Tyron Whitten (WA, Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That the Senate take note of the report.

On Tuesday 28 October last year, I gave an adjournment speech that discussed the governance failings and questionable conduct of the Shire of Augusta Margaret River in Western Australia regarding the proposed Scott River wind farm, a wind farm that has the potential to desecrate the Scott River wetlands and, in turn, Blackwood River. I did not name the CEO of the shire, Ms Andrea Selvey, as this issue covers the last 10 years of the shire's dealings, so I was surprised to receive correspondence. However, Ms Selvey took it upon herself to accuse me of making unsubstantiated allegations and inaccurate and inappropriate remarks during my speech.

Ms Selvey then published a statement on the shire's website proclaiming that my comments are misleading, irresponsible, unfair and completely without foundation. She claimed that my lack of evidence 'shows a lack of personal and professional integrity'. One would think Ms Selvey might have investigated the actions of the shire before she made these allegations against me, as she has publicly defamed me. Who knows? Ms Selvey might have been led into believing that I do not have the evidence by people who had already removed the evidence from their websites. I have 3,624 pages of evidence, which I tried to table on Tuesday.

In Ms Selvey's submission to the Committee of Privileges, she doesn't deny the allegations but claims (1) that the public officers embedded a wind farm into the shire's corporate plan and then outsourced the project directly to their own private not-for-profit incorporation—well, they did do this; (2) that the officers exploited their roles in public office to provide AMRCCE with public policy and public funding—well, they did; (3) that the shire outsourced the wind farm to bypass obligations that would otherwise apply to a government body—well, they did; and (4) that the statement 'birds of a corrupt feather work out how to make a profit together'—I think taking all the evidence down from the websites might be seen as corrupt, but maybe it's just me. Ms Selvey is claiming that these remarks have caused her personal distress and reputational damage.

As I understand it, all of these governance failings and misconduct began before Ms Selvey was even appointed as the shire's CEO, but perhaps I am mistaken. Perhaps the efforts to suppress the evidence have taken place only recently. Community members were approached by Ms Selvey, asking them for evidence. Ms Selvey also contacted Facebook community group administrators, requesting that they delete the recording of my speech. Clearly, the public officers of the shire are worried about what I said in my speech. They should be. I refer to the Local Government Act 1995, an act of the WA parliament, whereby the CEO is an employee of the local government and subject to the shire's employee code of conduct and the councillors are legally bound to 'act lawfully, honestly and in good faith; avoid improper influence, misuse of office or confidential information; manage or disclose conflicts of interest, gifts and impartiality interests; treat others with respect and courtesy; refrain from harassment, bullying or victimisation; and comply with meeting procedures and standards of debate'.

I think I've made myself clear. I take my role as a senator of the federal government representing the people of Western Australia very seriously. In this instance, my constituents, who have legitimate concerns and have farmed in the Scott River region for multiple generations, have been run over roughshod in the reckless pursuit of building a wind farm in an ecologically sensitive area. I will not stop shedding light on this issue. I will pursue the corruption that is rife within all levels of government on behalf of all Western Australians. Australians have had enough.

One Nation will abolish the reckless pursuit of net zero and lower the price of power for all Australians. Our energy policy puts Australia and Australians first. It creates more reliable and affordable power for households, businesses, manufacturing and farming. Cheaper power makes Australia competitive again. Cheaper power makes Australia more productive and simply better off. I seek leave to continue my remarks.

Leave granted; debate adjourned.