❓ Mr. Wyatt questions Premier Barnett regarding the negotiation of James Larsson's resignation payout, specifically challenging the Premier's previous statements about the Public Sector Commissioner's involvement. The Premier clarifies the roles of the Public Sector Commissioner and the CEO of the Department of Premier and Cabinet.
AnsweredQoN 535Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
JAMES LARSSON —
RESIGNATION PAYOUT
535. Mr B.S. WYATT to the Premier:
I refer to the Premier's
statement in this place last week that in relation to the payout to Mr James
Larsson the Premier said, ''I do not run this show'', and that he
has divested management of staff in terms of conditions to the Public Sector
Commission.
(1) In light of
the Premier's statement, why did the Director General of the Department
of the Premier and Cabinet, Mr Peter Conran, and not the Public Sector
Commissioner, negotiate Mr Larsson's payout?
(2) Does Mr Conran negotiate the
payout for all term-of-government employees?
(3) Given the
Premier's claim that his office had no role in the payout saga, why did
an internal email of his office dated 29 February say that he approved
amendments to a statement explaining the payout to include the words, ''The
parties agreed to a figure which took into account pro-rata leave, pro-rata
long service leave and various entitlements''?
RESIGNATION PAYOUT
535. Mr B.S. WYATT to the Premier:
I refer to the Premier's
statement in this place last week that in relation to the payout to Mr James
Larsson the Premier said, ''I do not run this show'', and that he
has divested management of staff in terms of conditions to the Public Sector
Commission.
(1) In light of
the Premier's statement, why did the Director General of the Department
of the Premier and Cabinet, Mr Peter Conran, and not the Public Sector
Commissioner, negotiate Mr Larsson's payout?
(2) Does Mr Conran negotiate the
payout for all term-of-government employees?
(3) Given the
Premier's claim that his office had no role in the payout saga, why did
an internal email of his office dated 29 February say that he approved
amendments to a statement explaining the payout to include the words, ''The
parties agreed to a figure which took into account pro-rata leave, pro-rata
long service leave and various entitlements''?
AnswerView source ↗
Mr Speaker, members opposite just
keep going on about this! We have provided all the information.
(1)–(3) Matters
to do with public sector employment under this government have been made the
responsibility of the Public Sector Commissioner. Why was Mr Conran involved?
It was because Mr Conran was the employer.
Mr
B.S. Wyatt : Why did you say last week the Public Sector Commissioner did
it?
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : Because he is not a permanent public servant, so the issue of
this is dealt with by the public sector —
Mr
B.S. Wyatt : So Mr Conran deals with all of it?
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : No, it is dealt with by the Public Sector Commissioner and
the CEO of the agency responsible. Peter Conran is the CEO of the Department of
the Premier and Cabinet. The Department of the Premier and Cabinet was the
employer of Mr Larsson. That is the situation. Yes, of course I have an input
into statements, but the negotiation of his payout figure was handled by the
head of Premier and Cabinet and he may well have had discussions with the
Public Sector Commissioner about it—I am not sure of that. But the
point I make is that it is not handled within my office or by me.
keep going on about this! We have provided all the information.
(1)–(3) Matters
to do with public sector employment under this government have been made the
responsibility of the Public Sector Commissioner. Why was Mr Conran involved?
It was because Mr Conran was the employer.
Mr
B.S. Wyatt : Why did you say last week the Public Sector Commissioner did
it?
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : Because he is not a permanent public servant, so the issue of
this is dealt with by the public sector —
Mr
B.S. Wyatt : So Mr Conran deals with all of it?
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : No, it is dealt with by the Public Sector Commissioner and
the CEO of the agency responsible. Peter Conran is the CEO of the Department of
the Premier and Cabinet. The Department of the Premier and Cabinet was the
employer of Mr Larsson. That is the situation. Yes, of course I have an input
into statements, but the negotiation of his payout figure was handled by the
head of Premier and Cabinet and he may well have had discussions with the
Public Sector Commissioner about it—I am not sure of that. But the
point I make is that it is not handled within my office or by me.
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