Hon Jon Ford questions Hon Norman Moore, Minister for Fisheries, regarding a perceived conflict of interest of the Rock Lobster Industry Advisory Council (RLIAC) chairman, Ron Edwards. The Minister defends Edwards, stating his previous advisory role was disclosed and related to aquaculture, not rock lobster.

AnsweredQoN 60Legislative Council
Asked
24 November 2008
Portfolio
Fisheries

QuestionView source ↗

RON EDWARDS — CONFLICT OF INTEREST 60. Hon JON FORD to the Minister for Fisheries: I refer to recent media reports on the perceived conflict of interest of the minister’s chairman of the Rock Lobster Industry Advisory Council, Ron Edwards. (1) Does the minister believe Mr Ron Edwards has a conflict of interest that excludes him from chairing RLIAC? (2) Does the minister have confidence in Mr Ron Edwards as chair of RLIAC? (3) If yes to (1), why? Hon NORMAN MOORE

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the member for the question. When the member says “my” chairman, I must say that I did not actually appoint him; he was appointed by Hon Kim Chance, and reappointed, I believe, by the member, but I may be wrong. Therefore, in respect to whose chairman he is, he is not my chairman; I inherited him from the former government. (1)-(3) Do I believe he has a conflict of interest? I spoke to Mr Edwards yesterday and asked him about the media comments about a so-called conflict of interest. He informed me of the circumstances surrounding his appointment by Hon Kim Chance and that he had advised Hon Kim Chance that he was an adviser to a fishing company, the name of which I cannot remember — Hon Kim Chance : Latitude. Hon NORMAN MOORE : Latitude Fisheries. He advised me that his advice was provided in respect to aquaculture matters and not rock lobster matters. That was acceptable to Hon Kim Chance; presumably it is acceptable to the member; and, having spoken to Mr Edwards yesterday, it is acceptable to me. Do I have confidence in him doing the job? I do, although he is a former Labor Party member of Parliament. I have discovered a lot of those in my portfolio. It seems that the way to become a chairman of a ministerial advisory council is to be a former Labor member of Parliament. Hon Jon Ford : Or National Party. Hon NORMAN MOORE : That helps too. Several members interjected. Hon NORMAN MOORE : Dexter Davies is not employed by the government; he is employed by the industry association, but then I would not expect the member to know any different. To the extent that I know Mr Edwards and to the extent to which he has given me advice since I have been the minister, I have confidence in his ability to do the job.
RON EDWARDS — CONFLICT OF INTEREST
I refer to recent media reports on the perceived conflict of interest of the minister’s chairman of the Rock Lobster Industry Advisory Council, Ron Edwards. (1) Does the minister believe Mr Ron Edwards has a conflict of interest that excludes him from chairing RLIAC? (2) Does the minister have confidence in Mr Ron Edwards as chair of RLIAC? (3) If yes to (1), why? Hon NORMAN MOORE replied: I thank the member for the question. When the member says “my” chairman, I must say that I did not actually appoint him; he was appointed by Hon Kim Chance, and reappointed, I believe, by the member, but I may be wrong. Therefore, in respect to whose chairman he is, he is not my chairman; I inherited him from the former government. (1)-(3) Do I believe he has a conflict of interest? I spoke to Mr Edwards yesterday and asked him about the media comments about a so-called conflict of interest. He informed me of the circumstances surrounding his appointment by Hon Kim Chance and that he had advised Hon Kim Chance that he was an adviser to a fishing company, the name of which I cannot remember — Hon Kim Chance : Latitude. Hon NORMAN MOORE : Latitude Fisheries. He advised me that his advice was provided in respect to aquaculture matters and not rock lobster matters. That was acceptable to Hon Kim Chance; presumably it is acceptable to the member; and, having spoken to Mr Edwards yesterday, it is acceptable to me. Do I have confidence in him doing the job? I do, although he is a former Labor Party member of Parliament. I have discovered a lot of those in my portfolio. It seems that the way to become a chairman of a ministerial advisory council is to be a former Labor member of Parliament. Hon Jon Ford : Or National Party. Hon NORMAN MOORE : That helps too. Several members interjected. Hon NORMAN MOORE : Dexter Davies is not employed by the government; he is employed by the industry association, but then I would not expect the member to know any different. To the extent that I know Mr Edwards and to the extent to which he has given me advice since I have been the minister, I have confidence in his ability to do the job.
