❓ This parliamentary question scrutinises the appointment of the Wheatbelt Development Commission's CEO as the Fuel Security State Controller, focusing on communication, operational impact, resource allocation, and reporting structures. The answers indicate that proper procedures were followed, an acting CEO was appointed, and the original CEO's expertise was a key factor in their selection.
AnsweredQoN 2257Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the appointment of the CEO of the Wheatbelt Development Commission as the Fuel Security State Controller as announced on 19 March 2026 and I ask:(a) Was the Chair of the Wheatbelt Development Commission formally informed of this appointment:(i) if yes, on what date was the Chair informed; and(ii) if no, why not;(b) Were Board Members of the Wheatbelt Development Commission informed of this appointment:(i) if yes, when; and(ii) if not, why not;(c) Was Cabinet or the Minister for Regional Development consulted on the impact this appointment would have on the operations of the Wheatbelt Development Commission;(d) What assessment was undertaken of the impact on the Commission’s capacity to deliver its core functions, given its CEO has been tasked with statewide responsibilities;(e) What proportion of the CEO’s time has been redirected to the Fuel Security State Controller role since 19 March 2026;(f) Has an acting CEO or additional executive resource been appointed to backfill the role at the Wheatbelt Development Commission:(i) if yes, who has been appointed and for what duration; and(ii) if yes, what is the cost of this arrangement and from which budget is this being funded;(g) If no additional resource has been provided, how is the Wheatbelt Development Commission expected to maintain service delivery across the region;(h) Has any additional funding or staffing allocation been provided to the Wheatbelt Development Commission to account for the CEO undertaking the State Controller role:(i) if yes, please provide details; and(ii) if no, why not;(i) What reporting arrangements are in place for the CEO while acting as Fuel Security State Controller;(j) Does the CEO report to the Premier, Minister, or another authority in that role;(k) What is the expected duration of the CEO’s appointment as Fuel Security State Controller;(l) Will the CEO return to full-time duties at the Wheatbelt Development Commission upon conclusion of the appointment;(m) Have any Wheatbelt Development Commission projects, programs or deliverables been delayed, deferred or reprioritised as a result of this appointment; and(n) Can the Minister confirm whether other Regional Development Commissions were considered to provide this resource, or whether the Wheatbelt Development Commission was specifically targeted?
I refer to the appointment of the CEO of the Wheatbelt Development Commission as the Fuel Security State Controller as announced on 19 March 2026 and I ask:
(a) Was the Chair of the Wheatbelt Development Commission formally informed of this appointment:
(i) if yes, on what date was the Chair informed; and
(ii) if no, why not;
(b) Were Board Members of the Wheatbelt Development Commission informed of this appointment:
(i) if yes, when; and
(ii) if not, why not;
(c) Was Cabinet or the Minister for Regional Development consulted on the impact this appointment would have on the operations of the Wheatbelt Development Commission;
(d) What assessment was undertaken of the impact on the Commission’s capacity to deliver its core functions, given its CEO has been tasked with statewide responsibilities;
(e) What proportion of the CEO’s time has been redirected to the Fuel Security State Controller role since 19 March 2026;
(f) Has an acting CEO or additional executive resource been appointed to backfill the role at the Wheatbelt Development Commission:
(i) if yes, who has been appointed and for what duration; and
(ii) if yes, what is the cost of this arrangement and from which budget is this being funded;
(g) If no additional resource has been provided, how is the Wheatbelt Development Commission expected to maintain service delivery across the region;
(h) Has any additional funding or staffing allocation been provided to the Wheatbelt Development Commission to account for the CEO undertaking the State Controller role:
(i) if yes, please provide details; and
(ii) if no, why not;
(i) What reporting arrangements are in place for the CEO while acting as Fuel Security State Controller;
(j) Does the CEO report to the Premier, Minister, or another authority in that role;
(k) What is the expected duration of the CEO’s appointment as Fuel Security State Controller;
(l) Will the CEO return to full-time duties at the Wheatbelt Development Commission upon conclusion of the appointment;
(m) Have any Wheatbelt Development Commission projects, programs or deliverables been delayed, deferred or reprioritised as a result of this appointment; and
(n) Can the Minister confirm whether other Regional Development Commissions were considered to provide this resource, or whether the Wheatbelt Development Commission was specifically targeted?
