❓ Opposition Leader McGowan questions Premier Barnett about the Public Sector Commissioner's involvement in changes to EPA governance, particularly regarding conflict of interest arrangements. The Premier's response focuses on validating past projects and downplays any impropriety.
AnsweredQoN 671Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AUTHORITY —
GOVERNANCE PRACTICES CHANGE
671. Mr M. McGOWAN to the
Premier:
It is good to be back! I refer to changes to conflict of
interest governance arrangements at the Environmental Protection Authority and
the involvement of the Public Sector Commissioner in those matters, as detailed
in the James Price Point Supreme Court judgement and freedom of information
documents.
(1) Has the
Premier asked the Public Sector Commissioner to fully explain his involvement
in changes to EPA governance arrangements since the extent of this debacle came
to light last week?
(2) Have EPA
conflict of interest governance arrangements been arranged with the Premier
during meetings between the Premier and the Public Sector Commissioner since
late 2008?
GOVERNANCE PRACTICES CHANGE
671. Mr M. McGOWAN to the
Premier:
It is good to be back! I refer to changes to conflict of
interest governance arrangements at the Environmental Protection Authority and
the involvement of the Public Sector Commissioner in those matters, as detailed
in the James Price Point Supreme Court judgement and freedom of information
documents.
(1) Has the
Premier asked the Public Sector Commissioner to fully explain his involvement
in changes to EPA governance arrangements since the extent of this debacle came
to light last week?
(2) Have EPA
conflict of interest governance arrangements been arranged with the Premier
during meetings between the Premier and the Public Sector Commissioner since
late 2008?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2)
This is a piece of legislation we are about to deal with to validate 25 projects,
most of them probably in production and others under construction—projects
that employ thousands of Western Australians. Again, as was stated by the
Minister for Environment and me last week, there is no suggestion that any
member of the EPA in any way behaved improperly, or that their shareholders,
which may have generally been through superannuation funds, influenced their
decisions. Indeed, the decisions were not flawed; there was no improper
behaviour. However, as a precautionary measure, the government intends to
validate that so that they cannot be exposed to vexatious litigation, or
whatever might happen. I understand that the changes to the procedures relating
to the declaration of conflicts of interest were made within the Environmental
Protection Authority. They were found to be not as precise, detailed or careful
as required with the approval of the James Price Point project. The James Price
Point project is not part of this validation. The environmental assessment is
being repeated for that. We will wait and see, but I would expect the same result
will occur based on scientific evidence.
With respect to the Public Sector
Commissioner, the Leader of the Opposition asked me about conversations going
back to 2008. If he were serious, that question should have been put on notice.
Mr W.J. Johnston interjected.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
Sorry, I do not have a memory that goes back to 2008 on a daily basis. I cannot
recall —
Ms M.M. Quirk : You
can't remember your promises!
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
Mr Speaker, this is a waste of time.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Girrawheen, I call you to order for the first time.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I
have had no recent conversation with the Public Sector Commissioner on that. I
am sure he probably has raised it with me in some of our meetings, but that
would be some months ago.
This is a piece of legislation we are about to deal with to validate 25 projects,
most of them probably in production and others under construction—projects
that employ thousands of Western Australians. Again, as was stated by the
Minister for Environment and me last week, there is no suggestion that any
member of the EPA in any way behaved improperly, or that their shareholders,
which may have generally been through superannuation funds, influenced their
decisions. Indeed, the decisions were not flawed; there was no improper
behaviour. However, as a precautionary measure, the government intends to
validate that so that they cannot be exposed to vexatious litigation, or
whatever might happen. I understand that the changes to the procedures relating
to the declaration of conflicts of interest were made within the Environmental
Protection Authority. They were found to be not as precise, detailed or careful
as required with the approval of the James Price Point project. The James Price
Point project is not part of this validation. The environmental assessment is
being repeated for that. We will wait and see, but I would expect the same result
will occur based on scientific evidence.
With respect to the Public Sector
Commissioner, the Leader of the Opposition asked me about conversations going
back to 2008. If he were serious, that question should have been put on notice.
Mr W.J. Johnston interjected.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
Sorry, I do not have a memory that goes back to 2008 on a daily basis. I cannot
recall —
Ms M.M. Quirk : You
can't remember your promises!
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
Mr Speaker, this is a waste of time.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Girrawheen, I call you to order for the first time.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I
have had no recent conversation with the Public Sector Commissioner on that. I
am sure he probably has raised it with me in some of our meetings, but that
would be some months ago.
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