❓ A WA parliamentary question seeks to determine if any State Government funding or grants were provided to Pilbara Fishing Ventures, an indigenous fishing company that went into receivership. The answers indicate no funding was provided by any agencies within the portfolios questioned.
AnsweredQoN 2025Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
The Australian newspaper revealed last August that the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission had issued a $3 million loan to the indigenous fishing company - Pilbara Fishing Ventures - which was part-owned by an ATSIC Regional Council Chairman, Barry Taylor, and the son of ATSIC Acting Deputy Chairman, Terry Whitby.
Pilbara Fishing Ventures went into receivership late last year, leaving debts of more than $150,000.
(1) Can the Premier confirm whether or not any form of State Government funding, or grant, was distributed in support of Pilbara Fishing Ventures?
(2) If so, for what reason was this grant allocated?
(3) What were the details of the Grant?
(4) How was the funding distributed?
Pilbara Fishing Ventures went into receivership late last year, leaving debts of more than $150,000.
(1) Can the Premier confirm whether or not any form of State Government funding, or grant, was distributed in support of Pilbara Fishing Ventures?
(2) If so, for what reason was this grant allocated?
(3) What were the details of the Grant?
(4) How was the funding distributed?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
1 July 2004
Responded by
Leader of the House representing the Premier
Response time
30 days
I am advised that:
Premier; Minister for Public Sector Management; Federal Affairs; Science; Citizenship and Multicultural Interest:
I am advised that:
Department of the Premier and Cabinet
(1)-(4) No grant funding has been provided to Pilbara Fishing Ventures by any agencies within the Premier’s portfolio.
Governor’s Establishment
(1)–(4)
Not applicable to Governor's Establishment
Office of the Public Sector Standards Commissioner
The Commissioner for Public Sector Standards advises as follows:
(1)-(4) Not applicable.
Deputy Premier; Treasurer; Minister for Energy:
WA Treasury Corporation
(1) No funding has been provided to Pilbara Fishing Ventures by the Western Australian Treasury Corporation.
(2)-(4) Not applicable. The Western Australian Treasury Corporation cannot answer whether any grants have been provided or not
Economic Regulation Authority
(1) Nil response.
(2)-(4) Not applicable.
Office of Native Title
(1)-(4) Nil response.
Western Power Corporation
(1) Western Power has not provided any funding or grant in support of Pilbara Fishing Ventures.
(2)-(4) Not applicable
Office of the Auditor General
(1)-(4) Nil response.
Office of Energy
(1) Nil response.
(2)-(4) Not applicable.
Department of Treasury and Finance
(1)-(4) Nil response.
Minister for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries; the Midwest, Wheatbelt and Great Southern:
(1) No funding or grant has been provided to Pilbara Fishing Ventures.
(2)–(4) Not applicable.
Minister for Local Government and Regional Development; Heritage; the Kimberley, Pilbara and Gascoyne; Goldfields-Esperance:
(1)-(4) Not applicable.
Minister for Consumer and Employment Protection; Indigenous Affairs; Minister Assisting the Minister for Public Sector Management:
Department of Consumer and Employment Protection
(1) No funding has been provided.
(2)-(4) Not applicable.
WorkCover WA
(1) No funding has been provided.
(2)-(4) Not applicable.
Western Australian Industrial Relations Commission
(1) No funding has been provided.
(2)-(4) Not applicable.
Construction Industry Long Service Leave Payments Board
(1) No funding has been provided.
(2)-(4) Not applicable.
Department of Indigenous Affairs
(1) No funding has been provided.
(2)-(4) Not applicable.
Attorney General; Minister for Health; Electoral Affairs:
Department of Health; Department of Justice; Director of Public Prosecutions; Equal Opportunity Commission; Law Reform Commission; Legal Aid WA; Office of The Information Commissioner; Office of Health Review; State Solicitor’s Office; W.A. Electoral Commission
(1-4) Not applicable.
Minister for the Environment:
Department of Conservation and Land Management, Department of Environment, Office of Water Regulation, Botanic Gardens and Parks Authority, and Perth Zoo
(1) No.
(2)-(4) Not applicable.
Minister for Police and Emergency Services; Justice; Community Safety:
Western Australia Police Service
(1) The WA Police Service advise it has not provided any funding or grant to Pilbara Fishing Ventures.
(2)-(4) Not applicable
Fire And Emergency Services Authority
(1) The Fire and Emergency Services Authority advise it has not provided any funding or grant to Pilbara Fishing Ventures.
