Opposition Leader Basil Zempilas Defends Confrontation with Labor MP Over Bullsbrook Power Outages
Opposition Leader Basil Zempilas has defended a heated confrontation with Labor MP Michelle Maynard, which was triggered by frequent power outages in Bullsbrook. The Cook Government has accused him of intimidating behaviour, but Mr Zempilas insists he was merely presenting factual data from Western Power's website.
Details of the Incident in Parliament
Michelle Maynard, the Swan Hills MP, reported that Mr Zempilas made a beeline for her and stood over her after Question Time on Wednesday, making her feel intimidated. The confrontation occurred after she interjected during his questioning of the Energy Minister about 16 power outages in nine days during February. Ms Maynard disputed the timeline, yelling, It wasn't nine days, that's misinformation.
Footage from Parliament's cameras showed Mr Zempilas approaching Ms Maynard and standing alongside her for approximately 80 seconds, until other Labor MPs intervened and asked him to sit down. He apologized on Wednesday night and explained to reporters on Thursday that he was showing her the outage records from Western Power's website. I had the facts. I had the data, Mr Zempilas stated, describing it as a back and forth conversation.
Responses and Reactions from Political Figures
Mr Zempilas acknowledged he would behave differently in the future, saying, I won't seek out a member at the end of question time again. He accepted Ms Maynard's request for an apology but rejected Labor's claims that his actions constituted bullying. I feel that was the right thing to do, and I think that that matter was handled in the chamber by the Speaker, and that's where it should stay, he added, noting he hasn't spoken to her directly since the incident.
Ms Maynard clarified her feelings, stating, I didn't feel threatened. I felt intimidated. And I think that's a distinction. She expressed gratitude for her Labor colleagues who intervened, as she felt uneasy when Mr Zempilas sat near the exit, blocking her path. Other MPs weighed in on the matter:
- Rita Saffioti compared the incident to a shirt-front after the siren of a football match, calling it completely unacceptable.
- Cabinet secretary Daniel Pastorelli described the behaviour as aggressive, noting he had to ask Mr Zempilas three times to leave.
- Shadow Treasurer Sandra Brewer viewed it as a good debate about power supply, highlighting the verbal combat common in Parliament.
Speaker's Statement and Broader Context
Speaker Stephen Price declared the matter over, stating it was appropriately dealt with in the chamber. He acknowledged that behaviour in Parliament has improved but noted, Still some improvement to go. This incident follows a recent apology from Education Minister Sabine Winton for offensive remarks, underscoring ongoing tensions in the legislative body.
The confrontation highlights broader issues of conduct and debate in Parliament, with Mr Zempilas emphasizing his intent to focus on factual data while critics raise concerns about intimidation and aggression in political discourse.
