Decorated bureaucrat Tim Marney appointed WA’s new environmental approvals Coordinator General

Tim Marney has been tapped on the shoulder to spearhead a new team tasked with accelerating environmental approvals, adding to a bulging public sector resume that includes a decade as Under Treasurer. The appointment as interim Coordinator General comes six months after the Cook Government opted against renewing Mr Marney’s position at the helm of efforts to overhaul Banksia Hill and Unit 18. Mr Marney will instead fill a new role announced by Premier Roger Cook in December as part of sweeping reforms to WA’s sluggish approvals processes. As Coordinator General, he will head up a specially created unit within the Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation charged with shepherding major projects through the approvals gauntlet. That includes regularly updating Cabinet on the progress of those projects and removing obstacles in their path. Mr Marney will also be asked to plot the best locations for industrial land and deliver the supporting infrastructure – such as roads, power and water – to make them attractive to potential downstream processors. The Premier said the new position was “central” to his reform agenda and establishing WA as a green energy powerhouse. “It’ll be (Mr Marney’s) job to break down silos in Government, steer major job-creating projects through approvals processes, and resolve any delays,” Mr Cook said. “We simply can’t afford to miss out on billions in investment because of green and red tape. “That’s why we’re getting on with reforming WA’s approvals processes – removing duplication, and delivering more certainty for industry.” Mr Marney served as Under Treasurer to both Labor and Liberal governments between 2004 and 2014. The senior public servant – who has spoken publicly about his battles with depression – then spent five years as WA’s Mental Health Commissioner. More recently, Mr Marney led the development of a new trauma-informed model of care for detainees at Banksia Hill Detention Centre while working as consultancy Nous Group. Last April he was appointed by the McGowan Government to embed that model of care into the juvenile justice system, saying at the time the work was too important to “just deliver a report and then walk away” and that he “really wanted to be part of seeing it through”. His departure just six months later when new Corrective Services Minister Paul Papalia opted against extending his contract attracted headlines. Mr Papalia insisted the short bedding down period had always been the intention of the appointment. Mr Marney has never commented publicly on the issue.