❓ A WA parliamentary question investigates the potential conflict of interest regarding URS Australia Pty Ltd's involvement in preparing the Draft Forest Management Plan 2014-2023, focusing on their ties to the timber and mining sectors. The answer provides limited information, citing competitive tendering and lack of knowledge about URS's other contracts and employee history.
AnsweredQoN 1007Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the
Draft Forest Management Plan 2014–2023
, prepared by the Conservation Commission, through the former Department of Environment and Conservation, and ask:
(a) did the Conservation Commission use the services of URS Environmental Consultants and Services or affiliated contractors or subsidiary companies of URS, when preparing the
Draft Forest Management Plan 2014–2023
:
(i) if yes, what type of reports did URS Environmental Consultants and Services or their affiliated contractors or subsidiary companies provide;
(ii) were any employees of URS Environmental Consultants and Services or their affiliated contractors or subsidiary companies, concurrently employed in the timber or mining sectors at the time of providing advice to the Conservation Commission;
(iii) were any employees of URS Environmental Consultants and Services or their affiliated contractors or subsidiary companies, previously employed in the timber or mining sectors prior to working on the
Draft Forest Management Plan 2014-2023
;
(iv) did any employee of URS Environmental Consultants and Services or their affiliated contractors or subsidiary companies provide services to any of the stakeholders who submitted public comment on the
Draft Forest Management Plan 2014–2023
during the 12 week open period for submissions:
(A) if applicable, what are the names of these individuals and the company/stakeholder they represented; and
(v) are any clients of URS Environmental Consultants and Services or their affiliated contractors or subsidiary companies, likely to benefit financially, either directly or indirectly, from decisions made during the preparation of the
Draft Forest Management Plan 2014–2023
?
Draft Forest Management Plan 2014–2023
, prepared by the Conservation Commission, through the former Department of Environment and Conservation, and ask:
(a) did the Conservation Commission use the services of URS Environmental Consultants and Services or affiliated contractors or subsidiary companies of URS, when preparing the
Draft Forest Management Plan 2014–2023
:
(i) if yes, what type of reports did URS Environmental Consultants and Services or their affiliated contractors or subsidiary companies provide;
(ii) were any employees of URS Environmental Consultants and Services or their affiliated contractors or subsidiary companies, concurrently employed in the timber or mining sectors at the time of providing advice to the Conservation Commission;
(iii) were any employees of URS Environmental Consultants and Services or their affiliated contractors or subsidiary companies, previously employed in the timber or mining sectors prior to working on the
Draft Forest Management Plan 2014-2023
;
(iv) did any employee of URS Environmental Consultants and Services or their affiliated contractors or subsidiary companies provide services to any of the stakeholders who submitted public comment on the
Draft Forest Management Plan 2014–2023
during the 12 week open period for submissions:
(A) if applicable, what are the names of these individuals and the company/stakeholder they represented; and
(v) are any clients of URS Environmental Consultants and Services or their affiliated contractors or subsidiary companies, likely to benefit financially, either directly or indirectly, from decisions made during the preparation of the
Draft Forest Management Plan 2014–2023
?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
10 September 2013
Responded by
Minister for Environment
Response time
35 days
(a)(i)URS Australia Pty Ltd undertook an assessment of the potential social and economic impacts of the Draft Forest Management Plan 2014-2023 . (a)(ii)-(iv) URS Australia Pty Ltd was engaged to undertake the work in accordance with the government competitive tendering process. URS Australia Pty Ltd provides consultancy services to a range of sectors and I am not in a position to know what other contracts URS may have been working on, or the employment history of URS employees or contractors. (A)Not applicable. (v) The report prepared by URS provides an analysis of the potential social and economic impacts of the draft plan, and does not outline any recommendations or strategic direction.
(a)(ii)-(iv) URS Australia Pty Ltd was engaged to undertake the work in accordance with the government competitive tendering process. URS Australia Pty Ltd provides consultancy services to a range of sectors and I am not in a position to know what other contracts URS may have been working on, or the employment history of URS employees or contractors. (A)Not applicable. (v) The report prepared by URS provides an analysis of the potential social and economic impacts of the draft plan, and does not outline any recommendations or strategic direction.
(A)Not applicable. (v) The report prepared by URS provides an analysis of the potential social and economic impacts of the draft plan, and does not outline any recommendations or strategic direction.
(v) The report prepared by URS provides an analysis of the potential social and economic impacts of the draft plan, and does not outline any recommendations or strategic direction.
(a)(ii)-(iv) URS Australia Pty Ltd was engaged to undertake the work in accordance with the government competitive tendering process. URS Australia Pty Ltd provides consultancy services to a range of sectors and I am not in a position to know what other contracts URS may have been working on, or the employment history of URS employees or contractors. (A)Not applicable. (v) The report prepared by URS provides an analysis of the potential social and economic impacts of the draft plan, and does not outline any recommendations or strategic direction.
(A)Not applicable. (v) The report prepared by URS provides an analysis of the potential social and economic impacts of the draft plan, and does not outline any recommendations or strategic direction.
(v) The report prepared by URS provides an analysis of the potential social and economic impacts of the draft plan, and does not outline any recommendations or strategic direction.
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