❓ A member of parliament questions the Minister for Local Government's handling of appointments to the Local Government Grants Commission, specifically regarding the rejection of WALGA's candidate list and the request for a new one. The Minister defends his actions, citing his belief in his authority and seeking legal advice.
AnsweredQoN 520Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
LOCAL GOVERNMENT GRANTS COMMISSION — APPOINTMENTS
I refer to the minister’s last-minute statement of clarification to the house at 10.49 pm last night. (1) Will the minister now appoint two of the original panel of candidates as submitted by the Western Australian Local Government Association on 8 December last year to the vacant positions on the Local Government Grants Commission? (2) Given that WALGA selected this panel of candidates in accordance with legislation following a merit-based selection process, on what basis has the minister requested WALGA to repeat this process and submit a new list of recommendations? (3) Why does the minister not trust the judgement of the members of the WALGA State Council? Mr G.M. CASTRILLI
I refer to the minister’s last-minute statement of clarification to the house at 10.49 pm last night. (1) Will the minister now appoint two of the original panel of candidates as submitted by the Western Australian Local Government Association on 8 December last year to the vacant positions on the Local Government Grants Commission? (2) Given that WALGA selected this panel of candidates in accordance with legislation following a merit-based selection process, on what basis has the minister requested WALGA to repeat this process and submit a new list of recommendations? (3) Why does the minister not trust the judgement of the members of the WALGA State Council? Mr G.M. CASTRILLI
AnswerView source ↗
(1)-(3) I admitted last night that the two Local Government Grants Commission appointments were not undertaken in accordance with what I thought I could do. I was of the opinion that I could appoint those two people. Mr E.S. Ripper : You broke the law. Mr G.M. CASTRILLI : I did not. I was of the opinion that I could appoint those people. They are two very decent people who have done a lot for this community and they are very highly regarded. I have made the position clear to WALGA. I have asked WALGA to supply me with another list of names. I am entitled to do that. I will assess that list when it has been given to me. I have also instructed my department to check with the State Solicitor’s Office to ascertain whether it is within my power to ask for a new list. That is the process I am currently adopting. Those considerations will come to bear. Once that is known I will look at WALGA’s list and, if I cannot make the appointments in any other way, I will make a determination from the names on that list.
(1) Will the minister now appoint two of the original panel of candidates as submitted by the Western Australian Local Government Association on 8 December last year to the vacant positions on the Local Government Grants Commission? (2) Given that WALGA selected this panel of candidates in accordance with legislation following a merit-based selection process, on what basis has the minister requested WALGA to repeat this process and submit a new list of recommendations? (3) Why does the minister not trust the judgement of the members of the WALGA State Council? Mr G.M. CASTRILLI replied: (1)-(3) I admitted last night that the two Local Government Grants Commission appointments were not undertaken in accordance with what I thought I could do. I was of the opinion that I could appoint those two people. Mr E.S. Ripper : You broke the law. Mr G.M. CASTRILLI : I did not. I was of the opinion that I could appoint those people. They are two very decent people who have done a lot for this community and they are very highly regarded. I have made the position clear to WALGA. I have asked WALGA to supply me with another list of names. I am entitled to do that. I will assess that list when it has been given to me. I have also instructed my department to check with the State Solicitor’s Office to ascertain whether it is within my power to ask for a new list. That is the process I am currently adopting. Those considerations will come to bear. Once that is known I will look at WALGA’s list and, if I cannot make the appointments in any other way, I will make a determination from the names on that list.
(2) Given that WALGA selected this panel of candidates in accordance with legislation following a merit-based selection process, on what basis has the minister requested WALGA to repeat this process and submit a new list of recommendations? (3) Why does the minister not trust the judgement of the members of the WALGA State Council? Mr G.M. CASTRILLI replied: (1)-(3) I admitted last night that the two Local Government Grants Commission appointments were not undertaken in accordance with what I thought I could do. I was of the opinion that I could appoint those two people. Mr E.S. Ripper : You broke the law. Mr G.M. CASTRILLI : I did not. I was of the opinion that I could appoint those people. They are two very decent people who have done a lot for this community and they are very highly regarded. I have made the position clear to WALGA. I have asked WALGA to supply me with another list of names. I am entitled to do that. I will assess that list when it has been given to me. I have also instructed my department to check with the State Solicitor’s Office to ascertain whether it is within my power to ask for a new list. That is the process I am currently adopting. Those considerations will come to bear. Once that is known I will look at WALGA’s list and, if I cannot make the appointments in any other way, I will make a determination from the names on that list.
