A senior adviser to West Australian Premier Colin Barnett has been forced to resign over emails and text messages about Opposition Leader Mark McGowan.

Mr Wyatt has compared the actions of the Liberal party staffer to that of a media adviser involved in the Prime Minister's Australia Day security scare.

The Premier says Mr Larsson acted alone and has paid a high price for his mistake.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-01-30/premier27s-adviser-resigns-over-leaks/3801...

http://btawa.org.au/2012/01/31/awkward-but-understandable-no-helmet/

From the “West Australian” Inside Cover 28-29 Jan 2012

Like a growing number of people, we like to get out on our bicycle.

So we can understand that Transport Minister Troy Buswell and his partner, Fremantle MP Adele Carles, would have enjoyed cruising about in Freo on their bicycles on Australia Day evening.

But we can’t understand why they would have done so without helmets.

A South Fremantle resident told us yesterday that she saw the pair twice during the course of the evening.

She said that on the second occasion she could not help herself, and asked:

“He said ‘at home’ and rode off, ”

she said.

We checked with police yesterday and were told that Section 222 (2) of the Road Traffic Code referred to wearing helmets on bicycles.

In a nutshell, the law states that an individual must wear an approved protective helmet, securely fastened, when riding on the road or any path.

The penalty for not doing so was $50, we were told.

Naturally we went to the pair for an explanation.

Ms Carles gave us a brief statement: “Yes, I was cycling in Freo without a helmet, as I occasionally do on the cycle path, although I always insist that children wear them.”

Mr Buswell’s bugle sent us a statement confirming he, too, had not worn a helmet.

And from the man himself: “It was unwise not to wear a helmet for the short ride down to watch the fireworks on Australia Day.

“Obviously it’s compulsory to wear a helmet while riding a bike, and there’s no excuse for not doing so.

“In recognition of the fact this offence carries a $50 penalty, I’ll donate $100 to the charity of IC’s choice.

“And I will obviously be more vigilant about wearing a helmet in future.”

Warney would have run Troy the boy over if he had said that to him!!!

Dsmithy70 wrote on Jan 31^st, 2012 at 7:43pm:



Excellent!!!

http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-/breaking/12771955/call-for-inquiry-after-in...

An independent inquiry is the only way to find out if other senior media advisers to Premier Colin Barnett were involved in leaking false information to the media about new Labor Leader Mark McGowan, the State Opposition says.

James Larsson, who was on an estimated salary of more than $100,000 before he resigned yesterday, sent a text message to journalists on January 16, telling them Mr McGowan was at a pub.

Mr McGowan was at home with his three young children at the time and had to put his children on the phone to talk to journalists to prove that he was at home.

Mr Larsson also sent an email to journalists with photographs of Mr McGowan’s $1.4 million Rockingham house, questioning whether Mr McGowan was the working-class family man he portrayed himself to be.

Mr Barnett described Mr Larsson actions as “silly” and a breach of his standards, and told him last Friday he no longer had a place in his office.

Mr Larsson resigned yesterday morning, but shadow treasurer Ben Wyatt said there were still unanswered questions.

He said it was not known who else may have known about Mr Larsson’s actions, including his superiors in the Premier’s office.

http://www.smh.com.au/wa-news/hey-big-spenderbarnett-hits-back-at-opposition-per...

Hey big spender...Barnett hits back at Opposition perks claims

Premier Colin Barnett has hit back at Opposition claims that the government has spent $16 million a year on needless salaries and perks for new public sector bosses.

Manager of Opposition Business Mark McGowan said the state government had appointed 76 new public sector chiefs since 2008 at a conservative cost of $200,000 each.

He said the director general of the new Training and Workforce Development agency reaped a salary of $336,000 and the chief of the new Mines and Petroleum agency was paid $315,000.


Figures released in Parliament revealed an increase in the ranks of the government's senior executive service from 374 at the end of September 2008 to 450 as of October last year – an increase of 20 per cent.

Mr McGowan said while public sector executives were being promoted, given pay rises and private-plated cars, requests from government agencies for additional front-line staff and resources were being rejected.

"At a time of soaring household costs and caps on the number of front-line public sector staff, the Premier is wasting millions of dollars on additional public sector bosses and consultants," he said.

"The true extent of this splurge is unknown as the Premier refuses to reveal how much he is paying for government boards and committees.

"At the same time the Barnett Government is telling Western Australian families they should tighten their belts."

philperth2010 wrote on Jan 31^st, 2012 at 8:05pm:

Was there a riot at a local pub somewhere and the WA MP dragged off by police like in Canberra. Do you have an article about it.

progressiveslol wrote on Jan 31^st, 2012 at 8:09pm:


Ethics dear boy.
Isn't your major gripe with Gillard HONESTY???

Quote:


Or am I misunderstanding, somehow he was telling the truth?