Legislative Council - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, First Session (54-1)
2018-07-24 Daily Xml

Contents

Wright Electorate Office

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Leader of the Opposition) (15:29): Further supplementary: did the Treasurer or, to his knowledge, anyone from his office inform the media that this lease had been signed before the member was informed?

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS (Treasurer) (15:30): I don't know whether the Leader of the Opposition is hard of hearing. I have already indicated that on the same morning—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS: I don't believe the lease has actually been signed yet. I will check that, but there is an agreement to proceed—

The Hon. K.J. Maher interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: You have asked your question, Leader of the Opposition. Let the Treasurer answer.

The Hon. K.J. Maher interjecting:

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS: I am about to give you every detail, if you like.

The Hon. K.J. Maher interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Leader of the Opposition, just be quiet for a moment.

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS: If you would like to be quiet for a millisecond, I will give you the answer to your question. If the leader could actually stay silent, sit still for a millisecond, breathe deeply, I will give him the answer to the question he has put. On the same morning that the media were advised, a voicemail, a number of attempts by Electorate Services to contact the member for Wright were made—

The Hon. I.K. Hunter: Because he hasn't got an office.

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS: Telephone? Have you ever heard of a telephone?

The Hon. I.K. Hunter: He hasn't got an office to ring.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS: Have you ever heard of a mobile phone? You have not heard of a mobile phone? At the same time, on the same morning, an attempt was made to speak to the member for Wright. A voicemail message, I understand, was left with the member for Wright to indicate that the government was proceeding.

Prior to that, contrary to the claims the member for Wright has made that he wasn't consulted, he was consulted all along the way. In fact, he expressed concern that he didn't really want his electorate office in the suburb of Salisbury East. He didn't want his office there. He wanted still to have a temporary office in somebody else's electorate in the leafy suburb at the Golden Grove shopping centre.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS: Let me just conclude by saying to the former ministers, Mr Hunter and Mr Maher, they are no longer in government. It is a new government and the new government makes the decisions, not former ministerial staffers.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! The time for questions without notice has expired.