(3) Why does the minister not trust the judgement of the members of the WALGA State Council? Mr G.M. CASTRILLI replied: (1)-(3) I admitted last night that the two Local Government Grants Commission appointments were not undertaken in accordance with what I thought I could do. I was of the opinion that I could appoint those two people. Mr E.S. Ripper : You broke the law. Mr G.M. CASTRILLI : I did not. I was of the opinion that I could appoint those people. They are two very decent people who have done a lot for this community and they are very highly regarded. I have made the position clear to WALGA. I have asked WALGA to supply me with another list of names. I am entitled to do that. I will assess that list when it has been given to me. I have also instructed my department to check with the State Solicitor’s Office to ascertain whether it is within my power to ask for a new list. That is the process I am currently adopting. Those considerations will come to bear. Once that is known I will look at WALGA’s list and, if I cannot make the appointments in any other way, I will make a determination from the names on that list.
Mr G.M. CASTRILLI replied: (1)-(3) I admitted last night that the two Local Government Grants Commission appointments were not undertaken in accordance with what I thought I could do. I was of the opinion that I could appoint those two people. Mr E.S. Ripper : You broke the law. Mr G.M. CASTRILLI : I did not. I was of the opinion that I could appoint those people. They are two very decent people who have done a lot for this community and they are very highly regarded. I have made the position clear to WALGA. I have asked WALGA to supply me with another list of names. I am entitled to do that. I will assess that list when it has been given to me. I have also instructed my department to check with the State Solicitor’s Office to ascertain whether it is within my power to ask for a new list. That is the process I am currently adopting. Those considerations will come to bear. Once that is known I will look at WALGA’s list and, if I cannot make the appointments in any other way, I will make a determination from the names on that list.
(1)-(3) I admitted last night that the two Local Government Grants Commission appointments were not undertaken in accordance with what I thought I could do. I was of the opinion that I could appoint those two people. Mr E.S. Ripper : You broke the law. Mr G.M. CASTRILLI : I did not. I was of the opinion that I could appoint those people. They are two very decent people who have done a lot for this community and they are very highly regarded. I have made the position clear to WALGA. I have asked WALGA to supply me with another list of names. I am entitled to do that. I will assess that list when it has been given to me. I have also instructed my department to check with the State Solicitor’s Office to ascertain whether it is within my power to ask for a new list. That is the process I am currently adopting. Those considerations will come to bear. Once that is known I will look at WALGA’s list and, if I cannot make the appointments in any other way, I will make a determination from the names on that list.
Mr E.S. Ripper : You broke the law. Mr G.M. CASTRILLI : I did not. I was of the opinion that I could appoint those people. They are two very decent people who have done a lot for this community and they are very highly regarded. I have made the position clear to WALGA. I have asked WALGA to supply me with another list of names. I am entitled to do that. I will assess that list when it has been given to me. I have also instructed my department to check with the State Solicitor’s Office to ascertain whether it is within my power to ask for a new list. That is the process I am currently adopting. Those considerations will come to bear. Once that is known I will look at WALGA’s list and, if I cannot make the appointments in any other way, I will make a determination from the names on that list.
Mr G.M. CASTRILLI : I did not. I was of the opinion that I could appoint those people. They are two very decent people who have done a lot for this community and they are very highly regarded. I have made the position clear to WALGA. I have asked WALGA to supply me with another list of names. I am entitled to do that. I will assess that list when it has been given to me. I have also instructed my department to check with the State Solicitor’s Office to ascertain whether it is within my power to ask for a new list. That is the process I am currently adopting. Those considerations will come to bear. Once that is known I will look at WALGA’s list and, if I cannot make the appointments in any other way, I will make a determination from the names on that list.
I have also instructed my department to check with the State Solicitor’s Office to ascertain whether it is within my power to ask for a new list. That is the process I am currently adopting. Those considerations will come to bear. Once that is known I will look at WALGA’s list and, if I cannot make the appointments in any other way, I will make a determination from the names on that list.
(1) Will the minister now appoint two of the original panel of candidates as submitted by the Western Australian Local Government Association on 8 December last year to the vacant positions on the Local Government Grants Commission? (2) Given that WALGA selected this panel of candidates in accordance with legislation following a merit-based selection process, on what basis has the minister requested WALGA to repeat this process and submit a new list of recommendations? (3) Why does the minister not trust the judgement of the members of the WALGA State Council? Mr G.M. CASTRILLI replied: (1)-(3) I admitted last night that the two Local Government Grants Commission appointments were not undertaken in accordance with what I thought I could do. I was of the opinion that I could appoint those two people. Mr E.S. Ripper : You broke the law. Mr G.M. CASTRILLI : I did not. I was of the opinion that I could appoint those people. They are two very decent people who have done a lot for this community and they are very highly regarded. I have made the position clear to WALGA. I have asked WALGA to supply me with another list of names. I am entitled to do that. I will assess that list when it has been given to me. I have also instructed my department to check with the State Solicitor’s Office to ascertain whether it is within my power to ask for a new list. That is the process I am currently adopting. Those considerations will come to bear. Once that is known I will look at WALGA’s list and, if I cannot make the appointments in any other way, I will make a determination from the names on that list.
