❓ Hon Helen Morton asks about the identity of public servants involved in providing advice to the Ombudsman and the Minister for Employment Protection. Hon Jon Ford declines to name the officers, citing departmental practice and questioning the motivation behind the inquiry, suggesting potential accusations of corruption or intimidation.
AnsweredQoN 355Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
OMBUDSMAN’S OFFICE — STAFF
I refer to the minister’s answer to question without notice 296 provided on 3 April 2008. (1) What is the name of the person who signed the letter to the parliamentary commissioner headed “Employment Matters” and dated 4 June 2003? (2) What is the name or names of the person or persons who spoke to the minister when advising him on 12 February 2008 that the advice given in the above letter was misleading? (3) Given the answers on this matter provided on 3 April 2008, what are the names of the officers, whom the minister referred to in his answer, who jointly wrote the letter dated 4 June 2003? (4) Similarly, what are the names of the officers in the public sector directorate of the labour relations division who were jointly involved in providing advice to the minister on 12 February 2008? Hon JON FORD
I refer to the minister’s answer to question without notice 296 provided on 3 April 2008. (1) What is the name of the person who signed the letter to the parliamentary commissioner headed “Employment Matters” and dated 4 June 2003? (2) What is the name or names of the person or persons who spoke to the minister when advising him on 12 February 2008 that the advice given in the above letter was misleading? (3) Given the answers on this matter provided on 3 April 2008, what are the names of the officers, whom the minister referred to in his answer, who jointly wrote the letter dated 4 June 2003? (4) Similarly, what are the names of the officers in the public sector directorate of the labour relations division who were jointly involved in providing advice to the minister on 12 February 2008? Hon JON FORD
AnswerView source ↗
I thank Hon Helen Morton for some notice of the question. (1)-(4) A policy officer of the labour relations division of the Department of Consumer and Employment Protection was responsible for the advice provided to the parliamentary commissioner and the Minister for Employment Protection. That advice was processed through the appropriate approval structure of the directorate and the department at the time. It is not the department’s or the director general’s practice to include names of public sector officers in parliamentary questions, which is why I answer the question as such. I would like the member to explain to me at some stage what the line of questioning is and what the real question behind this is. Does the member think that these officers are part of the Labor Party’s secret “SS” in the public service that she talks about or is there an accusation of corruption or inappropriate behaviour? In that case, the member should just come out and ask the question. Unless I am directed by this house to name public officers, I will not do it. The member talks about ministers in this government intimidating the public service. I repudiate that and I will not allow her to do it.
(1) What is the name of the person who signed the letter to the parliamentary commissioner headed “Employment Matters” and dated 4 June 2003? (2) What is the name or names of the person or persons who spoke to the minister when advising him on 12 February 2008 that the advice given in the above letter was misleading? (3) Given the answers on this matter provided on 3 April 2008, what are the names of the officers, whom the minister referred to in his answer, who jointly wrote the letter dated 4 June 2003? (4) Similarly, what are the names of the officers in the public sector directorate of the labour relations division who were jointly involved in providing advice to the minister on 12 February 2008? Hon JON FORD replied: I thank Hon Helen Morton for some notice of the question. (1)-(4) A policy officer of the labour relations division of the Department of Consumer and Employment Protection was responsible for the advice provided to the parliamentary commissioner and the Minister for Employment Protection. That advice was processed through the appropriate approval structure of the directorate and the department at the time. It is not the department’s or the director general’s practice to include names of public sector officers in parliamentary questions, which is why I answer the question as such. I would like the member to explain to me at some stage what the line of questioning is and what the real question behind this is. Does the member think that these officers are part of the Labor Party’s secret “SS” in the public service that she talks about or is there an accusation of corruption or inappropriate behaviour? In that case, the member should just come out and ask the question. Unless I am directed by this house to name public officers, I will not do it. The member talks about ministers in this government intimidating the public service. I repudiate that and I will not allow her to do it.
