❓ Opposition Leader Norman Moore questions why citizenship and multiculturalism functions reside within the Department of Premier and Cabinet despite a dedicated Minister. The response justifies the arrangement due to efficiency and historical precedent, denying budget transfer.
AnsweredQoN 518Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
DEPARTMENT OF THE PREMIER AND CABINET - CITIZENSHIP AND MULTICULTURALISM FUNCTION
(1) Why does the Department of the Premier and Cabinet have a role in citizenship and multiculturalism when the government has appointed a separate Minister for Citizenship and Multicultural Interests? (2) Is it intended to transfer service 7 of the department’s budget to the Minister for Citizenship and Multicultural Interests; and, if not, why not? Hon KIM CHANCE
(1) Why does the Department of the Premier and Cabinet have a role in citizenship and multiculturalism when the government has appointed a separate Minister for Citizenship and Multicultural Interests? (2) Is it intended to transfer service 7 of the department’s budget to the Minister for Citizenship and Multicultural Interests; and, if not, why not? Hon KIM CHANCE
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable Leader of the Opposition for providing some notice of the question. (1) Both the Office of Citizens and Civics and the Office of Multicultural Interests are important functions but are not of sufficient size to constitute separate departments. They have been located in the Department of the Premier and Cabinet for a number of years to provide appropriate corporate support and to facilitate the application of necessary employment and other powers. It should be noted than this is not an unusual circumstance. For example, the Western Australian Drug Abuse Strategy Office under the coalition government was part of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet, while the then Minister for Health, Kevin Prince, was responsible for its activities. (2) No.
(2) Is it intended to transfer service 7 of the department’s budget to the Minister for Citizenship and Multicultural Interests; and, if not, why not? Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank the honourable Leader of the Opposition for providing some notice of the question. (1) Both the Office of Citizens and Civics and the Office of Multicultural Interests are important functions but are not of sufficient size to constitute separate departments. They have been located in the Department of the Premier and Cabinet for a number of years to provide appropriate corporate support and to facilitate the application of necessary employment and other powers. It should be noted than this is not an unusual circumstance. For example, the Western Australian Drug Abuse Strategy Office under the coalition government was part of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet, while the then Minister for Health, Kevin Prince, was responsible for its activities. (2) No.
Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank the honourable Leader of the Opposition for providing some notice of the question. (1) Both the Office of Citizens and Civics and the Office of Multicultural Interests are important functions but are not of sufficient size to constitute separate departments. They have been located in the Department of the Premier and Cabinet for a number of years to provide appropriate corporate support and to facilitate the application of necessary employment and other powers. It should be noted than this is not an unusual circumstance. For example, the Western Australian Drug Abuse Strategy Office under the coalition government was part of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet, while the then Minister for Health, Kevin Prince, was responsible for its activities. (2) No.
I thank the honourable Leader of the Opposition for providing some notice of the question. (1) Both the Office of Citizens and Civics and the Office of Multicultural Interests are important functions but are not of sufficient size to constitute separate departments. They have been located in the Department of the Premier and Cabinet for a number of years to provide appropriate corporate support and to facilitate the application of necessary employment and other powers. It should be noted than this is not an unusual circumstance. For example, the Western Australian Drug Abuse Strategy Office under the coalition government was part of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet, while the then Minister for Health, Kevin Prince, was responsible for its activities. (2) No.
(1) Both the Office of Citizens and Civics and the Office of Multicultural Interests are important functions but are not of sufficient size to constitute separate departments. They have been located in the Department of the Premier and Cabinet for a number of years to provide appropriate corporate support and to facilitate the application of necessary employment and other powers. It should be noted than this is not an unusual circumstance. For example, the Western Australian Drug Abuse Strategy Office under the coalition government was part of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet, while the then Minister for Health, Kevin Prince, was responsible for its activities. (2) No.
(2) No.
(2) Is it intended to transfer service 7 of the department’s budget to the Minister for Citizenship and Multicultural Interests; and, if not, why not? Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank the honourable Leader of the Opposition for providing some notice of the question. (1) Both the Office of Citizens and Civics and the Office of Multicultural Interests are important functions but are not of sufficient size to constitute separate departments. They have been located in the Department of the Premier and Cabinet for a number of years to provide appropriate corporate support and to facilitate the application of necessary employment and other powers. It should be noted than this is not an unusual circumstance. For example, the Western Australian Drug Abuse Strategy Office under the coalition government was part of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet, while the then Minister for Health, Kevin Prince, was responsible for its activities. (2) No.
Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank the honourable Leader of the Opposition for providing some notice of the question. (1) Both the Office of Citizens and Civics and the Office of Multicultural Interests are important functions but are not of sufficient size to constitute separate departments. They have been located in the Department of the Premier and Cabinet for a number of years to provide appropriate corporate support and to facilitate the application of necessary employment and other powers. It should be noted than this is not an unusual circumstance. For example, the Western Australian Drug Abuse Strategy Office under the coalition government was part of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet, while the then Minister for Health, Kevin Prince, was responsible for its activities. (2) No.
I thank the honourable Leader of the Opposition for providing some notice of the question. (1) Both the Office of Citizens and Civics and the Office of Multicultural Interests are important functions but are not of sufficient size to constitute separate departments. They have been located in the Department of the Premier and Cabinet for a number of years to provide appropriate corporate support and to facilitate the application of necessary employment and other powers. It should be noted than this is not an unusual circumstance. For example, the Western Australian Drug Abuse Strategy Office under the coalition government was part of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet, while the then Minister for Health, Kevin Prince, was responsible for its activities. (2) No.
(1) Both the Office of Citizens and Civics and the Office of Multicultural Interests are important functions but are not of sufficient size to constitute separate departments. They have been located in the Department of the Premier and Cabinet for a number of years to provide appropriate corporate support and to facilitate the application of necessary employment and other powers. It should be noted than this is not an unusual circumstance. For example, the Western Australian Drug Abuse Strategy Office under the coalition government was part of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet, while the then Minister for Health, Kevin Prince, was responsible for its activities. (2) No.
(2) No.
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