(2) Given that WALGA selected this panel of candidates in accordance with legislation following a merit-based selection process, on what basis has the minister requested WALGA to repeat this process and submit a new list of recommendations? (3) Why does the minister not trust the judgement of the members of the WALGA State Council? Mr G.M. CASTRILLI replied: (1)-(3) I admitted last night that the two Local Government Grants Commission appointments were not undertaken in accordance with what I thought I could do. I was of the opinion that I could appoint those two people. Mr E.S. Ripper : You broke the law. Mr G.M. CASTRILLI : I did not. I was of the opinion that I could appoint those people. They are two very decent people who have done a lot for this community and they are very highly regarded. I have made the position clear to WALGA. I have asked WALGA to supply me with another list of names. I am entitled to do that. I will assess that list when it has been given to me. I have also instructed my department to check with the State Solicitor’s Office to ascertain whether it is within my power to ask for a new list. That is the process I am currently adopting. Those considerations will come to bear. Once that is known I will look at WALGA’s list and, if I cannot make the appointments in any other way, I will make a determination from the names on that list.
(3) Why does the minister not trust the judgement of the members of the WALGA State Council? Mr G.M. CASTRILLI replied: (1)-(3) I admitted last night that the two Local Government Grants Commission appointments were not undertaken in accordance with what I thought I could do. I was of the opinion that I could appoint those two people. Mr E.S. Ripper : You broke the law. Mr G.M. CASTRILLI : I did not. I was of the opinion that I could appoint those people. They are two very decent people who have done a lot for this community and they are very highly regarded. I have made the position clear to WALGA. I have asked WALGA to supply me with another list of names. I am entitled to do that. I will assess that list when it has been given to me. I have also instructed my department to check with the State Solicitor’s Office to ascertain whether it is within my power to ask for a new list. That is the process I am currently adopting. Those considerations will come to bear. Once that is known I will look at WALGA’s list and, if I cannot make the appointments in any other way, I will make a determination from the names on that list.
Mr G.M. CASTRILLI replied: (1)-(3) I admitted last night that the two Local Government Grants Commission appointments were not undertaken in accordance with what I thought I could do. I was of the opinion that I could appoint those two people. Mr E.S. Ripper : You broke the law. Mr G.M. CASTRILLI : I did not. I was of the opinion that I could appoint those people. They are two very decent people who have done a lot for this community and they are very highly regarded. I have made the position clear to WALGA. I have asked WALGA to supply me with another list of names. I am entitled to do that. I will assess that list when it has been given to me. I have also instructed my department to check with the State Solicitor’s Office to ascertain whether it is within my power to ask for a new list. That is the process I am currently adopting. Those considerations will come to bear. Once that is known I will look at WALGA’s list and, if I cannot make the appointments in any other way, I will make a determination from the names on that list.
(1)-(3) I admitted last night that the two Local Government Grants Commission appointments were not undertaken in accordance with what I thought I could do. I was of the opinion that I could appoint those two people. Mr E.S. Ripper : You broke the law. Mr G.M. CASTRILLI : I did not. I was of the opinion that I could appoint those people. They are two very decent people who have done a lot for this community and they are very highly regarded. I have made the position clear to WALGA. I have asked WALGA to supply me with another list of names. I am entitled to do that. I will assess that list when it has been given to me. I have also instructed my department to check with the State Solicitor’s Office to ascertain whether it is within my power to ask for a new list. That is the process I am currently adopting. Those considerations will come to bear. Once that is known I will look at WALGA’s list and, if I cannot make the appointments in any other way, I will make a determination from the names on that list.
Mr E.S. Ripper : You broke the law. Mr G.M. CASTRILLI : I did not. I was of the opinion that I could appoint those people. They are two very decent people who have done a lot for this community and they are very highly regarded. I have made the position clear to WALGA. I have asked WALGA to supply me with another list of names. I am entitled to do that. I will assess that list when it has been given to me. I have also instructed my department to check with the State Solicitor’s Office to ascertain whether it is within my power to ask for a new list. That is the process I am currently adopting. Those considerations will come to bear. Once that is known I will look at WALGA’s list and, if I cannot make the appointments in any other way, I will make a determination from the names on that list.
Mr G.M. CASTRILLI : I did not. I was of the opinion that I could appoint those people. They are two very decent people who have done a lot for this community and they are very highly regarded. I have made the position clear to WALGA. I have asked WALGA to supply me with another list of names. I am entitled to do that. I will assess that list when it has been given to me. I have also instructed my department to check with the State Solicitor’s Office to ascertain whether it is within my power to ask for a new list. That is the process I am currently adopting. Those considerations will come to bear. Once that is known I will look at WALGA’s list and, if I cannot make the appointments in any other way, I will make a determination from the names on that list.
I have also instructed my department to check with the State Solicitor’s Office to ascertain whether it is within my power to ask for a new list. That is the process I am currently adopting. Those considerations will come to bear. Once that is known I will look at WALGA’s list and, if I cannot make the appointments in any other way, I will make a determination from the names on that list.
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