him! There he goes! Withdrawal of Remark Mr M. McGOWAN : The Premier used a phrase in referring to another member that is clearly unparliamentary. I ask him to withdraw the phrase that he used about the member for Cannington. A government member: What was it? Mr M. McGOWAN : He used the phrase “sleaze machine” to describe the member for Cannington. I ask the Premier to withdraw. Further to the point of order, the member for Collie-Preston performed an act earlier for which there is a precedent and I think that needs to be noted. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! To the member for Rockingham’s first point of order, indeed, if the Premier did refer to the member using those words, I did not hear them; however, if he did, I certainly ask him to withdraw. On the second point of order the member raised, I have made a different determination about the behaviour of the member I have formally called to order. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I did not refer to the member by name but I was certainly looking him in the eye when I said those words, so I withdraw that. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : Chris Ellison is an entirely appropriate appointment; the appointment will hold. Members opposite had their little win; they had a photo of an eminent Western Australian on the front page of The West Australian —congratulations! If members opposite want to drag people down—do they want me to start? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do they want me to start working my way around the Labor Party; because we will do it? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite want to start, I can unchain the member for Jandakot! I can unchain the Treasurer, if that is what members opposite want! Chris Ellison is a decent Australian and a very proud Western Australian. I tell members opposite that we will not go down to those levels; we will not go into the gutter with the Labor Party! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite can stay in the gutter with themselves! They can stay right in that gutter with themselves. I will tell members what Chris Ellison has done, because he was so offended by the way he has been treated. Like I and others, he cares about the Kimberley and he wants to see the work there done properly. Chris Ellison has advised my office today that he has severed all ties with Enhance Group—he had a pretty loose arrangement so he has given that away. Is the opposition happy now? He has walked away from it. There is no conflict, but he has walked away from that because he would rather walk away than be on the front page and have slurs from the Labor Party. That is the sort of man he is; that is the sort of integrity he has. Is the Leader of the Opposition happy about that? Chris Ellison has walked away from Enhance because he is committed to helping out in the Kimberley. How does that compare with the Labor Party’s standards on pecuniary interest? How does that compare? Not too flash! Therefore, Chris Ellison will provide a letter to the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet to that effect. He will do the job and he will do it well. There is no report; there is no advice to government. With the assistance of staff from the Department of Environment and Conservation, who will provide him with a secretary, a report will be prepared about what was said at the various meetings. As a facilitator, he is someone who is able to get all groups to have the confidence to get up and express their point of view—a good thing. What is all this about? This is the first step in a $9 million commitment by the Liberal-National government to understand the science of the Kimberley and to commission scientific work so that we know more about the Kimberley so that when we take measures, which we will be doing, to conserve the most important parts of the Kimberley, we will get it right. Why is the opposition so upset about that? Was it because members opposite did nothing for eight years? What did they do in the Kimberley? What did members opposite achieve in the Kimberley in eight years? Nothing! Members opposite resent the fact that this government will do the science and conserve parts of the Kimberley and do it properly. I can think of no-one better qualified than Chris Ellison to chair the public forums. Although she is not in this place today, I am sure the member for Kimberley will attend those public forums and, indeed, I have invited her to come along and take part. I know she will because she cares about the Kimberley and she cares about the real issues, unlike the grovelling and the gutter sniping that we get from members opposite.
Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oh, how uncanny! There he goes! The brains trust of the Labor Party, the sleaze machine himself, the dirty tricks man—look at him! There he goes! Withdrawal of Remark Mr M. McGOWAN : The Premier used a phrase in referring to another member that is clearly unparliamentary. I ask him to withdraw the phrase that he used about the member for Cannington. A government member: What was it? Mr M. McGOWAN : He used the phrase “sleaze machine” to describe the member for Cannington. I ask the Premier to withdraw. Further to the point of order, the member for Collie-Preston performed an act earlier for which there is a precedent and I think that needs to be noted. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! To the member for Rockingham’s first point of order, indeed, if the Premier did refer to the member using those words, I did not hear them; however, if he did, I certainly ask him to withdraw. On the second point of order the member raised, I have made a different determination about the behaviour of the member I have formally called to order. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I did not refer to the member by name but I was certainly looking him in the eye when I said those words, so I withdraw that. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : Chris Ellison is an entirely appropriate appointment; the appointment will hold. Members opposite had their little win; they had a photo of an eminent Western Australian on the front page of The West Australian —congratulations! If members opposite want to drag people down—do they want me to start? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do they want me to start working my way around the Labor Party; because we will do it? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite want to start, I can unchain the member for Jandakot! I can unchain the Treasurer, if that is what members opposite want! Chris Ellison is a decent Australian and a very proud Western Australian. I tell members opposite that we will not go down to those levels; we will not go into the gutter with the Labor Party! