Westport—Hon Kyle McGinn—Washington trip
10. Mr Basil Zempilas to the Premier:
I refer to media reports about Labor MLC Hon Kyle McGinn's trip to Washington to warn senior US politicians about the state government's Westport project.
(1) Did Hon Kyle McGinn inform anyone in the state government about his trip either before or after?
(2) Was he a parliamentary secretary during the time he was in Washington?
(3) Why did the Premier refuse to take any action against Hon Kyle McGinn given the potential damage to the AUKUS agreement caused by his lobbying?
Mr Roger Cook replied:
I thank the member for the question.
(1)–(3) I can inform the chamber that the government is fully committed to the Westport project. This is a multigenerational project that will ensure that Western Australia has the economic infrastructure it needs to continue to be a nation-leading economy. That includes a government that has finally taken the steps to ensure that we have a world-class port facility to ensure that we have the infrastructure and the capacity to maintain our container traffic into the future.
As I said, this is a multigenerational project. It is a very important one. If we had listened to the words of the previous Liberal–National government, we would have seen no action taken in relation to Fremantle port. In fact, the previous mob tried to privatise Fremantle port.
Point of order
Mr Liam Staltari: I point to standing order 78 about relevance. The Premier was asked specifically about the actions of Mr McGinn and has failed to answer.
The Speaker: Thank you, member. There is no point of order. The Premier is starting his response and still has a way to go to complete that. Carry on, Premier.
Questions without notice resumed
Mr Roger Cook: Westport will play a critical role in ensuring Western Australia remains a global economic and industrial powerhouse by integrating the state's premier industrial and trade areas with our premier international trade gateway. It will be an important part. We all understand there are a range of views about Westport. Of course, the union of which Mr McGinn is a member has particular views on it as well. We understand those views and that is why we work with all stakeholders, including Mr McGinn's union, in relation to these things.
While Mr McGinn was on holiday in the US, having paid his own way there, he attended a meeting of, essentially, the international branch of the maritime union. It was at that particular event that he expressed some views and spoke to some papers that were tabled at it. Mr McGinn did this on his own free time under his own resources and, of course, as a member of the community and not as a representative of the government.
In the meantime, we have also had another important representative of the government in the US—Hon Paul Papalia, who is the Minister for Defence Industries. He undertook a range of meetings and had discussions on our defence industry ambitions. I think members will find that people in the US are listening to Hon Paul Papalia, not someone who was on their holidays under their own free will and under their own steam and having funded their own particular activities.
11. Mr Basil Zempilas to the Premier:
I have a supplementary question. I ask again because I did not get an answer. Did Hon Kyle McGinn inform anyone in the state government about his trip; was he a parliamentary secretary during the time he was in Washington; and why has the Premier refused to take any action against Hon Kyle McGinn given the potential damage to AUKUS caused by his lobbying?
Mr Roger Cook replied:
Mr McGinn took holidays, so I cannot tell the member whether he told me about his holidays. He has not shown me any holiday snaps, so I cannot speak for who he informed he was going on holidays with or who he informed of those holidays.
