❓ A parliamentary question raises concerns about a potential conflict of interest within the Minister for Environment's office due to the Chief of Staff's familial connection to an executive at Hancock Prospecting. The Minister assures that measures are in place to manage the conflict.
AnsweredQoN 421Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
MINISTER FOR ENVIRONMENT — chief OF STAFF — CONFLICT OF INTEREST
Perhaps the Minister for Culture and the Arts should investigate the haiku as an art form. I refer to the severe conflict of interest in the Minister for Environment’s office involving his chief of staff, Colin Edwardes, and Cheryl Edwardes, an executive at Hancock Prospecting. (1) Does the minister acknowledge that having a junior ministerial officer deal with all Hancock Prospecting matters is an unacceptable way of managing this conflict of interest? (2) Will that junior officer be required to report to his chief of staff on other matters related to the office or, indeed, on Hancock matters? (3) Has the minister informed the Environmental Protection Authority, the Department of Environment and Conservation and the Office of the Appeals Convenor of this conflict? (4) How can Hancock Prospecting’s competitors have faith that its dealings with the government will not be compromised by this conflict of interest deep in the minister’s office? Mr W.R. MARMION
Perhaps the Minister for Culture and the Arts should investigate the haiku as an art form. I refer to the severe conflict of interest in the Minister for Environment’s office involving his chief of staff, Colin Edwardes, and Cheryl Edwardes, an executive at Hancock Prospecting. (1) Does the minister acknowledge that having a junior ministerial officer deal with all Hancock Prospecting matters is an unacceptable way of managing this conflict of interest? (2) Will that junior officer be required to report to his chief of staff on other matters related to the office or, indeed, on Hancock matters? (3) Has the minister informed the Environmental Protection Authority, the Department of Environment and Conservation and the Office of the Appeals Convenor of this conflict? (4) How can Hancock Prospecting’s competitors have faith that its dealings with the government will not be compromised by this conflict of interest deep in the minister’s office? Mr W.R. MARMION
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(4) Mr Edwardes is a highly professional and competent officer who has many years of experience. He has managed conflicts of interest over his whole career because his wife is Hon Cheryl Edwardes. An arrangement has been put in place in my office similar to what was put in place in the Premier’s office to ensure that any matters related to Hancock Prospecting will be delegated to another senior officer, not a junior officer. The Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet is confident that these arrangements are sufficient and appropriate to ensure that no conflict of interest issues will arise. I am satisfied that the arrangement in our office will manage any conflict of interest issues. The relevant departments are aware of the arrangements.
I refer to the severe conflict of interest in the Minister for Environment’s office involving his chief of staff, Colin Edwardes, and Cheryl Edwardes, an executive at Hancock Prospecting. (1) Does the minister acknowledge that having a junior ministerial officer deal with all Hancock Prospecting matters is an unacceptable way of managing this conflict of interest? (2) Will that junior officer be required to report to his chief of staff on other matters related to the office or, indeed, on Hancock matters? (3) Has the minister informed the Environmental Protection Authority, the Department of Environment and Conservation and the Office of the Appeals Convenor of this conflict? (4) How can Hancock Prospecting’s competitors have faith that its dealings with the government will not be compromised by this conflict of interest deep in the minister’s office? Mr W.R. MARMION replied: (1)–(4) Mr Edwardes is a highly professional and competent officer who has many years of experience. He has managed conflicts of interest over his whole career because his wife is Hon Cheryl Edwardes. An arrangement has been put in place in my office similar to what was put in place in the Premier’s office to ensure that any matters related to Hancock Prospecting will be delegated to another senior officer, not a junior officer. The Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet is confident that these arrangements are sufficient and appropriate to ensure that no conflict of interest issues will arise. I am satisfied that the arrangement in our office will manage any conflict of interest issues. The relevant departments are aware of the arrangements.
(1) Does the minister acknowledge that having a junior ministerial officer deal with all Hancock Prospecting matters is an unacceptable way of managing this conflict of interest? (2) Will that junior officer be required to report to his chief of staff on other matters related to the office or, indeed, on Hancock matters? (3) Has the minister informed the Environmental Protection Authority, the Department of Environment and Conservation and the Office of the Appeals Convenor of this conflict? (4) How can Hancock Prospecting’s competitors have faith that its dealings with the government will not be compromised by this conflict of interest deep in the minister’s office? Mr W.R. MARMION replied: (1)–(4) Mr Edwardes is a highly professional and competent officer who has many years of experience. He has managed conflicts of interest over his whole career because his wife is Hon Cheryl Edwardes. An arrangement has been put in place in my office similar to what was put in place in the Premier’s office to ensure that any matters related to Hancock Prospecting will be delegated to another senior officer, not a junior officer. The Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet is confident that these arrangements are sufficient and appropriate to ensure that no conflict of interest issues will arise. I am satisfied that the arrangement in our office will manage any conflict of interest issues. The relevant departments are aware of the arrangements.
