Most Influential
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MoI st n f l u e n t i a l FEATURE Most Influential SUCCESS: Bill Beament campaigned against a gold royalty VISION: Ben Wyatt is aiming to reform energy markets. Photo: Attila Csaszar increase. Photo: Attila Csaszar Leadership can take many forms Our annual analysis of the state’s movers and shakers explores how the Legislative Council and union movement could shape the state government’s agenda. To put it into perspective, WA’s resources sector, and the Key takeaways Labor holds 14 seats in the upper power of Liberal, National and house, with 19 votes needed crossbench parties to shape the • Legislative Council has had a big impact on to pass any legislation, while political agenda through the state government policy the Liberals hold nine and the upper house. • Mark McGowan remains the state’s most Nationals four. The Electrical Trades Union Crossbenchers hold the bal- has similarly been successful in influential person ance, with nine. stopping energy market reform • Richard Goyder moves into the arts (page 20) In the Legislative Assembly, by successive governments, led Matt Mckenzie Member for Kalgoorlie Kyran by state secretary Peter Carter. [email protected] • Rita Saffioti plans to make her mark, early days O’Donnell was one of the strong- The most recent win for the @Matt_Mckenzie_ yet (page 18) est opponents of the royalty rise, ETU’s WA branch was last year, with gold miners a core part of his when it helped drive Labor’s 8-PAGE FEATURE constituency and the seat poten- state election success with a tially threatened by the Nationals. scare campaign against a partial OMETIMES the best miners immediately opposed the Others included Chamber of Deputy Liberal leader Liza sale of Western Power. examples of influence are move, which would have meant Minerals and Energy of Western Harvey also spoke out publicly The union earned multiple S demonstrated not by what a 50 per cent increase in royalty Australia chief executive Reg against her party’s indecision on rebukes for overreaching in change an influencer starts, but payments when the gold price Howard-Smith, who had ear- the issue. advertising, including from rather what they can stop. was above $US1,200 per ounce. lier led a successful campaign A second proposed royalty Australian Competition and A case in point emerged last Speaking to Business News on against a proposed increase of rise was also later rejected by Consumer Commission chair year when the state opposition the day of the announcement, iron ore royalties. the parliament. Rod Sims, who said his views and crossbench combined in Northern Star Resources execu- Despite what was a strong Interestingly, a further budget had been misrepresented in the upper house to block a hike tive chairman Bill Beament said show of lobbying force, it took measure with potentially wider commercials. in the gold royalty rate, which the higher rate would lead to the opposition Liberal Party ramifications, a $435 million The ETU has remained a player would have raised nearly $400 reduced exploration and poten- about a month to settle on a increase of payroll tax, made it in the past year, with Energy million in revenue for the new tial job losses. position. through the Legislative Council. Minister Ben Wyatt backing state government. He was one of many industry By that point, the Nationals The different fates for two away from a move towards When the proposal was leaders to speak out against the WA and other minor parties had different revenue raisers illus- increased competition in the announced in the budget, gold policy. come out against the move. trated both the influence of electricity retailing market. FEATURE Business as usual By contrast to the world of politics, the state’s business sector has undergone a reason- ably stable period. A new entrant to the Most Influential list is Wesfarmers chief executive Rob Scott, who took over from Richard Goyder in November. Mr Scott has already broken with his predecessor in a major way, announcing a plan to spin- out supermarket giant Coles, a decade after Mr Goyder led the original acquisition. Mr Goyder has faced criti- cism for a more recent foray, the company’s move into the UK hardware market through the purchase of Homebase. But Mr Goyder is still widely respected and influential, chairing Woodside Petroleum, the AFL Commission and the WA Symphony Orchestra (see story, page 20). LEADING: Elizabeth Gaines will have an opportunity to TOP: Mark McGowan is WA’s most powerful person. Other notable corporate shape the iron ore industry. Photo: Photography Project Photo: Attila Csaszar moves included Elizabeth Gaines’ promotion to chief executive of iron ore miner His Liberal opposite, Dean announcement that the state Fortescue Metals Group, while Nalder, says the delay of action government will allow urban Nev Power moved