❓ A WA parliamentary question regarding the appointment of legal consultants for electricity reform, questioning tendering processes and potential misleading statements by the Minister for Energy. The Attorney General acknowledges one firm was appointed under exemption.
AnsweredQoN 1023Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I again refer the Attorney General to the tender details on the Government’s tender web site which confirm that the Crown Solicitor’s Office has independently procured legal consultants to advise the electricity reform implementation unit on electricity reform matters. I ask - (1) Will the Attorney General now admit that, contrary to the Minister for Energy’s denials, at least three separate law firms have been appointed by the Crown Solicitor’s Office to conduct a range of work that relates to electricity reform without going to formal tender? (2) Is the Attorney General now in a position to provide details that relate to these consultancies, including the names of the legal firms currently being used, the nature of the work they are undertaking and the estimated cost of the work? (3) When did the Crown Solicitor’s Office call for formal public tenders for these legal services, as it is required to do under government tendering policy? (4) Did the Minister for Energy mislead the House this week when he said in answer to a question on the same matter that no legal consultants had been appointment to provide such legal advice, or was he just poorly advised again? Mr J.A. McGINTY
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Darling Range for some notice of this question, because it enabled me to speak to the Crown Solicitor and obtain the following advice. (1) To date, the Crown Solicitor has appointed one law firm to assist in the provision of certain areas of legal work related to the Government’s electricity reform agenda. (2) Blake Dawson Waldron is required to provide assistance from time to time as needed. Consequently, there are no current estimated costs of the work. The specific partner engaged by the Crown Solicitor has agreed to provide his services at the rate of $250 per hour, plus goods and services tax. The rate for assistance is less. (3) The Crown Solicitor operates under an exemption from the State Supply Commission in respect of the procurement of legal services. (4) The member must refer the question to the Minister for Energy. Mr J.H.D. Day: I’m asking you. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I am not prepared to give a legal opinion on whether the issue recently raised lines up with the answer just given.
(1) Will the Attorney General now admit that, contrary to the Minister for Energy’s denials, at least three separate law firms have been appointed by the Crown Solicitor’s Office to conduct a range of work that relates to electricity reform without going to formal tender? (2) Is the Attorney General now in a position to provide details that relate to these consultancies, including the names of the legal firms currently being used, the nature of the work they are undertaking and the estimated cost of the work? (3) When did the Crown Solicitor’s Office call for formal public tenders for these legal services, as it is required to do under government tendering policy? (4) Did the Minister for Energy mislead the House this week when he said in answer to a question on the same matter that no legal consultants had been appointment to provide such legal advice, or was he just poorly advised again? Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: I thank the member for Darling Range for some notice of this question, because it enabled me to speak to the Crown Solicitor and obtain the following advice. (1) To date, the Crown Solicitor has appointed one law firm to assist in the provision of certain areas of legal work related to the Government’s electricity reform agenda. (2) Blake Dawson Waldron is required to provide assistance from time to time as needed. Consequently, there are no current estimated costs of the work. The specific partner engaged by the Crown Solicitor has agreed to provide his services at the rate of $250 per hour, plus goods and services tax. The rate for assistance is less. (3) The Crown Solicitor operates under an exemption from the State Supply Commission in respect of the procurement of legal services. (4) The member must refer the question to the Minister for Energy. Mr J.H.D. Day: I’m asking you. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I am not prepared to give a legal opinion on whether the issue recently raised lines up with the answer just given.
(2) Is the Attorney General now in a position to provide details that relate to these consultancies, including the names of the legal firms currently being used, the nature of the work they are undertaking and the estimated cost of the work? (3) When did the Crown Solicitor’s Office call for formal public tenders for these legal services, as it is required to do under government tendering policy? (4) Did the Minister for Energy mislead the House this week when he said in answer to a question on the same matter that no legal consultants had been appointment to provide such legal advice, or was he just poorly advised again? Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: I thank the member for Darling Range for some notice of this question, because it enabled me to speak to the Crown Solicitor and obtain the following advice. (1) To date, the Crown Solicitor has appointed one law firm to assist in the provision of certain areas of legal work related to the Government’s electricity reform agenda. (2) Blake Dawson Waldron is required to provide assistance from time to time as needed. Consequently, there are no current estimated costs of the work. The specific partner engaged by the Crown Solicitor has agreed to provide his services at the rate of $250 per hour, plus goods and services tax. The rate for assistance is less. (3) The Crown Solicitor operates under an exemption from the State Supply Commission in respect of the procurement of legal services. (4) The member must refer the question to the Minister for Energy. Mr J.H.D. Day: I’m asking you. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I am not prepared to give a legal opinion on whether the issue recently raised lines up with the answer just given.
