❓ A parliamentary question probes the Attorney General's potential conflict of interest regarding the Westrail freight sale, given his directorship in companies possibly holding Wesfarmers shares. The Attorney General denies any pecuniary interest, dismissing the concern as far-fetched.
AnsweredQoN 478Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
(1) Did the Attorney General participate in any Cabinet deliberation on the sale of Westrail freight? (2) Can the Attorney General confirm that he is a director of Cadogan Estates (Australia) Pty Ltd and Chelsea Land Management and Investment Co. (Australia) Pty Ltd, and that both these companies had shares in Wesfarmers when Cabinet deliberated on the sale of Westrail freight? (3) Did the Attorney General declare his involvement in these companies to the Premier? Hon PETER FOSS
AnswerView source ↗
(1)-(3) I am a director of Cadogan Estates. That company may or may not hold shares in Wesfarmers; however, I have no interest in Cadogan Estates and have no pecuniary interest in Wesfarmers. If ever a long bow were drawn, that would be one. I happen to be a Western Australian too. Did the member know that? Western Australians have some interest in having a rail system in Western Australia. I proudly declare that I have an interest in the rail system in Western Australia, along with every other Western Australian. The day the member tries to prove to me that being a director of a company, which may have shares, is having a pecuniary interest, he will have rocks in his head. Hon G.T. Giffard: You have a pecuniary interest in traffic fines too. Hon PETER FOSS: True.
(2) Can the Attorney General confirm that he is a director of Cadogan Estates (Australia) Pty Ltd and Chelsea Land Management and Investment Co. (Australia) Pty Ltd, and that both these companies had shares in Wesfarmers when Cabinet deliberated on the sale of Westrail freight? (3) Did the Attorney General declare his involvement in these companies to the Premier? Hon PETER FOSS replied: (1)-(3) I am a director of Cadogan Estates. That company may or may not hold shares in Wesfarmers; however, I have no interest in Cadogan Estates and have no pecuniary interest in Wesfarmers. If ever a long bow were drawn, that would be one. I happen to be a Western Australian too. Did the member know that? Western Australians have some interest in having a rail system in Western Australia. I proudly declare that I have an interest in the rail system in Western Australia, along with every other Western Australian. The day the member tries to prove to me that being a director of a company, which may have shares, is having a pecuniary interest, he will have rocks in his head. Hon G.T. Giffard: You have a pecuniary interest in traffic fines too. Hon PETER FOSS: True.
(3) Did the Attorney General declare his involvement in these companies to the Premier? Hon PETER FOSS replied: (1)-(3) I am a director of Cadogan Estates. That company may or may not hold shares in Wesfarmers; however, I have no interest in Cadogan Estates and have no pecuniary interest in Wesfarmers. If ever a long bow were drawn, that would be one. I happen to be a Western Australian too. Did the member know that? Western Australians have some interest in having a rail system in Western Australia. I proudly declare that I have an interest in the rail system in Western Australia, along with every other Western Australian. The day the member tries to prove to me that being a director of a company, which may have shares, is having a pecuniary interest, he will have rocks in his head. Hon G.T. Giffard: You have a pecuniary interest in traffic fines too. Hon PETER FOSS: True.
Hon PETER FOSS replied: (1)-(3) I am a director of Cadogan Estates. That company may or may not hold shares in Wesfarmers; however, I have no interest in Cadogan Estates and have no pecuniary interest in Wesfarmers. If ever a long bow were drawn, that would be one. I happen to be a Western Australian too. Did the member know that? Western Australians have some interest in having a rail system in Western Australia. I proudly declare that I have an interest in the rail system in Western Australia, along with every other Western Australian. The day the member tries to prove to me that being a director of a company, which may have shares, is having a pecuniary interest, he will have rocks in his head. Hon G.T. Giffard: You have a pecuniary interest in traffic fines too. Hon PETER FOSS: True.
