❓ A parliamentary question scrutinises the Police Minister's decision to pay a Liberal Party member $962 for a two-page crime prevention report, questioning the value for money and why ministerial staff couldn't produce it. The Minister defends the payment, citing the consultant's investigative work and staff limitations.
AnsweredQoN 158Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
darby-smith, mr terry
(1) How does the minister justify paying Terry Darby-Smith, a Liberal Party member and former staffer of disgraced member of Parliament, Wade Smith, $962 for a two-page report on crime prevention? (2) Why could a member of the minister’s staff not write this report? (3) Is the minister satisfied that the memorandum is worth nearly $500 a page, which was paid for by taxpayers? (4) Will the minister use Mr Darby-Smith’s services again; and, if so, why? Mr PRINCE
(1) How does the minister justify paying Terry Darby-Smith, a Liberal Party member and former staffer of disgraced member of Parliament, Wade Smith, $962 for a two-page report on crime prevention? (2) Why could a member of the minister’s staff not write this report? (3) Is the minister satisfied that the memorandum is worth nearly $500 a page, which was paid for by taxpayers? (4) Will the minister use Mr Darby-Smith’s services again; and, if so, why? Mr PRINCE
AnswerView source ↗
(1)-(4) Mr Darby-Smith wrote only a two-page memorandum, but he spent enough time on it to justify the $900 bill. Mr Ripper: Slow writer. Mr PRINCE: He did not make it up; he went out and investigated. He talked to people and then wrote the report. Mr Marlborough: Minister, I am writing this letter slowly because I know you can’t read very fast. Mr PRINCE: That joke was old when the member was a boy. Mr Marlborough: The joke still works. Mr PRINCE: Only if addressed to the member. I think it was then good value for money. Why did a member of my staff not do it? I probably have the smallest ministerial staff in Government. There was no-one else available to do it. I employ only nine people and they are all public servants. I will consider using Terry Darby-Smith again if I need something done and I consider him the most suitable person to do it.
(2) Why could a member of the minister’s staff not write this report? (3) Is the minister satisfied that the memorandum is worth nearly $500 a page, which was paid for by taxpayers? (4) Will the minister use Mr Darby-Smith’s services again; and, if so, why? Mr PRINCE replied: (1)-(4) Mr Darby-Smith wrote only a two-page memorandum, but he spent enough time on it to justify the $900 bill. Mr Ripper: Slow writer. Mr PRINCE: He did not make it up; he went out and investigated. He talked to people and then wrote the report. Mr Marlborough: Minister, I am writing this letter slowly because I know you can’t read very fast. Mr PRINCE: That joke was old when the member was a boy. Mr Marlborough: The joke still works. Mr PRINCE: Only if addressed to the member. I think it was then good value for money. Why did a member of my staff not do it? I probably have the smallest ministerial staff in Government. There was no-one else available to do it. I employ only nine people and they are all public servants. I will consider using Terry Darby-Smith again if I need something done and I consider him the most suitable person to do it.
(3) Is the minister satisfied that the memorandum is worth nearly $500 a page, which was paid for by taxpayers? (4) Will the minister use Mr Darby-Smith’s services again; and, if so, why? Mr PRINCE replied: (1)-(4) Mr Darby-Smith wrote only a two-page memorandum, but he spent enough time on it to justify the $900 bill. Mr Ripper: Slow writer. Mr PRINCE: He did not make it up; he went out and investigated. He talked to people and then wrote the report. Mr Marlborough: Minister, I am writing this letter slowly because I know you can’t read very fast. Mr PRINCE: That joke was old when the member was a boy. Mr Marlborough: The joke still works. Mr PRINCE: Only if addressed to the member. I think it was then good value for money. Why did a member of my staff not do it? I probably have the smallest ministerial staff in Government. There was no-one else available to do it. I employ only nine people and they are all public servants. I will consider using Terry Darby-Smith again if I need something done and I consider him the most suitable person to do it.
