❓ A parliamentary question regarding the Western Power MD's external directorships and potential conflicts of interest. The Minister defends the appointment, highlighting the board's approval and the MD's relevant expertise.
AnsweredQoN 941Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I again refer the minister to the transcript of the comments he made on Radio 6PR on 15 August 2003 regarding the working hours of the new Managing Director of Western Power in which he stated that “…there have been occasions when he’s gone [from work] earlier, he does have some directorship of other companies…so he does go back for meetings of those other boards of which he’s a director…” I ask - (1) Of which companies, utilities and organisations does the new managing director hold directorship or board membership? (2) Does the minister consider Dr van der Mye’s directorship and/or board membership of other companies, utilities and organisations to be of benefit to Western Power? (3) If not, why is the minister permitting the new managing director to tend to these matters during his hours as a highly paid Western Australian government employee? Mr E.S. RIPPER
AnswerView source ↗
(1)-(3) What is going on here is a continued personal attack on Dr van der Mye. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr E.S. RIPPER: The State is lucky to have acquired someone with experience in running the national electricity market at precisely the time it will create a Western Australian electricity market. Dr Stephen van der Mye has been hired for his expertise. He was hired by the board of Western Power, with my concurrence, from a shortlist of people who were all from the eastern States. The details of his employment contract were, as the Opposition knows very well, negotiated between the board and Dr Stephen van der Mye. In fact, the chief negotiator was someone that the Leader of the Opposition knows very well - Malcolm Macpherson, Chairman of the Western Power board, who was also appointed chairman of the Western Power board when the Leader of the Opposition was the Minister for Energy. I presume the Leader of the Opposition and his colleagues will not be attacking Malcolm Macpherson. Mr Macpherson negotiated the contract with Dr Stephen van der Mye and dealt with the question of Dr van der Mye’s existing directorships. I am advised that those directorships comprise the directorship of a small bank and an agricultural cooperative. I was not aware of those matters until the Opposition’s question last Thursday, because these matters were negotiated as part of the employment contract for a person whose expertise was required in this State by Malcolm Macpherson on behalf of the board of directors of Western Power.
(1) Of which companies, utilities and organisations does the new managing director hold directorship or board membership? (2) Does the minister consider Dr van der Mye’s directorship and/or board membership of other companies, utilities and organisations to be of benefit to Western Power? (3) If not, why is the minister permitting the new managing director to tend to these matters during his hours as a highly paid Western Australian government employee? Mr E.S. RIPPER replied: (1)-(3) What is going on here is a continued personal attack on Dr van der Mye. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr E.S. RIPPER: The State is lucky to have acquired someone with experience in running the national electricity market at precisely the time it will create a Western Australian electricity market. Dr Stephen van der Mye has been hired for his expertise. He was hired by the board of Western Power, with my concurrence, from a shortlist of people who were all from the eastern States. The details of his employment contract were, as the Opposition knows very well, negotiated between the board and Dr Stephen van der Mye. In fact, the chief negotiator was someone that the Leader of the Opposition knows very well - Malcolm Macpherson, Chairman of the Western Power board, who was also appointed chairman of the Western Power board when the Leader of the Opposition was the Minister for Energy. I presume the Leader of the Opposition and his colleagues will not be attacking Malcolm Macpherson. Mr Macpherson negotiated the contract with Dr Stephen van der Mye and dealt with the question of Dr van der Mye’s existing directorships. I am advised that those directorships comprise the directorship of a small bank and an agricultural cooperative. I was not aware of those matters until the Opposition’s question last Thursday, because these matters were negotiated as part of the employment contract for a person whose expertise was required in this State by Malcolm Macpherson on behalf of the board of directors of Western Power.
(2) Does the minister consider Dr van der Mye’s directorship and/or board membership of other companies, utilities and organisations to be of benefit to Western Power? (3) If not, why is the minister permitting the new managing director to tend to these matters during his hours as a highly paid Western Australian government employee? Mr E.S. RIPPER replied: (1)-(3) What is going on here is a continued personal attack on Dr van der Mye. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr E.S. RIPPER: The State is lucky to have acquired someone with experience in running the national electricity market at precisely the time it will create a Western Australian electricity market. Dr Stephen van der Mye has been hired for his expertise. He was hired by the board of Western Power, with my concurrence, from a shortlist of people who were all from the eastern States. The details of his employment contract were, as the Opposition knows very well, negotiated between the board and Dr Stephen van der Mye. In fact, the chief negotiator was someone that the Leader of the Opposition knows very well - Malcolm Macpherson, Chairman of the Western Power board, who was also appointed chairman of the Western Power board when the Leader of the Opposition was the Minister for Energy. I presume the Leader of the Opposition and his colleagues will not be attacking Malcolm Macpherson. Mr Macpherson negotiated the contract with Dr Stephen van der Mye and dealt with the question of Dr van der Mye’s existing directorships. I am advised that those directorships comprise the directorship of a small bank and an agricultural cooperative. I was not aware of those matters until the Opposition’s question last Thursday, because these matters were negotiated as part of the employment contract for a person whose expertise was required in this State by Malcolm Macpherson on behalf of the board of directors of Western Power.
