❓ Opposition Leader Mark McGowan questions Premier Colin Barnett about the government's policy of leaving public sector positions vacant, specifically referencing the Chief Scientist role and several Director General positions. The Premier denies a blanket policy and accuses McGowan of misrepresentation.
AnsweredQoN 150Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
PUBLIC
SECTOR — UNFILLED VACANCIES
150. Mr M. McGOWAN to the
Premier:
I refer to the
Premier's statement in the house on Wednesday of last week that it is
his preference that positions be left vacant for a period of time before
filling them.
(1) What is the ideal
amount of time for a position to be left vacant?
(2) Is this why WA
currently —
Several government
members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for Swan Hills, I call you to order for the first time. Member
for Wanneroo, I call you to order for the second time.
Mr M. McGOWAN : What is the —
Mr A. Krsticevic interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for Carine, I call you to order for the first time—member
for Carine!
Mr
M. McGOWAN : I repeat —
(1) What is
the ideal amount of time for a position to be left vacant?
(2) Is this
why Western Australia currently does not have permanent heads of the
Departments of Treasury, Health, Planning, Environment Regulation, Parks and
Wildlife, Local Government and Communities and Culture and the Arts?
(3) Is this
also why the state does not have a permanent Equal Opportunity Commissioner or
an Electoral Commissioner?
SECTOR — UNFILLED VACANCIES
150. Mr M. McGOWAN to the
Premier:
I refer to the
Premier's statement in the house on Wednesday of last week that it is
his preference that positions be left vacant for a period of time before
filling them.
(1) What is the ideal
amount of time for a position to be left vacant?
(2) Is this why WA
currently —
Several government
members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for Swan Hills, I call you to order for the first time. Member
for Wanneroo, I call you to order for the second time.
Mr M. McGOWAN : What is the —
Mr A. Krsticevic interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for Carine, I call you to order for the first time—member
for Carine!
Mr
M. McGOWAN : I repeat —
(1) What is
the ideal amount of time for a position to be left vacant?
(2) Is this
why Western Australia currently does not have permanent heads of the
Departments of Treasury, Health, Planning, Environment Regulation, Parks and
Wildlife, Local Government and Communities and Culture and the Arts?
(3) Is this
also why the state does not have a permanent Equal Opportunity Commissioner or
an Electoral Commissioner?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(3) I cannot recall what position I was referring
to on the date the Leader of the Opposition mentioned.
Mr R.H. Cook :
Chief Scientist.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
Yes; I had a feeling it was not a director general position.
Mr M. McGowan : It's
still an important position.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : Yes; it is a little different though than the tone the Leader
of the Opposition attached to it, is it not? The question, thank you, to the —
Mr
M. McGowan : You said you liked to leave positions vacant.
The
SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition!
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : No. This is the half-truth, tricky style of the Leader of the
Opposition.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : I thank the Deputy Leader of the Opposition for reminding me
that the question was in relation to the Chief Scientist. It was not about a
head of department, but a position of someone in the community, which, while it
might be paid, is almost, in a sense, an honorary role. I think there is merit
in allowing the person who holds a position such as the Chief Scientist, which
is external to the public service, to conclude before another person is
appointed. That was the nature of my answer. A question about vacancies among
chief executive officers and directors general is a different issue. Again, it
shows how the Leader of the Opposition tries to contrive and mislead in the way
he couches things. Good English would help him.
to on the date the Leader of the Opposition mentioned.
Mr R.H. Cook :
Chief Scientist.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
Yes; I had a feeling it was not a director general position.
Mr M. McGowan : It's
still an important position.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : Yes; it is a little different though than the tone the Leader
of the Opposition attached to it, is it not? The question, thank you, to the —
Mr
M. McGowan : You said you liked to leave positions vacant.
The
SPEAKER : Leader of the Opposition!
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : No. This is the half-truth, tricky style of the Leader of the
Opposition.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : I thank the Deputy Leader of the Opposition for reminding me
that the question was in relation to the Chief Scientist. It was not about a
head of department, but a position of someone in the community, which, while it
might be paid, is almost, in a sense, an honorary role. I think there is merit
in allowing the person who holds a position such as the Chief Scientist, which
is external to the public service, to conclude before another person is
appointed. That was the nature of my answer. A question about vacancies among
chief executive officers and directors general is a different issue. Again, it
shows how the Leader of the Opposition tries to contrive and mislead in the way
he couches things. Good English would help him.
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