A parliamentary question seeks clarification from the Minister for Housing regarding potentially regrettable public statements and portfolio changes reported in the Sunday Times. The Minister's response refers to machinery of government changes announced by the Premier.

AnsweredQoN 92Legislative Council
Asked
29 May 2001
Portfolio
Housing

QuestionView source ↗

I refer the minister to an article that appeared on page 9 of last week’s Sunday Times headed, “Stephens tilts at lost role”. (1) Will the minister explain what he meant by, “my joke ran the risk of being misinterpreted”? (2) Which portfolio changes did he recommend that caused him to state, “I am the architect of my own demise”?  He did not go far enough! (3) Which portfolios has he lost, or is he about to lose, that led him to state, “I will miss the role, but my nose isn’t out of joint”? (4) Is this another example of the minister making off-the-cuff public statements which he later regrets? Hon TOM STEPHENS

AnswerView source ↗

(1)-(4) The Premier has announced the machinery of government issues to which I referred.  Essentially, the machinery of government task force has recommended that the industry development function of the Department of Contract and Management Services should go to the Department of Commerce and Trade.  That is variously described as an exciting area of CAMS, and it will be well looked after by the Minister for State Development in the commerce and trade portfolio.
(1) Will the minister explain what he meant by, “my joke ran the risk of being misinterpreted”? (2) Which portfolio changes did he recommend that caused him to state, “I am the architect of my own demise”?  He did not go far enough! (3) Which portfolios has he lost, or is he about to lose, that led him to state, “I will miss the role, but my nose isn’t out of joint”? (4) Is this another example of the minister making off-the-cuff public statements which he later regrets? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: (1)-(4) The Premier has announced the machinery of government issues to which I referred.  Essentially, the machinery of government task force has recommended that the industry development function of the Department of Contract and Management Services should go to the Department of Commerce and Trade.  That is variously described as an exciting area of CAMS, and it will be well looked after by the Minister for State Development in the commerce and trade portfolio.
(2) Which portfolio changes did he recommend that caused him to state, “I am the architect of my own demise”?  He did not go far enough! (3) Which portfolios has he lost, or is he about to lose, that led him to state, “I will miss the role, but my nose isn’t out of joint”? (4) Is this another example of the minister making off-the-cuff public statements which he later regrets? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: (1)-(4) The Premier has announced the machinery of government issues to which I referred.  Essentially, the machinery of government task force has recommended that the industry development function of the Department of Contract and Management Services should go to the Department of Commerce and Trade.  That is variously described as an exciting area of CAMS, and it will be well looked after by the Minister for State Development in the commerce and trade portfolio.
(3) Which portfolios has he lost, or is he about to lose, that led him to state, “I will miss the role, but my nose isn’t out of joint”? (4) Is this another example of the minister making off-the-cuff public statements which he later regrets? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: (1)-(4) The Premier has announced the machinery of government issues to which I referred.  Essentially, the machinery of government task force has recommended that the industry development function of the Department of Contract and Management Services should go to the Department of Commerce and Trade.  That is variously described as an exciting area of CAMS, and it will be well looked after by the Minister for State Development in the commerce and trade portfolio.
(4) Is this another example of the minister making off-the-cuff public statements which he later regrets? Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: (1)-(4) The Premier has announced the machinery of government issues to which I referred.  Essentially, the machinery of government task force has recommended that the industry development function of the Department of Contract and Management Services should go to the Department of Commerce and Trade.  That is variously described as an exciting area of CAMS, and it will be well looked after by the Minister for State Development in the commerce and trade portfolio.
Hon TOM STEPHENS replied: (1)-(4) The Premier has announced the machinery of government issues to which I referred.  Essentially, the machinery of government task force has recommended that the industry development function of the Department of Contract and Management Services should go to the Department of Commerce and Trade.  That is variously described as an exciting area of CAMS, and it will be well looked after by the Minister for State Development in the commerce and trade portfolio.
(1)-(4) The Premier has announced the machinery of government issues to which I referred.  Essentially, the machinery of government task force has recommended that the industry development function of the Department of Contract and Management Services should go to the Department of Commerce and Trade.  That is variously described as an exciting area of CAMS, and it will be well looked after by the Minister for State Development in the commerce and trade portfolio.

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