❓ Hon Ray Halligan questions the Attorney General regarding the procurement of legal consultants, Blake Dawson Waldron, for advice on electricity reform, specifically concerning potential conflicts of interest due to their work with Alinta, a competitor of Western Power.
AnsweredQoN 1351Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the procurement of legal consultants by the Crown Solicitor to advise the Government on electricity reform matters and to the Attorney General’s answer in the other place on 28 August that a partner from Blake Dawson Waldron had agreed to provide his services for $250 an hour for such advice. (1) What is the precise nature of the work being undertaken by Blake Dawson Waldron for the Government? (2) Will the Attorney General provide an estimated total cost of the work being undertaken by both the partner at Blake Dawson Waldron and his assistants, or is the budget open ended? (3) Can the Attorney General confirm that Blake Dawson Waldron also acts for a competitor of Western Power - Alinta - and, if so, does the Attorney General believe this is appropriate, or is it a potential conflict of interest? Hon NICK GRIFFITHS
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Attorney General has provided the following response - (1) Blake Dawson Waldron is providing advice to the Crown Solicitor with the draft legislation for the proposed disaggregation of Western Power. (2) Blake Dawson Waldron is required to provide assistance from time to time as needed, and consequentially there is no current estimated cost of the work. (3) Prior to accepting instructions from the Crown Solicitor, Blake Dawson Waldron advised that it acted for Alinta. The Crown Solicitor is satisfied that it is appropriate for Blake Dawson Waldron to act for the Crown Solicitor.
(1) What is the precise nature of the work being undertaken by Blake Dawson Waldron for the Government? (2) Will the Attorney General provide an estimated total cost of the work being undertaken by both the partner at Blake Dawson Waldron and his assistants, or is the budget open ended? (3) Can the Attorney General confirm that Blake Dawson Waldron also acts for a competitor of Western Power - Alinta - and, if so, does the Attorney General believe this is appropriate, or is it a potential conflict of interest? Hon NICK GRIFFITHS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Attorney General has provided the following response - (1) Blake Dawson Waldron is providing advice to the Crown Solicitor with the draft legislation for the proposed disaggregation of Western Power. (2) Blake Dawson Waldron is required to provide assistance from time to time as needed, and consequentially there is no current estimated cost of the work. (3) Prior to accepting instructions from the Crown Solicitor, Blake Dawson Waldron advised that it acted for Alinta. The Crown Solicitor is satisfied that it is appropriate for Blake Dawson Waldron to act for the Crown Solicitor.
(2) Will the Attorney General provide an estimated total cost of the work being undertaken by both the partner at Blake Dawson Waldron and his assistants, or is the budget open ended? (3) Can the Attorney General confirm that Blake Dawson Waldron also acts for a competitor of Western Power - Alinta - and, if so, does the Attorney General believe this is appropriate, or is it a potential conflict of interest? Hon NICK GRIFFITHS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Attorney General has provided the following response - (1) Blake Dawson Waldron is providing advice to the Crown Solicitor with the draft legislation for the proposed disaggregation of Western Power. (2) Blake Dawson Waldron is required to provide assistance from time to time as needed, and consequentially there is no current estimated cost of the work. (3) Prior to accepting instructions from the Crown Solicitor, Blake Dawson Waldron advised that it acted for Alinta. The Crown Solicitor is satisfied that it is appropriate for Blake Dawson Waldron to act for the Crown Solicitor.
(3) Can the Attorney General confirm that Blake Dawson Waldron also acts for a competitor of Western Power - Alinta - and, if so, does the Attorney General believe this is appropriate, or is it a potential conflict of interest? Hon NICK GRIFFITHS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Attorney General has provided the following response - (1) Blake Dawson Waldron is providing advice to the Crown Solicitor with the draft legislation for the proposed disaggregation of Western Power. (2) Blake Dawson Waldron is required to provide assistance from time to time as needed, and consequentially there is no current estimated cost of the work. (3) Prior to accepting instructions from the Crown Solicitor, Blake Dawson Waldron advised that it acted for Alinta. The Crown Solicitor is satisfied that it is appropriate for Blake Dawson Waldron to act for the Crown Solicitor.
Hon NICK GRIFFITHS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Attorney General has provided the following response - (1) Blake Dawson Waldron is providing advice to the Crown Solicitor with the draft legislation for the proposed disaggregation of Western Power. (2) Blake Dawson Waldron is required to provide assistance from time to time as needed, and consequentially there is no current estimated cost of the work. (3) Prior to accepting instructions from the Crown Solicitor, Blake Dawson Waldron advised that it acted for Alinta. The Crown Solicitor is satisfied that it is appropriate for Blake Dawson Waldron to act for the Crown Solicitor.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Attorney General has provided the following response - (1) Blake Dawson Waldron is providing advice to the Crown Solicitor with the draft legislation for the proposed disaggregation of Western Power. (2) Blake Dawson Waldron is required to provide assistance from time to time as needed, and consequentially there is no current estimated cost of the work. (3) Prior to accepting instructions from the Crown Solicitor, Blake Dawson Waldron advised that it acted for Alinta. The Crown Solicitor is satisfied that it is appropriate for Blake Dawson Waldron to act for the Crown Solicitor.
(1) Blake Dawson Waldron is providing advice to the Crown Solicitor with the draft legislation for the proposed disaggregation of Western Power. (2) Blake Dawson Waldron is required to provide assistance from time to time as needed, and consequentially there is no current estimated cost of the work. (3) Prior to accepting instructions from the Crown Solicitor, Blake Dawson Waldron advised that it acted for Alinta. The Crown Solicitor is satisfied that it is appropriate for Blake Dawson Waldron to act for the Crown Solicitor.
