❓ A WA parliamentary question seeks clarification regarding a letter to the editor purportedly written by the Director General of the Department of Minerals and Petroleum Resources, specifically concerning public servant commentary on public issues and potential breaches of Public Sector Standards.
AnsweredQoN 869Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to a letter to the editor which appeared on page 7 in the
Kalgoorlie Miner
Newspaper Friday, August 9 2002 which was reported as being written by Mr Jim Limerick, Director General, Department of Minerals and Petroleum Resources -
(1) Is it correct that Mr Jim Limerick wrote the above letter which in part stated ‘Your Newspaper would know that public servants are not allowed to comment on public issues particularly where the issues have been raised by Members of Parliament’?
(2) If no to (1), what did Mr Limerick specifically state in his letter?
(3) Can the Minister for State Development explain how the newspaper would know that public servants are not allowed to ‘comment on public issues’?
(4) If no to (3), why not?
(5) Can the Minister explain how the Newspaper would know that public servants are not allowed to comment on public issues and more particularly ‘where the issues have been raised by Members of Parliament’?
(6) If no to (5), why not?
(7) Is it correct that Mr Jim Limerick wrote the above letter which in part stated ‘Notwithstanding this, your journalist sought comment from … under circumstances where she was not able to defend herself without breaching Public Sector Standards.’?
(8) If no to (7), will the Minister table the letter to the editor written and signed by the Mr Jim Limerick, Director General Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources?
(9) Can the Minister explain how the person within the department would have breached ‘Public Sector Standards’ and therefore was not able to defend herself?
(10) If no to (9), why not?
Kalgoorlie Miner
Newspaper Friday, August 9 2002 which was reported as being written by Mr Jim Limerick, Director General, Department of Minerals and Petroleum Resources -
(1) Is it correct that Mr Jim Limerick wrote the above letter which in part stated ‘Your Newspaper would know that public servants are not allowed to comment on public issues particularly where the issues have been raised by Members of Parliament’?
(2) If no to (1), what did Mr Limerick specifically state in his letter?
(3) Can the Minister for State Development explain how the newspaper would know that public servants are not allowed to ‘comment on public issues’?
(4) If no to (3), why not?
(5) Can the Minister explain how the Newspaper would know that public servants are not allowed to comment on public issues and more particularly ‘where the issues have been raised by Members of Parliament’?
(6) If no to (5), why not?
(7) Is it correct that Mr Jim Limerick wrote the above letter which in part stated ‘Notwithstanding this, your journalist sought comment from … under circumstances where she was not able to defend herself without breaching Public Sector Standards.’?
(8) If no to (7), will the Minister table the letter to the editor written and signed by the Mr Jim Limerick, Director General Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources?
(9) Can the Minister explain how the person within the department would have breached ‘Public Sector Standards’ and therefore was not able to defend herself?
(10) If no to (9), why not?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
19 August 2003
Responded by
Parliamentary Secretary representing the Minister for State Development
Response time
67 days
1. Yes 2. Not applicable 3. The Kalgoorlie Miner newspaper would be aware from its virtually daily dealings with Government for more than a century that public servants are not able to comment on public issues without the appropriate authority. 4. Not applicable 5. See answer to question 3 6. Not applicable 7. Yes 8. Not applicable 9. Under Public Sector Management Administrative Instruction 728, issued by the Department of the Premier and Cabinet, public servants ‘…should avoid making any comment which could undermine public confidence or disrupt the everyday administration of either the Public Service or the Government of the day. To this end, they should: · Not give their personal views on matters of government policy or administration, or on advice made to government · Not speculate on future policy directions · Not publicly criticise any political party, its actions or its policies, and · Not prolong discussion or debate on an issue once a decision has been made, or a policy adopted.’ In addition, Regulation 8 of the Public Service Act 1978 Regulations still in force provides that an officer shall not publicly comment, either orally or in writing, on any administrative action, or upon the administration of any Department or organisation. 10. Not applicable
