❓ A parliamentary question alleges preferential treatment by the previous Liberal government towards a major benefactor, Len Buckeridge (BGC), and questions whether a former minister, Graham Kierath, benefited from this relationship, citing specific instances of favorable decisions.
AnsweredQoN 512Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Can the minister advise whether the preferential treatment by the previous Court Liberal Government of one of its main benefactors and donors reaped rewards for one of its former ministers? Ms A.J. MacTIERNAN
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for his question. Members who have been here some time might recall that Hon Graham Kierath was proud to proclaim in this place, when defending some fairly controversial planning decisions, that he was a very good friend of Mr Len Buckeridge. I remind members of some of the benefits that being a Liberal Party benefactor and mate of Mr Kierath were able to produce for Mr Buckeridge. In 1993 the then Minister for Planning, Hon Richard Lewis, allowed BGC to build a concrete batching plant in a national park at Neerabup against the advice of the City of Wanneroo and the Town Planning Appeals Committee which stated that it could not be approved on planning grounds and that if it were approved, it would give BGC a clear commercial advantage over its rivals. In 1994 the then Minister for Local Government, Hon Paul Omodei, ignored the advice of his department and overturned a stop-work order put in place against BGC by the Peppermint Grove Shire Council. In 1995 BGC built a transport depot and bitumen plant in Hazelmere on land zoned rural without any planning or building approval. In 1995 the then Government awarded Buckeridge a multimillion dollar stevedoring contract for Stateships in a tender that was done on a ring-around and breached the State Supply Commission guidelines. After the Government closed Stateships, it gave its mate $1 million in an out-of-court settlement. In 1999 the then Government sold 22 hectares of crown land on the Australind bypass to Buckeridge interests for $506 000 despite the land being valued at $1 million by the Valuer General. In 2000 the then Government entered into a contract with the Buckeridge-backed James Point Pty Ltd to construct and operate a private port - a very interesting contract. The contract gives James Point over 300 hectares of seabed lease virtually free of charge. James Point has also been given an option to purchase freehold title of two reclaimed areas for $10 each. Of course, Mr Kierath’s loyal service has been amply rewarded and he now works with BGC. I want to share with members how Mr Kierath describes his job with BGC. He says - . . . I’ve been a bit of a bureaucratic navigator. This is recent history. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Members! Ms A.J. MacTIERNAN: This is the former minister talking about how he is able to use the position he developed as minister to advantage BGC. It is important because one of the Independent members might want to come up with some private members’ legislation to deal with this sort of matter. Hon Graham Kierath said - When the Good Ship BGC sails headlong into the next destination - a quarry, a new installation or final planning details, I’ve been like the pilot who knows the location of those ‘sand banks of bureaucratic inertia’ - the one’s which often bring things to a screaming halt. I can anticipate those underwater reefs of Triplicornia that will rip the hull out of everything, and I know which countries have friendly locals, and which have not! There is no clearer case of a minister from a former conservative Government using his position, his knowledge and contacts in the bureaucracy that he gained when minister to advantage an operator who is a major beneficiary to the Liberal Party.
