❓ Mr. Tallentire questions the Premier about a potential conflict of interest arising from Mr. Wedgwood's move from the Premier's office to Mineral Resources, specifically regarding the Helena and Aurora Range mining project. The Premier defends the appointment and questions the basis for the concern.
AnsweredQoN 52Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
MINERAL RESOURCES —
GEOFF WEDGWOOD
52. Mr C.J.
TALLENTIRE to the Premier:
I refer to the current challenge by Polaris Metals, a subsidiary of
Mineral Resources, to an Environmental Protection Authority decision
recommending against mining in the Helena and Aurora Range.
(1) Is the Premier aware that his former
senior resources adviser Mr Geoff Wedgwood has just been appointed to a senior
executive role within Mineral Resources?
(2) While engaged by the Premier, was Mr
Wedgwood present at any meeting at which the Helena and Aurora Range project
was discussed?
(3) Given that Mr Wedgwood is now in a
position to make improper use of his knowledge of government, what is the
Premier doing to manage the potential conflict of interest?
GEOFF WEDGWOOD
52. Mr C.J.
TALLENTIRE to the Premier:
I refer to the current challenge by Polaris Metals, a subsidiary of
Mineral Resources, to an Environmental Protection Authority decision
recommending against mining in the Helena and Aurora Range.
(1) Is the Premier aware that his former
senior resources adviser Mr Geoff Wedgwood has just been appointed to a senior
executive role within Mineral Resources?
(2) While engaged by the Premier, was Mr
Wedgwood present at any meeting at which the Helena and Aurora Range project
was discussed?
(3) Given that Mr Wedgwood is now in a
position to make improper use of his knowledge of government, what is the
Premier doing to manage the potential conflict of interest?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(3) Goodness
me! Geoff Wedgwood certainly was working in my office under a contract. He had
worked in my office also during the 1990s when I was Minister for Resources. He
resigned and his last day in my office
was Friday, 28 November 2014. He left my office two and a half months ago. He
has been appointed to Mineral Resources. I think the member is referring to, or
probably implying something about, the Environmental Protection Authority
assessment that found the proposed development was environmentally unacceptable,
which is the terminology that it used. That was on 1 December 2014. The EPA
came down with its decision against that development after Mr Wedgwood had left
my employment. What is the member's problem? He has moved on. He
resigned from my office and got a job. He has moved on. It is two and a half
months later. What is the member for Gosnells' problem with that?
People can go out and pursue their career. He quite properly resigned from my
office. He left my office and subsequently got a job.
Mr M. McGowan : Was there any discussion? It is a
reasonable question.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I would have to go back to see whether he
was in attendance at any meetings. I meet with companies all the time, and I
have certainly met with Mineral Resources. I would have to go back and check to
see whether he was present. The point is: he resigned from my office. He
subsequently got a job, which he is entitled to do. He is entitled to pursue a
career. I really do not know what the member's point is.
me! Geoff Wedgwood certainly was working in my office under a contract. He had
worked in my office also during the 1990s when I was Minister for Resources. He
resigned and his last day in my office
was Friday, 28 November 2014. He left my office two and a half months ago. He
has been appointed to Mineral Resources. I think the member is referring to, or
probably implying something about, the Environmental Protection Authority
assessment that found the proposed development was environmentally unacceptable,
which is the terminology that it used. That was on 1 December 2014. The EPA
came down with its decision against that development after Mr Wedgwood had left
my employment. What is the member's problem? He has moved on. He
resigned from my office and got a job. He has moved on. It is two and a half
months later. What is the member for Gosnells' problem with that?
People can go out and pursue their career. He quite properly resigned from my
office. He left my office and subsequently got a job.
Mr M. McGowan : Was there any discussion? It is a
reasonable question.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I would have to go back to see whether he
was in attendance at any meetings. I meet with companies all the time, and I
have certainly met with Mineral Resources. I would have to go back and check to
see whether he was present. The point is: he resigned from my office. He
subsequently got a job, which he is entitled to do. He is entitled to pursue a
career. I really do not know what the member's point is.
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