Kerry Stokes’ cabinet dinner was the first of its kind for Roger Cook

A cabinet dinner hosted at media billionaire Kerry Stokes’ riverside mansion in December was the first of its kind Roger Cook has attended in his career, the WA premier has revealed.

Cook’s cabinet attended the Jutland Parade property in mid-December, billed as an event thanking the WA government for its support of Stokes’ children’s medical research charity Telethon.

WA Premier Roger Cook and Seven West Media chairman Kerry Stokes.Credit: WAtoday

Stokes and his wife Christine hosted the event, which was also attended by former premier Mark McGowan and Seven West Media boss Maryna Fewster and The West Australian editor-in-chief Chris Dore.

Cook said it was his first time in his career that he’d attended such an event and denied there was any issue with his entire cabinet dining with the influential billionaire.

The premier said it was a good opportunity to engage with the “Telethon team”.

“There was no roll call taken, if they were all invited, if they all attended, that’s great, but it was an important opportunity to celebrate a great WA institution,” he said.

“I think the message to the WA public is that my WA Labor government supports Telethon, we support child health charities, and we thank the work that Mr Stokes does to make sure that over many years, we’ve raised literally over hundreds of millions of dollars.

“It’s an important WA institution, and I think everyone would expect us to engage deeply with the Telethon team. This provided us with another opportunity, and we took that opportunity.”

Police Minister Reece Whitby confirmed to 6PR on Thursday he attended the dinner and noted he was an employee of Stokes when he worked as a journalist at Channel 7 before entering politics.

“If it’s about Telethon or raising money for kids, I’ll be there, and I’ll let you in on a little secret – the highlight of the evening was watching Mr Stokes put on a video about Telethon,” he said.

“It just showed to me his deep sense of compassion and commitment to the cause, and it was very touching moment, one of those moments of the former TV journalist, I wish I had a camera there to capture.”

Deputy Premier Rita Saffioti also confirmed she attended the dinner and, to her knowledge, it was the first of its kind she had attended.

“I think the public love Telethon, and I think the public really respect Mr Stokes for what he’s done for Telethon over many, many years. I actually believe that,” he said.

Asked why the whole cabinet needed to attend and whether ministers could have spent their time better elsewhere, Saffioti reponded: “I think we work pretty hard.”

“I think we’re seen as a hard-working cabinet and in relation to this, this is a Western Australian institution where you have young kids selling lemonade on the streets, donating to Telethon.”

Opposition Leader Basil Zempilas is a former employee of Stokes and has hosted several Telethons in the past.

He revealed to 6PR on Thursday he would likely part ways with Telethon after having taken on the opposition leader role.

“We haven’t settled on it, but my sense is .... I think it’s probably best that we separate those roles and I think that that’s fair enough,” Zempilas said.

“Of course, I hope to get on there and give a check on behalf of the Liberal party this year, and I will play any behind-the-scenes role that I might get asked to.

“But in terms of being the face or having that very pivotal role, I think it is probably right that we go our separate ways in that sense.”

Asked whether it was acceptable for the WA cabinet to attend the December dinner, Zempilas said it was up to them.

“They were invited? They didn’t just rock up on the front door one day with a bottle of wine under their arm?” he asked.

“We get a lot of invitations from a lot of people as politicians and people in public life and office, and it is entirely your prerogative whether you decide to accept the invitation or not accept the invitation.”

Zempilas said he had also dined at his former boss’ mansion in years past, but not since his election to parliament.

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