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite can stay in the gutter with themselves! They can stay right in that gutter with themselves. I will tell members what Chris Ellison has done, because he was so offended by the way he has been treated. Like I and others, he cares about the Kimberley and he wants to see the work there done properly. Chris Ellison has advised my office today that he has severed all ties with Enhance Group—he had a pretty loose arrangement so he has given that away. Is the opposition happy now? He has walked away from it. There is no conflict, but he has walked away from that because he would rather walk away than be on the front page and have slurs from the Labor Party. That is the sort of man he is; that is the sort of integrity he has. Is the Leader of the Opposition happy about that? Chris Ellison has walked away from Enhance because he is committed to helping out in the Kimberley. How does that compare with the Labor Party’s standards on pecuniary interest? How does that compare? Not too flash! Therefore, Chris Ellison will provide a letter to the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet to that effect. He will do the job and he will do it well. There is no report; there is no advice to government. With the assistance of staff from the Department of Environment and Conservation, who will provide him with a secretary, a report will be prepared about what was said at the various meetings. As a facilitator, he is someone who is able to get all groups to have the confidence to get up and express their point of view—a good thing. What is all this about? This is the first step in a $9 million commitment by the Liberal-National government to understand the science of the Kimberley and to commission scientific work so that we know more about the Kimberley so that when we take measures, which we will be doing, to conserve the most important parts of the Kimberley, we will get it right. Why is the opposition so upset about that? Was it because members opposite did nothing for eight years? What did they do in the Kimberley? What did members opposite achieve in the Kimberley in eight years? Nothing! Members opposite resent the fact that this government will do the science and conserve parts of the Kimberley and do it properly. I can think of no-one better qualified than Chris Ellison to chair the public forums. Although she is not in this place today, I am sure the member for Kimberley will attend those public forums and, indeed, I have invited her to come along and take part. I know she will because she cares about the Kimberley and she cares about the real issues, unlike the grovelling and the gutter sniping that we get from members opposite.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Oh, how uncanny! There he goes! The brains trust of the Labor Party, the sleaze machine himself, the dirty tricks man—look at him! There he goes! Withdrawal of Remark Mr M. McGOWAN : The Premier used a phrase in referring to another member that is clearly unparliamentary. I ask him to withdraw the phrase that he used about the member for Cannington. A government member: What was it? Mr M. McGOWAN : He used the phrase “sleaze machine” to describe the member for Cannington. I ask the Premier to withdraw. Further to the point of order, the member for Collie-Preston performed an act earlier for which there is a precedent and I think that needs to be noted. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! To the member for Rockingham’s first point of order, indeed, if the Premier did refer to the member using those words, I did not hear them; however, if he did, I certainly ask him to withdraw. On the second point of order the member raised, I have made a different determination about the behaviour of the member I have formally called to order. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I did not refer to the member by name but I was certainly looking him in the eye when I said those words, so I withdraw that. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : Chris Ellison is an entirely appropriate appointment; the appointment will hold. Members opposite had their little win; they had a photo of an eminent Western Australian on the front page of The West Australian —congratulations! If members opposite want to drag people down—do they want me to start? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do they want me to start working my way around the Labor Party; because we will do it? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite want to start, I can unchain the member for Jandakot! I can unchain the Treasurer, if that is what members opposite want! Chris Ellison is a decent Australian and a very proud Western Australian. I tell members opposite that we will not go down to those levels; we will not go into the gutter with the Labor Party! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite can stay in the gutter with themselves! They can stay right in that gutter with themselves. I will tell members what Chris Ellison has done, because he was so offended by the way he has been treated. Like I and others, he cares about the Kimberley and he wants to see the work there done properly. Chris Ellison has advised my office today that he has severed all ties with Enhance Group—he had a pretty loose arrangement so he has given that away. Is the opposition happy now? He has walked away from it. There is no conflict, but he has walked away from that because he would rather walk away than be on the front page and have slurs from the Labor Party. That is the sort of man he is; that is the sort of integrity he has. Is the Leader of the Opposition happy about that? Chris Ellison has walked away from Enhance because he is committed to helping out in the Kimberley. How does that compare with the Labor Party’s standards on pecuniary interest? How does that compare? Not too flash! Therefore, Chris Ellison will provide a letter to the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet to that effect. He will do the job and he will do it well. There is no report; there is no advice to government. With the assistance of staff from the Department of Environment and Conservation, who will provide him with a secretary, a report will be prepared about what was said at the various meetings. As a facilitator, he is someone who is able to get all groups to have the confidence to get up and express their point of view—a good thing. What is all this about? This is the first step in a $9 million commitment by the Liberal-National government to understand the science of the Kimberley and to commission scientific work so that we know more about the Kimberley so that when we take measures, which we will be doing, to conserve the most important parts of the Kimberley, we will get it right. Why is the opposition so upset about that? Was it because members opposite did nothing for eight years? What did they do in the Kimberley? What did members opposite achieve in the Kimberley in eight years? Nothing! Members opposite resent the fact that this government will do the science and conserve parts of the Kimberley and do it properly. I can think of no-one better qualified than Chris Ellison to chair the public forums. Although she is not in this place today, I am sure the member for Kimberley will attend those public forums and, indeed, I have invited her to come along and take part. I know she will because she cares about the Kimberley and she cares about the real issues, unlike the grovelling and the gutter sniping that we get from members opposite.