(3) If not, why is the minister permitting the new managing director to tend to these matters during his hours as a highly paid Western Australian government employee? Mr E.S. RIPPER replied: (1)-(3) What is going on here is a continued personal attack on Dr van der Mye. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr E.S. RIPPER: The State is lucky to have acquired someone with experience in running the national electricity market at precisely the time it will create a Western Australian electricity market. Dr Stephen van der Mye has been hired for his expertise. He was hired by the board of Western Power, with my concurrence, from a shortlist of people who were all from the eastern States. The details of his employment contract were, as the Opposition knows very well, negotiated between the board and Dr Stephen van der Mye. In fact, the chief negotiator was someone that the Leader of the Opposition knows very well - Malcolm Macpherson, Chairman of the Western Power board, who was also appointed chairman of the Western Power board when the Leader of the Opposition was the Minister for Energy. I presume the Leader of the Opposition and his colleagues will not be attacking Malcolm Macpherson. Mr Macpherson negotiated the contract with Dr Stephen van der Mye and dealt with the question of Dr van der Mye’s existing directorships. I am advised that those directorships comprise the directorship of a small bank and an agricultural cooperative. I was not aware of those matters until the Opposition’s question last Thursday, because these matters were negotiated as part of the employment contract for a person whose expertise was required in this State by Malcolm Macpherson on behalf of the board of directors of Western Power.
Mr E.S. RIPPER replied: (1)-(3) What is going on here is a continued personal attack on Dr van der Mye. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr E.S. RIPPER: The State is lucky to have acquired someone with experience in running the national electricity market at precisely the time it will create a Western Australian electricity market. Dr Stephen van der Mye has been hired for his expertise. He was hired by the board of Western Power, with my concurrence, from a shortlist of people who were all from the eastern States. The details of his employment contract were, as the Opposition knows very well, negotiated between the board and Dr Stephen van der Mye. In fact, the chief negotiator was someone that the Leader of the Opposition knows very well - Malcolm Macpherson, Chairman of the Western Power board, who was also appointed chairman of the Western Power board when the Leader of the Opposition was the Minister for Energy. I presume the Leader of the Opposition and his colleagues will not be attacking Malcolm Macpherson. Mr Macpherson negotiated the contract with Dr Stephen van der Mye and dealt with the question of Dr van der Mye’s existing directorships. I am advised that those directorships comprise the directorship of a small bank and an agricultural cooperative. I was not aware of those matters until the Opposition’s question last Thursday, because these matters were negotiated as part of the employment contract for a person whose expertise was required in this State by Malcolm Macpherson on behalf of the board of directors of Western Power.
(1)-(3) What is going on here is a continued personal attack on Dr van der Mye. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr E.S. RIPPER: The State is lucky to have acquired someone with experience in running the national electricity market at precisely the time it will create a Western Australian electricity market. Dr Stephen van der Mye has been hired for his expertise. He was hired by the board of Western Power, with my concurrence, from a shortlist of people who were all from the eastern States. The details of his employment contract were, as the Opposition knows very well, negotiated between the board and Dr Stephen van der Mye. In fact, the chief negotiator was someone that the Leader of the Opposition knows very well - Malcolm Macpherson, Chairman of the Western Power board, who was also appointed chairman of the Western Power board when the Leader of the Opposition was the Minister for Energy. I presume the Leader of the Opposition and his colleagues will not be attacking Malcolm Macpherson. Mr Macpherson negotiated the contract with Dr Stephen van der Mye and dealt with the question of Dr van der Mye’s existing directorships. I am advised that those directorships comprise the directorship of a small bank and an agricultural cooperative. I was not aware of those matters until the Opposition’s question last Thursday, because these matters were negotiated as part of the employment contract for a person whose expertise was required in this State by Malcolm Macpherson on behalf of the board of directors of Western Power.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr E.S. RIPPER: The State is lucky to have acquired someone with experience in running the national electricity market at precisely the time it will create a Western Australian electricity market. Dr Stephen van der Mye has been hired for his expertise. He was hired by the board of Western Power, with my concurrence, from a shortlist of people who were all from the eastern States. The details of his employment contract were, as the Opposition knows very well, negotiated between the board and Dr Stephen van der Mye. In fact, the chief negotiator was someone that the Leader of the Opposition knows very well - Malcolm Macpherson, Chairman of the Western Power board, who was also appointed chairman of the Western Power board when the Leader of the Opposition was the Minister for Energy. I presume the Leader of the Opposition and his colleagues will not be attacking Malcolm Macpherson. Mr Macpherson negotiated the contract with Dr Stephen van der Mye and dealt with the question of Dr van der Mye’s existing directorships. I am advised that those directorships comprise the directorship of a small bank and an agricultural cooperative. I was not aware of those matters until the Opposition’s question last Thursday, because these matters were negotiated as part of the employment contract for a person whose expertise was required in this State by Malcolm Macpherson on behalf of the board of directors of Western Power.
