WA minister defends former policy adviser

Sacked West Australian finance minister Dean Nalder has defended his former policy adviser who left after his conflict of interest scandal.

Sarah Boska quit in December after it was revealed she had invested in the company Metier Asia with Mr Nalder and his chief of staff Richard Newton.

In state parliament on Wednesday, Mr Nalder said Ms Boska was a "tremendous human being" and he would employ her again.

He said Ms Boska sought work elsewhere because he could not justify the number of people in his office, and a job could not be found for her elsewhere in government.

Mr Nalder said Ms Boska had suffered from "innuendo" when she worked for him.

"Do I feel sorry for Sarah Boska? You bet I do," he said.

"I don't blame her if she never wants to step into this place again."

Mr Nalder lost the finance portfolio after the scandal - which also involved him hosting a personal luncheon with his friend, Amcom senior executive Alan Ariti, where high-level government ICT issues were discussed - but remained the transport minister.