Parliamentary crossbenchers have joined the Opposition in calling for the corruption watchdog to investigate allegations Deputy Premier Roger Cook's office helped fast track G2G pass applications for Labor donors when the state's border was slammed shut for almost everyone else.
The five crossbenchers have written to Corruption and Crime Commission chief John McKechnie requesting "a detailed, wide-ranging and fully resourced investigation" into the specific claims of "systemic corruption" at the top levels of the McGowan Government.
Sanja Spasojevic, a former electorate officer in Mr Cook's office, made the allegations during a hearing as part of her unfair dismissal claim against the deputy premier before the Public Service Appeal Board on July 8.
In her evidence to the board, Ms Spasojevic alleged Mr Cook, then Health Minister, asked her to fast track G2G applications by members of the Labor Business Roundtable, a grouping which "provides a unique opportunity for your organisation to engage with WA Labor".
According to her testimony, the instruction to expedite their applications to travel outside the state occurred between April and June 2020. WA had instigated a hard closed border with the rest of the country in early April 2020.
Preferential treatment denied
Ms Spasojevic, who claims she was unjustly sacked from Mr Cook's office, told the hearing she was given a contact within then Police Minister Michelle Roberts's office to ask WA police give preferential treatment to the Labor roundtable members.
WA Police was responsible for assessing G2G pass applications.
Mr Cook has rejected the claims and Premier Mark McGowan did so again today.
"The claims are spurious and wrong, and silly and ridiculous," Mr McGowan said.
"There's no prioritisation for anyone in particular."
But all five of the Legislative Council's crossbenchers were not satisfied.
Legalise Cannabis MPs Brian Walker and Sophia Moermond, Daylight Saving Party MP Wilson Tucker, Greens MP Brad Pettitt and independent MP James Hayward want the CCC to investigate.
"We have become aware of media reports relating to a former electorate officer who has made serious allegations of systemic corruption relating to G2G pass administration during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the inappropriate and unethical use of taxpayer monies by a political party," they wrote in a publicly-released letter to Mr McKechnie.
"The allegations reported by the media include claims that G2G pass applications from political party donors were treated differently than those from the public, which is of great concern to us as members of Parliament, as well as the general public.
"We believe a detailed, wide-ranging and fully resourced investigation by the Corruption and Crime Commission in relation to the matters outlined above is clearly in the public interest."
The CCC is considering the request.
'Rules flouted'
Mr Walker said he was 'angry" at the allegations of corruption, given a staffer for Ms Moermond was not allowed to travel to WA from Melbourne when the border was shut.
"Multiple G2G and calls to minister and police did not permit the essential worker to travel despite complete vaccination and preparedness to isolate," Mr walker said.
"I was prepared to accept the rules, but to see the allegation – under oath – of rules being flouted just makes me angry.
"It hurt us and so many people in WA, so that I cannot just let the accusation just die down under the focus of Labor staffers minimising and controlling the narrative."
On the day Ms Spasojevic made her allegations, Opposition Leader Mia Davies said the claims needed to be investigated by the corruption watchdog.
"It would be seriously devastating for those families that did the right thing to find out, if the allegations are true, that Labor Party donors were given preferential treatment as a result of their connection to the Labor Party and their business roundtable," Ms Davies said at the time.
"The Opposition has simply observed that allegations of that nature can't go un-investigated and the appropriate place for them to be referred to is the CCC because it does involve government officials, right to the top in terms of ministerial officers.
"At the time, remember that the Premier was saying repeatedly that everyone needed to play their part and do the right thing."
On the same day, a spokesperson for Mr Cook responded.
"It is truly appalling for the Opposition to question the integrity of WA Police," the spokesperson said.
"Decisions on G2G applications during the COVID-19 pandemic were made independently by WA Police."
