WA energy minister condemns Western Power staff over references for jailed rapist manager

Western Australia's energy minister has sharply criticiz…

Western Australia's energy minister has sharply criticized employees at state-owned utility Western Power who supplied character references for a senior manager later sentenced to prison for raping a female coworker during a business trip.

The minister, Bill Johnston, expressed outrage during a parliamentary session on Thursday, saying the actions of those who vouched for the convicted manager were "absolutely disgraceful" and undermined trust in the organization's leadership. He confirmed that the staff members involved have been stood down from their duties while an internal review is conducted.

The manager, whose identity has not been publicly released, was convicted earlier this year of raping a colleague while they were traveling for work. Court documents revealed that the assault occurred in a hotel room after a work dinner, and the victim reported the incident to police the following day.

Johnston stated that the references, which were provided

Johnston stated that the references, which were provided to the court during sentencing, painted a misleading picture of the offender's character, and that such endorsements from within the company suggested a broader cultural problem. "This is not just about one bad actor, but about how we respond when serious misconduct is brought to light," he said.

Western Power chief executive, Sam Barbaro, said the utility has a zero-tolerance policy for violence and harassment, and that the employees who wrote the references have been suspended with pay pending a full investigation. He added that the company is reviewing its internal procedures to ensure that no similar situations occur in the future.

The victim, who has since left Western Power, has reportedly been offered counseling and support from the company. The case has sparked renewed calls for stronger workplace protections and accountability measures across state-owned enterprises in Western Australia.

Opposition MPs have also joined the criticism, demanding

Opposition MPs have also joined the criticism, demanding that the government conduct an independent inquiry into the handling of the matter, while the minister emphasized that the focus must remain on supporting the survivor and ensuring justice is served.