A WA parliamentary question addresses concerns about a potential conflict of interest in the City of Swan investigating a balcony collapse it initially approved. The Minister acknowledges the concerns and commits to reviewing the City's report, but stops short of committing to a state government inquiry.

AnsweredQoN 1221Legislative Council
Asked
26 November 2009
Portfolio
Housing and Works

QuestionView source ↗

BALLAJURA BALCONY COLLAPSE — CITY OF SWAN INVESTIGATION
I refer to the refusal to undertake a state government inquiry into the balcony collapse in Ballajura and, instead, to rely on an investigation being undertaken by the City of Swan, the same authority that approved this structure in the first place. (1) Is the minister aware that the City of Swan chief executive officer, Mike Foley, believes there is a conflict of interest in the council undertaking its own inquiry? (2) Is the minister aware that the CEO when questioned about this conflict of interest stated, “I agree, I agree, but who else has the authority do so?” (3) Will the minister now commit to a state government inquiry into this balcony collapse to ensure that such disasters never happen again? (4) Will the minister agree to make public the report on the balcony collapse being undertaken by the City of Swan and for it to be submitted to his agency? Hon HELEN MORTON

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. The Department of Commerce advises — (1) Yes. (2) Yes. (3) The City of Swan has committed to forwarding its report to the minister. He will review the report and take any further action that is required. (4) It is up to the City of Swan to make its report public. A number of parties and their insurers are involved in this matter and this may affect the release of information. However, the minister will report publicly on his review and government action to reduce the risk of such disasters happening again.
(1) Is the minister aware that the City of Swan chief executive officer, Mike Foley, believes there is a conflict of interest in the council undertaking its own inquiry? (2) Is the minister aware that the CEO when questioned about this conflict of interest stated, “I agree, I agree, but who else has the authority do so?” (3) Will the minister now commit to a state government inquiry into this balcony collapse to ensure that such disasters never happen again? (4) Will the minister agree to make public the report on the balcony collapse being undertaken by the City of Swan and for it to be submitted to his agency? Hon HELEN MORTON replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. The Department of Commerce advises — (1) Yes. (2) Yes. (3) The City of Swan has committed to forwarding its report to the minister. He will review the report and take any further action that is required. (4) It is up to the City of Swan to make its report public. A number of parties and their insurers are involved in this matter and this may affect the release of information. However, the minister will report publicly on his review and government action to reduce the risk of such disasters happening again.
(2) Is the minister aware that the CEO when questioned about this conflict of interest stated, “I agree, I agree, but who else has the authority do so?” (3) Will the minister now commit to a state government inquiry into this balcony collapse to ensure that such disasters never happen again? (4) Will the minister agree to make public the report on the balcony collapse being undertaken by the City of Swan and for it to be submitted to his agency? Hon HELEN MORTON replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. The Department of Commerce advises — (1) Yes. (2) Yes. (3) The City of Swan has committed to forwarding its report to the minister. He will review the report and take any further action that is required. (4) It is up to the City of Swan to make its report public. A number of parties and their insurers are involved in this matter and this may affect the release of information. However, the minister will report publicly on his review and government action to reduce the risk of such disasters happening again.
(3) Will the minister now commit to a state government inquiry into this balcony collapse to ensure that such disasters never happen again? (4) Will the minister agree to make public the report on the balcony collapse being undertaken by the City of Swan and for it to be submitted to his agency? Hon HELEN MORTON replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. The Department of Commerce advises — (1) Yes. (2) Yes. (3) The City of Swan has committed to forwarding its report to the minister. He will review the report and take any further action that is required. (4) It is up to the City of Swan to make its report public. A number of parties and their insurers are involved in this matter and this may affect the release of information. However, the minister will report publicly on his review and government action to reduce the risk of such disasters happening again.
(4) Will the minister agree to make public the report on the balcony collapse being undertaken by the City of Swan and for it to be submitted to his agency? Hon HELEN MORTON replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. The Department of Commerce advises — (1) Yes. (2) Yes. (3) The City of Swan has committed to forwarding its report to the minister. He will review the report and take any further action that is required. (4) It is up to the City of Swan to make its report public. A number of parties and their insurers are involved in this matter and this may affect the release of information. However, the minister will report publicly on his review and government action to reduce the risk of such disasters happening again.
Hon HELEN MORTON replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. The Department of Commerce advises — (1) Yes. (2) Yes. (3) The City of Swan has committed to forwarding its report to the minister. He will review the report and take any further action that is required. (4) It is up to the City of Swan to make its report public. A number of parties and their insurers are involved in this matter and this may affect the release of information. However, the minister will report publicly on his review and government action to reduce the risk of such disasters happening again.
I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. The Department of Commerce advises — (1) Yes. (2) Yes. (3) The City of Swan has committed to forwarding its report to the minister. He will review the report and take any further action that is required. (4) It is up to the City of Swan to make its report public. A number of parties and their insurers are involved in this matter and this may affect the release of information. However, the minister will report publicly on his review and government action to reduce the risk of such disasters happening again.
(1) Yes. (2) Yes. (3) The City of Swan has committed to forwarding its report to the minister. He will review the report and take any further action that is required. (4) It is up to the City of Swan to make its report public. A number of parties and their insurers are involved in this matter and this may affect the release of information. However, the minister will report publicly on his review and government action to reduce the risk of such disasters happening again.
(2) Yes. (3) The City of Swan has committed to forwarding its report to the minister. He will review the report and take any further action that is required. (4) It is up to the City of Swan to make its report public. A number of parties and their insurers are involved in this matter and this may affect the release of information. However, the minister will report publicly on his review and government action to reduce the risk of such disasters happening again.
(3) The City of Swan has committed to forwarding its report to the minister. He will review the report and take any further action that is required. (4) It is up to the City of Swan to make its report public. A number of parties and their insurers are involved in this matter and this may affect the release of information. However, the minister will report publicly on his review and government action to reduce the risk of such disasters happening again.
(4) It is up to the City of Swan to make its report public. A number of parties and their insurers are involved in this matter and this may affect the release of information. However, the minister will report publicly on his review and government action to reduce the risk of such disasters happening again.

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