GOVERNMENT MEDIA MONITORING UNIT

DATE: JUNE 9TH, 2006

TIME: 7.17AM

STATION: 720 ABC PERTH BREKKY (CAMERON)

SUBJECT: KENNEDY – WEEK IN POLITICS

This transcript is produced for information purposes only. Although all care is taken, no warranty as to its accuracy or completeness is given. It is your responsibility to ensure by independent verification that all information is correct before placing any reliance on it.

EOIN CAMERON

…(football chat not transcribed) … Now, the Premier’s stepped in on the OBE row?

PETER KENNEDY

Well, he certainly has, and it’s been an issue that’s been simmering away for weeks, well, months probably, as you know, and Ljiljanna Ravlich has been handling it as the Education Minister but it didn’t seem to be getting any better, and so it’s now pretty clear that he is taking a leading hand in the negotiations. And there’s a lot at stake here, because the Government has … and the Education Department has put a lot of resources into getting these Years 11 and 12 courses under way next year, and the teachers, parents, a lot of … also seems to be a lot of confusion, and I think Mr Carpenter has come in and said, look, alright, it’s not travelling well, let’s get everyone together, what’s the problem, what do you need, how are we going to resolve this, and I think that’s … and consultation seems to be the name of the game now, because various people seem to feel that they have been left out of it. But I think he’s got a lot riding on this, because having intervened, then it’s important for him that he get a successful result.

EOIN CAMERON

Does this weaken Ljiljanna Ravlich’s position? Seen, maybe by some as not being able to handle it properly?

PETER KENNEDY

We, she was handled (sic) a big job, and remember that had four years as education minister, sort of … – 2 –

EOIN CAMERON

…(inaudible) … a bit, yeah…

PETER KENNEDY

… promoting this in the previous term. So, look, it probably is a setback for her, and … that he has had to come over the top. But he also made the point yesterday, that’s what premier’s are for, that you’re the first among equals, and if there is something required in a area, there’s a troubled area, then maybe you do have to step in and that’s what he’s done this time.

EOIN CAMERON

…(traffic update not transcribed) … The death of John Roberts being reported in the press this morning.

PETER KENNEDY

Yes, we mentioned this to the Premier yesterday. He was making an announcement with Jeff Kennett about Beyond Blue, and the State Government contribution to Beyond Blue in Western Australia, and it came up during the news conference. He’d been told just before it started that John Roberts had died, and he said that he was genuinely shocked to hear that news of the Multiplex boss, at the age of 73. But, look, John Roberts, interesting character, and it did remind me that he was a bit of player in the WA Inc days. And there’s a very good photograph in newspaper this morning, of the John Curtin Foundation, of the patron and the vice patrons, and Mr Roberts was one of the vice patrons. It was alleged that you had to pay between $10,000 and $100,000 to be a vice patron, although, Sir Ernest Lee-Steere said that – he was vice patron – he paid less because he’d been talked into it by his nephew, John Dawkins, but he didn’t have to … his contribution was significantly modest, Sir Ernest said. But Mr Roberts was in there, John Curtin Foundation. He also - and I just sort of checked up on this last night in John Hamilton’s book, Burkie - and he also was the famous lunch in 1987 with Bob Hawke and Brian Burke during the federal election campaign, the famous lunch at 197 St Georges Terrace, with Brian Burke and Bob Hawke and various other people, and the others said to be there were , and Dallas Dempster, and at the end of the lunch Mr Burke and Mr Hawke withdrew, and the suggestion among the others was that they pass the hat around…

EOIN CAMERON

… Oh, right….

PETER KENNEDY

… a Labor federal election campaign. And I think they ended up with a seven figure total.

EOIN CAMERON – 3 –

Oh, wow.

PETER KENNEDY

It was, I think …

EOIN CAMERON

… Substantial.

PETER KENNEDY

Very. A very useful contribution. So, John Roberts, but obviously, look, a huge loss to Western Australia. One of Western Australia’s more famous sons. And obviously sympathy to his family on their loss.

