❓ Opposition Leader McGowan questions the government's accountability, particularly regarding allegations of corruption and a payment by Western Power. Barnett deflects, accusing the Premier and Police Minister of inaction on vote-rigging allegations.
AnsweredQoN 114Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I ask this question under Standing Order No 75(3). My question relates directly to private members’ business order of the day No 11 moved by the Leader of the Opposition on 27 November 2002. (1) When does the Leader of the Opposition intend to resume debate on this motion, which, in part relates to ministers discharging their duties in an open and accountable manner? (2) Will the Leader of the Opposition lead by example and outline to the House when he first learnt about the alleged payment by Western Power to the Australian Services Union? (3) Does the Leader of the Opposition stand by his claim in the Sunday Times of 28 March that he was unaware that information was sent to his electorate office by a whistleblower? (4) On receiving information from a whistleblower by whatever means, why did the Leader of the Opposition not observe section 28 of the Corruption and Crime Commission Act and refer the matter to the commission? (5) When was the last time the Leader of the Opposition or any member of his staff, including Mr John Hammond, spoke to the former managing director of Western Power, Mr David Eiszele or the former managing director’s adviser, Mr Gary Gillies? The SPEAKER: Order! I indicate to the Leader of the Opposition that as far as the question relates to item No 13 on the Notice Paper, that is the only part of the question that he is required to answer. Mr C.J. BARNETT
AnswerView source ↗
(1)-(5) I have been waiting. It has been a while since I have been asked a question in the House. The motion on the Notice Paper states - That this House condemns the Gallop Labor Government for its failure to govern in the interests of all Western Australians and the failure of its ministers to discharge their duties in an open and accountable manner. It is a fairly good motion. I am sorry that the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure is not here for this debate. The Attorney General decided to hand the Lewandowski affidavit to his cabinet colleague sitting next to him. I would love to debate that at length. Now the Minister for Police and Emergency Services, both through her portfolio and as the President of the Western Australian branch of the Australian Labor Party, has received allegations from Senator Mark Bishop about vote rigging and potential criminal conduct and corruption in the Labor Party. I would love to debate that! Can we suspend standing orders, member for Rockingham? Why do we not suspend them right now so that we can look at the accountability? I want to know when the Minister for Police and Emergency Services first heard of those allegations from Senator Mark Bishop. When did the Premier know about them? Did the Premier contact the Minister for Police and Emergency Services as the Minister for Police and as the Labor Party president? Did he inquire whether those written, signed allegations were referred by the Minister for Police and Emergency Services to the Police Service and the Corruption and Crime Commission? Did the Premier do that? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT: I have the floor! I will be here for hours! The Premier has given me the floor. Thank you, member for Rockingham for giving me this opportunity. I want to know what the Premier did with Senator Mark Bishop’s allegations. I would be willing to bet that, whether the member for Midland received the allegations as the police minister or as the Labor Party president, those allegations were signed by a prominent person - a senator. I presume a copy of the allegations was sent to at least the Premier, and probably also the Attorney General. What did the Premier do with it? Were the allegations referred to the police? What did the Premier do? Did he refer them to the police? By the silence, we can assume that the Premier did not refer the allegations to the police. By the failure of the Minister for Police and Emergency Services to answer the question or show any inclination of wanting to answer the question, we know that the minister had in her possession - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT: It does not matter whether the Minister for Police and Emergency Services received the allegations as Labor Party president, a Labor member of Parliament, the member for Midland or as the police minister. If she received those written allegations signed by Senator Mark Bishop, she failed to act. She knew they related to corrupt and potentially criminal conduct. She has a responsibility. The minister is a public officer under the Corruption and Crime Commission Act. She is a public person. She is bound, particularly as the Minister for Police and Emergency Services, to act upon them, as is the Premier. The SPEAKER: The Leader of the Opposition has spoken for about five minutes. That is the normal allowable time. I ask that he wind up his answer. Mr C.J. BARNETT: I will wind up my comments. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT: What an extraordinary event we have seen today. The member for Rockingham, as Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier, asked a question on behalf of the Premier about a motion regarding information reported to police, which has been on the Notice Paper for ages. Only five minutes earlier, we saw the Premier and police minister unwilling to react or respond to written allegations by a prominent person, Senator Mark Bishop from Western Australia. The Premier and minister failed to refer the allegations to the police. That is on the public record. Any more questions, member for Rockingham? Perhaps a supplementary question to help me out?
(1) When does the Leader of the Opposition intend to resume debate on this motion, which, in part relates to ministers discharging their duties in an open and accountable manner? (2) Will the Leader of the Opposition lead by example and outline to the House when he first learnt about the alleged payment by Western Power to the Australian Services Union? (3) Does the Leader of the Opposition stand by his claim in the Sunday Times of 28 March that he was unaware that information was sent to his electorate office by a whistleblower? (4) On receiving information from a whistleblower by whatever means, why did the Leader of the Opposition not observe section 28 of the Corruption and Crime Commission Act and refer the matter to the commission? (5) When was the last time the Leader of the Opposition or any member of his staff, including Mr John Hammond, spoke to the former managing director of Western Power, Mr David Eiszele or the former managing director’s adviser, Mr Gary Gillies? The SPEAKER: Order! I indicate to the Leader of the Opposition that as far as the question relates to item No 13 on the Notice Paper, that is the only part of the question that he is required to answer. Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)-(5) I have been waiting. It has been a while since I have been asked a question in the House. The motion on the Notice Paper states - That this House condemns the Gallop Labor Government for its failure to govern in the interests of all Western Australians and the failure of its ministers to discharge their duties in an open and accountable manner. It is a fairly good motion. I am sorry that the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure is not here for this debate. The Attorney General decided to hand the Lewandowski affidavit to his cabinet colleague sitting next to him. I would love to debate that at length. Now the Minister for Police and Emergency Services, both through her portfolio and as the President of the Western Australian branch of the Australian Labor Party, has received allegations from Senator Mark Bishop about vote rigging and potential criminal conduct and corruption in the Labor Party. I would love to debate that! Can we suspend standing orders, member for Rockingham? Why do we not suspend them right now so that we can look at the accountability? I want to know when the Minister for Police and Emergency Services first heard of those allegations from Senator Mark Bishop. When did the Premier know about them? Did the Premier contact the Minister for Police and Emergency Services as the Minister for Police and as the Labor Party president? Did he inquire whether those written, signed allegations were referred by the Minister for Police and Emergency Services to the Police Service and the Corruption and Crime Commission? Did the Premier do that? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT: I have the floor! I will be here for hours! The Premier has given me the floor. Thank you, member for Rockingham for giving me this opportunity. I want to know what the Premier did with Senator Mark Bishop’s allegations. I would be willing to bet that, whether the member for Midland received the allegations as the police minister or as the Labor Party president, those allegations were signed by a prominent person - a senator. I presume a copy of the allegations was sent to at least the Premier, and probably also the Attorney General. What did the Premier do with it? Were the allegations referred to the police? What did the Premier do? Did he refer them to the police? By the silence, we can assume that the Premier did not refer the allegations to the police. By the failure of the Minister for Police and Emergency Services to answer the question or show any inclination of wanting to answer the question, we know that the minister had in her possession - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT: It does not matter whether the Minister for Police and Emergency Services received the allegations as Labor Party president, a Labor member of Parliament, the member for Midland or as the police minister. If she received those written allegations signed by Senator Mark Bishop, she failed to act. She knew they related to corrupt and potentially criminal conduct. She has a responsibility. The minister is a public officer under the Corruption and Crime Commission Act. She is a public person. She is bound, particularly as the Minister for Police and Emergency Services, to act upon them, as is the Premier. The SPEAKER: The Leader of the Opposition has spoken for about five minutes. That is the normal allowable time. I ask that he wind up his answer. Mr C.J. BARNETT: I will wind up my comments. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT: What an extraordinary event we have seen today. The member for Rockingham, as Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier, asked a question on behalf of the Premier about a motion regarding information reported to police, which has been on the Notice Paper for ages. Only five minutes earlier, we saw the Premier and police minister unwilling to react or respond to written allegations by a prominent person, Senator Mark Bishop from Western Australia. The Premier and minister failed to refer the allegations to the police. That is on the public record. Any more questions, member for Rockingham? Perhaps a supplementary question to help me out?