(2) What is the name or names of the person or persons who spoke to the minister when advising him on 12 February 2008 that the advice given in the above letter was misleading? (3) Given the answers on this matter provided on 3 April 2008, what are the names of the officers, whom the minister referred to in his answer, who jointly wrote the letter dated 4 June 2003? (4) Similarly, what are the names of the officers in the public sector directorate of the labour relations division who were jointly involved in providing advice to the minister on 12 February 2008? Hon JON FORD replied: I thank Hon Helen Morton for some notice of the question. (1)-(4) A policy officer of the labour relations division of the Department of Consumer and Employment Protection was responsible for the advice provided to the parliamentary commissioner and the Minister for Employment Protection. That advice was processed through the appropriate approval structure of the directorate and the department at the time. It is not the department’s or the director general’s practice to include names of public sector officers in parliamentary questions, which is why I answer the question as such. I would like the member to explain to me at some stage what the line of questioning is and what the real question behind this is. Does the member think that these officers are part of the Labor Party’s secret “SS” in the public service that she talks about or is there an accusation of corruption or inappropriate behaviour? In that case, the member should just come out and ask the question. Unless I am directed by this house to name public officers, I will not do it. The member talks about ministers in this government intimidating the public service. I repudiate that and I will not allow her to do it.
(3) Given the answers on this matter provided on 3 April 2008, what are the names of the officers, whom the minister referred to in his answer, who jointly wrote the letter dated 4 June 2003? (4) Similarly, what are the names of the officers in the public sector directorate of the labour relations division who were jointly involved in providing advice to the minister on 12 February 2008? Hon JON FORD replied: I thank Hon Helen Morton for some notice of the question. (1)-(4) A policy officer of the labour relations division of the Department of Consumer and Employment Protection was responsible for the advice provided to the parliamentary commissioner and the Minister for Employment Protection. That advice was processed through the appropriate approval structure of the directorate and the department at the time. It is not the department’s or the director general’s practice to include names of public sector officers in parliamentary questions, which is why I answer the question as such. I would like the member to explain to me at some stage what the line of questioning is and what the real question behind this is. Does the member think that these officers are part of the Labor Party’s secret “SS” in the public service that she talks about or is there an accusation of corruption or inappropriate behaviour? In that case, the member should just come out and ask the question. Unless I am directed by this house to name public officers, I will not do it. The member talks about ministers in this government intimidating the public service. I repudiate that and I will not allow her to do it.
(4) Similarly, what are the names of the officers in the public sector directorate of the labour relations division who were jointly involved in providing advice to the minister on 12 February 2008? Hon JON FORD replied: I thank Hon Helen Morton for some notice of the question. (1)-(4) A policy officer of the labour relations division of the Department of Consumer and Employment Protection was responsible for the advice provided to the parliamentary commissioner and the Minister for Employment Protection. That advice was processed through the appropriate approval structure of the directorate and the department at the time. It is not the department’s or the director general’s practice to include names of public sector officers in parliamentary questions, which is why I answer the question as such. I would like the member to explain to me at some stage what the line of questioning is and what the real question behind this is. Does the member think that these officers are part of the Labor Party’s secret “SS” in the public service that she talks about or is there an accusation of corruption or inappropriate behaviour? In that case, the member should just come out and ask the question. Unless I am directed by this house to name public officers, I will not do it. The member talks about ministers in this government intimidating the public service. I repudiate that and I will not allow her to do it.
Hon JON FORD replied: I thank Hon Helen Morton for some notice of the question. (1)-(4) A policy officer of the labour relations division of the Department of Consumer and Employment Protection was responsible for the advice provided to the parliamentary commissioner and the Minister for Employment Protection. That advice was processed through the appropriate approval structure of the directorate and the department at the time. It is not the department’s or the director general’s practice to include names of public sector officers in parliamentary questions, which is why I answer the question as such. I would like the member to explain to me at some stage what the line of questioning is and what the real question behind this is. Does the member think that these officers are part of the Labor Party’s secret “SS” in the public service that she talks about or is there an accusation of corruption or inappropriate behaviour? In that case, the member should just come out and ask the question. Unless I am directed by this house to name public officers, I will not do it. The member talks about ministers in this government intimidating the public service. I repudiate that and I will not allow her to do it.
