Press - 1 -13 July 2009
WAtoday.com.au 13 July 2009
Barnett focus of CCC complaint
BY CHALPAT SONTI
Premier Colin Barnett has revealed he is the subject of a complaint to the Corruption and Crime Commission over undisclosed links between his son and a mining entrepreneur.
The complaint relates to Mr Barnett's conduct in seeking to have The Cliffe, a Peppermint Grove property owned by legendary prospector Mark Creasy, removed from the register of state heritage places.
The property, in Mr Barnett's Cottesloe electorate, was taken off the register in May last year after the then Liberal backbencher advanced a motion in the Legislative Assembly following an approach from Mr Creasy.
His colleague, now Energy Minister Peter Collier, advanced a similar motion in the Legislative Council.
Mr Barnett said the complaint alleges he took up the cudgels for The Cliffe to benefit his son, Russell Barnett, the chairman of a public company in which Mr Creasy is a shareholder.
He did not name the company but Russell Barnett is chairman of publicly-listed technology company Freedom Eye, based in Bentley. Mr Creasy's Yandal Investments is the major shareholder in Freedom Eye.
"The complaint is false, it is spurious, bordering on the bizarre," Colin Barnett said.
"My son has had absolutely no involvement in my actions as the Member for Cottesloe in seeking to remove The Cliffe from the register. His company has had no involvement in The Cliffe."
Mr Barnett said he expected the matter to be dealt with by Parliament's privileges committee.
"I don't know what the CCC is going to do. I suspect they're probably not going to investigate it. They see it as being within the providence of the Parliament."
He made no apologies for agitating for the removal of The Cliffe from the register.
"Having taken time to walk through The Cliffe ... I would not sleep a night in that building. In my view it's unsafe," he said.
Mr Barnett said he also took particular exception to his son being brought into the complaint.
Russell Barnett told WAtoday.com.au he rejected and denied all the "baseless and untrue" allegations against both himself and Freedom Eye.
He was surprised by the complaint, which he had been made aware of only recently.
Freedom Eye chief David Sparling said the company "reject and deny" all of the claims made in the complaint.
The company would take "whatever action (it deemed) necessary and appropriate to protect the company from "adverse commercial consequences", Dr Sparling said.
The Cliffe, built in the 1890s, gained fame in the late 1970s when iconic Perth rock band The Triffids used it to record several albums. Band members David and Robert McComb's family owned the property at the time.
A group has been set up to save the house from demolition, but member, and Fremantle councillor, John Dowson said it was not behind the complaint.
"It was total news to me," he said.
"(Colin Barnett) doesn't seem to want to admit he's made a mistake on this one, but I can't imagine he would have made a decision based on his personal interests."
The Peppermint Grove Shire was due to discuss The Cliffe's fate some time this week.
Mr Dowson said he hoped "someone" would make Mr Creasy an offer to buy the property and then restore it.
WA Business News 13 July 2009
Barnett reveals CCC complaint
BY REBECCA LAWSON
A complaint has been lodged with the corruption watchdog against Premier Colin Barnett for alleged misconduct over the removal of a Peppermint Grove property from the state heritage list.
Addressing journalists at a conference this afternoon, Mr Barnett revealed he had been informed by the Corruption and Crime Commission of the complaint over his role in the removal of "The Cliffe" property, in the Cottesloe electorate, from the list.
The property owner, prospector Mark Creasy, is understood to have been at loggerheads with the council over his plans to demolish the house for the development of a new dwelling.
Mr Barnett had argued the case for the removal of the property in parliament, with both houses of parliament approving the removal.
Mr Barnett said the allegations suggest that his motivations to remove the property from the heritage list was "in some way designed to benefit my son, Russell Barnett" who was appointed chairman of Bentley-based pharmaceutical company Freedom Eye in May.
Freedom Eye was formally known as Solbec Pharmaceuticals.
Mr Barnett said Mr Creasy is a shareholder of the company.
