❓ A parliamentary question regarding the Minister for Emergency Services' handling of controversial appointments within the Fire and Emergency Services Authority, specifically concerning a controversial appointment and legal advice sought on a report by the Commissioner for Public Sector Standards. The Minister defends his lack of involvement, citing the Public Sector Management Act.
AnsweredQoN 880Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
FIRE AND EMERGENCY SERVICES AUTHORITY AND COMMISSIONER FOR PUBLIC SECTOR STANDARDS — COMMENTS BY MINISTER FOR EMERGENCY SERVICES
I have a supplementary question, Mr Speaker. How can we have confidence in the minister’s handling of this portfolio when, first, his agency does not tell him it is about to make a controversial appointment; and, second, it hires lawyers to knobble a report of the independent Commissioner for Public Sector Standards, and the minister says he cannot do anything about this behaviour? Mr R.F. JOHNSON
I have a supplementary question, Mr Speaker. How can we have confidence in the minister’s handling of this portfolio when, first, his agency does not tell him it is about to make a controversial appointment; and, second, it hires lawyers to knobble a report of the independent Commissioner for Public Sector Standards, and the minister says he cannot do anything about this behaviour? Mr R.F. JOHNSON
AnswerView source ↗
Once again, there is a lot to argue in the question. Why should the agency come to me when it is making a controversial appointment? It is the member’s opinion it is controversial. It may also be my opinion, but I was not informed about that appointment. Had I been told — Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Let me ask the Leader of the Opposition a question; it is a rhetorical question. If he were in my shoes and the CEO had come to him and said, “Look, we are going to take on David Caporn, and I know there has been controversy in the past but he was the best applicant for the job; will you approve it, agree with it”, would the Leader of the Opposition have become involved personally in the appointment or non-appointment of somebody in the public service? Would the member suggest that would contravene the Public Sector Management Act? I think it would. Mr E.S. Ripper : Are we then to conclude that if a public sector agency wants to make a completely inappropriate appointment that no-one in this government could do anything about it? Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Where is Kieran Murphy working now? It is not appropriate for members of Parliament and it is illegal for members of Parliament whether they be ministers, shadow ministers or backbenchers to get involved in any way in the employment of a person within the public service. The Leader of the Opposition knows that and I know that.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON replied: Once again, there is a lot to argue in the question. Why should the agency come to me when it is making a controversial appointment? It is the member’s opinion it is controversial. It may also be my opinion, but I was not informed about that appointment. Had I been told — Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Let me ask the Leader of the Opposition a question; it is a rhetorical question. If he were in my shoes and the CEO had come to him and said, “Look, we are going to take on David Caporn, and I know there has been controversy in the past but he was the best applicant for the job; will you approve it, agree with it”, would the Leader of the Opposition have become involved personally in the appointment or non-appointment of somebody in the public service? Would the member suggest that would contravene the Public Sector Management Act? I think it would. Mr E.S. Ripper : Are we then to conclude that if a public sector agency wants to make a completely inappropriate appointment that no-one in this government could do anything about it? Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Where is Kieran Murphy working now? It is not appropriate for members of Parliament and it is illegal for members of Parliament whether they be ministers, shadow ministers or backbenchers to get involved in any way in the employment of a person within the public service. The Leader of the Opposition knows that and I know that.
Once again, there is a lot to argue in the question. Why should the agency come to me when it is making a controversial appointment? It is the member’s opinion it is controversial. It may also be my opinion, but I was not informed about that appointment. Had I been told — Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Let me ask the Leader of the Opposition a question; it is a rhetorical question. If he were in my shoes and the CEO had come to him and said, “Look, we are going to take on David Caporn, and I know there has been controversy in the past but he was the best applicant for the job; will you approve it, agree with it”, would the Leader of the Opposition have become involved personally in the appointment or non-appointment of somebody in the public service? Would the member suggest that would contravene the Public Sector Management Act? I think it would. Mr E.S. Ripper : Are we then to conclude that if a public sector agency wants to make a completely inappropriate appointment that no-one in this government could do anything about it? Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Where is Kieran Murphy working now? It is not appropriate for members of Parliament and it is illegal for members of Parliament whether they be ministers, shadow ministers or backbenchers to get involved in any way in the employment of a person within the public service. The Leader of the Opposition knows that and I know that.
Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Let me ask the Leader of the Opposition a question; it is a rhetorical question. If he were in my shoes and the CEO had come to him and said, “Look, we are going to take on David Caporn, and I know there has been controversy in the past but he was the best applicant for the job; will you approve it, agree with it”, would the Leader of the Opposition have become involved personally in the appointment or non-appointment of somebody in the public service? Would the member suggest that would contravene the Public Sector Management Act? I think it would. Mr E.S. Ripper : Are we then to conclude that if a public sector agency wants to make a completely inappropriate appointment that no-one in this government could do anything about it? Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Where is Kieran Murphy working now? It is not appropriate for members of Parliament and it is illegal for members of Parliament whether they be ministers, shadow ministers or backbenchers to get involved in any way in the employment of a person within the public service. The Leader of the Opposition knows that and I know that.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Let me ask the Leader of the Opposition a question; it is a rhetorical question. If he were in my shoes and the CEO had come to him and said, “Look, we are going to take on David Caporn, and I know there has been controversy in the past but he was the best applicant for the job; will you approve it, agree with it”, would the Leader of the Opposition have become involved personally in the appointment or non-appointment of somebody in the public service? Would the member suggest that would contravene the Public Sector Management Act? I think it would. Mr E.S. Ripper : Are we then to conclude that if a public sector agency wants to make a completely inappropriate appointment that no-one in this government could do anything about it? Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Where is Kieran Murphy working now? It is not appropriate for members of Parliament and it is illegal for members of Parliament whether they be ministers, shadow ministers or backbenchers to get involved in any way in the employment of a person within the public service. The Leader of the Opposition knows that and I know that.
Mr E.S. Ripper : Are we then to conclude that if a public sector agency wants to make a completely inappropriate appointment that no-one in this government could do anything about it? Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Where is Kieran Murphy working now? It is not appropriate for members of Parliament and it is illegal for members of Parliament whether they be ministers, shadow ministers or backbenchers to get involved in any way in the employment of a person within the public service. The Leader of the Opposition knows that and I know that.
Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Where is Kieran Murphy working now? It is not appropriate for members of Parliament and it is illegal for members of Parliament whether they be ministers, shadow ministers or backbenchers to get involved in any way in the employment of a person within the public service. The Leader of the Opposition knows that and I know that.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Where is Kieran Murphy working now? It is not appropriate for members of Parliament and it is illegal for members of Parliament whether they be ministers, shadow ministers or backbenchers to get involved in any way in the employment of a person within the public service. The Leader of the Opposition knows that and I know that.
It is not appropriate for members of Parliament and it is illegal for members of Parliament whether they be ministers, shadow ministers or backbenchers to get involved in any way in the employment of a person within the public service. The Leader of the Opposition knows that and I know that.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON replied: Once again, there is a lot to argue in the question. Why should the agency come to me when it is making a controversial appointment? It is the member’s opinion it is controversial. It may also be my opinion, but I was not informed about that appointment. Had I been told — Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Let me ask the Leader of the Opposition a question; it is a rhetorical question. If he were in my shoes and the CEO had come to him and said, “Look, we are going to take on David Caporn, and I know there has been controversy in the past but he was the best applicant for the job; will you approve it, agree with it”, would the Leader of the Opposition have become involved personally in the appointment or non-appointment of somebody in the public service? Would the member suggest that would contravene the Public Sector Management Act? I think it would. Mr E.S. Ripper : Are we then to conclude that if a public sector agency wants to make a completely inappropriate appointment that no-one in this government could do anything about it? Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Where is Kieran Murphy working now? It is not appropriate for members of Parliament and it is illegal for members of Parliament whether they be ministers, shadow ministers or backbenchers to get involved in any way in the employment of a person within the public service. The Leader of the Opposition knows that and I know that.