Ms A.J. MacTIERNAN replied: I thank the member for his question. Members who have been here some time might recall that Hon Graham Kierath was proud to proclaim in this place, when defending some fairly controversial planning decisions, that he was a very good friend of Mr Len Buckeridge. I remind members of some of the benefits that being a Liberal Party benefactor and mate of Mr Kierath were able to produce for Mr Buckeridge. In 1993 the then Minister for Planning, Hon Richard Lewis, allowed BGC to build a concrete batching plant in a national park at Neerabup against the advice of the City of Wanneroo and the Town Planning Appeals Committee which stated that it could not be approved on planning grounds and that if it were approved, it would give BGC a clear commercial advantage over its rivals. In 1994 the then Minister for Local Government, Hon Paul Omodei, ignored the advice of his department and overturned a stop-work order put in place against BGC by the Peppermint Grove Shire Council. In 1995 BGC built a transport depot and bitumen plant in Hazelmere on land zoned rural without any planning or building approval. In 1995 the then Government awarded Buckeridge a multimillion dollar stevedoring contract for Stateships in a tender that was done on a ring-around and breached the State Supply Commission guidelines. After the Government closed Stateships, it gave its mate $1 million in an out-of-court settlement. In 1999 the then Government sold 22 hectares of crown land on the Australind bypass to Buckeridge interests for $506 000 despite the land being valued at $1 million by the Valuer General. In 2000 the then Government entered into a contract with the Buckeridge-backed James Point Pty Ltd to construct and operate a private port - a very interesting contract. The contract gives James Point over 300 hectares of seabed lease virtually free of charge. James Point has also been given an option to purchase freehold title of two reclaimed areas for $10 each. Of course, Mr Kierath’s loyal service has been amply rewarded and he now works with BGC. I want to share with members how Mr Kierath describes his job with BGC. He says - . . . I’ve been a bit of a bureaucratic navigator. This is recent history. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Members! Ms A.J. MacTIERNAN: This is the former minister talking about how he is able to use the position he developed as minister to advantage BGC. It is important because one of the Independent members might want to come up with some private members’ legislation to deal with this sort of matter. Hon Graham Kierath said - When the Good Ship BGC sails headlong into the next destination - a quarry, a new installation or final planning details, I’ve been like the pilot who knows the location of those ‘sand banks of bureaucratic inertia’ - the one’s which often bring things to a screaming halt. I can anticipate those underwater reefs of Triplicornia that will rip the hull out of everything, and I know which countries have friendly locals, and which have not! There is no clearer case of a minister from a former conservative Government using his position, his knowledge and contacts in the bureaucracy that he gained when minister to advantage an operator who is a major beneficiary to the Liberal Party.
I thank the member for his question. Members who have been here some time might recall that Hon Graham Kierath was proud to proclaim in this place, when defending some fairly controversial planning decisions, that he was a very good friend of Mr Len Buckeridge. I remind members of some of the benefits that being a Liberal Party benefactor and mate of Mr Kierath were able to produce for Mr Buckeridge. In 1993 the then Minister for Planning, Hon Richard Lewis, allowed BGC to build a concrete batching plant in a national park at Neerabup against the advice of the City of Wanneroo and the Town Planning Appeals Committee which stated that it could not be approved on planning grounds and that if it were approved, it would give BGC a clear commercial advantage over its rivals. In 1994 the then Minister for Local Government, Hon Paul Omodei, ignored the advice of his department and overturned a stop-work order put in place against BGC by the Peppermint Grove Shire Council. In 1995 BGC built a transport depot and bitumen plant in Hazelmere on land zoned rural without any planning or building approval. In 1995 the then Government awarded Buckeridge a multimillion dollar stevedoring contract for Stateships in a tender that was done on a ring-around and breached the State Supply Commission guidelines. After the Government closed Stateships, it gave its mate $1 million in an out-of-court settlement. In 1999 the then Government sold 22 hectares of crown land on the Australind bypass to Buckeridge interests for $506 000 despite the land being valued at $1 million by the Valuer General. In 2000 the then Government entered into a contract with the Buckeridge-backed James Point Pty Ltd to construct and operate a private port - a very interesting contract. The contract gives James Point over 300 hectares of seabed lease virtually free of charge. James Point has also been given an option to purchase freehold title of two reclaimed areas for $10 each. Of course, Mr Kierath’s loyal service has been amply rewarded and he now works with BGC. I want to share with members how Mr Kierath describes his job with BGC. He says - . . . I’ve been a bit of a bureaucratic navigator. This is recent history. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Members! Ms A.J. MacTIERNAN: This is the former minister talking about how he is able to use the position he developed as minister to advantage BGC. It is important because one of the Independent members might want to come up with some private members’ legislation to deal with this sort of matter. Hon Graham Kierath said - When the Good Ship BGC sails headlong into the next destination - a quarry, a new installation or final planning details, I’ve been like the pilot who knows the location of those ‘sand banks of bureaucratic inertia’ - the one’s which often bring things to a screaming halt. I can anticipate those underwater reefs of Triplicornia that will rip the hull out of everything, and I know which countries have friendly locals, and which have not! There is no clearer case of a minister from a former conservative Government using his position, his knowledge and contacts in the bureaucracy that he gained when minister to advantage an operator who is a major beneficiary to the Liberal Party.
