A WA parliamentary question seeks details about the Premier's visit to Zambia, specifically regarding meetings with Zambezi Resources and potential lobbying related to mining operations. The response clarifies the Premier's interactions and refers donation inquiries to the Liberal Party.

AnsweredQoN 98Legislative Council
Asked
26 February 2014
Portfolio
State Development

QuestionView source ↗

PREMIER — VISIT TO ZAMBIA
98. Hon ROBIN CHAPPLE to the
Leader of the House representing the Minister for State Development:
I refer to the Premier's visit to Zambia and South
Africa from 30 January until 5 February 2014.
(1) Did the
Premier have any meetings with Zambezi Resources or Mr David Vilensky before
going to Zambia; and, if so, how many and on what dates?
(2) Was the
Premier lobbied by any organisation or lobbyist in relation to any Zambian
mining operations prior to or during his visit to Zambia; and, if so, by whom
and on what dates?
(3) Who travelled with the Premier's
entourage to Zambia?
(4) Which mining companies did the
Premier meet with in Zambia?
(5) Zambezi
Resources has stated they met with the Premier in Zambia; and, if this is the
case, on what date did this occur?
(6) Has the
Liberal Party received any financial gifts from any Zambian mining company
and/or Zambezi Resources?
The PRESIDENT : The last part of that question is out of
order, because it has nothing to do with the Premier's portfolio.

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the honourable member for some notice of this
question; and, Mr President, I have an answer to that part of the question.
(1)–(2) No.
(3) Richard
Sellers, director general, Department of Mines and Petroleum; Stephen Home,
deputy chief of staff, Office of the Premier; and Dixie Marshall, director of
the Government Media Office.
(4) Although
the Premier did not hold individual meetings with mining companies in Zambia,
at the invitation of the secretary general of the Common Market of Eastern and
Southern Africa mining company representatives, including Mr David Vilensky, as
well as numerous officials, he attended a dinner as well as formal proceedings
at which the Premier signed a memorandum of understanding between the Western
Australian government and COMESA.
(5) Mr
Vilensky did not have a meeting with the Premier, but introduced himself to
members of the Premier's party during the flight from Perth to
Johannesburg on Wednesday, 29 January 2014, and then introduced himself to the
Premier while seated near him on the flight from Johannesburg to Lusaka on
Thursday, 30 January 2014. The Premier had not previously met Mr Vilensky, nor
had anyone in his party, and the Premier did not meet or talk to him again
during his visit to Zambia.
(6) This is a
matter for the Liberal Party of Australia (WA Division), which is required to
disclose donations as prescribed by the state and commonwealth electoral acts.

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