Dr WOODRUFF question to PREMIER, Mr ROCKLIFF
Last night, this parliament expressed its will on political donations. That will is to have full transparency. In the spirit of this, and given the diabolical state of the marine environment, will you come clean and tell Tasmanians the price for your secret deals? From the last five years of undisclosed Liberal Party donations, how much of the $13 million that went to the Liberals came from big salmon companies? If you are going to try your tired old ‘that is a matter for the Liberal Party’ response, will you take this question on notice, pick up the phone to Sam McQuestin, and advise the House by the end of the day?
The SPEAKER – I will call the Premier to the question, noting that he can answer it as much as it is in the public interest but, obviously, internal party processes are matters for each of the parties in this parliament to deal with separately.
Mr ROCKLIFF – Honourable Speaker, I reject the premise of the member’s question. You have a little bit more transparency to put on the table as well because you hide all your donations through the Australian Greens, if my memory serves me correctly.
Members interjecting.
Dr WOODRUFF – Point of order, honourable Speaker, I ask the Premier to withdraw that. That is a false statement. We do not hide anything. The Tasmanian Greens are fully transparent about our donations.
The SPEAKER – Before the Premier responds, there are two ways of dealing with this. If you have been personally offended – and you need to demonstrate how you are personally offended – I can ask the Premier to withdraw. Otherwise, if you feel the Premier has made a misleading statement, I call on the Premier to be aware of his obligations there. You have substantive processes of the House you may take. I call the Premier to the question.
Mr ROCKLIFF – Not to mention the $1.6 million donation to the Tasmanian Greens to shut down the forest industry, effectively, which is shameful. I reject the premise of the question. Donations are a matter for the Liberal Party organisation, but we will always comply with the law.
SUPPLEMENTARY QUESTION
Dr WOODRUFF – A supplementary question, Speaker.
The SPEAKER – I will hear the supplementary question.
Dr WOODRUFF – I asked the Premier not to use his tired old response and say it was a matter for the Liberal Party. On behalf of Tasmanians who are demanding transparency, pick up the phone to your Liberal Party president and ask him how much of that $13 million went from the big salmon corporates to your party.
The SPEAKER – It was the original question. I fear that when I allow the supplementary, you will receive the same answer, but I will call the Premier to that. The only question was whether you would make direct contact.
Mr ROCKLIFF – Dr Woodruff, all political parties should abide by the law and the Liberal Party will and is abiding by the law. Should the laws change then we will continue to abide by the law in terms of donation transparency.
Dr Woodruff – How much have you been paid for the damage that happened to the marine environment?
The SPEAKER – Order, Leader of the Greens, if people interject on you, you are rightly offended.
