❓ A Western Australian parliamentary question investigates potential nepotism and procedural irregularities in staff recruitment and promotions within the Ministry of Justice following the appointment of a new Director General. The Minister's response addresses each point, largely denying wrongdoing.
AnsweredQoN 817Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
817. Mr RIEBELING to the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Justice:
(1) Has the Director General of the Ministry of Justice recruited staff from the Department of Contract and Management Services who worked with him at the Department when he was the Chief Executive Officer of the Department?
(2) In particular, have the following people been promoted, transferred or seconded to the Ministry of Justice either on a temporary or permanent basis -
(a) Robert Harvey;
(b) Alex Taylor;
(c) Mark Diaz;
(d) John Dicker;
(e) Lisa Baker;
(f) Hugo Llopis;
(g) Athol Jamieson; and/or
(h) Sean Perce?
(3) How many other staff have been transferred or seconded to the Ministry of Justice who have worked with the Director General in the past?
(4) Prior to people being brought into the Ministry of Justice, were staff within the Ministry given the opportunity to apply for the positions ultimately filled by the people from outside the Ministry?
(5) If so, was that done by the positions being advertised?
(6) If not, why not?
(7) If advertised, on which date were the opportunities advertised and where were the opportunities advertised?
(8) Has advertising been deliberately limited to short periods and limited to restricted e-mail distribution to limit the opportunity for prospective applicants to apply?
(9) Have any of these people been subsequently promoted or transferred to positions in the Ministry of Justice since Mr Allan Piper became Director General?
(10) Has Mr Piper recruited any consultants he has been associated with in the past?
(11) Have any of these consultants been appointed to positions within the Ministry of Justice?
(12) If so, who are they?
(13) Was Mr Piper told that he would be appointed as Director General before the position was advertised?
(14) If so, why was the process breached?
(15) Did Mr Piper disclose that he would be appointed to the position of Director General before being formally appointed to that position?
(16) If so, what were the circumstances surrounding that disclosure?
(17) To whom was the disclosure made?
(1) Has the Director General of the Ministry of Justice recruited staff from the Department of Contract and Management Services who worked with him at the Department when he was the Chief Executive Officer of the Department?
(2) In particular, have the following people been promoted, transferred or seconded to the Ministry of Justice either on a temporary or permanent basis -
(a) Robert Harvey;
(b) Alex Taylor;
(c) Mark Diaz;
(d) John Dicker;
(e) Lisa Baker;
(f) Hugo Llopis;
(g) Athol Jamieson; and/or
(h) Sean Perce?
(3) How many other staff have been transferred or seconded to the Ministry of Justice who have worked with the Director General in the past?
(4) Prior to people being brought into the Ministry of Justice, were staff within the Ministry given the opportunity to apply for the positions ultimately filled by the people from outside the Ministry?
(5) If so, was that done by the positions being advertised?
(6) If not, why not?
(7) If advertised, on which date were the opportunities advertised and where were the opportunities advertised?
(8) Has advertising been deliberately limited to short periods and limited to restricted e-mail distribution to limit the opportunity for prospective applicants to apply?
(9) Have any of these people been subsequently promoted or transferred to positions in the Ministry of Justice since Mr Allan Piper became Director General?
(10) Has Mr Piper recruited any consultants he has been associated with in the past?
(11) Have any of these consultants been appointed to positions within the Ministry of Justice?
(12) If so, who are they?
(13) Was Mr Piper told that he would be appointed as Director General before the position was advertised?
(14) If so, why was the process breached?
(15) Did Mr Piper disclose that he would be appointed to the position of Director General before being formally appointed to that position?
(16) If so, what were the circumstances surrounding that disclosure?
(17) To whom was the disclosure made?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
23 November 2000
Response time
42 days
The Minister Replied:
The Minister for Justice has provided the following reply:
(1) Yes, since the Director General was appointed to act on 14/2/1998.
(2) (a) Robert Harvey Promotional appointment, 15/3/99
(b) Alex Taylor Promotional appointment, 26/11/99
(c) Mark Diaz Promotional appointment, 18/8/2000
(d) John Dicker-Spedding Transferred from CAMS, 10/7/2000
(e) Lisa Baker Employed by CAMS, on project assignment to MoJ since 17/8/98
(f) Hugo Llopis Seconded from WA Department of Training, 13/11/98, now with Transport
(g) Athol Jamieson Seconded from Treasury, 6/9/96, now with Main Roads WA
(h) Sean Perse Seconded from CAMS as an Asset Procurement Specialist, 3/11/97
(3) Four officers, since the appointment of Alan Piper as Director General.
