A parliamentary question regarding Horizon Power's engagement of lobbyist Gra Everingham Pty Ltd. The Premier, Mr. Barnett, claims ignorance of the specific work undertaken and defends the right of WA businesses to be employed.

AnsweredQoN 278Legislative Assembly
Asked
2 April 2009
Portfolio
Premier

QuestionView source ↗

HORIZON POWER — GRA EVERINGHAM PTY LTD
As a supplementary question, is the Premier saying that it is perfectly appropriate for government agencies to employ lobbying firms? Mr C.J. BARNETT

AnswerView source ↗

We do not know what Paul Everingham has been employed for. I do not know what he is doing. Mr E.S. Ripper : He is a client on their site. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Doing what? Mr E.S. Ripper : He is on the lobbyists register. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition seems to know more about it than I do. What is he doing? Mr E.S. Ripper : You’re the Premier. Here it is; this is his return on the lobbyists register. He lists his clients and Horizon Power is one of the clients. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition should do his homework. If he is going to ask a question about an individual and an individual contract, commonsense would say to let my office know so that I can answer the details. Mr E.S. Ripper : Do you believe it is appropriate? Mr C.J. BARNETT : There is no ban on employing any Western Australian business. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition made his living as a lobbyist. I do not know whether he did government work, and I would not have minded and would not have objected. Mr M. McGowan : So it is okay? Mr C.J. BARNETT : What is Paul Everingham employed for? I do not know; I will find out for the Leader of the Opposition. If the Leader of the Opposition wants detailed information, he should give me notice of the question. Mr E.S. Ripper : He is a lobbyist and he lists them as a client. They have employed him as a lobbyist. Mr C.J. BARNETT : So what? He is on the Register of Lobbyists. I do not know what work he is doing for Horizon Power. It could be a survey of customers; I do not know. If the Leader of the Opposition wants to ask a detailed question, he should give me some prior notice. I have no objection to Paul Everingham, or any other lobbying firm, consultancy or marketing or public relations business, being employed in Western Australia, as long as they are good at their job and are employed for the right reasons.
Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: We do not know what Paul Everingham has been employed for. I do not know what he is doing. Mr E.S. Ripper : He is a client on their site. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Doing what? Mr E.S. Ripper : He is on the lobbyists register. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition seems to know more about it than I do. What is he doing? Mr E.S. Ripper : You’re the Premier. Here it is; this is his return on the lobbyists register. He lists his clients and Horizon Power is one of the clients. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition should do his homework. If he is going to ask a question about an individual and an individual contract, commonsense would say to let my office know so that I can answer the details. Mr E.S. Ripper : Do you believe it is appropriate? Mr C.J. BARNETT : There is no ban on employing any Western Australian business. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition made his living as a lobbyist. I do not know whether he did government work, and I would not have minded and would not have objected. Mr M. McGowan : So it is okay? Mr C.J. BARNETT : What is Paul Everingham employed for? I do not know; I will find out for the Leader of the Opposition. If the Leader of the Opposition wants detailed information, he should give me notice of the question. Mr E.S. Ripper : He is a lobbyist and he lists them as a client. They have employed him as a lobbyist. Mr C.J. BARNETT : So what? He is on the Register of Lobbyists. I do not know what work he is doing for Horizon Power. It could be a survey of customers; I do not know. If the Leader of the Opposition wants to ask a detailed question, he should give me some prior notice. I have no objection to Paul Everingham, or any other lobbying firm, consultancy or marketing or public relations business, being employed in Western Australia, as long as they are good at their job and are employed for the right reasons.