(2) Will the Leader of the Opposition lead by example and outline to the House when he first learnt about the alleged payment by Western Power to the Australian Services Union? (3) Does the Leader of the Opposition stand by his claim in the Sunday Times of 28 March that he was unaware that information was sent to his electorate office by a whistleblower? (4) On receiving information from a whistleblower by whatever means, why did the Leader of the Opposition not observe section 28 of the Corruption and Crime Commission Act and refer the matter to the commission? (5) When was the last time the Leader of the Opposition or any member of his staff, including Mr John Hammond, spoke to the former managing director of Western Power, Mr David Eiszele or the former managing director’s adviser, Mr Gary Gillies? The SPEAKER: Order! I indicate to the Leader of the Opposition that as far as the question relates to item No 13 on the Notice Paper, that is the only part of the question that he is required to answer. Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)-(5) I have been waiting. It has been a while since I have been asked a question in the House. The motion on the Notice Paper states - That this House condemns the Gallop Labor Government for its failure to govern in the interests of all Western Australians and the failure of its ministers to discharge their duties in an open and accountable manner. It is a fairly good motion. I am sorry that the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure is not here for this debate. The Attorney General decided to hand the Lewandowski affidavit to his cabinet colleague sitting next to him. I would love to debate that at length. Now the Minister for Police and Emergency Services, both through her portfolio and as the President of the Western Australian branch of the Australian Labor Party, has received allegations from Senator Mark Bishop about vote rigging and potential criminal conduct and corruption in the Labor Party. I would love to debate that! Can we suspend standing orders, member for Rockingham? Why do we not suspend them right now so that we can look at the accountability? I want to know when the Minister for Police and Emergency Services first heard of those allegations from Senator Mark Bishop. When did the Premier know about them? Did the Premier contact the Minister for Police and Emergency Services as the Minister for Police and as the Labor Party president? Did he inquire whether those written, signed allegations were referred by the Minister for Police and Emergency Services to the Police Service and the Corruption and Crime Commission? Did the Premier do that? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT: I have the floor! I will be here for hours! The Premier has given me the floor. Thank you, member for Rockingham for giving me this opportunity. I want to know what the Premier did with Senator Mark Bishop’s allegations. I would be willing to bet that, whether the member for Midland received the allegations as the police minister or as the Labor Party president, those allegations were signed by a prominent person - a senator. I presume a copy of the allegations was sent to at least the Premier, and probably also the Attorney General. What did the Premier do with it? Were the allegations referred to the police? What did the Premier do? Did he refer them to the police? By the silence, we can assume that the Premier did not refer the allegations to the police. By the failure of the Minister for Police and Emergency Services to answer the question or show any inclination of wanting to answer the question, we know that the minister had in her possession - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT: It does not matter whether the Minister for Police and Emergency Services received the allegations as Labor Party president, a Labor member of Parliament, the member for Midland or as the police minister. If she received those written allegations signed by Senator Mark Bishop, she failed to act. She knew they related to corrupt and potentially criminal conduct. She has a responsibility. The minister is a public officer under the Corruption and Crime Commission Act. She is a public person. She is bound, particularly as the Minister for Police and Emergency Services, to act upon them, as is the Premier. The SPEAKER: The Leader of the Opposition has spoken for about five minutes. That is the normal allowable time. I ask that he wind up his answer. Mr C.J. BARNETT: I will wind up my comments. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT: What an extraordinary event we have seen today. The member for Rockingham, as Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier, asked a question on behalf of the Premier about a motion regarding information reported to police, which has been on the Notice Paper for ages. Only five minutes earlier, we saw the Premier and police minister unwilling to react or respond to written allegations by a prominent person, Senator Mark Bishop from Western Australia. The Premier and minister failed to refer the allegations to the police. That is on the public record. Any more questions, member for Rockingham? Perhaps a supplementary question to help me out?
(3) Does the Leader of the Opposition stand by his claim in the Sunday Times of 28 March that he was unaware that information was sent to his electorate office by a whistleblower? (4) On receiving information from a whistleblower by whatever means, why did the Leader of the Opposition not observe section 28 of the Corruption and Crime Commission Act and refer the matter to the commission? (5) When was the last time the Leader of the Opposition or any member of his staff, including Mr John Hammond, spoke to the former managing director of Western Power, Mr David Eiszele or the former managing director’s adviser, Mr Gary Gillies? The SPEAKER: Order! I indicate to the Leader of the Opposition that as far as the question relates to item No 13 on the Notice Paper, that is the only part of the question that he is required to answer. Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)-(5) I have been waiting. It has been a while since I have been asked a question in the House. The motion on the Notice Paper states - That this House condemns the Gallop Labor Government for its failure to govern in the interests of all Western Australians and the failure of its ministers to discharge their duties in an open and accountable manner. It is a fairly good motion. I am sorry that the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure is not here for this debate. The Attorney General decided to hand the Lewandowski affidavit to his cabinet colleague sitting next to him. I would love to debate that at length. Now the Minister for Police and Emergency Services, both through her portfolio and as the President of the Western Australian branch of the Australian Labor Party, has received allegations from Senator Mark Bishop about vote rigging and potential criminal conduct and corruption in the Labor Party. I would love to debate that! Can we suspend standing orders, member for Rockingham? Why do we not suspend them right now so that we can look at the accountability? I want to know when the Minister for Police and Emergency Services first heard of those allegations from Senator Mark Bishop. When did the Premier know about them? Did the Premier contact the Minister for Police and Emergency Services as the Minister for Police and as the Labor Party president? Did he inquire whether those written, signed allegations were referred by the Minister for Police and Emergency Services to the Police Service and the Corruption and Crime Commission? Did the Premier do that? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT: I have the floor! I will be here for hours! The Premier has given me the floor. Thank you, member for Rockingham for giving me this opportunity. I want to know what the Premier did with Senator Mark Bishop’s allegations. I would be willing to bet that, whether the member for Midland received the allegations as the police minister or as the Labor Party president, those allegations were signed by a prominent person - a senator. I presume a copy of the allegations was sent to at least the Premier, and probably also the Attorney General. What did the Premier do with it? Were the allegations referred to the police? What did the Premier do? Did he refer them to the police? By the silence, we can assume that the Premier did not refer the allegations to the police. By the failure of the Minister for Police and Emergency Services to answer the question or show any inclination of wanting to answer the question, we know that the minister had in her possession - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT: It does not matter whether the Minister for Police and Emergency Services received the allegations as Labor Party president, a Labor member of Parliament, the member for Midland or as the police minister. If she received those written allegations signed by Senator Mark Bishop, she failed to act. She knew they related to corrupt and potentially criminal conduct. She has a responsibility. The minister is a public officer under the Corruption and Crime Commission Act. She is a public person. She is bound, particularly as the Minister for Police and Emergency Services, to act upon them, as is the Premier. The SPEAKER: The Leader of the Opposition has spoken for about five minutes. That is the normal allowable time. I ask that he wind up his answer. Mr C.J. BARNETT: I will wind up my comments. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT: What an extraordinary event we have seen today. The member for Rockingham, as Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier, asked a question on behalf of the Premier about a motion regarding information reported to police, which has been on the Notice Paper for ages. Only five minutes earlier, we saw the Premier and police minister unwilling to react or respond to written allegations by a prominent person, Senator Mark Bishop from Western Australia. The Premier and minister failed to refer the allegations to the police. That is on the public record. Any more questions, member for Rockingham? Perhaps a supplementary question to help me out?
(4) On receiving information from a whistleblower by whatever means, why did the Leader of the Opposition not observe section 28 of the Corruption and Crime Commission Act and refer the matter to the commission? (5) When was the last time the Leader of the Opposition or any member of his staff, including Mr John Hammond, spoke to the former managing director of Western Power, Mr David Eiszele or the former managing director’s adviser, Mr Gary Gillies? The SPEAKER: Order! I indicate to the Leader of the Opposition that as far as the question relates to item No 13 on the Notice Paper, that is the only part of the question that he is required to answer. Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)-(5) I have been waiting. It has been a while since I have been asked a question in the House. The motion on the Notice Paper states - That this House condemns the Gallop Labor Government for its failure to govern in the interests of all Western Australians and the failure of its ministers to discharge their duties in an open and accountable manner. It is a fairly good motion. I am sorry that the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure is not here for this debate. The Attorney General decided to hand the Lewandowski affidavit to his cabinet colleague sitting next to him. I would love to debate that at length. Now the Minister for Police and Emergency Services, both through her portfolio and as the President of the Western Australian branch of the Australian Labor Party, has received allegations from Senator Mark Bishop about vote rigging and potential criminal conduct and corruption in the Labor Party. I would love to debate that! Can we suspend standing orders, member for Rockingham? Why do we not suspend them right now so that we can look at the accountability? I want to know when the Minister for Police and Emergency Services first heard of those allegations from Senator Mark Bishop. When did the Premier know about them? Did the Premier contact the Minister for Police and Emergency Services as the Minister for Police and as the Labor Party president? Did he inquire whether those written, signed allegations were referred by the Minister for Police and Emergency Services to the Police Service and the Corruption and Crime Commission? Did the Premier do that? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT: I have the floor! I will be here for hours! The Premier has given me the floor. Thank you, member for Rockingham for giving me this opportunity. I want to know what the Premier did with Senator Mark Bishop’s allegations. I would be willing to bet that, whether the member for Midland received the allegations as the police minister or as the Labor Party president, those allegations were signed by a prominent person - a senator. I presume a copy of the allegations was sent to at least the Premier, and probably also the Attorney General. What did the Premier do with it? Were the allegations referred to the police? What did the Premier do? Did he refer them to the police? By the silence, we can assume that the Premier did not refer the allegations to the police. By the failure of the Minister for Police and Emergency Services to answer the question or show any inclination of wanting to answer the question, we know that the minister had in her possession - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT: It does not matter whether the Minister for Police and Emergency Services received the allegations as Labor Party president, a Labor member of Parliament, the member for Midland or as the police minister. If she received those written allegations signed by Senator Mark Bishop, she failed to act. She knew they related to corrupt and potentially criminal conduct. She has a responsibility. The minister is a public officer under the Corruption and Crime Commission Act. She is a public person. She is bound, particularly as the Minister for Police and Emergency Services, to act upon them, as is the Premier. The SPEAKER: The Leader of the Opposition has spoken for about five minutes. That is the normal allowable time. I ask that he wind up his answer. Mr C.J. BARNETT: I will wind up my comments. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT: What an extraordinary event we have seen today. The member for Rockingham, as Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier, asked a question on behalf of the Premier about a motion regarding information reported to police, which has been on the Notice Paper for ages. Only five minutes earlier, we saw the Premier and police minister unwilling to react or respond to written allegations by a prominent person, Senator Mark Bishop from Western Australia. The Premier and minister failed to refer the allegations to the police. That is on the public record. Any more questions, member for Rockingham? Perhaps a supplementary question to help me out?