I refer to the appointment of the CEO of the Wheatbelt Development Commission as the Fuel Security State Controller as announced on 19 March 2026 and I ask:
(a) Was the Chair of the Wheatbelt Development Commission formally informed of this appointment:
(i) if yes, on what date was the Chair informed; and
(ii) if no, why not;
(b) Were Board Members of the Wheatbelt Development Commission informed of this appointment:
(i) if yes, when; and
(ii) if not, why not;
(c) Was Cabinet or the Minister for Regional Development consulted on the impact this appointment would have on the operations of the Wheatbelt Development Commission;
(d) What assessment was undertaken of the impact on the Commission’s capacity to deliver its core functions, given its CEO has been tasked with statewide responsibilities;
(e) What proportion of the CEO’s time has been redirected to the Fuel Security State Controller role since 19 March 2026;
(f) Has an acting CEO or additional executive resource been appointed to backfill the role at the Wheatbelt Development Commission:
(i) if yes, who has been appointed and for what duration; and
(ii) if yes, what is the cost of this arrangement and from which budget is this being funded;
(g) If no additional resource has been provided, how is the Wheatbelt Development Commission expected to maintain service delivery across the region;
(h) Has any additional funding or staffing allocation been provided to the Wheatbelt Development Commission to account for the CEO undertaking the State Controller role:
(i) if yes, please provide details; and
(ii) if no, why not;
(i) What reporting arrangements are in place for the CEO while acting as Fuel Security State Controller;
(j) Does the CEO report to the Premier, Minister, or another authority in that role;
(k) What is the expected duration of the CEO’s appointment as Fuel Security State Controller;
(l) Will the CEO return to full-time duties at the Wheatbelt Development Commission upon conclusion of the appointment;
(m) Have any Wheatbelt Development Commission projects, programs or deliverables been delayed, deferred or reprioritised as a result of this appointment; and
(n) Can the Minister confirm whether other Regional Development Commissions were considered to provide this resource, or whether the Wheatbelt Development Commission was specifically targeted?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
9 June 2026
Responded by
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Regional Development
Response time
9 days
(a) Yes, on 18 March 2026.
(b) Yes, on 19 March 2026.
(c) Yes, the Minister for Regional Development was consulted. Cabinet has no role in employment matters.
(d) Consultations with the Minister for Regional Development, the Minister for the Wheatbelt, the Chair of the Wheatbelt Development Commission, the Public Sector Commissioner and Mr Cossart (including reference to the appointing an acting Director for the Wheatbelt Development Commission) formed the basis of the assessment that the Wheatbelt Development Commission’s operations would not be unduly impacted by Mr Cossart’s secondment out of the Director role.
(e) 100%, given Mr Cossart has been seconded to work full-time as the Fuel Security State Controller.
(f) Yes.
(i) Ms Renee Manning was directed to act as A/Director of the Wheatbelt Development Commission for 19 March to 31 May 2026 and then extended to 31 August 2026 by the Public Sector Commissioner as the employing authority.
(ii) In accordance with normal arrangements, the cost of the salary for Ms Renee Manning for this period is paid by the Wheatbelt Development Commission.
(g) N/A
(h) All roles have been back filled.
(i – j) Mr Cossart reports to the Director General of the Department of Energy and Economic Diversification while undertaking the role of Fuel Security State Controller.
(k) 31 August 2026.
(l) Yes, unless extensions are sought and agreed by the Public Sector Commissioner as the employing authority.
(m) No.
(n) Mr Cossart was selected to undertake these duties due to his previous experience in emergency management as the State Recovery Coordinator of the Kimberley flood recovery in 2023 and as the Chair of the Dry Season Taskforce in 2024, and his local knowledge of the impact of such events in regional areas.
(b) Yes, on 19 March 2026.
(c) Yes, the Minister for Regional Development was consulted. Cabinet has no role in employment matters.
(d) Consultations with the Minister for Regional Development, the Minister for the Wheatbelt, the Chair of the Wheatbelt Development Commission, the Public Sector Commissioner and Mr Cossart (including reference to the appointing an acting Director for the Wheatbelt Development Commission) formed the basis of the assessment that the Wheatbelt Development Commission’s operations would not be unduly impacted by Mr Cossart’s secondment out of the Director role.
(e) 100%, given Mr Cossart has been seconded to work full-time as the Fuel Security State Controller.
(f) Yes.
(i) Ms Renee Manning was directed to act as A/Director of the Wheatbelt Development Commission for 19 March to 31 May 2026 and then extended to 31 August 2026 by the Public Sector Commissioner as the employing authority.
(ii) In accordance with normal arrangements, the cost of the salary for Ms Renee Manning for this period is paid by the Wheatbelt Development Commission.
(g) N/A
(h) All roles have been back filled.
(i – j) Mr Cossart reports to the Director General of the Department of Energy and Economic Diversification while undertaking the role of Fuel Security State Controller.
(k) 31 August 2026.
(l) Yes, unless extensions are sought and agreed by the Public Sector Commissioner as the employing authority.
(m) No.
(n) Mr Cossart was selected to undertake these duties due to his previous experience in emergency management as the State Recovery Coordinator of the Kimberley flood recovery in 2023 and as the Chair of the Dry Season Taskforce in 2024, and his local knowledge of the impact of such events in regional areas.
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