(1)-(3) I am a director of Cadogan Estates. That company may or may not hold shares in Wesfarmers; however, I have no interest in Cadogan Estates and have no pecuniary interest in Wesfarmers. If ever a long bow were drawn, that would be one. I happen to be a Western Australian too. Did the member know that? Western Australians have some interest in having a rail system in Western Australia. I proudly declare that I have an interest in the rail system in Western Australia, along with every other Western Australian. The day the member tries to prove to me that being a director of a company, which may have shares, is having a pecuniary interest, he will have rocks in his head. Hon G.T. Giffard: You have a pecuniary interest in traffic fines too. Hon PETER FOSS: True.
Hon G.T. Giffard: You have a pecuniary interest in traffic fines too. Hon PETER FOSS: True.
Hon PETER FOSS: True.
(2) Can the Attorney General confirm that he is a director of Cadogan Estates (Australia) Pty Ltd and Chelsea Land Management and Investment Co. (Australia) Pty Ltd, and that both these companies had shares in Wesfarmers when Cabinet deliberated on the sale of Westrail freight? (3) Did the Attorney General declare his involvement in these companies to the Premier? Hon PETER FOSS replied: (1)-(3) I am a director of Cadogan Estates. That company may or may not hold shares in Wesfarmers; however, I have no interest in Cadogan Estates and have no pecuniary interest in Wesfarmers. If ever a long bow were drawn, that would be one. I happen to be a Western Australian too. Did the member know that? Western Australians have some interest in having a rail system in Western Australia. I proudly declare that I have an interest in the rail system in Western Australia, along with every other Western Australian. The day the member tries to prove to me that being a director of a company, which may have shares, is having a pecuniary interest, he will have rocks in his head. Hon G.T. Giffard: You have a pecuniary interest in traffic fines too. Hon PETER FOSS: True.
(3) Did the Attorney General declare his involvement in these companies to the Premier? Hon PETER FOSS replied: (1)-(3) I am a director of Cadogan Estates. That company may or may not hold shares in Wesfarmers; however, I have no interest in Cadogan Estates and have no pecuniary interest in Wesfarmers. If ever a long bow were drawn, that would be one. I happen to be a Western Australian too. Did the member know that? Western Australians have some interest in having a rail system in Western Australia. I proudly declare that I have an interest in the rail system in Western Australia, along with every other Western Australian. The day the member tries to prove to me that being a director of a company, which may have shares, is having a pecuniary interest, he will have rocks in his head. Hon G.T. Giffard: You have a pecuniary interest in traffic fines too. Hon PETER FOSS: True.
Hon PETER FOSS replied: (1)-(3) I am a director of Cadogan Estates. That company may or may not hold shares in Wesfarmers; however, I have no interest in Cadogan Estates and have no pecuniary interest in Wesfarmers. If ever a long bow were drawn, that would be one. I happen to be a Western Australian too. Did the member know that? Western Australians have some interest in having a rail system in Western Australia. I proudly declare that I have an interest in the rail system in Western Australia, along with every other Western Australian. The day the member tries to prove to me that being a director of a company, which may have shares, is having a pecuniary interest, he will have rocks in his head. Hon G.T. Giffard: You have a pecuniary interest in traffic fines too. Hon PETER FOSS: True.
(1)-(3) I am a director of Cadogan Estates. That company may or may not hold shares in Wesfarmers; however, I have no interest in Cadogan Estates and have no pecuniary interest in Wesfarmers. If ever a long bow were drawn, that would be one. I happen to be a Western Australian too. Did the member know that? Western Australians have some interest in having a rail system in Western Australia. I proudly declare that I have an interest in the rail system in Western Australia, along with every other Western Australian. The day the member tries to prove to me that being a director of a company, which may have shares, is having a pecuniary interest, he will have rocks in his head. Hon G.T. Giffard: You have a pecuniary interest in traffic fines too. Hon PETER FOSS: True.
Hon G.T. Giffard: You have a pecuniary interest in traffic fines too. Hon PETER FOSS: True.
Hon PETER FOSS: True.
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