Assembly Tuesday, 11 March 1997

[Tuesday, 11 March 1997] 73 In light of the adverse nature of the DPP's comments, the Government resolved to set up an independent inquiry to review the conduct of the persons concerned and to recommend what further action, if any, should be taken. Mr Jeremy Allanson, a member of the Independent Bar with experience of the public sector, was commissioned to undertake the task. Mr Allanson has now completed a comprehensive examination of the facts. He has concluded that no further action against any government employee is warranted. I quote his conclusion - In the end, while I am conscious that others have reported critically on the management of the Casuarina project and suggested a disturbing degree of mismanagement, I am of the view that the available evidence does not support a finding that the cost increases in that project were as a result of financial mismanagement and I do not recommend the taking of further action against any members of the public sector who were involved in it. The Government accepts the finding and does not propose to further pursue this particular matter. However, it is continuing to look at ways of strengthening the framework for financial management and accountability. I table the report. [See paper No 269.] [Questions without notice taken.] SITTINGS OF THE HOUSE Days and Hours MR BARNETT (Cottesloe - Leader of the House) [2.57 pm]: I move - That unless otherwise ordered, the House shall meet on Tuesdays at 2.00 pm, Wednesdays at 11.00 am and Thursdays at 10.00 am. These are the same starting times as have been practised for the past four years. Question put and passed. NOTICE OF MOTION No 2 Postponed MR BARNETT (Cottesloe - Leader of the House) [2.58 pm]: Notice of motion No 2 relates to private members' business. The wording of the motion is predicated on there being a one hour dinner recess. That issue is not resolved in the House; therefore, until further informal discussion can be held, I move - That notice of motion No 2 be postponed. Question put and passed. PUBLIC ACCOUNTS AND EXPENDITURE REVIEW COMMITTEE - MEMBERSHIP On motion by Mr Barnett (Leader of the House), resolved - That for the present Parliament the Public Accounts and Expenditure Review Committee shall consist of the member for Avon, the member for Bunbury, the member for Southern River, the member for Armadale and the member for Pilbara. ADDRESS-IN-REPLY Motion Resumed from 6 March. DR GALLOP (Victoria Park - Leader of the Opposition) [3.01 pm]: I will begin my speech by referring to the recent state election. First, I congratulate all of those elected to serve in the Parliament for the first time. I hope that those members enjoy a fruitful parliamentary career. In the case of some, I do not wish them any ill will, but indicate that at the next election they will be subject to the real test of accountability. I also take this opportunity to express my commiserations to those who lost their seats at the election. On this side of politics, three members were with us last year who are no longer with us. I refer to the former member for Balcatta, who contested the seat of Yokine, Mr Nick Catania; the former member for Kenwick, who contested the seat of Southern Rivers, Dr Judyth Watson; and the former member for Northern Rivers, who contested the seat of Ningaloo, Mr Kevin Leahy. I take this opportunity to record my thanks to these former members for the contribution 74 [ASSEMBLY] that they made to the Parliament. Of course, other members retired from Parliament at the end of last year, and we had an opportunity to express our thanks to them for the contribution they made. However, at the time we were not aware of who would be here and who would not after the election. The three former members to whom I have referred contributed in a significant way to the working of our Parliament and political system. Mr Nick Catania was a tremendous advocate for both the ethnic community and the small business community. Members will remember many of the passionate speeches that he made in this Parliament on behalf of those who came to live in Australia from overseas - of course, his own family had that experience. He felt very passionately about equal opportunities for those who came to live and work here, and he was a great advocate for their cause. He also had a small business background, and he put his knowledge and background in that area to good use in advocating on behalf of the small business sector in this Parliament. I am pleased to note that he is continuing his work with that sector even though he is no longer a member of this place. Dr Judyth Watson made a significant contribution to the Parliament in two areas. Of course, her initial involvement in the political processes of this Parliament was very much focused on occupational health and safety issues, to which she brought an enormous amount of knowledge and a great deal of commitment. Indeed, the Occupational Health and Safety Act of Western Australia is in no small measure due to the work she did prior to coming to Parliament, and she maintained her interest in that issue after being elected. She was also a great campaigner for the rights of women; in fact, she was a principled campaigner in that area. On many occasions she took a position that was not necessarily popular with the majority in our community. However, she always approached these issues in a principled way and did not allow the criticism levelled at her to deflect her from the cause. Many women throughout Western Australia have reason to thank her for the contribution she has made. When taking up a cause members get many calls from people who see them as the spokesperson in that area. As a result of her work, particularly in relation to domestic violence, Judyth Watson was contacted by people from throughout the State at any hour of the day, and she was always available to help people with their problems. That is perhaps not very well known by members of Parliament or the public, but it is worth recording. She was a great campaigner for the rights of women and we should all be grateful for the role that she played. Mr Kevin Leahy was the Opposition Whip and a very keen spokesman in this Parliament for the interests of people who live in non-metropolitan Western Australia. His successor made mention in his maiden speech of the role that Kevin Leahy played. He was a very strong advocate of the rights and interests of people who live outside Perth, and he took up that interest within the Caucus of the Labor Party and on many occasions on the floor of this House. He is a great loss to this side of the House because of the interest and passion he had for non-metropolitan Western Australians. I wish him well in his post-political career and I am pleased to note that he is still resident in Carnarvon. I am sure he will contribute to the life of that town as he did both before becoming a member of Parliament and in the eight years during which he was a member. I also hope that the interest and support that these people showed in our parliamentary and political system will remain despite any setbacks they have experienced as a result of their loss in the election. Of course, we now have new members on both sides of the House. Those members should prepare themselves for an experience that will have its ups and downs, its triumphs and tragedies, no matter how small. There is no doubt that a political career is one in which predictions are impossible to make and in which there might always be something around the corner that will convert a tragedy into a triumph or a triumph into a tragedy. Those embarking on a political career need to be well aware that all those elements are involved. The role of a member of Parliament is difficult to define. Indeed, being a member of Parliament is somewhere between having a job and having a vocation. Of course, if one looks at the strict definition of the term "vocation" in the dictionary, one sees reference to "divine purpose". I am sure all members would agree that any reference to divine purpose in respect of the duties that we undertake as members of Parliament may very well be inappropriate. Nevertheless, the strict definition of "job" also misses the mark in its description of the role we play. This career is not easy to define. It very much involves the public interest considerations that exist in most jobs in the community, but those involved in being a member of Parliament are much stronger than those encountered in most other careers and jobs. One of the most interesting aspects of this career path is that it involves responsibilities to a very wide range of stakeholders. Members of Parliament have a responsibility to their electorate and to the interests and individuals in that electorate, and they also have a responsibility to their political party. If they are not a member of a political party - we have Independents in this House - they have responsibilities to the supporters who helped them get into Parliament. That relationship is not as formal as that between a member and a party, but I am sure the Independents would agree that they have those responsibilities.

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