We do not know what Paul Everingham has been employed for. I do not know what he is doing. Mr E.S. Ripper : He is a client on their site. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Doing what? Mr E.S. Ripper : He is on the lobbyists register. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition seems to know more about it than I do. What is he doing? Mr E.S. Ripper : You’re the Premier. Here it is; this is his return on the lobbyists register. He lists his clients and Horizon Power is one of the clients. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition should do his homework. If he is going to ask a question about an individual and an individual contract, commonsense would say to let my office know so that I can answer the details. Mr E.S. Ripper : Do you believe it is appropriate? Mr C.J. BARNETT : There is no ban on employing any Western Australian business. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition made his living as a lobbyist. I do not know whether he did government work, and I would not have minded and would not have objected. Mr M. McGowan : So it is okay? Mr C.J. BARNETT : What is Paul Everingham employed for? I do not know; I will find out for the Leader of the Opposition. If the Leader of the Opposition wants detailed information, he should give me notice of the question. Mr E.S. Ripper : He is a lobbyist and he lists them as a client. They have employed him as a lobbyist. Mr C.J. BARNETT : So what? He is on the Register of Lobbyists. I do not know what work he is doing for Horizon Power. It could be a survey of customers; I do not know. If the Leader of the Opposition wants to ask a detailed question, he should give me some prior notice. I have no objection to Paul Everingham, or any other lobbying firm, consultancy or marketing or public relations business, being employed in Western Australia, as long as they are good at their job and are employed for the right reasons.
Mr E.S. Ripper : He is a client on their site. Mr C.J. BARNETT : Doing what? Mr E.S. Ripper : He is on the lobbyists register. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition seems to know more about it than I do. What is he doing? Mr E.S. Ripper : You’re the Premier. Here it is; this is his return on the lobbyists register. He lists his clients and Horizon Power is one of the clients. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition should do his homework. If he is going to ask a question about an individual and an individual contract, commonsense would say to let my office know so that I can answer the details. Mr E.S. Ripper : Do you believe it is appropriate? Mr C.J. BARNETT : There is no ban on employing any Western Australian business. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition made his living as a lobbyist. I do not know whether he did government work, and I would not have minded and would not have objected. Mr M. McGowan : So it is okay? Mr C.J. BARNETT : What is Paul Everingham employed for? I do not know; I will find out for the Leader of the Opposition. If the Leader of the Opposition wants detailed information, he should give me notice of the question. Mr E.S. Ripper : He is a lobbyist and he lists them as a client. They have employed him as a lobbyist. Mr C.J. BARNETT : So what? He is on the Register of Lobbyists. I do not know what work he is doing for Horizon Power. It could be a survey of customers; I do not know. If the Leader of the Opposition wants to ask a detailed question, he should give me some prior notice. I have no objection to Paul Everingham, or any other lobbying firm, consultancy or marketing or public relations business, being employed in Western Australia, as long as they are good at their job and are employed for the right reasons.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Doing what? Mr E.S. Ripper : He is on the lobbyists register. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition seems to know more about it than I do. What is he doing? Mr E.S. Ripper : You’re the Premier. Here it is; this is his return on the lobbyists register. He lists his clients and Horizon Power is one of the clients. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition should do his homework. If he is going to ask a question about an individual and an individual contract, commonsense would say to let my office know so that I can answer the details. Mr E.S. Ripper : Do you believe it is appropriate? Mr C.J. BARNETT : There is no ban on employing any Western Australian business. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition made his living as a lobbyist. I do not know whether he did government work, and I would not have minded and would not have objected. Mr M. McGowan : So it is okay? Mr C.J. BARNETT : What is Paul Everingham employed for? I do not know; I will find out for the Leader of the Opposition. If the Leader of the Opposition wants detailed information, he should give me notice of the question. Mr E.S. Ripper : He is a lobbyist and he lists them as a client. They have employed him as a lobbyist. Mr C.J. BARNETT : So what? He is on the Register of Lobbyists. I do not know what work he is doing for Horizon Power. It could be a survey of customers; I do not know. If the Leader of the Opposition wants to ask a detailed question, he should give me some prior notice. I have no objection to Paul Everingham, or any other lobbying firm, consultancy or marketing or public relations business, being employed in Western Australia, as long as they are good at their job and are employed for the right reasons.
