Public Sector Appointments

The Hon. I.F. EVANS (Davenport) (14:31): My question is to the Premier. Why is the government undertaking an international search to replace the chief executives Rod Hook and Fred Hansen, but proposing to appoint the commissioner for public employment without the position being advertised at all?

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL (Cheltenham—Premier) (14:31): Well, I don't think we have entirely settled on the approach that we'll take in relation to the commissioner for public employment but, should we proceed with a course which I outlined yesterday as a possible course, maybe a more likely course, of appointing Ms Erma Ranieri, it's because of the unique circumstances associated with the bringing together of two functions of government—one which has a vacancy and one which has an incumbent. Obviously, it's not the same situation. We are looking for—

Mr Tarzia interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Hartley is called to order.

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: In those two other cases, we are looking for new leadership, and so we are seeking to cast our net has broadly as possible so that we can—

Ms Redmond interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Heysen is called to order.

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: —in fact, attract the best possible candidate. So, each of these vacancies needs to be considered on its own merits, having regard to whether there is somebody obvious that we want to promote to the position or whether, as in this case, there is an existing incumbent for, if you like, one part of the role that we are seeking to create. So, that's the process that we are now giving thought to, but it's a very different situation.

The SPEAKER: Supplementary, member for Davenport.