❓ Opposition questions the Premier regarding Horizon Power's employment of GRA Everingham Pty Ltd, raising concerns about potential conflicts of interest and the appropriateness of government-owned entities using lobbyists. The Premier claims ignorance and deflects, suggesting the question be put on notice.
AnsweredQoN 277Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
HORIZON POWER — GRA EVERINGHAM PTY LTD
(1) Can the Premier confirm that the government-owned entity Horizon Power has employed GRA Everingham Pty Ltd as a lobbyist? (2) For what purpose was GRA Everingham employed? (3) Does the Premier believe it is appropriate for a government-owned entity to employ the services of a lobbyist? (4) Do any other government-owned agencies employ the services of a lobbyist? (5) Is this the company of the former WA Liberal Party state director and the Premier’s reported close adviser? Mr C.J. BARNETT
(1) Can the Premier confirm that the government-owned entity Horizon Power has employed GRA Everingham Pty Ltd as a lobbyist? (2) For what purpose was GRA Everingham employed? (3) Does the Premier believe it is appropriate for a government-owned entity to employ the services of a lobbyist? (4) Do any other government-owned agencies employ the services of a lobbyist? (5) Is this the company of the former WA Liberal Party state director and the Premier’s reported close adviser? Mr C.J. BARNETT
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the Leader of the Opposition for the question. It would have been a good idea if he had given me a little notice of the question; then I could have answered all parts of it. (1)-(5) I am unaware that Horizon Power has employed what I assume is the company of Paul Everingham. That is clearly a decision of its board; I am not aware of it. I am not sure, and I cannot tell the Leader of the Opposition, exactly why he has been employed. Had the Leader of the Opposition given me some notice of the question, I would have provided him with those full details. Paul Everingham is not my close adviser. I know Paul Everingham, obviously; he was a state director of the Liberal Party. He is a very intelligent and competent young guy. He is entitled to operate his business. If he is able to win work from Horizon Power or anyone else, there is no ban on government agencies employing consultants. I do not know what particular task Paul Everingham has been employed to do. If the Leader of the Opposition wants to put the question on notice, I will give him full details.
(2) For what purpose was GRA Everingham employed? (3) Does the Premier believe it is appropriate for a government-owned entity to employ the services of a lobbyist? (4) Do any other government-owned agencies employ the services of a lobbyist? (5) Is this the company of the former WA Liberal Party state director and the Premier’s reported close adviser? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: I thank the Leader of the Opposition for the question. It would have been a good idea if he had given me a little notice of the question; then I could have answered all parts of it. (1)-(5) I am unaware that Horizon Power has employed what I assume is the company of Paul Everingham. That is clearly a decision of its board; I am not aware of it. I am not sure, and I cannot tell the Leader of the Opposition, exactly why he has been employed. Had the Leader of the Opposition given me some notice of the question, I would have provided him with those full details. Paul Everingham is not my close adviser. I know Paul Everingham, obviously; he was a state director of the Liberal Party. He is a very intelligent and competent young guy. He is entitled to operate his business. If he is able to win work from Horizon Power or anyone else, there is no ban on government agencies employing consultants. I do not know what particular task Paul Everingham has been employed to do. If the Leader of the Opposition wants to put the question on notice, I will give him full details.
(3) Does the Premier believe it is appropriate for a government-owned entity to employ the services of a lobbyist? (4) Do any other government-owned agencies employ the services of a lobbyist? (5) Is this the company of the former WA Liberal Party state director and the Premier’s reported close adviser? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: I thank the Leader of the Opposition for the question. It would have been a good idea if he had given me a little notice of the question; then I could have answered all parts of it. (1)-(5) I am unaware that Horizon Power has employed what I assume is the company of Paul Everingham. That is clearly a decision of its board; I am not aware of it. I am not sure, and I cannot tell the Leader of the Opposition, exactly why he has been employed. Had the Leader of the Opposition given me some notice of the question, I would have provided him with those full details. Paul Everingham is not my close adviser. I know Paul Everingham, obviously; he was a state director of the Liberal Party. He is a very intelligent and competent young guy. He is entitled to operate his business. If he is able to win work from Horizon Power or anyone else, there is no ban on government agencies employing consultants. I do not know what particular task Paul Everingham has been employed to do. If the Leader of the Opposition wants to put the question on notice, I will give him full details.
(4) Do any other government-owned agencies employ the services of a lobbyist? (5) Is this the company of the former WA Liberal Party state director and the Premier’s reported close adviser? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: I thank the Leader of the Opposition for the question. It would have been a good idea if he had given me a little notice of the question; then I could have answered all parts of it. (1)-(5) I am unaware that Horizon Power has employed what I assume is the company of Paul Everingham. That is clearly a decision of its board; I am not aware of it. I am not sure, and I cannot tell the Leader of the Opposition, exactly why he has been employed. Had the Leader of the Opposition given me some notice of the question, I would have provided him with those full details. Paul Everingham is not my close adviser. I know Paul Everingham, obviously; he was a state director of the Liberal Party. He is a very intelligent and competent young guy. He is entitled to operate his business. If he is able to win work from Horizon Power or anyone else, there is no ban on government agencies employing consultants. I do not know what particular task Paul Everingham has been employed to do. If the Leader of the Opposition wants to put the question on notice, I will give him full details.