2. Not applicable 3. The Kalgoorlie Miner newspaper would be aware from its virtually daily dealings with Government for more than a century that public servants are not able to comment on public issues without the appropriate authority. 4. Not applicable 5. See answer to question 3 6. Not applicable 7. Yes 8. Not applicable 9. Under Public Sector Management Administrative Instruction 728, issued by the Department of the Premier and Cabinet, public servants ‘…should avoid making any comment which could undermine public confidence or disrupt the everyday administration of either the Public Service or the Government of the day. To this end, they should: · Not give their personal views on matters of government policy or administration, or on advice made to government · Not speculate on future policy directions · Not publicly criticise any political party, its actions or its policies, and · Not prolong discussion or debate on an issue once a decision has been made, or a policy adopted.’ In addition, Regulation 8 of the Public Service Act 1978 Regulations still in force provides that an officer shall not publicly comment, either orally or in writing, on any administrative action, or upon the administration of any Department or organisation. 10. Not applicable
3. The Kalgoorlie Miner newspaper would be aware from its virtually daily dealings with Government for more than a century that public servants are not able to comment on public issues without the appropriate authority. 4. Not applicable 5. See answer to question 3 6. Not applicable 7. Yes 8. Not applicable 9. Under Public Sector Management Administrative Instruction 728, issued by the Department of the Premier and Cabinet, public servants ‘…should avoid making any comment which could undermine public confidence or disrupt the everyday administration of either the Public Service or the Government of the day. To this end, they should: · Not give their personal views on matters of government policy or administration, or on advice made to government · Not speculate on future policy directions · Not publicly criticise any political party, its actions or its policies, and · Not prolong discussion or debate on an issue once a decision has been made, or a policy adopted.’ In addition, Regulation 8 of the Public Service Act 1978 Regulations still in force provides that an officer shall not publicly comment, either orally or in writing, on any administrative action, or upon the administration of any Department or organisation. 10. Not applicable
4. Not applicable 5. See answer to question 3 6. Not applicable 7. Yes 8. Not applicable 9. Under Public Sector Management Administrative Instruction 728, issued by the Department of the Premier and Cabinet, public servants ‘…should avoid making any comment which could undermine public confidence or disrupt the everyday administration of either the Public Service or the Government of the day. To this end, they should: · Not give their personal views on matters of government policy or administration, or on advice made to government · Not speculate on future policy directions · Not publicly criticise any political party, its actions or its policies, and · Not prolong discussion or debate on an issue once a decision has been made, or a policy adopted.’ In addition, Regulation 8 of the Public Service Act 1978 Regulations still in force provides that an officer shall not publicly comment, either orally or in writing, on any administrative action, or upon the administration of any Department or organisation. 10. Not applicable
5. See answer to question 3 6. Not applicable 7. Yes 8. Not applicable 9. Under Public Sector Management Administrative Instruction 728, issued by the Department of the Premier and Cabinet, public servants ‘…should avoid making any comment which could undermine public confidence or disrupt the everyday administration of either the Public Service or the Government of the day. To this end, they should: · Not give their personal views on matters of government policy or administration, or on advice made to government · Not speculate on future policy directions · Not publicly criticise any political party, its actions or its policies, and · Not prolong discussion or debate on an issue once a decision has been made, or a policy adopted.’ In addition, Regulation 8 of the Public Service Act 1978 Regulations still in force provides that an officer shall not publicly comment, either orally or in writing, on any administrative action, or upon the administration of any Department or organisation. 10. Not applicable
6. Not applicable 7. Yes 8. Not applicable 9. Under Public Sector Management Administrative Instruction 728, issued by the Department of the Premier and Cabinet, public servants ‘…should avoid making any comment which could undermine public confidence or disrupt the everyday administration of either the Public Service or the Government of the day. To this end, they should: · Not give their personal views on matters of government policy or administration, or on advice made to government · Not speculate on future policy directions · Not publicly criticise any political party, its actions or its policies, and · Not prolong discussion or debate on an issue once a decision has been made, or a policy adopted.’ In addition, Regulation 8 of the Public Service Act 1978 Regulations still in force provides that an officer shall not publicly comment, either orally or in writing, on any administrative action, or upon the administration of any Department or organisation. 10. Not applicable
