❓ Mrs Roberts questions the Premier about his awareness of the Minister for Police's past transgressions (speeding, cannabis use, unpaid fuel) before her appointment. The Premier defends the Minister, denouncing the questions as a personal attack.
AnsweredQoN 568Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
MINISTER FOR POLICE; ROAD SAFETY
568. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS to the Premier:
My question relates
to the Premier's appointment of the member for Scarborough as Minister
for Police; Road Safety.
(1) Was the Premier aware prior to appointing
the minister that she had previously lost her driver's licence for
speeding offences?
(2) Was the Premier aware prior to appointing
the minister that she had broken the law by smoking cannabis?
(3) Was the Premier
aware prior to appointing the minister —
Several members
interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for Eyre, if you want to ask a question, I advise you to get
to your feet and ask that question. I am going to formally call you to order
for the first time today.
Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : I will continue —
(3) Was the Premier aware prior to appointing
the minister that she had driven off without paying for fuel and then paid for
the fuel only after she came to police notice?
(4) Are there any other matters that the
minister has disclosed to the Premier that may reflect on her suitability to
continue in the role —
Several members
interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members! Member for Murray–Wellington,
I am going to formally call you to order for the first time today. The person
on their feet is entitled to ask the question. Members may have different
opinions about the question or the answer to the question, but the member on
their feet is the only person I have given the call to.
Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : Finally —
(4) Are there any other matters that the
minister has disclosed to the Premier that may reflect on her suitability to
continue in the role as Minister for Police or Minister for Road Safety?
568. Mrs M.H. ROBERTS to the Premier:
My question relates
to the Premier's appointment of the member for Scarborough as Minister
for Police; Road Safety.
(1) Was the Premier aware prior to appointing
the minister that she had previously lost her driver's licence for
speeding offences?
(2) Was the Premier aware prior to appointing
the minister that she had broken the law by smoking cannabis?
(3) Was the Premier
aware prior to appointing the minister —
Several members
interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for Eyre, if you want to ask a question, I advise you to get
to your feet and ask that question. I am going to formally call you to order
for the first time today.
Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : I will continue —
(3) Was the Premier aware prior to appointing
the minister that she had driven off without paying for fuel and then paid for
the fuel only after she came to police notice?
(4) Are there any other matters that the
minister has disclosed to the Premier that may reflect on her suitability to
continue in the role —
Several members
interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members! Member for Murray–Wellington,
I am going to formally call you to order for the first time today. The person
on their feet is entitled to ask the question. Members may have different
opinions about the question or the answer to the question, but the member on
their feet is the only person I have given the call to.
Mrs M.H. ROBERTS : Finally —
(4) Are there any other matters that the
minister has disclosed to the Premier that may reflect on her suitability to
continue in the role as Minister for Police or Minister for Road Safety?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(4) I have been in this house for
a long time; some might say too long. I have witnessed some pretty full-on
debates, around WA Inc —
Several members
interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen!
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have seen a lot over those 22 years, but
never have I seen a member stand in this house with an attempt at personal —
Several members
interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members! Member for Cockburn, I formally call you to order for the
second time today.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have never heard a member of this house
get up and make such a personal attack on the integrity of a member of
Parliament.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : I think we have some more business in front of the house today,
members. If you would like me to move to that business, I can do that. My
priority would be to deal with the questions in question time. None of you is
helping with that—member for Midland.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, a lot of things can be said in this
house but rarely—I cannot remember an example like this when an
experienced member of Parliament, a former minister —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for Collie–Preston and member for Albany, I formally
call you both to order for the first time today.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : An experienced member of Parliament, a
former minister, has come in here with a personal attack of that nature,
predetermined and planned in concert, no doubt, with the Leader of the
Opposition.
Several members
interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, I formally call you to order for the first
time today. Member for Collie–Preston, I formally call you to order for
the second time today. Minister for Police, I call you to order for the first
time today. The only person who has the call is the Premier. No-one else has
the call.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : The accusation is that the Minister for
Police lost her driver's licence. She has just told me that, yes, she
did, in her 20s.
