Extract from Hansard [ASSEMBLY - Thursday, 13 June 2002] p11407c-11408a Mr Colin Barnett; Speaker; Dr

MICKELBERG CASE, MINISTER FOR HEALTH 1092. Mr BARNETT to the Premier: Given that at the 1998 Mickelberg appeal - Mr Marlborough: Here stands a man alone. The SPEAKER: Member for Peel! Mr BARNETT: Given that at the 1998 Mickelberg appeal - Mr Marlborough: Like a shag on a rock. The SPEAKER: I name the member for Peel for the second time. Mr BARNETT: Given that at the 1998 Mickelberg appeal, the Premier’s now Minister for Health corroborated evidence now claimed to be perjured, that his - Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Members! Mr BARNETT: Given that at the 1998 Mickelberg appeal, the Premier’s now Minister for Health corroborated evidence now claimed to be perjured, that his claims are in direct conflict with Peter Mickelberg’s consistent and repeated statements, and that these facts cast serious doubt over the veracity of the minister’s evidence given at the appeal, I ask for the third time in three days: will the Premier now stand aside his Minister for Health? Dr GALLOP replied: I have answered that question today. I repeat the quote from Professor Sharman that there are no constitutional issues at stake and there is nothing in the public arena to warrant such a move. That person knows about these things, studies them, was a commissioner of government, and is not the current leader of the state parliamentary Labor Party. That is his conclusion about this affair. I have articulated very clearly to the people of where I stand on this matter. Absolutely nothing new has been produced on this issue that would warrant me telling the Minister for Health that he should stand aside, but there is something new on the political agenda in Western Australia and that is the comment by the Leader of the Opposition on Channel 10 television last night. I ask the Leader of the Opposition directly, in the Parliament of Western Australia, to confirm that he said that a member of Cabinet by clear fact was present during the interview when a prisoner was bashed? That is what this Leader of the Opposition said; they are the standards that he is setting. I call on him now in this Parliament to apologise to the Minister for Health. Is the Leader of the Opposition willing to apologise to the Minister for Health for that statement? I do not know what has happened to the Opposition. They are just not here. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Members! Dr GALLOP: Whenever these sorts of matters come up, there are two tests. There is the test of the Government of the day. I have outlined very clearly and precisely my understanding of these issues and why I have taken the position I have. On the other side there is the accountability that should apply to members of Parliament, particularly leaders who choose to comment. The Leader of the Opposition has allowed his comments to drift way beyond the reality of the situation, to the point at which he has said something about a member of Parliament that is absolutely disgraceful; that is, that he was in an interview when a prisoner was bashed. They are the standards that the Opposition is setting. Not one member of the Opposition supports the Leader of the Opposition. They have their chance now. Does the Deputy Leader of the Opposition support his leader’s comments when he said it is a fact that a member of the Cabinet was present during the interview when a prisoner was bashed? Does he support those comments? He is yawning. He does not even think this is important. What about the member for Hillarys? He always has plenty to say about these matters. Does he support what his leader said on Channel 10 television last night? I will tell members what I will do. I will make a concession for the member for Hillarys, because like a lot of people in Western Australia, he has probably been barracking for England in the World Cup and is short of a word or two because he has been cheering so much. What a pathetic performance. Not one member opposite is willing to defend their leader. Why? Because they know their leader went too far. They know that their leader, in a desperate bid to try to bring down the reputation of the current Minister for Health, could not resist the temptation to say something that was not true. Today the Leader of the Opposition stands condemned in Western Australian politics for his comments. He can extract himself from the situation. He has the ability, he has the choice, he can apologise to the Minister for Health. That is the issue that lies before the people of

[1] Extract from Hansard [ASSEMBLY - Thursday, 13 June 2002] p11407c-11408a Mr Colin Barnett; Speaker; Dr Geoff Gallop

Western Australia today. We are waiting to hear that apology, because unless we get it, everyone on the opposition benches in the state parliamentary Liberal Party stands condemned on a very important issue.

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