❓ Hon. Norman Moore questions the closure of WA's trade office in South Korea, a major LNG importer, and asks about alternative strategies to secure LNG contracts. The Minister cites budget constraints and lack of industry engagement as reasons for the closure, highlighting investment missions as a substitute.
AnsweredQoN 193Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer the minister to the Government’s decision to close Western Australia’s trade office in South Korea. (1) What was the rationale for closing that office? (2) Is the minister aware that South Korea is second only to Japan as a liquefied natural gas importer? (3) Is he aware that South Korea’s LNG imports are forecast to rise by 65 per cent as a result of new contracts that are already subject to lobbying and presentations from major LNG exporting nations? (4) In the light of the international lobbying and networking by the major LNG exporting nations seeking to win new LNG contracts in South Korea, what steps have been taken to overcome the disadvantage in Western Australia of not having permanent representation there? Hon KEN TRAVERS
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for some notice of this question. I am advised as follows - (1)-(2) Following the state general election in 2001 and the subsequent fight to maintain the State’s credit rating, the Government examined the budgetary requirements, activities and structures of all agencies. It was against this backdrop that the North Asia office structure was reviewed. At that time, Mr Y.W. Park, a Korean national, provided various services to the Government of Western Australia relating to representation of the State’s interests in the Republic of Korea. The current Agent-General, Mr Bob Fisher, undertook a review of this arrangement and recommended the cessation of Mr Park’s contract. The recommendation to discontinue the representative arrangement in Seoul was based on a lack of enthusiasm by Western Australian resource-based companies to use the services of the contact, failure to gain access on an ongoing basis to the LNG market in Korea and the budget situation inherited by the Labor Government. (3) Korea is known to be a growing LNG market. (4) The Government has used investment missions to Korea at Premier, ministerial and departmental levels to promote the State’s resource industries, including the LNG sector.
(1) What was the rationale for closing that office? (2) Is the minister aware that South Korea is second only to Japan as a liquefied natural gas importer? (3) Is he aware that South Korea’s LNG imports are forecast to rise by 65 per cent as a result of new contracts that are already subject to lobbying and presentations from major LNG exporting nations? (4) In the light of the international lobbying and networking by the major LNG exporting nations seeking to win new LNG contracts in South Korea, what steps have been taken to overcome the disadvantage in Western Australia of not having permanent representation there? Hon KEN TRAVERS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. I am advised as follows - (1)-(2) Following the state general election in 2001 and the subsequent fight to maintain the State’s credit rating, the Government examined the budgetary requirements, activities and structures of all agencies. It was against this backdrop that the North Asia office structure was reviewed. At that time, Mr Y.W. Park, a Korean national, provided various services to the Government of Western Australia relating to representation of the State’s interests in the Republic of Korea. The current Agent-General, Mr Bob Fisher, undertook a review of this arrangement and recommended the cessation of Mr Park’s contract. The recommendation to discontinue the representative arrangement in Seoul was based on a lack of enthusiasm by Western Australian resource-based companies to use the services of the contact, failure to gain access on an ongoing basis to the LNG market in Korea and the budget situation inherited by the Labor Government. (3) Korea is known to be a growing LNG market. (4) The Government has used investment missions to Korea at Premier, ministerial and departmental levels to promote the State’s resource industries, including the LNG sector.
(2) Is the minister aware that South Korea is second only to Japan as a liquefied natural gas importer? (3) Is he aware that South Korea’s LNG imports are forecast to rise by 65 per cent as a result of new contracts that are already subject to lobbying and presentations from major LNG exporting nations? (4) In the light of the international lobbying and networking by the major LNG exporting nations seeking to win new LNG contracts in South Korea, what steps have been taken to overcome the disadvantage in Western Australia of not having permanent representation there? Hon KEN TRAVERS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. I am advised as follows - (1)-(2) Following the state general election in 2001 and the subsequent fight to maintain the State’s credit rating, the Government examined the budgetary requirements, activities and structures of all agencies. It was against this backdrop that the North Asia office structure was reviewed. At that time, Mr Y.W. Park, a Korean national, provided various services to the Government of Western Australia relating to representation of the State’s interests in the Republic of Korea. The current Agent-General, Mr Bob Fisher, undertook a review of this arrangement and recommended the cessation of Mr Park’s contract. The recommendation to discontinue the representative arrangement in Seoul was based on a lack of enthusiasm by Western Australian resource-based companies to use the services of the contact, failure to gain access on an ongoing basis to the LNG market in Korea and the budget situation inherited by the Labor Government. (3) Korea is known to be a growing LNG market. (4) The Government has used investment missions to Korea at Premier, ministerial and departmental levels to promote the State’s resource industries, including the LNG sector.