I thank Hon Helen Morton for some notice of the question. (1)-(4) A policy officer of the labour relations division of the Department of Consumer and Employment Protection was responsible for the advice provided to the parliamentary commissioner and the Minister for Employment Protection. That advice was processed through the appropriate approval structure of the directorate and the department at the time. It is not the department’s or the director general’s practice to include names of public sector officers in parliamentary questions, which is why I answer the question as such. I would like the member to explain to me at some stage what the line of questioning is and what the real question behind this is. Does the member think that these officers are part of the Labor Party’s secret “SS” in the public service that she talks about or is there an accusation of corruption or inappropriate behaviour? In that case, the member should just come out and ask the question. Unless I am directed by this house to name public officers, I will not do it. The member talks about ministers in this government intimidating the public service. I repudiate that and I will not allow her to do it.
(1)-(4) A policy officer of the labour relations division of the Department of Consumer and Employment Protection was responsible for the advice provided to the parliamentary commissioner and the Minister for Employment Protection. That advice was processed through the appropriate approval structure of the directorate and the department at the time. It is not the department’s or the director general’s practice to include names of public sector officers in parliamentary questions, which is why I answer the question as such. I would like the member to explain to me at some stage what the line of questioning is and what the real question behind this is. Does the member think that these officers are part of the Labor Party’s secret “SS” in the public service that she talks about or is there an accusation of corruption or inappropriate behaviour? In that case, the member should just come out and ask the question. Unless I am directed by this house to name public officers, I will not do it. The member talks about ministers in this government intimidating the public service. I repudiate that and I will not allow her to do it.
(1) What is the name of the person who signed the letter to the parliamentary commissioner headed “Employment Matters” and dated 4 June 2003? (2) What is the name or names of the person or persons who spoke to the minister when advising him on 12 February 2008 that the advice given in the above letter was misleading? (3) Given the answers on this matter provided on 3 April 2008, what are the names of the officers, whom the minister referred to in his answer, who jointly wrote the letter dated 4 June 2003? (4) Similarly, what are the names of the officers in the public sector directorate of the labour relations division who were jointly involved in providing advice to the minister on 12 February 2008? Hon JON FORD replied: I thank Hon Helen Morton for some notice of the question. (1)-(4) A policy officer of the labour relations division of the Department of Consumer and Employment Protection was responsible for the advice provided to the parliamentary commissioner and the Minister for Employment Protection. That advice was processed through the appropriate approval structure of the directorate and the department at the time. It is not the department’s or the director general’s practice to include names of public sector officers in parliamentary questions, which is why I answer the question as such. I would like the member to explain to me at some stage what the line of questioning is and what the real question behind this is. Does the member think that these officers are part of the Labor Party’s secret “SS” in the public service that she talks about or is there an accusation of corruption or inappropriate behaviour? In that case, the member should just come out and ask the question. Unless I am directed by this house to name public officers, I will not do it. The member talks about ministers in this government intimidating the public service. I repudiate that and I will not allow her to do it.
(2) What is the name or names of the person or persons who spoke to the minister when advising him on 12 February 2008 that the advice given in the above letter was misleading? (3) Given the answers on this matter provided on 3 April 2008, what are the names of the officers, whom the minister referred to in his answer, who jointly wrote the letter dated 4 June 2003? (4) Similarly, what are the names of the officers in the public sector directorate of the labour relations division who were jointly involved in providing advice to the minister on 12 February 2008? Hon JON FORD replied: I thank Hon Helen Morton for some notice of the question. (1)-(4) A policy officer of the labour relations division of the Department of Consumer and Employment Protection was responsible for the advice provided to the parliamentary commissioner and the Minister for Employment Protection. That advice was processed through the appropriate approval structure of the directorate and the department at the time. It is not the department’s or the director general’s practice to include names of public sector officers in parliamentary questions, which is why I answer the question as such. I would like the member to explain to me at some stage what the line of questioning is and what the real question behind this is. Does the member think that these officers are part of the Labor Party’s secret “SS” in the public service that she talks about or is there an accusation of corruption or inappropriate behaviour? In that case, the member should just come out and ask the question. Unless I am directed by this house to name public officers, I will not do it. The member talks about ministers in this government intimidating the public service. I repudiate that and I will not allow her to do it.
