Barnett questions Minister Brown's actions regarding a state agreement and a tragedy at BHP Billiton iron ore sites. Heated exchange ensues with accusations and a point of order regarding unparliamentary language.

AnsweredQoN 723Legislative Assembly
Asked
11 November 2004
Portfolio
State Development

QuestionView source ↗

I have a supplementary question. The minister has told us what the company did. What has he done as minister? It is a state agreement. Mr C.M. BROWN

AnswerView source ↗

A major inquiry is under way into this tragedy. A broader range of inquiry is under way into the health and safety issues at BHP Billiton iron ore sites. That is what I have done. Mr M.W. Trenorden: What about the task force? Mr C.M. BROWN: I know that the Opposition, when it was in power, sought to downgrade the health and safety obligations in this State. Mr C.J. Barnett: That is a lie. Point of Order Mr E.S. RIPPER: The Leader of the Opposition just accused the Minister for State Development of lying. That is an unparliamentary assertion and he should withdraw it. The SPEAKER: I did not hear it, but if the Leader of the Opposition said that, he should withdraw. Mr C.J. BARNETT: I said, “That is a lie.” It was an untruth. If that is unparliamentary, I withdraw. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.M. BROWN: Those opposite do not like the record. They want to reinvent the record. They should read Hansard . They would need to be blind Freddy and know nothing about health and safety laws. They should read the record and have the guts to own up to it.
Mr C.M. BROWN replied: A major inquiry is under way into this tragedy. A broader range of inquiry is under way into the health and safety issues at BHP Billiton iron ore sites. That is what I have done. Mr M.W. Trenorden: What about the task force? Mr C.M. BROWN: I know that the Opposition, when it was in power, sought to downgrade the health and safety obligations in this State. Mr C.J. Barnett: That is a lie. Point of Order Mr E.S. RIPPER: The Leader of the Opposition just accused the Minister for State Development of lying. That is an unparliamentary assertion and he should withdraw it. The SPEAKER: I did not hear it, but if the Leader of the Opposition said that, he should withdraw. Mr C.J. BARNETT: I said, “That is a lie.” It was an untruth. If that is unparliamentary, I withdraw. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.M. BROWN: Those opposite do not like the record. They want to reinvent the record. They should read Hansard . They would need to be blind Freddy and know nothing about health and safety laws. They should read the record and have the guts to own up to it.
A major inquiry is under way into this tragedy. A broader range of inquiry is under way into the health and safety issues at BHP Billiton iron ore sites. That is what I have done. Mr M.W. Trenorden: What about the task force? Mr C.M. BROWN: I know that the Opposition, when it was in power, sought to downgrade the health and safety obligations in this State. Mr C.J. Barnett: That is a lie. Point of Order Mr E.S. RIPPER: The Leader of the Opposition just accused the Minister for State Development of lying. That is an unparliamentary assertion and he should withdraw it. The SPEAKER: I did not hear it, but if the Leader of the Opposition said that, he should withdraw. Mr C.J. BARNETT: I said, “That is a lie.” It was an untruth. If that is unparliamentary, I withdraw. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.M. BROWN: Those opposite do not like the record. They want to reinvent the record. They should read Hansard . They would need to be blind Freddy and know nothing about health and safety laws. They should read the record and have the guts to own up to it.
Mr M.W. Trenorden: What about the task force? Mr C.M. BROWN: I know that the Opposition, when it was in power, sought to downgrade the health and safety obligations in this State. Mr C.J. Barnett: That is a lie. Point of Order Mr E.S. RIPPER: The Leader of the Opposition just accused the Minister for State Development of lying. That is an unparliamentary assertion and he should withdraw it. The SPEAKER: I did not hear it, but if the Leader of the Opposition said that, he should withdraw. Mr C.J. BARNETT: I said, “That is a lie.” It was an untruth. If that is unparliamentary, I withdraw. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.M. BROWN: Those opposite do not like the record. They want to reinvent the record. They should read Hansard . They would need to be blind Freddy and know nothing about health and safety laws. They should read the record and have the guts to own up to it.
Mr C.M. BROWN: I know that the Opposition, when it was in power, sought to downgrade the health and safety obligations in this State. Mr C.J. Barnett: That is a lie. Point of Order Mr E.S. RIPPER: The Leader of the Opposition just accused the Minister for State Development of lying. That is an unparliamentary assertion and he should withdraw it. The SPEAKER: I did not hear it, but if the Leader of the Opposition said that, he should withdraw. Mr C.J. BARNETT: I said, “That is a lie.” It was an untruth. If that is unparliamentary, I withdraw. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.M. BROWN: Those opposite do not like the record. They want to reinvent the record. They should read Hansard . They would need to be blind Freddy and know nothing about health and safety laws. They should read the record and have the guts to own up to it.
Mr C.J. Barnett: That is a lie. Point of Order Mr E.S. RIPPER: The Leader of the Opposition just accused the Minister for State Development of lying. That is an unparliamentary assertion and he should withdraw it. The SPEAKER: I did not hear it, but if the Leader of the Opposition said that, he should withdraw. Mr C.J. BARNETT: I said, “That is a lie.” It was an untruth. If that is unparliamentary, I withdraw. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.M. BROWN: Those opposite do not like the record. They want to reinvent the record. They should read Hansard . They would need to be blind Freddy and know nothing about health and safety laws. They should read the record and have the guts to own up to it.
The SPEAKER: I did not hear it, but if the Leader of the Opposition said that, he should withdraw. Mr C.J. BARNETT: I said, “That is a lie.” It was an untruth. If that is unparliamentary, I withdraw. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.M. BROWN: Those opposite do not like the record. They want to reinvent the record. They should read Hansard . They would need to be blind Freddy and know nothing about health and safety laws. They should read the record and have the guts to own up to it.
Mr C.J. BARNETT: I said, “That is a lie.” It was an untruth. If that is unparliamentary, I withdraw. Questions without Notice Resumed Mr C.M. BROWN: Those opposite do not like the record. They want to reinvent the record. They should read Hansard . They would need to be blind Freddy and know nothing about health and safety laws. They should read the record and have the guts to own up to it.

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