"I have only become aware of this association since this complaint has been made and knew nothing of it at the time of taking action in relation to 'The Cliffe'," Mr Barnett said.
"This allegation is false and I refute it unequivocally.
"I take particular exception that this allegation involves my son who is not a public figure and played no role whatsoever in my actions with respect to 'The Cliffe'."
The CCC has forwarded the complaint to the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly as comments made by Mr Barnett for the removal of the property from the heritage list was said in parliament, hence parliamentary privileges arises.
It would be left to the Speaker to decide whether the matter should be dealt with by the parliamentary privileges committee, Mr Barnett said.
"I make this statement today in the interests of openness and accountability, principles upon which this government was elected and which I stand by wholeheartedly," Mr Barnett said.
"However, I am restricted in what I can say at this stage."
The Cliffe, in Perth's affluent western suburbs, was home to David McComb, the late frontman of the Australian rock band The Triffids, in his youth.
The 20-room mansion is perched on the Swan River and was classified by the National Trust in 1984.
In a statement issued late this afternoon, Freedom Eye said it concurred fully with Premier Barnett's statement and reject and deny all of the claims made within the complaint.
"The directors of Freedom Eye Ltd are currently receiving advice on what further actions (if any) they may take in regard to this matter and will take whatever action they deem necessary and appropriate to protect the company from any adverse commercial consequences that might result from these unsubstantiated claims."
The Premier's statement is below:
On Tuesday 30 June, I was informed in writing by the Corruption and Crime Commissioner, the Honourable Len Roberts-Smith, that the CCC had received a complaint against me.
The complaint alleges that there has been some form of misconduct in relation to my role in seeking the removal of 'The Cliffe' - a property in Peppermint Grove in my electorate of Cottesloe - from the Register of State Heritage Places.
By way of a grievance in the Legislative Assembly on 30 August 2007, I argued the case for the removal of 'The Cliffe' from the Register of State Heritage Places. I did so as the Member for Cottesloe in representing a constituent.
On 14 May 2008, I moved a motion in the Legislative Assembly for the removal of 'The Cliffe' from the Register of State Heritage Places. The Legislative Assembly agreed to that resolution. A similar motion was passed in the Legislative Council on 29 May 2008. Removing a property from the Register of State Heritage Places requires the consent of both Houses of Parliament.
These actions are all on the public record and I stand by them.
The allegation appears to suggest that my motivation to have 'The Cliffe' removed from the Register of State Heritage Places was in some way designed to benefit my son, Russell Barnett, who is Chair of a public company. Mr Mark Creasy, the owner of 'The Cliffe', is a shareholder of that company. I have only become aware of this association since this complaint has been made and knew nothing of it at the time of taking action in relation to 'The Cliffe'.
This allegation is false and I refute it unequivocally. I take particular exception that this allegation involves my son who is not a public figure and played no role whatsoever in my actions with respect to 'The Cliffe'.
I have been informed by the CCC Commissioner that the CCC has forwarded a copy of the complaint to the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly because the Commissioner states that the allegation centres on what has been said in the Parliament and, therefore, the issue of Parliamentary privilege arises.
I make this statement today in the interests of openness and accountability, principles upon which this government was elected and which I stand by wholeheartedly. However, I am restricted in what I can say at this stage.
I expect that, in due course, the full details of the complaint will become public.
NINE MSN - 18:30 AEST Mon Jul 13 2009
WA premier accused over 'Triffids' house
A complaint against West Australian Premier Colin Barnett has been lodged with the state's corruption watchdog in relation to the heritage listing of the family home of The Triffids lead singer.
Mr Barnett said the Corruption and Crime Commission (CCC) informed him on June 30 it had received a complaint against him.
"The complaint alleges that there has been some form of misconduct in relation to my role in seeking the removal of 'The Cliffe' - a property in Peppermint Grove in my electorate of Cottesloe - from the Register of Heritage Places," Mr Barnett said in a statement. The allegations suggest his motivation was designed to benefit his son, Russell Barnett, the chairman of a public company which the owner of The Cliffe, Mark Creasy, is a shareholder of, the premier said.
