A parliamentary question on notice addresses the handling of reports from the Goldfields–Esperance Development Commission regarding remote Goldfields communities. The Minister acknowledges shortcomings in the internal processes and has initiated reviews.

AnsweredQoN 656Legislative Council
Asked
30 August 2011
Portfolio
Regional Development

QuestionView source ↗

GOLDFIELDS–ESPERANCE DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION — REPORTS
I refer to the five different reports prepared by the Goldfields–Esperance Development Commission—known as GEDC—following a project officer’s visit to remote Goldfields communities last year. (1) Has the minister been given copies of all the reports from the GEDC; and, if yes, when did he receive each of them? (2) Has the minister discussed the reports with any of his cabinet colleagues; and, if yes, which ministers and when? (3) What action, if any, has the minister instigated as a result of the reports? (4) Is the minister satisfied with the way reports and issues are filtered through his department? (5) If no, what action is the minister taking or embarking on to improve the process? Hon WENDY DUNCAN

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. The minister has provided the following answer — (1) Four reports from the Goldfields–Esperance Development Commission were received by a policy adviser via email on 31 January 2011. (2)–(3) The chief of staff to the Minister for Regional Development forwarded the reports to the chief of staff to the Minister for Child Protection on 2 June 2011. (4) The minister has acknowledged that given the sensitivity of the report, the receipt of the report should have led to a briefing note and action being taken. (5) The minister has requested that both GEDC and the Department of Regional Development and Lands review their processes. The chief of staff to the Minister for Regional Development has briefed all ministerial staff on the need to refer similar reports to a senior officer.
(1) Has the minister been given copies of all the reports from the GEDC; and, if yes, when did he receive each of them? (2) Has the minister discussed the reports with any of his cabinet colleagues; and, if yes, which ministers and when? (3) What action, if any, has the minister instigated as a result of the reports? (4) Is the minister satisfied with the way reports and issues are filtered through his department? (5) If no, what action is the minister taking or embarking on to improve the process? Hon WENDY DUNCAN replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. The minister has provided the following answer — (1) Four reports from the Goldfields–Esperance Development Commission were received by a policy adviser via email on 31 January 2011. (2)–(3) The chief of staff to the Minister for Regional Development forwarded the reports to the chief of staff to the Minister for Child Protection on 2 June 2011. (4) The minister has acknowledged that given the sensitivity of the report, the receipt of the report should have led to a briefing note and action being taken. (5) The minister has requested that both GEDC and the Department of Regional Development and Lands review their processes. The chief of staff to the Minister for Regional Development has briefed all ministerial staff on the need to refer similar reports to a senior officer.
(2) Has the minister discussed the reports with any of his cabinet colleagues; and, if yes, which ministers and when? (3) What action, if any, has the minister instigated as a result of the reports? (4) Is the minister satisfied with the way reports and issues are filtered through his department? (5) If no, what action is the minister taking or embarking on to improve the process? Hon WENDY DUNCAN replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. The minister has provided the following answer — (1) Four reports from the Goldfields–Esperance Development Commission were received by a policy adviser via email on 31 January 2011. (2)–(3) The chief of staff to the Minister for Regional Development forwarded the reports to the chief of staff to the Minister for Child Protection on 2 June 2011. (4) The minister has acknowledged that given the sensitivity of the report, the receipt of the report should have led to a briefing note and action being taken. (5) The minister has requested that both GEDC and the Department of Regional Development and Lands review their processes. The chief of staff to the Minister for Regional Development has briefed all ministerial staff on the need to refer similar reports to a senior officer.
(3) What action, if any, has the minister instigated as a result of the reports? (4) Is the minister satisfied with the way reports and issues are filtered through his department? (5) If no, what action is the minister taking or embarking on to improve the process? Hon WENDY DUNCAN replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. The minister has provided the following answer — (1) Four reports from the Goldfields–Esperance Development Commission were received by a policy adviser via email on 31 January 2011. (2)–(3) The chief of staff to the Minister for Regional Development forwarded the reports to the chief of staff to the Minister for Child Protection on 2 June 2011. (4) The minister has acknowledged that given the sensitivity of the report, the receipt of the report should have led to a briefing note and action being taken. (5) The minister has requested that both GEDC and the Department of Regional Development and Lands review their processes. The chief of staff to the Minister for Regional Development has briefed all ministerial staff on the need to refer similar reports to a senior officer.
