❓ Mark McGowan questions Premier Colin Barnett about potential 'jobs for the boys' appointments for former staff in the public sector before the upcoming state election. Barnett defends the appointment process, highlighting the role of the Public Sector Commissioner and committing to not making a permanent appointment to the head of Premier and Cabinet before the election.
AnsweredQoN 611Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
GEOFFREY WEDGWOOD
611. Mr M. McGOWAN to the Premier:
I ask a supplementary question. As
we are now four and a half months out from the caretaker period prior to the
next state election, does the Premier rule out any more jobs for the boys for
former staff —
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Finish your question.
Mr
M. McGOWAN : Does the Premier rule out any further jobs for the boys for
former staff from his office in public sector positions?
611. Mr M. McGOWAN to the Premier:
I ask a supplementary question. As
we are now four and a half months out from the caretaker period prior to the
next state election, does the Premier rule out any more jobs for the boys for
former staff —
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Finish your question.
Mr
M. McGOWAN : Does the Premier rule out any further jobs for the boys for
former staff from his office in public sector positions?
AnswerView source ↗
The Leader of the Opposition gets
worse. He seems to have ignored the fact that one of the first things this
government did was split the role of what was Premier and Cabinet, to maintain
Premier and Cabinet, but to establish the Public Sector Commissioner as the
head of the public service.
Mr
W.J. Johnston : Best man for the job!
The
SPEAKER : Member for Cannington, that is enough.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : All such appointments, as this one —
Mr
W.J. Johnston : Best man for the job!
The
SPEAKER : Member for Cannington, I call you to order for the first time.
Mr
W.J. Johnston : Best man for the job!
The
SPEAKER : Member for Cannington, do you want to carry on with this?
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : The Public Sector Commissioner was the head of the Department
of the Premier and Cabinet when this government was elected and had served
successive governments with distinction, and continues to do so. The change was
to ensure that there was an independent Public Sector Commissioner.
Mr
W.J. Johnston interjected.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : Why do you laugh?
The
SPEAKER : Through the Chair, please.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : I conclude by saying that any appointment is done through the
public service act and the Public Sector Commission with directors general,
selection committees and so on. The one position for which I do make a distinction
is the head of Premier and Cabinet. With the recent retirement of Peter Conran
as head of Premier and Cabinet, I concede that although that is a public sector
position, it is a key advisory position to the Premier of the day, and I have
made it quite clear that we will not make a permanent appointment to that
position before the election. That is the one exception.
worse. He seems to have ignored the fact that one of the first things this
government did was split the role of what was Premier and Cabinet, to maintain
Premier and Cabinet, but to establish the Public Sector Commissioner as the
head of the public service.
Mr
W.J. Johnston : Best man for the job!
The
SPEAKER : Member for Cannington, that is enough.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : All such appointments, as this one —
Mr
W.J. Johnston : Best man for the job!
The
SPEAKER : Member for Cannington, I call you to order for the first time.
Mr
W.J. Johnston : Best man for the job!
The
SPEAKER : Member for Cannington, do you want to carry on with this?
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : The Public Sector Commissioner was the head of the Department
of the Premier and Cabinet when this government was elected and had served
successive governments with distinction, and continues to do so. The change was
to ensure that there was an independent Public Sector Commissioner.
Mr
W.J. Johnston interjected.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : Why do you laugh?
The
SPEAKER : Through the Chair, please.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : I conclude by saying that any appointment is done through the
public service act and the Public Sector Commission with directors general,
selection committees and so on. The one position for which I do make a distinction
is the head of Premier and Cabinet. With the recent retirement of Peter Conran
as head of Premier and Cabinet, I concede that although that is a public sector
position, it is a key advisory position to the Premier of the day, and I have
made it quite clear that we will not make a permanent appointment to that
position before the election. That is the one exception.
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.