2026-10-07
The Greens (WA) are mounting calls for mandatory exclusion periods to stop former ministers, MPs and senior political staffers from taking on corporate board and lobbying roles directly after leaving office.
It comes in the wake of news that former WA Labor minister for defence industries Paul Papalia has been appointed a strategic advisor with defence contractor Duratec, the latest in a line of former ministers leaving office and entering roles they helped develop the laws for.
In April this year, while Mr Papalia was defence industries minister, Duratec was awarded a $281 million joint contract by the Commonwealth government to deliver infrastructure upgrades at HMAS Stirling in preparation for AUKUS.
Duratec was also awarded $97,000 from the State Government in 2021, also while Mr Papalia was defence industries minister.
The Greens (WA) are urging the WA Parliament to introduce a five-year exclusion period banning former government ministers, MPs and high-level staffers from taking corporate lobbying roles or board positions.
This week it was also reported that former WA Premier Mark McGowan has joined the board of the property developer Built after he was appointed to the board of Southern Cross media last month.
Both appointments come after he served in advisory roles in a number of resources companies, including BHP, after retiring from politics in 2023.
The Greens (WA) spokesperson for Open and Honest Government Tim Clifford MLC said it was clear there is a need for stronger oversight.
“How can we expect to serve the public when so many of them view their roles in office as a stepping stone to a higher paid position in the private sector?
“This is not the first time we have seen former MPs taking high level positions in the public sector only months after leaving politics, but it should be the last.
“It is a clear conflict of interest for the people who made the laws to then work from the companies they manage, and clearly this does not pass the pub test.
“We know the State Government is completely beholden to property developers and investors.
“We must act now to close the revolving door of politics compromising our democracy and eroding public trust in our institutions.”
Greens WA Peace and Nonviolence spokesperson Sophie McNeill said Mr Papalia’s new appointment was “scandalous” and a clear conflict of interest.
“How’s this revolving door? This is scandalous. Papalia’s new AUKUS job is proof of how this Labor government just works for their corporate mates.
“They’re just running a revolving door that lines their pockets.
“If we were reporting on this in another country it would be described as corruption, but here we don’t because this is technically legal? Does Labor think they will get away with this and the community won't notice?
“First we had Woodside's Georgia Tree running for Labor and now we have the former defence industries minister taking on this shiny new role with defence contractor Duratec.
“In the space of just 3 months, Papalia has gone from his job promoting the defence industry and AUKUS to now working for a company that has massive contracts for AUKUS. Papalia’s new role is the direct result from his corporate lobbying as WA’s Minister for AUKUS.
“This is a clear conflict of interest.
“Duratec is one of the only companies in Australia that’s got nuclear safety certification for the construction and management of Defence radioactive waste infrastructure.
“In April, when Papalia was the Defence Industries Minister, Duratec was awarded a $281 million Commonwealth contract for HMAS Stirling upgrades related to nuclear-powered submarines under AUKUS.
“This is a scandal. How is this not corruption?