(1) Does the minister believe Mr Ron Edwards has a conflict of interest that excludes him from chairing RLIAC? (2) Does the minister have confidence in Mr Ron Edwards as chair of RLIAC? (3) If yes to (1), why? Hon NORMAN MOORE replied: I thank the member for the question. When the member says “my” chairman, I must say that I did not actually appoint him; he was appointed by Hon Kim Chance, and reappointed, I believe, by the member, but I may be wrong. Therefore, in respect to whose chairman he is, he is not my chairman; I inherited him from the former government. (1)-(3) Do I believe he has a conflict of interest? I spoke to Mr Edwards yesterday and asked him about the media comments about a so-called conflict of interest. He informed me of the circumstances surrounding his appointment by Hon Kim Chance and that he had advised Hon Kim Chance that he was an adviser to a fishing company, the name of which I cannot remember — Hon Kim Chance : Latitude. Hon NORMAN MOORE : Latitude Fisheries. He advised me that his advice was provided in respect to aquaculture matters and not rock lobster matters. That was acceptable to Hon Kim Chance; presumably it is acceptable to the member; and, having spoken to Mr Edwards yesterday, it is acceptable to me. Do I have confidence in him doing the job? I do, although he is a former Labor Party member of Parliament. I have discovered a lot of those in my portfolio. It seems that the way to become a chairman of a ministerial advisory council is to be a former Labor member of Parliament. Hon Jon Ford : Or National Party. Hon NORMAN MOORE : That helps too. Several members interjected. Hon NORMAN MOORE : Dexter Davies is not employed by the government; he is employed by the industry association, but then I would not expect the member to know any different. To the extent that I know Mr Edwards and to the extent to which he has given me advice since I have been the minister, I have confidence in his ability to do the job.
(2) Does the minister have confidence in Mr Ron Edwards as chair of RLIAC? (3) If yes to (1), why? Hon NORMAN MOORE replied: I thank the member for the question. When the member says “my” chairman, I must say that I did not actually appoint him; he was appointed by Hon Kim Chance, and reappointed, I believe, by the member, but I may be wrong. Therefore, in respect to whose chairman he is, he is not my chairman; I inherited him from the former government. (1)-(3) Do I believe he has a conflict of interest? I spoke to Mr Edwards yesterday and asked him about the media comments about a so-called conflict of interest. He informed me of the circumstances surrounding his appointment by Hon Kim Chance and that he had advised Hon Kim Chance that he was an adviser to a fishing company, the name of which I cannot remember — Hon Kim Chance : Latitude. Hon NORMAN MOORE : Latitude Fisheries. He advised me that his advice was provided in respect to aquaculture matters and not rock lobster matters. That was acceptable to Hon Kim Chance; presumably it is acceptable to the member; and, having spoken to Mr Edwards yesterday, it is acceptable to me. Do I have confidence in him doing the job? I do, although he is a former Labor Party member of Parliament. I have discovered a lot of those in my portfolio. It seems that the way to become a chairman of a ministerial advisory council is to be a former Labor member of Parliament. Hon Jon Ford : Or National Party. Hon NORMAN MOORE : That helps too. Several members interjected. Hon NORMAN MOORE : Dexter Davies is not employed by the government; he is employed by the industry association, but then I would not expect the member to know any different. To the extent that I know Mr Edwards and to the extent to which he has given me advice since I have been the minister, I have confidence in his ability to do the job.
(3) If yes to (1), why? Hon NORMAN MOORE replied: I thank the member for the question. When the member says “my” chairman, I must say that I did not actually appoint him; he was appointed by Hon Kim Chance, and reappointed, I believe, by the member, but I may be wrong. Therefore, in respect to whose chairman he is, he is not my chairman; I inherited him from the former government. (1)-(3) Do I believe he has a conflict of interest? I spoke to Mr Edwards yesterday and asked him about the media comments about a so-called conflict of interest. He informed me of the circumstances surrounding his appointment by Hon Kim Chance and that he had advised Hon Kim Chance that he was an adviser to a fishing company, the name of which I cannot remember — Hon Kim Chance : Latitude. Hon NORMAN MOORE : Latitude Fisheries. He advised me that his advice was provided in respect to aquaculture matters and not rock lobster matters. That was acceptable to Hon Kim Chance; presumably it is acceptable to the member; and, having spoken to Mr Edwards yesterday, it is acceptable to me. Do I have confidence in him doing the job? I do, although he is a former Labor Party member of Parliament. I have discovered a lot of those in my portfolio. It seems that the way to become a chairman of a ministerial advisory council is to be a former Labor member of Parliament. Hon Jon Ford : Or National Party. Hon NORMAN MOORE : That helps too. Several members interjected. Hon NORMAN MOORE : Dexter Davies is not employed by the government; he is employed by the industry association, but then I would not expect the member to know any different. To the extent that I know Mr Edwards and to the extent to which he has given me advice since I have been the minister, I have confidence in his ability to do the job.
