Premier Colin Barnett declines Opposition Leader Mark McGowan live debate offer.   

    From: AAP
    August 13, 2012
    Perth Now.

BRING IT ON: WA Opposition leader Mark McGowan challenges the Premier to a live TV debate, after being labelled a "fence sitter.'' Source: PerthNow


WEST Australian Premier Colin Barnett has refused a televised debate with opposition leader Mark McGowan after accusing him of being a "fence sitter" on key election issues.   

Mr McGowan made the challenge after the Liberal leader told his party's state conference at the weekend that his opponent's policy position on several issues was unclear. 

Mr Barnett also took a swipe at former energy minister Fran Logan over the Varanus Island gas plant explosion and called opposition spokesman for sport and recreation Mick Murray "the abalone poacher" in over his 2007 conviction for taking too much of the seafood delicacy after the season's end.

Mr McGowan, who took over from Eric Ripper as Labor leader in January, said the premier's comments were nasty and "unbecoming" of a premier and rejected the suggestion he didn't have a clear stance on key election issues.   



He called for a televised debate well before the state election in March.   

"No, I won't," Mr Barnett told reporters today.   

"There will be presumably one debate between the leaders and that will be during the election campaign in February next year."

McGowan responds to Premier's comments

At the WA Liberals' State Conference on the weekend, Mr Barnett said the state Labor leader's policy position on several fronts was unclear.

Mr McGowan, who took over from Eric Ripper in January, said the premier's comments were unsuitable for a premier.

Mr McGowan also rejected the suggestion he didn't have a clear stance on key election issues and called for a televised debate well before the state election in March.

"I'm sure there will be a debate during the election campaign but I'm more than happy to have one now as well, just so that we can get to the bottom of the many issues facing West Australians early,'' Mr McGowan said.   

And Opposition justice spokesman John Quigley claimed Mr Barnett had tried eight weeks ago to recruit him to the WA Liberals, promising a seat in cabinet if he switched parties.

Mr Quigley said he chose to divulge the approach after Mr Barnett told the WA Liberals conference on the weekend that the QC was unsuitable to hold the position of attorney-general in a Labor government because he had twice been investigated by the Corruption and Crime Commission.

Mr Quigley said both he and Mr Barnett had been investigated by the CCC and cleared.

Fairfax radio said Mr Barnett did not deny he had made the comment to Mr Quigley but said it was a flippant joke.


Comments on this story


    Christos of Perth Posted at 6:19 PM August 13, 2012

        The Emperor's new digs & the Emperor's new cloths are leaving him exposed hence his refusal to debate McGowan. Throw in cost of living pressures, Electricity, Water & Gas price increases todate with more to come and voters have the recipe to get rid of the Emperor. No one can stand an Emperor who fiddled while everyone suffers.