Calls for Western Power 'clean out'

Western Australia’s ailing utility Western Power must appoint an external candidate to replace its recently retired boss to “clean out” its executive ranks, the state opposition says.

Western Power’s managing director Doug Aberle resigned last week, just two weeks after a damning parliamentary report called for him to be sacked and an inquiry launched into the utility.

The report, tabled after a two-year inquiry, said Western Power’s ageing wooden-pole electricity network was so bad it was endangering lives.

It recommended senior Western Power management be sacked and called on the WA government to launch an independent inquiry that could scrap the utility in favour of a new organisation.

Western Power issued a statement last week announcing Mr Aberle’s early retirement, but would not comment on whether it was linked to the report.

Opposition spokesman Bill Johnston said he had written to Western Power chairman Mark Barnaba this week urging a clean-out of the utility’s senior executive ranks, starting with the appointment of a new managing director from outside the organisation.

“There are simply no internal candidates that are up to the job,” Mr Johnston said.

“The utility needs a radical shake-up to make it focused on delivering better services to Western Australian families and businesses.”

Mr Johnston said Western Power had been unaccountable and unfocused for years.

“It has adopted all the excesses of the private sector, but accepted none of the discipline and responsibility for its performance,” he said.

Energy Minister Peter Collier says there will be a global search for Mr Aberle’s replacement.

Faulty power poles have been blamed for several devastating fires in WA in recent years, including the 2009 Toodyay bushfire that destroyed 38 homes and caused millions of dollars damage.

Mr Aberle had led Western Power since its formation in 2006, and had been due to retire from the board in August 2013.

Senior Western Power executive Paul Italiano has been appointed acting CEO while a permanent replacement is sought for Mr Aberle.