(2)–(4) Not applicable
Department Of Justice
(1) The Department of Justice advise it has not provided any funding or grant to Pilbara Fishing Ventures.
(2)–(4) Not applicable
Office of the Inspector of Custodial Services
(1) The office of the Inspector of Custodial Services advise it has not provided any funding or grant to Pilbara Fishing Ventures.
(2)–(4) Not applicable
Minister for Planning and Infrastructure:
Albany Port Authority
(1)-(4) The APA has NOT made any such contribution.
Broome Port Authority
(1) No form of funding or grant provided in support of Pilbara Fishing Ventures
(2)-(4) Not applicable.
Bunbury Port Authority
(1-4) Not applicable
Dampier Port Authority
This question is not applicable to the Dampier Port Authority.
Esperance Port Authority
(1) None.
(2)-(4) Not applicable.
Fremantle Port Authority
(1)-(4) Not applicable.
Geraldton Port Authority
(1) The Geraldton Port Authority has no knowledge of any dealings on this matter.
(2)-(4) Not applicable.
Port Hedland Port Authority
(1) Nil
(2)-(4) Not applicable.
Armadale Redevelopment Authority
(1) The Armadale Redevelopment Authority has no financial or other relationship with Pilbara Fishing Ventures.
(2)-(4) Not applicable
East Perth redevelopment authority
(1) No.
(2)-(4) Not applicable.
Midland Redevelopment Authority
(1) No State Government funding or grant was distributed in support of the Pilbara Fishing Ventures.
(2)-(4) N/A
Subiaco redevelopment authority
(1) No.
(2)-(4) Not applicable.
Landcorp
(1)-(4) LandCorp has had no involvement in these dealings.
Eastern Goldfields Transport Board
(1)-(4) No grant or funding was provided by the eastern Goldfields Transport Board to the Pilbara Fishing Ventures.
Main Roads Western Australia
(1) None.
(2)-(4) Not applicable.
Department for Planning and Infrastructure
(1)-(4) The Department for Planning and Infrastructure did not provide any form of funding or grant to Pilbara Fishing Ventures.
Minister for State Development:
I am advised:
(1) In April 2001, the Office of Aboriginal Economic Development, which was then a Division of the Department of Commerce and Trade, was approached by Mr Barry Taylor of Pilbara Fishing Ventures requesting assistance under a grant-funding scheme called the Indigenous Economic Development Scheme.
(2) The purpose for which funds were sought was to cover the costs associated with return air fares for Mr Taylor to attend a meeting in Canberra on Friday 20 April 2001 with the ATSIC National Program Manager, Mr David Galvin, the Principal of Fisheries Management Strategies Pty Ltd, Mr Steve Dixon, and representatives of Western Australian Ocean Resources.
(3) The approval of the grant was conditional on Mr Taylor agreeing to refund the grant amount of $1,288.36 back to the Department from the proceeds of an ATSIC grant. This refund was subsequently received from ATSIC in June 2001.
(4) Grant proceeds were paid directly to Business Travel International Australia Pty Ltd, who was the business travel agents engaged by the department at that time.
No other financial assistance has been provided by the Office of Aboriginal Economic Development to support Pilbara Fishing Ventures.
Minister for Education and Training:
Building & Construction Industry Training Fund
(1) The Building and Construction Industry Training Fund has not granted any form of funding to Pilbara fishing Ventures.
(2)-(4) Not applicable
Department Of Eduction And Training
(1) The Department of Education and Training has provided no funding or grants in support of the Pilbara Fishing Ventures.
(2)–(4) Not applicable.
Department of Education Services & Curriculum Council
(1) No funding has been distributed to Pilbara Fishing Ventures from the Department of Education Services.
(2)–(4) Not applicable.
Minister for Community Development, Women’s Interests, Seniors and Youth; Disability Services; Culture and the Arts:
Department for Community Development
(1) Nil funding.
(2)–(4) Not applicable.
Department of Culture and the Arts
(1) Nil funding.
(2)–(4) Not applicable.
WA Museum
(1) Nil funding.
(2)–(4) Not applicable.
Art Gallery of WA
(1) Nil funding.
(2)–(4) Not applicable.
ScreenWest
(1) Nil funding.
(2)-(4) Not applicable.
State Library of Western Australia
(1) Nil funding.
(2)–(4) Not applicable.
