❓ Ms. Saffioti questions the termination of Ms. Boska's employment in the Minister for Transport's office. The Minister confirms her departure was due to office staffing constraints following his own breach of ministerial code.
AnsweredQoN 31Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
MINISTER FOR TRANSPORT'S OFFICE —
SARAH BOSKA'S EMPLOYMENT
31. Ms R. SAFFIOTI to the Minister for
Transport:
I refer to the departure of Ms Sarah
Boska from the minister's office.
(1) Can the
minister confirm that Ms Boska's ministerial office employment was
terminated by the government?
(2) If yes to
(1), what was the basis for that termination?
SARAH BOSKA'S EMPLOYMENT
31. Ms R. SAFFIOTI to the Minister for
Transport:
I refer to the departure of Ms Sarah
Boska from the minister's office.
(1) Can the
minister confirm that Ms Boska's ministerial office employment was
terminated by the government?
(2) If yes to
(1), what was the basis for that termination?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) Firstly,
I would like to point out that Sarah Boska is a tremendous human being.
Mr P.B. Watson : You thought that when
you shafted her?
Withdrawal of Remark
The
SPEAKER : Member for Albany, I think you should withdraw that.
Mr
P.B. WATSON : I withdraw.
Questions without Notice Resumed
Mr
D.C. NALDER : The month of December was probably one of the hardest periods
I have been through. I will put it frankly that I like to consider myself as
someone who is open, transparent and honest, and someone who acts with
integrity. This was very difficult on my family, my friends and me—there
is no question about that. In fact, as to the issue raised previously by the
Leader of the Opposition about that lunch with Mr Alan Ariti, Mr Conran knows
that because I took that to him as a breach after I was found to breach another
part of the ministerial code. It was me who owned up and dobbed myself in.
Was I found to have done anything
misleading? As the Premier said—no. Was there any personal financial
gain? No. The person who is asking me this question is not somebody who has, I
think, the integrity in this house to ask those sorts of questions.
Several members interjected.
Withdrawal of Remark
Mr W.J. JOHNSTON : The words used
by the minister were ''the member who asked the question is not a person
with the integrity'' to take it forward. That is an imputation and it
cannot be allowed to stand! Imputations against members are against the
standing orders, and the minister must be demanded to withdraw immediately.
The SPEAKER : Just withdraw that,
please, minister.
Mr D.C. NALDER : Mr Speaker, I
withdraw.
Mr
W.J. Johnston : Your standards, Premier!
The
SPEAKER : Members, that is enough!
Questions
without Notice Resumed
Mr
D.C. NALDER : There have been questions marks over other people in this
house about personal financial gain. I can directly attribute that to people in
this house. Sarah Boska is someone who acts with integrity and someone who I
trust implicitly. One of the challenges I had, and part of the penalty for the
mistakes I made, is that I have lost the portfolio of finance.
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Members!
Mr
D.C. NALDER : We could not justify the number of people who were in my
ministerial office. Did I want to lose Sarah Boska? No, I did not. I was
attempting to try to find ways to keep her employed. One of the options that
was potentially open was if there was a spot in my electorate office, but,
unfortunately, I have two very good people in my electorate office right now—and
so I could not find somewhere for Sarah Boska and there has been a situation
where she has separated from government. I regret that, and I would love to
continue working with Sarah Boska. That is the situation that exists.
I would like to point out that Sarah Boska is a tremendous human being.
Mr P.B. Watson : You thought that when
you shafted her?
Withdrawal of Remark
The
SPEAKER : Member for Albany, I think you should withdraw that.
Mr
P.B. WATSON : I withdraw.
Questions without Notice Resumed
Mr
D.C. NALDER : The month of December was probably one of the hardest periods
I have been through. I will put it frankly that I like to consider myself as
someone who is open, transparent and honest, and someone who acts with
integrity. This was very difficult on my family, my friends and me—there
is no question about that. In fact, as to the issue raised previously by the
Leader of the Opposition about that lunch with Mr Alan Ariti, Mr Conran knows
that because I took that to him as a breach after I was found to breach another
part of the ministerial code. It was me who owned up and dobbed myself in.
Was I found to have done anything
misleading? As the Premier said—no. Was there any personal financial
gain? No. The person who is asking me this question is not somebody who has, I
think, the integrity in this house to ask those sorts of questions.
Several members interjected.
Withdrawal of Remark
Mr W.J. JOHNSTON : The words used
by the minister were ''the member who asked the question is not a person
with the integrity'' to take it forward. That is an imputation and it
cannot be allowed to stand! Imputations against members are against the
standing orders, and the minister must be demanded to withdraw immediately.
The SPEAKER : Just withdraw that,
please, minister.
Mr D.C. NALDER : Mr Speaker, I
withdraw.
Mr
W.J. Johnston : Your standards, Premier!
The
SPEAKER : Members, that is enough!
Questions
without Notice Resumed
Mr
D.C. NALDER : There have been questions marks over other people in this
house about personal financial gain. I can directly attribute that to people in
this house. Sarah Boska is someone who acts with integrity and someone who I
trust implicitly. One of the challenges I had, and part of the penalty for the
mistakes I made, is that I have lost the portfolio of finance.
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Members!
Mr
D.C. NALDER : We could not justify the number of people who were in my
ministerial office. Did I want to lose Sarah Boska? No, I did not. I was
attempting to try to find ways to keep her employed. One of the options that
was potentially open was if there was a spot in my electorate office, but,
unfortunately, I have two very good people in my electorate office right now—and
so I could not find somewhere for Sarah Boska and there has been a situation
where she has separated from government. I regret that, and I would love to
continue working with Sarah Boska. That is the situation that exists.
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