ALEXANDRIDES, MR N.

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS (15:13): My questions are directed to the minister representing the Premier:

1. Has the Chief of Staff to the Premier, Mr Nick Alexandrides, made application to have leave entitlements cashed out? If so, what was the estimated cost of his application to cash out leave entitlements?

2. Was the application approved? If it was approved, who approved it? If it was approved, what was the value of the cashing out of leave entitlements?

3. Given that public servants must demonstrate hardship to have leave entitlements cashed out, was Mr Alexandrides able to demonstrate hardship to whomever might have approved the application, if it was so approved?

4. Is the former ministerial office of the Hon. Bernard Finnigan still being maintained as a ministerial office? If so, why? If it is being maintained as a ministerial office, what are the total costs being incurred and are there staff still being employed in the former ministerial office of the Hon. Bernard Finnigan?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Regional Development, Minister for Public Sector Management, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Consumer Affairs, Minister for Government Enterprises, Minister for Gambling) (15:14): I thank the honourable member for his questions, and I will refer them to the Premier in another place and bring back a response. As we know, the Hon. Rob Lucas is notorious in this place for besmirching the names and reputations of good people, people who we know are not able to come to this place and give an answer.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: We know only too well that I am referring to Mr Nick Alexandrides. We know that he and other people like him who the Hon. Rob Lucas has demeaned and whose reputations he has besmirched in this place on so many occasions are not able to come into this place to answer these allegations. We know that they are not able to do that, and the Hon. Rob Lucas knows that, as well; he knows all too well, as I have said in this place before, about those innuendos and snide suggestions around Mr Nick Alexandrides.

The Hon. Rob Lucas, as I said, cowers in this place, behind the protection of these walls. We know that he is too gutless to go out on the steps of this place and say those things and make those suggestions. We know what a coward he is, and we know that he cowers beneath this ceiling and within these walls, making snide and sneering innuendos. However, I will pass those questions on. In terms of the ministerial supports, as I said, I will refer those particular questions to the Premier.

I was given the gambling ministerial responsibilities that were formerly the responsibility of the Hon. Bernard Finnigan. I have the ministerial responsibilities for that, and there are a number of staff associated with supporting that function. My office is at absolute maximum capacity, and I am not able to fit any other officers in my office unless I was to extend the lease of my current office. I am not able to facilitate any other officers in my office. We are at absolute maximum capacity, and we have every desk space, corner, nook and cranny filled. Unless I was to extend the lease on my current office, which I do not believe is a very efficient and effective way to go at this point in time, those officers are in another place, where their offices are currently located. Currently, they are not able to be located in my office.

In terms of the other portfolio responsibilities that the Hon. Bernard Finnigan had, I know that industrial relations has gone to the Hon. Patrick Conlon, and I am not too sure what the facilities are in his office. However, as I said, I am happy to take that on notice. We seek to address these issues in a responsible way, in the most efficient and effective way that we possibly can. We seek to ensure that our public spending is kept to a minimum and that we look to be as efficient with our spending as we possibly can. We seek to do that in a highly responsible way.

I can only answer from my perspective, from my office capacity. As said, my office is full at the moment and not able to accommodate any of the gambling personnel at present. I will take those questions on notice and refer them to the Premier, or other relevant ministers, and bring back a response.