(2) Will that junior officer be required to report to his chief of staff on other matters related to the office or, indeed, on Hancock matters? (3) Has the minister informed the Environmental Protection Authority, the Department of Environment and Conservation and the Office of the Appeals Convenor of this conflict? (4) How can Hancock Prospecting’s competitors have faith that its dealings with the government will not be compromised by this conflict of interest deep in the minister’s office? Mr W.R. MARMION replied: (1)–(4) Mr Edwardes is a highly professional and competent officer who has many years of experience. He has managed conflicts of interest over his whole career because his wife is Hon Cheryl Edwardes. An arrangement has been put in place in my office similar to what was put in place in the Premier’s office to ensure that any matters related to Hancock Prospecting will be delegated to another senior officer, not a junior officer. The Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet is confident that these arrangements are sufficient and appropriate to ensure that no conflict of interest issues will arise. I am satisfied that the arrangement in our office will manage any conflict of interest issues. The relevant departments are aware of the arrangements.
(3) Has the minister informed the Environmental Protection Authority, the Department of Environment and Conservation and the Office of the Appeals Convenor of this conflict? (4) How can Hancock Prospecting’s competitors have faith that its dealings with the government will not be compromised by this conflict of interest deep in the minister’s office? Mr W.R. MARMION replied: (1)–(4) Mr Edwardes is a highly professional and competent officer who has many years of experience. He has managed conflicts of interest over his whole career because his wife is Hon Cheryl Edwardes. An arrangement has been put in place in my office similar to what was put in place in the Premier’s office to ensure that any matters related to Hancock Prospecting will be delegated to another senior officer, not a junior officer. The Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet is confident that these arrangements are sufficient and appropriate to ensure that no conflict of interest issues will arise. I am satisfied that the arrangement in our office will manage any conflict of interest issues. The relevant departments are aware of the arrangements.
(4) How can Hancock Prospecting’s competitors have faith that its dealings with the government will not be compromised by this conflict of interest deep in the minister’s office? Mr W.R. MARMION replied: (1)–(4) Mr Edwardes is a highly professional and competent officer who has many years of experience. He has managed conflicts of interest over his whole career because his wife is Hon Cheryl Edwardes. An arrangement has been put in place in my office similar to what was put in place in the Premier’s office to ensure that any matters related to Hancock Prospecting will be delegated to another senior officer, not a junior officer. The Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet is confident that these arrangements are sufficient and appropriate to ensure that no conflict of interest issues will arise. I am satisfied that the arrangement in our office will manage any conflict of interest issues. The relevant departments are aware of the arrangements.
Mr W.R. MARMION replied: (1)–(4) Mr Edwardes is a highly professional and competent officer who has many years of experience. He has managed conflicts of interest over his whole career because his wife is Hon Cheryl Edwardes. An arrangement has been put in place in my office similar to what was put in place in the Premier’s office to ensure that any matters related to Hancock Prospecting will be delegated to another senior officer, not a junior officer. The Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet is confident that these arrangements are sufficient and appropriate to ensure that no conflict of interest issues will arise. I am satisfied that the arrangement in our office will manage any conflict of interest issues. The relevant departments are aware of the arrangements.
(1)–(4) Mr Edwardes is a highly professional and competent officer who has many years of experience. He has managed conflicts of interest over his whole career because his wife is Hon Cheryl Edwardes. An arrangement has been put in place in my office similar to what was put in place in the Premier’s office to ensure that any matters related to Hancock Prospecting will be delegated to another senior officer, not a junior officer. The Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet is confident that these arrangements are sufficient and appropriate to ensure that no conflict of interest issues will arise. I am satisfied that the arrangement in our office will manage any conflict of interest issues. The relevant departments are aware of the arrangements.
I refer to the severe conflict of interest in the Minister for Environment’s office involving his chief of staff, Colin Edwardes, and Cheryl Edwardes, an executive at Hancock Prospecting. (1) Does the minister acknowledge that having a junior ministerial officer deal with all Hancock Prospecting matters is an unacceptable way of managing this conflict of interest? (2) Will that junior officer be required to report to his chief of staff on other matters related to the office or, indeed, on Hancock matters? (3) Has the minister informed the Environmental Protection Authority, the Department of Environment and Conservation and the Office of the Appeals Convenor of this conflict? (4) How can Hancock Prospecting’s competitors have faith that its dealings with the government will not be compromised by this conflict of interest deep in the minister’s office? Mr W.R. MARMION replied: (1)–(4) Mr Edwardes is a highly professional and competent officer who has many years of experience. He has managed conflicts of interest over his whole career because his wife is Hon Cheryl Edwardes. An arrangement has been put in place in my office similar to what was put in place in the Premier’s office to ensure that any matters related to Hancock Prospecting will be delegated to another senior officer, not a junior officer. The Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet is confident that these arrangements are sufficient and appropriate to ensure that no conflict of interest issues will arise. I am satisfied that the arrangement in our office will manage any conflict of interest issues. The relevant departments are aware of the arrangements.