(5) Is this the company of the former WA Liberal Party state director and the Premier’s reported close adviser? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: I thank the Leader of the Opposition for the question. It would have been a good idea if he had given me a little notice of the question; then I could have answered all parts of it. (1)-(5) I am unaware that Horizon Power has employed what I assume is the company of Paul Everingham. That is clearly a decision of its board; I am not aware of it. I am not sure, and I cannot tell the Leader of the Opposition, exactly why he has been employed. Had the Leader of the Opposition given me some notice of the question, I would have provided him with those full details. Paul Everingham is not my close adviser. I know Paul Everingham, obviously; he was a state director of the Liberal Party. He is a very intelligent and competent young guy. He is entitled to operate his business. If he is able to win work from Horizon Power or anyone else, there is no ban on government agencies employing consultants. I do not know what particular task Paul Everingham has been employed to do. If the Leader of the Opposition wants to put the question on notice, I will give him full details.
Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: I thank the Leader of the Opposition for the question. It would have been a good idea if he had given me a little notice of the question; then I could have answered all parts of it. (1)-(5) I am unaware that Horizon Power has employed what I assume is the company of Paul Everingham. That is clearly a decision of its board; I am not aware of it. I am not sure, and I cannot tell the Leader of the Opposition, exactly why he has been employed. Had the Leader of the Opposition given me some notice of the question, I would have provided him with those full details. Paul Everingham is not my close adviser. I know Paul Everingham, obviously; he was a state director of the Liberal Party. He is a very intelligent and competent young guy. He is entitled to operate his business. If he is able to win work from Horizon Power or anyone else, there is no ban on government agencies employing consultants. I do not know what particular task Paul Everingham has been employed to do. If the Leader of the Opposition wants to put the question on notice, I will give him full details.
I thank the Leader of the Opposition for the question. It would have been a good idea if he had given me a little notice of the question; then I could have answered all parts of it. (1)-(5) I am unaware that Horizon Power has employed what I assume is the company of Paul Everingham. That is clearly a decision of its board; I am not aware of it. I am not sure, and I cannot tell the Leader of the Opposition, exactly why he has been employed. Had the Leader of the Opposition given me some notice of the question, I would have provided him with those full details. Paul Everingham is not my close adviser. I know Paul Everingham, obviously; he was a state director of the Liberal Party. He is a very intelligent and competent young guy. He is entitled to operate his business. If he is able to win work from Horizon Power or anyone else, there is no ban on government agencies employing consultants. I do not know what particular task Paul Everingham has been employed to do. If the Leader of the Opposition wants to put the question on notice, I will give him full details.
(1)-(5) I am unaware that Horizon Power has employed what I assume is the company of Paul Everingham. That is clearly a decision of its board; I am not aware of it. I am not sure, and I cannot tell the Leader of the Opposition, exactly why he has been employed. Had the Leader of the Opposition given me some notice of the question, I would have provided him with those full details. Paul Everingham is not my close adviser. I know Paul Everingham, obviously; he was a state director of the Liberal Party. He is a very intelligent and competent young guy. He is entitled to operate his business. If he is able to win work from Horizon Power or anyone else, there is no ban on government agencies employing consultants. I do not know what particular task Paul Everingham has been employed to do. If the Leader of the Opposition wants to put the question on notice, I will give him full details.
(2) For what purpose was GRA Everingham employed? (3) Does the Premier believe it is appropriate for a government-owned entity to employ the services of a lobbyist? (4) Do any other government-owned agencies employ the services of a lobbyist? (5) Is this the company of the former WA Liberal Party state director and the Premier’s reported close adviser? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: I thank the Leader of the Opposition for the question. It would have been a good idea if he had given me a little notice of the question; then I could have answered all parts of it. (1)-(5) I am unaware that Horizon Power has employed what I assume is the company of Paul Everingham. That is clearly a decision of its board; I am not aware of it. I am not sure, and I cannot tell the Leader of the Opposition, exactly why he has been employed. Had the Leader of the Opposition given me some notice of the question, I would have provided him with those full details. Paul Everingham is not my close adviser. I know Paul Everingham, obviously; he was a state director of the Liberal Party. He is a very intelligent and competent young guy. He is entitled to operate his business. If he is able to win work from Horizon Power or anyone else, there is no ban on government agencies employing consultants. I do not know what particular task Paul Everingham has been employed to do. If the Leader of the Opposition wants to put the question on notice, I will give him full details.