(5) When was the last time the Leader of the Opposition or any member of his staff, including Mr John Hammond, spoke to the former managing director of Western Power, Mr David Eiszele or the former managing director’s adviser, Mr Gary Gillies? The SPEAKER: Order! I indicate to the Leader of the Opposition that as far as the question relates to item No 13 on the Notice Paper, that is the only part of the question that he is required to answer. Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)-(5) I have been waiting. It has been a while since I have been asked a question in the House. The motion on the Notice Paper states - That this House condemns the Gallop Labor Government for its failure to govern in the interests of all Western Australians and the failure of its ministers to discharge their duties in an open and accountable manner. It is a fairly good motion. I am sorry that the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure is not here for this debate. The Attorney General decided to hand the Lewandowski affidavit to his cabinet colleague sitting next to him. I would love to debate that at length. Now the Minister for Police and Emergency Services, both through her portfolio and as the President of the Western Australian branch of the Australian Labor Party, has received allegations from Senator Mark Bishop about vote rigging and potential criminal conduct and corruption in the Labor Party. I would love to debate that! Can we suspend standing orders, member for Rockingham? Why do we not suspend them right now so that we can look at the accountability? I want to know when the Minister for Police and Emergency Services first heard of those allegations from Senator Mark Bishop. When did the Premier know about them? Did the Premier contact the Minister for Police and Emergency Services as the Minister for Police and as the Labor Party president? Did he inquire whether those written, signed allegations were referred by the Minister for Police and Emergency Services to the Police Service and the Corruption and Crime Commission? Did the Premier do that? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT: I have the floor! I will be here for hours! The Premier has given me the floor. Thank you, member for Rockingham for giving me this opportunity. I want to know what the Premier did with Senator Mark Bishop’s allegations. I would be willing to bet that, whether the member for Midland received the allegations as the police minister or as the Labor Party president, those allegations were signed by a prominent person - a senator. I presume a copy of the allegations was sent to at least the Premier, and probably also the Attorney General. What did the Premier do with it? Were the allegations referred to the police? What did the Premier do? Did he refer them to the police? By the silence, we can assume that the Premier did not refer the allegations to the police. By the failure of the Minister for Police and Emergency Services to answer the question or show any inclination of wanting to answer the question, we know that the minister had in her possession - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT: It does not matter whether the Minister for Police and Emergency Services received the allegations as Labor Party president, a Labor member of Parliament, the member for Midland or as the police minister. If she received those written allegations signed by Senator Mark Bishop, she failed to act. She knew they related to corrupt and potentially criminal conduct. She has a responsibility. The minister is a public officer under the Corruption and Crime Commission Act. She is a public person. She is bound, particularly as the Minister for Police and Emergency Services, to act upon them, as is the Premier. The SPEAKER: The Leader of the Opposition has spoken for about five minutes. That is the normal allowable time. I ask that he wind up his answer. Mr C.J. BARNETT: I will wind up my comments. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT: What an extraordinary event we have seen today. The member for Rockingham, as Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier, asked a question on behalf of the Premier about a motion regarding information reported to police, which has been on the Notice Paper for ages. Only five minutes earlier, we saw the Premier and police minister unwilling to react or respond to written allegations by a prominent person, Senator Mark Bishop from Western Australia. The Premier and minister failed to refer the allegations to the police. That is on the public record. Any more questions, member for Rockingham? Perhaps a supplementary question to help me out?
The SPEAKER: Order! I indicate to the Leader of the Opposition that as far as the question relates to item No 13 on the Notice Paper, that is the only part of the question that he is required to answer. Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)-(5) I have been waiting. It has been a while since I have been asked a question in the House. The motion on the Notice Paper states - That this House condemns the Gallop Labor Government for its failure to govern in the interests of all Western Australians and the failure of its ministers to discharge their duties in an open and accountable manner. It is a fairly good motion. I am sorry that the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure is not here for this debate. The Attorney General decided to hand the Lewandowski affidavit to his cabinet colleague sitting next to him. I would love to debate that at length. Now the Minister for Police and Emergency Services, both through her portfolio and as the President of the Western Australian branch of the Australian Labor Party, has received allegations from Senator Mark Bishop about vote rigging and potential criminal conduct and corruption in the Labor Party. I would love to debate that! Can we suspend standing orders, member for Rockingham? Why do we not suspend them right now so that we can look at the accountability? I want to know when the Minister for Police and Emergency Services first heard of those allegations from Senator Mark Bishop. When did the Premier know about them? Did the Premier contact the Minister for Police and Emergency Services as the Minister for Police and as the Labor Party president? Did he inquire whether those written, signed allegations were referred by the Minister for Police and Emergency Services to the Police Service and the Corruption and Crime Commission? Did the Premier do that? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT: I have the floor! I will be here for hours! The Premier has given me the floor. Thank you, member for Rockingham for giving me this opportunity. I want to know what the Premier did with Senator Mark Bishop’s allegations. I would be willing to bet that, whether the member for Midland received the allegations as the police minister or as the Labor Party president, those allegations were signed by a prominent person - a senator. I presume a copy of the allegations was sent to at least the Premier, and probably also the Attorney General. What did the Premier do with it? Were the allegations referred to the police? What did the Premier do? Did he refer them to the police? By the silence, we can assume that the Premier did not refer the allegations to the police. By the failure of the Minister for Police and Emergency Services to answer the question or show any inclination of wanting to answer the question, we know that the minister had in her possession - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT: It does not matter whether the Minister for Police and Emergency Services received the allegations as Labor Party president, a Labor member of Parliament, the member for Midland or as the police minister. If she received those written allegations signed by Senator Mark Bishop, she failed to act. She knew they related to corrupt and potentially criminal conduct. She has a responsibility. The minister is a public officer under the Corruption and Crime Commission Act. She is a public person. She is bound, particularly as the Minister for Police and Emergency Services, to act upon them, as is the Premier. The SPEAKER: The Leader of the Opposition has spoken for about five minutes. That is the normal allowable time. I ask that he wind up his answer. Mr C.J. BARNETT: I will wind up my comments. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT: What an extraordinary event we have seen today. The member for Rockingham, as Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier, asked a question on behalf of the Premier about a motion regarding information reported to police, which has been on the Notice Paper for ages. Only five minutes earlier, we saw the Premier and police minister unwilling to react or respond to written allegations by a prominent person, Senator Mark Bishop from Western Australia. The Premier and minister failed to refer the allegations to the police. That is on the public record. Any more questions, member for Rockingham? Perhaps a supplementary question to help me out?
Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)-(5) I have been waiting. It has been a while since I have been asked a question in the House. The motion on the Notice Paper states - That this House condemns the Gallop Labor Government for its failure to govern in the interests of all Western Australians and the failure of its ministers to discharge their duties in an open and accountable manner. It is a fairly good motion. I am sorry that the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure is not here for this debate. The Attorney General decided to hand the Lewandowski affidavit to his cabinet colleague sitting next to him. I would love to debate that at length. Now the Minister for Police and Emergency Services, both through her portfolio and as the President of the Western Australian branch of the Australian Labor Party, has received allegations from Senator Mark Bishop about vote rigging and potential criminal conduct and corruption in the Labor Party. I would love to debate that! Can we suspend standing orders, member for Rockingham? Why do we not suspend them right now so that we can look at the accountability? I want to know when the Minister for Police and Emergency Services first heard of those allegations from Senator Mark Bishop. When did the Premier know about them? Did the Premier contact the Minister for Police and Emergency Services as the Minister for Police and as the Labor Party president? Did he inquire whether those written, signed allegations were referred by the Minister for Police and Emergency Services to the Police Service and the Corruption and Crime Commission? Did the Premier do that? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT: I have the floor! I will be here for hours! The Premier has given me the floor. Thank you, member for Rockingham for giving me this opportunity. I want to know what the Premier did with Senator Mark Bishop’s allegations. I would be willing to bet that, whether the member for Midland received the allegations as the police minister or as the Labor Party president, those allegations were signed by a prominent person - a senator. I presume a copy of the allegations was sent to at least the Premier, and probably also the Attorney General. What did the Premier do with it? Were the allegations referred to the police? What did the Premier do? Did he refer them to the police? By the silence, we can assume that the Premier did not refer the allegations to the police. By the failure of the Minister for Police and Emergency Services to answer the question or show any inclination of wanting to answer the question, we know that the minister had in her possession - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT: It does not matter whether the Minister for Police and Emergency Services received the allegations as Labor Party president, a Labor member of Parliament, the member for Midland or as the police minister. If she received those written allegations signed by Senator Mark Bishop, she failed to act. She knew they related to corrupt and potentially criminal conduct. She has a responsibility. The minister is a public officer under the Corruption and Crime Commission Act. She is a public person. She is bound, particularly as the Minister for Police and Emergency Services, to act upon them, as is the Premier. The SPEAKER: The Leader of the Opposition has spoken for about five minutes. That is the normal allowable time. I ask that he wind up his answer. Mr C.J. BARNETT: I will wind up my comments. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT: What an extraordinary event we have seen today. The member for Rockingham, as Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier, asked a question on behalf of the Premier about a motion regarding information reported to police, which has been on the Notice Paper for ages. Only five minutes earlier, we saw the Premier and police minister unwilling to react or respond to written allegations by a prominent person, Senator Mark Bishop from Western Australia. The Premier and minister failed to refer the allegations to the police. That is on the public record. Any more questions, member for Rockingham? Perhaps a supplementary question to help me out?
