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Parliamentary Questions


Question Without Notice No. 558 asked in the Legislative Assembly on 12 October 2021 by Ms M.J. Davies

Parliament: 41 Session: 1

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.