❓ The Leader of the Opposition questions the government's commitment to investors affected by the finance brokers scandal, while the Premier defends the government's actions and accuses the opposition of inaction on the issue when they were in power.
AnsweredQoN 67Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
FINANCE BROKERS, STATE’S LIABILITY
I refer to the Government’s failure to abide by its pre-election promise to investors caught out by the mortgage brokers situation. (1) Given that investors are saying that the Attorney General pledged unequivocally, and in an unqualified way, to support legal action to determine the State’s liability, will the Government now honour its commitment to investors? (2) If not, what will it take for the Government to honour its promise? Dr GALLOP
I refer to the Government’s failure to abide by its pre-election promise to investors caught out by the mortgage brokers situation. (1) Given that investors are saying that the Attorney General pledged unequivocally, and in an unqualified way, to support legal action to determine the State’s liability, will the Government now honour its commitment to investors? (2) If not, what will it take for the Government to honour its promise? Dr GALLOP
AnswerView source ↗
(1)-(2) I find it extraordinary that the Leader of the Opposition - a member of the previous coalition Cabinet - should raise this issue in Parliament today. The Labor Government is carrying out all of the promises it gave to the investors who are the victims of the finance brokers scandal in Western Australia. The Attorney General went to a meeting with the victims of the finance broking scandal last Friday and went through each of the points. It is quite clear that the Government is fulfilling its commitments in this matter, but it will not go further than it said it would go during the election campaign. Let me make a very important point about funding a case against the State - in other words the taxpayers of Western Australia - as the Leader of the Opposition is advocating. The Government’s position is clear: the Government will fund on a merit basis civil action taken against those persons within the industry who are responsible for investors losing their money. If in the process of those court cases it was determined that the State was liable, we would meet our responsibility. I remind the Leader of the Opposition of what would have been at stake if we had gone further than that: the whole question of the amount of money that may be required would have had to be put into the calculations of the election. However, another point needs to be made. Is the Leader of the Opposition aware that if we had been committed to that course of action, there would have been no alternative but to hold an inquiry into the past Cabinet and what every member did and did not do? I made it clear that the responsibility issue vis-a-vis the past Cabinet would be handled very well by the people of Western Australia. We gave the electors of Alfred Cove a special opportunity to play a role in that accountability process. The Australian Labor Party said, “These are political accountabilities that have to be dealt with. You have your choice in the election; and, what is more, we will give you an added choice: you in the seat of Alfred Cove can send a message to the previous minister as to what you think on this matter.” Members opposite sat on their hands while investors lost their money. In 1998, these issues were brought into the Parliament. In 1999, these issues were brought into the Parliament. Members opposite sat on their hands and did nothing about it. The people of Alfred Cove have cast their judgment on the coalition parties and on the former Minister for Fair Trading. The current Attorney General and the current Minister for Consumer Affairs are carrying out to the letter all the promises that the Labor Party made in the election campaign.
