❓ The Leader of the Opposition, Dr. Nahan, questions the Premier about his department's advice on Huawei's national security concerns regarding government contracts. The Premier avoids a direct 'yes' or 'no' answer, leading to a heated exchange and accusations of breached confidence.
AnsweredQoN 535Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS — HUAWEI
535. Dr M.D. NAHAN to the Premier:
I have a supplementary question. Does the Premier
categorically rule out any knowledge of his department's—the
Department of the Premier and Cabinet—advice on Huawei's
national security concerns regarding the automatic train control system and the
public safety broadcast network: yes or no?
535. Dr M.D. NAHAN to the Premier:
I have a supplementary question. Does the Premier
categorically rule out any knowledge of his department's—the
Department of the Premier and Cabinet—advice on Huawei's
national security concerns regarding the automatic train control system and the
public safety broadcast network: yes or no?
AnswerView source ↗
I will spell it out to the Leader of the Opposition as simply
as I can —
Dr M.D. Nahan : Yes or no?
Mr M. McGOWAN : I know the Leader of the Opposition
does not read things, so I will explain it to him verbally. I know he does not
read newspapers, so I will explain it to him verbally.
Several members interjected.
Mr M. McGOWAN : The Leader of the Opposition does not
listen to the radio either, so I am not sure whether verbal communication works
either! I will explain it to the Leader of the Opposition as clearly as I can.
We received correspondence from the Department of Home Affairs saying it did
not have security concerns. Was that in response to a letter from a state
government agency? I do not know.
Dr M.D. Nahan : It was a letter from your department to
them.
Mr M. McGOWAN : Did one of the Leader of the Opposition's
staff photograph this in a private briefing? Is that what he is saying?
Dr M.D. Nahan : No.
Mr M. McGOWAN : You said yes.
Dr M.D. Nahan : No, I did not.
The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I call you to
order for the second time.
Mr M. McGOWAN : You reveal what occurred, but I think
there has been a major breach of confidence by the state Liberal Party here in
some of your conduct.
Dr M.D. Nahan : About what?
You said you don't have the correspondence.
Mr M. McGOWAN : I was not at
the briefing —
Dr M.D. Nahan : You said you
don't have the correspondence—how could we breach it?
The SPEAKER : Leader of the
Opposition, I call you to order for the third time.
Mr M. McGOWAN : You are white-anting
the state's security interests. You do not —
Mrs A.K. Hayden : Answer the
question!
Mr M. McGOWAN : Yesterday, the
member for Darling Range made the most appalling speech I have ever heard in
here. I do not think she should speak too much.
If the Leader of the Opposition
wants to reveal what he is referring to, reveal it. All I can say is that we
received advice from Home Affairs and verbal advice from the Australian
Security Intelligence Organisation. They told us it was not a security concern.
If the Leader of the Opposition has contrary information, give it to us.
as I can —
Dr M.D. Nahan : Yes or no?
Mr M. McGOWAN : I know the Leader of the Opposition
does not read things, so I will explain it to him verbally. I know he does not
read newspapers, so I will explain it to him verbally.
Several members interjected.
Mr M. McGOWAN : The Leader of the Opposition does not
listen to the radio either, so I am not sure whether verbal communication works
either! I will explain it to the Leader of the Opposition as clearly as I can.
We received correspondence from the Department of Home Affairs saying it did
not have security concerns. Was that in response to a letter from a state
government agency? I do not know.
Dr M.D. Nahan : It was a letter from your department to
them.
Mr M. McGOWAN : Did one of the Leader of the Opposition's
staff photograph this in a private briefing? Is that what he is saying?
Dr M.D. Nahan : No.
Mr M. McGOWAN : You said yes.
Dr M.D. Nahan : No, I did not.
The SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition, I call you to
order for the second time.
Mr M. McGOWAN : You reveal what occurred, but I think
there has been a major breach of confidence by the state Liberal Party here in
some of your conduct.
Dr M.D. Nahan : About what?
You said you don't have the correspondence.
Mr M. McGOWAN : I was not at
the briefing —
Dr M.D. Nahan : You said you
don't have the correspondence—how could we breach it?
The SPEAKER : Leader of the
Opposition, I call you to order for the third time.
Mr M. McGOWAN : You are white-anting
the state's security interests. You do not —
Mrs A.K. Hayden : Answer the
question!
Mr M. McGOWAN : Yesterday, the
member for Darling Range made the most appalling speech I have ever heard in
here. I do not think she should speak too much.
If the Leader of the Opposition
wants to reveal what he is referring to, reveal it. All I can say is that we
received advice from Home Affairs and verbal advice from the Australian
Security Intelligence Organisation. They told us it was not a security concern.
If the Leader of the Opposition has contrary information, give it to us.
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