A WA parliamentary question scrutinising Western Power's Christmas function expenditure, particularly in light of a prior incident involving executives. The Minister's response details the board's function, funding source, relevant policies, and communication with Western Power's leadership.

AnsweredQoN 7668Legislative Assembly
Asked
29 March 2012
Portfolio
Energy

QuestionView source ↗

Further to Question on Notice 7191, relating to Western Power Christmas functions, I ask:
(a) where did the Western Power board hold its 2011 Christmas function;
(b) if Western Power did not pay for or subsidise the function, who or what entity did;
(c) does Western Power's corporate policy set expenditure limits on Christmas functions, and if yes, will the Minister table the corporate policy?
(d) were any internal memoranda or guidelines issued in 2011 to Western Power staff about the application of the corporate policy or to exercise restraint with regard to Christmas functions, and will the Minister table those memoranda or guidelines;
(e) following the publicity in December 2011 surrounding Western Power executives accruing a $2,300 bill at Must Winebar's private Champagne Room, did the Minister exercise his powers to give written direction to the corporation about the exercise of restraint, and if not, why not; and
(f) if the Minister did provide such written direction, will he table it?

AnswerView source ↗

Answered
2 May 2012
Responded by
Minister representing the Minister for Energy
Response time
34 days
(a) The non-executive directors of Western Power had a Christmas dinner at Rockpool Bar & Grill, Perth.
(b) Mark Barnaba, the Board Chair personally paid for the dinner.
(c) Western Power's corporate purchasing policy provides guidelines on appropriate and reasonable expenditure. Senior Management had previously communicated to the business what it deems to be reasonable and appropriate expenditure in relation to Christmas staff functions.
(d) Please refer to [Tabled Paper No.].
(e) No, I did not direct Western Power on this matter. However, I spoke directly with the Chair and Managing Director in relation to this matter, and subsequently wrote to the Chair regarding financial restraint.
(f) Not applicable.
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