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Parliamentary Questions


Question Without Notice No. 1147 asked in the Legislative Council on 16 October 2019 by Hon Michael Mischin

Parliament: 40 Session: 1

STANDING COMMITTEE ON PROCEDURE AND PRIVILEGES —FIFTY-SIXTH REPORT — LEGAL ADVICE

1147. Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN to the Leader of the House representing the Attorney General:

I refer to my several questions to the Attorney General concerning the letter from the Clerk of the Legislative Council to the State Solicitor dated 28 August 2019, which the Attorney General now admits to showing to a reporter from The West Australian.

(1) Did the Attorney General show the letter to the reporter before it was tabled as part of the fifty-sixth report?

(2) Where, on what date and at what time was it revealed to the reporter?

(3) Who was the reporter?

Hon SUE ELLERY replied:

I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question.

(1)–(3) Under longstanding conventions and practices in Westminster democracies around the world, members of Parliament talk to the press, whose participation in the political process is vital to an open and free society. The Western Australian state Parliament, along with every other institution of its kind, recognises this important role by making provision for a press gallery within the building. It would be unrealistic, impractical and inappropriate for every member of Parliament who talks to the media to disclose publicly where, on what date and at what time the discussions took place, and with whom.