(4) Will the minister use Mr Darby-Smith’s services again; and, if so, why? Mr PRINCE replied: (1)-(4) Mr Darby-Smith wrote only a two-page memorandum, but he spent enough time on it to justify the $900 bill. Mr Ripper: Slow writer. Mr PRINCE: He did not make it up; he went out and investigated. He talked to people and then wrote the report. Mr Marlborough: Minister, I am writing this letter slowly because I know you can’t read very fast. Mr PRINCE: That joke was old when the member was a boy. Mr Marlborough: The joke still works. Mr PRINCE: Only if addressed to the member. I think it was then good value for money. Why did a member of my staff not do it? I probably have the smallest ministerial staff in Government. There was no-one else available to do it. I employ only nine people and they are all public servants. I will consider using Terry Darby-Smith again if I need something done and I consider him the most suitable person to do it.
Mr PRINCE replied: (1)-(4) Mr Darby-Smith wrote only a two-page memorandum, but he spent enough time on it to justify the $900 bill. Mr Ripper: Slow writer. Mr PRINCE: He did not make it up; he went out and investigated. He talked to people and then wrote the report. Mr Marlborough: Minister, I am writing this letter slowly because I know you can’t read very fast. Mr PRINCE: That joke was old when the member was a boy. Mr Marlborough: The joke still works. Mr PRINCE: Only if addressed to the member. I think it was then good value for money. Why did a member of my staff not do it? I probably have the smallest ministerial staff in Government. There was no-one else available to do it. I employ only nine people and they are all public servants. I will consider using Terry Darby-Smith again if I need something done and I consider him the most suitable person to do it.
(1)-(4) Mr Darby-Smith wrote only a two-page memorandum, but he spent enough time on it to justify the $900 bill. Mr Ripper: Slow writer. Mr PRINCE: He did not make it up; he went out and investigated. He talked to people and then wrote the report. Mr Marlborough: Minister, I am writing this letter slowly because I know you can’t read very fast. Mr PRINCE: That joke was old when the member was a boy. Mr Marlborough: The joke still works. Mr PRINCE: Only if addressed to the member. I think it was then good value for money. Why did a member of my staff not do it? I probably have the smallest ministerial staff in Government. There was no-one else available to do it. I employ only nine people and they are all public servants. I will consider using Terry Darby-Smith again if I need something done and I consider him the most suitable person to do it.
Mr Ripper: Slow writer. Mr PRINCE: He did not make it up; he went out and investigated. He talked to people and then wrote the report. Mr Marlborough: Minister, I am writing this letter slowly because I know you can’t read very fast. Mr PRINCE: That joke was old when the member was a boy. Mr Marlborough: The joke still works. Mr PRINCE: Only if addressed to the member. I think it was then good value for money. Why did a member of my staff not do it? I probably have the smallest ministerial staff in Government. There was no-one else available to do it. I employ only nine people and they are all public servants. I will consider using Terry Darby-Smith again if I need something done and I consider him the most suitable person to do it.
Mr PRINCE: He did not make it up; he went out and investigated. He talked to people and then wrote the report. Mr Marlborough: Minister, I am writing this letter slowly because I know you can’t read very fast. Mr PRINCE: That joke was old when the member was a boy. Mr Marlborough: The joke still works. Mr PRINCE: Only if addressed to the member. I think it was then good value for money. Why did a member of my staff not do it? I probably have the smallest ministerial staff in Government. There was no-one else available to do it. I employ only nine people and they are all public servants. I will consider using Terry Darby-Smith again if I need something done and I consider him the most suitable person to do it.
Mr Marlborough: Minister, I am writing this letter slowly because I know you can’t read very fast. Mr PRINCE: That joke was old when the member was a boy. Mr Marlborough: The joke still works. Mr PRINCE: Only if addressed to the member. I think it was then good value for money. Why did a member of my staff not do it? I probably have the smallest ministerial staff in Government. There was no-one else available to do it. I employ only nine people and they are all public servants. I will consider using Terry Darby-Smith again if I need something done and I consider him the most suitable person to do it.
Mr PRINCE: That joke was old when the member was a boy. Mr Marlborough: The joke still works. Mr PRINCE: Only if addressed to the member. I think it was then good value for money. Why did a member of my staff not do it? I probably have the smallest ministerial staff in Government. There was no-one else available to do it. I employ only nine people and they are all public servants. I will consider using Terry Darby-Smith again if I need something done and I consider him the most suitable person to do it.
