WA Parliament Question on Notice regarding allegations of AgWest officers illegally taking plant material from private property and potential commercial exploitation. The Minister confirms an investigation but declines to table the report due to legal and ombudsman involvement.

AnsweredQoN 358Legislative Council
Asked
7 August 2001
Portfolio
Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries

QuestionView source ↗

(1) Has AgWest commissioned an independent investigation into allegations that its officers illegally took plant material from private property at 36 Peter Street, Halls Head, Mandurah? (2) Did the investigation examine whether AgWest was involved in the commercial exploitation of plants developed from the plant material taken from 36 Peter Street? (3) Will the minister table the report of the investigation; and, if not, why not? (4) Have any AgWest officers been accused of taking plants or plant material from any other property without permission; and, if so, will the minister provide details? Hon KIM CHANCE

AnswerView source ↗

I thank Hon Jim Scott for some notice of the question. (1) Yes.  The Department of Agriculture - or then AgWest - commissioned an investigation into those allegations. (2) No. (3) No.  The report deals with matters that are the subject of threatened legal action and matters that are currently being investigated by the State Ombudsman. (4) Yes.  It has been alleged that plant material was removed from a property in Wanneroo without permission or for purposes other than the purposes for which permission was given.  The department believes that permission was given.  These matters were also the subject of the report referred to in question (1).
(2) Did the investigation examine whether AgWest was involved in the commercial exploitation of plants developed from the plant material taken from 36 Peter Street? (3) Will the minister table the report of the investigation; and, if not, why not? (4) Have any AgWest officers been accused of taking plants or plant material from any other property without permission; and, if so, will the minister provide details? Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank Hon Jim Scott for some notice of the question. (1) Yes.  The Department of Agriculture - or then AgWest - commissioned an investigation into those allegations. (2) No. (3) No.  The report deals with matters that are the subject of threatened legal action and matters that are currently being investigated by the State Ombudsman. (4) Yes.  It has been alleged that plant material was removed from a property in Wanneroo without permission or for purposes other than the purposes for which permission was given.  The department believes that permission was given.  These matters were also the subject of the report referred to in question (1).
(3) Will the minister table the report of the investigation; and, if not, why not? (4) Have any AgWest officers been accused of taking plants or plant material from any other property without permission; and, if so, will the minister provide details? Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank Hon Jim Scott for some notice of the question. (1) Yes.  The Department of Agriculture - or then AgWest - commissioned an investigation into those allegations. (2) No. (3) No.  The report deals with matters that are the subject of threatened legal action and matters that are currently being investigated by the State Ombudsman. (4) Yes.  It has been alleged that plant material was removed from a property in Wanneroo without permission or for purposes other than the purposes for which permission was given.  The department believes that permission was given.  These matters were also the subject of the report referred to in question (1).
(4) Have any AgWest officers been accused of taking plants or plant material from any other property without permission; and, if so, will the minister provide details? Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank Hon Jim Scott for some notice of the question. (1) Yes.  The Department of Agriculture - or then AgWest - commissioned an investigation into those allegations. (2) No. (3) No.  The report deals with matters that are the subject of threatened legal action and matters that are currently being investigated by the State Ombudsman. (4) Yes.  It has been alleged that plant material was removed from a property in Wanneroo without permission or for purposes other than the purposes for which permission was given.  The department believes that permission was given.  These matters were also the subject of the report referred to in question (1).
Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank Hon Jim Scott for some notice of the question. (1) Yes.  The Department of Agriculture - or then AgWest - commissioned an investigation into those allegations. (2) No. (3) No.  The report deals with matters that are the subject of threatened legal action and matters that are currently being investigated by the State Ombudsman. (4) Yes.  It has been alleged that plant material was removed from a property in Wanneroo without permission or for purposes other than the purposes for which permission was given.  The department believes that permission was given.  These matters were also the subject of the report referred to in question (1).
I thank Hon Jim Scott for some notice of the question. (1) Yes.  The Department of Agriculture - or then AgWest - commissioned an investigation into those allegations. (2) No. (3) No.  The report deals with matters that are the subject of threatened legal action and matters that are currently being investigated by the State Ombudsman. (4) Yes.  It has been alleged that plant material was removed from a property in Wanneroo without permission or for purposes other than the purposes for which permission was given.  The department believes that permission was given.  These matters were also the subject of the report referred to in question (1).
(1) Yes.  The Department of Agriculture - or then AgWest - commissioned an investigation into those allegations. (2) No. (3) No.  The report deals with matters that are the subject of threatened legal action and matters that are currently being investigated by the State Ombudsman. (4) Yes.  It has been alleged that plant material was removed from a property in Wanneroo without permission or for purposes other than the purposes for which permission was given.  The department believes that permission was given.  These matters were also the subject of the report referred to in question (1).
(2) No. (3) No.  The report deals with matters that are the subject of threatened legal action and matters that are currently being investigated by the State Ombudsman. (4) Yes.  It has been alleged that plant material was removed from a property in Wanneroo without permission or for purposes other than the purposes for which permission was given.  The department believes that permission was given.  These matters were also the subject of the report referred to in question (1).
(3) No.  The report deals with matters that are the subject of threatened legal action and matters that are currently being investigated by the State Ombudsman. (4) Yes.  It has been alleged that plant material was removed from a property in Wanneroo without permission or for purposes other than the purposes for which permission was given.  The department believes that permission was given.  These matters were also the subject of the report referred to in question (1).
(4) Yes.  It has been alleged that plant material was removed from a property in Wanneroo without permission or for purposes other than the purposes for which permission was given.  The department believes that permission was given.  These matters were also the subject of the report referred to in question (1).

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