❓ The Premier responds to concerns about a public sector appointment with an unresolved misconduct finding, deflecting criticism by attacking the previous government's public sector management and promising review by the Public Sector Commissioner.
AnsweredQoN 355Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
MR DAVID CAPORN — APPOINTMENT
I have a supplementary question. Does the Premier believe that it is tenable for someone with an unresolved Corruption and Crime Commission finding of misconduct hanging over his head to remain in a senior public sector position? Mr C.J. BARNETT
I have a supplementary question. Does the Premier believe that it is tenable for someone with an unresolved Corruption and Crime Commission finding of misconduct hanging over his head to remain in a senior public sector position? Mr C.J. BARNETT
AnswerView source ↗
I believe that if someone in any walk of life has made a transgression or an error, he should pay a penalty, but that the penalty should not hang around his neck for the rest of his life. I think that one should pay only once for a crime or a misdemeanour, or for incompetence or whatever else it might be. That is what I will ask of the Public Sector Commissioner—to look at this issue and to consider whether the appointment should remain in force and, indeed, whether further measures should be taken. I am sure he will contact the police commissioner to find out whether the police inquiry should continue. I will not pre-empt that decision. I will refer this matter to the Public Sector Commissioner. The Liberal-National government, in one of its first acts, set up a Public Sector Commissioner—a point that the opposition does not get to this day. Mr E.S. Ripper : What about the Conran appointment? Mr C.J. BARNETT : He is not the Public Sector Commissioner; Malcolm Wauchope is the Public Sector Commissioner. Mr E.S. Ripper : What about his method of appointment? Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition displays why the previous government was such a poor government, and why it so hopelessly compromised the standing of the public sector. Governments are remembered for all sorts of things; this government will be remembered, at least within the public service, for restoring the independence and professionalism of the public service—something that the previous government directly compromised. It parachuted Labor people into government positions, it interfered with inquiries and it put politics before principle at every single opportunity. I will not do that; this government will not do that. I will go to the Public Sector Commissioner, he will report back to me, and I will report back to the house.
Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: I believe that if someone in any walk of life has made a transgression or an error, he should pay a penalty, but that the penalty should not hang around his neck for the rest of his life. I think that one should pay only once for a crime or a misdemeanour, or for incompetence or whatever else it might be. That is what I will ask of the Public Sector Commissioner—to look at this issue and to consider whether the appointment should remain in force and, indeed, whether further measures should be taken. I am sure he will contact the police commissioner to find out whether the police inquiry should continue. I will not pre-empt that decision. I will refer this matter to the Public Sector Commissioner. The Liberal-National government, in one of its first acts, set up a Public Sector Commissioner—a point that the opposition does not get to this day. Mr E.S. Ripper : What about the Conran appointment? Mr C.J. BARNETT : He is not the Public Sector Commissioner; Malcolm Wauchope is the Public Sector Commissioner. Mr E.S. Ripper : What about his method of appointment? Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition displays why the previous government was such a poor government, and why it so hopelessly compromised the standing of the public sector. Governments are remembered for all sorts of things; this government will be remembered, at least within the public service, for restoring the independence and professionalism of the public service—something that the previous government directly compromised. It parachuted Labor people into government positions, it interfered with inquiries and it put politics before principle at every single opportunity. I will not do that; this government will not do that. I will go to the Public Sector Commissioner, he will report back to me, and I will report back to the house.
