The new premier, Alan Carpenter, has appointed former Housing and Works Minister Francis (Fran) Logan as Minister for Energy. Logan will also head up a new ministry of science and innovation, created to strengthen the Government's focus on biotechnology, innovation, research and development and emerging technologies.
Carpenter will retain the State Development portfolio - recognition of the crucial role the sector plays in the State’s economic performance, according to CME Chief Executive, Tim Shanahan.
“The Premier has been dynamic and responsive as State Development Minister, and we look forward to his continuing leadership in this area,” Shanahan said.
Carpenter said he would use the State Development portfolio as a platform for attracting major projects.
"I'll be marketing WA, in the way Geoff Gallop marketed WA. I will be responsible for facilitating major projects," the Premier said.
In other major portfolios, Eric Ripper has retained the roles of Deputy Premier and Treasurer, Mark McGowan has won the environment portfolio, and the education and training portfolio has been kept by Ljiljanna Ravlich, with Norm Marlborough elevated to the post of Minister assisting the Minister for Education and Training.
This week also saw Carpenter announce the board chairpersons for each of the new corporations that will be created when Western Power is separated into four stand-alone businesses in April.
Peter Mansell will chair the networks business, which will retain the Western Power name and be responsible for the transport of electricity within the South-West Interconnected System (SWIS). Until 2004, Mansell was a corporate and resources partner at Freehills law firm in Perth. Before working at Freehills, Mansell was a corporate and resources partner in a major South African commercial law firm for 14 years. He has had broad experience in Australia and South Africa in a wide range of company and resources transactions including joint ventures, acquisitions and disposals, exploration and mining rights.
Brendan Hammond will chair Horizon Power, the regional power corporation responsible for the generation, transport and sale of electricity in all areas of the State outside the SWIS. He currently heads up the Office of Development Approvals Co-ordination. Hammond worked for major resources company Rio Tinto, owner of the Argyle Diamond Mine, for more than 24 years. His industry experience has spanned Australia, Namibia and South Africa.
Peter West will chair Verve Energy, the generation business responsible for power generation within the SWIS. He currently chairs the Dampier Port Authority and is a board member of the Scitech Discovery Centre. For three years up until his retirement in 2000, West was a BP Amoco Business Unit Leader. He was responsible to the BP Group executive committee for the Kwinana and New Zealand BP manufacturing and supply businesses and a director of BP Australia and various subsidiary companies, and also of the New Zealand Refining Company Ltd.
Michael Smith will chair Synergy, the retail business responsible for the sale of electricity within the SWIS. Smith is currently managing director of The Marketing Centre and serves as the chairman for Scotch College, Perth International Arts Festival and the Pearling Industry Advisory Committee. He is also a director of the Home Building Society Ltd and 7-Eleven Stores Pty Ltd. Smith is a Fellow of the Australian Marketing Institute and has previously been the State President and a national board member of the Institute. He has been awarded the Patrons Medal (HRH Prince Philip) for services to marketing.
The appointments will take effect from April 2006. Mansell's term as chairperson of the Networks Corporation ends on June 30, 2008. The terms of the other three chairpersons are to end on March 31, 2009.
