PILBARA PORTS AUTHORITY —
ODYSSEY MARINE
1033. Hon TJORN SIBMA to the Minister for Ports:
I refer to previous answers provided
by the minister regarding her request of the Pilbara Ports Authority for
contractual documents relating to Odyssey Marine.
(1) Who raised
concerns with the minister about the PPA and Odyssey Marine's
contractual dealings that precipitated her request to access the contracts?
(2) On what date were those concerns
raised?
(3) What were the
prima facie probity questions concerning the circumstances of the contractual
dealings the minister believes warranted investigation?
(4) When did the
minister formally request advice and documentation from the PPA, of whom did
she make that request, and will she table a copy of that request; and, if not,
why not?
Hon
ALANNAH MacTIERNAN replied:
(1)–(4) I
point out again to the member that I thank the member for the question, but I find
it really curious that a minister seeking advice in response to some concerns
raised by people is somehow or other considered inappropriate.
Hon Tjorn Sibma: Put my mind
at ease then, minister.
Hon
ALANNAH MacTIERNAN: I am more than happy to let the member know. As he
knows, those documents —
Several members interjected.
The PRESIDENT: Order! Just
let the minister respond, please.
Hon ALANNAH MacTIERNAN: The
concerns were raised with me by the members of the Maritime Union of Australia —
Several members interjected.
Hon ALANNAH MacTIERNAN: Yes,
a stakeholder! I can tell members that issues are raised to me by port users,
port employees and different stakeholders all the time about activities on
ports.
The concerns were raised with me by
the Maritime Union of Australia on several occasions after I was allocated
responsibility for ports. The concerns related to a change in control of a Pilbara
Ports licence holder and the actions taken
by the Pilbara Ports Authority in consenting to the change in control and
granting a subsequent licence. Having considered advice and
documentation provided by the PPA on the matter, I sought advice from the State
Solicitor's Office. In order to finalise that advice, my chief of staff
on my behalf formally requested the PPA CEO provide a number of documents. As I
stated yesterday, this request was made on 1 May 2019. I table a copy of the
email exchange. The legal advice concluded that the PPA did not act unlawfully
and I consider the matter closed.
[See paper 3059.]