Opposition questions the Premier's confidence in the Minister for Emergency Services, suggesting the Premier is assuming ministerial responsibility for FESA reform by assigning the task to the Director General of the Department of Premier and Cabinet. The Premier denies this, stating the Director General is facilitating inter-departmental coordination, not replacing the Minister's role.

AnsweredQoN 475Legislative Assembly
Asked
17 August 2011
Portfolio
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QuestionView source ↗

Roleystone–Kelmscott Bushfires — Keelty Report — minister for emergency services
I have a supplementary question. Has the Premier himself not in effect shown his own lack of confidence in the minister by giving the reform job to the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet and thus assuming ministerial responsibility for the much-needed reform program in FESA? Mr C.J. BARNETT

AnswerView source ↗

No, that is not the case. If we take probably one major reform, for example, the appointment of a fire commissioner, that would require cabinet decisions and the drafting of legislation—legislation that the minister will bring before this house. Peter Conran, the head of Premier and Cabinet, is doing exactly what a head of Premier and Cabinet should do. He has been drawing together all the CEOs in the respective areas and has started to work within government to do that. That does not in any way conflict with the responsibilities and the role of the minister and/or the cabinet.
Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: No, that is not the case. If we take probably one major reform, for example, the appointment of a fire commissioner, that would require cabinet decisions and the drafting of legislation—legislation that the minister will bring before this house. Peter Conran, the head of Premier and Cabinet, is doing exactly what a head of Premier and Cabinet should do. He has been drawing together all the CEOs in the respective areas and has started to work within government to do that. That does not in any way conflict with the responsibilities and the role of the minister and/or the cabinet.
No, that is not the case. If we take probably one major reform, for example, the appointment of a fire commissioner, that would require cabinet decisions and the drafting of legislation—legislation that the minister will bring before this house. Peter Conran, the head of Premier and Cabinet, is doing exactly what a head of Premier and Cabinet should do. He has been drawing together all the CEOs in the respective areas and has started to work within government to do that. That does not in any way conflict with the responsibilities and the role of the minister and/or the cabinet.
Peter Conran, the head of Premier and Cabinet, is doing exactly what a head of Premier and Cabinet should do. He has been drawing together all the CEOs in the respective areas and has started to work within government to do that. That does not in any way conflict with the responsibilities and the role of the minister and/or the cabinet.

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