Perth Theatre Trust
(1) Nil funding.
(2)–(4) Not applicable.
Disability Services Commission
(1) Nil funding.
(2)–(4) Not applicable.
Minister for Tourism; Small Business; Sport and Recreation; Peel and the South West:
Western Australian Tourism Commission; Rottnest Island Authority; Small Business Development Corporation; Department of Sport & Recreation; Western Australian Institute of Sport; Western Australian Sports Centre Trust; Peel Development Commission; South West Development Commission
(1) Nil
(2)–(4) Not applicable
Minister for Housing and Works; Racing and Gaming; Government Enterprises; Land Information:
(1) No
(2)-(4) Not applicable
Premier; Minister for Public Sector Management; Federal Affairs; Science; Citizenship and Multicultural Interest:
I am advised that:
Department of the Premier and Cabinet
(1)-(4) No grant funding has been provided to Pilbara Fishing Ventures by any agencies within the Premier’s portfolio.
Governor’s Establishment
(1)–(4)
Not applicable to Governor's Establishment
Office of the Public Sector Standards Commissioner
The Commissioner for Public Sector Standards advises as follows:
(1)-(4) Not applicable.
Deputy Premier; Treasurer; Minister for Energy:
WA Treasury Corporation
(1) No funding has been provided to Pilbara Fishing Ventures by the Western Australian Treasury Corporation.
(2)-(4) Not applicable. The Western Australian Treasury Corporation cannot answer whether any grants have been provided or not
Economic Regulation Authority
(1) Nil response.
(2)-(4) Not applicable.
Office of Native Title
(1)-(4) Nil response.
Western Power Corporation
(1) Western Power has not provided any funding or grant in support of Pilbara Fishing Ventures.
(2)-(4) Not applicable
Office of the Auditor General
(1)-(4) Nil response.
Office of Energy
(1) Nil response.
(2)-(4) Not applicable.
Department of Treasury and Finance
(1)-(4) Nil response.
Minister for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries; the Midwest, Wheatbelt and Great Southern:
(1) No funding or grant has been provided to Pilbara Fishing Ventures.
(2)–(4) Not applicable.
Minister for Local Government and Regional Development; Heritage; the Kimberley, Pilbara and Gascoyne; Goldfields-Esperance:
(1)-(4) Not applicable.
Minister for Consumer and Employment Protection; Indigenous Affairs; Minister Assisting the Minister for Public Sector Management:
Department of Consumer and Employment Protection
(1) No funding has been provided.
(2)-(4) Not applicable.
WorkCover WA
(1) No funding has been provided.
(2)-(4) Not applicable.
Western Australian Industrial Relations Commission
(1) No funding has been provided.
(2)-(4) Not applicable.
Construction Industry Long Service Leave Payments Board
(1) No funding has been provided.
(2)-(4) Not applicable.
Department of Indigenous Affairs
(1) No funding has been provided.
(2)-(4) Not applicable.
Attorney General; Minister for Health; Electoral Affairs:
Department of Health; Department of Justice; Director of Public Prosecutions; Equal Opportunity Commission; Law Reform Commission; Legal Aid WA; Office of The Information Commissioner; Office of Health Review; State Solicitor’s Office; W.A. Electoral Commission
(1-4) Not applicable.
Minister for the Environment:
Department of Conservation and Land Management, Department of Environment, Office of Water Regulation, Botanic Gardens and Parks Authority, and Perth Zoo
(1) No.
(2)-(4) Not applicable.
Minister for Police and Emergency Services; Justice; Community Safety:
Western Australia Police Service
(1) The WA Police Service advise it has not provided any funding or grant to Pilbara Fishing Ventures.
(2)-(4) Not applicable
Fire And Emergency Services Authority
(1) The Fire and Emergency Services Authority advise it has not provided any funding or grant to Pilbara Fishing Ventures.
(2)–(4) Not applicable
Department Of Justice
(1) The Department of Justice advise it has not provided any funding or grant to Pilbara Fishing Ventures.
(2)–(4) Not applicable
Office of the Inspector of Custodial Services
(1) The office of the Inspector of Custodial Services advise it has not provided any funding or grant to Pilbara Fishing Ventures.
(2)–(4) Not applicable
Minister for Planning and Infrastructure:
Albany Port Authority
(1)-(4) The APA has NOT made any such contribution.
Broome Port Authority
(1) No form of funding or grant provided in support of Pilbara Fishing Ventures
(2)-(4) Not applicable.
