Question Time

VANCO, MR G.

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY (Leader of the Opposition) (14:30): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Urban Development and Planning a question in relation to appointments within Planning SA.

Leave granted.

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY: I received a copy of an internal email a week or so ago from the Chief Executive of Planning SA, Mr Ian Nightingale. I assume it was to Planning SA as a whole. It states:

Good afternoon, I am pleased to announce the appointment of George Vanco as the Director Major Projects. This is a new role that will report directly to me. George will start work on Monday 16 March. He will play a key role in helping the agency deliver on major projects and initiatives in line with both the planning reform agenda and the South Australian Strategic Plan.

As I am sure members are aware, Mr Vanco was often seen in this chamber assisting the minister and he was very diligent in providing the minister with a range of advice and notes during question time. In light of that, I would like the minister to provide a copy of the documents I am asking for before the end of question time today, given that they will all be in existence and electronically available. My questions to the minister are:

1. Will he provide a copy of all advertisements in relation to the advertising of this position?

2. Will he provide the chamber with the number of applicants who applied for this position and the number who were interviewed?

3. Will he provide a copy of the job and person specification?

4. Finally, will he provide details of the total employment cost, which includes superannuation, motor vehicle and other extra benefits that this position may attract?

The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY (Minister for Mineral Resources Development, Minister for Urban Development and Planning, Minister for Small Business) (14:33): I am very pleased that a former hard-working member of my staff, Mr George Vanco, who has great experience, has been appointed to the position of major projects director. That appointment is a 12-month contract. The honourable member would be well aware that the Department of Planning and Local Government was recently restructured. It was recently re-created as a new department. It was formerly a unit, Planning SA, within the Department of Primary Industries and Resources. As part of the restructure, the new chief executive officer of the department, who has responsibility for such matters, has been seeking to restructure his organisation. It is his choice.

The Hon. D.W. Ridgway: Show us the advertisements.

The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY: There are no advertisements because it is a contract. To get this department up and running, it is clear that the new chief executive had to appoint people with significant experience in the area who can undertake the role envisaged of the newly designed department, and that is exactly what happened. Ultimately those positions will be subject to advertising. If a temporary appointment had not been made, the department would not have had anyone to fill the role. I do not believe anyone is more qualified to undertake that task, and I am sure that all members in this chamber who have been briefed by Mr Vanco would know that his knowledge in these areas is second to none.