(1) Given that investors are saying that the Attorney General pledged unequivocally, and in an unqualified way, to support legal action to determine the State’s liability, will the Government now honour its commitment to investors? (2) If not, what will it take for the Government to honour its promise? Dr GALLOP replied: (1)-(2) I find it extraordinary that the Leader of the Opposition - a member of the previous coalition Cabinet - should raise this issue in Parliament today. The Labor Government is carrying out all of the promises it gave to the investors who are the victims of the finance brokers scandal in Western Australia. The Attorney General went to a meeting with the victims of the finance broking scandal last Friday and went through each of the points. It is quite clear that the Government is fulfilling its commitments in this matter, but it will not go further than it said it would go during the election campaign. Let me make a very important point about funding a case against the State - in other words the taxpayers of Western Australia - as the Leader of the Opposition is advocating. The Government’s position is clear: the Government will fund on a merit basis civil action taken against those persons within the industry who are responsible for investors losing their money. If in the process of those court cases it was determined that the State was liable, we would meet our responsibility. I remind the Leader of the Opposition of what would have been at stake if we had gone further than that: the whole question of the amount of money that may be required would have had to be put into the calculations of the election. However, another point needs to be made. Is the Leader of the Opposition aware that if we had been committed to that course of action, there would have been no alternative but to hold an inquiry into the past Cabinet and what every member did and did not do? I made it clear that the responsibility issue vis-a-vis the past Cabinet would be handled very well by the people of Western Australia. We gave the electors of Alfred Cove a special opportunity to play a role in that accountability process. The Australian Labor Party said, “These are political accountabilities that have to be dealt with. You have your choice in the election; and, what is more, we will give you an added choice: you in the seat of Alfred Cove can send a message to the previous minister as to what you think on this matter.” Members opposite sat on their hands while investors lost their money. In 1998, these issues were brought into the Parliament. In 1999, these issues were brought into the Parliament. Members opposite sat on their hands and did nothing about it. The people of Alfred Cove have cast their judgment on the coalition parties and on the former Minister for Fair Trading. The current Attorney General and the current Minister for Consumer Affairs are carrying out to the letter all the promises that the Labor Party made in the election campaign.
(2) If not, what will it take for the Government to honour its promise? Dr GALLOP replied: (1)-(2) I find it extraordinary that the Leader of the Opposition - a member of the previous coalition Cabinet - should raise this issue in Parliament today. The Labor Government is carrying out all of the promises it gave to the investors who are the victims of the finance brokers scandal in Western Australia. The Attorney General went to a meeting with the victims of the finance broking scandal last Friday and went through each of the points. It is quite clear that the Government is fulfilling its commitments in this matter, but it will not go further than it said it would go during the election campaign. Let me make a very important point about funding a case against the State - in other words the taxpayers of Western Australia - as the Leader of the Opposition is advocating. The Government’s position is clear: the Government will fund on a merit basis civil action taken against those persons within the industry who are responsible for investors losing their money. If in the process of those court cases it was determined that the State was liable, we would meet our responsibility. I remind the Leader of the Opposition of what would have been at stake if we had gone further than that: the whole question of the amount of money that may be required would have had to be put into the calculations of the election. However, another point needs to be made. Is the Leader of the Opposition aware that if we had been committed to that course of action, there would have been no alternative but to hold an inquiry into the past Cabinet and what every member did and did not do? I made it clear that the responsibility issue vis-a-vis the past Cabinet would be handled very well by the people of Western Australia. We gave the electors of Alfred Cove a special opportunity to play a role in that accountability process. The Australian Labor Party said, “These are political accountabilities that have to be dealt with. You have your choice in the election; and, what is more, we will give you an added choice: you in the seat of Alfred Cove can send a message to the previous minister as to what you think on this matter.” Members opposite sat on their hands while investors lost their money. In 1998, these issues were brought into the Parliament. In 1999, these issues were brought into the Parliament. Members opposite sat on their hands and did nothing about it. The people of Alfred Cove have cast their judgment on the coalition parties and on the former Minister for Fair Trading. The current Attorney General and the current Minister for Consumer Affairs are carrying out to the letter all the promises that the Labor Party made in the election campaign.
