Mr GUNNER - 2016-02-10
Clause 8.8 of the Ministerial Code of Conduct, titled ‘Improper Advantage’ states:
By your own admissions today you have clearly breached your own Ministerial Code of Conduct. When will you do the right thing and resign?
Madam SPEAKER: Honourable members, the question is in order.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I am not reflecting on the ruling, but I thought questions had to be in relation to portfolio matters.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Katherine, the question was in regard to your work in your portfolio and your activities overseas as the minister for Primary Industry, so it is within the bounds of an appropriate question.
Mr WESTRA van HOLTHE: I am happy to talk about the work I have done as minister, supported by my colleagues in the Department of Primary Industry and Fisheries over the past three-and-a-half years.
As the Chief Minister rightly pointed out, my work began in earnest in 2012, trying to repair the damage done by the Labor Party and its devastating ban on the live cattle trade to Indonesia.
It has taken an enormous effort to restore that relationship. It was not just about damaging an industry; it was something I have previously called the worst political and diplomatic decision this country has ever made. It damaged the relationship between the two nations of Australia and Indonesia. We saw the Territory Labor Party supporting a decision made by Julia Gillard and Joe Ludwig. It has taken an enormous amount of work.
We realised from that there was but one main market and we had all our eggs in that basket. We went searching for new opportunities for our live cattle trade. Vietnam is one that has shone since the work began there in earnest. As I said in my personal explanation, the export value has grown from $500 000, which is almost nothing in the trade, through to $38m last year under my watch.
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 110. The Labor government went after the Vietnamese market. Will you answer the question?
Madam SPEAKER: No, that is not a point of order. Member for Karama, sit down please.
Mr WESTRA van HOLTHE: That market has been developing, and as I said in my personal explanation, those trade missions are bloody hard work. Some of those opposite have been ministers and they would know. I do not know if they ever went overseas and worked hard on any of their trade delegations ...
Ms FYLES: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 110. By your own admissions today you clearly breached the code. Why will you not answer the question? Do the right thing and resign!
Madam SPEAKER: No, that is not a point of order.
Mr WESTRA van HOLTHE: The point I am getting to is that the workload of ministers and ministerial delegations when they are overseas is such that they do not have time to go gallivanting around the place trying to feather their own nests. I have not received any personal advantage from the work I have done as the Primary Industry minister – none whatsoever. You would think if I had some personal advantage to declare it would be because I had some financial or pecuniary interest in an investment, and that does not exist.
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, your time has expired.
- Ministers are not to use their position improperly to gain a direct or indirect personal advantage for themselves, or any other person or entity, not enjoyed by the general public. Ministers are not to use information obtained in the course of their official duties so as to gain a direct or indirect personal advantage for themselves or improperly for any other person or entity not enjoyed by the general public.
By your own admissions today you have clearly breached your own Ministerial Code of Conduct. When will you do the right thing and resign?
Madam SPEAKER: Honourable members, the question is in order.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I am not reflecting on the ruling, but I thought questions had to be in relation to portfolio matters.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Katherine, the question was in regard to your work in your portfolio and your activities overseas as the minister for Primary Industry, so it is within the bounds of an appropriate question.
Mr WESTRA van HOLTHE: I am happy to talk about the work I have done as minister, supported by my colleagues in the Department of Primary Industry and Fisheries over the past three-and-a-half years.
As the Chief Minister rightly pointed out, my work began in earnest in 2012, trying to repair the damage done by the Labor Party and its devastating ban on the live cattle trade to Indonesia.
It has taken an enormous effort to restore that relationship. It was not just about damaging an industry; it was something I have previously called the worst political and diplomatic decision this country has ever made. It damaged the relationship between the two nations of Australia and Indonesia. We saw the Territory Labor Party supporting a decision made by Julia Gillard and Joe Ludwig. It has taken an enormous amount of work.
We realised from that there was but one main market and we had all our eggs in that basket. We went searching for new opportunities for our live cattle trade. Vietnam is one that has shone since the work began there in earnest. As I said in my personal explanation, the export value has grown from $500 000, which is almost nothing in the trade, through to $38m last year under my watch.
Ms LAWRIE: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 110. The Labor government went after the Vietnamese market. Will you answer the question?
Madam SPEAKER: No, that is not a point of order. Member for Karama, sit down please.
Mr WESTRA van HOLTHE: That market has been developing, and as I said in my personal explanation, those trade missions are bloody hard work. Some of those opposite have been ministers and they would know. I do not know if they ever went overseas and worked hard on any of their trade delegations ...
Ms FYLES: A point of order, Madam Speaker! Standing Order 110. By your own admissions today you clearly breached the code. Why will you not answer the question? Do the right thing and resign!
Madam SPEAKER: No, that is not a point of order.
Mr WESTRA van HOLTHE: The point I am getting to is that the workload of ministers and ministerial delegations when they are overseas is such that they do not have time to go gallivanting around the place trying to feather their own nests. I have not received any personal advantage from the work I have done as the Primary Industry minister – none whatsoever. You would think if I had some personal advantage to declare it would be because I had some financial or pecuniary interest in an investment, and that does not exist.
Madam SPEAKER: Minister, your time has expired.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016