Premier Colin Barnett's chief-of-staff Deidre Willmott is moving to a new role with the state government due to a potential conflict of interest while the government's director of communications has been asked to 'sit' on his resignation.
Premier Colin Barnett's chief-of-staff Deidre Willmott is moving to a new role with the state government due to a potential conflict of interest while the government's director of communications has been asked to 'sit' on his resignation.
Premier Colin Barnett told journalists this afternoon that Ms Willmott had approached him about two weeks ago about the potential conflict of interest, which relates to her husband's law firm Cochrane Lishman.
WA Business News has been told Cochrane Lishman, which specialises in corporate law, is expanding in the new year into the energy sector by recruiting Jon Carson, a senior partner from rival firm Blake Dawson.
This is likely to result in more contact with the state government over energy policy, which could create the conflicts of interest.
Ms Willmott's husband Michael Lishman established the firm in January 2006 with fellow corporate lawyer Ian Cochrane, after they left Mallesons Stephen Jacques.
Mr Barnett did not offer details of Ms Willmott's move, saying: "she explained in confidence that there were some changes in circumstance that would effect her position".
"Because of the change, it would limit her in some ways in performing all of her duties as chief-of-staff."
Mr Barnett said Ms Willmott will take a role overseeing major projects where the perception of that conflict could not arise.
He said that Ms Willmott had already worked closely with him on several major projects including the $43 billion Gorgon gas development and the $4 billion Oakajee deepwater port and rail project.
Mr Barnett said the government will look to appoint a new chief-of-staff after a state-wide and interstate search.
Ms Willmott is due to start in her new role early next year.
Meantime, Mr Barnett said the government is looking at a possible restructure of the Government Media Office (GMO), which has been in its current framework since Brian Burke was premier.
"I think there has always been issues surrounding the GMO," Mr Barnett said.
"The functions will continue but maybe under a different structure, for example some of the roles such as government advertising, media placement, monitoring of media and the like, they might be subsumed under the Department of Premier and Cabinet.
"Some of the roles in terms of coordination of media may well go into my office ... but those decisions have not been made yet."
Mr Barnett said he has had discussions with current GMO director of communications Paul Plowman over the possibility of heading the restructure media office.
When asked about whether he had received Mr Plowman's letter of resignation, Mr Barnett said he had seen it, and told Mr Plowman to "sit on it for a while".
Mr Barnett has previously mentioned that the state government's message was not getting through to the media.
"I am more concerned about making sure that when there is a public issue, for example the Boorabbin fire, there is a greater degree of coordination within government between ministerial offices and departments," Mr Barnett said today.
