ATTORNEY
GENERAL — GIFTS AND TRAVEL — HELICOPTER FLIGHT
558. Ms M.J. DAVIES to the Premier:
I have a supplementary question. When was the Premier
informed of this trip and when did he come to the view that it was a private
matter?
Mr M. McGOWAN
replied:
In the member's question she said that the minister
was attending a private function. I am aware of people catching helicopters. I am
aware that one of her predecessors, in fact her direct predecessor, the former
member for Pilbara Brendon Grylls, went on a
helicopter ride—and guess whom he went on a helicopter ride with? It
was Clive Palmer. When he was a minister in the previous government, he
flew around in a helicopter with Clive Palmer to inspect some of Clive Palmer's
properties or leases, including the Balmoral South arrangement, and Mr Grylls
was lobbied to have an environmental bond for Balmoral South dropped. He flew
around in the helicopter with Hon Colin Holt, the former minister. That was not
declared. He did not declare it when he was the Leader of the National Party.
It came to light only because of questions asked by the then opposition.
The Leader of the National Party, as he then was, flew around
in a helicopter with Clive Palmer, inspected some of Clive Palmer's
leaseholds, and then accepted a $260 000 donation from Mr Palmer and did not
declare it. That is the Nationals WA's record. If the member's
problem is Crown providing donations, in January last year Crown provided $22 000
to the Liberal Party and $3 000 to the National Party; and in September 2019 it
provided $25 000 to the Liberal Party and $1 600 to the National Party, so the
total was a bit over $50 000. Donations are one thing. I do not object to
political donations. They are part of our system of government. Is the
objection that Crown was providing donations? If that is your objection, say it
is your objection. If the minister accepts a lift with a friend of his to a birthday
party whether it is by boat or car or any other mode of transport, that is a private
matter. I am sure that members opposite have accepted lifts from friends to
birthday parties and other functions.