❓ Hon Sue Ellery questions the Attorney General regarding the approval and costs associated with external legal representation for the state and specific individuals related to the Insurance Commission of WA. The Attorney General provides some details but withholds specific cost information due to ongoing legal proceedings.
AnsweredQoN 779Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
ATTORNEY GENERAL — LEGAL REPRESENTATION —
APPROVAL
779. Hon SUE ELLERY to the Attorney General:
I refer to the Attorney General's
decision on 13 June 2016 to approve the retention of external legal
representation for the state of Western Australia by the Insurance Commission
of WA, Paul Evans, David Hargreaves, Rod Whithear and Bruce Meredith.
(1) Which legal firm, or barristers,
have been retained for each of the above parties?
(2) How much has been spent so far
in the provision of legal representation for each party?
(3) What is the
amount that the Attorney General approved to be spent on legal representation
for the above parties?
(4) Has the
Attorney General approved the retention of external legal representation for
any other party; and, if so, who and how much has been spent?
APPROVAL
779. Hon SUE ELLERY to the Attorney General:
I refer to the Attorney General's
decision on 13 June 2016 to approve the retention of external legal
representation for the state of Western Australia by the Insurance Commission
of WA, Paul Evans, David Hargreaves, Rod Whithear and Bruce Meredith.
(1) Which legal firm, or barristers,
have been retained for each of the above parties?
(2) How much has been spent so far
in the provision of legal representation for each party?
(3) What is the
amount that the Attorney General approved to be spent on legal representation
for the above parties?
(4) Has the
Attorney General approved the retention of external legal representation for
any other party; and, if so, who and how much has been spent?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of this question.
(1) The legal firm retained is Jones
Day. The barristers briefed are Noel Hutley, SC, and Imtiaz Ahmed.
(2) It is not
appropriate to disclose the amount of costs that have been incurred as the
matters to which they relate remain unresolved and are pending before the
courts.
(3) As the
matters involve the protection of the interests of the state and the Insurance
Commission of Western Australia, no present overall or particular limit has
been imposed, but the state, through the Department of Treasury, is monitoring
the costs involved.
(4) I, as
Attorney General, have approved external representation for members of the
authority constituted under the Bell Group Companies (Finalisation of Matters
and Distribution of Proceeds) Act 2015. Although costs have been incurred, no
accounts have yet been received for payment.
some notice of this question.
(1) The legal firm retained is Jones
Day. The barristers briefed are Noel Hutley, SC, and Imtiaz Ahmed.
(2) It is not
appropriate to disclose the amount of costs that have been incurred as the
matters to which they relate remain unresolved and are pending before the
courts.
(3) As the
matters involve the protection of the interests of the state and the Insurance
Commission of Western Australia, no present overall or particular limit has
been imposed, but the state, through the Department of Treasury, is monitoring
the costs involved.
(4) I, as
Attorney General, have approved external representation for members of the
authority constituted under the Bell Group Companies (Finalisation of Matters
and Distribution of Proceeds) Act 2015. Although costs have been incurred, no
accounts have yet been received for payment.
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