Mr Marlborough: The joke still works. Mr PRINCE: Only if addressed to the member. I think it was then good value for money. Why did a member of my staff not do it? I probably have the smallest ministerial staff in Government. There was no-one else available to do it. I employ only nine people and they are all public servants. I will consider using Terry Darby-Smith again if I need something done and I consider him the most suitable person to do it.
Mr PRINCE: Only if addressed to the member. I think it was then good value for money. Why did a member of my staff not do it? I probably have the smallest ministerial staff in Government. There was no-one else available to do it. I employ only nine people and they are all public servants. I will consider using Terry Darby-Smith again if I need something done and I consider him the most suitable person to do it.
I think it was then good value for money. Why did a member of my staff not do it? I probably have the smallest ministerial staff in Government. There was no-one else available to do it. I employ only nine people and they are all public servants. I will consider using Terry Darby-Smith again if I need something done and I consider him the most suitable person to do it.
(2) Why could a member of the minister’s staff not write this report? (3) Is the minister satisfied that the memorandum is worth nearly $500 a page, which was paid for by taxpayers? (4) Will the minister use Mr Darby-Smith’s services again; and, if so, why? Mr PRINCE replied: (1)-(4) Mr Darby-Smith wrote only a two-page memorandum, but he spent enough time on it to justify the $900 bill. Mr Ripper: Slow writer. Mr PRINCE: He did not make it up; he went out and investigated. He talked to people and then wrote the report. Mr Marlborough: Minister, I am writing this letter slowly because I know you can’t read very fast. Mr PRINCE: That joke was old when the member was a boy. Mr Marlborough: The joke still works. Mr PRINCE: Only if addressed to the member. I think it was then good value for money. Why did a member of my staff not do it? I probably have the smallest ministerial staff in Government. There was no-one else available to do it. I employ only nine people and they are all public servants. I will consider using Terry Darby-Smith again if I need something done and I consider him the most suitable person to do it.
(3) Is the minister satisfied that the memorandum is worth nearly $500 a page, which was paid for by taxpayers? (4) Will the minister use Mr Darby-Smith’s services again; and, if so, why? Mr PRINCE replied: (1)-(4) Mr Darby-Smith wrote only a two-page memorandum, but he spent enough time on it to justify the $900 bill. Mr Ripper: Slow writer. Mr PRINCE: He did not make it up; he went out and investigated. He talked to people and then wrote the report. Mr Marlborough: Minister, I am writing this letter slowly because I know you can’t read very fast. Mr PRINCE: That joke was old when the member was a boy. Mr Marlborough: The joke still works. Mr PRINCE: Only if addressed to the member. I think it was then good value for money. Why did a member of my staff not do it? I probably have the smallest ministerial staff in Government. There was no-one else available to do it. I employ only nine people and they are all public servants. I will consider using Terry Darby-Smith again if I need something done and I consider him the most suitable person to do it.
(4) Will the minister use Mr Darby-Smith’s services again; and, if so, why? Mr PRINCE replied: (1)-(4) Mr Darby-Smith wrote only a two-page memorandum, but he spent enough time on it to justify the $900 bill. Mr Ripper: Slow writer. Mr PRINCE: He did not make it up; he went out and investigated. He talked to people and then wrote the report. Mr Marlborough: Minister, I am writing this letter slowly because I know you can’t read very fast. Mr PRINCE: That joke was old when the member was a boy. Mr Marlborough: The joke still works. Mr PRINCE: Only if addressed to the member. I think it was then good value for money. Why did a member of my staff not do it? I probably have the smallest ministerial staff in Government. There was no-one else available to do it. I employ only nine people and they are all public servants. I will consider using Terry Darby-Smith again if I need something done and I consider him the most suitable person to do it.
