The Western Australia Premier has apologized after a live microphone picked up a “private and confidential comment” during question time where he was grilled about the diluted gold saga embroiling the Perth Mint.
Mark McGowan has issued an apology after a live microphone picked up his “storm in a f*****g teacup” comment about the gold saga involving the Perth Mint.
The government-owned corporation admitted last week to diluting $8.7 billion worth of gold it sold to China between 2018 and 2021 in a bid to save money.
Jason Waters, Chief Executive of Perth Mint, said “at least some of the gold” had some silver added, which brought the purity of the gold down.
He said in a press conference the standard for gold purity is 99.996 per cent but the addition of the silver saw it dip to 99.992 per cent.
Mr McGowan was grilled during Tuesday’s state parliamentary question time about the scandal, which was first reported by ABC’s Four Corners, as he was minister looking after the Perth Mint at the time the gold was sold overseas.
He finished answering a query about a complaint lodged with the manufacturer over the purity of two gold bars sold to the Shanghai Gold Exchange (SGE) in 2021.
The WA leader then sat back down and made the “storm in a f*****g teacup” remark to his Deputy Premier Roger Cook, which was picked up by a live microphone.
“It’s been brought to my attention that during question time a private and confidential comment I made to the deputy premier was picked up by a microphone,” he said on Tuesday night in an apology statement.
“I apologies if anyone was offended by my language.
“I want to make it clear what I said was in the context of the issue being resolved in 2021 and tonnes of gold being sold to the Shanghai Stock Exchange in the period since then.”
An internal report found up to 100 tonnes of gold stock could have been impacted and may be recalled back to Perth at the cost of taxpayers.
Mr Waters said last week at a press conference the “doping scandal” happened before he became Chief Executive of Perth Mint in April 2022.
He stressed that gold is being minted to the standards of the SGE.
Mr McGowan had also admitted he learned of the revelations from the ABC program.
“We’ve done a full check on everything, all briefing notes and so forth, and no, I wasn’t advised,” he said last week when asked if he knew it was happening.
A spokesman for WA Mines Minister Bill Johnston, the successor to the WA Premier, said it was first flagged to him in January 2022.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers on Tuesday said the allegations that Perth Mint failed to comply with anti-money laundering laws were “concerning”.
“I am confident my state colleagues are taking the matter seriously, as is the federal government,” he said amid the questions about the AUKUS announcement.
“These are very serious revelations which have been uncovered in recent times. AUSTRAC has appointed an auditor to assess the Mint’s compliance with all of the various arrangements, including the anti-money laundering arrangements.”
He said a report was due “soon”.
Mr Waters recognised the saga would likely damage Perth Mint’s reputation, but the CEO stressed he wanted to “see that repaired” as soon as possible.
