Power's out at Perth Airport

Nev Power has stepped down as chairman of Perth Airport and taken a leave of absence from ASX-listed companies Strike Energy and APM Human Services International, the day before he is due to be sentenced for breaching the state's strict COVID travel rules.

He took a leave of absence from Perth Airport in November last year to deal with charges related to breaching COVID-19 travel restrictions.

In a statement released this afternoon, Perth Airport confirmed it had accepted the resignation and would now begin the process to appoint a new chair.

Lyndon Rowe is expected to act as chair until that appointment is made.

Strike Energy announced this afternoon that Mr Power had requested and been granted a leave of absence from the Strike Energy board until further notice.

Similarly, APM has confirmed it had granted Mr Power a leave of absence from his duties as a director.

The Foundation for the WA Museum has since followed suit, advising Mr Power would take a leave of absence from the foundation until further notice in a statement late this afternoon. 

The news comes just days after he stepped down from the national board of the Royal Flying Doctors Service.

It also comes ahead of his appearance in Perth Magistrates Court tomorrow, where he is due to learn his fate after pleading guilty to the two counts of failing to comply with a direction under the state’s Emergency Management Act.

The charges relate to a trip he and his 36-year-old son Nicholas Arthur Power took to his family cattle station in regional Queensland in October last year and his return to WA via Exmouth without completing a G2G pass, quarantine for 14 days and wearing a mask. 

Mr Power's company, Airpower Australia, was also charged over the incident.

During a court appearance last week, the court was told the pair spent one day at Exmouth's Mantarays Ningaloo Reach Resort, with CCTV footage capturing them moving freely around the resort without a mask. 

Lawyer for the trio, Sam Vandongen, told the court Mr Power was “dripping with remorse”, lodging 13 character references and submitting that the matter should be dealt with by way of fines - with no question as to Mr Power’s capacity to pay. 

But Magistrate Elizabeth Woods indicated she was of the view the offense warranted a harsher penalty, stating it was clear she and Mr Power's lawyer had "contrasting views".

Mr Vandongen attributed Mr Power's actions to stresses on his life at the time, including his relationship with his wife of 36 years and the inability to attend the funeral of a loved one due to travel restrictions, had led to the lapse in judgment.

He submitted the pair had entered a plea of guilty at the first reasonable opportunity, were both genuinely remorseful and that the behaviour was out of character. 

The charges carry a maximum penalty of a $50,000 fine or one-year jail term.

Mr Power spearheaded the federal government’s National COVID-19 Coordination Commission for one year, and chairs Perth Airport, the Royal Flying Doctor Service’s federation board, and the Foundation for the WA Museum.

The former boss of mining giant Fortescue Metals Group serves as the deputy chair of ASX-listed Strike Energy, as well as the board of APM Human Services International.

He is also a director of Genesis Minerals.