Emergency Services

Mr VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN (Stuart) (15:00): Supplementary, to the same minister: how much will it cost taxpayers to pay out the contracts of the three chief officers of the MFS, CFS and SES if they are not retained as part of the amalgamation?

The Hon. J.M. Rankine interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The Minister for Education will not audibly assist the minister, and she is called to order. Minister.

The Hon. A. PICCOLO (Light—Minister for Disabilities, Minister for Police, Minister for Correctional Services, Minister for Emergency Services, Minister for Road Safety) (15:01): That's not a question I have actually turned my mind to because this part—

An honourable member interjecting:

The Hon. A. PICCOLO: Well, because with this part of the process, I am not assuming anything. At this stage of the process, there is a discussion paper. The proposal has yet to—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. A. PICCOLO: It is quite clear, and I have actually been quite open about it. Clearly, if we have four people who are the equivalent of CEOs in the sector now, and there is only one position, some will have to go. Having said that, they are paid at different rates, so I am not sure which one will get the job, or whether any will get the job. That is for a future process to determine, so I am not going to pre-empt either the outcome of this process of discussions—

An honourable member interjecting:

The Hon. A. PICCOLO: I am not going to pre-empt either this process, which goes for the next six weeks, nor pre-empt a government decision, nor pre-empt a selection process which will be held in the future—it would be quite inappropriate.