Baillieu Must Choose: Ryan Or Tilley

Premier Ted Baillieu came to power promising a “no spin” Government.

That’s why it was so extraordinary to read this transcript of a doorstop by Mr Baillieu, where he spent his time ducking and weaving questions.

The questions were simple and all Victorians deserve an answer.

Whose version of events does Mr Baillieu back? Mr Tilley’s or Mr Ryan’s? He can’t back both.

Following is an extract from the transcript of a press conference by Premier Ted Baillieu on Monday 31 October 2011. You can read the full transcript here.

REPORTER:
Bill Tilley said that he’s told the truth. Who do you believe, Bill Tilley or Peter Ryan?

TED BAILLIEU:
Well, can I make the point John, that we’ve had an independent and very extensive examination of these issues. Conclusions have been reported upon, recommendations made, and we accept those and I don’t intend to re-examine those issues.

REPORTER:
But, do you back…I mean, do you back Bill Tilley or Peter Ryan?

TED BAILLIEU:
Well, I can say both Bill and Peter are making a fantastic contribution. I’m not going to get into this speculation.

REPORTER:
You talked before about Qantas and reputations. I mean, what that…this episode, what’s that done for the reputation of your government first year in?

TED BAILLIEU:
Just say again?

REPORTER:
I mean, you talked before about reputation and Qantas. The OPI report: what’s that done to your government?

TED BAILLIEU:
Well, I made the point on Thursday that I’m very disappointed. We have gone out of our way to try and inject into our staff and our team the need to conduct themselves with care and to conduct themselves in a sensible fashion. Now, this report has reached some conclusions, made some recommendations, we accept those. And, aside from that, I say again I was disappointed.

REPORTER:
How do you resolve the fact though that two members of your team are contradicting each other and there’s no resolution to that?

TED BAILLIEU:
Well, there are no such conclusions in the report. The report’s extensive, independent…the report is the result of the use of extraordinary powers and we accept the conclusions that are in the report and the recommendations.

REPORTER:
But, to the evidence in the report…the evidence in report very clearly states conflicting views by Bill Tilley and Peter Ryan.

TED BAILLIEU:
Well, there are no such conclusions in the report.

REPORTER:
Well, no, there’s evidence but the evidence…

TED BAILLIEU:
Well, there are no such conclusions in the report.

REPORTER:
But, do you agree that the evidence…they contradicted each other?

TED BAILLIEU:
Well, I’m not going to get into the game of second-guessing what’s been an extensive independent report using significant powers.

REPORTER:
Leaving aside the report though, Bill Tilley and Peter Ryan are still contradicting each other on radio and in the pages of newspapers. How do you resolve this situation when two of your senior MPs are in conflict like this?

TED BAILLIEU:
Well, I don’t accept your assumptions there, but I’d say that both Bill and Peter have been doing a fantastic job and the team’s working well.

REPORTER:
Sorry, which assumption don’t you accept?

TED BAILLIEU:
Well, if you wanted to repeat the question. The assumption about the contradictions?

REPORTER:
Well, Peter Ryan said explicitly when he was asked about Bill Tilley’s [inaudible], he said that’s not my recollection. So, he has put it on the public record at a doorstop that he disagreed with Bill Tilley. Doesn’t that concern you?

TED BAILLIEU:
Well, I make the point that there are no such conclusions in the report and I’m not going to get into the game of second-guessing it.

REPORTER:
[Inaudible] beyond the pages of that report, and the world that we’re all living in, does it concern you that have minister [inaudible] disagreeing with each other?

TED BAILLIEU:
Well, I’m not going to get into the game of second-guessing the report and I’d suggest it’s not something you should be doing, either.

REPORTER:
But the evidence…we’re talking about the actual evidence in the report, is clear that they talk about the fact that Peter Ryan says ‘A’ and Bill Tilley says ‘B’. That’s what the report says.

TED BAILLIEU:
Well, there has been an extensive independent report. That report, has included a number of conclusions which we accept and some recommendations we accept. There are no conclusions about the matters you raise.

REPORTER:
It’s because they weren’t investigating Peter Ryan or Bill Tilley. I mean, you know that, don’t you?

TED BAILLIEU:
I think if you read the report, there’s a fair degree of investigation that has taken place, and I’m not going to second-guess that report.

REPORTER:
Who will replace Bill Tilley as Parliamentary Secretary?

TED BAILLIEU:
We’ll give consideration to those matters, but we’ve made no decisions around it.

REPORTER:
Will you decide this week?

TED BAILLIEU:
I’m sorry?

REPORTER:
Will you decide this week?

TED BAILLIEU:
Oh well, we’ll give consideration to it.