❓ Opposition questions the Environment Minister's confidence in his Chief of Staff, citing past Royal Commission scrutiny and potential conflict of interest with Hancock Prospecting. The Minister defends his staff member and outlines measures to manage potential conflicts.
AnsweredQoN 438Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
MINISTER FOR ENVIRONMENT — CHIEF OF STAFF — CONFLICT OF INTEREST
I again refer to the minister’s chief of staff’s conflict of interest involving Hancock Prospecting and his response yesterday that Mr Edwardes is a highly professional and competent employee with many years of experience. I think the minister went on to say “including in managing conflicts of interest”. (1) Is this the same Colin Edwardes who, according to my notes, was found by a royal commission to be unable to satisfactorily explain his conduct in relation to the passing of an unknown amount of money in banknotes to a Dr Phat in April 1991? (2) Given the importance of the chief of staff role in any ministerial office, why has the minister not delegated all Hancock matters to another minister, as was done by the former environment minister, Donna Faragher, when a similar conflict of interest arose? Mr W.R. MARMION
I again refer to the minister’s chief of staff’s conflict of interest involving Hancock Prospecting and his response yesterday that Mr Edwardes is a highly professional and competent employee with many years of experience. I think the minister went on to say “including in managing conflicts of interest”. (1) Is this the same Colin Edwardes who, according to my notes, was found by a royal commission to be unable to satisfactorily explain his conduct in relation to the passing of an unknown amount of money in banknotes to a Dr Phat in April 1991? (2) Given the importance of the chief of staff role in any ministerial office, why has the minister not delegated all Hancock matters to another minister, as was done by the former environment minister, Donna Faragher, when a similar conflict of interest arose? Mr W.R. MARMION
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the Leader of the Opposition for the question. I was asked a similar question yesterday, which I think I answered well. (1)–(2) I made it quite clear yesterday that I have confidence in my chief of staff. I understand that there was a royal commission, which raised a lot of issues. Colin Edwardes was cleared, so there is no problem there. I have been in contact with the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet; he is confident and I will take his advice. As I have said before, another senior person in my office will deal with any matters relating to Hancock Prospecting and at the end of the day I am the one who will make the decisions.
(1) Is this the same Colin Edwardes who, according to my notes, was found by a royal commission to be unable to satisfactorily explain his conduct in relation to the passing of an unknown amount of money in banknotes to a Dr Phat in April 1991? (2) Given the importance of the chief of staff role in any ministerial office, why has the minister not delegated all Hancock matters to another minister, as was done by the former environment minister, Donna Faragher, when a similar conflict of interest arose? Mr W.R. MARMION replied: I thank the Leader of the Opposition for the question. I was asked a similar question yesterday, which I think I answered well. (1)–(2) I made it quite clear yesterday that I have confidence in my chief of staff. I understand that there was a royal commission, which raised a lot of issues. Colin Edwardes was cleared, so there is no problem there. I have been in contact with the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet; he is confident and I will take his advice. As I have said before, another senior person in my office will deal with any matters relating to Hancock Prospecting and at the end of the day I am the one who will make the decisions.
(2) Given the importance of the chief of staff role in any ministerial office, why has the minister not delegated all Hancock matters to another minister, as was done by the former environment minister, Donna Faragher, when a similar conflict of interest arose? Mr W.R. MARMION replied: I thank the Leader of the Opposition for the question. I was asked a similar question yesterday, which I think I answered well. (1)–(2) I made it quite clear yesterday that I have confidence in my chief of staff. I understand that there was a royal commission, which raised a lot of issues. Colin Edwardes was cleared, so there is no problem there. I have been in contact with the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet; he is confident and I will take his advice. As I have said before, another senior person in my office will deal with any matters relating to Hancock Prospecting and at the end of the day I am the one who will make the decisions.
Mr W.R. MARMION replied: I thank the Leader of the Opposition for the question. I was asked a similar question yesterday, which I think I answered well. (1)–(2) I made it quite clear yesterday that I have confidence in my chief of staff. I understand that there was a royal commission, which raised a lot of issues. Colin Edwardes was cleared, so there is no problem there. I have been in contact with the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet; he is confident and I will take his advice. As I have said before, another senior person in my office will deal with any matters relating to Hancock Prospecting and at the end of the day I am the one who will make the decisions.
