House of Assembly: Wednesday, November 15, 2017

Contents

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Ms CHAPMAN (Bragg—Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (14:27): Supplementary: has the Premier or anyone at his office given any direction or request to the Department of the Premier and Cabinet in respect of the preparation of their annual report?

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL (Cheltenham—Premier, Minister for the Arts) (14:27): I don't recall giving any specific request beyond the—I think there has been some reform of the annual reporting process to try to put them in common formats so that they are easy to read and are capable of being more easily and effectively understood. Beyond that process, which was a simplification process that was approved, I certainly don't recall making any specific directions in relation to the Department of the Premier and Cabinet Annual Report, but I will check to see whether any particular directions—

Mr Knoll: Good governments have nothing to hide.

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: —have been given by people in my office or indeed by the cabinet through that simplification process. I note the little quip there from the member for Schubert saying, 'Good governments have nothing to hide,' and indeed they don't. That's why this is the most open and accountable government that we have ever seen in this state. This is a government that has more proactive disclosure—

Mr van Holst Pellekaan: How much did you spend buying the diesel generators?

The SPEAKER: The member for Stuart will depart under the sessional orders for the next 45 minutes.

The honourable member for Stuart having withdrawn from the chamber:

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: —of material than any government before it and more access to historical cabinet documents than any before it. Indeed, one only needs to cast one's mind back to those dark days before 2002 where it was a race between the FOI officer and the shredding machine to see where the information would come from.

The SPEAKER: Supplementary.