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Legislative Council - Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2)
2012-10-31 Daily Xml
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Question Time

MINISTERIAL CONDUCT

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY (Leader of the Opposition) (14:19): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Industrial Relations questions regarding democracy.

Leave granted.

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY: In the words of respected British journalist Kate Adie:

The better the information it has, the better democracy works. Silence and secrecy are never good for it.

But to paraphrase the Minister for Industrial Relations today, in response to a request for an interview from ABC891 morning presenters David Bevan and Matthew Abraham, he said, 'I cannot talk publicly about something that is before parliament.' I list the following members of the current parliament in the House of Assembly who have talked at forums, on radio, on television, in newspaper interviews, in letters and correspondence, at public meetings, at private functions, while doorknocking, in brochures, pamphlets and missives about the legislation which was at the same time—that is, simultaneously and concurrently—before the parliament.

They are: the Hon. Michael Atkinson, Frances Bedford, Zoe Bettison, Leon Bignell, Lyn Breuer, Geoff Brock, Paul Caica, Vickie Chapman, Susan Close, Patrick Conlon, Iain Evans, Chloe Fox, John Gardner, Robyn Geraghty, Mark Goldsworthy, Steven Griffiths, Martin Hamilton-Smith, John Hill, Tom Kenyon, Stephanie Key, Tom Koutsantonis, Duncan McFetridge, Steven Marshall, Michael O'Brien, Lee Odenwalder, Adrian Pederick, Don Pegler, Michael Pengilly, Tony Piccolo, David Pisoni, Grace Portolesi, Jennifer Rankine, John Rau, Isobel Redmond, Rachel Sanderson, Alan Sibbons, Jack Snelling, Bob Such, Gay Thompson, Peter Treloar, Dan van Holst Pellekaan, Ivan Venning, Leesa Vlahos, Tim Whetstone, Mitch Williams, Michael Wright and, of course, Jay Weatherill.

I list the following members of this current parliament in the Legislative Council who have talked to forums, on radio, on television, in newspaper interviews, in letters and correspondence, at public meetings and private functions, while doorknocking, in brochures, pamphlets and missives about legislation which was at the same time—that is, simultaneously and concurrently—before the parliament: the Hons Ann Bressington, Robert Brokenshire, John Darley, John Dawkins, Bernard Finnigan, Tammy Franks, Gail Gago, Dennis Hood, Ian Hunter, Jing Lee, Michelle Lensink, Rob Lucas, Mark Parnell, Terry Stephens, Kelly Vincent, Stephen Wade, David Ridgway and, of course, Russell Wortley. I am sorry, Mr President, that my research so far has been unable to uncover evidence in support of the inclusion of your name in that list. Nobel prize winner Niels Bohr said:

The best weapon of a dictatorship is secrecy, but the best weapon of democracy should be the weapon of openness.

My questions to the minister are:

1. Where, according to his definition of 'democracy' in his list of ministerial responsibilities, code of conduct, standing orders, Erskine May and parliamentary procedures, has he discovered that he cannot do an interview?

2. Will he rebuke the Premier, the Deputy Premier and every other minister for ignoring this new-found discovery about democracy?

3. Is the minister's definition of democracy two wolves and a sheep voting on what to have for dinner?

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY (Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for State/Local Government Relations) (14:21): I do honestly thank the honourable member for giving me an opportunity of actually putting my side of the story on the public record. ABC radio 891 contacted my office—not me but my media adviser—today asking me to go on in response to a tweet by the Hon. Mr Lucas—at probably 1 o'clock in the morning.

Now, the reality is that Mr Lucas will be tweeting for days and days and days, all times of the day, until this legislation is through. As a minister, I will not put myself up to a situation where I am constantly on the radio defending myself from a tweet from Rob Lucas. What we—

The PRESIDENT: The Hon. Rob Lucas.

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY: The Hon. Rob Lucas. What my media adviser told them was that I will come onto their program once the legislation is through and I will answer all the questions. I am a strong believer in openness and accountability. I was on the radio this morning with Leon Byner talking about the Work Health and Safety Act.

If they still want me, of course, I am happy to go onto the radio program, on 891, in the morning, but I will do it when all the information is out there. When the legislation has been passed, I will then go there and I will answer any question that they or Mr Lucas want to put to me.

The PRESIDENT: The Hon. Mr Lucas.

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY: The Hon. Mr Lucas.

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