A legal eagle who’s kept an eye on the
failed attempt by Warren “Moresby Mates” Anderson to rip $80 million out of tax
payers reckons I’m wrong in suggesting
the WA government might let the matter of costs slide – or at least that the
government would be stupid to.

With Anderson shouting about appealing to
the High Court and WA Attorney-General Jim McGinty talking of pursuing him for
“millions of dollars” in costs, a cynical soul might think
both sides could happily drop all further action rather than continue the
embarrassment of raking over Labor’s shady WA Inc past.

Perth sources reckon Anderson’s claim that he’s spent $5 million litigating the case would be
about right as the colourful property developer has a reputation for needlessly
running very expensive lawyers’ meters. The Crown’s costs would be more like $2
million.

Furthermore, it looks like Anderson has Buckley’s
chance of succeeding in the High Court – he’d be lucky even to get leave to
appeal given the Federal Court’s finding of facts.

So, is picking up $2 million from Warren
Anderson worth the effort? Well, WA being WA and another boom being underway,
heck, the political stench of the 80s could have happened in another country.

Skitch ‘im, McGinty.