(3) Does the Premier believe it is appropriate for a government-owned entity to employ the services of a lobbyist? (4) Do any other government-owned agencies employ the services of a lobbyist? (5) Is this the company of the former WA Liberal Party state director and the Premier’s reported close adviser? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: I thank the Leader of the Opposition for the question. It would have been a good idea if he had given me a little notice of the question; then I could have answered all parts of it. (1)-(5) I am unaware that Horizon Power has employed what I assume is the company of Paul Everingham. That is clearly a decision of its board; I am not aware of it. I am not sure, and I cannot tell the Leader of the Opposition, exactly why he has been employed. Had the Leader of the Opposition given me some notice of the question, I would have provided him with those full details. Paul Everingham is not my close adviser. I know Paul Everingham, obviously; he was a state director of the Liberal Party. He is a very intelligent and competent young guy. He is entitled to operate his business. If he is able to win work from Horizon Power or anyone else, there is no ban on government agencies employing consultants. I do not know what particular task Paul Everingham has been employed to do. If the Leader of the Opposition wants to put the question on notice, I will give him full details.
(4) Do any other government-owned agencies employ the services of a lobbyist? (5) Is this the company of the former WA Liberal Party state director and the Premier’s reported close adviser? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: I thank the Leader of the Opposition for the question. It would have been a good idea if he had given me a little notice of the question; then I could have answered all parts of it. (1)-(5) I am unaware that Horizon Power has employed what I assume is the company of Paul Everingham. That is clearly a decision of its board; I am not aware of it. I am not sure, and I cannot tell the Leader of the Opposition, exactly why he has been employed. Had the Leader of the Opposition given me some notice of the question, I would have provided him with those full details. Paul Everingham is not my close adviser. I know Paul Everingham, obviously; he was a state director of the Liberal Party. He is a very intelligent and competent young guy. He is entitled to operate his business. If he is able to win work from Horizon Power or anyone else, there is no ban on government agencies employing consultants. I do not know what particular task Paul Everingham has been employed to do. If the Leader of the Opposition wants to put the question on notice, I will give him full details.
(5) Is this the company of the former WA Liberal Party state director and the Premier’s reported close adviser? Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: I thank the Leader of the Opposition for the question. It would have been a good idea if he had given me a little notice of the question; then I could have answered all parts of it. (1)-(5) I am unaware that Horizon Power has employed what I assume is the company of Paul Everingham. That is clearly a decision of its board; I am not aware of it. I am not sure, and I cannot tell the Leader of the Opposition, exactly why he has been employed. Had the Leader of the Opposition given me some notice of the question, I would have provided him with those full details. Paul Everingham is not my close adviser. I know Paul Everingham, obviously; he was a state director of the Liberal Party. He is a very intelligent and competent young guy. He is entitled to operate his business. If he is able to win work from Horizon Power or anyone else, there is no ban on government agencies employing consultants. I do not know what particular task Paul Everingham has been employed to do. If the Leader of the Opposition wants to put the question on notice, I will give him full details.
Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: I thank the Leader of the Opposition for the question. It would have been a good idea if he had given me a little notice of the question; then I could have answered all parts of it. (1)-(5) I am unaware that Horizon Power has employed what I assume is the company of Paul Everingham. That is clearly a decision of its board; I am not aware of it. I am not sure, and I cannot tell the Leader of the Opposition, exactly why he has been employed. Had the Leader of the Opposition given me some notice of the question, I would have provided him with those full details. Paul Everingham is not my close adviser. I know Paul Everingham, obviously; he was a state director of the Liberal Party. He is a very intelligent and competent young guy. He is entitled to operate his business. If he is able to win work from Horizon Power or anyone else, there is no ban on government agencies employing consultants. I do not know what particular task Paul Everingham has been employed to do. If the Leader of the Opposition wants to put the question on notice, I will give him full details.
I thank the Leader of the Opposition for the question. It would have been a good idea if he had given me a little notice of the question; then I could have answered all parts of it. (1)-(5) I am unaware that Horizon Power has employed what I assume is the company of Paul Everingham. That is clearly a decision of its board; I am not aware of it. I am not sure, and I cannot tell the Leader of the Opposition, exactly why he has been employed. Had the Leader of the Opposition given me some notice of the question, I would have provided him with those full details. Paul Everingham is not my close adviser. I know Paul Everingham, obviously; he was a state director of the Liberal Party. He is a very intelligent and competent young guy. He is entitled to operate his business. If he is able to win work from Horizon Power or anyone else, there is no ban on government agencies employing consultants. I do not know what particular task Paul Everingham has been employed to do. If the Leader of the Opposition wants to put the question on notice, I will give him full details.
(1)-(5) I am unaware that Horizon Power has employed what I assume is the company of Paul Everingham. That is clearly a decision of its board; I am not aware of it. I am not sure, and I cannot tell the Leader of the Opposition, exactly why he has been employed. Had the Leader of the Opposition given me some notice of the question, I would have provided him with those full details. Paul Everingham is not my close adviser. I know Paul Everingham, obviously; he was a state director of the Liberal Party. He is a very intelligent and competent young guy. He is entitled to operate his business. If he is able to win work from Horizon Power or anyone else, there is no ban on government agencies employing consultants. I do not know what particular task Paul Everingham has been employed to do. If the Leader of the Opposition wants to put the question on notice, I will give him full details.
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