(4) Is the minister satisfied with the way reports and issues are filtered through his department? (5) If no, what action is the minister taking or embarking on to improve the process? Hon WENDY DUNCAN replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. The minister has provided the following answer — (1) Four reports from the Goldfields–Esperance Development Commission were received by a policy adviser via email on 31 January 2011. (2)–(3) The chief of staff to the Minister for Regional Development forwarded the reports to the chief of staff to the Minister for Child Protection on 2 June 2011. (4) The minister has acknowledged that given the sensitivity of the report, the receipt of the report should have led to a briefing note and action being taken. (5) The minister has requested that both GEDC and the Department of Regional Development and Lands review their processes. The chief of staff to the Minister for Regional Development has briefed all ministerial staff on the need to refer similar reports to a senior officer.
(5) If no, what action is the minister taking or embarking on to improve the process? Hon WENDY DUNCAN replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. The minister has provided the following answer — (1) Four reports from the Goldfields–Esperance Development Commission were received by a policy adviser via email on 31 January 2011. (2)–(3) The chief of staff to the Minister for Regional Development forwarded the reports to the chief of staff to the Minister for Child Protection on 2 June 2011. (4) The minister has acknowledged that given the sensitivity of the report, the receipt of the report should have led to a briefing note and action being taken. (5) The minister has requested that both GEDC and the Department of Regional Development and Lands review their processes. The chief of staff to the Minister for Regional Development has briefed all ministerial staff on the need to refer similar reports to a senior officer.
Hon WENDY DUNCAN replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. The minister has provided the following answer — (1) Four reports from the Goldfields–Esperance Development Commission were received by a policy adviser via email on 31 January 2011. (2)–(3) The chief of staff to the Minister for Regional Development forwarded the reports to the chief of staff to the Minister for Child Protection on 2 June 2011. (4) The minister has acknowledged that given the sensitivity of the report, the receipt of the report should have led to a briefing note and action being taken. (5) The minister has requested that both GEDC and the Department of Regional Development and Lands review their processes. The chief of staff to the Minister for Regional Development has briefed all ministerial staff on the need to refer similar reports to a senior officer.
I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. The minister has provided the following answer — (1) Four reports from the Goldfields–Esperance Development Commission were received by a policy adviser via email on 31 January 2011. (2)–(3) The chief of staff to the Minister for Regional Development forwarded the reports to the chief of staff to the Minister for Child Protection on 2 June 2011. (4) The minister has acknowledged that given the sensitivity of the report, the receipt of the report should have led to a briefing note and action being taken. (5) The minister has requested that both GEDC and the Department of Regional Development and Lands review their processes. The chief of staff to the Minister for Regional Development has briefed all ministerial staff on the need to refer similar reports to a senior officer.
(1) Four reports from the Goldfields–Esperance Development Commission were received by a policy adviser via email on 31 January 2011. (2)–(3) The chief of staff to the Minister for Regional Development forwarded the reports to the chief of staff to the Minister for Child Protection on 2 June 2011. (4) The minister has acknowledged that given the sensitivity of the report, the receipt of the report should have led to a briefing note and action being taken. (5) The minister has requested that both GEDC and the Department of Regional Development and Lands review their processes. The chief of staff to the Minister for Regional Development has briefed all ministerial staff on the need to refer similar reports to a senior officer.
(2)–(3) The chief of staff to the Minister for Regional Development forwarded the reports to the chief of staff to the Minister for Child Protection on 2 June 2011. (4) The minister has acknowledged that given the sensitivity of the report, the receipt of the report should have led to a briefing note and action being taken. (5) The minister has requested that both GEDC and the Department of Regional Development and Lands review their processes. The chief of staff to the Minister for Regional Development has briefed all ministerial staff on the need to refer similar reports to a senior officer.
(4) The minister has acknowledged that given the sensitivity of the report, the receipt of the report should have led to a briefing note and action being taken. (5) The minister has requested that both GEDC and the Department of Regional Development and Lands review their processes. The chief of staff to the Minister for Regional Development has briefed all ministerial staff on the need to refer similar reports to a senior officer.
(5) The minister has requested that both GEDC and the Department of Regional Development and Lands review their processes. The chief of staff to the Minister for Regional Development has briefed all ministerial staff on the need to refer similar reports to a senior officer.

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