❓ Question regarding the impact of DPIRD (Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development) district office closures on regional employees' mental health and potential redundancies/relocations. The Minister denies compulsory redundancies or relocations, leading to a heated exchange and accusations regarding the previous government's handling of the department.
AnsweredQoN 645Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
FISHERIES — DISTRICT OFFICE CLOSURES
645. Mr V.A. CATANIA to the Minister for Fisheries:
I have a supplementary question. How many regional DPIRD
employees, many of whom are struggling with mental health and poor workplace
morale, will need to take redundancies or relocate as a result of these
closures?
645. Mr V.A. CATANIA to the Minister for Fisheries:
I have a supplementary question. How many regional DPIRD
employees, many of whom are struggling with mental health and poor workplace
morale, will need to take redundancies or relocate as a result of these
closures?
AnswerView source ↗
As I said to the member,
there are no compulsory redundancies. No-one will have to relocate. That is my
understanding.
Mr V.A. Catania interjected.
Mr D.J. KELLY : We have given a guarantee that there
will be no compulsory redundancies—absolutely, member. As I said, the
member has an absolute cheek, considering what he did to DPIRD staff under the
eight and a half years of the former government. We picked that department up,
when people had suffered cuts after cuts after cuts under the stewardship of
the National Party.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Ms M.J. Davies interjected.
The SPEAKER : Leader of the
National Party!
Mr
D.J. KELLY : The only thing I can
put it down to is that what the former government allowed to happen in the agriculture department was really reflective
of the argument in the previous government between the National Party and the Liberal Party. The Liberal Party had the Minister for Agriculture and
Food, and the National Party had the Minister for Regional Development, and
they would not talk to each other, they were dysfunctional —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Minister, you
have been going for over five minutes. I know you like to talk.
Mr
D.J. KELLY : I keep getting
interjected on. If, for once, the National Party would take responsibility for
what it did to that department, it could really start to take forward its
arguments, but, until it does that, we will hold it to account.
Ms M.J. Davies interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for North
West Central, I heard you the first time.
Before
I get to the member for Perth, everyone knows that they are not allowed to have
their phone on in the chamber , and it is very disappointing that the
Deputy Speaker strayed on that side. So I call the member for Maylands to order
for the first time. I have always wanted to do that; that is it.
there are no compulsory redundancies. No-one will have to relocate. That is my
understanding.
Mr V.A. Catania interjected.
Mr D.J. KELLY : We have given a guarantee that there
will be no compulsory redundancies—absolutely, member. As I said, the
member has an absolute cheek, considering what he did to DPIRD staff under the
eight and a half years of the former government. We picked that department up,
when people had suffered cuts after cuts after cuts under the stewardship of
the National Party.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Ms M.J. Davies interjected.
The SPEAKER : Leader of the
National Party!
Mr
D.J. KELLY : The only thing I can
put it down to is that what the former government allowed to happen in the agriculture department was really reflective
of the argument in the previous government between the National Party and the Liberal Party. The Liberal Party had the Minister for Agriculture and
Food, and the National Party had the Minister for Regional Development, and
they would not talk to each other, they were dysfunctional —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Minister, you
have been going for over five minutes. I know you like to talk.
Mr
D.J. KELLY : I keep getting
interjected on. If, for once, the National Party would take responsibility for
what it did to that department, it could really start to take forward its
arguments, but, until it does that, we will hold it to account.
Ms M.J. Davies interjected.
The SPEAKER : Member for North
West Central, I heard you the first time.
Before
I get to the member for Perth, everyone knows that they are not allowed to have
their phone on in the chamber , and it is very disappointing that the
Deputy Speaker strayed on that side. So I call the member for Maylands to order
for the first time. I have always wanted to do that; that is it.
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