House of Assembly: Tuesday, March 08, 2011

Contents

ROBERTS, MS R.

Mrs REDMOND (Heysen—Leader of the Opposition) (14:30): My question is again to the Premier. On what basis has the Premier reappointed his former economics adviser, Ms Rowan Roberts, who resigned from the Premier's office after the 2010 state election? On 30 September last year I asked the Premier a question about whether his former economics adviser Ms Roberts had received the 16-week payout (understood to be some $37,000) following her resignation after the 2010 state election with her position subsequently being advertised but not filled. The Premier said that he would provide a report stating:

Given that she has not applied for a position on my staff and given that she has married a German economist and is now living in the Black Forest, it does seem a somewhat nebulous question.

No report was ever provided by the Premier and now Ms Roberts has returned from overseas and been reappointed.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. M.D. RANN (Ramsay—Premier, Minister for Economic Development, Minister for Social Inclusion, Minister for the Arts, Minister for Sustainability and Climate Change) (14:31): There is absolutely nothing wrong with that. Indeed, I think you should look at your own employment records in terms of the opposition. The fact is that she resigned. She was entitled to a termination payment. She then went to Germany; she got married and went to Germany where—

Mrs Redmond interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order, the Leader of the Opposition!

The Hon. M.D. RANN: —she had another position and so did her husband, but she made the decision to come back to Australia. She is outstanding. We are lucky to have her. We have reappointed her. She is terrific. And isn't it great that we have a great economy?

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. K.O. Foley interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order, the Minister for Police! Be quiet.