A parliamentary question regarding the high remuneration of Jo Harrison-Ward, who is working with the Department of Corrective Services but paid by the Public Sector Commission. The questioner seeks justification for her salary, while the Minister defends her skills and deployment.

AnsweredQoN 648Legislative Assembly
Asked
28 September 2011
Portfolio
Corrective Services

QuestionView source ↗

DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIVE SERVICES — JO HARRISON-WARD — APPOINTMENT
I have a supplementary question. Given that Ms Harrison-Ward’s remuneration is more than $300 000 per annum, and, according to the minister’s department’s annual report, this would make her the second-highest paid executive in the department, what is she going to do for the money? Mr D.T. REDMAN

AnswerView source ↗

Jo Harrison-Ward is being paid out of the Public Sector Commission; she is not being paid out of the Department of Corrective Services. As I understand it—again, it is not my portfolio — Mr E.S. Ripper : It is still taxpayers’ money. Mr D.T. REDMAN : Absolutely—absolutely. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr D.T. REDMAN : Here is a person who has a set of skills within the public sector; yes, she is on a certain remuneration, which I am assuming relates to her contractual position that she has come from. Mr E.S. Ripper : What is she going to do? Mr D.T. REDMAN : She has been engaged to do some work with the Department of Corrective Services around planning and preparation of the future provision of corporate services with the department, and also she has been seconded to that role. I think it stands to reason that she carries a set of skills that she is able to deploy in the public service, as she is getting paid for that, and I think it is an appropriate deployment of her resources, and I am very comfortable with it.
Mr D.T. REDMAN replied: Jo Harrison-Ward is being paid out of the Public Sector Commission; she is not being paid out of the Department of Corrective Services. As I understand it—again, it is not my portfolio — Mr E.S. Ripper : It is still taxpayers’ money. Mr D.T. REDMAN : Absolutely—absolutely. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr D.T. REDMAN : Here is a person who has a set of skills within the public sector; yes, she is on a certain remuneration, which I am assuming relates to her contractual position that she has come from. Mr E.S. Ripper : What is she going to do? Mr D.T. REDMAN : She has been engaged to do some work with the Department of Corrective Services around planning and preparation of the future provision of corporate services with the department, and also she has been seconded to that role. I think it stands to reason that she carries a set of skills that she is able to deploy in the public service, as she is getting paid for that, and I think it is an appropriate deployment of her resources, and I am very comfortable with it.
Jo Harrison-Ward is being paid out of the Public Sector Commission; she is not being paid out of the Department of Corrective Services. As I understand it—again, it is not my portfolio — Mr E.S. Ripper : It is still taxpayers’ money. Mr D.T. REDMAN : Absolutely—absolutely. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr D.T. REDMAN : Here is a person who has a set of skills within the public sector; yes, she is on a certain remuneration, which I am assuming relates to her contractual position that she has come from. Mr E.S. Ripper : What is she going to do? Mr D.T. REDMAN : She has been engaged to do some work with the Department of Corrective Services around planning and preparation of the future provision of corporate services with the department, and also she has been seconded to that role. I think it stands to reason that she carries a set of skills that she is able to deploy in the public service, as she is getting paid for that, and I think it is an appropriate deployment of her resources, and I am very comfortable with it.
Mr E.S. Ripper : It is still taxpayers’ money. Mr D.T. REDMAN : Absolutely—absolutely. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr D.T. REDMAN : Here is a person who has a set of skills within the public sector; yes, she is on a certain remuneration, which I am assuming relates to her contractual position that she has come from. Mr E.S. Ripper : What is she going to do? Mr D.T. REDMAN : She has been engaged to do some work with the Department of Corrective Services around planning and preparation of the future provision of corporate services with the department, and also she has been seconded to that role. I think it stands to reason that she carries a set of skills that she is able to deploy in the public service, as she is getting paid for that, and I think it is an appropriate deployment of her resources, and I am very comfortable with it.
Mr D.T. REDMAN : Absolutely—absolutely. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr D.T. REDMAN : Here is a person who has a set of skills within the public sector; yes, she is on a certain remuneration, which I am assuming relates to her contractual position that she has come from. Mr E.S. Ripper : What is she going to do? Mr D.T. REDMAN : She has been engaged to do some work with the Department of Corrective Services around planning and preparation of the future provision of corporate services with the department, and also she has been seconded to that role. I think it stands to reason that she carries a set of skills that she is able to deploy in the public service, as she is getting paid for that, and I think it is an appropriate deployment of her resources, and I am very comfortable with it.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER : Members! Mr D.T. REDMAN : Here is a person who has a set of skills within the public sector; yes, she is on a certain remuneration, which I am assuming relates to her contractual position that she has come from. Mr E.S. Ripper : What is she going to do? Mr D.T. REDMAN : She has been engaged to do some work with the Department of Corrective Services around planning and preparation of the future provision of corporate services with the department, and also she has been seconded to that role. I think it stands to reason that she carries a set of skills that she is able to deploy in the public service, as she is getting paid for that, and I think it is an appropriate deployment of her resources, and I am very comfortable with it.
The SPEAKER : Members! Mr D.T. REDMAN : Here is a person who has a set of skills within the public sector; yes, she is on a certain remuneration, which I am assuming relates to her contractual position that she has come from. Mr E.S. Ripper : What is she going to do? Mr D.T. REDMAN : She has been engaged to do some work with the Department of Corrective Services around planning and preparation of the future provision of corporate services with the department, and also she has been seconded to that role. I think it stands to reason that she carries a set of skills that she is able to deploy in the public service, as she is getting paid for that, and I think it is an appropriate deployment of her resources, and I am very comfortable with it.
Mr D.T. REDMAN : Here is a person who has a set of skills within the public sector; yes, she is on a certain remuneration, which I am assuming relates to her contractual position that she has come from. Mr E.S. Ripper : What is she going to do? Mr D.T. REDMAN : She has been engaged to do some work with the Department of Corrective Services around planning and preparation of the future provision of corporate services with the department, and also she has been seconded to that role. I think it stands to reason that she carries a set of skills that she is able to deploy in the public service, as she is getting paid for that, and I think it is an appropriate deployment of her resources, and I am very comfortable with it.
Mr E.S. Ripper : What is she going to do? Mr D.T. REDMAN : She has been engaged to do some work with the Department of Corrective Services around planning and preparation of the future provision of corporate services with the department, and also she has been seconded to that role. I think it stands to reason that she carries a set of skills that she is able to deploy in the public service, as she is getting paid for that, and I think it is an appropriate deployment of her resources, and I am very comfortable with it.
Mr D.T. REDMAN : She has been engaged to do some work with the Department of Corrective Services around planning and preparation of the future provision of corporate services with the department, and also she has been seconded to that role. I think it stands to reason that she carries a set of skills that she is able to deploy in the public service, as she is getting paid for that, and I think it is an appropriate deployment of her resources, and I am very comfortable with it.

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