(3) Is he aware that South Korea’s LNG imports are forecast to rise by 65 per cent as a result of new contracts that are already subject to lobbying and presentations from major LNG exporting nations? (4) In the light of the international lobbying and networking by the major LNG exporting nations seeking to win new LNG contracts in South Korea, what steps have been taken to overcome the disadvantage in Western Australia of not having permanent representation there? Hon KEN TRAVERS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. I am advised as follows - (1)-(2) Following the state general election in 2001 and the subsequent fight to maintain the State’s credit rating, the Government examined the budgetary requirements, activities and structures of all agencies. It was against this backdrop that the North Asia office structure was reviewed. At that time, Mr Y.W. Park, a Korean national, provided various services to the Government of Western Australia relating to representation of the State’s interests in the Republic of Korea. The current Agent-General, Mr Bob Fisher, undertook a review of this arrangement and recommended the cessation of Mr Park’s contract. The recommendation to discontinue the representative arrangement in Seoul was based on a lack of enthusiasm by Western Australian resource-based companies to use the services of the contact, failure to gain access on an ongoing basis to the LNG market in Korea and the budget situation inherited by the Labor Government. (3) Korea is known to be a growing LNG market. (4) The Government has used investment missions to Korea at Premier, ministerial and departmental levels to promote the State’s resource industries, including the LNG sector.
(4) In the light of the international lobbying and networking by the major LNG exporting nations seeking to win new LNG contracts in South Korea, what steps have been taken to overcome the disadvantage in Western Australia of not having permanent representation there? Hon KEN TRAVERS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. I am advised as follows - (1)-(2) Following the state general election in 2001 and the subsequent fight to maintain the State’s credit rating, the Government examined the budgetary requirements, activities and structures of all agencies. It was against this backdrop that the North Asia office structure was reviewed. At that time, Mr Y.W. Park, a Korean national, provided various services to the Government of Western Australia relating to representation of the State’s interests in the Republic of Korea. The current Agent-General, Mr Bob Fisher, undertook a review of this arrangement and recommended the cessation of Mr Park’s contract. The recommendation to discontinue the representative arrangement in Seoul was based on a lack of enthusiasm by Western Australian resource-based companies to use the services of the contact, failure to gain access on an ongoing basis to the LNG market in Korea and the budget situation inherited by the Labor Government. (3) Korea is known to be a growing LNG market. (4) The Government has used investment missions to Korea at Premier, ministerial and departmental levels to promote the State’s resource industries, including the LNG sector.
Hon KEN TRAVERS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. I am advised as follows - (1)-(2) Following the state general election in 2001 and the subsequent fight to maintain the State’s credit rating, the Government examined the budgetary requirements, activities and structures of all agencies. It was against this backdrop that the North Asia office structure was reviewed. At that time, Mr Y.W. Park, a Korean national, provided various services to the Government of Western Australia relating to representation of the State’s interests in the Republic of Korea. The current Agent-General, Mr Bob Fisher, undertook a review of this arrangement and recommended the cessation of Mr Park’s contract. The recommendation to discontinue the representative arrangement in Seoul was based on a lack of enthusiasm by Western Australian resource-based companies to use the services of the contact, failure to gain access on an ongoing basis to the LNG market in Korea and the budget situation inherited by the Labor Government. (3) Korea is known to be a growing LNG market. (4) The Government has used investment missions to Korea at Premier, ministerial and departmental levels to promote the State’s resource industries, including the LNG sector.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. I am advised as follows - (1)-(2) Following the state general election in 2001 and the subsequent fight to maintain the State’s credit rating, the Government examined the budgetary requirements, activities and structures of all agencies. It was against this backdrop that the North Asia office structure was reviewed. At that time, Mr Y.W. Park, a Korean national, provided various services to the Government of Western Australia relating to representation of the State’s interests in the Republic of Korea. The current Agent-General, Mr Bob Fisher, undertook a review of this arrangement and recommended the cessation of Mr Park’s contract. The recommendation to discontinue the representative arrangement in Seoul was based on a lack of enthusiasm by Western Australian resource-based companies to use the services of the contact, failure to gain access on an ongoing basis to the LNG market in Korea and the budget situation inherited by the Labor Government. (3) Korea is known to be a growing LNG market. (4) The Government has used investment missions to Korea at Premier, ministerial and departmental levels to promote the State’s resource industries, including the LNG sector.