Dr GALLOP replied: (1)-(2) I find it extraordinary that the Leader of the Opposition - a member of the previous coalition Cabinet - should raise this issue in Parliament today. The Labor Government is carrying out all of the promises it gave to the investors who are the victims of the finance brokers scandal in Western Australia. The Attorney General went to a meeting with the victims of the finance broking scandal last Friday and went through each of the points. It is quite clear that the Government is fulfilling its commitments in this matter, but it will not go further than it said it would go during the election campaign. Let me make a very important point about funding a case against the State - in other words the taxpayers of Western Australia - as the Leader of the Opposition is advocating. The Government’s position is clear: the Government will fund on a merit basis civil action taken against those persons within the industry who are responsible for investors losing their money. If in the process of those court cases it was determined that the State was liable, we would meet our responsibility. I remind the Leader of the Opposition of what would have been at stake if we had gone further than that: the whole question of the amount of money that may be required would have had to be put into the calculations of the election. However, another point needs to be made. Is the Leader of the Opposition aware that if we had been committed to that course of action, there would have been no alternative but to hold an inquiry into the past Cabinet and what every member did and did not do? I made it clear that the responsibility issue vis-a-vis the past Cabinet would be handled very well by the people of Western Australia. We gave the electors of Alfred Cove a special opportunity to play a role in that accountability process. The Australian Labor Party said, “These are political accountabilities that have to be dealt with. You have your choice in the election; and, what is more, we will give you an added choice: you in the seat of Alfred Cove can send a message to the previous minister as to what you think on this matter.” Members opposite sat on their hands while investors lost their money. In 1998, these issues were brought into the Parliament. In 1999, these issues were brought into the Parliament. Members opposite sat on their hands and did nothing about it. The people of Alfred Cove have cast their judgment on the coalition parties and on the former Minister for Fair Trading. The current Attorney General and the current Minister for Consumer Affairs are carrying out to the letter all the promises that the Labor Party made in the election campaign.
(1)-(2) I find it extraordinary that the Leader of the Opposition - a member of the previous coalition Cabinet - should raise this issue in Parliament today. The Labor Government is carrying out all of the promises it gave to the investors who are the victims of the finance brokers scandal in Western Australia. The Attorney General went to a meeting with the victims of the finance broking scandal last Friday and went through each of the points. It is quite clear that the Government is fulfilling its commitments in this matter, but it will not go further than it said it would go during the election campaign. Let me make a very important point about funding a case against the State - in other words the taxpayers of Western Australia - as the Leader of the Opposition is advocating. The Government’s position is clear: the Government will fund on a merit basis civil action taken against those persons within the industry who are responsible for investors losing their money. If in the process of those court cases it was determined that the State was liable, we would meet our responsibility. I remind the Leader of the Opposition of what would have been at stake if we had gone further than that: the whole question of the amount of money that may be required would have had to be put into the calculations of the election. However, another point needs to be made. Is the Leader of the Opposition aware that if we had been committed to that course of action, there would have been no alternative but to hold an inquiry into the past Cabinet and what every member did and did not do? I made it clear that the responsibility issue vis-a-vis the past Cabinet would be handled very well by the people of Western Australia. We gave the electors of Alfred Cove a special opportunity to play a role in that accountability process. The Australian Labor Party said, “These are political accountabilities that have to be dealt with. You have your choice in the election; and, what is more, we will give you an added choice: you in the seat of Alfred Cove can send a message to the previous minister as to what you think on this matter.” Members opposite sat on their hands while investors lost their money. In 1998, these issues were brought into the Parliament. In 1999, these issues were brought into the Parliament. Members opposite sat on their hands and did nothing about it. The people of Alfred Cove have cast their judgment on the coalition parties and on the former Minister for Fair Trading. The current Attorney General and the current Minister for Consumer Affairs are carrying out to the letter all the promises that the Labor Party made in the election campaign.
Members opposite sat on their hands while investors lost their money. In 1998, these issues were brought into the Parliament. In 1999, these issues were brought into the Parliament. Members opposite sat on their hands and did nothing about it. The people of Alfred Cove have cast their judgment on the coalition parties and on the former Minister for Fair Trading. The current Attorney General and the current Minister for Consumer Affairs are carrying out to the letter all the promises that the Labor Party made in the election campaign.
