WA premier’s office behind Riverton MP’s ‘protection team’ stunt

A plan for Labor backbenchers to form a human shield around embattled Riverton MP Dr Jags Krishnan as he entered parliament on Wednesday was hatched in the premier’s office without Roger Cook’s knowledge.

The revelation came as the opposition tried to turn the heat on Krishnan in parliament by calling on the powerful lower house Procedure and Privileges Committee to probe his debts and disclosures.

WAtoday understands a staff member in the premier’s office asked two MPs to support Krishnan as he arrived at parliament to a waiting press pack on Wednesday.

Journalists tried to ask him questions about alleged debts reported by this masthead, including a $300,000 loan from a Perth doctor who had been pleading with Krishnan to repay the money to pay for therapy for his disabled daughter.

Instead, what ensued were chaotic scenes as government whip Terry Healey, Cockburn MP David Scaife and upper house MPs Pierre Yang and Kate Doust surrounded Krishnan to push through the press pack towards the south entrance door.

During the doorstop, Healey asked journalists, “Did you have a chance to go to the remembrance ceremony today?” while Scaife called the reporters “a disgrace”.

Krishnan himself stopped and told press he wasn’t going to make a statement, but would do when all was settled – referring to the settlement of the current sale of the GP business he co-founded, Spectrum Health Group.

On Thursday morning, parliament staff placed velvet barriers outside the south entrance to prevent press from approaching elected members at the south entrance doors where “doorstop” interviews are traditionally held.

Cook himself was unaware that a member of his staff had called on MPs to support Krishnan, and in a statement said what happened yesterday was “not ideal”.

“I’ve said repeatedly since the attack on Helen Haines we need to all take the temperature down,” he said.

But speaking later on Thursday, Cook struck a different tone, suggesting media were impeding Krishnan and the other MPs’ passage into parliament.

“If Jags … or anyone doesn’t wish to answer the questions of the media, well, they’re entitled to do so,” he said.

“Now, you might question whether that is the best media strategy. You might film them making their way into the building without answering questions. But that is what has always been: members of Parliament should be able to enter the building without being impeded by anyone.

“Members of the media should be respected in the work that they do.”

Cook said he admired the four MPs for standing up and supporting their colleague, and deflected questions on the use of barriers, saying they were up to the presiding members of parliament.

Opposition Leader Basil Zempilas described Wednesday’s scenes as outrageous.

“This is a government very clearly now in damage control. The wheels have fallen off this government. That action yesterday was appalling,” he said.

“To use one of their bigger members of parliament to barge a path through this area, past journalists – very experienced journalists – and to use Remembrance Day somehow in the ruse. How totally disrespectful.”

When Zempilas asked Scaife in parliament on Thursday morning whether he supported his “disgrace” comments, he nodded his head, but rose a few hours later to apologise for the remark, saying he regretted making it, and it was said in the heat of the moment.

Housing Minister John Carey and Police Minister Reece Whitby, both former journalists, also distanced themselves from the behaviour.

“I think there was a bit of enthusiasm. It was silly. It shouldn’t have happened, and you know you don’t get in between [7 News reporter] Geof Parry and a story. That’s a lesson from that,” Whitby said.

Carey said: “It wasn’t preferable.”

“Backbenchers have less experience dealing with the media, but you know I do fully believe in the right of the media to access politicians,” he said.

He said the velvet rope wasn’t necessary.

“I believe that journalists have a right to hold us account. That’s why I do a lot of press conferences – three this week”

Inside parliament, the opposition’s motion to stand up the powerful Procedure and Privileges Committee failed.

Zempilas urged Labor members to support the motion, reading out comments made to this masthead from the doctor who allegedly loaned $300,000 to Krishnan about his attempts to be repaid.

“Now, why is that important to everybody here? We’re not owed that money. It’s not our money, but it is important to everybody here because one, we’re all duty bound by the same reporting obligations,” he said.

“We’re all duty bound by the same responsibilities to our constituents and to the people of Western Australia, who we seek to serve.”

Krishnan also spoke on the motion, reiterating previous comments that the loans would be resolved once the sale of his business was completed “in the months ahead”.

“All outstanding matters will be resolved upon settlement,” he said.

“At present, there are disputes going through the courts, and as such, I am unable to make further comments on these matters right now.”

Krishnan said he had also taken legal advice about his parliamentary declarations, and was confident these were in order.

“If my circumstances change, I will update my declarations as necessary,” he said.

“Serving as a member of parliament has been a privilege of my life.

“I understand and accept the public interest in these matters, but I can assure my colleagues and this parliament. My priority continues to be serving the people of Riverton.”

Deputy Premier Rita Saffioti shot down the motion, saying there was not enough evidence to stand up the committee.

“You have not brought in new evidence. You have not addressed the motion that you put forward, and you spent majority of the time talking about issues that were not covered by this motion,” she said.

Zempilas said the point of calling on the committee was so they could probe Krishnan’s disclosures and debts.

Krishnan has not disclosed any debts to parliament beyond noting a loan with “CBA”.

He has also disclosed his family business from which he derived income from through Spectrum Health Group.