Hon NORMAN MOORE replied: I thank the member for the question. When the member says “my” chairman, I must say that I did not actually appoint him; he was appointed by Hon Kim Chance, and reappointed, I believe, by the member, but I may be wrong. Therefore, in respect to whose chairman he is, he is not my chairman; I inherited him from the former government. (1)-(3) Do I believe he has a conflict of interest? I spoke to Mr Edwards yesterday and asked him about the media comments about a so-called conflict of interest. He informed me of the circumstances surrounding his appointment by Hon Kim Chance and that he had advised Hon Kim Chance that he was an adviser to a fishing company, the name of which I cannot remember — Hon Kim Chance : Latitude. Hon NORMAN MOORE : Latitude Fisheries. He advised me that his advice was provided in respect to aquaculture matters and not rock lobster matters. That was acceptable to Hon Kim Chance; presumably it is acceptable to the member; and, having spoken to Mr Edwards yesterday, it is acceptable to me. Do I have confidence in him doing the job? I do, although he is a former Labor Party member of Parliament. I have discovered a lot of those in my portfolio. It seems that the way to become a chairman of a ministerial advisory council is to be a former Labor member of Parliament. Hon Jon Ford : Or National Party. Hon NORMAN MOORE : That helps too. Several members interjected. Hon NORMAN MOORE : Dexter Davies is not employed by the government; he is employed by the industry association, but then I would not expect the member to know any different. To the extent that I know Mr Edwards and to the extent to which he has given me advice since I have been the minister, I have confidence in his ability to do the job.
I thank the member for the question. When the member says “my” chairman, I must say that I did not actually appoint him; he was appointed by Hon Kim Chance, and reappointed, I believe, by the member, but I may be wrong. Therefore, in respect to whose chairman he is, he is not my chairman; I inherited him from the former government. (1)-(3) Do I believe he has a conflict of interest? I spoke to Mr Edwards yesterday and asked him about the media comments about a so-called conflict of interest. He informed me of the circumstances surrounding his appointment by Hon Kim Chance and that he had advised Hon Kim Chance that he was an adviser to a fishing company, the name of which I cannot remember — Hon Kim Chance : Latitude. Hon NORMAN MOORE : Latitude Fisheries. He advised me that his advice was provided in respect to aquaculture matters and not rock lobster matters. That was acceptable to Hon Kim Chance; presumably it is acceptable to the member; and, having spoken to Mr Edwards yesterday, it is acceptable to me. Do I have confidence in him doing the job? I do, although he is a former Labor Party member of Parliament. I have discovered a lot of those in my portfolio. It seems that the way to become a chairman of a ministerial advisory council is to be a former Labor member of Parliament. Hon Jon Ford : Or National Party. Hon NORMAN MOORE : That helps too. Several members interjected. Hon NORMAN MOORE : Dexter Davies is not employed by the government; he is employed by the industry association, but then I would not expect the member to know any different. To the extent that I know Mr Edwards and to the extent to which he has given me advice since I have been the minister, I have confidence in his ability to do the job.