(1)-(5) I have been waiting. It has been a while since I have been asked a question in the House. The motion on the Notice Paper states - That this House condemns the Gallop Labor Government for its failure to govern in the interests of all Western Australians and the failure of its ministers to discharge their duties in an open and accountable manner. It is a fairly good motion. I am sorry that the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure is not here for this debate. The Attorney General decided to hand the Lewandowski affidavit to his cabinet colleague sitting next to him. I would love to debate that at length. Now the Minister for Police and Emergency Services, both through her portfolio and as the President of the Western Australian branch of the Australian Labor Party, has received allegations from Senator Mark Bishop about vote rigging and potential criminal conduct and corruption in the Labor Party. I would love to debate that! Can we suspend standing orders, member for Rockingham? Why do we not suspend them right now so that we can look at the accountability? I want to know when the Minister for Police and Emergency Services first heard of those allegations from Senator Mark Bishop. When did the Premier know about them? Did the Premier contact the Minister for Police and Emergency Services as the Minister for Police and as the Labor Party president? Did he inquire whether those written, signed allegations were referred by the Minister for Police and Emergency Services to the Police Service and the Corruption and Crime Commission? Did the Premier do that? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT: I have the floor! I will be here for hours! The Premier has given me the floor. Thank you, member for Rockingham for giving me this opportunity. I want to know what the Premier did with Senator Mark Bishop’s allegations. I would be willing to bet that, whether the member for Midland received the allegations as the police minister or as the Labor Party president, those allegations were signed by a prominent person - a senator. I presume a copy of the allegations was sent to at least the Premier, and probably also the Attorney General. What did the Premier do with it? Were the allegations referred to the police? What did the Premier do? Did he refer them to the police? By the silence, we can assume that the Premier did not refer the allegations to the police. By the failure of the Minister for Police and Emergency Services to answer the question or show any inclination of wanting to answer the question, we know that the minister had in her possession - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT: It does not matter whether the Minister for Police and Emergency Services received the allegations as Labor Party president, a Labor member of Parliament, the member for Midland or as the police minister. If she received those written allegations signed by Senator Mark Bishop, she failed to act. She knew they related to corrupt and potentially criminal conduct. She has a responsibility. The minister is a public officer under the Corruption and Crime Commission Act. She is a public person. She is bound, particularly as the Minister for Police and Emergency Services, to act upon them, as is the Premier. The SPEAKER: The Leader of the Opposition has spoken for about five minutes. That is the normal allowable time. I ask that he wind up his answer. Mr C.J. BARNETT: I will wind up my comments. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT: What an extraordinary event we have seen today. The member for Rockingham, as Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier, asked a question on behalf of the Premier about a motion regarding information reported to police, which has been on the Notice Paper for ages. Only five minutes earlier, we saw the Premier and police minister unwilling to react or respond to written allegations by a prominent person, Senator Mark Bishop from Western Australia. The Premier and minister failed to refer the allegations to the police. That is on the public record. Any more questions, member for Rockingham? Perhaps a supplementary question to help me out?
Mr C.J. BARNETT: I have the floor! I will be here for hours! The Premier has given me the floor. Thank you, member for Rockingham for giving me this opportunity. I want to know what the Premier did with Senator Mark Bishop’s allegations. I would be willing to bet that, whether the member for Midland received the allegations as the police minister or as the Labor Party president, those allegations were signed by a prominent person - a senator. I presume a copy of the allegations was sent to at least the Premier, and probably also the Attorney General. What did the Premier do with it? Were the allegations referred to the police? What did the Premier do? Did he refer them to the police? By the silence, we can assume that the Premier did not refer the allegations to the police. By the failure of the Minister for Police and Emergency Services to answer the question or show any inclination of wanting to answer the question, we know that the minister had in her possession - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT: It does not matter whether the Minister for Police and Emergency Services received the allegations as Labor Party president, a Labor member of Parliament, the member for Midland or as the police minister. If she received those written allegations signed by Senator Mark Bishop, she failed to act. She knew they related to corrupt and potentially criminal conduct. She has a responsibility. The minister is a public officer under the Corruption and Crime Commission Act. She is a public person. She is bound, particularly as the Minister for Police and Emergency Services, to act upon them, as is the Premier. The SPEAKER: The Leader of the Opposition has spoken for about five minutes. That is the normal allowable time. I ask that he wind up his answer. Mr C.J. BARNETT: I will wind up my comments. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT: What an extraordinary event we have seen today. The member for Rockingham, as Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier, asked a question on behalf of the Premier about a motion regarding information reported to police, which has been on the Notice Paper for ages. Only five minutes earlier, we saw the Premier and police minister unwilling to react or respond to written allegations by a prominent person, Senator Mark Bishop from Western Australia. The Premier and minister failed to refer the allegations to the police. That is on the public record. Any more questions, member for Rockingham? Perhaps a supplementary question to help me out?
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT: It does not matter whether the Minister for Police and Emergency Services received the allegations as Labor Party president, a Labor member of Parliament, the member for Midland or as the police minister. If she received those written allegations signed by Senator Mark Bishop, she failed to act. She knew they related to corrupt and potentially criminal conduct. She has a responsibility. The minister is a public officer under the Corruption and Crime Commission Act. She is a public person. She is bound, particularly as the Minister for Police and Emergency Services, to act upon them, as is the Premier. The SPEAKER: The Leader of the Opposition has spoken for about five minutes. That is the normal allowable time. I ask that he wind up his answer. Mr C.J. BARNETT: I will wind up my comments. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT: What an extraordinary event we have seen today. The member for Rockingham, as Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier, asked a question on behalf of the Premier about a motion regarding information reported to police, which has been on the Notice Paper for ages. Only five minutes earlier, we saw the Premier and police minister unwilling to react or respond to written allegations by a prominent person, Senator Mark Bishop from Western Australia. The Premier and minister failed to refer the allegations to the police. That is on the public record. Any more questions, member for Rockingham? Perhaps a supplementary question to help me out?
The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT: It does not matter whether the Minister for Police and Emergency Services received the allegations as Labor Party president, a Labor member of Parliament, the member for Midland or as the police minister. If she received those written allegations signed by Senator Mark Bishop, she failed to act. She knew they related to corrupt and potentially criminal conduct. She has a responsibility. The minister is a public officer under the Corruption and Crime Commission Act. She is a public person. She is bound, particularly as the Minister for Police and Emergency Services, to act upon them, as is the Premier. The SPEAKER: The Leader of the Opposition has spoken for about five minutes. That is the normal allowable time. I ask that he wind up his answer. Mr C.J. BARNETT: I will wind up my comments. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT: What an extraordinary event we have seen today. The member for Rockingham, as Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier, asked a question on behalf of the Premier about a motion regarding information reported to police, which has been on the Notice Paper for ages. Only five minutes earlier, we saw the Premier and police minister unwilling to react or respond to written allegations by a prominent person, Senator Mark Bishop from Western Australia. The Premier and minister failed to refer the allegations to the police. That is on the public record. Any more questions, member for Rockingham? Perhaps a supplementary question to help me out?
Mr C.J. BARNETT: It does not matter whether the Minister for Police and Emergency Services received the allegations as Labor Party president, a Labor member of Parliament, the member for Midland or as the police minister. If she received those written allegations signed by Senator Mark Bishop, she failed to act. She knew they related to corrupt and potentially criminal conduct. She has a responsibility. The minister is a public officer under the Corruption and Crime Commission Act. She is a public person. She is bound, particularly as the Minister for Police and Emergency Services, to act upon them, as is the Premier. The SPEAKER: The Leader of the Opposition has spoken for about five minutes. That is the normal allowable time. I ask that he wind up his answer. Mr C.J. BARNETT: I will wind up my comments. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT: What an extraordinary event we have seen today. The member for Rockingham, as Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier, asked a question on behalf of the Premier about a motion regarding information reported to police, which has been on the Notice Paper for ages. Only five minutes earlier, we saw the Premier and police minister unwilling to react or respond to written allegations by a prominent person, Senator Mark Bishop from Western Australia. The Premier and minister failed to refer the allegations to the police. That is on the public record. Any more questions, member for Rockingham? Perhaps a supplementary question to help me out?
The SPEAKER: The Leader of the Opposition has spoken for about five minutes. That is the normal allowable time. I ask that he wind up his answer. Mr C.J. BARNETT: I will wind up my comments. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT: What an extraordinary event we have seen today. The member for Rockingham, as Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier, asked a question on behalf of the Premier about a motion regarding information reported to police, which has been on the Notice Paper for ages. Only five minutes earlier, we saw the Premier and police minister unwilling to react or respond to written allegations by a prominent person, Senator Mark Bishop from Western Australia. The Premier and minister failed to refer the allegations to the police. That is on the public record. Any more questions, member for Rockingham? Perhaps a supplementary question to help me out?
