WA Inc and the ensuing WA Inc royal commission relate to a period in the mid to late 1980s in Western Australia when the incumbent State Government became involved in major business dealings with private businessmen including particularly Alan Bond and Laurie Connell. Both of these were later shown to be major contributors to the Australian Labor Party. The Premier of Western Australia at the time was Brian Burke. Motto: Cygnis Insignis (Distinguished by its swans) Nickname: Wildflower State Other Australian states and territories Capital Perth Government Governor Premier Const. ... The form of the Government of Western Australia is prescribed in its Constitution, which dates from 1890, although it has been amended many times since then. ... Alan Bond (born 22 April 1938) is an Australian business man. ... Laurie Connell (?-1997) was a discredited Western Australian business entrepreneur well known for his dealings with the Government of Western Australia and his close relationship with the then Premier of Western Australia, Brian Burke during the WA Inc fiasco in the mid to late 1980s. ... The Australian Labor Party or ALP is Australias oldest political party. ... The Premier of Western Australia is the head of the executive government in the Australian State of Western Australia. ... Brian Burke was premier of Western Australia from 19 February 1983 until his resignation on 25 February 1988. ...

As a result of the 1987 stock market crash several major businesses based in Perth found themselves in difficulties and ultimately went into bankruptcy. These included: Dow Jones (19 July 1987 through 19 January 1988) FTSE 100 Index (19 July 1987 through 19 January 1988) Black Monday is the name ascribed to Monday October 19, 1987. ...

• Rothwells. Described as a merchant bank owned by Laurie Connell, but more accurately known in business circles as a lender of last resort, Rothwells had built up a stable of businesses it had acquired during the 1980's through aggressive takeovers. In October 1987, investors made a run on the bank and it had to close its doors. Burke, on behalf of the government provided a $150M government guarantee. Connell had previously been the adviser to the 1983 government purchase of Northern Mining from Bond Corporation at between $7 and $12 million over value, but as Burke knew at the time and concealed from parliament, Connell was also acting for Bond Corporation.

• Petrochemical plant.

• Bell Group. Robert Holmes à Court's flagship company found themselves with a cash crisis and Bond Corporation and the government, through the State Government Superannuation Board (GESB) acquired major stakes in the business, allowing Holmes á Court to walk away with $350M.

• Bond Corporation. see Bell Group.

The government had lent large sums of monies, offered financial guarantees and acquired assets at inflated prices. Because of the connections between many of the deals and cross-ownership of businesses involved, it is difficult to say precisely where the goverment's fault started and ended. Nevertheless, a figure of losses to the State of $600M is generally stated.^[1] Alan Bond (born 22 April 1938) is an Australian business man. ... Michael Robert Hamilton Holmes à Court (July 27, 1937, Johannesburg, South Africa - September 2, 1990, Perth, Western Australia) was an entrepreneur who became Australias first billionaire before dying suddenly of a heart attack in 1990. ... Alan Bond (born 22 April 1938) is an Australian business man. ...

The royal commission

On 19 November 1990, Carmen Lawrence, the then Labor Premier of Western Australia, announced her government's intention to have a royal commission "inquire into certain matters". November 19 is the 323rd day of the year (324th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... This article is about the year. ... Dr Carmen Lawrence Dr Carmen Mary Lawrence (born 2 March 1948), Australian politician, became the first directly elected Federal President of the Australian Labor Party in 2003, after a meteoric rise in politics followed by several spectacular falls. ... The Premier of Western Australia is the head of the executive government in the Australian State of Western Australia. ... In countries that are Commonwealth Realms a Royal Commission is a major government inquiry into an issue. ...

The commission of three was headed by Geoffrey Kennedy and joined by Sir Ronald Wilson and Peter Brinsden, with a brief to: "To inquire into and report" whether there'd been "corruption, illegal conduct, improper conduct, or bribery" by any person or corporation in the "affairs, investment decisions and business dealings of the Government of Western Australia or its agencies". Sir Ronald Wilson Sir Ronald Wilson, AC , KBE , CMG , QC , LL.M , LL.B ( 23 August 1922- 15 July 2005) was born on 23 August 1922 . ...

After approximately 21 months of enquiries and hearings the commission's report stated in part:

"The commission has found conduct and practices on the part of certain persons involved in government in the period 1983 to 1989 such as to place our government system at risk. Unfortunately, some of that conduct and some of those practices were peculiar to Western Australia"

"Some ministers elevated personal or party advantage over their constitutional obligation to act in the public interest. The decision to lend Government support to the rescue of Rothwells [merchant bank] in October 1987 was principally that of Mr Burke as premier. His motives in supporting the rescue were not related solely to proper governmental concerns. They derived in part from his well established relationship with Mr Connell, and from his desire to preserve [Labor's] standing [with] the business community from which it had secured much financial support"

"Personal associations and the manner in which electoral contributions were obtained could only create the public perception that favour could be bought, that favour would be done. We have observed that the size of the donations was quite extraordinary. In his approaches the premier was direct to the point at times of being forceful. He nominated the amounts he expected. They were far in excess of amounts previously donated in campaign fund-raising in this state"

Premier Brian Burke and his predecessor and Liberal counterpart Ray O'Connor ultimately served jail sentences as a result of convictions which arose from findings of the commission. The Premier immediately after Burke, Peter Dowding and public servant Len Brush were both found to have acted improperly. Raymond James OConnor (born 1926) was the Liberal Party Premier of Western Australia from January 25, 1982 until February 25, 1983. ... Peter Dowding was premier of Western Australia from 25 February 1988 until his resignation on 12 February 1990 due to alleged corruption charges. ...

References

• A role in the fall of a Labor mate conveniently omitted from the eulogies (Alan Ramsey). Sydney Morning Herald. URL accessed on November 30, 2005.
• W.A. Inc.: Why Didn't We Hear The Alarm Bells? (Bevan Lawrence). Samuel Griffith Society. URL accessed on November 30, 2005.