❓ Mr. Murray questions the Minister for Forestry regarding the departure of Mr. Erasmus and a potentially altered letter. The Minister defends her high expectations and states Mr. Erasmus resigned, disagreeing with the board's initial letter expressing disappointment.
AnsweredQoN 28Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
FOREST PRODUCTS COMMISSION — MINISTER FOR
FORESTRY — VINCE ERASMUS
28. Mr M.P. MURRAY to the Minister for
Forestry:
I refer to the recent freedom of
information application and appeal revealing a serious breakdown in the
relationship between the minister, her office staff, and board members of the
Forest Products Commission. Given the minister's previous refusal to
answer questions over the departure of Mr Vince Erasmus, I ask —
(1) Will the minister today outline
the circumstances leading to the departure of Mr Erasmus ?
(2) Why did the
minister doctor a letter to staff and stakeholders highlighting the loss to the
industry that Mr Erasmus' departure was likely to precipitate?
FORESTRY — VINCE ERASMUS
28. Mr M.P. MURRAY to the Minister for
Forestry:
I refer to the recent freedom of
information application and appeal revealing a serious breakdown in the
relationship between the minister, her office staff, and board members of the
Forest Products Commission. Given the minister's previous refusal to
answer questions over the departure of Mr Vince Erasmus, I ask —
(1) Will the minister today outline
the circumstances leading to the departure of Mr Erasmus ?
(2) Why did the
minister doctor a letter to staff and stakeholders highlighting the loss to the
industry that Mr Erasmus' departure was likely to precipitate?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) Mr Speaker —
Mr
D.T. Redman interjected.
The
SPEAKER : The question is not aimed at you.
Mr
F.M. Logan : She can answer it.
Ms
M.J. DAVIES : I can, absolutely, because I absolutely make no apologies for
having high expectations of my departments and the leadership therein. Being a
minister is not a popularity contest. The member should ask some of his
colleagues who have been in that position. I make no apologies for having the
highest expectations —
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Collie‑Preston and member for Girrawheen, let the
minister answer—and can the members for Alfred Cove and South Perth
please stop talking.
Ms
M.J. DAVIES : I make no apologies for holding my departments to the highest
account and the leadership therein. They are in charge of significant budgets
on behalf of the taxpayer. I expect them to conduct themselves appropriately
and to the standards that we set.
I had a very cordial relationship
with Mr Erasmus. He elected to resign. In relation to the letter, the board
expressed —
Several members interjected.
Ms
M.J. DAVIES : I did have a cordial relationship with Mr Erasmus.
The board expressed its
disappointment about Mr Erasmus' resignation. That was reflected in a
letter that was sent to key stakeholders. I disagreed with the then chair's
decision to include that in the letter, because Mr Erasmus had already
resigned.
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Supplementary.
Mr
M.J. Cowper interjected.
The
SPEAKER : There is a lot of shouting going on. Member for Murray–Wellington,
I call you to order for the first time.
Mr
D.T. Redman interjected.
The
SPEAKER : The question is not aimed at you.
Mr
F.M. Logan : She can answer it.
Ms
M.J. DAVIES : I can, absolutely, because I absolutely make no apologies for
having high expectations of my departments and the leadership therein. Being a
minister is not a popularity contest. The member should ask some of his
colleagues who have been in that position. I make no apologies for having the
highest expectations —
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Collie‑Preston and member for Girrawheen, let the
minister answer—and can the members for Alfred Cove and South Perth
please stop talking.
Ms
M.J. DAVIES : I make no apologies for holding my departments to the highest
account and the leadership therein. They are in charge of significant budgets
on behalf of the taxpayer. I expect them to conduct themselves appropriately
and to the standards that we set.
I had a very cordial relationship
with Mr Erasmus. He elected to resign. In relation to the letter, the board
expressed —
Several members interjected.
Ms
M.J. DAVIES : I did have a cordial relationship with Mr Erasmus.
The board expressed its
disappointment about Mr Erasmus' resignation. That was reflected in a
letter that was sent to key stakeholders. I disagreed with the then chair's
decision to include that in the letter, because Mr Erasmus had already
resigned.
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Supplementary.
Mr
M.J. Cowper interjected.
The
SPEAKER : There is a lot of shouting going on. Member for Murray–Wellington,
I call you to order for the first time.
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