Mr C.J. BARNETT: I will wind up my comments. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT: What an extraordinary event we have seen today. The member for Rockingham, as Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier, asked a question on behalf of the Premier about a motion regarding information reported to police, which has been on the Notice Paper for ages. Only five minutes earlier, we saw the Premier and police minister unwilling to react or respond to written allegations by a prominent person, Senator Mark Bishop from Western Australia. The Premier and minister failed to refer the allegations to the police. That is on the public record. Any more questions, member for Rockingham? Perhaps a supplementary question to help me out?
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT: What an extraordinary event we have seen today. The member for Rockingham, as Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier, asked a question on behalf of the Premier about a motion regarding information reported to police, which has been on the Notice Paper for ages. Only five minutes earlier, we saw the Premier and police minister unwilling to react or respond to written allegations by a prominent person, Senator Mark Bishop from Western Australia. The Premier and minister failed to refer the allegations to the police. That is on the public record. Any more questions, member for Rockingham? Perhaps a supplementary question to help me out?
The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT: What an extraordinary event we have seen today. The member for Rockingham, as Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier, asked a question on behalf of the Premier about a motion regarding information reported to police, which has been on the Notice Paper for ages. Only five minutes earlier, we saw the Premier and police minister unwilling to react or respond to written allegations by a prominent person, Senator Mark Bishop from Western Australia. The Premier and minister failed to refer the allegations to the police. That is on the public record. Any more questions, member for Rockingham? Perhaps a supplementary question to help me out?
Mr C.J. BARNETT: What an extraordinary event we have seen today. The member for Rockingham, as Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier, asked a question on behalf of the Premier about a motion regarding information reported to police, which has been on the Notice Paper for ages. Only five minutes earlier, we saw the Premier and police minister unwilling to react or respond to written allegations by a prominent person, Senator Mark Bishop from Western Australia. The Premier and minister failed to refer the allegations to the police. That is on the public record. Any more questions, member for Rockingham? Perhaps a supplementary question to help me out?
(1) When does the Leader of the Opposition intend to resume debate on this motion, which, in part relates to ministers discharging their duties in an open and accountable manner? (2) Will the Leader of the Opposition lead by example and outline to the House when he first learnt about the alleged payment by Western Power to the Australian Services Union? (3) Does the Leader of the Opposition stand by his claim in the Sunday Times of 28 March that he was unaware that information was sent to his electorate office by a whistleblower? (4) On receiving information from a whistleblower by whatever means, why did the Leader of the Opposition not observe section 28 of the Corruption and Crime Commission Act and refer the matter to the commission? (5) When was the last time the Leader of the Opposition or any member of his staff, including Mr John Hammond, spoke to the former managing director of Western Power, Mr David Eiszele or the former managing director’s adviser, Mr Gary Gillies? The SPEAKER: Order! I indicate to the Leader of the Opposition that as far as the question relates to item No 13 on the Notice Paper, that is the only part of the question that he is required to answer. Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)-(5) I have been waiting. It has been a while since I have been asked a question in the House. The motion on the Notice Paper states - That this House condemns the Gallop Labor Government for its failure to govern in the interests of all Western Australians and the failure of its ministers to discharge their duties in an open and accountable manner. It is a fairly good motion. I am sorry that the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure is not here for this debate. The Attorney General decided to hand the Lewandowski affidavit to his cabinet colleague sitting next to him. I would love to debate that at length. Now the Minister for Police and Emergency Services, both through her portfolio and as the President of the Western Australian branch of the Australian Labor Party, has received allegations from Senator Mark Bishop about vote rigging and potential criminal conduct and corruption in the Labor Party. I would love to debate that! Can we suspend standing orders, member for Rockingham? Why do we not suspend them right now so that we can look at the accountability? I want to know when the Minister for Police and Emergency Services first heard of those allegations from Senator Mark Bishop. When did the Premier know about them? Did the Premier contact the Minister for Police and Emergency Services as the Minister for Police and as the Labor Party president? Did he inquire whether those written, signed allegations were referred by the Minister for Police and Emergency Services to the Police Service and the Corruption and Crime Commission? Did the Premier do that? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT: I have the floor! I will be here for hours! The Premier has given me the floor. Thank you, member for Rockingham for giving me this opportunity. I want to know what the Premier did with Senator Mark Bishop’s allegations. I would be willing to bet that, whether the member for Midland received the allegations as the police minister or as the Labor Party president, those allegations were signed by a prominent person - a senator. I presume a copy of the allegations was sent to at least the Premier, and probably also the Attorney General. What did the Premier do with it? Were the allegations referred to the police? What did the Premier do? Did he refer them to the police? By the silence, we can assume that the Premier did not refer the allegations to the police. By the failure of the Minister for Police and Emergency Services to answer the question or show any inclination of wanting to answer the question, we know that the minister had in her possession - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT: It does not matter whether the Minister for Police and Emergency Services received the allegations as Labor Party president, a Labor member of Parliament, the member for Midland or as the police minister. If she received those written allegations signed by Senator Mark Bishop, she failed to act. She knew they related to corrupt and potentially criminal conduct. She has a responsibility. The minister is a public officer under the Corruption and Crime Commission Act. She is a public person. She is bound, particularly as the Minister for Police and Emergency Services, to act upon them, as is the Premier. The SPEAKER: The Leader of the Opposition has spoken for about five minutes. That is the normal allowable time. I ask that he wind up his answer. Mr C.J. BARNETT: I will wind up my comments. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT: What an extraordinary event we have seen today. The member for Rockingham, as Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier, asked a question on behalf of the Premier about a motion regarding information reported to police, which has been on the Notice Paper for ages. Only five minutes earlier, we saw the Premier and police minister unwilling to react or respond to written allegations by a prominent person, Senator Mark Bishop from Western Australia. The Premier and minister failed to refer the allegations to the police. That is on the public record. Any more questions, member for Rockingham? Perhaps a supplementary question to help me out?
(2) Will the Leader of the Opposition lead by example and outline to the House when he first learnt about the alleged payment by Western Power to the Australian Services Union? (3) Does the Leader of the Opposition stand by his claim in the Sunday Times of 28 March that he was unaware that information was sent to his electorate office by a whistleblower? (4) On receiving information from a whistleblower by whatever means, why did the Leader of the Opposition not observe section 28 of the Corruption and Crime Commission Act and refer the matter to the commission? (5) When was the last time the Leader of the Opposition or any member of his staff, including Mr John Hammond, spoke to the former managing director of Western Power, Mr David Eiszele or the former managing director’s adviser, Mr Gary Gillies? The SPEAKER: Order! I indicate to the Leader of the Opposition that as far as the question relates to item No 13 on the Notice Paper, that is the only part of the question that he is required to answer. Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)-(5) I have been waiting. It has been a while since I have been asked a question in the House. The motion on the Notice Paper states - That this House condemns the Gallop Labor Government for its failure to govern in the interests of all Western Australians and the failure of its ministers to discharge their duties in an open and accountable manner. It is a fairly good motion. I am sorry that the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure is not here for this debate. The Attorney General decided to hand the Lewandowski affidavit to his cabinet colleague sitting next to him. I would love to debate that at length. Now the Minister for Police and Emergency Services, both through her portfolio and as the President of the Western Australian branch of the Australian Labor Party, has received allegations from Senator Mark Bishop about vote rigging and potential criminal conduct and corruption in the Labor Party. I would love to debate that! Can we suspend standing orders, member for Rockingham? Why do we not suspend them right now so that we can look at the accountability? I want to know when the Minister for Police and Emergency Services first heard of those allegations from Senator Mark Bishop. When did the Premier know about them? Did the Premier contact the Minister for Police and Emergency Services as the Minister for Police and as the Labor Party president? Did he inquire whether those written, signed allegations were referred by the Minister for Police and Emergency Services to the Police Service and the Corruption and Crime Commission? Did the Premier do that? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT: I have the floor! I will be here for hours! The Premier has given me the floor. Thank you, member for Rockingham for giving me this opportunity. I want to know what the Premier did with Senator Mark Bishop’s allegations. I would be willing to bet that, whether the member for Midland received the allegations as the police minister or as the Labor Party president, those allegations were signed by a prominent person - a senator. I presume a copy of the allegations was sent to at least the Premier, and probably also the Attorney General. What did the Premier do with it? Were the allegations referred to the police? What did the Premier do? Did he refer them to the police? By the silence, we can assume that the Premier did not refer the allegations to the police. By the failure of the Minister for Police and Emergency Services to answer the question or show any inclination of wanting to answer the question, we know that the minister had in her possession - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT: It does not matter whether the Minister for Police and Emergency Services received the allegations as Labor Party president, a Labor member of Parliament, the member for Midland or as the police minister. If she received those written allegations signed by Senator Mark Bishop, she failed to act. She knew they related to corrupt and potentially criminal conduct. She has a responsibility. The minister is a public officer under the Corruption and Crime Commission Act. She is a public person. She is bound, particularly as the Minister for Police and Emergency Services, to act upon them, as is the Premier. The SPEAKER: The Leader of the Opposition has spoken for about five minutes. That is the normal allowable time. I ask that he wind up his answer. Mr C.J. BARNETT: I will wind up my comments. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT: What an extraordinary event we have seen today. The member for Rockingham, as Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier, asked a question on behalf of the Premier about a motion regarding information reported to police, which has been on the Notice Paper for ages. Only five minutes earlier, we saw the Premier and police minister unwilling to react or respond to written allegations by a prominent person, Senator Mark Bishop from Western Australia. The Premier and minister failed to refer the allegations to the police. That is on the public record. Any more questions, member for Rockingham? Perhaps a supplementary question to help me out?