A government member: What was it? Mr M. McGOWAN : He used the phrase “sleaze machine” to describe the member for Cannington. I ask the Premier to withdraw. Further to the point of order, the member for Collie-Preston performed an act earlier for which there is a precedent and I think that needs to be noted. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! To the member for Rockingham’s first point of order, indeed, if the Premier did refer to the member using those words, I did not hear them; however, if he did, I certainly ask him to withdraw. On the second point of order the member raised, I have made a different determination about the behaviour of the member I have formally called to order. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I did not refer to the member by name but I was certainly looking him in the eye when I said those words, so I withdraw that. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : Chris Ellison is an entirely appropriate appointment; the appointment will hold. Members opposite had their little win; they had a photo of an eminent Western Australian on the front page of The West Australian —congratulations! If members opposite want to drag people down—do they want me to start? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do they want me to start working my way around the Labor Party; because we will do it? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite want to start, I can unchain the member for Jandakot! I can unchain the Treasurer, if that is what members opposite want! Chris Ellison is a decent Australian and a very proud Western Australian. I tell members opposite that we will not go down to those levels; we will not go into the gutter with the Labor Party! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite can stay in the gutter with themselves! They can stay right in that gutter with themselves. I will tell members what Chris Ellison has done, because he was so offended by the way he has been treated. Like I and others, he cares about the Kimberley and he wants to see the work there done properly. Chris Ellison has advised my office today that he has severed all ties with Enhance Group—he had a pretty loose arrangement so he has given that away. Is the opposition happy now? He has walked away from it. There is no conflict, but he has walked away from that because he would rather walk away than be on the front page and have slurs from the Labor Party. That is the sort of man he is; that is the sort of integrity he has. Is the Leader of the Opposition happy about that? Chris Ellison has walked away from Enhance because he is committed to helping out in the Kimberley. How does that compare with the Labor Party’s standards on pecuniary interest? How does that compare? Not too flash! Therefore, Chris Ellison will provide a letter to the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet to that effect. He will do the job and he will do it well. There is no report; there is no advice to government. With the assistance of staff from the Department of Environment and Conservation, who will provide him with a secretary, a report will be prepared about what was said at the various meetings. As a facilitator, he is someone who is able to get all groups to have the confidence to get up and express their point of view—a good thing. What is all this about? This is the first step in a $9 million commitment by the Liberal-National government to understand the science of the Kimberley and to commission scientific work so that we know more about the Kimberley so that when we take measures, which we will be doing, to conserve the most important parts of the Kimberley, we will get it right. Why is the opposition so upset about that? Was it because members opposite did nothing for eight years? What did they do in the Kimberley? What did members opposite achieve in the Kimberley in eight years? Nothing! Members opposite resent the fact that this government will do the science and conserve parts of the Kimberley and do it properly. I can think of no-one better qualified than Chris Ellison to chair the public forums. Although she is not in this place today, I am sure the member for Kimberley will attend those public forums and, indeed, I have invited her to come along and take part. I know she will because she cares about the Kimberley and she cares about the real issues, unlike the grovelling and the gutter sniping that we get from members opposite.
Mr M. McGOWAN : He used the phrase “sleaze machine” to describe the member for Cannington. I ask the Premier to withdraw. Further to the point of order, the member for Collie-Preston performed an act earlier for which there is a precedent and I think that needs to be noted. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! To the member for Rockingham’s first point of order, indeed, if the Premier did refer to the member using those words, I did not hear them; however, if he did, I certainly ask him to withdraw. On the second point of order the member raised, I have made a different determination about the behaviour of the member I have formally called to order. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I did not refer to the member by name but I was certainly looking him in the eye when I said those words, so I withdraw that. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : Chris Ellison is an entirely appropriate appointment; the appointment will hold. Members opposite had their little win; they had a photo of an eminent Western Australian on the front page of The West Australian —congratulations! If members opposite want to drag people down—do they want me to start? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do they want me to start working my way around the Labor Party; because we will do it? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite want to start, I can unchain the member for Jandakot! I can unchain the Treasurer, if that is what members opposite want! Chris Ellison is a decent Australian and a very proud Western Australian. I tell members opposite that we will not go down to those levels; we will not go into the gutter with the Labor Party! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite can stay in the gutter with themselves! They can stay right in that gutter with themselves. I will tell members what Chris Ellison has done, because he was so offended by the way he has been treated. Like I and others, he cares about the Kimberley and he wants to see the work there done properly. Chris Ellison has advised my office today that he has severed all ties with Enhance Group—he had a pretty loose arrangement so he has given that away. Is the opposition happy now? He has walked away from it. There is no conflict, but he has walked away from that because he would rather walk away than be on the front page and have slurs from the Labor Party. That is the sort of man he is; that is the sort of integrity he has. Is the Leader of the Opposition happy about that? Chris Ellison has walked away from Enhance because he is committed to helping out in the Kimberley. How does that compare with the Labor Party’s standards on pecuniary interest? How does that compare? Not too flash! Therefore, Chris Ellison will provide a letter to the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet to that effect. He will do the job and he will do it well. There is no report; there is no advice to government. With the assistance of staff from the Department of Environment and Conservation, who will provide him with a secretary, a report will be prepared about what was said at the various meetings. As a facilitator, he is someone who is able to get all groups to have the confidence to get up and express their point of view—a good thing. What is all this about? This is the first step in a $9 million commitment by the Liberal-National government to understand the science of the Kimberley and to commission scientific work so that we know more about the Kimberley so that when we take measures, which we will be doing, to conserve the most important parts of the Kimberley, we will get it right. Why is the opposition so upset about that? Was it because members opposite did nothing for eight years? What did they do in the Kimberley? What did members opposite achieve in the Kimberley in eight years? Nothing! Members opposite resent the fact that this government will do the science and conserve parts of the Kimberley and do it properly. I can think of no-one better qualified than Chris Ellison to chair the public forums. Although she is not in this place today, I am sure the member for Kimberley will attend those public forums and, indeed, I have invited her to come along and take part. I know she will because she cares about the Kimberley and she cares about the real issues, unlike the grovelling and the gutter sniping that we get from members opposite.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Order, members! To the member for Rockingham’s first point of order, indeed, if the Premier did refer to the member using those words, I did not hear them; however, if he did, I certainly ask him to withdraw. On the second point of order the member raised, I have made a different determination about the behaviour of the member I have formally called to order. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I did not refer to the member by name but I was certainly looking him in the eye when I said those words, so I withdraw that. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : Chris Ellison is an entirely appropriate appointment; the appointment will hold. Members opposite had their little win; they had a photo of an eminent Western Australian on the front page of The West Australian —congratulations! If members opposite want to drag people down—do they want me to start? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do they want me to start working my way around the Labor Party; because we will do it? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite want to start, I can unchain the member for Jandakot! I can unchain the Treasurer, if that is what members opposite want! Chris Ellison is a decent Australian and a very proud Western Australian. I tell members opposite that we will not go down to those levels; we will not go into the gutter with the Labor Party! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite can stay in the gutter with themselves! They can stay right in that gutter with themselves. I will tell members what Chris Ellison has done, because he was so offended by the way he has been treated. Like I and others, he cares about the Kimberley and he wants to see the work there done properly. Chris Ellison has advised my office today that he has severed all ties with Enhance Group—he had a pretty loose arrangement so he has given that away. Is the opposition happy now? He has walked away from it. There is no conflict, but he has walked away from that because he would rather walk away than be on the front page and have slurs from the Labor Party. That is the sort of man he is; that is the sort of integrity he has. Is the Leader of the Opposition happy about that? Chris Ellison has walked away from Enhance because he is committed to helping out in the Kimberley. How does that compare with the Labor Party’s standards on pecuniary interest? How does that compare? Not too flash! Therefore, Chris Ellison will provide a letter to the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet to that effect. He will do the job and he will do it well. There is no report; there is no advice to government. With the assistance of staff from the Department of Environment and Conservation, who will provide him with a secretary, a report will be prepared about what was said at the various meetings. As a facilitator, he is someone who is able to get all groups to have the confidence to get up and express their point of view—a good thing. What is all this about? This is the first step in a $9 million commitment by the Liberal-National government to understand the science of the Kimberley and to commission scientific work so that we know more about the Kimberley so that when we take measures, which we will be doing, to conserve the most important parts of the Kimberley, we will get it right. Why is the opposition so upset about that? Was it because members opposite did nothing for eight years? What did they do in the Kimberley? What did members opposite achieve in the Kimberley in eight years? Nothing! Members opposite resent the fact that this government will do the science and conserve parts of the Kimberley and do it properly. I can think of no-one better qualified than Chris Ellison to chair the public forums. Although she is not in this place today, I am sure the member for Kimberley will attend those public forums and, indeed, I have invited her to come along and take part. I know she will because she cares about the Kimberley and she cares about the real issues, unlike the grovelling and the gutter sniping that we get from members opposite.
