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Parliamentary Questions


Question Without Notice No. 128 asked in the Legislative Council on 12 March 2019 by Hon Peter Collier

Parliament: 40 Session: 1

PILBARA PORTS AUTHORITY — CHAIRMAN — RESIGNATION

128. Hon PETER COLLIER to the Minister for Ports:

(1) Has any member of the minister's ministerial staff had any discussions with the chairman of the Pilbara Ports Authority requesting him to resign his position as chairman; and, if yes, on what date?

(2) Has the minister had any discussions with the chairman of the Pilbara Ports Authority with regard to his role as chairman; and, if so, did she request that he resign his position as chairman; and, if yes, on what date?

(3) If yes to (2), why was the chairman asked to resign?

(4) If yes to (2), did the chairman of the Pilbara Ports Authority tender his resignation?

(5) If yes to (1) or (2), did the minister have any conversations with the chairman of the Pilbara Ports Authority requesting that he withdraw his resignation; and, if yes, on what date?

Hon ALANNAH MacTIERNAN replied:

I thank the member for the question.

(1)–(5) Approximately two weeks ago, I had a discussion with the chairman of the Pilbara Ports Authority following advice from a senior public servant that the chairman had been inquiring about his future. In that discussion, I raised my desire to bolster the level of commercial and operational experience on the board, given the number of significant commercial proposals under consideration in the Pilbara. Mr Pettit indicated an interest in other government board opportunities, and I undertook to investigate those opportunities. My chief of staff had a subsequent discussion with Mr Pettit about those options and a time frame that might mutually suit him to finish his task at the port. It was not something I was seeking to progress immediately. On 11 March 2019, Mr Pettit provided my office with a letter of resignation effective from 15 March 2019.

I have known Mr Pettit for a long time and I have a great deal of respect for him personally and professionally. Mr Pettit has served the Pilbara Ports Authority and the former Port Hedland port authority well for the past eight years, and I thank him for his service.