(3) Does the Leader of the Opposition stand by his claim in the Sunday Times of 28 March that he was unaware that information was sent to his electorate office by a whistleblower? (4) On receiving information from a whistleblower by whatever means, why did the Leader of the Opposition not observe section 28 of the Corruption and Crime Commission Act and refer the matter to the commission? (5) When was the last time the Leader of the Opposition or any member of his staff, including Mr John Hammond, spoke to the former managing director of Western Power, Mr David Eiszele or the former managing director’s adviser, Mr Gary Gillies? The SPEAKER: Order! I indicate to the Leader of the Opposition that as far as the question relates to item No 13 on the Notice Paper, that is the only part of the question that he is required to answer. Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)-(5) I have been waiting. It has been a while since I have been asked a question in the House. The motion on the Notice Paper states - That this House condemns the Gallop Labor Government for its failure to govern in the interests of all Western Australians and the failure of its ministers to discharge their duties in an open and accountable manner. It is a fairly good motion. I am sorry that the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure is not here for this debate. The Attorney General decided to hand the Lewandowski affidavit to his cabinet colleague sitting next to him. I would love to debate that at length. Now the Minister for Police and Emergency Services, both through her portfolio and as the President of the Western Australian branch of the Australian Labor Party, has received allegations from Senator Mark Bishop about vote rigging and potential criminal conduct and corruption in the Labor Party. I would love to debate that! Can we suspend standing orders, member for Rockingham? Why do we not suspend them right now so that we can look at the accountability? I want to know when the Minister for Police and Emergency Services first heard of those allegations from Senator Mark Bishop. When did the Premier know about them? Did the Premier contact the Minister for Police and Emergency Services as the Minister for Police and as the Labor Party president? Did he inquire whether those written, signed allegations were referred by the Minister for Police and Emergency Services to the Police Service and the Corruption and Crime Commission? Did the Premier do that? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT: I have the floor! I will be here for hours! The Premier has given me the floor. Thank you, member for Rockingham for giving me this opportunity. I want to know what the Premier did with Senator Mark Bishop’s allegations. I would be willing to bet that, whether the member for Midland received the allegations as the police minister or as the Labor Party president, those allegations were signed by a prominent person - a senator. I presume a copy of the allegations was sent to at least the Premier, and probably also the Attorney General. What did the Premier do with it? Were the allegations referred to the police? What did the Premier do? Did he refer them to the police? By the silence, we can assume that the Premier did not refer the allegations to the police. By the failure of the Minister for Police and Emergency Services to answer the question or show any inclination of wanting to answer the question, we know that the minister had in her possession - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT: It does not matter whether the Minister for Police and Emergency Services received the allegations as Labor Party president, a Labor member of Parliament, the member for Midland or as the police minister. If she received those written allegations signed by Senator Mark Bishop, she failed to act. She knew they related to corrupt and potentially criminal conduct. She has a responsibility. The minister is a public officer under the Corruption and Crime Commission Act. She is a public person. She is bound, particularly as the Minister for Police and Emergency Services, to act upon them, as is the Premier. The SPEAKER: The Leader of the Opposition has spoken for about five minutes. That is the normal allowable time. I ask that he wind up his answer. Mr C.J. BARNETT: I will wind up my comments. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT: What an extraordinary event we have seen today. The member for Rockingham, as Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier, asked a question on behalf of the Premier about a motion regarding information reported to police, which has been on the Notice Paper for ages. Only five minutes earlier, we saw the Premier and police minister unwilling to react or respond to written allegations by a prominent person, Senator Mark Bishop from Western Australia. The Premier and minister failed to refer the allegations to the police. That is on the public record. Any more questions, member for Rockingham? Perhaps a supplementary question to help me out?
(4) On receiving information from a whistleblower by whatever means, why did the Leader of the Opposition not observe section 28 of the Corruption and Crime Commission Act and refer the matter to the commission? (5) When was the last time the Leader of the Opposition or any member of his staff, including Mr John Hammond, spoke to the former managing director of Western Power, Mr David Eiszele or the former managing director’s adviser, Mr Gary Gillies? The SPEAKER: Order! I indicate to the Leader of the Opposition that as far as the question relates to item No 13 on the Notice Paper, that is the only part of the question that he is required to answer. Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)-(5) I have been waiting. It has been a while since I have been asked a question in the House. The motion on the Notice Paper states - That this House condemns the Gallop Labor Government for its failure to govern in the interests of all Western Australians and the failure of its ministers to discharge their duties in an open and accountable manner. It is a fairly good motion. I am sorry that the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure is not here for this debate. The Attorney General decided to hand the Lewandowski affidavit to his cabinet colleague sitting next to him. I would love to debate that at length. Now the Minister for Police and Emergency Services, both through her portfolio and as the President of the Western Australian branch of the Australian Labor Party, has received allegations from Senator Mark Bishop about vote rigging and potential criminal conduct and corruption in the Labor Party. I would love to debate that! Can we suspend standing orders, member for Rockingham? Why do we not suspend them right now so that we can look at the accountability? I want to know when the Minister for Police and Emergency Services first heard of those allegations from Senator Mark Bishop. When did the Premier know about them? Did the Premier contact the Minister for Police and Emergency Services as the Minister for Police and as the Labor Party president? Did he inquire whether those written, signed allegations were referred by the Minister for Police and Emergency Services to the Police Service and the Corruption and Crime Commission? Did the Premier do that? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT: I have the floor! I will be here for hours! The Premier has given me the floor. Thank you, member for Rockingham for giving me this opportunity. I want to know what the Premier did with Senator Mark Bishop’s allegations. I would be willing to bet that, whether the member for Midland received the allegations as the police minister or as the Labor Party president, those allegations were signed by a prominent person - a senator. I presume a copy of the allegations was sent to at least the Premier, and probably also the Attorney General. What did the Premier do with it? Were the allegations referred to the police? What did the Premier do? Did he refer them to the police? By the silence, we can assume that the Premier did not refer the allegations to the police. By the failure of the Minister for Police and Emergency Services to answer the question or show any inclination of wanting to answer the question, we know that the minister had in her possession - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT: It does not matter whether the Minister for Police and Emergency Services received the allegations as Labor Party president, a Labor member of Parliament, the member for Midland or as the police minister. If she received those written allegations signed by Senator Mark Bishop, she failed to act. She knew they related to corrupt and potentially criminal conduct. She has a responsibility. The minister is a public officer under the Corruption and Crime Commission Act. She is a public person. She is bound, particularly as the Minister for Police and Emergency Services, to act upon them, as is the Premier. The SPEAKER: The Leader of the Opposition has spoken for about five minutes. That is the normal allowable time. I ask that he wind up his answer. Mr C.J. BARNETT: I will wind up my comments. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT: What an extraordinary event we have seen today. The member for Rockingham, as Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier, asked a question on behalf of the Premier about a motion regarding information reported to police, which has been on the Notice Paper for ages. Only five minutes earlier, we saw the Premier and police minister unwilling to react or respond to written allegations by a prominent person, Senator Mark Bishop from Western Australia. The Premier and minister failed to refer the allegations to the police. That is on the public record. Any more questions, member for Rockingham? Perhaps a supplementary question to help me out?