Mrs M.H. Roberts : It is about your awareness.
The SPEAKER : Member for Midland!
Mr C.J. BARNETT : You have made your comment. The Minister
for Police, yes —
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for
Girrawheen! There is business in front of this house after question time. Some
of you may be attempting to leave early. I might not give you that pleasure. I
might give you that pleasure, member for Girrawheen.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Minister for Police lost her driver's
licence in her 20s. In her first press conference as Minister for Police, she
made the admission that as, I presume, a teenager she had tried cannabis. Has
anyone else here done that? Anyone? No? Let us be realistic. Now the member for
Midland has made an accusation about fuel. I am sure the Minister for Police
will comment on that.
Mrs M.H. Roberts : Are you saying that you are unaware of
that?
The SPEAKER : Member for Midland!
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have always quite liked the member for
Midland in politics, in a funny sort of way.
Several members
interjected.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have; we have got on quite well. What the
member for Midland has done is inexcusable and unforgivable. It is unforgivable
to walk in here and attack a person in that way. I want to make it absolutely
clear that I think the member for Scarborough and Minister for Police is an
outstanding person, a great member of Parliament and a very fine police
minister. Members on this side of the house will stand side by side with her
against accusations like that. You should know better!
a long time; some might say too long. I have witnessed some pretty full-on
debates, around WA Inc —
Several members
interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen!
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have seen a lot over those 22 years, but
never have I seen a member stand in this house with an attempt at personal —
Several members
interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members! Member for Cockburn, I formally call you to order for the
second time today.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have never heard a member of this house
get up and make such a personal attack on the integrity of a member of
Parliament.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : I think we have some more business in front of the house today,
members. If you would like me to move to that business, I can do that. My
priority would be to deal with the questions in question time. None of you is
helping with that—member for Midland.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Yes, a lot of things can be said in this
house but rarely—I cannot remember an example like this when an
experienced member of Parliament, a former minister —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for Collie–Preston and member for Albany, I formally
call you both to order for the first time today.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : An experienced member of Parliament, a
former minister, has come in here with a personal attack of that nature,
predetermined and planned in concert, no doubt, with the Leader of the
Opposition.
Several members
interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for Girrawheen, I formally call you to order for the first
time today. Member for Collie–Preston, I formally call you to order for
the second time today. Minister for Police, I call you to order for the first
time today. The only person who has the call is the Premier. No-one else has
the call.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : The accusation is that the Minister for
Police lost her driver's licence. She has just told me that, yes, she
did, in her 20s.
Mrs M.H. Roberts : It is about your awareness.
The SPEAKER : Member for Midland!
Mr C.J. BARNETT : You have made your comment. The Minister
for Police, yes —
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for
Girrawheen! There is business in front of this house after question time. Some
of you may be attempting to leave early. I might not give you that pleasure. I
might give you that pleasure, member for Girrawheen.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Minister for Police lost her driver's
licence in her 20s. In her first press conference as Minister for Police, she
made the admission that as, I presume, a teenager she had tried cannabis. Has
anyone else here done that? Anyone? No? Let us be realistic. Now the member for
Midland has made an accusation about fuel. I am sure the Minister for Police
will comment on that.
Mrs M.H. Roberts : Are you saying that you are unaware of
that?
The SPEAKER : Member for Midland!
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have always quite liked the member for
Midland in politics, in a funny sort of way.
Several members
interjected.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I have; we have got on quite well. What the
member for Midland has done is inexcusable and unforgivable. It is unforgivable
to walk in here and attack a person in that way. I want to make it absolutely
clear that I think the member for Scarborough and Minister for Police is an
outstanding person, a great member of Parliament and a very fine police
minister. Members on this side of the house will stand side by side with her
against accusations like that. You should know better!
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