❓ Question on Notice regarding the engagement of ACIL Allen Consulting to assess the economic benefits of establishing a WA-based NRL team, including the timing of the decision, selection process, report findings, and government actions.
AnsweredQoN 1644Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
The Report on Consultants Engaged by Government for the six months to 30 June 2025 notes a payment of $41,800 by Treasury to ACIL Allen Consulting Pty Ltd to undertake an independent and rapid economic benefit assessment to establish a WA based NRL team and ten-year content package cost benefit analysis. Acknowledging the commercial sensitivities around such an assessment, can the Treasurer please advise: (a) When was a decision made by Government to consider the possibility of a WA based NRL team; (b) When was the decision made to engage a consultant to consider the possibility of a WA based NRL team; (c) What process was used to select Acil Allen to undertake this work; (d) How long was the process to select Acil Allen; (e) Caretaker Conventions for the 2025 State General Election commenced on 5 February 2025 and the Government was not sworn in until 19 March 2025, therefore when was the contract for this consultancy advertised and when was the consultant appointed; (f) What timeframe was given to Acil Allen to complete the work; (g) On what date did Acil Allen provide a report to Treasury; (h) Was this report made available to other departments and or Ministers: (i) If so, which ones, when and for what purpose; (i) Was this report shared with any entities external to Government: (i) If so, who, when and for what purpose; (j) What were the recommendations contained in the Acil Allen report; (k) Did the Acil Allen report identify benefits to the State of a WA based NRL team: (i) If so, what were they; (l) Did the Acil Allen report identify challenges posed by having a WA based NRL team: (i) If so, what were they; (m) Did the Government accept Acil Allen’s recommendations: (i) If so, what action was taken by Government; and (ii) If not, why not; (n) Prior to engaging Acil Allen had the Government previously undertaken any in house or external work on the possibility of a WA based NRL team; and (o) Prior to Acil Allen being appointed did the Government have any discussions with parties external to Government regarding a WA based NRL team: (i) If so, with whom, when and what was discussed?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
17 February 2026
Response time
1 days
(a)-(o) In late 2022, the Western Australian Government established a cross-agency working group to investigate the establishing of a WA-based NRL team.
Following the NRL’s decision not to progress bids from its mid-2024 process, the NRL engaged directly with the WA Government on options for a Perth-based team.
After Treasury received the requested information on the NRL proposal and its associated benefits analysis in late 2024, it engaged ACIL Allen in January 2025 through Treasury’s Commercial and Economic Advisory Services Panel Contract to undertake an independent economic benefit assessment.
The report recommended that a WA-based NRL team would generate around $28 million in annual economic benefits, and was provided to the Premier and Treasurer on 27 March 2025 to inform the State’s negotiation strategy and direct financial support.
A summary of outcomes from the ACIL Allen analysis were publicly released as committed by the Premier.
The working group had undertaken extensive consultations with a range of external stakeholders.
Following the NRL’s decision not to progress bids from its mid-2024 process, the NRL engaged directly with the WA Government on options for a Perth-based team.
After Treasury received the requested information on the NRL proposal and its associated benefits analysis in late 2024, it engaged ACIL Allen in January 2025 through Treasury’s Commercial and Economic Advisory Services Panel Contract to undertake an independent economic benefit assessment.
The report recommended that a WA-based NRL team would generate around $28 million in annual economic benefits, and was provided to the Premier and Treasurer on 27 March 2025 to inform the State’s negotiation strategy and direct financial support.
A summary of outcomes from the ACIL Allen analysis were publicly released as committed by the Premier.
The working group had undertaken extensive consultations with a range of external stakeholders.
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