Western Australia’s Auditor General has called the actions of two state Ministers “not reasonable or appropriate”, when they withheld information in Parliament.

He also says departmental staff need to do a bit more digging for information.

WA Auditor General Colin Murphy stopped short of condemning the Ministers for Environment, Forestry and Planning, who were examined after failing to provide certain information.

An inquiry found Forestry Minister Terry Redman was in the wrong when he failed to mention some facts on the sale of hardwood timber.

Similarly, Mr Murphy said Planning Minister John Day should have given up more information on a public relations services contract when asked about it in Parliament.

The Auditor General said the two were not being deliberately evasive, just not thorough enough.

He says the Ministers’ staff were partly to blame as well.

“The number of times that I've had to make negative opinions like this suggest to me that people providing this advice to ministers really do need to put more effort into making sure they get good advice, and documenting the reasons for that advice,” Mr Murphy explained.