The SPEAKER : Order, members! To the member for Rockingham’s first point of order, indeed, if the Premier did refer to the member using those words, I did not hear them; however, if he did, I certainly ask him to withdraw. On the second point of order the member raised, I have made a different determination about the behaviour of the member I have formally called to order. Mr C.J. BARNETT : I did not refer to the member by name but I was certainly looking him in the eye when I said those words, so I withdraw that. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : Chris Ellison is an entirely appropriate appointment; the appointment will hold. Members opposite had their little win; they had a photo of an eminent Western Australian on the front page of The West Australian —congratulations! If members opposite want to drag people down—do they want me to start? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do they want me to start working my way around the Labor Party; because we will do it? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite want to start, I can unchain the member for Jandakot! I can unchain the Treasurer, if that is what members opposite want! Chris Ellison is a decent Australian and a very proud Western Australian. I tell members opposite that we will not go down to those levels; we will not go into the gutter with the Labor Party! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite can stay in the gutter with themselves! They can stay right in that gutter with themselves. I will tell members what Chris Ellison has done, because he was so offended by the way he has been treated. Like I and others, he cares about the Kimberley and he wants to see the work there done properly. Chris Ellison has advised my office today that he has severed all ties with Enhance Group—he had a pretty loose arrangement so he has given that away. Is the opposition happy now? He has walked away from it. There is no conflict, but he has walked away from that because he would rather walk away than be on the front page and have slurs from the Labor Party. That is the sort of man he is; that is the sort of integrity he has. Is the Leader of the Opposition happy about that? Chris Ellison has walked away from Enhance because he is committed to helping out in the Kimberley. How does that compare with the Labor Party’s standards on pecuniary interest? How does that compare? Not too flash! Therefore, Chris Ellison will provide a letter to the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet to that effect. He will do the job and he will do it well. There is no report; there is no advice to government. With the assistance of staff from the Department of Environment and Conservation, who will provide him with a secretary, a report will be prepared about what was said at the various meetings. As a facilitator, he is someone who is able to get all groups to have the confidence to get up and express their point of view—a good thing. What is all this about? This is the first step in a $9 million commitment by the Liberal-National government to understand the science of the Kimberley and to commission scientific work so that we know more about the Kimberley so that when we take measures, which we will be doing, to conserve the most important parts of the Kimberley, we will get it right. Why is the opposition so upset about that? Was it because members opposite did nothing for eight years? What did they do in the Kimberley? What did members opposite achieve in the Kimberley in eight years? Nothing! Members opposite resent the fact that this government will do the science and conserve parts of the Kimberley and do it properly. I can think of no-one better qualified than Chris Ellison to chair the public forums. Although she is not in this place today, I am sure the member for Kimberley will attend those public forums and, indeed, I have invited her to come along and take part. I know she will because she cares about the Kimberley and she cares about the real issues, unlike the grovelling and the gutter sniping that we get from members opposite.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I did not refer to the member by name but I was certainly looking him in the eye when I said those words, so I withdraw that. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.J. BARNETT : Chris Ellison is an entirely appropriate appointment; the appointment will hold. Members opposite had their little win; they had a photo of an eminent Western Australian on the front page of The West Australian —congratulations! If members opposite want to drag people down—do they want me to start? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do they want me to start working my way around the Labor Party; because we will do it? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite want to start, I can unchain the member for Jandakot! I can unchain the Treasurer, if that is what members opposite want! Chris Ellison is a decent Australian and a very proud Western Australian. I tell members opposite that we will not go down to those levels; we will not go into the gutter with the Labor Party! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite can stay in the gutter with themselves! They can stay right in that gutter with themselves. I will tell members what Chris Ellison has done, because he was so offended by the way he has been treated. Like I and others, he cares about the Kimberley and he wants to see the work there done properly. Chris Ellison has advised my office today that he has severed all ties with Enhance Group—he had a pretty loose arrangement so he has given that away. Is the opposition happy now? He has walked away from it. There is no conflict, but he has walked away from that because he would rather walk away than be on the front page and have slurs from the Labor Party. That is the sort of man he is; that is the sort of integrity he has. Is the Leader of the Opposition happy about that? Chris Ellison has walked away from Enhance because he is committed to helping out in the Kimberley. How does that compare with the Labor Party’s standards on pecuniary interest? How does that compare? Not too flash! Therefore, Chris Ellison will provide a letter to the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet to that effect. He will do the job and he will do it well. There is no report; there is no advice to government. With the assistance of staff from the Department of Environment and Conservation, who will provide him with a secretary, a report will be prepared about what was said at the various meetings. As a facilitator, he is someone who is able to get all groups to have the confidence to get up and express their point of view—a good thing. What is all this about? This is the first step in a $9 million commitment by the Liberal-National government to understand the science of the Kimberley and to commission scientific work so that we know more about the Kimberley so that when we take measures, which we will be doing, to conserve the most important parts of the Kimberley, we will get it right. Why is the opposition so upset about that? Was it because members opposite did nothing for eight years? What did they do in the Kimberley? What did members opposite achieve in the Kimberley in eight years? Nothing! Members opposite resent the fact that this government will do the science and conserve parts of the Kimberley and do it properly. I can think of no-one better qualified than Chris Ellison to chair the public forums. Although she is not in this place today, I am sure the member for Kimberley will attend those public forums and, indeed, I have invited her to come along and take part. I know she will because she cares about the Kimberley and she cares about the real issues, unlike the grovelling and the gutter sniping that we get from members opposite.
Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do they want me to start working my way around the Labor Party; because we will do it? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite want to start, I can unchain the member for Jandakot! I can unchain the Treasurer, if that is what members opposite want! Chris Ellison is a decent Australian and a very proud Western Australian. I tell members opposite that we will not go down to those levels; we will not go into the gutter with the Labor Party! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite can stay in the gutter with themselves! They can stay right in that gutter with themselves. I will tell members what Chris Ellison has done, because he was so offended by the way he has been treated. Like I and others, he cares about the Kimberley and he wants to see the work there done properly. Chris Ellison has advised my office today that he has severed all ties with Enhance Group—he had a pretty loose arrangement so he has given that away. Is the opposition happy now? He has walked away from it. There is no conflict, but he has walked away from that because he would rather walk away than be on the front page and have slurs from the Labor Party. That is the sort of man he is; that is the sort of integrity he has. Is the Leader of the Opposition happy about that? Chris Ellison has walked away from Enhance because he is committed to helping out in the Kimberley. How does that compare with the Labor Party’s standards on pecuniary interest? How does that compare? Not too flash! Therefore, Chris Ellison will provide a letter to the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet to that effect. He will do the job and he will do it well. There is no report; there is no advice to government. With the assistance of staff from the Department of Environment and Conservation, who will provide him with a secretary, a report will be prepared about what was said at the various meetings. As a facilitator, he is someone who is able to get all groups to have the confidence to get up and express their point of view—a good thing. What is all this about? This is the first step in a $9 million commitment by the Liberal-National government to understand the science of the Kimberley and to commission scientific work so that we know more about the Kimberley so that when we take measures, which we will be doing, to conserve the most important parts of the Kimberley, we will get it right. Why is the opposition so upset about that? Was it because members opposite did nothing for eight years? What did they do in the Kimberley? What did members opposite achieve in the Kimberley in eight years? Nothing! Members opposite resent the fact that this government will do the science and conserve parts of the Kimberley and do it properly. I can think of no-one better qualified than Chris Ellison to chair the public forums. Although she is not in this place today, I am sure the member for Kimberley will attend those public forums and, indeed, I have invited her to come along and take part. I know she will because she cares about the Kimberley and she cares about the real issues, unlike the grovelling and the gutter sniping that we get from members opposite.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Do they want me to start working my way around the Labor Party; because we will do it? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite want to start, I can unchain the member for Jandakot! I can unchain the Treasurer, if that is what members opposite want! Chris Ellison is a decent Australian and a very proud Western Australian. I tell members opposite that we will not go down to those levels; we will not go into the gutter with the Labor Party! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite can stay in the gutter with themselves! They can stay right in that gutter with themselves. I will tell members what Chris Ellison has done, because he was so offended by the way he has been treated. Like I and others, he cares about the Kimberley and he wants to see the work there done properly. Chris Ellison has advised my office today that he has severed all ties with Enhance Group—he had a pretty loose arrangement so he has given that away. Is the opposition happy now? He has walked away from it. There is no conflict, but he has walked away from that because he would rather walk away than be on the front page and have slurs from the Labor Party. That is the sort of man he is; that is the sort of integrity he has. Is the Leader of the Opposition happy about that? Chris Ellison has walked away from Enhance because he is committed to helping out in the Kimberley. How does that compare with the Labor Party’s standards on pecuniary interest? How does that compare? Not too flash! Therefore, Chris Ellison will provide a letter to the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet to that effect. He will do the job and he will do it well. There is no report; there is no advice to government. With the assistance of staff from the Department of Environment and Conservation, who will provide him with a secretary, a report will be prepared about what was said at the various meetings. As a facilitator, he is someone who is able to get all groups to have the confidence to get up and express their point of view—a good thing. What is all this about? This is the first step in a $9 million commitment by the Liberal-National government to understand the science of the Kimberley and to commission scientific work so that we know more about the Kimberley so that when we take measures, which we will be doing, to conserve the most important parts of the Kimberley, we will get it right. Why is the opposition so upset about that? Was it because members opposite did nothing for eight years? What did they do in the Kimberley? What did members opposite achieve in the Kimberley in eight years? Nothing! Members opposite resent the fact that this government will do the science and conserve parts of the Kimberley and do it properly. I can think of no-one better qualified than Chris Ellison to chair the public forums. Although she is not in this place today, I am sure the member for Kimberley will attend those public forums and, indeed, I have invited her to come along and take part. I know she will because she cares about the Kimberley and she cares about the real issues, unlike the grovelling and the gutter sniping that we get from members opposite.
Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite want to start, I can unchain the member for Jandakot! I can unchain the Treasurer, if that is what members opposite want! Chris Ellison is a decent Australian and a very proud Western Australian. I tell members opposite that we will not go down to those levels; we will not go into the gutter with the Labor Party! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite can stay in the gutter with themselves! They can stay right in that gutter with themselves. I will tell members what Chris Ellison has done, because he was so offended by the way he has been treated. Like I and others, he cares about the Kimberley and he wants to see the work there done properly. Chris Ellison has advised my office today that he has severed all ties with Enhance Group—he had a pretty loose arrangement so he has given that away. Is the opposition happy now? He has walked away from it. There is no conflict, but he has walked away from that because he would rather walk away than be on the front page and have slurs from the Labor Party. That is the sort of man he is; that is the sort of integrity he has. Is the Leader of the Opposition happy about that? Chris Ellison has walked away from Enhance because he is committed to helping out in the Kimberley. How does that compare with the Labor Party’s standards on pecuniary interest? How does that compare? Not too flash! Therefore, Chris Ellison will provide a letter to the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet to that effect. He will do the job and he will do it well. There is no report; there is no advice to government. With the assistance of staff from the Department of Environment and Conservation, who will provide him with a secretary, a report will be prepared about what was said at the various meetings. As a facilitator, he is someone who is able to get all groups to have the confidence to get up and express their point of view—a good thing. What is all this about? This is the first step in a $9 million commitment by the Liberal-National government to understand the science of the Kimberley and to commission scientific work so that we know more about the Kimberley so that when we take measures, which we will be doing, to conserve the most important parts of the Kimberley, we will get it right. Why is the opposition so upset about that? Was it because members opposite did nothing for eight years? What did they do in the Kimberley? What did members opposite achieve in the Kimberley in eight years? Nothing! Members opposite resent the fact that this government will do the science and conserve parts of the Kimberley and do it properly. I can think of no-one better qualified than Chris Ellison to chair the public forums. Although she is not in this place today, I am sure the member for Kimberley will attend those public forums and, indeed, I have invited her to come along and take part. I know she will because she cares about the Kimberley and she cares about the real issues, unlike the grovelling and the gutter sniping that we get from members opposite.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : If members opposite want to start, I can unchain the member for Jandakot! I can unchain the Treasurer, if that is what members opposite want! Chris Ellison is a decent Australian and a very proud Western Australian. I tell members opposite that we will not go down to those levels; we will not go into the gutter with the Labor Party! Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite can stay in the gutter with themselves! They can stay right in that gutter with themselves. I will tell members what Chris Ellison has done, because he was so offended by the way he has been treated. Like I and others, he cares about the Kimberley and he wants to see the work there done properly. Chris Ellison has advised my office today that he has severed all ties with Enhance Group—he had a pretty loose arrangement so he has given that away. Is the opposition happy now? He has walked away from it. There is no conflict, but he has walked away from that because he would rather walk away than be on the front page and have slurs from the Labor Party. That is the sort of man he is; that is the sort of integrity he has. Is the Leader of the Opposition happy about that? Chris Ellison has walked away from Enhance because he is committed to helping out in the Kimberley. How does that compare with the Labor Party’s standards on pecuniary interest? How does that compare? Not too flash! Therefore, Chris Ellison will provide a letter to the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet to that effect. He will do the job and he will do it well. There is no report; there is no advice to government. With the assistance of staff from the Department of Environment and Conservation, who will provide him with a secretary, a report will be prepared about what was said at the various meetings. As a facilitator, he is someone who is able to get all groups to have the confidence to get up and express their point of view—a good thing. What is all this about? This is the first step in a $9 million commitment by the Liberal-National government to understand the science of the Kimberley and to commission scientific work so that we know more about the Kimberley so that when we take measures, which we will be doing, to conserve the most important parts of the Kimberley, we will get it right. Why is the opposition so upset about that? Was it because members opposite did nothing for eight years? What did they do in the Kimberley? What did members opposite achieve in the Kimberley in eight years? Nothing! Members opposite resent the fact that this government will do the science and conserve parts of the Kimberley and do it properly. I can think of no-one better qualified than Chris Ellison to chair the public forums. Although she is not in this place today, I am sure the member for Kimberley will attend those public forums and, indeed, I have invited her to come along and take part. I know she will because she cares about the Kimberley and she cares about the real issues, unlike the grovelling and the gutter sniping that we get from members opposite.
Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite can stay in the gutter with themselves! They can stay right in that gutter with themselves. I will tell members what Chris Ellison has done, because he was so offended by the way he has been treated. Like I and others, he cares about the Kimberley and he wants to see the work there done properly. Chris Ellison has advised my office today that he has severed all ties with Enhance Group—he had a pretty loose arrangement so he has given that away. Is the opposition happy now? He has walked away from it. There is no conflict, but he has walked away from that because he would rather walk away than be on the front page and have slurs from the Labor Party. That is the sort of man he is; that is the sort of integrity he has. Is the Leader of the Opposition happy about that? Chris Ellison has walked away from Enhance because he is committed to helping out in the Kimberley. How does that compare with the Labor Party’s standards on pecuniary interest? How does that compare? Not too flash! Therefore, Chris Ellison will provide a letter to the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet to that effect. He will do the job and he will do it well. There is no report; there is no advice to government. With the assistance of staff from the Department of Environment and Conservation, who will provide him with a secretary, a report will be prepared about what was said at the various meetings. As a facilitator, he is someone who is able to