(2) Blake Dawson Waldron is required to provide assistance from time to time as needed, and consequentially there is no current estimated cost of the work. (3) Prior to accepting instructions from the Crown Solicitor, Blake Dawson Waldron advised that it acted for Alinta. The Crown Solicitor is satisfied that it is appropriate for Blake Dawson Waldron to act for the Crown Solicitor.
(3) Prior to accepting instructions from the Crown Solicitor, Blake Dawson Waldron advised that it acted for Alinta. The Crown Solicitor is satisfied that it is appropriate for Blake Dawson Waldron to act for the Crown Solicitor.
(1) What is the precise nature of the work being undertaken by Blake Dawson Waldron for the Government? (2) Will the Attorney General provide an estimated total cost of the work being undertaken by both the partner at Blake Dawson Waldron and his assistants, or is the budget open ended? (3) Can the Attorney General confirm that Blake Dawson Waldron also acts for a competitor of Western Power - Alinta - and, if so, does the Attorney General believe this is appropriate, or is it a potential conflict of interest? Hon NICK GRIFFITHS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Attorney General has provided the following response - (1) Blake Dawson Waldron is providing advice to the Crown Solicitor with the draft legislation for the proposed disaggregation of Western Power. (2) Blake Dawson Waldron is required to provide assistance from time to time as needed, and consequentially there is no current estimated cost of the work. (3) Prior to accepting instructions from the Crown Solicitor, Blake Dawson Waldron advised that it acted for Alinta. The Crown Solicitor is satisfied that it is appropriate for Blake Dawson Waldron to act for the Crown Solicitor.
(2) Will the Attorney General provide an estimated total cost of the work being undertaken by both the partner at Blake Dawson Waldron and his assistants, or is the budget open ended? (3) Can the Attorney General confirm that Blake Dawson Waldron also acts for a competitor of Western Power - Alinta - and, if so, does the Attorney General believe this is appropriate, or is it a potential conflict of interest? Hon NICK GRIFFITHS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Attorney General has provided the following response - (1) Blake Dawson Waldron is providing advice to the Crown Solicitor with the draft legislation for the proposed disaggregation of Western Power. (2) Blake Dawson Waldron is required to provide assistance from time to time as needed, and consequentially there is no current estimated cost of the work. (3) Prior to accepting instructions from the Crown Solicitor, Blake Dawson Waldron advised that it acted for Alinta. The Crown Solicitor is satisfied that it is appropriate for Blake Dawson Waldron to act for the Crown Solicitor.
(3) Can the Attorney General confirm that Blake Dawson Waldron also acts for a competitor of Western Power - Alinta - and, if so, does the Attorney General believe this is appropriate, or is it a potential conflict of interest? Hon NICK GRIFFITHS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Attorney General has provided the following response - (1) Blake Dawson Waldron is providing advice to the Crown Solicitor with the draft legislation for the proposed disaggregation of Western Power. (2) Blake Dawson Waldron is required to provide assistance from time to time as needed, and consequentially there is no current estimated cost of the work. (3) Prior to accepting instructions from the Crown Solicitor, Blake Dawson Waldron advised that it acted for Alinta. The Crown Solicitor is satisfied that it is appropriate for Blake Dawson Waldron to act for the Crown Solicitor.
Hon NICK GRIFFITHS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Attorney General has provided the following response - (1) Blake Dawson Waldron is providing advice to the Crown Solicitor with the draft legislation for the proposed disaggregation of Western Power. (2) Blake Dawson Waldron is required to provide assistance from time to time as needed, and consequentially there is no current estimated cost of the work. (3) Prior to accepting instructions from the Crown Solicitor, Blake Dawson Waldron advised that it acted for Alinta. The Crown Solicitor is satisfied that it is appropriate for Blake Dawson Waldron to act for the Crown Solicitor.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. The Attorney General has provided the following response - (1) Blake Dawson Waldron is providing advice to the Crown Solicitor with the draft legislation for the proposed disaggregation of Western Power. (2) Blake Dawson Waldron is required to provide assistance from time to time as needed, and consequentially there is no current estimated cost of the work. (3) Prior to accepting instructions from the Crown Solicitor, Blake Dawson Waldron advised that it acted for Alinta. The Crown Solicitor is satisfied that it is appropriate for Blake Dawson Waldron to act for the Crown Solicitor.
(1) Blake Dawson Waldron is providing advice to the Crown Solicitor with the draft legislation for the proposed disaggregation of Western Power. (2) Blake Dawson Waldron is required to provide assistance from time to time as needed, and consequentially there is no current estimated cost of the work. (3) Prior to accepting instructions from the Crown Solicitor, Blake Dawson Waldron advised that it acted for Alinta. The Crown Solicitor is satisfied that it is appropriate for Blake Dawson Waldron to act for the Crown Solicitor.
(2) Blake Dawson Waldron is required to provide assistance from time to time as needed, and consequentially there is no current estimated cost of the work. (3) Prior to accepting instructions from the Crown Solicitor, Blake Dawson Waldron advised that it acted for Alinta. The Crown Solicitor is satisfied that it is appropriate for Blake Dawson Waldron to act for the Crown Solicitor.
(3) Prior to accepting instructions from the Crown Solicitor, Blake Dawson Waldron advised that it acted for Alinta. The Crown Solicitor is satisfied that it is appropriate for Blake Dawson Waldron to act for the Crown Solicitor.
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