❓ Mr. Wyatt questions the Premier about the payout figure for former employee James Larsson, alleging delays in providing the information. The Premier deflects, citing a flawed FOI request and privacy concerns, suggesting alternative avenues for obtaining the information.
AnsweredQoN 410Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
DEPARTMENT OF THE PREMIER AND CABINET — JAMES LARSSON PAYOUT
410. Mr B.S. WYATT to the Premier:
It has now been 78
days since the Premier committed in budget estimates to provide the WA taxpayer–funded
payout figure for his former employee James Larsson.
(1) How long was Mr
Larsson employed by the Department of the Premier and Cabinet?
(2) Under public
sector guidelines and conditions, what was Mr Larsson correctly entitled to?
(3) Will the Premier now tell WA taxpayers
what the final payout figure was to Mr Larsson; and if not, will he table that
information this week?
410. Mr B.S. WYATT to the Premier:
It has now been 78
days since the Premier committed in budget estimates to provide the WA taxpayer–funded
payout figure for his former employee James Larsson.
(1) How long was Mr
Larsson employed by the Department of the Premier and Cabinet?
(2) Under public
sector guidelines and conditions, what was Mr Larsson correctly entitled to?
(3) Will the Premier now tell WA taxpayers
what the final payout figure was to Mr Larsson; and if not, will he table that
information this week?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(3) The member for Victoria Park
put in a freedom of information application for details of Mr Larsson's
payout. He sent the FOI request to my office —
Mr B.S. Wyatt : And to the DPC.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : — instead of the department. He
sent it to the wrong agency, and he was advised of that but he could not get
the FOI application right. The member made a mistake, and what makes it even
more significant is that he had done it correctly previously, but he took a
different course of action FOI-ing my office, when that is not where records
are kept. That was pointed out to the member. He has now come back with another
request without any —
Mr P. Papalia : Answer the question!
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am trying to, my friend!
The
SPEAKER : Member for Warnbro,
I formally call you to order for the first time today. If you want to ask
questions, you get to your feet and you ask them.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members should bear in mind that Mr Larsson
is no longer an employee of this government, so any release of information
requires his approval. My understanding is that he is in Queensland. The member
is so late in all of this! However, if he puts in a correct FOI —
Mr B.S. Wyatt : Which I have done a number of times.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : — or a request through the Public
Accounts Committee, which also has the capacity to seek that information, then
it will be provided.
Several members
interjected.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Because the person has rights!
put in a freedom of information application for details of Mr Larsson's
payout. He sent the FOI request to my office —
Mr B.S. Wyatt : And to the DPC.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : — instead of the department. He
sent it to the wrong agency, and he was advised of that but he could not get
the FOI application right. The member made a mistake, and what makes it even
more significant is that he had done it correctly previously, but he took a
different course of action FOI-ing my office, when that is not where records
are kept. That was pointed out to the member. He has now come back with another
request without any —
Mr P. Papalia : Answer the question!
Mr C.J. BARNETT : I am trying to, my friend!
The
SPEAKER : Member for Warnbro,
I formally call you to order for the first time today. If you want to ask
questions, you get to your feet and you ask them.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Members should bear in mind that Mr Larsson
is no longer an employee of this government, so any release of information
requires his approval. My understanding is that he is in Queensland. The member
is so late in all of this! However, if he puts in a correct FOI —
Mr B.S. Wyatt : Which I have done a number of times.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : — or a request through the Public
Accounts Committee, which also has the capacity to seek that information, then
it will be provided.
Several members
interjected.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : Because the person has rights!
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