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

Detailed summary

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

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”.

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