EOIN CAMERON

On his passing. And while we’re talking obits, a man who served five premiers has passed on.

PETER KENNEDY

A unique record in West Australian politics, probably Australian politics, Eoin, I’m talking about Derek Flynn, who was an ABC journalist before he joined the staff of David Brand back in the 60s as deputy press secretary. He eventually became David Brand’s press secretary, then John Tonkin’s, they’re Labor, of course. Charles Court, Liberal, Ray O’Connor, Liberal, Brian Burke, Labor. So, he served five premiers.

EOIN CAMERON

Very unique.

PETER KENNEDY

Indeed. Appointed by a coalition government, and you might have noted that he also was godfather to Brian Burke’s youngest son Joseph.

EOIN CAMERON

Oh, right.

PETER KENNEDY

So, someone obviously very loyal, very trusted and true professional, both sides of the political spectrum. These days, very suspicious about people like Mr Flynn, but in those days, very, very …

– 4 –

EOIN CAMERON

… Just a professional public servant.

PETER KENNEDY

Oh, totally, and loyal to the person that he was serving. And sympathy to Derek’s family as well.

EOIN CAMERON

Some fabulous jobs figures, especially for the West.

PETER KENNEDY

Three point five percent, extraordinary…

EOIN CAMERON

Phenomenal, isn’t it?

PETER KENNEDY

Extraordinary. And by far the best in the country, and remember we were saying, well, I think we when we started, if we got it below five it’d be a good sign, and then if we got it below four it would be …

EOIN CAMERON

… four, that’d be a very good sign.

PETER KENNEDY

Yeah, and 3.5 …and I think the national average, from memory, was 4.9. So, it just indicates how much better the West Australian economy is doing. And, I mean, it’s almost getting back to the days of the 60s when unemployment used to be around two percent, that sort of thing. But I know the structure of the workforce has changed these days, and the method of compiling the figures is different. But it also indicates the pressure of the labour shortage, getting the right sort of skills for the right sort of jobs. But a very good figure.

EOIN CAMERON

Certainly is.

Now, the latest on the monster gas project, what’s going on there?

PETER KENNEDY

Well, you would have noticed the EPA’s report earlier in the week. – 5 –

EOIN CAMERON

And the tortoise or turtle, yeah.

PETER KENNEDY

It didn’t give it the green light.

EOIN CAMERON

No.

PETER KENNEDY

Did not give it the green light, and there’s a lot riding on this whole issue. You also would have noticed, Eoin, that the political support for this project is very strong on both sides of the political fence and on both sides of the country.

EOIN CAMERON

Oh, it’s worth so much.

PETER KENNEDY

State and federal. And … it is worth so much, particularly to the Federal Government from the point of view of royalties, but also to the WA Government for the jobs it would generate and the impact it would have in the North West. So, I think the signs are that it probably will get the green light eventually, but there are still some hurdles to be overcome. But nevertheless … it’s $11billion… it’s somewhere between $11 and $18billion dollars, this project. It was $11billion three years ago.

EOIN CAMERON

We’re not talking peanuts here.

PETER KENNEDY

No, no, it’s big bikkies, and I think despite the concerns of the EPA, eventually it’ll get the go ahead.

EOIN CAMERON

And what’s coming up, Peter?

PETER KENNEDY

Well, look, you might have noticed that former premier is speaking today at a WA Community Foundation lunch, or function rather. It’s on the essential ingredients for a – 6 –

healthy community, so there’ll be interest in what Mr … Dr Gallop has to say. And Alannah MacTiernan is announcing changes to trucking permits, but out in Tonkin Highway. Important if you’re in the trucking industry. But, look, this OBE thing, still got a long way to run. There’ll be meetings day in, day out until the matter’s resolved one way or the other.

EOIN CAMERON

Peter, thanks for that….

Ends js