(3) When did the Crown Solicitor’s Office call for formal public tenders for these legal services, as it is required to do under government tendering policy? (4) Did the Minister for Energy mislead the House this week when he said in answer to a question on the same matter that no legal consultants had been appointment to provide such legal advice, or was he just poorly advised again? Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: I thank the member for Darling Range for some notice of this question, because it enabled me to speak to the Crown Solicitor and obtain the following advice. (1) To date, the Crown Solicitor has appointed one law firm to assist in the provision of certain areas of legal work related to the Government’s electricity reform agenda. (2) Blake Dawson Waldron is required to provide assistance from time to time as needed. Consequently, there are no current estimated costs of the work. The specific partner engaged by the Crown Solicitor has agreed to provide his services at the rate of $250 per hour, plus goods and services tax. The rate for assistance is less. (3) The Crown Solicitor operates under an exemption from the State Supply Commission in respect of the procurement of legal services. (4) The member must refer the question to the Minister for Energy. Mr J.H.D. Day: I’m asking you. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I am not prepared to give a legal opinion on whether the issue recently raised lines up with the answer just given.
(4) Did the Minister for Energy mislead the House this week when he said in answer to a question on the same matter that no legal consultants had been appointment to provide such legal advice, or was he just poorly advised again? Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: I thank the member for Darling Range for some notice of this question, because it enabled me to speak to the Crown Solicitor and obtain the following advice. (1) To date, the Crown Solicitor has appointed one law firm to assist in the provision of certain areas of legal work related to the Government’s electricity reform agenda. (2) Blake Dawson Waldron is required to provide assistance from time to time as needed. Consequently, there are no current estimated costs of the work. The specific partner engaged by the Crown Solicitor has agreed to provide his services at the rate of $250 per hour, plus goods and services tax. The rate for assistance is less. (3) The Crown Solicitor operates under an exemption from the State Supply Commission in respect of the procurement of legal services. (4) The member must refer the question to the Minister for Energy. Mr J.H.D. Day: I’m asking you. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I am not prepared to give a legal opinion on whether the issue recently raised lines up with the answer just given.
Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: I thank the member for Darling Range for some notice of this question, because it enabled me to speak to the Crown Solicitor and obtain the following advice. (1) To date, the Crown Solicitor has appointed one law firm to assist in the provision of certain areas of legal work related to the Government’s electricity reform agenda. (2) Blake Dawson Waldron is required to provide assistance from time to time as needed. Consequently, there are no current estimated costs of the work. The specific partner engaged by the Crown Solicitor has agreed to provide his services at the rate of $250 per hour, plus goods and services tax. The rate for assistance is less. (3) The Crown Solicitor operates under an exemption from the State Supply Commission in respect of the procurement of legal services. (4) The member must refer the question to the Minister for Energy. Mr J.H.D. Day: I’m asking you. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I am not prepared to give a legal opinion on whether the issue recently raised lines up with the answer just given.
I thank the member for Darling Range for some notice of this question, because it enabled me to speak to the Crown Solicitor and obtain the following advice. (1) To date, the Crown Solicitor has appointed one law firm to assist in the provision of certain areas of legal work related to the Government’s electricity reform agenda. (2) Blake Dawson Waldron is required to provide assistance from time to time as needed. Consequently, there are no current estimated costs of the work. The specific partner engaged by the Crown Solicitor has agreed to provide his services at the rate of $250 per hour, plus goods and services tax. The rate for assistance is less. (3) The Crown Solicitor operates under an exemption from the State Supply Commission in respect of the procurement of legal services. (4) The member must refer the question to the Minister for Energy. Mr J.H.D. Day: I’m asking you. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I am not prepared to give a legal opinion on whether the issue recently raised lines up with the answer just given.
(1) To date, the Crown Solicitor has appointed one law firm to assist in the provision of certain areas of legal work related to the Government’s electricity reform agenda. (2) Blake Dawson Waldron is required to provide assistance from time to time as needed. Consequently, there are no current estimated costs of the work. The specific partner engaged by the Crown Solicitor has agreed to provide his services at the rate of $250 per hour, plus goods and services tax. The rate for assistance is less. (3) The Crown Solicitor operates under an exemption from the State Supply Commission in respect of the procurement of legal services. (4) The member must refer the question to the Minister for Energy. Mr J.H.D. Day: I’m asking you. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I am not prepared to give a legal opinion on whether the issue recently raised lines up with the answer just given.
(2) Blake Dawson Waldron is required to provide assistance from time to time as needed. Consequently, there are no current estimated costs of the work. The specific partner engaged by the Crown Solicitor has agreed to provide his services at the rate of $250 per hour, plus goods and services tax. The rate for assistance is less. (3) The Crown Solicitor operates under an exemption from the State Supply Commission in respect of the procurement of legal services. (4) The member must refer the question to the Minister for Energy. Mr J.H.D. Day: I’m asking you. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I am not prepared to give a legal opinion on whether the issue recently raised lines up with the answer just given.
