❓ Dr. Steve Thomas questions the Minister regarding payments to consultants advising on the insolvent Griffin Coal, seeking details on costs, achievements, and Treasury's assessment of Sternship Advisers' performance. The Minister confirms payments and refers to publicly available reports, citing commercial confidentiality regarding specific advice.
AnsweredQoN 1044Legislative Council
Asked
14 September 2023
Member
Portfolio
State and Industry Development, Jobs and Trade
QuestionView source ↗
GRIFFIN COAL — LIQUIDATOR
1044. Hon Dr STEVE THOMAS to the minister representing the
Minister for State and Industry Development, Jobs and Trade:
I refer to the minister's
answer to my questions without notice this week and in August on consultants
paid by the government to advise on the insolvent Griffin Coal.
(1) Can the
minister now confirm that his government has paid Ad Astra Corporate Advisory
$286 869 and Sternship Advisers $626 143.96,
and signed a contract to pay KPMG $240 000 for advice on Griffin Coal?
(2) If no to (1),
what are the correct totals, and has any other company been contracted or paid
to advise the government on Griffin Coal?
(3) Given that
Sternship Advisers was engaged until July 2023, what commercial facilitation
did it provide or achieve between commercial parties related to Griffin Coal?
(4) What
solutions has Sternship Advisers provided to resolve the ongoing crisis at
Griffin Coal, apart from more and more taxpayer handouts in financial
assistance grants and process agreements, and were those solutions worth $626 143
or just the 96�?
(5) What has been
Treasury's reaction to the performance of Sternship Advisers up until
July 2023, and did it condemn or endorse that performance?
The PRESIDENT : I note it was
a very long question.
1044. Hon Dr STEVE THOMAS to the minister representing the
Minister for State and Industry Development, Jobs and Trade:
I refer to the minister's
answer to my questions without notice this week and in August on consultants
paid by the government to advise on the insolvent Griffin Coal.
(1) Can the
minister now confirm that his government has paid Ad Astra Corporate Advisory
$286 869 and Sternship Advisers $626 143.96,
and signed a contract to pay KPMG $240 000 for advice on Griffin Coal?
(2) If no to (1),
what are the correct totals, and has any other company been contracted or paid
to advise the government on Griffin Coal?
(3) Given that
Sternship Advisers was engaged until July 2023, what commercial facilitation
did it provide or achieve between commercial parties related to Griffin Coal?
(4) What
solutions has Sternship Advisers provided to resolve the ongoing crisis at
Griffin Coal, apart from more and more taxpayer handouts in financial
assistance grants and process agreements, and were those solutions worth $626 143
or just the 96�?
(5) What has been
Treasury's reaction to the performance of Sternship Advisers up until
July 2023, and did it condemn or endorse that performance?
The PRESIDENT : I note it was
a very long question.
AnswerView source ↗
It was indeed a very long question,
President. You will be very grateful to know that the answer is not as long!
I thank Hon Dr Steve Thomas for some
notice of the question. I note that the information requested by the member is
available in the Report on consultants engaged by government , tabled
regularly in the Parliament.
(1) Yes.
(2) The
Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation has engaged Preston
Consulting to provide advice on rehabilitation matters.
(3)–(4) As stated on multiple occasions, advice provided
to government on the coal industry by Sternship Advisers is confidential
and commercially sensitive.
(5) Sternship Advisers was contracted by the Department
of the Premier and Cabinet, not the Department of Treasury.
President. You will be very grateful to know that the answer is not as long!
I thank Hon Dr Steve Thomas for some
notice of the question. I note that the information requested by the member is
available in the Report on consultants engaged by government , tabled
regularly in the Parliament.
(1) Yes.
(2) The
Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation has engaged Preston
Consulting to provide advice on rehabilitation matters.
(3)–(4) As stated on multiple occasions, advice provided
to government on the coal industry by Sternship Advisers is confidential
and commercially sensitive.
(5) Sternship Advisers was contracted by the Department
of the Premier and Cabinet, not the Department of Treasury.
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