(1) Given that investors are saying that the Attorney General pledged unequivocally, and in an unqualified way, to support legal action to determine the State’s liability, will the Government now honour its commitment to investors? (2) If not, what will it take for the Government to honour its promise? Dr GALLOP replied: (1)-(2) I find it extraordinary that the Leader of the Opposition - a member of the previous coalition Cabinet - should raise this issue in Parliament today. The Labor Government is carrying out all of the promises it gave to the investors who are the victims of the finance brokers scandal in Western Australia. The Attorney General went to a meeting with the victims of the finance broking scandal last Friday and went through each of the points. It is quite clear that the Government is fulfilling its commitments in this matter, but it will not go further than it said it would go during the election campaign. Let me make a very important point about funding a case against the State - in other words the taxpayers of Western Australia - as the Leader of the Opposition is advocating. The Government’s position is clear: the Government will fund on a merit basis civil action taken against those persons within the industry who are responsible for investors losing their money. If in the process of those court cases it was determined that the State was liable, we would meet our responsibility. I remind the Leader of the Opposition of what would have been at stake if we had gone further than that: the whole question of the amount of money that may be required would have had to be put into the calculations of the election. However, another point needs to be made. Is the Leader of the Opposition aware that if we had been committed to that course of action, there would have been no alternative but to hold an inquiry into the past Cabinet and what every member did and did not do? I made it clear that the responsibility issue vis-a-vis the past Cabinet would be handled very well by the people of Western Australia. We gave the electors of Alfred Cove a special opportunity to play a role in that accountability process. The Australian Labor Party said, “These are political accountabilities that have to be dealt with. You have your choice in the election; and, what is more, we will give you an added choice: you in the seat of Alfred Cove can send a message to the previous minister as to what you think on this matter.” Members opposite sat on their hands while investors lost their money. In 1998, these issues were brought into the Parliament. In 1999, these issues were brought into the Parliament. Members opposite sat on their hands and did nothing about it. The people of Alfred Cove have cast their judgment on the coalition parties and on the former Minister for Fair Trading. The current Attorney General and the current Minister for Consumer Affairs are carrying out to the letter all the promises that the Labor Party made in the election campaign.
(2) If not, what will it take for the Government to honour its promise? Dr GALLOP replied: (1)-(2) I find it extraordinary that the Leader of the Opposition - a member of the previous coalition Cabinet - should raise this issue in Parliament today. The Labor Government is carrying out all of the promises it gave to the investors who are the victims of the finance brokers scandal in Western Australia. The Attorney General went to a meeting with the victims of the finance broking scandal last Friday and went through each of the points. It is quite clear that the Government is fulfilling its commitments in this matter, but it will not go further than it said it would go during the election campaign. Let me make a very important point about funding a case against the State - in other words the taxpayers of Western Australia - as the Leader of the Opposition is advocating. The Government’s position is clear: the Government will fund on a merit basis civil action taken against those persons within the industry who are responsible for investors losing their money. If in the process of those court cases it was determined that the State was liable, we would meet our responsibility. I remind the Leader of the Opposition of what would have been at stake if we had gone further than that: the whole question of the amount of money that may be required would have had to be put into the calculations of the election. However, another point needs to be made. Is the Leader of the Opposition aware that if we had been committed to that course of action, there would have been no alternative but to hold an inquiry into the past Cabinet and what every member did and did not do? I made it clear that the responsibility issue vis-a-vis the past Cabinet would be handled very well by the people of Western Australia. We gave the electors of Alfred Cove a special opportunity to play a role in that accountability process. The Australian Labor Party said, “These are political accountabilities that have to be dealt with. You have your choice in the election; and, what is more, we will give you an added choice: you in the seat of Alfred Cove can send a message to the previous minister as to what you think on this matter.” Members opposite sat on their hands while investors lost their money. In 1998, these issues were brought into the Parliament. In 1999, these issues were brought into the Parliament. Members opposite sat on their hands and did nothing about it. The people of Alfred Cove have cast their judgment on the coalition parties and on the former Minister for Fair Trading. The current Attorney General and the current Minister for Consumer Affairs are carrying out to the letter all the promises that the Labor Party made in the election campaign.