(1) Does the minister acknowledge that having a junior ministerial officer deal with all Hancock Prospecting matters is an unacceptable way of managing this conflict of interest? (2) Will that junior officer be required to report to his chief of staff on other matters related to the office or, indeed, on Hancock matters? (3) Has the minister informed the Environmental Protection Authority, the Department of Environment and Conservation and the Office of the Appeals Convenor of this conflict? (4) How can Hancock Prospecting’s competitors have faith that its dealings with the government will not be compromised by this conflict of interest deep in the minister’s office? Mr W.R. MARMION replied: (1)–(4) Mr Edwardes is a highly professional and competent officer who has many years of experience. He has managed conflicts of interest over his whole career because his wife is Hon Cheryl Edwardes. An arrangement has been put in place in my office similar to what was put in place in the Premier’s office to ensure that any matters related to Hancock Prospecting will be delegated to another senior officer, not a junior officer. The Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet is confident that these arrangements are sufficient and appropriate to ensure that no conflict of interest issues will arise. I am satisfied that the arrangement in our office will manage any conflict of interest issues. The relevant departments are aware of the arrangements.
(2) Will that junior officer be required to report to his chief of staff on other matters related to the office or, indeed, on Hancock matters? (3) Has the minister informed the Environmental Protection Authority, the Department of Environment and Conservation and the Office of the Appeals Convenor of this conflict? (4) How can Hancock Prospecting’s competitors have faith that its dealings with the government will not be compromised by this conflict of interest deep in the minister’s office? Mr W.R. MARMION replied: (1)–(4) Mr Edwardes is a highly professional and competent officer who has many years of experience. He has managed conflicts of interest over his whole career because his wife is Hon Cheryl Edwardes. An arrangement has been put in place in my office similar to what was put in place in the Premier’s office to ensure that any matters related to Hancock Prospecting will be delegated to another senior officer, not a junior officer. The Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet is confident that these arrangements are sufficient and appropriate to ensure that no conflict of interest issues will arise. I am satisfied that the arrangement in our office will manage any conflict of interest issues. The relevant departments are aware of the arrangements.
(3) Has the minister informed the Environmental Protection Authority, the Department of Environment and Conservation and the Office of the Appeals Convenor of this conflict? (4) How can Hancock Prospecting’s competitors have faith that its dealings with the government will not be compromised by this conflict of interest deep in the minister’s office? Mr W.R. MARMION replied: (1)–(4) Mr Edwardes is a highly professional and competent officer who has many years of experience. He has managed conflicts of interest over his whole career because his wife is Hon Cheryl Edwardes. An arrangement has been put in place in my office similar to what was put in place in the Premier’s office to ensure that any matters related to Hancock Prospecting will be delegated to another senior officer, not a junior officer. The Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet is confident that these arrangements are sufficient and appropriate to ensure that no conflict of interest issues will arise. I am satisfied that the arrangement in our office will manage any conflict of interest issues. The relevant departments are aware of the arrangements.
(4) How can Hancock Prospecting’s competitors have faith that its dealings with the government will not be compromised by this conflict of interest deep in the minister’s office? Mr W.R. MARMION replied: (1)–(4) Mr Edwardes is a highly professional and competent officer who has many years of experience. He has managed conflicts of interest over his whole career because his wife is Hon Cheryl Edwardes. An arrangement has been put in place in my office similar to what was put in place in the Premier’s office to ensure that any matters related to Hancock Prospecting will be delegated to another senior officer, not a junior officer. The Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet is confident that these arrangements are sufficient and appropriate to ensure that no conflict of interest issues will arise. I am satisfied that the arrangement in our office will manage any conflict of interest issues. The relevant departments are aware of the arrangements.
Mr W.R. MARMION replied: (1)–(4) Mr Edwardes is a highly professional and competent officer who has many years of experience. He has managed conflicts of interest over his whole career because his wife is Hon Cheryl Edwardes. An arrangement has been put in place in my office similar to what was put in place in the Premier’s office to ensure that any matters related to Hancock Prospecting will be delegated to another senior officer, not a junior officer. The Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet is confident that these arrangements are sufficient and appropriate to ensure that no conflict of interest issues will arise. I am satisfied that the arrangement in our office will manage any conflict of interest issues. The relevant departments are aware of the arrangements.
(1)–(4) Mr Edwardes is a highly professional and competent officer who has many years of experience. He has managed conflicts of interest over his whole career because his wife is Hon Cheryl Edwardes. An arrangement has been put in place in my office similar to what was put in place in the Premier’s office to ensure that any matters related to Hancock Prospecting will be delegated to another senior officer, not a junior officer. The Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet is confident that these arrangements are sufficient and appropriate to ensure that no conflict of interest issues will arise. I am satisfied that the arrangement in our office will manage any conflict of interest issues. The relevant departments are aware of the arrangements.
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