I believe that if someone in any walk of life has made a transgression or an error, he should pay a penalty, but that the penalty should not hang around his neck for the rest of his life. I think that one should pay only once for a crime or a misdemeanour, or for incompetence or whatever else it might be. That is what I will ask of the Public Sector Commissioner—to look at this issue and to consider whether the appointment should remain in force and, indeed, whether further measures should be taken. I am sure he will contact the police commissioner to find out whether the police inquiry should continue. I will not pre-empt that decision. I will refer this matter to the Public Sector Commissioner. The Liberal-National government, in one of its first acts, set up a Public Sector Commissioner—a point that the opposition does not get to this day. Mr E.S. Ripper : What about the Conran appointment? Mr C.J. BARNETT : He is not the Public Sector Commissioner; Malcolm Wauchope is the Public Sector Commissioner. Mr E.S. Ripper : What about his method of appointment? Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition displays why the previous government was such a poor government, and why it so hopelessly compromised the standing of the public sector. Governments are remembered for all sorts of things; this government will be remembered, at least within the public service, for restoring the independence and professionalism of the public service—something that the previous government directly compromised. It parachuted Labor people into government positions, it interfered with inquiries and it put politics before principle at every single opportunity. I will not do that; this government will not do that. I will go to the Public Sector Commissioner, he will report back to me, and I will report back to the house.
Mr E.S. Ripper : What about the Conran appointment? Mr C.J. BARNETT : He is not the Public Sector Commissioner; Malcolm Wauchope is the Public Sector Commissioner. Mr E.S. Ripper : What about his method of appointment? Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition displays why the previous government was such a poor government, and why it so hopelessly compromised the standing of the public sector. Governments are remembered for all sorts of things; this government will be remembered, at least within the public service, for restoring the independence and professionalism of the public service—something that the previous government directly compromised. It parachuted Labor people into government positions, it interfered with inquiries and it put politics before principle at every single opportunity. I will not do that; this government will not do that. I will go to the Public Sector Commissioner, he will report back to me, and I will report back to the house.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : He is not the Public Sector Commissioner; Malcolm Wauchope is the Public Sector Commissioner. Mr E.S. Ripper : What about his method of appointment? Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition displays why the previous government was such a poor government, and why it so hopelessly compromised the standing of the public sector. Governments are remembered for all sorts of things; this government will be remembered, at least within the public service, for restoring the independence and professionalism of the public service—something that the previous government directly compromised. It parachuted Labor people into government positions, it interfered with inquiries and it put politics before principle at every single opportunity. I will not do that; this government will not do that. I will go to the Public Sector Commissioner, he will report back to me, and I will report back to the house.
Mr E.S. Ripper : What about his method of appointment? Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition displays why the previous government was such a poor government, and why it so hopelessly compromised the standing of the public sector. Governments are remembered for all sorts of things; this government will be remembered, at least within the public service, for restoring the independence and professionalism of the public service—something that the previous government directly compromised. It parachuted Labor people into government positions, it interfered with inquiries and it put politics before principle at every single opportunity. I will not do that; this government will not do that. I will go to the Public Sector Commissioner, he will report back to me, and I will report back to the house.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition displays why the previous government was such a poor government, and why it so hopelessly compromised the standing of the public sector. Governments are remembered for all sorts of things; this government will be remembered, at least within the public service, for restoring the independence and professionalism of the public service—something that the previous government directly compromised. It parachuted Labor people into government positions, it interfered with inquiries and it put politics before principle at every single opportunity. I will not do that; this government will not do that. I will go to the Public Sector Commissioner, he will report back to me, and I will report back to the house.
Mr C.J. BARNETT replied: I believe that if someone in any walk of life has made a transgression or an error, he should pay a penalty, but that the penalty should not hang around his neck for the rest of his life. I think that one should pay only once for a crime or a misdemeanour, or for incompetence or whatever else it might be. That is what I will ask of the Public Sector Commissioner—to look at this issue and to consider whether the appointment should remain in force and, indeed, whether further measures should be taken. I am sure he will contact the police commissioner to find out whether the police inquiry should continue. I will not pre-empt that decision. I will refer this matter to the Public Sector Commissioner. The Liberal-National government, in one of its first acts, set up a Public Sector Commissioner—a point that the opposition does not get to this day. Mr E.S. Ripper : What about the Conran appointment? Mr C.J. BARNETT : He is not the Public Sector Commissioner; Malcolm Wauchope is the Public Sector Commissioner. Mr E.S. Ripper : What about his method of appointment? Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition displays why the previous government was such a poor government, and why it so hopelessly compromised the standing of the public sector. Governments are remembered for all sorts of things; this government will be remembered, at least within the public service, for restoring the independence and professionalism of the public service—something that the previous government directly compromised. It parachuted Labor people into government positions, it interfered with inquiries and it put politics before principle at every single opportunity. I will not do that; this government will not do that. I will go to the Public Sector Commissioner, he will report back to me, and I will report back to the house.