Mr E.S. Ripper : He is on the lobbyists register. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition seems to know more about it than I do. What is he doing? Mr E.S. Ripper : You’re the Premier. Here it is; this is his return on the lobbyists register. He lists his clients and Horizon Power is one of the clients. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition should do his homework. If he is going to ask a question about an individual and an individual contract, commonsense would say to let my office know so that I can answer the details. Mr E.S. Ripper : Do you believe it is appropriate? Mr C.J. BARNETT : There is no ban on employing any Western Australian business. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition made his living as a lobbyist. I do not know whether he did government work, and I would not have minded and would not have objected. Mr M. McGowan : So it is okay? Mr C.J. BARNETT : What is Paul Everingham employed for? I do not know; I will find out for the Leader of the Opposition. If the Leader of the Opposition wants detailed information, he should give me notice of the question. Mr E.S. Ripper : He is a lobbyist and he lists them as a client. They have employed him as a lobbyist. Mr C.J. BARNETT : So what? He is on the Register of Lobbyists. I do not know what work he is doing for Horizon Power. It could be a survey of customers; I do not know. If the Leader of the Opposition wants to ask a detailed question, he should give me some prior notice. I have no objection to Paul Everingham, or any other lobbying firm, consultancy or marketing or public relations business, being employed in Western Australia, as long as they are good at their job and are employed for the right reasons.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition seems to know more about it than I do. What is he doing? Mr E.S. Ripper : You’re the Premier. Here it is; this is his return on the lobbyists register. He lists his clients and Horizon Power is one of the clients. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition should do his homework. If he is going to ask a question about an individual and an individual contract, commonsense would say to let my office know so that I can answer the details. Mr E.S. Ripper : Do you believe it is appropriate? Mr C.J. BARNETT : There is no ban on employing any Western Australian business. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition made his living as a lobbyist. I do not know whether he did government work, and I would not have minded and would not have objected. Mr M. McGowan : So it is okay? Mr C.J. BARNETT : What is Paul Everingham employed for? I do not know; I will find out for the Leader of the Opposition. If the Leader of the Opposition wants detailed information, he should give me notice of the question. Mr E.S. Ripper : He is a lobbyist and he lists them as a client. They have employed him as a lobbyist. Mr C.J. BARNETT : So what? He is on the Register of Lobbyists. I do not know what work he is doing for Horizon Power. It could be a survey of customers; I do not know. If the Leader of the Opposition wants to ask a detailed question, he should give me some prior notice. I have no objection to Paul Everingham, or any other lobbying firm, consultancy or marketing or public relations business, being employed in Western Australia, as long as they are good at their job and are employed for the right reasons.
Mr E.S. Ripper : You’re the Premier. Here it is; this is his return on the lobbyists register. He lists his clients and Horizon Power is one of the clients. Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition should do his homework. If he is going to ask a question about an individual and an individual contract, commonsense would say to let my office know so that I can answer the details. Mr E.S. Ripper : Do you believe it is appropriate? Mr C.J. BARNETT : There is no ban on employing any Western Australian business. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition made his living as a lobbyist. I do not know whether he did government work, and I would not have minded and would not have objected. Mr M. McGowan : So it is okay? Mr C.J. BARNETT : What is Paul Everingham employed for? I do not know; I will find out for the Leader of the Opposition. If the Leader of the Opposition wants detailed information, he should give me notice of the question. Mr E.S. Ripper : He is a lobbyist and he lists them as a client. They have employed him as a lobbyist. Mr C.J. BARNETT : So what? He is on the Register of Lobbyists. I do not know what work he is doing for Horizon Power. It could be a survey of customers; I do not know. If the Leader of the Opposition wants to ask a detailed question, he should give me some prior notice. I have no objection to Paul Everingham, or any other lobbying firm, consultancy or marketing or public relations business, being employed in Western Australia, as long as they are good at their job and are employed for the right reasons.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition should do his homework. If he is going to ask a question about an individual and an individual contract, commonsense would say to let my office know so that I can answer the details. Mr E.S. Ripper : Do you believe it is appropriate? Mr C.J. BARNETT : There is no ban on employing any Western Australian business. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition made his living as a lobbyist. I do not know whether he did government work, and I would not have minded and would not have objected. Mr M. McGowan : So it is okay? Mr C.J. BARNETT : What is Paul Everingham employed for? I do not know; I will find out for the Leader of the Opposition. If the Leader of the Opposition wants detailed information, he should give me notice of the question. Mr E.S. Ripper : He is a lobbyist and he lists them as a client. They have employed him as a lobbyist. Mr C.J. BARNETT : So what? He is on the Register of Lobbyists. I do not know what work he is doing for Horizon Power. It could be a survey of customers; I do not know. If the Leader of the Opposition wants to ask a detailed question, he should give me some prior notice. I have no objection to Paul Everingham, or any other lobbying firm, consultancy or marketing or public relations business, being employed in Western Australia, as long as they are good at their job and are employed for the right reasons.
