Corruption watchdog examines Healthway

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HEALTHWAY officials could be independently investigated by police and Western Australia’s corruption watchdog over a ticket perks scandal, the premier says.

A REPORT last week found the board and senior management of the state’s health promotion foundation had milked corporate hospitality and given about $220,000 worth of tickets to sporting and concert events to family and friends.

The scandal has already resulted in the axing of former executive director David Malone and the resignation of chairwoman Rosanna Capolingua. Premier Colin Barnett has urged the rest of the board to step down. Mr Barnett said police and the Corruption and Crime Commission operated independently of the government, and it was up to them to decide whether they would investigate people involved with Healthway. “The police or the CCC is probably having a very careful look at that,” he told Fairfax Radio on Thursday. Mr Barnett said Healthway’s future would be considered by the government in coming weeks. “Whether it survives, whether it becomes part of the health department, but the programs will continue and sponsorships will continue,” he said. “I imagine it will probably continue, but there will be very fundamental changes to the structure of Healthway.” If Healthway continued with a board, it would be modelled along the lines of Lotterywest, which reported to the premier but acted independently, he said. Comment is being sought from WA Police and the CCC.