Legislative Council - Fifty-First Parliament, Third Session (51-3)
2008-10-28 Daily Xml

Contents

COPPER COAST DISTRICT COUNCIL

The Hon. R.L. BROKENSHIRE (15:18): I have a supplementary question, Mr President. Given the briefings and material that the minister has had an opportunity already to consider, is the minister satisfied that the Copper Coast council has provided due process to all interested parties in relation to the planning application?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for State/Local Government Relations, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Consumer Affairs, Minister for Government Enterprises, Minister Assisting the Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Energy) (15:18): I have answered the question, if the honourable member had listened. It is a matter for the appropriate minister but, in terms of the preliminary information that I am seeking to obtain prior to making a decision about a formal investigation, as I have already stated, that process is still under way. It has been under way for some time. It has been quite comprehensive. As I have said, we have requested one round of information. That has been looked at and considered carefully. It was decided that further information was needed and, again, correspondence went out requesting that information. That information has come back and is currently with the Crown Solicitor's office.

It would be most inappropriate for me to say anything further about that until the Crown Solicitor's office has had an opportunity to consider it in full and provide me with whatever recommendations or advice it might have in respect of these matters. The process has been open, transparent and thorough. People's rights have to be upheld, as well, in terms of due process—and that is what is being undertaken at present.