Once again, there is a lot to argue in the question. Why should the agency come to me when it is making a controversial appointment? It is the member’s opinion it is controversial. It may also be my opinion, but I was not informed about that appointment. Had I been told — Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Let me ask the Leader of the Opposition a question; it is a rhetorical question. If he were in my shoes and the CEO had come to him and said, “Look, we are going to take on David Caporn, and I know there has been controversy in the past but he was the best applicant for the job; will you approve it, agree with it”, would the Leader of the Opposition have become involved personally in the appointment or non-appointment of somebody in the public service? Would the member suggest that would contravene the Public Sector Management Act? I think it would. Mr E.S. Ripper : Are we then to conclude that if a public sector agency wants to make a completely inappropriate appointment that no-one in this government could do anything about it? Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Where is Kieran Murphy working now? It is not appropriate for members of Parliament and it is illegal for members of Parliament whether they be ministers, shadow ministers or backbenchers to get involved in any way in the employment of a person within the public service. The Leader of the Opposition knows that and I know that.
Mr F.M. Logan interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Let me ask the Leader of the Opposition a question; it is a rhetorical question. If he were in my shoes and the CEO had come to him and said, “Look, we are going to take on David Caporn, and I know there has been controversy in the past but he was the best applicant for the job; will you approve it, agree with it”, would the Leader of the Opposition have become involved personally in the appointment or non-appointment of somebody in the public service? Would the member suggest that would contravene the Public Sector Management Act? I think it would. Mr E.S. Ripper : Are we then to conclude that if a public sector agency wants to make a completely inappropriate appointment that no-one in this government could do anything about it? Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Where is Kieran Murphy working now? It is not appropriate for members of Parliament and it is illegal for members of Parliament whether they be ministers, shadow ministers or backbenchers to get involved in any way in the employment of a person within the public service. The Leader of the Opposition knows that and I know that.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Let me ask the Leader of the Opposition a question; it is a rhetorical question. If he were in my shoes and the CEO had come to him and said, “Look, we are going to take on David Caporn, and I know there has been controversy in the past but he was the best applicant for the job; will you approve it, agree with it”, would the Leader of the Opposition have become involved personally in the appointment or non-appointment of somebody in the public service? Would the member suggest that would contravene the Public Sector Management Act? I think it would. Mr E.S. Ripper : Are we then to conclude that if a public sector agency wants to make a completely inappropriate appointment that no-one in this government could do anything about it? Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Where is Kieran Murphy working now? It is not appropriate for members of Parliament and it is illegal for members of Parliament whether they be ministers, shadow ministers or backbenchers to get involved in any way in the employment of a person within the public service. The Leader of the Opposition knows that and I know that.
Mr E.S. Ripper : Are we then to conclude that if a public sector agency wants to make a completely inappropriate appointment that no-one in this government could do anything about it? Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Where is Kieran Murphy working now? It is not appropriate for members of Parliament and it is illegal for members of Parliament whether they be ministers, shadow ministers or backbenchers to get involved in any way in the employment of a person within the public service. The Leader of the Opposition knows that and I know that.
Several members interjected. Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Where is Kieran Murphy working now? It is not appropriate for members of Parliament and it is illegal for members of Parliament whether they be ministers, shadow ministers or backbenchers to get involved in any way in the employment of a person within the public service. The Leader of the Opposition knows that and I know that.
Mr R.F. JOHNSON : Where is Kieran Murphy working now? It is not appropriate for members of Parliament and it is illegal for members of Parliament whether they be ministers, shadow ministers or backbenchers to get involved in any way in the employment of a person within the public service. The Leader of the Opposition knows that and I know that.
It is not appropriate for members of Parliament and it is illegal for members of Parliament whether they be ministers, shadow ministers or backbenchers to get involved in any way in the employment of a person within the public service. The Leader of the Opposition knows that and I know that.
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