But Mr Barnett said he had not been aware of the association between his son and Mr Creasy. "I have only become aware of this association since this complaint has been made and knew nothing of it at the time of taking action in relation to The Cliffe," Mr Barnett said. "This allegation is false and I refute it unequivocally," he said.
The Cliffe, in Perth's affluent western suburbs, was home to David McComb, the late frontman of the Australian rock band The Triffids, in his youth.
The 20-room mansion is perched on the Swan River and was classified by the National Trust in 1984.
Mr Barnett said he had argued the case for the removal of The Cliffe from the heritage register in parliament in August 2007.
"I did so as the Member for Cottesloe in representing a constituent," he said.
In May 2008, Mr Barnett moved a motion in the Legislative Assembly for the removal of The Cliffe from the register, which was approved.
A similar motion was passed in the Legislative Council on May 29.
"These actions are all on the public record and I stand by them," Mr Barnett said.
"I take particular exception that this allegation involves my son who is not a public figure and played no role whatsoever in my actions with respect to The Cliffe."
Mr Barnett said he had been informed by the CCC commissioner Len Roberts that the complaint had been investigated and forwarded on to the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly.
It would be left to the Speaker to decide whether the matter should be dealt with by the parliamentary privileges committee, Mr Barnett said.
"I expect that in due course, the full details of the complaint will become public," Mr Barnett said.
He said as far as he knew, the complainant had no connection with the opposition Labor Party.
ABC News On-line 13 July 2009
WA Premier says corruption
allegation borders on bizarre
WA Premier Colin Barnett The corruption watchdog has received a complaint about the Premier Colin Barnett. The WA Premier Colin Barnett has revealed he is the subject of a complaint to the state's Corruption and Crime Commission (CCC).
Mr Barnett says he was told by the CCC two weeks ago that it had received a complaint about his efforts to remove a Peppermint Grove property known as "The Cliffe" from the Register of State Heritage Places.
Mr Barnett argued for its removal from the register as backbencher in 2007 on behalf of a constituent, Mark Creasy.
The motion was approved by both houses of parliament.
Mr Barnett says he has since learnt that Mr Creasy is a major shareholder in a company chaired by his son Russell Barnett.
He says the allegation against him suggests he was motivated by a desire to benefit his son.
"This complaint is false, it is spurious bordering on the bizarre, however, a complaint has been made and the CCC commissioner has a responsibility to act on that complaint," he said.
"What angers me about this is that is will impact on my son and his role as a company director."
POST NEWSPAPERS 11 July 2009
‘List The Cliffe to save it’
The historic Cliffe in Peppermint Grove could be protected by restoring it to the Heritage Register with a court application, says a supporter of the building’s retention.
A study has put up options for preserving the building, including subdividing land around it, for a net cost of as little as $50,000.
But the study, known as the Hocking Report, says the house cannot be re-listed for five years after it was taken off the register by a vote in Parliament.
The report calls the building “exceptionally significant”.
A demolition licence has been issued for the house, but the owner, prospector Mark Creasy, has delayed the demolition until other options have been explored.
Bleddyn Butcher, who has campaigned to save the building, says the Heritage Act also says the Supreme Court can initiate the re-listing of the building at any time.
The Minister for Heritage can also issue an interim listing where it appears conservation of its heritage value is in jeopardy.
Mr Butcher has urged the Shire of Peppermint Grove to apply to take this action.
He says the original reasons for removing the house from the register have since been shown to be wrong.
Peppermint Grove shire president Brian Cavanagh said the council would take advice on the issue.
Meanwhile, an application for emergency listing of the house on the national Heritage Register was still being considered, a spokeswoman for federal Heritage Minister Peter Garrett said this week.
The AUSTRALIAN 08 July 2009
Growing trend to centralise power
COMMENT BY PETER VAN ONSELEN
A DANGEROUS pattern of centralising power is gaining momentum in the west.