(3) Given the answers on this matter provided on 3 April 2008, what are the names of the officers, whom the minister referred to in his answer, who jointly wrote the letter dated 4 June 2003? (4) Similarly, what are the names of the officers in the public sector directorate of the labour relations division who were jointly involved in providing advice to the minister on 12 February 2008? Hon JON FORD replied: I thank Hon Helen Morton for some notice of the question. (1)-(4) A policy officer of the labour relations division of the Department of Consumer and Employment Protection was responsible for the advice provided to the parliamentary commissioner and the Minister for Employment Protection. That advice was processed through the appropriate approval structure of the directorate and the department at the time. It is not the department’s or the director general’s practice to include names of public sector officers in parliamentary questions, which is why I answer the question as such. I would like the member to explain to me at some stage what the line of questioning is and what the real question behind this is. Does the member think that these officers are part of the Labor Party’s secret “SS” in the public service that she talks about or is there an accusation of corruption or inappropriate behaviour? In that case, the member should just come out and ask the question. Unless I am directed by this house to name public officers, I will not do it. The member talks about ministers in this government intimidating the public service. I repudiate that and I will not allow her to do it.
(4) Similarly, what are the names of the officers in the public sector directorate of the labour relations division who were jointly involved in providing advice to the minister on 12 February 2008? Hon JON FORD replied: I thank Hon Helen Morton for some notice of the question. (1)-(4) A policy officer of the labour relations division of the Department of Consumer and Employment Protection was responsible for the advice provided to the parliamentary commissioner and the Minister for Employment Protection. That advice was processed through the appropriate approval structure of the directorate and the department at the time. It is not the department’s or the director general’s practice to include names of public sector officers in parliamentary questions, which is why I answer the question as such. I would like the member to explain to me at some stage what the line of questioning is and what the real question behind this is. Does the member think that these officers are part of the Labor Party’s secret “SS” in the public service that she talks about or is there an accusation of corruption or inappropriate behaviour? In that case, the member should just come out and ask the question. Unless I am directed by this house to name public officers, I will not do it. The member talks about ministers in this government intimidating the public service. I repudiate that and I will not allow her to do it.
Hon JON FORD replied: I thank Hon Helen Morton for some notice of the question. (1)-(4) A policy officer of the labour relations division of the Department of Consumer and Employment Protection was responsible for the advice provided to the parliamentary commissioner and the Minister for Employment Protection. That advice was processed through the appropriate approval structure of the directorate and the department at the time. It is not the department’s or the director general’s practice to include names of public sector officers in parliamentary questions, which is why I answer the question as such. I would like the member to explain to me at some stage what the line of questioning is and what the real question behind this is. Does the member think that these officers are part of the Labor Party’s secret “SS” in the public service that she talks about or is there an accusation of corruption or inappropriate behaviour? In that case, the member should just come out and ask the question. Unless I am directed by this house to name public officers, I will not do it. The member talks about ministers in this government intimidating the public service. I repudiate that and I will not allow her to do it.
I thank Hon Helen Morton for some notice of the question. (1)-(4) A policy officer of the labour relations division of the Department of Consumer and Employment Protection was responsible for the advice provided to the parliamentary commissioner and the Minister for Employment Protection. That advice was processed through the appropriate approval structure of the directorate and the department at the time. It is not the department’s or the director general’s practice to include names of public sector officers in parliamentary questions, which is why I answer the question as such. I would like the member to explain to me at some stage what the line of questioning is and what the real question behind this is. Does the member think that these officers are part of the Labor Party’s secret “SS” in the public service that she talks about or is there an accusation of corruption or inappropriate behaviour? In that case, the member should just come out and ask the question. Unless I am directed by this house to name public officers, I will not do it. The member talks about ministers in this government intimidating the public service. I repudiate that and I will not allow her to do it.
(1)-(4) A policy officer of the labour relations division of the Department of Consumer and Employment Protection was responsible for the advice provided to the parliamentary commissioner and the Minister for Employment Protection. That advice was processed through the appropriate approval structure of the directorate and the department at the time. It is not the department’s or the director general’s practice to include names of public sector officers in parliamentary questions, which is why I answer the question as such. I would like the member to explain to me at some stage what the line of questioning is and what the real question behind this is. Does the member think that these officers are part of the Labor Party’s secret “SS” in the public service that she talks about or is there an accusation of corruption or inappropriate behaviour? In that case, the member should just come out and ask the question. Unless I am directed by this house to name public officers, I will not do it. The member talks about ministers in this government intimidating the public service. I repudiate that and I will not allow her to do it.
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