Question Time

Public Sector Recruitment

Ms CHAPMAN (Bragg—Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (14:16): My question is to the Premier. Given that the Commissioner for Public Sector Employment's recruitment guideline specifies that chief executives are responsible for recruitment and selection systems and processes, who is investigating whether Dr Don Russell met these requirements in relation to the appointment of the chief information officer?

The Hon. J.R. RAU (Enfield—Deputy Premier, Attorney-General, Minister for Justice Reform, Minister for Planning, Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for Child Protection Reform, Minister for the Public Sector, Minister for Consumer and Business Services, Minister for the City of Adelaide) (14:16): I think we canvassed this fairly extensively yesterday. I think we even had a ministerial statement yesterday, if I recall. The position is that Dr Russell became aware of issues in early September. He acted promptly in relation to those matters. Inasmuch as the matters were matters within his control, he has made a determination pursuant to the provisions of the public sector legislation to the effect that the individual concerned is no longer a public sector employee.

Further matters relating to that individual, of course, rest elsewhere. For that reason, I have not been expressing views about the particulars of those matters. So far as I am aware, there is no suggestion whatsoever that Dr Russell personally, in any way, has been derelict in his duties. It would appear to me, on the face of the material I have seen, that he has acted properly and has taken important steps, as set out yesterday in the ministerial statement.