Premier Colin Barnett’s decision to move the committee responsible for expenditure (known as the razor gang) out of Treasury and into his own department comes on the back of a decision taken early in his administration to move legislative responsibility for the state’s Crime and Corruption Commission out of the Attorney-General’s Department and into the Premier’s Department.
Barnett is starting to looks like he wants the West Australian government to become a one-man band.
The most striking thing about his cherry picking of such responsibilities is that he is stripping his two most competent ministers of key portfolio duties at a time when several other ministers are struggling.
No treasurer would be happy losing control of the expenditure review committee; Troy Buswell certainly won’t be. Economic management is what defines a treasurer’s success or failure. If Buswell can’t get his way when it comes to tightening the state’s finances, he may lose control of his own political destiny.
Attorney-General Christian Porter is the only member of cabinet with a law degree. He should be in charge of the CCC legislations but the Premier has taken control of it while simultaneously announcing he would rather the CCC stopped looking into the affairs of politicians and instead turned its attention to organised crime. That sort of rhetoric will hardly fill West Australians with confidence that the shady between ministers and lobbyists alleged to have occurred in the west during the previous Labor government‘s time in power is at an end.
Barnett was criticised for not being a team player during his first stint as Liberal leader from 2001 to 2005; the signs are there that he is at it again. One reason he lost the 2005 election was his ambitious (and uncosted) proposal to transport water to Perth from the state’s north via a canal without consulting colleagues. He announced the plan during the election campaign leaders’ debate.
Despite concern about Barnett’s growing tendency to centralise rather than delegate authority, he remains a long way off the model Richard Court adopted when he was premier. Court operated as both premier and treasurer.
Perhaps that is the sort of move Barnett would consider were he to win a majority in his own right.
The WEST AUSTRALIAN 7 July 2009
$50,000 may save homestead
BY BEATRICE THOMAS
Historic Homestead Grove homestead The Cliffe could be saved for as little as $50,000 and result in $10 million return for millionaire prospector Mark Creasy by reconfiguring the building and subdividing the 4800 sqm estate, a new report says.
The valuer’s report, part of a broader study for Peppermint Grove Shire-led committee, said the move would retain the house, unlock the highest value land and provide a site for a two-storey building.
The option, which the council will consider on July 20, says flipping the façade to face north to local landmark Devil’s Elbow would retain a large garden and create a “heritage street” façade on Bindaring Parade.
The report outlines seven options and says a 1500sqm lot valued at $5 million, on McNeil Street, could then be subdivided and an adjacent lot sold for $300,000-$400,000.
Selling The Cliffe would result in a $5 million -$5.5 million return, bringing the net realisation for Mr Creasy to as much as $10.9 million.
The study says subdivision would cost up to $50,000 but conservation works on the building, which was taken off the State Heritage Register by the former government last year, would cost $1.4 million Other options include selling the property for $7 million - $7.5 million in its current form with a conservation and heritage agreement; demolition and existing subdivision plans generating the highest return at $11.8 million; relocating the house resulting in a $9.7 million return but costing up to $2.5 million.
Fremantle deputy mayor John Dowson, who was on the committee, said yesterday The Cliffe should be retained and restored, adding it might not net the highest yield but had conservation merit. “Too often massive compromises mean a heritage house gets carved up to pieces," he said.
“If you’re not careful you end up ruining the very thing that you’re supposed to be protecting. What I would be fighting for is to keep the house and garden and have someone come along who really appreciates that.”
The study includes a conservation report detailing 40 policies, including extensive restoration work and seeking council approval for any changes.
As foreshadowed in The West Australian last month, it said The Cliffe was “a significant heritage place” that satisfied State heritage listing but was precluded from being relisted for five years.
The study said Mr Creasy, who bought the property in 1995 and got a demolition licence last year, wanted to sell the property but would allow the homestead to be moved at someone’s expense and consider leasing it, provided the lessee met restoration costs.