Mr E.S. Ripper : Do you believe it is appropriate? Mr C.J. BARNETT : There is no ban on employing any Western Australian business. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition made his living as a lobbyist. I do not know whether he did government work, and I would not have minded and would not have objected. Mr M. McGowan : So it is okay? Mr C.J. BARNETT : What is Paul Everingham employed for? I do not know; I will find out for the Leader of the Opposition. If the Leader of the Opposition wants detailed information, he should give me notice of the question. Mr E.S. Ripper : He is a lobbyist and he lists them as a client. They have employed him as a lobbyist. Mr C.J. BARNETT : So what? He is on the Register of Lobbyists. I do not know what work he is doing for Horizon Power. It could be a survey of customers; I do not know. If the Leader of the Opposition wants to ask a detailed question, he should give me some prior notice. I have no objection to Paul Everingham, or any other lobbying firm, consultancy or marketing or public relations business, being employed in Western Australia, as long as they are good at their job and are employed for the right reasons.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : There is no ban on employing any Western Australian business. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition made his living as a lobbyist. I do not know whether he did government work, and I would not have minded and would not have objected. Mr M. McGowan : So it is okay? Mr C.J. BARNETT : What is Paul Everingham employed for? I do not know; I will find out for the Leader of the Opposition. If the Leader of the Opposition wants detailed information, he should give me notice of the question. Mr E.S. Ripper : He is a lobbyist and he lists them as a client. They have employed him as a lobbyist. Mr C.J. BARNETT : So what? He is on the Register of Lobbyists. I do not know what work he is doing for Horizon Power. It could be a survey of customers; I do not know. If the Leader of the Opposition wants to ask a detailed question, he should give me some prior notice. I have no objection to Paul Everingham, or any other lobbying firm, consultancy or marketing or public relations business, being employed in Western Australia, as long as they are good at their job and are employed for the right reasons.
Mr M. McGowan : So it is okay? Mr C.J. BARNETT : What is Paul Everingham employed for? I do not know; I will find out for the Leader of the Opposition. If the Leader of the Opposition wants detailed information, he should give me notice of the question. Mr E.S. Ripper : He is a lobbyist and he lists them as a client. They have employed him as a lobbyist. Mr C.J. BARNETT : So what? He is on the Register of Lobbyists. I do not know what work he is doing for Horizon Power. It could be a survey of customers; I do not know. If the Leader of the Opposition wants to ask a detailed question, he should give me some prior notice. I have no objection to Paul Everingham, or any other lobbying firm, consultancy or marketing or public relations business, being employed in Western Australia, as long as they are good at their job and are employed for the right reasons.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : What is Paul Everingham employed for? I do not know; I will find out for the Leader of the Opposition. If the Leader of the Opposition wants detailed information, he should give me notice of the question. Mr E.S. Ripper : He is a lobbyist and he lists them as a client. They have employed him as a lobbyist. Mr C.J. BARNETT : So what? He is on the Register of Lobbyists. I do not know what work he is doing for Horizon Power. It could be a survey of customers; I do not know. If the Leader of the Opposition wants to ask a detailed question, he should give me some prior notice. I have no objection to Paul Everingham, or any other lobbying firm, consultancy or marketing or public relations business, being employed in Western Australia, as long as they are good at their job and are employed for the right reasons.
Mr E.S. Ripper : He is a lobbyist and he lists them as a client. They have employed him as a lobbyist. Mr C.J. BARNETT : So what? He is on the Register of Lobbyists. I do not know what work he is doing for Horizon Power. It could be a survey of customers; I do not know. If the Leader of the Opposition wants to ask a detailed question, he should give me some prior notice. I have no objection to Paul Everingham, or any other lobbying firm, consultancy or marketing or public relations business, being employed in Western Australia, as long as they are good at their job and are employed for the right reasons.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : So what? He is on the Register of Lobbyists. I do not know what work he is doing for Horizon Power. It could be a survey of customers; I do not know. If the Leader of the Opposition wants to ask a detailed question, he should give me some prior notice. I have no objection to Paul Everingham, or any other lobbying firm, consultancy or marketing or public relations business, being employed in Western Australia, as long as they are good at their job and are employed for the right reasons.

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