to be chair- in this space is due to the govern- development north-east of $ PAYROLL TAX man of Perth Airport. ment’s desire to appease unions. Alcoa’s waste dump in Mandog- INCREASE Former BHP Billiton boss Mr Wyatt says any lag on alup was a win for businessman 435m Jimmy Wilson resurfaced at policy is simply because a lot Nigel Satterley. rationalise the public service is portfolio, and Christian Porter grain handler CBH Group, of work needs to be done in the He had fought hard against a under way. was moved to be attorney bringing his supply chain sector before competition can 2016 move by the previous state Education Minister Sue general. expertise. go ahead. government to extend a buffer Ellery, who leads the govern- However, the litmus test for Mark Barnaba left his role at One big test of union power zone around the Kwinana indus- ment in the Legislative Council, the WA members of federal Macquarie Bank to take a seat within the new government will trial region. has been widely seen as a key cabinet will remain long-term on the Reserve Bank of Aus- be the Maritime Union of Aus- That was reviewed by the player in Mr McGowan’s team, reform to the distribution of tralia board, while Rob Cole tralia’s opposition to an outer Environmental Protection although she has suffered some GST revenue, with a Productiv- took over as chair of govern- harbour development. Authority, which eventually major setbacks in her portfolio ity Commission review into the ment-owned power generator Despite the advancement of recommended against it. that may have drained political issue due for release in coming Synergy. the business case for an outer The EPA also recommended capital. months. Other senior business figures harbour having been among against the development of Those included a u-turn on an Senators Dean Smith and Labor’s major election com- Mineral Resources’ J5/Bungal- election promise to move Perth Linda Reynolds feature on the are working on opportunities mitments, the MUA and others bin iron ore project, which had Modern school to an inner-city list, with Senator Smith spear- to shape the state in the years combined to pass a motion at attracted some opposition. high-rise location, and a reversal heading changes to marriage ahead. the party’s state conference on cuts to the School of the Air, laws, while Senator Reynolds Woodside Petroleum chief last year which said the exist- Leadership which had been announced in is a highly visible advocate for executive Peter Coleman ing inner harbour remained Not surprisingly, Mark December. local industry. could spur a major resurgence sufficient. McGowan holds the top spot in In late January, Ms Ellery In the ranks of local govern- of investment in the energy Many other influential deci- the Most Influential list. came under pressure over lead ment, the one notable missing industry through a decision sions touch on the portfolios of State political figures in his found in school water, and name is Lisa Scaffidi, who fea- to develop the Scarborough or Transport, Lands and Planning orbit remain unchanged from campaigning by regional com- tured on lists as recently as 2015. Browse fields. Minister Rita Saffioti (see anal- last year, with Ms Saffioti, Mr munities against the closure Ms Scaffidi and the City of Fortescue’s Andrew For- ysis, page 18). Wyatt and Deputy Premier of Moora Residential College Perth council were suspended rest is similarly expanding his Some new members on the Roger Cook all in the top echelon. continues. after ongoing internal warfare influence, moving into onshore Business News Most Influential After a year in office, the gov- Federally, WA’s reach has resulted in two acting chief energy exploration, while pur- graphic (see page 16) are Saffi- ernment is yet to notch many grown. executives taking personal suing a potential deal to supply oti appointments, among them major wins on the economic Michael Keenan was pro- leave. gas to the east coast. Anthony Kannis, who is lead- reform agenda, although it has moted to the Turnbull cabinet That followed revelations of Gina Rinehart and Kerry ing the government’s Metronet passed its flagship jobs bill and as human services minister in a a $25,000 investigation by law Stokes remain influential, team, and Nicole Lockwood, stared down Police Union dis- reshuffle late last year. firm Herbert Smith Freehills with Mrs Rinehart building a who heads the outer harbour sent over wages policy. Mathias Cormann was ele- into acting chief executive pastoral portfolio to comple- taskforce. The proposed establishment vated to be government leader Martin Mileham, driven by a ment her iron ore business, and In the lands part of Ms of Infrastructure WA earned in the Senate, Michaelia Cash complaint by property devel- Mr Stokes retaining control of Saffioti’s portfolio, February’s plaudits, while an effort to picked up the innovation oper Adrian Fini.