In 1995 the then Government awarded Buckeridge a multimillion dollar stevedoring contract for Stateships in a tender that was done on a ring-around and breached the State Supply Commission guidelines. After the Government closed Stateships, it gave its mate $1 million in an out-of-court settlement. In 1999 the then Government sold 22 hectares of crown land on the Australind bypass to Buckeridge interests for $506 000 despite the land being valued at $1 million by the Valuer General. In 2000 the then Government entered into a contract with the Buckeridge-backed James Point Pty Ltd to construct and operate a private port - a very interesting contract. The contract gives James Point over 300 hectares of seabed lease virtually free of charge. James Point has also been given an option to purchase freehold title of two reclaimed areas for $10 each. Of course, Mr Kierath’s loyal service has been amply rewarded and he now works with BGC. I want to share with members how Mr Kierath describes his job with BGC. He says - . . . I’ve been a bit of a bureaucratic navigator. This is recent history. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Members! Ms A.J. MacTIERNAN: This is the former minister talking about how he is able to use the position he developed as minister to advantage BGC. It is important because one of the Independent members might want to come up with some private members’ legislation to deal with this sort of matter. Hon Graham Kierath said - When the Good Ship BGC sails headlong into the next destination - a quarry, a new installation or final planning details, I’ve been like the pilot who knows the location of those ‘sand banks of bureaucratic inertia’ - the one’s which often bring things to a screaming halt. I can anticipate those underwater reefs of Triplicornia that will rip the hull out of everything, and I know which countries have friendly locals, and which have not! There is no clearer case of a minister from a former conservative Government using his position, his knowledge and contacts in the bureaucracy that he gained when minister to advantage an operator who is a major beneficiary to the Liberal Party.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Members! Ms A.J. MacTIERNAN: This is the former minister talking about how he is able to use the position he developed as minister to advantage BGC. It is important because one of the Independent members might want to come up with some private members’ legislation to deal with this sort of matter. Hon Graham Kierath said - When the Good Ship BGC sails headlong into the next destination - a quarry, a new installation or final planning details, I’ve been like the pilot who knows the location of those ‘sand banks of bureaucratic inertia’ - the one’s which often bring things to a screaming halt. I can anticipate those underwater reefs of Triplicornia that will rip the hull out of everything, and I know which countries have friendly locals, and which have not! There is no clearer case of a minister from a former conservative Government using his position, his knowledge and contacts in the bureaucracy that he gained when minister to advantage an operator who is a major beneficiary to the Liberal Party.
The SPEAKER: Members! Ms A.J. MacTIERNAN: This is the former minister talking about how he is able to use the position he developed as minister to advantage BGC. It is important because one of the Independent members might want to come up with some private members’ legislation to deal with this sort of matter. Hon Graham Kierath said - When the Good Ship BGC sails headlong into the next destination - a quarry, a new installation or final planning details, I’ve been like the pilot who knows the location of those ‘sand banks of bureaucratic inertia’ - the one’s which often bring things to a screaming halt. I can anticipate those underwater reefs of Triplicornia that will rip the hull out of everything, and I know which countries have friendly locals, and which have not! There is no clearer case of a minister from a former conservative Government using his position, his knowledge and contacts in the bureaucracy that he gained when minister to advantage an operator who is a major beneficiary to the Liberal Party.
Ms A.J. MacTIERNAN: This is the former minister talking about how he is able to use the position he developed as minister to advantage BGC. It is important because one of the Independent members might want to come up with some private members’ legislation to deal with this sort of matter. Hon Graham Kierath said - When the Good Ship BGC sails headlong into the next destination - a quarry, a new installation or final planning details, I’ve been like the pilot who knows the location of those ‘sand banks of bureaucratic inertia’ - the one’s which often bring things to a screaming halt. I can anticipate those underwater reefs of Triplicornia that will rip the hull out of everything, and I know which countries have friendly locals, and which have not! There is no clearer case of a minister from a former conservative Government using his position, his knowledge and contacts in the bureaucracy that he gained when minister to advantage an operator who is a major beneficiary to the Liberal Party.
