WA: Barnett stands by "compromised" environment spokesman

AAP General News (Australia)
08-17-2008
WA: Barnett stands by "compromised" environment spokesman

PERTH, Aug 17 AAP - West Australian Opposition Leader Colin Barnett is standing by
his environment spokesman, Steve Thomas, who has come under attack for renting a house
from a mining company.

Labor says Dr Thomas, who could become environment minister if the opposition wins
power in the September 6 state election, had made comments in support of the company and
had compromised himself.

Minister for the South-West, Mark McGowan, called on the opposition leader to ditch Dr Thomas.

"I think he (Mr Barnett) should get rid of Steve," Mr McGowan said.

Dr Thomas rented a house from Bemax Resources, which includes mineral company Cable
Sands, for $50 a week between December 2005 and June 2006 in the south-west town of Gwindinup.

A letter from the company to Dr Thomas says the house was rented on the proviso he
paint and carpet it and bring it up to a liveable standard.

Bemax says the rent was so low because the house was very close to its mine and two
other tenants had since rented it for a similar price.

However, Labor says Dr Thomas should have declared the arrangement on parliament's
financial interests register.

Mr McGowan says Dr Thomas spoke in support of Cable Sands, including comments to a
regional newspaper saying a new environmental contamination law would be an "impost" on
the company.

"To have received a house for $30 to $50 a week, I think, compromises you and Mr Thomas
should have known better," he said.

But Dr Thomas says Labor is playing "gutter politics".

He says he simply made a statement of fact when he said Cable Sands and other companies
would be impacted on by the new law.

"Where in that do I say they should get any special treatment. It's a comment that
says they will be impacted," Dr Thomas said.

"If I was the minister for the environment I would have made exactly the same comment,
which was that they would be impacted and they are impacted."

Mr Barnett today told reporters there was no reason to sack Dr Thomas.

"My understanding is that he and his family rented a fairly dilapidated house while
they were rebuilding their house," Mr Barnett said.

"Other people rented similar houses on exactly the same conditions."

AAP np/jfm/cdh

KEYWORD: POLLWA THOMAS

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