The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr E.S. RIPPER: The State is lucky to have acquired someone with experience in running the national electricity market at precisely the time it will create a Western Australian electricity market. Dr Stephen van der Mye has been hired for his expertise. He was hired by the board of Western Power, with my concurrence, from a shortlist of people who were all from the eastern States. The details of his employment contract were, as the Opposition knows very well, negotiated between the board and Dr Stephen van der Mye. In fact, the chief negotiator was someone that the Leader of the Opposition knows very well - Malcolm Macpherson, Chairman of the Western Power board, who was also appointed chairman of the Western Power board when the Leader of the Opposition was the Minister for Energy. I presume the Leader of the Opposition and his colleagues will not be attacking Malcolm Macpherson. Mr Macpherson negotiated the contract with Dr Stephen van der Mye and dealt with the question of Dr van der Mye’s existing directorships. I am advised that those directorships comprise the directorship of a small bank and an agricultural cooperative. I was not aware of those matters until the Opposition’s question last Thursday, because these matters were negotiated as part of the employment contract for a person whose expertise was required in this State by Malcolm Macpherson on behalf of the board of directors of Western Power.
Mr E.S. RIPPER: The State is lucky to have acquired someone with experience in running the national electricity market at precisely the time it will create a Western Australian electricity market. Dr Stephen van der Mye has been hired for his expertise. He was hired by the board of Western Power, with my concurrence, from a shortlist of people who were all from the eastern States. The details of his employment contract were, as the Opposition knows very well, negotiated between the board and Dr Stephen van der Mye. In fact, the chief negotiator was someone that the Leader of the Opposition knows very well - Malcolm Macpherson, Chairman of the Western Power board, who was also appointed chairman of the Western Power board when the Leader of the Opposition was the Minister for Energy. I presume the Leader of the Opposition and his colleagues will not be attacking Malcolm Macpherson. Mr Macpherson negotiated the contract with Dr Stephen van der Mye and dealt with the question of Dr van der Mye’s existing directorships. I am advised that those directorships comprise the directorship of a small bank and an agricultural cooperative. I was not aware of those matters until the Opposition’s question last Thursday, because these matters were negotiated as part of the employment contract for a person whose expertise was required in this State by Malcolm Macpherson on behalf of the board of directors of Western Power.
(1) Of which companies, utilities and organisations does the new managing director hold directorship or board membership? (2) Does the minister consider Dr van der Mye’s directorship and/or board membership of other companies, utilities and organisations to be of benefit to Western Power? (3) If not, why is the minister permitting the new managing director to tend to these matters during his hours as a highly paid Western Australian government employee? Mr E.S. RIPPER replied: (1)-(3) What is going on here is a continued personal attack on Dr van der Mye. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr E.S. RIPPER: The State is lucky to have acquired someone with experience in running the national electricity market at precisely the time it will create a Western Australian electricity market. Dr Stephen van der Mye has been hired for his expertise. He was hired by the board of Western Power, with my concurrence, from a shortlist of people who were all from the eastern States. The details of his employment contract were, as the Opposition knows very well, negotiated between the board and Dr Stephen van der Mye. In fact, the chief negotiator was someone that the Leader of the Opposition knows very well - Malcolm Macpherson, Chairman of the Western Power board, who was also appointed chairman of the Western Power board when the Leader of the Opposition was the Minister for Energy. I presume the Leader of the Opposition and his colleagues will not be attacking Malcolm Macpherson. Mr Macpherson negotiated the contract with Dr Stephen van der Mye and dealt with the question of Dr van der Mye’s existing directorships. I am advised that those directorships comprise the directorship of a small bank and an agricultural cooperative. I was not aware of those matters until the Opposition’s question last Thursday, because these matters were negotiated as part of the employment contract for a person whose expertise was required in this State by Malcolm Macpherson on behalf of the board of directors of Western Power.