(4) Permanent positions - Yes.
Secondments - No.
(5) In relation to these outlined in (2) above:
Permanent positions were advertised as widely as appropriate.
Secondments - Not applicable.
(6) All those listed in (2) who are currently employed by the Ministry were either promoted or transferred at level, except Sean Perse, who has been on secondment with the Ministry since November 1997.
Mr Perse brought to the Ministry essential strategic and contract procurement skills, necessary for the Ministry to move forward in delivering the increased program of capital works. This was done at a time when CAMS was in the process of withdrawing from direct involvement in project management.
(7) In relation to these outlined in (2) above:
a. Robert Harvey - West Australian Newspaper 27/11/1998; The Australian 28/11/1998.
b. Alex Taylor - West Australian Newspaper 10/7/1999; InterSector 8/7/1999.
c. Mark Diaz - West Australian Newspaper 3/6/2000; InterSector 31/5/2000.
In relation to all other permanent positions since the appointment of Alan Piper as Director General:
Renee Gibson - WA Newspaper 11/3/2000 InterSector 8/3/2000.
(8) No.
(9) Yes. In relation to (2) above:
(a) Robert Harvey Promotional appointment.
(b) Alex Taylor Promotional appointment.
(c) Mark Diaz Promotional appointment.
(d) John Dicker-Spedding Appointed at level.
In relation to all other permanent positions since the appointment of Alan Piper as Director General:
(a) Melanie Barnes Promotional appointment, 1/7/1998 (resigned 4/2/2000).
(b) Lyn Lubicz Transferred into a vacant position as Director General's Executive Assistant, 14/2/98.
(c) Renee Gibson Promotional appointment, 26/5/2000.
(10) No
(11) Not applicable
(12) Not applicable
(13) No
(14) Not applicable
(15) No
The Minister for Justice has provided the following reply:
(1) Yes, since the Director General was appointed to act on 14/2/1998.
(2) (a) Robert Harvey Promotional appointment, 15/3/99
(b) Alex Taylor Promotional appointment, 26/11/99
(c) Mark Diaz Promotional appointment, 18/8/2000
(d) John Dicker-Spedding Transferred from CAMS, 10/7/2000
(e) Lisa Baker Employed by CAMS, on project assignment to MoJ since 17/8/98
(f) Hugo Llopis Seconded from WA Department of Training, 13/11/98, now with Transport
(g) Athol Jamieson Seconded from Treasury, 6/9/96, now with Main Roads WA
(h) Sean Perse Seconded from CAMS as an Asset Procurement Specialist, 3/11/97
(3) Four officers, since the appointment of Alan Piper as Director General.
(4) Permanent positions - Yes.
Secondments - No.
(5) In relation to these outlined in (2) above:
Permanent positions were advertised as widely as appropriate.
Secondments - Not applicable.
(6) All those listed in (2) who are currently employed by the Ministry were either promoted or transferred at level, except Sean Perse, who has been on secondment with the Ministry since November 1997.
Mr Perse brought to the Ministry essential strategic and contract procurement skills, necessary for the Ministry to move forward in delivering the increased program of capital works. This was done at a time when CAMS was in the process of withdrawing from direct involvement in project management.
(7) In relation to these outlined in (2) above:
a. Robert Harvey - West Australian Newspaper 27/11/1998; The Australian 28/11/1998.
b. Alex Taylor - West Australian Newspaper 10/7/1999; InterSector 8/7/1999.
c. Mark Diaz - West Australian Newspaper 3/6/2000; InterSector 31/5/2000.
In relation to all other permanent positions since the appointment of Alan Piper as Director General:
Renee Gibson - WA Newspaper 11/3/2000 InterSector 8/3/2000.
(8) No.
(9) Yes. In relation to (2) above:
(a) Robert Harvey Promotional appointment.
(b) Alex Taylor Promotional appointment.
(c) Mark Diaz Promotional appointment.
(d) John Dicker-Spedding Appointed at level.
In relation to all other permanent positions since the appointment of Alan Piper as Director General:
(a) Melanie Barnes Promotional appointment, 1/7/1998 (resigned 4/2/2000).
(b) Lyn Lubicz Transferred into a vacant position as Director General's Executive Assistant, 14/2/98.
(c) Renee Gibson Promotional appointment, 26/5/2000.
(10) No
(11) Not applicable
(12) Not applicable
(13) No
(14) Not applicable
(15) No
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