(1)-(3) Do I believe he has a conflict of interest? I spoke to Mr Edwards yesterday and asked him about the media comments about a so-called conflict of interest. He informed me of the circumstances surrounding his appointment by Hon Kim Chance and that he had advised Hon Kim Chance that he was an adviser to a fishing company, the name of which I cannot remember — Hon Kim Chance : Latitude. Hon NORMAN MOORE : Latitude Fisheries. He advised me that his advice was provided in respect to aquaculture matters and not rock lobster matters. That was acceptable to Hon Kim Chance; presumably it is acceptable to the member; and, having spoken to Mr Edwards yesterday, it is acceptable to me. Do I have confidence in him doing the job? I do, although he is a former Labor Party member of Parliament. I have discovered a lot of those in my portfolio. It seems that the way to become a chairman of a ministerial advisory council is to be a former Labor member of Parliament. Hon Jon Ford : Or National Party. Hon NORMAN MOORE : That helps too. Several members interjected. Hon NORMAN MOORE : Dexter Davies is not employed by the government; he is employed by the industry association, but then I would not expect the member to know any different. To the extent that I know Mr Edwards and to the extent to which he has given me advice since I have been the minister, I have confidence in his ability to do the job.
Hon Kim Chance : Latitude. Hon NORMAN MOORE : Latitude Fisheries. He advised me that his advice was provided in respect to aquaculture matters and not rock lobster matters. That was acceptable to Hon Kim Chance; presumably it is acceptable to the member; and, having spoken to Mr Edwards yesterday, it is acceptable to me. Do I have confidence in him doing the job? I do, although he is a former Labor Party member of Parliament. I have discovered a lot of those in my portfolio. It seems that the way to become a chairman of a ministerial advisory council is to be a former Labor member of Parliament. Hon Jon Ford : Or National Party. Hon NORMAN MOORE : That helps too. Several members interjected. Hon NORMAN MOORE : Dexter Davies is not employed by the government; he is employed by the industry association, but then I would not expect the member to know any different. To the extent that I know Mr Edwards and to the extent to which he has given me advice since I have been the minister, I have confidence in his ability to do the job.
Hon NORMAN MOORE : Latitude Fisheries. He advised me that his advice was provided in respect to aquaculture matters and not rock lobster matters. That was acceptable to Hon Kim Chance; presumably it is acceptable to the member; and, having spoken to Mr Edwards yesterday, it is acceptable to me. Do I have confidence in him doing the job? I do, although he is a former Labor Party member of Parliament. I have discovered a lot of those in my portfolio. It seems that the way to become a chairman of a ministerial advisory council is to be a former Labor member of Parliament. Hon Jon Ford : Or National Party. Hon NORMAN MOORE : That helps too. Several members interjected. Hon NORMAN MOORE : Dexter Davies is not employed by the government; he is employed by the industry association, but then I would not expect the member to know any different. To the extent that I know Mr Edwards and to the extent to which he has given me advice since I have been the minister, I have confidence in his ability to do the job.
Do I have confidence in him doing the job? I do, although he is a former Labor Party member of Parliament. I have discovered a lot of those in my portfolio. It seems that the way to become a chairman of a ministerial advisory council is to be a former Labor member of Parliament. Hon Jon Ford : Or National Party. Hon NORMAN MOORE : That helps too. Several members interjected. Hon NORMAN MOORE : Dexter Davies is not employed by the government; he is employed by the industry association, but then I would not expect the member to know any different. To the extent that I know Mr Edwards and to the extent to which he has given me advice since I have been the minister, I have confidence in his ability to do the job.
Hon Jon Ford : Or National Party. Hon NORMAN MOORE : That helps too. Several members interjected. Hon NORMAN MOORE : Dexter Davies is not employed by the government; he is employed by the industry association, but then I would not expect the member to know any different. To the extent that I know Mr Edwards and to the extent to which he has given me advice since I have been the minister, I have confidence in his ability to do the job.
Hon NORMAN MOORE : That helps too. Several members interjected. Hon NORMAN MOORE : Dexter Davies is not employed by the government; he is employed by the industry association, but then I would not expect the member to know any different. To the extent that I know Mr Edwards and to the extent to which he has given me advice since I have been the minister, I have confidence in his ability to do the job.
Several members interjected. Hon NORMAN MOORE : Dexter Davies is not employed by the government; he is employed by the industry association, but then I would not expect the member to know any different. To the extent that I know Mr Edwards and to the extent to which he has given me advice since I have been the minister, I have confidence in his ability to do the job.
Hon NORMAN MOORE : Dexter Davies is not employed by the government; he is employed by the industry association, but then I would not expect the member to know any different. To the extent that I know Mr Edwards and to the extent to which he has given me advice since I have been the minister, I have confidence in his ability to do the job.
To the extent that I know Mr Edwards and to the extent to which he has given me advice since I have been the minister, I have confidence in his ability to do the job.

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