(5) When was the last time the Leader of the Opposition or any member of his staff, including Mr John Hammond, spoke to the former managing director of Western Power, Mr David Eiszele or the former managing director’s adviser, Mr Gary Gillies? The SPEAKER: Order! I indicate to the Leader of the Opposition that as far as the question relates to item No 13 on the Notice Paper, that is the only part of the question that he is required to answer. Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)-(5) I have been waiting. It has been a while since I have been asked a question in the House. The motion on the Notice Paper states - That this House condemns the Gallop Labor Government for its failure to govern in the interests of all Western Australians and the failure of its ministers to discharge their duties in an open and accountable manner. It is a fairly good motion. I am sorry that the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure is not here for this debate. The Attorney General decided to hand the Lewandowski affidavit to his cabinet colleague sitting next to him. I would love to debate that at length. Now the Minister for Police and Emergency Services, both through her portfolio and as the President of the Western Australian branch of the Australian Labor Party, has received allegations from Senator Mark Bishop about vote rigging and potential criminal conduct and corruption in the Labor Party. I would love to debate that! Can we suspend standing orders, member for Rockingham? Why do we not suspend them right now so that we can look at the accountability? I want to know when the Minister for Police and Emergency Services first heard of those allegations from Senator Mark Bishop. When did the Premier know about them? Did the Premier contact the Minister for Police and Emergency Services as the Minister for Police and as the Labor Party president? Did he inquire whether those written, signed allegations were referred by the Minister for Police and Emergency Services to the Police Service and the Corruption and Crime Commission? Did the Premier do that? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT: I have the floor! I will be here for hours! The Premier has given me the floor. Thank you, member for Rockingham for giving me this opportunity. I want to know what the Premier did with Senator Mark Bishop’s allegations. I would be willing to bet that, whether the member for Midland received the allegations as the police minister or as the Labor Party president, those allegations were signed by a prominent person - a senator. I presume a copy of the allegations was sent to at least the Premier, and probably also the Attorney General. What did the Premier do with it? Were the allegations referred to the police? What did the Premier do? Did he refer them to the police? By the silence, we can assume that the Premier did not refer the allegations to the police. By the failure of the Minister for Police and Emergency Services to answer the question or show any inclination of wanting to answer the question, we know that the minister had in her possession - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT: It does not matter whether the Minister for Police and Emergency Services received the allegations as Labor Party president, a Labor member of Parliament, the member for Midland or as the police minister. If she received those written allegations signed by Senator Mark Bishop, she failed to act. She knew they related to corrupt and potentially criminal conduct. She has a responsibility. The minister is a public officer under the Corruption and Crime Commission Act. She is a public person. She is bound, particularly as the Minister for Police and Emergency Services, to act upon them, as is the Premier. The SPEAKER: The Leader of the Opposition has spoken for about five minutes. That is the normal allowable time. I ask that he wind up his answer. Mr C.J. BARNETT: I will wind up my comments. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT: What an extraordinary event we have seen today. The member for Rockingham, as Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier, asked a question on behalf of the Premier about a motion regarding information reported to police, which has been on the Notice Paper for ages. Only five minutes earlier, we saw the Premier and police minister unwilling to react or respond to written allegations by a prominent person, Senator Mark Bishop from Western Australia. The Premier and minister failed to refer the allegations to the police. That is on the public record. Any more questions, member for Rockingham? Perhaps a supplementary question to help me out?
The SPEAKER: Order! I indicate to the Leader of the Opposition that as far as the question relates to item No 13 on the Notice Paper, that is the only part of the question that he is required to answer. Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)-(5) I have been waiting. It has been a while since I have been asked a question in the House. The motion on the Notice Paper states - That this House condemns the Gallop Labor Government for its failure to govern in the interests of all Western Australians and the failure of its ministers to discharge their duties in an open and accountable manner. It is a fairly good motion. I am sorry that the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure is not here for this debate. The Attorney General decided to hand the Lewandowski affidavit to his cabinet colleague sitting next to him. I would love to debate that at length. Now the Minister for Police and Emergency Services, both through her portfolio and as the President of the Western Australian branch of the Australian Labor Party, has received allegations from Senator Mark Bishop about vote rigging and potential criminal conduct and corruption in the Labor Party. I would love to debate that! Can we suspend standing orders, member for Rockingham? Why do we not suspend them right now so that we can look at the accountability? I want to know when the Minister for Police and Emergency Services first heard of those allegations from Senator Mark Bishop. When did the Premier know about them? Did the Premier contact the Minister for Police and Emergency Services as the Minister for Police and as the Labor Party president? Did he inquire whether those written, signed allegations were referred by the Minister for Police and Emergency Services to the Police Service and the Corruption and Crime Commission? Did the Premier do that? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT: I have the floor! I will be here for hours! The Premier has given me the floor. Thank you, member for Rockingham for giving me this opportunity. I want to know what the Premier did with Senator Mark Bishop’s allegations. I would be willing to bet that, whether the member for Midland received the allegations as the police minister or as the Labor Party president, those allegations were signed by a prominent person - a senator. I presume a copy of the allegations was sent to at least the Premier, and probably also the Attorney General. What did the Premier do with it? Were the allegations referred to the police? What did the Premier do? Did he refer them to the police? By the silence, we can assume that the Premier did not refer the allegations to the police. By the failure of the Minister for Police and Emergency Services to answer the question or show any inclination of wanting to answer the question, we know that the minister had in her possession - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT: It does not matter whether the Minister for Police and Emergency Services received the allegations as Labor Party president, a Labor member of Parliament, the member for Midland or as the police minister. If she received those written allegations signed by Senator Mark Bishop, she failed to act. She knew they related to corrupt and potentially criminal conduct. She has a responsibility. The minister is a public officer under the Corruption and Crime Commission Act. She is a public person. She is bound, particularly as the Minister for Police and Emergency Services, to act upon them, as is the Premier. The SPEAKER: The Leader of the Opposition has spoken for about five minutes. That is the normal allowable time. I ask that he wind up his answer. Mr C.J. BARNETT: I will wind up my comments. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT: What an extraordinary event we have seen today. The member for Rockingham, as Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier, asked a question on behalf of the Premier about a motion regarding information reported to police, which has been on the Notice Paper for ages. Only five minutes earlier, we saw the Premier and police minister unwilling to react or respond to written allegations by a prominent person, Senator Mark Bishop from Western Australia. The Premier and minister failed to refer the allegations to the police. That is on the public record. Any more questions, member for Rockingham? Perhaps a supplementary question to help me out?
Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: (1)-(5) I have been waiting. It has been a while since I have been asked a question in the House. The motion on the Notice Paper states - That this House condemns the Gallop Labor Government for its failure to govern in the interests of all Western Australians and the failure of its ministers to discharge their duties in an open and accountable manner. It is a fairly good motion. I am sorry that the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure is not here for this debate. The Attorney General decided to hand the Lewandowski affidavit to his cabinet colleague sitting next to him. I would love to debate that at length. Now the Minister for Police and Emergency Services, both through her portfolio and as the President of the Western Australian branch of the Australian Labor Party, has received allegations from Senator Mark Bishop about vote rigging and potential criminal conduct and corruption in the Labor Party. I would love to debate that! Can we suspend standing orders, member for Rockingham? Why do we not suspend them right now so that we can look at the accountability? I want to know when the Minister for Police and Emergency Services first heard of those allegations from Senator Mark Bishop. When did the Premier know about them? Did the Premier contact the Minister for Police and Emergency Services as the Minister for Police and as the Labor Party president? Did he inquire whether those written, signed allegations were referred by the Minister for Police and Emergency Services to the Police Service and the Corruption and Crime Commission? Did the Premier do that? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT: I have the floor! I will be here for hours! The Premier has given me the floor. Thank you, member for Rockingham for giving me this opportunity. I want to know what the Premier did with Senator Mark Bishop’s allegations. I would be willing to bet that, whether the member for Midland received the allegations as the police minister or as the Labor Party president, those allegations were signed by a prominent person - a senator. I presume a copy of the allegations was sent to at least the Premier, and probably also the Attorney General. What did the Premier do with it? Were the allegations referred to the police? What did the Premier do? Did he refer them to the police? By the silence, we can assume that the Premier did not refer the allegations to the police. By the failure of the Minister for Police and Emergency Services to answer the question or show any inclination of wanting to answer the question, we know that the minister had in her possession - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT: It does not matter whether the Minister for Police and Emergency Services received the allegations as Labor Party president, a Labor member of Parliament, the member for Midland or as the police minister. If she received those written allegations signed by Senator Mark Bishop, she failed to act. She knew they related to corrupt and potentially criminal conduct. She has a responsibility. The minister is a public officer under the Corruption and Crime Commission Act. She is a public person. She is bound, particularly as the Minister for Police and Emergency Services, to act upon them, as is the Premier. The SPEAKER: The Leader of the Opposition has spoken for about five minutes. That is the normal allowable time. I ask that he wind up his answer. Mr C.J. BARNETT: I will wind up my comments. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT: What an extraordinary event we have seen today. The member for Rockingham, as Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier, asked a question on behalf of the Premier about a motion regarding information reported to police, which has been on the Notice Paper for ages. Only five minutes earlier, we saw the Premier and police minister unwilling to react or respond to written allegations by a prominent person, Senator Mark Bishop from Western Australia. The Premier and minister failed to refer the allegations to the police. That is on the public record. Any more questions, member for Rockingham? Perhaps a supplementary question to help me out?