(2) Does the minister consider Dr van der Mye’s directorship and/or board membership of other companies, utilities and organisations to be of benefit to Western Power? (3) If not, why is the minister permitting the new managing director to tend to these matters during his hours as a highly paid Western Australian government employee? Mr E.S. RIPPER replied: (1)-(3) What is going on here is a continued personal attack on Dr van der Mye. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr E.S. RIPPER: The State is lucky to have acquired someone with experience in running the national electricity market at precisely the time it will create a Western Australian electricity market. Dr Stephen van der Mye has been hired for his expertise. He was hired by the board of Western Power, with my concurrence, from a shortlist of people who were all from the eastern States. The details of his employment contract were, as the Opposition knows very well, negotiated between the board and Dr Stephen van der Mye. In fact, the chief negotiator was someone that the Leader of the Opposition knows very well - Malcolm Macpherson, Chairman of the Western Power board, who was also appointed chairman of the Western Power board when the Leader of the Opposition was the Minister for Energy. I presume the Leader of the Opposition and his colleagues will not be attacking Malcolm Macpherson. Mr Macpherson negotiated the contract with Dr Stephen van der Mye and dealt with the question of Dr van der Mye’s existing directorships. I am advised that those directorships comprise the directorship of a small bank and an agricultural cooperative. I was not aware of those matters until the Opposition’s question last Thursday, because these matters were negotiated as part of the employment contract for a person whose expertise was required in this State by Malcolm Macpherson on behalf of the board of directors of Western Power.
(3) If not, why is the minister permitting the new managing director to tend to these matters during his hours as a highly paid Western Australian government employee? Mr E.S. RIPPER replied: (1)-(3) What is going on here is a continued personal attack on Dr van der Mye. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr E.S. RIPPER: The State is lucky to have acquired someone with experience in running the national electricity market at precisely the time it will create a Western Australian electricity market. Dr Stephen van der Mye has been hired for his expertise. He was hired by the board of Western Power, with my concurrence, from a shortlist of people who were all from the eastern States. The details of his employment contract were, as the Opposition knows very well, negotiated between the board and Dr Stephen van der Mye. In fact, the chief negotiator was someone that the Leader of the Opposition knows very well - Malcolm Macpherson, Chairman of the Western Power board, who was also appointed chairman of the Western Power board when the Leader of the Opposition was the Minister for Energy. I presume the Leader of the Opposition and his colleagues will not be attacking Malcolm Macpherson. Mr Macpherson negotiated the contract with Dr Stephen van der Mye and dealt with the question of Dr van der Mye’s existing directorships. I am advised that those directorships comprise the directorship of a small bank and an agricultural cooperative. I was not aware of those matters until the Opposition’s question last Thursday, because these matters were negotiated as part of the employment contract for a person whose expertise was required in this State by Malcolm Macpherson on behalf of the board of directors of Western Power.
Mr E.S. RIPPER replied: (1)-(3) What is going on here is a continued personal attack on Dr van der Mye. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr E.S. RIPPER: The State is lucky to have acquired someone with experience in running the national electricity market at precisely the time it will create a Western Australian electricity market. Dr Stephen van der Mye has been hired for his expertise. He was hired by the board of Western Power, with my concurrence, from a shortlist of people who were all from the eastern States. The details of his employment contract were, as the Opposition knows very well, negotiated between the board and Dr Stephen van der Mye. In fact, the chief negotiator was someone that the Leader of the Opposition knows very well - Malcolm Macpherson, Chairman of the Western Power board, who was also appointed chairman of the Western Power board when the Leader of the Opposition was the Minister for Energy. I presume the Leader of the Opposition and his colleagues will not be attacking Malcolm Macpherson. Mr Macpherson negotiated the contract with Dr Stephen van der Mye and dealt with the question of Dr van der Mye’s existing directorships. I am advised that those directorships comprise the directorship of a small bank and an agricultural cooperative. I was not aware of those matters until the Opposition’s question last Thursday, because these matters were negotiated as part of the employment contract for a person whose expertise was required in this State by Malcolm Macpherson on behalf of the board of directors of Western Power.