Ms A.J. MacTIERNAN replied: I thank the member for his question. Members who have been here some time might recall that Hon Graham Kierath was proud to proclaim in this place, when defending some fairly controversial planning decisions, that he was a very good friend of Mr Len Buckeridge. I remind members of some of the benefits that being a Liberal Party benefactor and mate of Mr Kierath were able to produce for Mr Buckeridge. In 1993 the then Minister for Planning, Hon Richard Lewis, allowed BGC to build a concrete batching plant in a national park at Neerabup against the advice of the City of Wanneroo and the Town Planning Appeals Committee which stated that it could not be approved on planning grounds and that if it were approved, it would give BGC a clear commercial advantage over its rivals. In 1994 the then Minister for Local Government, Hon Paul Omodei, ignored the advice of his department and overturned a stop-work order put in place against BGC by the Peppermint Grove Shire Council. In 1995 BGC built a transport depot and bitumen plant in Hazelmere on land zoned rural without any planning or building approval. In 1995 the then Government awarded Buckeridge a multimillion dollar stevedoring contract for Stateships in a tender that was done on a ring-around and breached the State Supply Commission guidelines. After the Government closed Stateships, it gave its mate $1 million in an out-of-court settlement. In 1999 the then Government sold 22 hectares of crown land on the Australind bypass to Buckeridge interests for $506 000 despite the land being valued at $1 million by the Valuer General. In 2000 the then Government entered into a contract with the Buckeridge-backed James Point Pty Ltd to construct and operate a private port - a very interesting contract. The contract gives James Point over 300 hectares of seabed lease virtually free of charge. James Point has also been given an option to purchase freehold title of two reclaimed areas for $10 each. Of course, Mr Kierath’s loyal service has been amply rewarded and he now works with BGC. I want to share with members how Mr Kierath describes his job with BGC. He says - . . . I’ve been a bit of a bureaucratic navigator. This is recent history. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Members! Ms A.J. MacTIERNAN: This is the former minister talking about how he is able to use the position he developed as minister to advantage BGC. It is important because one of the Independent members might want to come up with some private members’ legislation to deal with this sort of matter. Hon Graham Kierath said - When the Good Ship BGC sails headlong into the next destination - a quarry, a new installation or final planning details, I’ve been like the pilot who knows the location of those ‘sand banks of bureaucratic inertia’ - the one’s which often bring things to a screaming halt. I can anticipate those underwater reefs of Triplicornia that will rip the hull out of everything, and I know which countries have friendly locals, and which have not! There is no clearer case of a minister from a former conservative Government using his position, his knowledge and contacts in the bureaucracy that he gained when minister to advantage an operator who is a major beneficiary to the Liberal Party.
I thank the member for his question. Members who have been here some time might recall that Hon Graham Kierath was proud to proclaim in this place, when defending some fairly controversial planning decisions, that he was a very good friend of Mr Len Buckeridge. I remind members of some of the benefits that being a Liberal Party benefactor and mate of Mr Kierath were able to produce for Mr Buckeridge. In 1993 the then Minister for Planning, Hon Richard Lewis, allowed BGC to build a concrete batching plant in a national park at Neerabup against the advice of the City of Wanneroo and the Town Planning Appeals Committee which stated that it could not be approved on planning grounds and that if it were approved, it would give BGC a clear commercial advantage over its rivals. In 1994 the then Minister for Local Government, Hon Paul Omodei, ignored the advice of his department and overturned a stop-work order put in place against BGC by the Peppermint Grove Shire Council. In 1995 BGC built a transport depot and bitumen plant in Hazelmere on land zoned rural without any planning or building approval. In 1995 the then Government awarded Buckeridge a multimillion dollar stevedoring contract for Stateships in a tender that was done on a ring-around and breached the State Supply Commission guidelines. After the Government closed Stateships, it gave its mate $1 million in an out-of-court settlement. In 1999 the then Government sold 22 hectares of crown land on the Australind bypass to Buckeridge interests for $506 000 despite the land being valued at $1 million by the Valuer General. In 2000 the then Government entered into a contract with the Buckeridge-backed James Point Pty Ltd to construct and operate a private port - a very interesting contract. The contract gives James Point over 300 hectares of seabed lease virtually free of charge. James Point has also been given an option to purchase freehold title of two reclaimed areas for $10 each. Of course, Mr Kierath’s loyal service has been amply rewarded and he now works with BGC. I want to share with members how Mr Kierath describes his job with BGC. He says - . . . I’ve been a bit of a bureaucratic navigator. This is recent history. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Members! Ms A.J. MacTIERNAN: This is the former minister talking about how he is able to use the position he developed as minister to advantage BGC. It is important because one of the Independent members might want to come up with some private members’ legislation to deal with this sort of matter. Hon Graham Kierath said - When the Good Ship BGC sails headlong into the next destination - a quarry, a new installation or final planning details, I’ve been like the pilot who knows the location of those ‘sand banks of bureaucratic inertia’ - the one’s which often bring things to a screaming halt. I can anticipate those underwater reefs of Triplicornia that will rip the hull out of everything, and I know which countries have friendly locals, and which have not! There is no clearer case of a minister from a former conservative Government using his position, his knowledge and contacts in the bureaucracy that he gained when minister to advantage an operator who is a major beneficiary to the Liberal Party.
