❓ I refer to the Government's ineffective outsourcing to find a solution to the ticking timebomb that is the insolvent and foreign owned Griffin Coal via its engagement of a plethora of consultants and
AnsweredQoN 357Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the Government's ineffective outsourcing to find a solution to the ticking timebomb that is the insolvent and foreign owned Griffin Coal via its engagement of a plethora of consultants and advisors, including KPMG, Ad Astra, Preston Consulting, Sternship Advisers, and Ashurst Legal, and I ask: (a) what is the total that has been paid to the following consultant firms for advice on the insolvent Griffin Coal during 2023, 2024, and to 23 June 2025: (i) KPMG; (ii) Ad Astra Advisory; (iii) Sternship Advisers; (iv) Preston Consulting; and (v) Ashurst Legal; (b) what reports have the above groups in (a) provided to the Government, and on what dates; (c) how many of the reports in (b) are available for public scrutiny; (d) in reference to (c), please provide those that are available; and (e) as at 23 June 2025, how many of the aforementioned groups in (a) are still engaged by Government, and have any additional Griffin consultants, entities or advisors been engaged by Government?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
12 August 2025
Responded by
Leader of the House representing the Minister for State Development
Response time
2 days
(a) (i) The Department of the Premier and Cabinet has paid $2,429,843 (inc. GST) to KPMG during 2023, 2024 and to 23 June 2025.
(ii) The Department of Treasury (now the Department of Treasury and Finance) has paid $561,061 (inc. GST) to Ad Astra Corporate Advisory during 2023, 2024 and to 23 June 2025.
(iii) The Department of the Premier and Cabinet has paid $263,534 (inc. GST) to Sternship Advisers during 2023, 2024 and to 23 June 2025.
(iv) The Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation (now the Department of Energy and Economic Diversification) has paid $207,757 (inc. GST) to Preston Consulting during 2023, 2024 and to 23 June 2025.
(v) The State Solicitor’s Office has paid $618,652.57 (inc. GST) to Ashurst during 2023, 2024 and to 23 June 2025.
(b)-(d) KPMG provide regular reports in a variety of forms to the Department of the Premier and Cabinet on mining operations and financial matters at Griffin Coal as relates to the Griffin Coal Process Agreement. Ad Astra and Preston Consulting have prepared reports to Government on commercial matters and rehabilitation respectively. Ashurst is engaged by the State Solicitor’s Office to provide legal services. The details of these reports are confidential and commercial-in-confidence.
(e) On 23 June 2025, KPMG and Ashurst were engaged by Government. The Department of the Premier and Cabinet is not aware of any other consultants, entities or advisors that were engaged in relation to Griffin Coal on 23 June 2025.
(ii) The Department of Treasury (now the Department of Treasury and Finance) has paid $561,061 (inc. GST) to Ad Astra Corporate Advisory during 2023, 2024 and to 23 June 2025.
(iii) The Department of the Premier and Cabinet has paid $263,534 (inc. GST) to Sternship Advisers during 2023, 2024 and to 23 June 2025.
(iv) The Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation (now the Department of Energy and Economic Diversification) has paid $207,757 (inc. GST) to Preston Consulting during 2023, 2024 and to 23 June 2025.
(v) The State Solicitor’s Office has paid $618,652.57 (inc. GST) to Ashurst during 2023, 2024 and to 23 June 2025.
(b)-(d) KPMG provide regular reports in a variety of forms to the Department of the Premier and Cabinet on mining operations and financial matters at Griffin Coal as relates to the Griffin Coal Process Agreement. Ad Astra and Preston Consulting have prepared reports to Government on commercial matters and rehabilitation respectively. Ashurst is engaged by the State Solicitor’s Office to provide legal services. The details of these reports are confidential and commercial-in-confidence.
(e) On 23 June 2025, KPMG and Ashurst were engaged by Government. The Department of the Premier and Cabinet is not aware of any other consultants, entities or advisors that were engaged in relation to Griffin Coal on 23 June 2025.
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