❓ Dr. Steve Thomas questions the government about payments to Ashurst for legal services related to Griffin Coal's insolvency, prompting a response detailing total payments and staffing. The Auditor General's report and commercial confidentiality are also referenced.
AnsweredQoN 864Legislative Council
Asked
14 August 2024
Member
Portfolio
parliamentary secretary representing the Attorney General
QuestionView source ↗
GRIFFIN COAL —
GOVERNMENT SUPPORT
864. Hon Dr STEVE THOMAS to the parliamentary secretary
representing the Attorney General:
I refer to the Auditor General's
damning report of 27 June 2024 slamming the government's refusal to
answer my questions into government payments since the inception of a partnering
agreement between the State Solicitor's Office and Ashurst in relation
to Griffin Coal, and her unequivocal statement that ''commercial-in-confidence
is not a reason to prevent me and my staff accessing the information''.
I refer to the inception on 2 December 2022 of the section 95A partnering
agreement between the SSO and Ashurst.
(1) As at 14
August 2024, what monthly payments has the state directed to Ashurst for the
provision of legal services pertaining to the insolvent and foreign-owned
Griffin Coal?
(2) As at 14
August 2024, how many Ashurst operatives or employees or subcontracted staff
have been engaged in, advised or contributed to the partnering arrangement for
the provision of legal services to the SSO pertaining to the insolvent and
foreign-owned Griffin Coal?
(3) As at 1
August 2024, has there been any alteration, amendment or contractual variation
to the open-ended duration and value of the SSO and Ashurst partnering
arrangement; and, if so what?
GOVERNMENT SUPPORT
864. Hon Dr STEVE THOMAS to the parliamentary secretary
representing the Attorney General:
I refer to the Auditor General's
damning report of 27 June 2024 slamming the government's refusal to
answer my questions into government payments since the inception of a partnering
agreement between the State Solicitor's Office and Ashurst in relation
to Griffin Coal, and her unequivocal statement that ''commercial-in-confidence
is not a reason to prevent me and my staff accessing the information''.
I refer to the inception on 2 December 2022 of the section 95A partnering
agreement between the SSO and Ashurst.
(1) As at 14
August 2024, what monthly payments has the state directed to Ashurst for the
provision of legal services pertaining to the insolvent and foreign-owned
Griffin Coal?
(2) As at 14
August 2024, how many Ashurst operatives or employees or subcontracted staff
have been engaged in, advised or contributed to the partnering arrangement for
the provision of legal services to the SSO pertaining to the insolvent and
foreign-owned Griffin Coal?
(3) As at 1
August 2024, has there been any alteration, amendment or contractual variation
to the open-ended duration and value of the SSO and Ashurst partnering
arrangement; and, if so what?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question.
The following answer has been
provided to me by the Attorney General.
(1) This matter continues to be
ongoing.
Hon Dr Steve Thomas : You can
bet on that.
Hon MATTHEW SWINBOURN : Can I
finish?
Payments to Ashurst are not made
monthly. The total amount paid to Ashurst from December 2022 to August 2024 is
$543 670.19.
(2) As at 14
August 2024, 19 solicitors and three articled clerks/graduates from Ashurst
have worked on various issues relating to this matter.
(3) Effective
from 1 July 2024, hourly rates charged by external law firms for legal services
provided to the state were revised—otherwise there has been no change.
some notice of the question.
The following answer has been
provided to me by the Attorney General.
(1) This matter continues to be
ongoing.
Hon Dr Steve Thomas : You can
bet on that.
Hon MATTHEW SWINBOURN : Can I
finish?
Payments to Ashurst are not made
monthly. The total amount paid to Ashurst from December 2022 to August 2024 is
$543 670.19.
(2) As at 14
August 2024, 19 solicitors and three articled clerks/graduates from Ashurst
have worked on various issues relating to this matter.
(3) Effective
from 1 July 2024, hourly rates charged by external law firms for legal services
provided to the state were revised—otherwise there has been no change.
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