❓ Hon Giz Watson questions whether any regulations prevented Dr. Jim Penn from publicly criticising the Ningaloo Marine Park decision. The Minister clarifies Dr. Penn's comments were about a management plan submission, not a Cabinet decision.
AnsweredQoN 2069Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
Regarding the article in
The West Australian
dated December 9 2004, in which Director of Research at the Fisheries Department, Dr Jim Penn, is quoted criticising the Ningaloo Marine Park decision, and further to my question without notice No. 60 of April 5 2005, I ask -
(1) Can the Minister confirm that nothing in the
Public Sector Management Act
1994
or associated regulations, prevents Dr Penn from publicly criticising a Cabinet decision?
(2) Can the Minister confirm that nothing in Dr Penn’s contract with the Department of Fisheries prevents him from publicly criticising a Cabinet decision?
(3) Can the Minister confirm that nothing in the Department of Fisheries’ policies or procedures prevents him from publicly criticising a Cabinet decision?
(4) If no to any of the above questions, how was Dr Penn able to publicly criticise a Cabinet decision?
The West Australian
dated December 9 2004, in which Director of Research at the Fisheries Department, Dr Jim Penn, is quoted criticising the Ningaloo Marine Park decision, and further to my question without notice No. 60 of April 5 2005, I ask -
(1) Can the Minister confirm that nothing in the
Public Sector Management Act
1994
or associated regulations, prevents Dr Penn from publicly criticising a Cabinet decision?
(2) Can the Minister confirm that nothing in Dr Penn’s contract with the Department of Fisheries prevents him from publicly criticising a Cabinet decision?
(3) Can the Minister confirm that nothing in the Department of Fisheries’ policies or procedures prevents him from publicly criticising a Cabinet decision?
(4) If no to any of the above questions, how was Dr Penn able to publicly criticise a Cabinet decision?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
17 August 2005
Responded by
Minister for Fisheries
Response time
85 days
4. Dr Penn's comments on 9 December 2004 were in response to a plan for future changes to the management of the Ningaloo Marine Park advertised in the West Australian on 3 December 2004 and not in response to a decision of cabinet. Dr Penn's comments were related to the Department's submission to the Marine Parks and Reserves Authority. Dr Penn is not privy to Cabinet Decisions and therefore is not in a position to criticise them.
Dr Penn is not privy to Cabinet Decisions and therefore is not in a position to criticise them.
Dr Penn is not privy to Cabinet Decisions and therefore is not in a position to criticise them.
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