More pressure on Nalder
The family of besieged Transport Minister Dean Nalder's wife operates a Wheatbelt trucking business poised to benefit from the closure of big sections of the State-owned grain rail network.
Tianco Pty Ltd, a trust company formerly directed by Mr Nalder's wife Colette, carts grain and farm materials at a time when communities are pleading with Mr Nalder to reopen more than 500km of rail shut soon after he took up the transport portfolio.
The communities face tens of thousands of extra truck movements a year on roads already considered among the most dangerous in Australia.
WAFarmers president Dale Park said the revelations raised more concerns about Mr Nalder and the Government's actions in closing the Tier 3 lines and refusing to intervene in the row between CBH and Brookfield Rail over access to other lines. "There will be a high level of concern in the Wheatbelt about this latest potential conflict," he said.
Mrs Nalder was a director from 2006 to 2010 of family company Tianco, now directed by her brother Andrew Lange and father Graeme Lange.
Tianco operates Brookton-based Tianco Transport via the GJ Lange Family Trust.
The Government shut the so-called Tier 3 grain rail network in June after several deferrals of a decision made in 2010. Mr Nalder became transport minister in March.
Colin Barnett is considering Mr Nalder's ministerial future after a series of revelations in _The West Australian _last week about his private business affairs and connections.
However, the Premier said last night he did not believe there was a conflict of interests for Mr Nalder with Tianco.
"In my opinion a conflict would only arise if a company was directly awarded a Government contract," Mr Barnett said.
_The Weekend West _asked Mr Nalder yesterday whether he, his wife or their children were beneficiaries of Tianco Pty Ltd, trusts it operates or of Tianco Transport.
The minister said in response: "Neither my wife nor I are beneficiaries of Tianco Transport. To suggest anything to the contrary would be incorrect."
Shadow transport minister Ken Travers said Mr Barnett was rewriting the rules about conflicts of interest and his own ministerial code of conduct.
He said there could be a breach if the minister was involved in a decision that could benefit, or potentially benefit, himself or his immediate family.
Mr Park said Mr Nalder appeared to lack understanding of the rail issue and the impact on road safety and communities.
"If there is potential for a conflict of interest, it has to be declared up-front," he said.
"My understanding is that Mr Nalder's failure to do that is probably driving his demise."
Former Wheatbelt Rail Retention Alliance president Bill Cowan said it was disappointing the public was not told about Mr Nalder's family link.