In 1995 the then Government awarded Buckeridge a multimillion dollar stevedoring contract for Stateships in a tender that was done on a ring-around and breached the State Supply Commission guidelines. After the Government closed Stateships, it gave its mate $1 million in an out-of-court settlement. In 1999 the then Government sold 22 hectares of crown land on the Australind bypass to Buckeridge interests for $506 000 despite the land being valued at $1 million by the Valuer General. In 2000 the then Government entered into a contract with the Buckeridge-backed James Point Pty Ltd to construct and operate a private port - a very interesting contract. The contract gives James Point over 300 hectares of seabed lease virtually free of charge. James Point has also been given an option to purchase freehold title of two reclaimed areas for $10 each. Of course, Mr Kierath’s loyal service has been amply rewarded and he now works with BGC. I want to share with members how Mr Kierath describes his job with BGC. He says - . . . I’ve been a bit of a bureaucratic navigator. This is recent history. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Members! Ms A.J. MacTIERNAN: This is the former minister talking about how he is able to use the position he developed as minister to advantage BGC. It is important because one of the Independent members might want to come up with some private members’ legislation to deal with this sort of matter. Hon Graham Kierath said - When the Good Ship BGC sails headlong into the next destination - a quarry, a new installation or final planning details, I’ve been like the pilot who knows the location of those ‘sand banks of bureaucratic inertia’ - the one’s which often bring things to a screaming halt. I can anticipate those underwater reefs of Triplicornia that will rip the hull out of everything, and I know which countries have friendly locals, and which have not! There is no clearer case of a minister from a former conservative Government using his position, his knowledge and contacts in the bureaucracy that he gained when minister to advantage an operator who is a major beneficiary to the Liberal Party.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Members! Ms A.J. MacTIERNAN: This is the former minister talking about how he is able to use the position he developed as minister to advantage BGC. It is important because one of the Independent members might want to come up with some private members’ legislation to deal with this sort of matter. Hon Graham Kierath said - When the Good Ship BGC sails headlong into the next destination - a quarry, a new installation or final planning details, I’ve been like the pilot who knows the location of those ‘sand banks of bureaucratic inertia’ - the one’s which often bring things to a screaming halt. I can anticipate those underwater reefs of Triplicornia that will rip the hull out of everything, and I know which countries have friendly locals, and which have not! There is no clearer case of a minister from a former conservative Government using his position, his knowledge and contacts in the bureaucracy that he gained when minister to advantage an operator who is a major beneficiary to the Liberal Party.
The SPEAKER: Members! Ms A.J. MacTIERNAN: This is the former minister talking about how he is able to use the position he developed as minister to advantage BGC. It is important because one of the Independent members might want to come up with some private members’ legislation to deal with this sort of matter. Hon Graham Kierath said - When the Good Ship BGC sails headlong into the next destination - a quarry, a new installation or final planning details, I’ve been like the pilot who knows the location of those ‘sand banks of bureaucratic inertia’ - the one’s which often bring things to a screaming halt. I can anticipate those underwater reefs of Triplicornia that will rip the hull out of everything, and I know which countries have friendly locals, and which have not! There is no clearer case of a minister from a former conservative Government using his position, his knowledge and contacts in the bureaucracy that he gained when minister to advantage an operator who is a major beneficiary to the Liberal Party.
Ms A.J. MacTIERNAN: This is the former minister talking about how he is able to use the position he developed as minister to advantage BGC. It is important because one of the Independent members might want to come up with some private members’ legislation to deal with this sort of matter. Hon Graham Kierath said - When the Good Ship BGC sails headlong into the next destination - a quarry, a new installation or final planning details, I’ve been like the pilot who knows the location of those ‘sand banks of bureaucratic inertia’ - the one’s which often bring things to a screaming halt. I can anticipate those underwater reefs of Triplicornia that will rip the hull out of everything, and I know which countries have friendly locals, and which have not! There is no clearer case of a minister from a former conservative Government using his position, his knowledge and contacts in the bureaucracy that he gained when minister to advantage an operator who is a major beneficiary to the Liberal Party.
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