7. Yes 8. Not applicable 9. Under Public Sector Management Administrative Instruction 728, issued by the Department of the Premier and Cabinet, public servants ‘…should avoid making any comment which could undermine public confidence or disrupt the everyday administration of either the Public Service or the Government of the day. To this end, they should: · Not give their personal views on matters of government policy or administration, or on advice made to government · Not speculate on future policy directions · Not publicly criticise any political party, its actions or its policies, and · Not prolong discussion or debate on an issue once a decision has been made, or a policy adopted.’ In addition, Regulation 8 of the Public Service Act 1978 Regulations still in force provides that an officer shall not publicly comment, either orally or in writing, on any administrative action, or upon the administration of any Department or organisation. 10. Not applicable
8. Not applicable 9. Under Public Sector Management Administrative Instruction 728, issued by the Department of the Premier and Cabinet, public servants ‘…should avoid making any comment which could undermine public confidence or disrupt the everyday administration of either the Public Service or the Government of the day. To this end, they should: · Not give their personal views on matters of government policy or administration, or on advice made to government · Not speculate on future policy directions · Not publicly criticise any political party, its actions or its policies, and · Not prolong discussion or debate on an issue once a decision has been made, or a policy adopted.’ In addition, Regulation 8 of the Public Service Act 1978 Regulations still in force provides that an officer shall not publicly comment, either orally or in writing, on any administrative action, or upon the administration of any Department or organisation. 10. Not applicable
9. Under Public Sector Management Administrative Instruction 728, issued by the Department of the Premier and Cabinet, public servants ‘…should avoid making any comment which could undermine public confidence or disrupt the everyday administration of either the Public Service or the Government of the day. To this end, they should: · Not give their personal views on matters of government policy or administration, or on advice made to government · Not speculate on future policy directions · Not publicly criticise any political party, its actions or its policies, and · Not prolong discussion or debate on an issue once a decision has been made, or a policy adopted.’ In addition, Regulation 8 of the Public Service Act 1978 Regulations still in force provides that an officer shall not publicly comment, either orally or in writing, on any administrative action, or upon the administration of any Department or organisation. 10. Not applicable
· Not give their personal views on matters of government policy or administration, or on advice made to government · Not speculate on future policy directions · Not publicly criticise any political party, its actions or its policies, and · Not prolong discussion or debate on an issue once a decision has been made, or a policy adopted.’ In addition, Regulation 8 of the Public Service Act 1978 Regulations still in force provides that an officer shall not publicly comment, either orally or in writing, on any administrative action, or upon the administration of any Department or organisation. 10. Not applicable
· Not speculate on future policy directions · Not publicly criticise any political party, its actions or its policies, and · Not prolong discussion or debate on an issue once a decision has been made, or a policy adopted.’ In addition, Regulation 8 of the Public Service Act 1978 Regulations still in force provides that an officer shall not publicly comment, either orally or in writing, on any administrative action, or upon the administration of any Department or organisation. 10. Not applicable
· Not publicly criticise any political party, its actions or its policies, and · Not prolong discussion or debate on an issue once a decision has been made, or a policy adopted.’ In addition, Regulation 8 of the Public Service Act 1978 Regulations still in force provides that an officer shall not publicly comment, either orally or in writing, on any administrative action, or upon the administration of any Department or organisation. 10. Not applicable
· Not prolong discussion or debate on an issue once a decision has been made, or a policy adopted.’ In addition, Regulation 8 of the Public Service Act 1978 Regulations still in force provides that an officer shall not publicly comment, either orally or in writing, on any administrative action, or upon the administration of any Department or organisation. 10. Not applicable
In addition, Regulation 8 of the Public Service Act 1978 Regulations still in force provides that an officer shall not publicly comment, either orally or in writing, on any administrative action, or upon the administration of any Department or organisation. 10. Not applicable
10. Not applicable
