Premier Colin Barnett was yesterday forced to defend himself from an extraordinary attack by axed police minister Rob Johnson, who accused him of betrayal and being “a different person” in recent weeks.
Speaking from Melbourne after his final meeting of police ministers, a bitterly disappointed Mr Johnson said Mr Barnett told him of his demotion on Monday, hours after publicly praising him at the WA Police Union conference.
Mr Johnson said he felt “betrayed because I have been absolutely loyal to Colin Barnett ever since I’ve been a minister” and claimed Thursday’s Cabinet reshuffle replacing experience with new blood contained “risk”.
Despite the full-blown attack on his judgment, including a claim Mr Barnett had been “out of sorts” since his favoured nominee Kate Lamont failed to win Liberal preselection, the Premier denied his authority had been challenged.
Asked if Mr Johnson’s position as part of his parliamentary team heading to the March election was now in jeopardy, Mr Barnett replied: “Certainly not”.
“I’m sure Rob will do as he’s always done, (be) a very professional person and continue to support the Government,” he said.
Hours before newcomers Liza Harvey, Michael Mischin and Murray Cowper were sworn in to the Police, Attorney-General and Corrective Services portfolios by Chief Justice Wayne Martin, Mr Johnson criticised his “dumping”.
“Obviously I’m disappointed that Colin Barnett made the decision to basically dump me, and that’s the truth of it, he dumped me,” he said.
“I didn’t resign, he dumped me eight months out from an election, at a time when we are actually doing quite well in the polls.
“On Monday morning when I attended the Police Union conference in Perth the Premier said what a tremendous job I had done as the police minister and how great I was only for him, less than three hours later, to basically ask me to go to his office and tell me I’m dumped.”
Mr Johnson said the decision to axe him and fellow veteran MP Liz Constable, sacked as education minister, was a risky move for the Liberal-Nationals Government.
“But of course that’s the Premier’s problem, if I can put it that way, to now deal with that risk,” he said.
Mr Johnson’s revelation he was told of his demotion on Monday casts new light on interviews he carried out as police minister during the week.
On Tuesday, he said the six-week parliamentary winter recess would be spent drafting laws to protect police pursuits and curb rowdy parties, saying: “I’ve always been a busy boy. I don’t mind hard work”.
On Wednesday, he bullishly criticised an $800 fine dished out to former footballer Ben Cousins for drug offences as equivalent to “probably two or three fixes”.
In response to claims by Mr Johnson that the Premier had said he would be police minister at the next election, Mr Barnett said: “No minister, no premier has that sort of guarantee”.
When asked if his friendship with Mr Johnson would suffer, he said: “I hope not”.
“I understand his disappointment but I’m sure when Rob gets over that disappointment he will contribute to the Government as he always has,” Mr Barnett said.
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