Commissioner for Public Sector Employment

Mr MARSHALL (Dunstan—Leader of the Opposition) (14:21): My supplementary is a simple one, sir: was it a yes or a no? Did the minister, prior to 17 April, discuss with the Premier the proposed appointment of Ms Ranieri as the Commissioner for Public Sector Employment?

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL (Cheltenham—Premier) (14:21): As I have indicated and I have said in answers to questions in this house, she was an obvious frontrunner for this position. Of course, I have had conversations with the Minister for the Public Sector—

Mr Marshall: Before 17 April?

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: Well, before the election we realised that we were bringing together these agencies. There was a natural sense in which Ms Ranieri was a suitable leader for these roles in the amalgamated body—an absolutely obvious choice. Remember, we are bringing together a series of agencies. One of the persons that leads those agencies continues; another of those people ceases to continue. It is fairly obvious that the person that continues in the role will be a frontrunner for the role for commissioner for public employment.

All we had to do was satisfy ourselves, as the minister did, quite appropriately, through the process that she ran, that Ms Ranieri was a suitable pick for commissioner for public employment, as she manifestly is, and we then recommended that way to the Governor. It is utterly inappropriate for those opposite to be casting doubt on the process associated with the appointment of Ms Ranieri—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: It is utterly inappropriate for those opposite to be casting doubt about the process for the appointment of Ms Ranieri because it is a very important position in the South Australian public sector.

Mr Marshall interjecting:

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: She is a first-class applicant for that position, and we are very proud to have recommended her appointment.

The SPEAKER: The member for Morialta is warned for the second and final time. The leader is warned for the first time, and I call the members for Morphett, Unley and, I regret to say, the member for Goyder, to order. The member for Torrens.