2. Not applicable 3. The Kalgoorlie Miner newspaper would be aware from its virtually daily dealings with Government for more than a century that public servants are not able to comment on public issues without the appropriate authority. 4. Not applicable 5. See answer to question 3 6. Not applicable 7. Yes 8. Not applicable 9. Under Public Sector Management Administrative Instruction 728, issued by the Department of the Premier and Cabinet, public servants ‘…should avoid making any comment which could undermine public confidence or disrupt the everyday administration of either the Public Service or the Government of the day. To this end, they should: · Not give their personal views on matters of government policy or administration, or on advice made to government · Not speculate on future policy directions · Not publicly criticise any political party, its actions or its policies, and · Not prolong discussion or debate on an issue once a decision has been made, or a policy adopted.’ In addition, Regulation 8 of the Public Service Act 1978 Regulations still in force provides that an officer shall not publicly comment, either orally or in writing, on any administrative action, or upon the administration of any Department or organisation. 10. Not applicable
3. The Kalgoorlie Miner newspaper would be aware from its virtually daily dealings with Government for more than a century that public servants are not able to comment on public issues without the appropriate authority. 4. Not applicable 5. See answer to question 3 6. Not applicable 7. Yes 8. Not applicable 9. Under Public Sector Management Administrative Instruction 728, issued by the Department of the Premier and Cabinet, public servants ‘…should avoid making any comment which could undermine public confidence or disrupt the everyday administration of either the Public Service or the Government of the day. To this end, they should: · Not give their personal views on matters of government policy or administration, or on advice made to government · Not speculate on future policy directions · Not publicly criticise any political party, its actions or its policies, and · Not prolong discussion or debate on an issue once a decision has been made, or a policy adopted.’ In addition, Regulation 8 of the Public Service Act 1978 Regulations still in force provides that an officer shall not publicly comment, either orally or in writing, on any administrative action, or upon the administration of any Department or organisation. 10. Not applicable
4. Not applicable 5. See answer to question 3 6. Not applicable 7. Yes 8. Not applicable 9. Under Public Sector Management Administrative Instruction 728, issued by the Department of the Premier and Cabinet, public servants ‘…should avoid making any comment which could undermine public confidence or disrupt the everyday administration of either the Public Service or the Government of the day. To this end, they should: · Not give their personal views on matters of government policy or administration, or on advice made to government · Not speculate on future policy directions · Not publicly criticise any political party, its actions or its policies, and · Not prolong discussion or debate on an issue once a decision has been made, or a policy adopted.’ In addition, Regulation 8 of the Public Service Act 1978 Regulations still in force provides that an officer shall not publicly comment, either orally or in writing, on any administrative action, or upon the administration of any Department or organisation. 10. Not applicable
5. See answer to question 3 6. Not applicable 7. Yes 8. Not applicable 9. Under Public Sector Management Administrative Instruction 728, issued by the Department of the Premier and Cabinet, public servants ‘…should avoid making any comment which could undermine public confidence or disrupt the everyday administration of either the Public Service or the Government of the day. To this end, they should: · Not give their personal views on matters of government policy or administration, or on advice made to government · Not speculate on future policy directions · Not publicly criticise any political party, its actions or its policies, and · Not prolong discussion or debate on an issue once a decision has been made, or a policy adopted.’ In addition, Regulation 8 of the Public Service Act 1978 Regulations still in force provides that an officer shall not publicly comment, either orally or in writing, on any administrative action, or upon the administration of any Department or organisation. 10. Not applicable
6. Not applicable 7. Yes 8. Not applicable 9. Under Public Sector Management Administrative Instruction 728, issued by the Department of the Premier and Cabinet, public servants ‘…should avoid making any comment which could undermine public confidence or disrupt the everyday administration of either the Public Service or the Government of the day. To this end, they should: · Not give their personal views on matters of government policy or administration, or on advice made to government · Not speculate on future policy directions · Not publicly criticise any political party, its actions or its policies, and · Not prolong discussion or debate on an issue once a decision has been made, or a policy adopted.’ In addition, Regulation 8 of the Public Service Act 1978 Regulations still in force provides that an officer shall not publicly comment, either orally or in writing, on any administrative action, or upon the administration of any Department or organisation. 10. Not applicable
