TOURISM COMMISSION

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS (14:34): I have a supplementary question arising out of the minister's answer. Mr President, given the minister is saying she has no knowledge as to whether the $300,000 is for a part-time position of 2½ days a week. Does she support—

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER: Point of order, Mr President. This so-called supplementary in no way arises out of the original answer. It is actually a supplementary on a supplementary.

The PRESIDENT: Thank you for that. I have you on the call list, Hon. Mr Lucas.

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS: A supplementary question arising out of the original answer, Mr President.

The PRESIDENT: Okay, you will give it another go?

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS: Does the minister support the payment of $300,000 for a 2½ day a week part-time position, if that is the decision of the Tourism Commission?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, Minister for Forests, Minister for Regional Development, Minister for Tourism, Minister for the Status of Women) (14:35): These are matters for the board. My understanding is that that figure—and I do not have the details of this at all—would be the figure if a full-time position was to be selected. My understanding is (and again I am happy to check the detail) is that the position that is being advertised is not a full-time position. My understanding is that, if the position is a full-time position, that would be the pay associated with it, or part thereof.

The thing that is important and underlying this is that the initial decisions around the change of the chief executive position were made at the time, based on savings that had to be made and on structural issues at the time as the organisation was too top heavy and needed flattening. There were a range of issues at the time and they were the reasons a decision was made to pay out the chief executive at the time and replace him. A review was then requested of the new chief executive, who was employed part-time on an interim basis. We were always committed to replacing the chief executive.

The Hon. R.I. Lucas: Gail, cut your losses now. Just sit down—cut your losses. I won't ask you any more supplementaries.

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: The truth hurts. They do not like to listen to the truth.

The PRESIDENT: Don't worry about them: you're telling me.

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: This is some reality checking. At the time I said that the part-time position would be interim only and that it would be replaced somewhere by the end of the year, early next year, and that is exactly what we are doing. That position will be replaced. I have never said whether it would be replaced by a part-time position or a full-time position—ever. I just said at the time that it would be replaced. A review has been conducted by the chief executive, and that is still being discussed with me and has not been finalised.

Those matters have been put in place, they are about to be completed and a decision will be made whether that position needs to be filled with a full-time or part-time position. I have never said that it will necessarily be replaced with a full-time position. Honourable members come into this place and make up things as they go along, and the very competent board will make a decision. It has hired a recruitment selection company and it will go through a process of selecting the most suitable person to fill the position.

The PRESIDENT: You have a question Mr Lucas?