One of the state’s most recognisable political characters Alannah MacTiernan has found her way onto the WA register of lobbyists.
But the former state Labor minister and federal MP who retired after 30 years in politics in February last year insists she placed herself on the register out of an abundance of caution after starting a new job at rare earths minnow Victory Metals.
Former WA Labor government minister Alannah MacTiernan. Credit: Trevor Collens
“I’m not sure I actually am one [a lobbyist] but just because I’m helping a rare earths company I put my name on there just to avoid any controversy,” she said.
“So I’m not open for business. I’ve just taken a role on with this company.
“This was just a project, someone that I’ve known for a long time asked me to get involved in, and I’m very excited by it.”
MacTiernan placed herself on the WA register of lobbyists on January 31.
ASX-listed Victory Metals is a rare earths explorer with several tenements about 420 kilometres near the township of Cue in WA’s Mid West region 420 kilometres north west of Geraldton.
Victory Metals strategic relations head Alannah MacTiernan, Federal Resources Minister Madeleine King and Victory Metals chief executive Brendan Clark.Credit: Victory Metals/LinkedIn
MacTiernan’s role at the company is as head of strategic relations and she was pictured last week in a meeting with Federal Resources Minister Madeleine King and Victory Metals chief executive Brendan Clark.
“I’m just helping this company, very young company, understand the landscape, it’s operating in and making connections with people in industry, regulators, government, science, academia,” MacTiernan said.
In announcing her appointment on February 6, Clark said she would be a strategic addition to introduce Victory’s “world-class heavy rare earth project to governments and industry groups both locally and internationally.”
MacTiernan was perhaps best known for her time as WA’s transport minister in the 2000s when the Mandurah rail line was built.
In the McGowan government years, she also held the portfolios of regional development, state development and hydrogen industry. Her experience in these areas appears to have influenced her private sector roles post-politics.
Ms MacTiernan also works for industrialist Sanjeev Gupta’s Liberty Primary Metals and his GFG Alliance on green steel projects and is chair of the regional telecommunications review committee.
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