PUBLIC SERVICE EMPLOYEES

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS (17:29): I seek leave to make an explanation prior to directing a question to the minister representing the Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation on the subject of contractors.

Leave granted.

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS: After almost two years the government provided an answer to a question asked about persons within the Public Service who had taken separation packages and whether or not any departments had re-employed those persons as contractors. I think this is the first answer from any government department after many years of trying. I guess due credit to the former department of water, land and biodiversity conservation, which has advised that it had one person engaged in 2009-10 as a contractor who had previously received a separation package from the state government. My questions are:

1. What were the terms of the separation package entered into by this particular person and did it entail an agreement not to be re-employed by the government for a period of time and, if so, for how long?

2. When was that separation package entered into with this particular individual?

3. Was the re-engagement of that person by the former department of water, land and biodiversity conservation in breach of the agreement signed with that person?

4. If there was a breach, what were the terms of the re-engagement?

5. If there was a breach, was any public servant reprimanded or disciplined as a result of re-employing a person who had taken a separation package from the government?

6. Can the minister advise what was the nature of the contractual re-engagement of this particular individual and for what period was that individual re-engaged?

7. What was the remuneration involved in relation to that contractual arrangement?

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (Minister for Communities and Social Inclusion, Minister for Social Housing, Minister for Disabilities, Minister for Youth, Minister for Volunteers) (17:32): I thank the honourable member for his important questions. I congratulate him on his getting his answer. I will undertake to take the eight questions that he has asked today to the Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation and bring back a response.