(1)-(2) Following the state general election in 2001 and the subsequent fight to maintain the State’s credit rating, the Government examined the budgetary requirements, activities and structures of all agencies. It was against this backdrop that the North Asia office structure was reviewed. At that time, Mr Y.W. Park, a Korean national, provided various services to the Government of Western Australia relating to representation of the State’s interests in the Republic of Korea. The current Agent-General, Mr Bob Fisher, undertook a review of this arrangement and recommended the cessation of Mr Park’s contract. The recommendation to discontinue the representative arrangement in Seoul was based on a lack of enthusiasm by Western Australian resource-based companies to use the services of the contact, failure to gain access on an ongoing basis to the LNG market in Korea and the budget situation inherited by the Labor Government. (3) Korea is known to be a growing LNG market. (4) The Government has used investment missions to Korea at Premier, ministerial and departmental levels to promote the State’s resource industries, including the LNG sector.
(4) The Government has used investment missions to Korea at Premier, ministerial and departmental levels to promote the State’s resource industries, including the LNG sector.
(1) What was the rationale for closing that office? (2) Is the minister aware that South Korea is second only to Japan as a liquefied natural gas importer? (3) Is he aware that South Korea’s LNG imports are forecast to rise by 65 per cent as a result of new contracts that are already subject to lobbying and presentations from major LNG exporting nations? (4) In the light of the international lobbying and networking by the major LNG exporting nations seeking to win new LNG contracts in South Korea, what steps have been taken to overcome the disadvantage in Western Australia of not having permanent representation there? Hon KEN TRAVERS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. I am advised as follows - (1)-(2) Following the state general election in 2001 and the subsequent fight to maintain the State’s credit rating, the Government examined the budgetary requirements, activities and structures of all agencies. It was against this backdrop that the North Asia office structure was reviewed. At that time, Mr Y.W. Park, a Korean national, provided various services to the Government of Western Australia relating to representation of the State’s interests in the Republic of Korea. The current Agent-General, Mr Bob Fisher, undertook a review of this arrangement and recommended the cessation of Mr Park’s contract. The recommendation to discontinue the representative arrangement in Seoul was based on a lack of enthusiasm by Western Australian resource-based companies to use the services of the contact, failure to gain access on an ongoing basis to the LNG market in Korea and the budget situation inherited by the Labor Government. (3) Korea is known to be a growing LNG market. (4) The Government has used investment missions to Korea at Premier, ministerial and departmental levels to promote the State’s resource industries, including the LNG sector.
(2) Is the minister aware that South Korea is second only to Japan as a liquefied natural gas importer? (3) Is he aware that South Korea’s LNG imports are forecast to rise by 65 per cent as a result of new contracts that are already subject to lobbying and presentations from major LNG exporting nations? (4) In the light of the international lobbying and networking by the major LNG exporting nations seeking to win new LNG contracts in South Korea, what steps have been taken to overcome the disadvantage in Western Australia of not having permanent representation there? Hon KEN TRAVERS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. I am advised as follows - (1)-(2) Following the state general election in 2001 and the subsequent fight to maintain the State’s credit rating, the Government examined the budgetary requirements, activities and structures of all agencies. It was against this backdrop that the North Asia office structure was reviewed. At that time, Mr Y.W. Park, a Korean national, provided various services to the Government of Western Australia relating to representation of the State’s interests in the Republic of Korea. The current Agent-General, Mr Bob Fisher, undertook a review of this arrangement and recommended the cessation of Mr Park’s contract. The recommendation to discontinue the representative arrangement in Seoul was based on a lack of enthusiasm by Western Australian resource-based companies to use the services of the contact, failure to gain access on an ongoing basis to the LNG market in Korea and the budget situation inherited by the Labor Government. (3) Korea is known to be a growing LNG market. (4) The Government has used investment missions to Korea at Premier, ministerial and departmental levels to promote the State’s resource industries, including the LNG sector.
(3) Is he aware that South Korea’s LNG imports are forecast to rise by 65 per cent as a result of new contracts that are already subject to lobbying and presentations from major LNG exporting nations? (4) In the light of the international lobbying and networking by the major LNG exporting nations seeking to win new LNG contracts in South Korea, what steps have been taken to overcome the disadvantage in Western Australia of not having permanent representation there? Hon KEN TRAVERS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. I am advised as follows - (1)-(2) Following the state general election in 2001 and the subsequent fight to maintain the State’s credit rating, the Government examined the budgetary requirements, activities and structures of all agencies. It was against this backdrop that the North Asia office structure was reviewed. At that time, Mr Y.W. Park, a Korean national, provided various services to the Government of Western Australia relating to representation of the State’s interests in the Republic of Korea. The current Agent-General, Mr Bob Fisher, undertook a review of this arrangement and recommended the cessation of Mr Park’s contract. The recommendation to discontinue the representative arrangement in Seoul was based on a lack of enthusiasm by Western Australian resource-based companies to use the services of the contact, failure to gain access on an ongoing basis to the LNG market in Korea and the budget situation inherited by the Labor Government. (3) Korea is known to be a growing LNG market. (4) The Government has used investment missions to Korea at Premier, ministerial and departmental levels to promote the State’s resource industries, including the LNG sector.
