A parliamentary question regarding a drink-driving offence by the member for Collie-Wellington and whether the Minister and Premier were informed, suggesting a cover-up to avoid embarrassment during the Road Traffic Amendment Bill debate. The Minister denies being informed and dismisses the question as a conspiracy theory.

AnsweredQoN 378Legislative Assembly
Asked
16 August 2007
Portfolio
Police and Emergency Services

QuestionView source ↗

MEMBER FOR COLLIE-WELLINGTON - DRINK-DRIVING OFFENCE
Mr Speaker, I seek your indulgence in allowing me to acknowledge the year 11 political and legal studies students and teachers from Frederick Irwin Anglican School and senior residents from Settlers Lakeside Village in Ravenswood, both in the Murray electorate, who are here today. I refer to the member for Collie-Wellington’s serious drink-driving offence. (1) Did the police commissioner or any senior police officer report this offence to the minister; and, if yes, on what date? If so, did the minister or any of his staff then report the offence to the Premier or to any of his staff? Mr P.B. Watson interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : This is serious, my friend. My question continues - If yes, on what date? (2) Was the delay between the time the minister and/or the Premier found out about the member’s offence and the time he made his statement to Parliament yesterday designed to avoid embarrassment to the Carpenter government as it debated the Road Traffic Amendment Bill (No. 2) 2007, which deals with road safety and drink driving? Mr J.C. KOBELKE

AnswerView source ↗

(1)-(2) The conspiracy theory contained within the question indicates why the opposition has a problem in getting any traction in the electorate: it simply does not deal with the issues. Was I informed of this matter by the police? The answer is no. Did I then inform the Premier of something that I did not know? No. Therefore, the further question is irrelevant.
I refer to the member for Collie-Wellington’s serious drink-driving offence. (1) Did the police commissioner or any senior police officer report this offence to the minister; and, if yes, on what date? If so, did the minister or any of his staff then report the offence to the Premier or to any of his staff? Mr P.B. Watson interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : This is serious, my friend. My question continues - If yes, on what date? (2) Was the delay between the time the minister and/or the Premier found out about the member’s offence and the time he made his statement to Parliament yesterday designed to avoid embarrassment to the Carpenter government as it debated the Road Traffic Amendment Bill (No. 2) 2007, which deals with road safety and drink driving? Mr J.C. KOBELKE replied: (1)-(2) The conspiracy theory contained within the question indicates why the opposition has a problem in getting any traction in the electorate: it simply does not deal with the issues. Was I informed of this matter by the police? The answer is no. Did I then inform the Premier of something that I did not know? No. Therefore, the further question is irrelevant.
(1) Did the police commissioner or any senior police officer report this offence to the minister; and, if yes, on what date? If so, did the minister or any of his staff then report the offence to the Premier or to any of his staff? Mr P.B. Watson interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : This is serious, my friend. My question continues - If yes, on what date? (2) Was the delay between the time the minister and/or the Premier found out about the member’s offence and the time he made his statement to Parliament yesterday designed to avoid embarrassment to the Carpenter government as it debated the Road Traffic Amendment Bill (No. 2) 2007, which deals with road safety and drink driving? Mr J.C. KOBELKE replied: (1)-(2) The conspiracy theory contained within the question indicates why the opposition has a problem in getting any traction in the electorate: it simply does not deal with the issues. Was I informed of this matter by the police? The answer is no. Did I then inform the Premier of something that I did not know? No. Therefore, the further question is irrelevant.
Mr P.B. Watson interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : This is serious, my friend. My question continues - If yes, on what date? (2) Was the delay between the time the minister and/or the Premier found out about the member’s offence and the time he made his statement to Parliament yesterday designed to avoid embarrassment to the Carpenter government as it debated the Road Traffic Amendment Bill (No. 2) 2007, which deals with road safety and drink driving? Mr J.C. KOBELKE replied: (1)-(2) The conspiracy theory contained within the question indicates why the opposition has a problem in getting any traction in the electorate: it simply does not deal with the issues. Was I informed of this matter by the police? The answer is no. Did I then inform the Premier of something that I did not know? No. Therefore, the further question is irrelevant.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : This is serious, my friend. My question continues - If yes, on what date? (2) Was the delay between the time the minister and/or the Premier found out about the member’s offence and the time he made his statement to Parliament yesterday designed to avoid embarrassment to the Carpenter government as it debated the Road Traffic Amendment Bill (No. 2) 2007, which deals with road safety and drink driving? Mr J.C. KOBELKE replied: (1)-(2) The conspiracy theory contained within the question indicates why the opposition has a problem in getting any traction in the electorate: it simply does not deal with the issues. Was I informed of this matter by the police? The answer is no. Did I then inform the Premier of something that I did not know? No. Therefore, the further question is irrelevant.
Mr J.C. KOBELKE replied: (1)-(2) The conspiracy theory contained within the question indicates why the opposition has a problem in getting any traction in the electorate: it simply does not deal with the issues. Was I informed of this matter by the police? The answer is no. Did I then inform the Premier of something that I did not know? No. Therefore, the further question is irrelevant.
(1)-(2) The conspiracy theory contained within the question indicates why the opposition has a problem in getting any traction in the electorate: it simply does not deal with the issues. Was I informed of this matter by the police? The answer is no. Did I then inform the Premier of something that I did not know? No. Therefore, the further question is irrelevant.

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