Clayton
COSGROVE
SOE Spokesperson
19 March 2013 MEDIA STATEMENT
Cosgrove lays Solid Energy contempt letter with Speaker

Labour’s SOEs spokesperson Clayton Cosgrove has today lodged a letter with the Speaker, asking him to consider two matters of contempt relating to Solid Energy’s appearance at the Commerce Select Committee on Thursday 7 March.

The first contempt matter relates to former Solid Energy chief executive Dr Don Elder’s availability to appear before the committee. Interim chief executive Garry Diack said Dr Elder had not approached the company offering to appear.

In the next committee Dr Elder said he had written to the company, cc’ing Mr Diack, to offer his availability.

Mr Cosgrove said: “Under Standing Orders 406 and 407, it is clear Garry Diack acted in a manner which obstructs or impedes the House and deliberately misled the committee. The availability of Dr Elder was a matter of vital public interest and I believe the company has treated the committee and the House with contempt.”

The second contempt charge relates to the paucity of answers provided by management at the 7 March committee. Executives repeatedly said they could not answer questions as they were not working at the company at the time.

However five days later Strategy Manager Bill Luff, who attended the committee, appeared on Campbell Live, and answered many questions similar to those asked at the committee.

Clayton Cosgrove said: “The executives repeatedly told the committee they couldn’t provide answers as they related to a period before their time. However it’s now clear that Bill Luff had been at the company for 18 months and was in a position to answer many of our questions. Avoiding our questions obstructed the committee and is a clear breach of Standing Order 406.

“I believe Solid Energy’s attitude was contemptuous and completely unacceptable. I urge the Speaker to take these matters extremely seriously.”

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