Bunbury Port Authority
(1-4) Not applicable
Dampier Port Authority
This question is not applicable to the Dampier Port Authority.
Esperance Port Authority
(1) None.
(2)-(4) Not applicable.
Fremantle Port Authority
(1)-(4) Not applicable.
Geraldton Port Authority
(1) The Geraldton Port Authority has no knowledge of any dealings on this matter.
(2)-(4) Not applicable.
Port Hedland Port Authority
(1) Nil
(2)-(4) Not applicable.
Armadale Redevelopment Authority
(1) The Armadale Redevelopment Authority has no financial or other relationship with Pilbara Fishing Ventures.
(2)-(4) Not applicable
East Perth redevelopment authority
(1) No.
(2)-(4) Not applicable.
Midland Redevelopment Authority
(1) No State Government funding or grant was distributed in support of the Pilbara Fishing Ventures.
(2)-(4) N/A
Subiaco redevelopment authority
(1) No.
(2)-(4) Not applicable.
Landcorp
(1)-(4) LandCorp has had no involvement in these dealings.
Eastern Goldfields Transport Board
(1)-(4) No grant or funding was provided by the eastern Goldfields Transport Board to the Pilbara Fishing Ventures.
Main Roads Western Australia
(1) None.
(2)-(4) Not applicable.
Department for Planning and Infrastructure
(1)-(4) The Department for Planning and Infrastructure did not provide any form of funding or grant to Pilbara Fishing Ventures.
Minister for State Development:
I am advised:
(1) In April 2001, the Office of Aboriginal Economic Development, which was then a Division of the Department of Commerce and Trade, was approached by Mr Barry Taylor of Pilbara Fishing Ventures requesting assistance under a grant-funding scheme called the Indigenous Economic Development Scheme.
(2) The purpose for which funds were sought was to cover the costs associated with return air fares for Mr Taylor to attend a meeting in Canberra on Friday 20 April 2001 with the ATSIC National Program Manager, Mr David Galvin, the Principal of Fisheries Management Strategies Pty Ltd, Mr Steve Dixon, and representatives of Western Australian Ocean Resources.
(3) The approval of the grant was conditional on Mr Taylor agreeing to refund the grant amount of $1,288.36 back to the Department from the proceeds of an ATSIC grant. This refund was subsequently received from ATSIC in June 2001.
(4) Grant proceeds were paid directly to Business Travel International Australia Pty Ltd, who was the business travel agents engaged by the department at that time.
No other financial assistance has been provided by the Office of Aboriginal Economic Development to support Pilbara Fishing Ventures.
Minister for Education and Training:
Building & Construction Industry Training Fund
(1) The Building and Construction Industry Training Fund has not granted any form of funding to Pilbara fishing Ventures.
(2)-(4) Not applicable
Department Of Eduction And Training
(1) The Department of Education and Training has provided no funding or grants in support of the Pilbara Fishing Ventures.
(2)–(4) Not applicable.
Department of Education Services & Curriculum Council
(1) No funding has been distributed to Pilbara Fishing Ventures from the Department of Education Services.
(2)–(4) Not applicable.
Minister for Community Development, Women’s Interests, Seniors and Youth; Disability Services; Culture and the Arts:
Department for Community Development
(1) Nil funding.
(2)–(4) Not applicable.
Department of Culture and the Arts
(1) Nil funding.
(2)–(4) Not applicable.
WA Museum
(1) Nil funding.
(2)–(4) Not applicable.
Art Gallery of WA
(1) Nil funding.
(2)–(4) Not applicable.
ScreenWest
(1) Nil funding.
(2)-(4) Not applicable.
State Library of Western Australia
(1) Nil funding.
(2)–(4) Not applicable.
Perth Theatre Trust
(1) Nil funding.
(2)–(4) Not applicable.
Disability Services Commission
(1) Nil funding.
(2)–(4) Not applicable.
Minister for Tourism; Small Business; Sport and Recreation; Peel and the South West:
Western Australian Tourism Commission; Rottnest Island Authority; Small Business Development Corporation; Department of Sport & Recreation; Western Australian Institute of Sport; Western Australian Sports Centre Trust; Peel Development Commission; South West Development Commission
(1) Nil
(2)–(4) Not applicable
Minister for Housing and Works; Racing and Gaming; Government Enterprises; Land Information:
(1) No
(2)-(4) Not applicable
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.