Question Time

Member for Waite

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Leader of the Opposition) (16:15): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Leader of the Government a question about the member for Waite.

Leave granted.

The Hon. K.J. MAHER: The events that occurred in Parliament House on 13 December last year and the behaviour of the member for Waite, Sam Duluk, are now well known after public reporting and admissions from the member. The member for Waite has admitted to offensive behaviour and further allegations, including potential harassment, assault and offensive comments about race and sexuality, have been raised.

It is understood that the Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council has conducted his own interviews with the member for Waite and possibly others in connection with this conduct. My question is: can the Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council advise the council of the nature and detail of his secret Liberal Party investigations into this potential misconduct?

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS (Treasurer) (16:16): The Premier has announced the position on behalf of the government in relation to this issue—indeed, consistent with the statements that have been made in another place by the Speaker—and that is that there is an investigation being conducted by a person appointed by the Speaker in another place. The Premier's position, the government's position, and indeed my position, is that we will await the results of that investigation. Unlike other members, we don't rely on media reporting as a substitute for the facts. With great respect to our friends in the media, they don't always get things right.

I must admit that I didn't hear all the detail of the honourable member's question. I will go back and refer to it afterwards, but I am not aware of some of the aspects the honourable member is talking about in relation to claims of secret Liberal investigations, evidently, and whatever else he referred to. I will check the record. I thought he used some words I had not heard reported in relation to these particular issues, but I will not reflect on those until I have had a chance to check the Hansard record. If need be I might make another comment at another stage.

Certainly, my response on behalf of government members is consistent with what the Premier has said: there is a process that has been established by the Speaker in another place and we will await the results of that particular process to get some better indication of the facts as they relate to the various incidents on the night.

As the Premier has indicated, no-one in the government, including the Premier and myself, support some of the reports that have been made in relation to the behaviour of the member for Waite on that particular evening. They were, as the Premier has said, completely unacceptable both to the Premier and to all of us as members of the government—and, I'm sure, to all members in this chamber as well. I can add no more than that. I have nothing more to offer.