WA Inc

In the introductory part of its report, the commission noted that it had

heard from 543 witnesses encompassing 847 appearances. [...] There were, however, some who may have been able to give valuable information to the Commission, who died before the Commission hearings commenced or after they had begun. There were others who were unwilling to assist and were beyond the reach of compulsory process.[8]^:p.41

The following had died or been incapable on health grounds: Peter Beckwith (Bond Corporation), Bill Burgess (Rothwells), Robert Holmes à Court, Thomas Hugall (Rothwells), Bruce Kirkwood (SECWA), Andrew Mensaros (former Liberal state minister), Terence McDonnell (solicitor), and Jack Walsh (Rothwells). The following declined to give evidence: Yosse Goldberg (entrepreneur), Peter Mitchell (Bond Corporation), Tony Oates (Bond Corporation), and Ms Kim Rooney (wife of David Parker). Dr Shrian Oskar was serving a 6-year prison term in the UK.[8]^:p.44 The witnesses whose testimony was received by the commission are listed in an appendix to the report.[9]^:p.54

After approximately 21 months of enquiries and hearings, the commission's final report began:

1.1.1 The Commission has found conduct and practices on the part of certain persons involved in government in the period from 1983 to 1989 which were such as to place our governmental system at risk. Unfortunately, some of that conduct and some of those practices were peculiar to Western Australia; but there is no reason to believe that many of the fundamental questions raised by our inquiry were unique to this period or to this State. On the contrary, as detailed studies in other States and overseas clearly demonstrate, they have been raised elsewhere as a consequence of events similar to those which we have experienced.

1.1.2 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 in October 1987 was principally that of Mr Burke as Premier. Mr Burke's 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, the chairman and major shareholder of Rothwells, and from his desire to preserve the standing of the Australian Labor Party in the eyes of those sections of the business community from which it had secured much financial support.

1.1.3 Subsequently, Mr Dowding, as Premier, presided over a disastrous series of decisions designed to support Rothwells when it was or should have been clear to him and to those ministers closely involved that Rothwells was no longer a viable financial institution. This culminated in the decision to involve the Government, through WAGH, in the Kwinana petrochemical project as a means of removing the Government's contingent liability for certain of the debts of Rothwells. Electoral advantage was preferred to the public interest.

1.1.4 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.[10]^:p.22

In an earlier finding, the commission had summarised:

[The Government was not entitled] to risk the public resources of the State without its actions being subjected to critical scrutiny and review. Effective accountability was a casualty of its entrepreneurial zeal. Influence in the conduct of this State's public affairs was captured by a small group of self-interested businessmen.[11]^:p.10

The commission's report included a confidential appendix (not published) containing an "outline of matters to be referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions",[9]^:p.1 and a list of recommendations impinging on open government,[10]^:p.6 accountability,[10]^:p.8 integrity in government,[10]^:p.11 the Parliament,[10]^:p.12 the administrative system,[10]^:p.15 and a proposed Commission on Government[10]^:p.16

Report Volume I

• Natural gas sales agreements entered into by the State Energy Commission of Western Australia[12]^{:p.148 et seq}
• Contracts relating to the Dampier to Perth Natural Gas Pipeline[12]^{:p.153 et seq}
• Financial assistance by Government to Bunbury Foods Limited[12]^{:p.71 et seq}
• Government Employees Superannuation Board (formerly the Superannuation Board) involvement in the Halls Head development[12]^{:p.7 et seq}

Report Volume II

• Government Employees Superannuation Board (formerly the Superannuation Board) involvement in the Fremantle Anchorage development[13]^{:p.243 et seq}
• The acquisition of Northern Mining Corporation NL in 1983[13]^{:p.139 et seq}
• The Burswood Island Casino[13]^{:p.66 et seq}
• The sale of the Midland Abattoir site in 1986[13]^{:p.5 et seq}

Report Volume III

• The purchase of the Fremantle Gas and Coke Company by the State Energy Commission of Western Australia in 1986[14]^{:p.170 et seq}
• The Swan Building Society[14]^{:p.121 et seq}
• The Teachers' Credit Society[14]^{:p.4 et seq}

Report Volume IV

• The rescue of Rothwells Limited and continuing liquidity problems[3]
• SGIC's acquisition of shares in BHP Limited and the Bell Group[3]^{:p.267 et seq}
• The Kwinana petrochemical project (PICL)[3]^{:p.7 et seq}
• The 1988 sale of Westralia Square[3]^{:p.237 et seq}

Report Volume V

• The Kwinana petrochemical project to the settlement on 17 October 1988
• Central City property transactions entered into from 1984 onwards by the Western Australian Development Corporation, the Government Employees Superannuation Board (formerly the Superannuation Board) and the State Government Insurance Commission[15]^{:p.5 et seq}
• The old Perth Technical College site[15]^{:p.41 et seq}

Report Volume VI

• Allegations of bribery with respect to planning decisions in the City of Stirling for Observation City[11]^{:p.104 et seq}
• Role of Mr Ray O'Connor in alleged bribery[11]^:p.132–152
• Allegations arising from the trial of Robert Mark Smith and Robert Paul Martin, including those with respect to surveillance activities[11]^{:p.106 et seq}
• The adequacy of certain police investigations[11]^{:p.106 et seq}
• Political donations[11]^{:p.15 et seq}

The royal commission cost $30 million, including $12.5 million in witness costs. Of the latter, $3.6 million funded Burke's own legal fees ($1.71 million) and those of David Parker ($1.92 million).

Burke and his predecessor, the Liberal premier Ray O'Connor ultimately served prison 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.

(Page numbers cited in PDF documents are PDF pages, not necessarily corresponding to folio numbers printed on original pages.)

• Buti, Antonio (2007). A Matter of Conscience : Sir Ronald Wilson. Crawley, WA: UWA Press. ISBN 978-0-9802964-1-9.
• Sykes, Trevor (1994). The Bold Riders: Behind Australia's Corporate Collapses. St Leonards, NSW: Allen & Unwin. ISBN 1-86373-702-2.
• Smark, P. and Skulley, M. State of Unholy Matrimony – When Govt Merged With Business, Sydney Morning Herald, 8 November 1988
• Taylor, Robert Big Brother Jack The Canberra Times, 28 May 1989, at Trove