(4) In the light of the international lobbying and networking by the major LNG exporting nations seeking to win new LNG contracts in South Korea, what steps have been taken to overcome the disadvantage in Western Australia of not having permanent representation there? Hon KEN TRAVERS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. I am advised as follows - (1)-(2) Following the state general election in 2001 and the subsequent fight to maintain the State’s credit rating, the Government examined the budgetary requirements, activities and structures of all agencies. It was against this backdrop that the North Asia office structure was reviewed. At that time, Mr Y.W. Park, a Korean national, provided various services to the Government of Western Australia relating to representation of the State’s interests in the Republic of Korea. The current Agent-General, Mr Bob Fisher, undertook a review of this arrangement and recommended the cessation of Mr Park’s contract. The recommendation to discontinue the representative arrangement in Seoul was based on a lack of enthusiasm by Western Australian resource-based companies to use the services of the contact, failure to gain access on an ongoing basis to the LNG market in Korea and the budget situation inherited by the Labor Government. (3) Korea is known to be a growing LNG market. (4) The Government has used investment missions to Korea at Premier, ministerial and departmental levels to promote the State’s resource industries, including the LNG sector.
Hon KEN TRAVERS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. I am advised as follows - (1)-(2) Following the state general election in 2001 and the subsequent fight to maintain the State’s credit rating, the Government examined the budgetary requirements, activities and structures of all agencies. It was against this backdrop that the North Asia office structure was reviewed. At that time, Mr Y.W. Park, a Korean national, provided various services to the Government of Western Australia relating to representation of the State’s interests in the Republic of Korea. The current Agent-General, Mr Bob Fisher, undertook a review of this arrangement and recommended the cessation of Mr Park’s contract. The recommendation to discontinue the representative arrangement in Seoul was based on a lack of enthusiasm by Western Australian resource-based companies to use the services of the contact, failure to gain access on an ongoing basis to the LNG market in Korea and the budget situation inherited by the Labor Government. (3) Korea is known to be a growing LNG market. (4) The Government has used investment missions to Korea at Premier, ministerial and departmental levels to promote the State’s resource industries, including the LNG sector.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. I am advised as follows - (1)-(2) Following the state general election in 2001 and the subsequent fight to maintain the State’s credit rating, the Government examined the budgetary requirements, activities and structures of all agencies. It was against this backdrop that the North Asia office structure was reviewed. At that time, Mr Y.W. Park, a Korean national, provided various services to the Government of Western Australia relating to representation of the State’s interests in the Republic of Korea. The current Agent-General, Mr Bob Fisher, undertook a review of this arrangement and recommended the cessation of Mr Park’s contract. The recommendation to discontinue the representative arrangement in Seoul was based on a lack of enthusiasm by Western Australian resource-based companies to use the services of the contact, failure to gain access on an ongoing basis to the LNG market in Korea and the budget situation inherited by the Labor Government. (3) Korea is known to be a growing LNG market. (4) The Government has used investment missions to Korea at Premier, ministerial and departmental levels to promote the State’s resource industries, including the LNG sector.
(1)-(2) Following the state general election in 2001 and the subsequent fight to maintain the State’s credit rating, the Government examined the budgetary requirements, activities and structures of all agencies. It was against this backdrop that the North Asia office structure was reviewed. At that time, Mr Y.W. Park, a Korean national, provided various services to the Government of Western Australia relating to representation of the State’s interests in the Republic of Korea. The current Agent-General, Mr Bob Fisher, undertook a review of this arrangement and recommended the cessation of Mr Park’s contract. The recommendation to discontinue the representative arrangement in Seoul was based on a lack of enthusiasm by Western Australian resource-based companies to use the services of the contact, failure to gain access on an ongoing basis to the LNG market in Korea and the budget situation inherited by the Labor Government. (3) Korea is known to be a growing LNG market. (4) The Government has used investment missions to Korea at Premier, ministerial and departmental levels to promote the State’s resource industries, including the LNG sector.
(4) The Government has used investment missions to Korea at Premier, ministerial and departmental levels to promote the State’s resource industries, including the LNG sector.
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