7. Yes 8. Not applicable 9. Under Public Sector Management Administrative Instruction 728, issued by the Department of the Premier and Cabinet, public servants ‘…should avoid making any comment which could undermine public confidence or disrupt the everyday administration of either the Public Service or the Government of the day. To this end, they should: · Not give their personal views on matters of government policy or administration, or on advice made to government · Not speculate on future policy directions · Not publicly criticise any political party, its actions or its policies, and · Not prolong discussion or debate on an issue once a decision has been made, or a policy adopted.’ In addition, Regulation 8 of the Public Service Act 1978 Regulations still in force provides that an officer shall not publicly comment, either orally or in writing, on any administrative action, or upon the administration of any Department or organisation. 10. Not applicable
8. Not applicable 9. Under Public Sector Management Administrative Instruction 728, issued by the Department of the Premier and Cabinet, public servants ‘…should avoid making any comment which could undermine public confidence or disrupt the everyday administration of either the Public Service or the Government of the day. To this end, they should: · Not give their personal views on matters of government policy or administration, or on advice made to government · Not speculate on future policy directions · Not publicly criticise any political party, its actions or its policies, and · Not prolong discussion or debate on an issue once a decision has been made, or a policy adopted.’ In addition, Regulation 8 of the Public Service Act 1978 Regulations still in force provides that an officer shall not publicly comment, either orally or in writing, on any administrative action, or upon the administration of any Department or organisation. 10. Not applicable
9. Under Public Sector Management Administrative Instruction 728, issued by the Department of the Premier and Cabinet, public servants ‘…should avoid making any comment which could undermine public confidence or disrupt the everyday administration of either the Public Service or the Government of the day. To this end, they should: · Not give their personal views on matters of government policy or administration, or on advice made to government · Not speculate on future policy directions · Not publicly criticise any political party, its actions or its policies, and · Not prolong discussion or debate on an issue once a decision has been made, or a policy adopted.’ In addition, Regulation 8 of the Public Service Act 1978 Regulations still in force provides that an officer shall not publicly comment, either orally or in writing, on any administrative action, or upon the administration of any Department or organisation. 10. Not applicable
· Not give their personal views on matters of government policy or administration, or on advice made to government · Not speculate on future policy directions · Not publicly criticise any political party, its actions or its policies, and · Not prolong discussion or debate on an issue once a decision has been made, or a policy adopted.’ In addition, Regulation 8 of the Public Service Act 1978 Regulations still in force provides that an officer shall not publicly comment, either orally or in writing, on any administrative action, or upon the administration of any Department or organisation. 10. Not applicable
· Not speculate on future policy directions · Not publicly criticise any political party, its actions or its policies, and · Not prolong discussion or debate on an issue once a decision has been made, or a policy adopted.’ In addition, Regulation 8 of the Public Service Act 1978 Regulations still in force provides that an officer shall not publicly comment, either orally or in writing, on any administrative action, or upon the administration of any Department or organisation. 10. Not applicable
· Not publicly criticise any political party, its actions or its policies, and · Not prolong discussion or debate on an issue once a decision has been made, or a policy adopted.’ In addition, Regulation 8 of the Public Service Act 1978 Regulations still in force provides that an officer shall not publicly comment, either orally or in writing, on any administrative action, or upon the administration of any Department or organisation. 10. Not applicable
· Not prolong discussion or debate on an issue once a decision has been made, or a policy adopted.’ In addition, Regulation 8 of the Public Service Act 1978 Regulations still in force provides that an officer shall not publicly comment, either orally or in writing, on any administrative action, or upon the administration of any Department or organisation. 10. Not applicable
In addition, Regulation 8 of the Public Service Act 1978 Regulations still in force provides that an officer shall not publicly comment, either orally or in writing, on any administrative action, or upon the administration of any Department or organisation. 10. Not applicable
10. Not applicable
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