| Barrick in Australia: Carbon�s �conflict� stalls mine by Robert Taylor, State Political Editor, The West |
Carbon�s �conflict� stalls mineState Environment Minister David Templeman was forced to reopen the assessment process for the expansion of the Kalgoorlie Super Pit yesterday after it was revealed that the Government�s acting Environmental Protection Authority chairman Barry Carbon had worked as a consultant for the pit�s manager KCGM nine years ago. On Monday, Mr Carbon recommended environmental approval for the pit�s expansion to Mr Templeman. But that was quickly followed by the revelation that Mr Carbon worked as a consultant to the company on an expansion of the pit in 1998. The Greens candidate for Kalgoorlie in the current Federal election, Robin Chapple, shadow environment minister Steve Thomas and the local residents� association in the Kalgoorlie suburb of Williamstown all said yesterday that Mr Carbon should have stood aside from the decision-making process. Instead, Mr Carbon who leaves the three-month appointment tomorrow and who has represented thousands of companies in his role as an environmental consultant over the years, applied his own five-year statute-oflimitations rule on conflict of interest perceptions and kept his former consultancy work for the company to himself. �If there�s anyone in Kalgoorlie who�s offended by my previous activities then I apologise to them but I personally don�t believe I have a conflict of interest. If I�d done so I would have done something about it. I have a very strict personal code which I stick to,� Mr Carbon said. Mr Carbon, who said he was probably paid about $10,000 for his work with KCGM, claimed he did not lobby for the expansion of the pit but told the company about the process and introduced company officials to public servants. �My magic line is that if I�ve had anything to do with anybody within five years, doesn�t matter what it is, then I disqualify myself,� he said. Mr Carbon disqualified himself from dealing with applications by former clients Woodside and Iluka during his three-month stint but said the KCGM matter was too old and while related it was a different proposal for an expansion to the 1998 proposal. He also took a less-than-veiled swipe at the recent treatment of public servants by the Corruption and Crime Commission. �I think that the public service generally has taken a fair belt over recent times and I reckon that it�s really important that we start looking at some of the issues rather than just living in a world of accusation therefore something�s smeared,� he said. �There are people who live and work in buildings like this where people are being intimidated to the stage where you get to the stage that you get very nervous about doing things.� Mr Templeman said while he had no problems with Mr Carbon�s integrity there was a perceived conflict of interest that should have been reported to the EPA board. But Peter Shaw, of the Williamstown Residents Association, said he was �totally appalled and disgusted� by Mr Carbon�s decision to stay on the case and would be referring it to the CCC. �It�s no different from the Smiths Beach affair,� Mr Shaw said. �It�s about public servants being influenced by lobbyists and in this case it�s two major international companies (mining giants Barrick Gold and Newmont Australia control KCGM) who have engaged Mr Carbon some time ago to achieve a result for them and in this case he�s become the decision-making person within the EP,� he claimed. KCGM general manager Russell Cole said he did not believe there was a conflict of interest involving Mr Carbon but the company was �happy for the EPA to review the decision�. It will now be up to new EPA chairman Paul Vogel, who takes up his post on Monday, to make a recommendation to Mr Templeman on the proposal. |
