Dr WOODRUFF question to PREMIER, Mr ROCKLIFF
Earlier this week, we asked you if the Liberals had received donations from the Stony Rise developer, Tipalea. You refused to answer the question. During debate in the other place on your Stony Rise approval bill last night, it was confirmed the company has donated to the Liberal Party – it was freely admitted to MLCs by the CEO himself. When were you made aware of any donations from the Stony Rise developer to your party? Did any donations from Tipalea influence your government’s decision to rush through unprecedented approval legislation to benefit your donor?
Mr Abetz – If that is how you think – we do not.
Dr Woodruff – It is dodgy.
The SPEAKER – If the Leader of the House would like to raise a point of order on the question’s relevance, I am happy to hear that. I do not need interjections from Dr Woodruff.
ANSWER
Honourable Speaker, I thank the member for her question. I reject its premise. We will fight for issues and bring issues to this parliament based on their merit. The depth of concern in the local community about this project not going ahead – one which would have employed many hundreds of tradies and provided services to the community – was like no other I have ever felt before. This is why I stood up at the Liberal Party state council and said, ‘It is not good enough. It does not pass the pub test. We will fix it’ a number of months ago, before you started bumping your gums a week ago. We fixed these issues.
Members interjecting.
Mr Winter – We actually announced we would do something. Do you understand the difference between doing something and saying it?
Dr Woodruff – So shonky.
Mr ROCKLIFF – I reject that. I have said donations are for the organisation. They are. There is no influence whatsoever with respect the legislation that has gone through, except from the community. The community is who I listen to.
Dr WOODRUFF – Point of order, Standing Order 45, relevance. I asked the question ‘When was the Premier made aware of donations that had been made?’
The SPEAKER – The Premier has addressed the other parts of your questions about influence. I will draw him to the question if he is able to answer it.
Mr ROCKLIFF – To the best of my knowledge, yesterday.
Dr Woodruff – What do you mean, ‘To the best of your knowledge’?
The SPEAKER – You do not get to continue asking questions.
Dr Woodruff – What does that mean?
Mr ROCKLIFF – This is a matter for the Liberal Party organisation.
Dr Woodruff – You had no idea.
Mr ROCKLIFF – I utterly reject your inference. Utterly reject. We will get things done based on the feedback that we get from the community. The feedback was so strong that this decision, this development not going ahead, simply did not pass the pub test. I reject your slurs, if you like, in terms of your criticisms and personal attacks, which continued, as I understand, for staff members in our team as well. I tell you what, I do not engage in personal attacks when it comes to individual elected members of parliament such as yourself. I certainly do not when it comes to staff members of parliamentarians as well.
SUPPLEMENTARY QUESTION
Dr WOODRUFF – A supplementary question, Speaker?
The SPEAKER – I will hear the supplementary question. I remind members of the House that if they wish to make substantive allegations impugning motive or actions, there are ways to do that in the House.
Dr WOODRUFF – In your answer, you referred to these being matters for the organisation. Is it ever the case or the practice that you are informed by the Liberal Party when donations have been made? Do you ever get that information?
The SPEAKER – I will call the Premier insofar as he can address that matter.
A Member – That is not a supplementary question.
Dr Woodruff – Yes, it is.
The SPEAKER – Okay, I will just leave, you guys decide whether or not I will allow the question. No? Premier, the question does go to the operations in a political organisation, and not here, but the imputation is that it has had an influence in the behaviour in the House. If you are able to answer the question, I will draw you to it. If you are not, that is a matter for the House to deal with, too.
Mr ROCKLIFF – These are matters for the organisation to work through. They are at arms’ length from members of parliament. I reject the inference that you are making.
Dr Woodruff – Do you ever get told about who your donors are?
The SPEAKER – The Leader of the Greens has to stop interjecting when she is actually getting an answer for something that there was some question about, whether or not we could rule in order.