Mr PRINCE replied: (1)-(4) Mr Darby-Smith wrote only a two-page memorandum, but he spent enough time on it to justify the $900 bill. Mr Ripper: Slow writer. Mr PRINCE: He did not make it up; he went out and investigated. He talked to people and then wrote the report. Mr Marlborough: Minister, I am writing this letter slowly because I know you can’t read very fast. Mr PRINCE: That joke was old when the member was a boy. Mr Marlborough: The joke still works. Mr PRINCE: Only if addressed to the member. I think it was then good value for money. Why did a member of my staff not do it? I probably have the smallest ministerial staff in Government. There was no-one else available to do it. I employ only nine people and they are all public servants. I will consider using Terry Darby-Smith again if I need something done and I consider him the most suitable person to do it.
(1)-(4) Mr Darby-Smith wrote only a two-page memorandum, but he spent enough time on it to justify the $900 bill. Mr Ripper: Slow writer. Mr PRINCE: He did not make it up; he went out and investigated. He talked to people and then wrote the report. Mr Marlborough: Minister, I am writing this letter slowly because I know you can’t read very fast. Mr PRINCE: That joke was old when the member was a boy. Mr Marlborough: The joke still works. Mr PRINCE: Only if addressed to the member. I think it was then good value for money. Why did a member of my staff not do it? I probably have the smallest ministerial staff in Government. There was no-one else available to do it. I employ only nine people and they are all public servants. I will consider using Terry Darby-Smith again if I need something done and I consider him the most suitable person to do it.
Mr Ripper: Slow writer. Mr PRINCE: He did not make it up; he went out and investigated. He talked to people and then wrote the report. Mr Marlborough: Minister, I am writing this letter slowly because I know you can’t read very fast. Mr PRINCE: That joke was old when the member was a boy. Mr Marlborough: The joke still works. Mr PRINCE: Only if addressed to the member. I think it was then good value for money. Why did a member of my staff not do it? I probably have the smallest ministerial staff in Government. There was no-one else available to do it. I employ only nine people and they are all public servants. I will consider using Terry Darby-Smith again if I need something done and I consider him the most suitable person to do it.
Mr PRINCE: He did not make it up; he went out and investigated. He talked to people and then wrote the report. Mr Marlborough: Minister, I am writing this letter slowly because I know you can’t read very fast. Mr PRINCE: That joke was old when the member was a boy. Mr Marlborough: The joke still works. Mr PRINCE: Only if addressed to the member. I think it was then good value for money. Why did a member of my staff not do it? I probably have the smallest ministerial staff in Government. There was no-one else available to do it. I employ only nine people and they are all public servants. I will consider using Terry Darby-Smith again if I need something done and I consider him the most suitable person to do it.
Mr Marlborough: Minister, I am writing this letter slowly because I know you can’t read very fast. Mr PRINCE: That joke was old when the member was a boy. Mr Marlborough: The joke still works. Mr PRINCE: Only if addressed to the member. I think it was then good value for money. Why did a member of my staff not do it? I probably have the smallest ministerial staff in Government. There was no-one else available to do it. I employ only nine people and they are all public servants. I will consider using Terry Darby-Smith again if I need something done and I consider him the most suitable person to do it.
Mr PRINCE: That joke was old when the member was a boy. Mr Marlborough: The joke still works. Mr PRINCE: Only if addressed to the member. I think it was then good value for money. Why did a member of my staff not do it? I probably have the smallest ministerial staff in Government. There was no-one else available to do it. I employ only nine people and they are all public servants. I will consider using Terry Darby-Smith again if I need something done and I consider him the most suitable person to do it.
Mr Marlborough: The joke still works. Mr PRINCE: Only if addressed to the member. I think it was then good value for money. Why did a member of my staff not do it? I probably have the smallest ministerial staff in Government. There was no-one else available to do it. I employ only nine people and they are all public servants. I will consider using Terry Darby-Smith again if I need something done and I consider him the most suitable person to do it.
Mr PRINCE: Only if addressed to the member. I think it was then good value for money. Why did a member of my staff not do it? I probably have the smallest ministerial staff in Government. There was no-one else available to do it. I employ only nine people and they are all public servants. I will consider using Terry Darby-Smith again if I need something done and I consider him the most suitable person to do it.
I think it was then good value for money. Why did a member of my staff not do it? I probably have the smallest ministerial staff in Government. There was no-one else available to do it. I employ only nine people and they are all public servants. I will consider using Terry Darby-Smith again if I need something done and I consider him the most suitable person to do it.
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