(1)-(3) What is going on here is a continued personal attack on Dr van der Mye. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr E.S. RIPPER: The State is lucky to have acquired someone with experience in running the national electricity market at precisely the time it will create a Western Australian electricity market. Dr Stephen van der Mye has been hired for his expertise. He was hired by the board of Western Power, with my concurrence, from a shortlist of people who were all from the eastern States. The details of his employment contract were, as the Opposition knows very well, negotiated between the board and Dr Stephen van der Mye. In fact, the chief negotiator was someone that the Leader of the Opposition knows very well - Malcolm Macpherson, Chairman of the Western Power board, who was also appointed chairman of the Western Power board when the Leader of the Opposition was the Minister for Energy. I presume the Leader of the Opposition and his colleagues will not be attacking Malcolm Macpherson. Mr Macpherson negotiated the contract with Dr Stephen van der Mye and dealt with the question of Dr van der Mye’s existing directorships. I am advised that those directorships comprise the directorship of a small bank and an agricultural cooperative. I was not aware of those matters until the Opposition’s question last Thursday, because these matters were negotiated as part of the employment contract for a person whose expertise was required in this State by Malcolm Macpherson on behalf of the board of directors of Western Power.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr E.S. RIPPER: The State is lucky to have acquired someone with experience in running the national electricity market at precisely the time it will create a Western Australian electricity market. Dr Stephen van der Mye has been hired for his expertise. He was hired by the board of Western Power, with my concurrence, from a shortlist of people who were all from the eastern States. The details of his employment contract were, as the Opposition knows very well, negotiated between the board and Dr Stephen van der Mye. In fact, the chief negotiator was someone that the Leader of the Opposition knows very well - Malcolm Macpherson, Chairman of the Western Power board, who was also appointed chairman of the Western Power board when the Leader of the Opposition was the Minister for Energy. I presume the Leader of the Opposition and his colleagues will not be attacking Malcolm Macpherson. Mr Macpherson negotiated the contract with Dr Stephen van der Mye and dealt with the question of Dr van der Mye’s existing directorships. I am advised that those directorships comprise the directorship of a small bank and an agricultural cooperative. I was not aware of those matters until the Opposition’s question last Thursday, because these matters were negotiated as part of the employment contract for a person whose expertise was required in this State by Malcolm Macpherson on behalf of the board of directors of Western Power.
The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mr E.S. RIPPER: The State is lucky to have acquired someone with experience in running the national electricity market at precisely the time it will create a Western Australian electricity market. Dr Stephen van der Mye has been hired for his expertise. He was hired by the board of Western Power, with my concurrence, from a shortlist of people who were all from the eastern States. The details of his employment contract were, as the Opposition knows very well, negotiated between the board and Dr Stephen van der Mye. In fact, the chief negotiator was someone that the Leader of the Opposition knows very well - Malcolm Macpherson, Chairman of the Western Power board, who was also appointed chairman of the Western Power board when the Leader of the Opposition was the Minister for Energy. I presume the Leader of the Opposition and his colleagues will not be attacking Malcolm Macpherson. Mr Macpherson negotiated the contract with Dr Stephen van der Mye and dealt with the question of Dr van der Mye’s existing directorships. I am advised that those directorships comprise the directorship of a small bank and an agricultural cooperative. I was not aware of those matters until the Opposition’s question last Thursday, because these matters were negotiated as part of the employment contract for a person whose expertise was required in this State by Malcolm Macpherson on behalf of the board of directors of Western Power.
Mr E.S. RIPPER: The State is lucky to have acquired someone with experience in running the national electricity market at precisely the time it will create a Western Australian electricity market. Dr Stephen van der Mye has been hired for his expertise. He was hired by the board of Western Power, with my concurrence, from a shortlist of people who were all from the eastern States. The details of his employment contract were, as the Opposition knows very well, negotiated between the board and Dr Stephen van der Mye. In fact, the chief negotiator was someone that the Leader of the Opposition knows very well - Malcolm Macpherson, Chairman of the Western Power board, who was also appointed chairman of the Western Power board when the Leader of the Opposition was the Minister for Energy. I presume the Leader of the Opposition and his colleagues will not be attacking Malcolm Macpherson. Mr Macpherson negotiated the contract with Dr Stephen van der Mye and dealt with the question of Dr van der Mye’s existing directorships. I am advised that those directorships comprise the directorship of a small bank and an agricultural cooperative. I was not aware of those matters until the Opposition’s question last Thursday, because these matters were negotiated as part of the employment contract for a person whose expertise was required in this State by Malcolm Macpherson on behalf of the board of directors of Western Power.
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