(3) The Crown Solicitor operates under an exemption from the State Supply Commission in respect of the procurement of legal services. (4) The member must refer the question to the Minister for Energy. Mr J.H.D. Day: I’m asking you. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I am not prepared to give a legal opinion on whether the issue recently raised lines up with the answer just given.
(4) The member must refer the question to the Minister for Energy. Mr J.H.D. Day: I’m asking you. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I am not prepared to give a legal opinion on whether the issue recently raised lines up with the answer just given.
Mr J.H.D. Day: I’m asking you. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I am not prepared to give a legal opinion on whether the issue recently raised lines up with the answer just given.
Mr J.A. McGINTY: I am not prepared to give a legal opinion on whether the issue recently raised lines up with the answer just given.
(1) Will the Attorney General now admit that, contrary to the Minister for Energy’s denials, at least three separate law firms have been appointed by the Crown Solicitor’s Office to conduct a range of work that relates to electricity reform without going to formal tender? (2) Is the Attorney General now in a position to provide details that relate to these consultancies, including the names of the legal firms currently being used, the nature of the work they are undertaking and the estimated cost of the work? (3) When did the Crown Solicitor’s Office call for formal public tenders for these legal services, as it is required to do under government tendering policy? (4) Did the Minister for Energy mislead the House this week when he said in answer to a question on the same matter that no legal consultants had been appointment to provide such legal advice, or was he just poorly advised again? Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: I thank the member for Darling Range for some notice of this question, because it enabled me to speak to the Crown Solicitor and obtain the following advice. (1) To date, the Crown Solicitor has appointed one law firm to assist in the provision of certain areas of legal work related to the Government’s electricity reform agenda. (2) Blake Dawson Waldron is required to provide assistance from time to time as needed. Consequently, there are no current estimated costs of the work. The specific partner engaged by the Crown Solicitor has agreed to provide his services at the rate of $250 per hour, plus goods and services tax. The rate for assistance is less. (3) The Crown Solicitor operates under an exemption from the State Supply Commission in respect of the procurement of legal services. (4) The member must refer the question to the Minister for Energy. Mr J.H.D. Day: I’m asking you. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I am not prepared to give a legal opinion on whether the issue recently raised lines up with the answer just given.
(2) Is the Attorney General now in a position to provide details that relate to these consultancies, including the names of the legal firms currently being used, the nature of the work they are undertaking and the estimated cost of the work? (3) When did the Crown Solicitor’s Office call for formal public tenders for these legal services, as it is required to do under government tendering policy? (4) Did the Minister for Energy mislead the House this week when he said in answer to a question on the same matter that no legal consultants had been appointment to provide such legal advice, or was he just poorly advised again? Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: I thank the member for Darling Range for some notice of this question, because it enabled me to speak to the Crown Solicitor and obtain the following advice. (1) To date, the Crown Solicitor has appointed one law firm to assist in the provision of certain areas of legal work related to the Government’s electricity reform agenda. (2) Blake Dawson Waldron is required to provide assistance from time to time as needed. Consequently, there are no current estimated costs of the work. The specific partner engaged by the Crown Solicitor has agreed to provide his services at the rate of $250 per hour, plus goods and services tax. The rate for assistance is less. (3) The Crown Solicitor operates under an exemption from the State Supply Commission in respect of the procurement of legal services. (4) The member must refer the question to the Minister for Energy. Mr J.H.D. Day: I’m asking you. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I am not prepared to give a legal opinion on whether the issue recently raised lines up with the answer just given.
(3) When did the Crown Solicitor’s Office call for formal public tenders for these legal services, as it is required to do under government tendering policy? (4) Did the Minister for Energy mislead the House this week when he said in answer to a question on the same matter that no legal consultants had been appointment to provide such legal advice, or was he just poorly advised again? Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: I thank the member for Darling Range for some notice of this question, because it enabled me to speak to the Crown Solicitor and obtain the following advice. (1) To date, the Crown Solicitor has appointed one law firm to assist in the provision of certain areas of legal work related to the Government’s electricity reform agenda. (2) Blake Dawson Waldron is required to provide assistance from time to time as needed. Consequently, there are no current estimated costs of the work. The specific partner engaged by the Crown Solicitor has agreed to provide his services at the rate of $250 per hour, plus goods and services tax. The rate for assistance is less. (3) The Crown Solicitor operates under an exemption from the State Supply Commission in respect of the procurement of legal services. (4) The member must refer the question to the Minister for Energy. Mr J.H.D. Day: I’m asking you. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I am not prepared to give a legal opinion on whether the issue recently raised lines up with the answer just given.