I believe that if someone in any walk of life has made a transgression or an error, he should pay a penalty, but that the penalty should not hang around his neck for the rest of his life. I think that one should pay only once for a crime or a misdemeanour, or for incompetence or whatever else it might be. That is what I will ask of the Public Sector Commissioner—to look at this issue and to consider whether the appointment should remain in force and, indeed, whether further measures should be taken. I am sure he will contact the police commissioner to find out whether the police inquiry should continue. I will not pre-empt that decision. I will refer this matter to the Public Sector Commissioner. The Liberal-National government, in one of its first acts, set up a Public Sector Commissioner—a point that the opposition does not get to this day. Mr E.S. Ripper : What about the Conran appointment? Mr C.J. BARNETT : He is not the Public Sector Commissioner; Malcolm Wauchope is the Public Sector Commissioner. Mr E.S. Ripper : What about his method of appointment? Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition displays why the previous government was such a poor government, and why it so hopelessly compromised the standing of the public sector. Governments are remembered for all sorts of things; this government will be remembered, at least within the public service, for restoring the independence and professionalism of the public service—something that the previous government directly compromised. It parachuted Labor people into government positions, it interfered with inquiries and it put politics before principle at every single opportunity. I will not do that; this government will not do that. I will go to the Public Sector Commissioner, he will report back to me, and I will report back to the house.
Mr E.S. Ripper : What about the Conran appointment? Mr C.J. BARNETT : He is not the Public Sector Commissioner; Malcolm Wauchope is the Public Sector Commissioner. Mr E.S. Ripper : What about his method of appointment? Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition displays why the previous government was such a poor government, and why it so hopelessly compromised the standing of the public sector. Governments are remembered for all sorts of things; this government will be remembered, at least within the public service, for restoring the independence and professionalism of the public service—something that the previous government directly compromised. It parachuted Labor people into government positions, it interfered with inquiries and it put politics before principle at every single opportunity. I will not do that; this government will not do that. I will go to the Public Sector Commissioner, he will report back to me, and I will report back to the house.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : He is not the Public Sector Commissioner; Malcolm Wauchope is the Public Sector Commissioner. Mr E.S. Ripper : What about his method of appointment? Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition displays why the previous government was such a poor government, and why it so hopelessly compromised the standing of the public sector. Governments are remembered for all sorts of things; this government will be remembered, at least within the public service, for restoring the independence and professionalism of the public service—something that the previous government directly compromised. It parachuted Labor people into government positions, it interfered with inquiries and it put politics before principle at every single opportunity. I will not do that; this government will not do that. I will go to the Public Sector Commissioner, he will report back to me, and I will report back to the house.
Mr E.S. Ripper : What about his method of appointment? Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition displays why the previous government was such a poor government, and why it so hopelessly compromised the standing of the public sector. Governments are remembered for all sorts of things; this government will be remembered, at least within the public service, for restoring the independence and professionalism of the public service—something that the previous government directly compromised. It parachuted Labor people into government positions, it interfered with inquiries and it put politics before principle at every single opportunity. I will not do that; this government will not do that. I will go to the Public Sector Commissioner, he will report back to me, and I will report back to the house.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : The Leader of the Opposition displays why the previous government was such a poor government, and why it so hopelessly compromised the standing of the public sector. Governments are remembered for all sorts of things; this government will be remembered, at least within the public service, for restoring the independence and professionalism of the public service—something that the previous government directly compromised. It parachuted Labor people into government positions, it interfered with inquiries and it put politics before principle at every single opportunity. I will not do that; this government will not do that. I will go to the Public Sector Commissioner, he will report back to me, and I will report back to the house.
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