I thank the Leader of the Opposition for the question. I was asked a similar question yesterday, which I think I answered well. (1)–(2) I made it quite clear yesterday that I have confidence in my chief of staff. I understand that there was a royal commission, which raised a lot of issues. Colin Edwardes was cleared, so there is no problem there. I have been in contact with the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet; he is confident and I will take his advice. As I have said before, another senior person in my office will deal with any matters relating to Hancock Prospecting and at the end of the day I am the one who will make the decisions.
(1)–(2) I made it quite clear yesterday that I have confidence in my chief of staff. I understand that there was a royal commission, which raised a lot of issues. Colin Edwardes was cleared, so there is no problem there. I have been in contact with the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet; he is confident and I will take his advice. As I have said before, another senior person in my office will deal with any matters relating to Hancock Prospecting and at the end of the day I am the one who will make the decisions.
(1) Is this the same Colin Edwardes who, according to my notes, was found by a royal commission to be unable to satisfactorily explain his conduct in relation to the passing of an unknown amount of money in banknotes to a Dr Phat in April 1991? (2) Given the importance of the chief of staff role in any ministerial office, why has the minister not delegated all Hancock matters to another minister, as was done by the former environment minister, Donna Faragher, when a similar conflict of interest arose? Mr W.R. MARMION replied: I thank the Leader of the Opposition for the question. I was asked a similar question yesterday, which I think I answered well. (1)–(2) I made it quite clear yesterday that I have confidence in my chief of staff. I understand that there was a royal commission, which raised a lot of issues. Colin Edwardes was cleared, so there is no problem there. I have been in contact with the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet; he is confident and I will take his advice. As I have said before, another senior person in my office will deal with any matters relating to Hancock Prospecting and at the end of the day I am the one who will make the decisions.
(2) Given the importance of the chief of staff role in any ministerial office, why has the minister not delegated all Hancock matters to another minister, as was done by the former environment minister, Donna Faragher, when a similar conflict of interest arose? Mr W.R. MARMION replied: I thank the Leader of the Opposition for the question. I was asked a similar question yesterday, which I think I answered well. (1)–(2) I made it quite clear yesterday that I have confidence in my chief of staff. I understand that there was a royal commission, which raised a lot of issues. Colin Edwardes was cleared, so there is no problem there. I have been in contact with the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet; he is confident and I will take his advice. As I have said before, another senior person in my office will deal with any matters relating to Hancock Prospecting and at the end of the day I am the one who will make the decisions.
Mr W.R. MARMION replied: I thank the Leader of the Opposition for the question. I was asked a similar question yesterday, which I think I answered well. (1)–(2) I made it quite clear yesterday that I have confidence in my chief of staff. I understand that there was a royal commission, which raised a lot of issues. Colin Edwardes was cleared, so there is no problem there. I have been in contact with the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet; he is confident and I will take his advice. As I have said before, another senior person in my office will deal with any matters relating to Hancock Prospecting and at the end of the day I am the one who will make the decisions.
I thank the Leader of the Opposition for the question. I was asked a similar question yesterday, which I think I answered well. (1)–(2) I made it quite clear yesterday that I have confidence in my chief of staff. I understand that there was a royal commission, which raised a lot of issues. Colin Edwardes was cleared, so there is no problem there. I have been in contact with the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet; he is confident and I will take his advice. As I have said before, another senior person in my office will deal with any matters relating to Hancock Prospecting and at the end of the day I am the one who will make the decisions.
(1)–(2) I made it quite clear yesterday that I have confidence in my chief of staff. I understand that there was a royal commission, which raised a lot of issues. Colin Edwardes was cleared, so there is no problem there. I have been in contact with the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet; he is confident and I will take his advice. As I have said before, another senior person in my office will deal with any matters relating to Hancock Prospecting and at the end of the day I am the one who will make the decisions.
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