(4) Did the Minister for Energy mislead the House this week when he said in answer to a question on the same matter that no legal consultants had been appointment to provide such legal advice, or was he just poorly advised again? Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: I thank the member for Darling Range for some notice of this question, because it enabled me to speak to the Crown Solicitor and obtain the following advice. (1) To date, the Crown Solicitor has appointed one law firm to assist in the provision of certain areas of legal work related to the Government’s electricity reform agenda. (2) Blake Dawson Waldron is required to provide assistance from time to time as needed. Consequently, there are no current estimated costs of the work. The specific partner engaged by the Crown Solicitor has agreed to provide his services at the rate of $250 per hour, plus goods and services tax. The rate for assistance is less. (3) The Crown Solicitor operates under an exemption from the State Supply Commission in respect of the procurement of legal services. (4) The member must refer the question to the Minister for Energy. Mr J.H.D. Day: I’m asking you. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I am not prepared to give a legal opinion on whether the issue recently raised lines up with the answer just given.
Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: I thank the member for Darling Range for some notice of this question, because it enabled me to speak to the Crown Solicitor and obtain the following advice. (1) To date, the Crown Solicitor has appointed one law firm to assist in the provision of certain areas of legal work related to the Government’s electricity reform agenda. (2) Blake Dawson Waldron is required to provide assistance from time to time as needed. Consequently, there are no current estimated costs of the work. The specific partner engaged by the Crown Solicitor has agreed to provide his services at the rate of $250 per hour, plus goods and services tax. The rate for assistance is less. (3) The Crown Solicitor operates under an exemption from the State Supply Commission in respect of the procurement of legal services. (4) The member must refer the question to the Minister for Energy. Mr J.H.D. Day: I’m asking you. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I am not prepared to give a legal opinion on whether the issue recently raised lines up with the answer just given.
I thank the member for Darling Range for some notice of this question, because it enabled me to speak to the Crown Solicitor and obtain the following advice. (1) To date, the Crown Solicitor has appointed one law firm to assist in the provision of certain areas of legal work related to the Government’s electricity reform agenda. (2) Blake Dawson Waldron is required to provide assistance from time to time as needed. Consequently, there are no current estimated costs of the work. The specific partner engaged by the Crown Solicitor has agreed to provide his services at the rate of $250 per hour, plus goods and services tax. The rate for assistance is less. (3) The Crown Solicitor operates under an exemption from the State Supply Commission in respect of the procurement of legal services. (4) The member must refer the question to the Minister for Energy. Mr J.H.D. Day: I’m asking you. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I am not prepared to give a legal opinion on whether the issue recently raised lines up with the answer just given.
(1) To date, the Crown Solicitor has appointed one law firm to assist in the provision of certain areas of legal work related to the Government’s electricity reform agenda. (2) Blake Dawson Waldron is required to provide assistance from time to time as needed. Consequently, there are no current estimated costs of the work. The specific partner engaged by the Crown Solicitor has agreed to provide his services at the rate of $250 per hour, plus goods and services tax. The rate for assistance is less. (3) The Crown Solicitor operates under an exemption from the State Supply Commission in respect of the procurement of legal services. (4) The member must refer the question to the Minister for Energy. Mr J.H.D. Day: I’m asking you. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I am not prepared to give a legal opinion on whether the issue recently raised lines up with the answer just given.
(2) Blake Dawson Waldron is required to provide assistance from time to time as needed. Consequently, there are no current estimated costs of the work. The specific partner engaged by the Crown Solicitor has agreed to provide his services at the rate of $250 per hour, plus goods and services tax. The rate for assistance is less. (3) The Crown Solicitor operates under an exemption from the State Supply Commission in respect of the procurement of legal services. (4) The member must refer the question to the Minister for Energy. Mr J.H.D. Day: I’m asking you. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I am not prepared to give a legal opinion on whether the issue recently raised lines up with the answer just given.
(3) The Crown Solicitor operates under an exemption from the State Supply Commission in respect of the procurement of legal services. (4) The member must refer the question to the Minister for Energy. Mr J.H.D. Day: I’m asking you. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I am not prepared to give a legal opinion on whether the issue recently raised lines up with the answer just given.
(4) The member must refer the question to the Minister for Energy. Mr J.H.D. Day: I’m asking you. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I am not prepared to give a legal opinion on whether the issue recently raised lines up with the answer just given.
Mr J.H.D. Day: I’m asking you. Mr J.A. McGINTY: I am not prepared to give a legal opinion on whether the issue recently raised lines up with the answer just given.
Mr J.A. McGINTY: I am not prepared to give a legal opinion on whether the issue recently raised lines up with the answer just given.
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