Dr GALLOP replied: (1)-(2) I find it extraordinary that the Leader of the Opposition - a member of the previous coalition Cabinet - should raise this issue in Parliament today. The Labor Government is carrying out all of the promises it gave to the investors who are the victims of the finance brokers scandal in Western Australia. The Attorney General went to a meeting with the victims of the finance broking scandal last Friday and went through each of the points. It is quite clear that the Government is fulfilling its commitments in this matter, but it will not go further than it said it would go during the election campaign. Let me make a very important point about funding a case against the State - in other words the taxpayers of Western Australia - as the Leader of the Opposition is advocating. The Government’s position is clear: the Government will fund on a merit basis civil action taken against those persons within the industry who are responsible for investors losing their money. If in the process of those court cases it was determined that the State was liable, we would meet our responsibility. I remind the Leader of the Opposition of what would have been at stake if we had gone further than that: the whole question of the amount of money that may be required would have had to be put into the calculations of the election. However, another point needs to be made. Is the Leader of the Opposition aware that if we had been committed to that course of action, there would have been no alternative but to hold an inquiry into the past Cabinet and what every member did and did not do? I made it clear that the responsibility issue vis-a-vis the past Cabinet would be handled very well by the people of Western Australia. We gave the electors of Alfred Cove a special opportunity to play a role in that accountability process. The Australian Labor Party said, “These are political accountabilities that have to be dealt with. You have your choice in the election; and, what is more, we will give you an added choice: you in the seat of Alfred Cove can send a message to the previous minister as to what you think on this matter.” Members opposite sat on their hands while investors lost their money. In 1998, these issues were brought into the Parliament. In 1999, these issues were brought into the Parliament. Members opposite sat on their hands and did nothing about it. The people of Alfred Cove have cast their judgment on the coalition parties and on the former Minister for Fair Trading. The current Attorney General and the current Minister for Consumer Affairs are carrying out to the letter all the promises that the Labor Party made in the election campaign.
(1)-(2) I find it extraordinary that the Leader of the Opposition - a member of the previous coalition Cabinet - should raise this issue in Parliament today. The Labor Government is carrying out all of the promises it gave to the investors who are the victims of the finance brokers scandal in Western Australia. The Attorney General went to a meeting with the victims of the finance broking scandal last Friday and went through each of the points. It is quite clear that the Government is fulfilling its commitments in this matter, but it will not go further than it said it would go during the election campaign. Let me make a very important point about funding a case against the State - in other words the taxpayers of Western Australia - as the Leader of the Opposition is advocating. The Government’s position is clear: the Government will fund on a merit basis civil action taken against those persons within the industry who are responsible for investors losing their money. If in the process of those court cases it was determined that the State was liable, we would meet our responsibility. I remind the Leader of the Opposition of what would have been at stake if we had gone further than that: the whole question of the amount of money that may be required would have had to be put into the calculations of the election. However, another point needs to be made. Is the Leader of the Opposition aware that if we had been committed to that course of action, there would have been no alternative but to hold an inquiry into the past Cabinet and what every member did and did not do? I made it clear that the responsibility issue vis-a-vis the past Cabinet would be handled very well by the people of Western Australia. We gave the electors of Alfred Cove a special opportunity to play a role in that accountability process. The Australian Labor Party said, “These are political accountabilities that have to be dealt with. You have your choice in the election; and, what is more, we will give you an added choice: you in the seat of Alfred Cove can send a message to the previous minister as to what you think on this matter.” Members opposite sat on their hands while investors lost their money. In 1998, these issues were brought into the Parliament. In 1999, these issues were brought into the Parliament. Members opposite sat on their hands and did nothing about it. The people of Alfred Cove have cast their judgment on the coalition parties and on the former Minister for Fair Trading. The current Attorney General and the current Minister for Consumer Affairs are carrying out to the letter all the promises that the Labor Party made in the election campaign.
Members opposite sat on their hands while investors lost their money. In 1998, these issues were brought into the Parliament. In 1999, these issues were brought into the Parliament. Members opposite sat on their hands and did nothing about it. The people of Alfred Cove have cast their judgment on the coalition parties and on the former Minister for Fair Trading. The current Attorney General and the current Minister for Consumer Affairs are carrying out to the letter all the promises that the Labor Party made in the election campaign.
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