Question regarding alleged lobbying by Minister Collier to change the terms of reference of an investigation into bullying within his office. The Premier refers to the Public Sector Commissioner's report, stating the Commissioner consulted with relevant parties but made the final decision on the terms of reference.

AnsweredQoN 361Legislative Council
Asked
16 October 2013
Portfolio
Premier

QuestionView source ↗

I refer to the article in The West Australian by Daniel Emerson, dated Thursday 22 August 2013, titled "Minister in Labor sights over inquiry ", and I ask: (a) why was the Minister, Peter Collier as Minister for Training at the time in question, able to lobby the Public Sector Commissioner to change the terms of reference of an investigation into the bullying of public servants by him and his office; (b) are all Ministers able to lobby the Public Sector Commissioner before an investigation occurs; (c) if no to(b), why was Minister Collier allowed to do so; and (d) why were the terms of reference changed from an "an investigation into the culture and processes of the ministerial office" to "review of the structure, general operation and lines of communication" of the Department of Training and Workforce Development?

AnswerView source ↗

Answered
21 November 2013
Responded by
Leader of the House representing the Premier
Response time
36 days
Public Sector Commission
(a-d) The Premier refers to the Public Sector Commissioner's report on an examination into the relationship between the Office of the former Minister for Training and Workforce Development and the Department of Training and Workforce Development tabled in Parliament on 30 August 2013.
In the report, the Public Sector Commissioner makes it clear that in developing the terms of reference he considered it appropriate to discuss the matters to be examined with the Director General and the then Minister for Training and Workforce Development. However the decision was always that of the Public Sector Commissioner.

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