(1)-(5) I have been waiting. It has been a while since I have been asked a question in the House. The motion on the Notice Paper states - That this House condemns the Gallop Labor Government for its failure to govern in the interests of all Western Australians and the failure of its ministers to discharge their duties in an open and accountable manner. It is a fairly good motion. I am sorry that the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure is not here for this debate. The Attorney General decided to hand the Lewandowski affidavit to his cabinet colleague sitting next to him. I would love to debate that at length. Now the Minister for Police and Emergency Services, both through her portfolio and as the President of the Western Australian branch of the Australian Labor Party, has received allegations from Senator Mark Bishop about vote rigging and potential criminal conduct and corruption in the Labor Party. I would love to debate that! Can we suspend standing orders, member for Rockingham? Why do we not suspend them right now so that we can look at the accountability? I want to know when the Minister for Police and Emergency Services first heard of those allegations from Senator Mark Bishop. When did the Premier know about them? Did the Premier contact the Minister for Police and Emergency Services as the Minister for Police and as the Labor Party president? Did he inquire whether those written, signed allegations were referred by the Minister for Police and Emergency Services to the Police Service and the Corruption and Crime Commission? Did the Premier do that? Several members interjected. Mr C.J. BARNETT: I have the floor! I will be here for hours! The Premier has given me the floor. Thank you, member for Rockingham for giving me this opportunity. I want to know what the Premier did with Senator Mark Bishop’s allegations. I would be willing to bet that, whether the member for Midland received the allegations as the police minister or as the Labor Party president, those allegations were signed by a prominent person - a senator. I presume a copy of the allegations was sent to at least the Premier, and probably also the Attorney General. What did the Premier do with it? Were the allegations referred to the police? What did the Premier do? Did he refer them to the police? By the silence, we can assume that the Premier did not refer the allegations to the police. By the failure of the Minister for Police and Emergency Services to answer the question or show any inclination of wanting to answer the question, we know that the minister had in her possession - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT: It does not matter whether the Minister for Police and Emergency Services received the allegations as Labor Party president, a Labor member of Parliament, the member for Midland or as the police minister. If she received those written allegations signed by Senator Mark Bishop, she failed to act. She knew they related to corrupt and potentially criminal conduct. She has a responsibility. The minister is a public officer under the Corruption and Crime Commission Act. She is a public person. She is bound, particularly as the Minister for Police and Emergency Services, to act upon them, as is the Premier. The SPEAKER: The Leader of the Opposition has spoken for about five minutes. That is the normal allowable time. I ask that he wind up his answer. Mr C.J. BARNETT: I will wind up my comments. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT: What an extraordinary event we have seen today. The member for Rockingham, as Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier, asked a question on behalf of the Premier about a motion regarding information reported to police, which has been on the Notice Paper for ages. Only five minutes earlier, we saw the Premier and police minister unwilling to react or respond to written allegations by a prominent person, Senator Mark Bishop from Western Australia. The Premier and minister failed to refer the allegations to the police. That is on the public record. Any more questions, member for Rockingham? Perhaps a supplementary question to help me out?
Mr C.J. BARNETT: I have the floor! I will be here for hours! The Premier has given me the floor. Thank you, member for Rockingham for giving me this opportunity. I want to know what the Premier did with Senator Mark Bishop’s allegations. I would be willing to bet that, whether the member for Midland received the allegations as the police minister or as the Labor Party president, those allegations were signed by a prominent person - a senator. I presume a copy of the allegations was sent to at least the Premier, and probably also the Attorney General. What did the Premier do with it? Were the allegations referred to the police? What did the Premier do? Did he refer them to the police? By the silence, we can assume that the Premier did not refer the allegations to the police. By the failure of the Minister for Police and Emergency Services to answer the question or show any inclination of wanting to answer the question, we know that the minister had in her possession - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT: It does not matter whether the Minister for Police and Emergency Services received the allegations as Labor Party president, a Labor member of Parliament, the member for Midland or as the police minister. If she received those written allegations signed by Senator Mark Bishop, she failed to act. She knew they related to corrupt and potentially criminal conduct. She has a responsibility. The minister is a public officer under the Corruption and Crime Commission Act. She is a public person. She is bound, particularly as the Minister for Police and Emergency Services, to act upon them, as is the Premier. The SPEAKER: The Leader of the Opposition has spoken for about five minutes. That is the normal allowable time. I ask that he wind up his answer. Mr C.J. BARNETT: I will wind up my comments. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT: What an extraordinary event we have seen today. The member for Rockingham, as Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier, asked a question on behalf of the Premier about a motion regarding information reported to police, which has been on the Notice Paper for ages. Only five minutes earlier, we saw the Premier and police minister unwilling to react or respond to written allegations by a prominent person, Senator Mark Bishop from Western Australia. The Premier and minister failed to refer the allegations to the police. That is on the public record. Any more questions, member for Rockingham? Perhaps a supplementary question to help me out?
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT: It does not matter whether the Minister for Police and Emergency Services received the allegations as Labor Party president, a Labor member of Parliament, the member for Midland or as the police minister. If she received those written allegations signed by Senator Mark Bishop, she failed to act. She knew they related to corrupt and potentially criminal conduct. She has a responsibility. The minister is a public officer under the Corruption and Crime Commission Act. She is a public person. She is bound, particularly as the Minister for Police and Emergency Services, to act upon them, as is the Premier. The SPEAKER: The Leader of the Opposition has spoken for about five minutes. That is the normal allowable time. I ask that he wind up his answer. Mr C.J. BARNETT: I will wind up my comments. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT: What an extraordinary event we have seen today. The member for Rockingham, as Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier, asked a question on behalf of the Premier about a motion regarding information reported to police, which has been on the Notice Paper for ages. Only five minutes earlier, we saw the Premier and police minister unwilling to react or respond to written allegations by a prominent person, Senator Mark Bishop from Western Australia. The Premier and minister failed to refer the allegations to the police. That is on the public record. Any more questions, member for Rockingham? Perhaps a supplementary question to help me out?
The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT: It does not matter whether the Minister for Police and Emergency Services received the allegations as Labor Party president, a Labor member of Parliament, the member for Midland or as the police minister. If she received those written allegations signed by Senator Mark Bishop, she failed to act. She knew they related to corrupt and potentially criminal conduct. She has a responsibility. The minister is a public officer under the Corruption and Crime Commission Act. She is a public person. She is bound, particularly as the Minister for Police and Emergency Services, to act upon them, as is the Premier. The SPEAKER: The Leader of the Opposition has spoken for about five minutes. That is the normal allowable time. I ask that he wind up his answer. Mr C.J. BARNETT: I will wind up my comments. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT: What an extraordinary event we have seen today. The member for Rockingham, as Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier, asked a question on behalf of the Premier about a motion regarding information reported to police, which has been on the Notice Paper for ages. Only five minutes earlier, we saw the Premier and police minister unwilling to react or respond to written allegations by a prominent person, Senator Mark Bishop from Western Australia. The Premier and minister failed to refer the allegations to the police. That is on the public record. Any more questions, member for Rockingham? Perhaps a supplementary question to help me out?
Mr C.J. BARNETT: It does not matter whether the Minister for Police and Emergency Services received the allegations as Labor Party president, a Labor member of Parliament, the member for Midland or as the police minister. If she received those written allegations signed by Senator Mark Bishop, she failed to act. She knew they related to corrupt and potentially criminal conduct. She has a responsibility. The minister is a public officer under the Corruption and Crime Commission Act. She is a public person. She is bound, particularly as the Minister for Police and Emergency Services, to act upon them, as is the Premier. The SPEAKER: The Leader of the Opposition has spoken for about five minutes. That is the normal allowable time. I ask that he wind up his answer. Mr C.J. BARNETT: I will wind up my comments. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT: What an extraordinary event we have seen today. The member for Rockingham, as Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier, asked a question on behalf of the Premier about a motion regarding information reported to police, which has been on the Notice Paper for ages. Only five minutes earlier, we saw the Premier and police minister unwilling to react or respond to written allegations by a prominent person, Senator Mark Bishop from Western Australia. The Premier and minister failed to refer the allegations to the police. That is on the public record. Any more questions, member for Rockingham? Perhaps a supplementary question to help me out?
The SPEAKER: The Leader of the Opposition has spoken for about five minutes. That is the normal allowable time. I ask that he wind up his answer. Mr C.J. BARNETT: I will wind up my comments. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT: What an extraordinary event we have seen today. The member for Rockingham, as Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier, asked a question on behalf of the Premier about a motion regarding information reported to police, which has been on the Notice Paper for ages. Only five minutes earlier, we saw the Premier and police minister unwilling to react or respond to written allegations by a prominent person, Senator Mark Bishop from Western Australia. The Premier and minister failed to refer the allegations to the police. That is on the public record. Any more questions, member for Rockingham? Perhaps a supplementary question to help me out?
Mr C.J. BARNETT: I will wind up my comments. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT: What an extraordinary event we have seen today. The member for Rockingham, as Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier, asked a question on behalf of the Premier about a motion regarding information reported to police, which has been on the Notice Paper for ages. Only five minutes earlier, we saw the Premier and police minister unwilling to react or respond to written allegations by a prominent person, Senator Mark Bishop from Western Australia. The Premier and minister failed to refer the allegations to the police. That is on the public record. Any more questions, member for Rockingham? Perhaps a supplementary question to help me out?
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT: What an extraordinary event we have seen today. The member for Rockingham, as Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier, asked a question on behalf of the Premier about a motion regarding information reported to police, which has been on the Notice Paper for ages. Only five minutes earlier, we saw the Premier and police minister unwilling to react or respond to written allegations by a prominent person, Senator Mark Bishop from Western Australia. The Premier and minister failed to refer the allegations to the police. That is on the public record. Any more questions, member for Rockingham? Perhaps a supplementary question to help me out?
The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr C.J. BARNETT: What an extraordinary event we have seen today. The member for Rockingham, as Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier, asked a question on behalf of the Premier about a motion regarding information reported to police, which has been on the Notice Paper for ages. Only five minutes earlier, we saw the Premier and police minister unwilling to react or respond to written allegations by a prominent person, Senator Mark Bishop from Western Australia. The Premier and minister failed to refer the allegations to the police. That is on the public record. Any more questions, member for Rockingham? Perhaps a supplementary question to help me out?
Mr C.J. BARNETT: What an extraordinary event we have seen today. The member for Rockingham, as Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier, asked a question on behalf of the Premier about a motion regarding information reported to police, which has been on the Notice Paper for ages. Only five minutes earlier, we saw the Premier and police minister unwilling to react or respond to written allegations by a prominent person, Senator Mark Bishop from Western Australia. The Premier and minister failed to refer the allegations to the police. That is on the public record. Any more questions, member for Rockingham? Perhaps a supplementary question to help me out?
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