Question regarding the advice given to the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) chairman by the Public Sector Commissioner concerning conflicts of interest, and why the minister is allowing blame to fall on the chairman. The Minister's answer deflects and accuses the opposition of political maneuvering.

AnsweredQoN 651Legislative Assembly
Asked
10 September 2014
Portfolio
Environment

QuestionView source ↗

ENVIRONMENTAL
PROTECTION AUTHORITY — GOVERNANCE PRACTICES CHANGE
651. Mr C.J. TALLENTIRE to the
Minister for Environment:
I refer to the fact
that the Environmental Protection Authority chairman took advice from the
Public Sector Commissioner in 2011 concerning conflicts of interest.
(1) Is the minister aware that the Public
Sector Commissioner gave advice to the Environmental Protection Authority
chairman that the authority's treatment of conflict of interest was ''reasonable
given the circumstances''?
(2) Why is the minister allowing blame for
the conflict-of-interest debacle to fall on the EPA chairman when he sought
advice from more senior people in government?

AnswerView source ↗

(1)–(2) Again, there is no conspiracy
theory that members opposite will not pursue or public servant they will not
seek to smear in their pursuit of whatever political gain they seek to find.
The member for Gosnells will find in that advice from the Public Sector
Commissioner that he has very clearly stated that the code of conduct needs to
comply fully with the Environmental Protection Act, which was very solid
advice; and, ultimately, it was found that it did not.

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