Western Australian Government questions Healthway sponsorships

Organisations reliant on Western Australia's Healthway for sponsorship have been given no guarantee those deals will be renewed when they expire.

Healthway currently provides sponsorship for a range of activities and venues including Hockey WA, the Perth Wildcats, Barking Gecko Theatre Company, YMCA Perth and the WACA sportsground in exchange for the promotion of health messages.

However, following a damning Public Sector Commission report over misuse of tickets and hospitality by some Healthway executives, board members and staff, the Western Australian Government wants to scrap Healthway's current structure after

Western Australian Premier Colin Barnett said any delay in reforming the organisation might well impact on organisations whose sponsorship contract is about to expire.

Premier Barnett told the ABC "the contracts that are in place will be honoured, regardless of what happens to Healthway, but there won't be new contracts entered into until an interim board is established.”

Led by the resignation of Chair Rosanna Capolingua on 24th February, nine other board members have quit, leaving only the Australian Medical Association representative Dr Gary Geelhoed yet to submit his resignation.

If Dr Geelhoed resigns an interim board can be installed.

Premier Barnett offered little comfort to those organisations and events uncertain about their funding, adding “they have got to wait.

“Healthway has been compromised (and) I am not going to allow it to continue on that basis.”

The Premier acknowledged some community events may not be able to proceed because of the ongoing stand-off over Healthway.

In addition to major venues and events, Healthway also sponsored a range of small community, cultural and sporting organisations.

Image: Healthway have been a major backer of the Perth Wildcats.

5th March 2015 - NEW QUESTIONS OVER TICKETS MISUSE IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA

20th February 2015 - WESTERN AUSTRALIA’S HEALTHWAY BOARD AND STAFF IN CORPORATE TICKETING RORT

15th October 2014 - WA OPERA’S CARMEN SPONSORSHIP SMOKING ROW EXTINGUISHED