get all groups to have the confidence to get up and express their point of view—a good thing. What is all this about? This is the first step in a $9 million commitment by the Liberal-National government to understand the science of the Kimberley and to commission scientific work so that we know more about the Kimberley so that when we take measures, which we will be doing, to conserve the most important parts of the Kimberley, we will get it right. Why is the opposition so upset about that? Was it because members opposite did nothing for eight years? What did they do in the Kimberley? What did members opposite achieve in the Kimberley in eight years? Nothing! Members opposite resent the fact that this government will do the science and conserve parts of the Kimberley and do it properly. I can think of no-one better qualified than Chris Ellison to chair the public forums. Although she is not in this place today, I am sure the member for Kimberley will attend those public forums and, indeed, I have invited her to come along and take part. I know she will because she cares about the Kimberley and she cares about the real issues, unlike the grovelling and the gutter sniping that we get from members opposite.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members opposite can stay in the gutter with themselves! They can stay right in that gutter with themselves. I will tell members what Chris Ellison has done, because he was so offended by the way he has been treated. Like I and others, he cares about the Kimberley and he wants to see the work there done properly. Chris Ellison has advised my office today that he has severed all ties with Enhance Group—he had a pretty loose arrangement so he has given that away. Is the opposition happy now? He has walked away from it. There is no conflict, but he has walked away from that because he would rather walk away than be on the front page and have slurs from the Labor Party. That is the sort of man he is; that is the sort of integrity he has. Is the Leader of the Opposition happy about that? Chris Ellison has walked away from Enhance because he is committed to helping out in the Kimberley. How does that compare with the Labor Party’s standards on pecuniary interest? How does that compare? Not too flash! Therefore, Chris Ellison will provide a letter to the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet to that effect. He will do the job and he will do it well. There is no report; there is no advice to government. With the assistance of staff from the Department of Environment and Conservation, who will provide him with a secretary, a report will be prepared about what was said at the various meetings. As a facilitator, he is someone who is able to get all groups to have the confidence to get up and express their point of view—a good thing. What is all this about? This is the first step in a $9 million commitment by the Liberal-National government to understand the science of the Kimberley and to commission scientific work so that we know more about the Kimberley so that when we take measures, which we will be doing, to conserve the most important parts of the Kimberley, we will get it right. Why is the opposition so upset about that? Was it because members opposite did nothing for eight years? What did they do in the Kimberley? What did members opposite achieve in the Kimberley in eight years? Nothing! Members opposite resent the fact that this government will do the science and conserve parts of the Kimberley and do it properly. I can think of no-one better qualified than Chris Ellison to chair the public forums. Although she is not in this place today, I am sure the member for Kimberley will attend those public forums and, indeed, I have invited her to come along and take part. I know she will because she cares about the Kimberley and she cares about the real issues, unlike the grovelling and the gutter sniping that we get from members opposite.
I will tell members what Chris Ellison has done, because he was so offended by the way he has been treated. Like I and others, he cares about the Kimberley and he wants to see the work there done properly. Chris Ellison has advised my office today that he has severed all ties with Enhance Group—he had a pretty loose arrangement so he has given that away. Is the opposition happy now? He has walked away from it. There is no conflict, but he has walked away from that because he would rather walk away than be on the front page and have slurs from the Labor Party. That is the sort of man he is; that is the sort of integrity he has. Is the Leader of the Opposition happy about that? Chris Ellison has walked away from Enhance because he is committed to helping out in the Kimberley. How does that compare with the Labor Party’s standards on pecuniary interest? How does that compare? Not too flash! Therefore, Chris Ellison will provide a letter to the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet to that effect. He will do the job and he will do it well. There is no report; there is no advice to government. With the assistance of staff from the Department of Environment and Conservation, who will provide him with a secretary, a report will be prepared about what was said at the various meetings. As a facilitator, he is someone who is able to get all groups to have the confidence to get up and express their point of view—a good thing. What is all this about? This is the first step in a $9 million commitment by the Liberal-National government to understand the science of the Kimberley and to commission scientific work so that we know more about the Kimberley so that when we take measures, which we will be doing, to conserve the most important parts of the Kimberley, we will get it right. Why is the opposition so upset about that? Was it because members opposite did nothing for eight years? What did they do in the Kimberley? What did members opposite achieve in the Kimberley in eight years? Nothing! Members opposite resent the fact that this government will do the science and conserve parts of the Kimberley and do it properly. I can think of no-one better qualified than Chris Ellison to chair the public forums. Although she is not in this place today, I am sure the member for Kimberley will attend those public forums and, indeed, I have invited her to come along and take part. I know she will because she cares about the Kimberley and she cares about the real issues, unlike the grovelling and the gutter sniping that we get from members opposite.
What is all this about? This is the first step in a $9 million commitment by the Liberal-National government to understand the science of the Kimberley and to commission scientific work so that we know more about the Kimberley so that when we take measures, which we will be doing, to conserve the most important parts of the Kimberley, we will get it right. Why is the opposition so upset about that? Was it because members opposite did nothing for eight years? What did they do in the Kimberley? What did members opposite achieve in the Kimberley in eight years? Nothing! Members opposite resent the fact that this government will do the science and conserve parts of the Kimberley and do it properly. I can think of no-one better qualified than Chris Ellison to chair the public forums. Although she is not in this place today, I am sure the member for Kimberley will attend those public forums and, indeed, I have invited her to come along and take part. I know she will because she cares about the Kimberley and she cares about the real issues, unlike the grovelling and the gutter sniping that we get from members opposite.
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