Question Time

DEPARTMENTAL EXECUTIVES

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY (Leader of the Opposition) (14:19): The clock has even conked out now!

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! This is my favourite time of the day and it will not be ruined by bad behaviour.

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY: I seek leave to make a brief explanation—or would you like me to wait for the technical issue to be solved?

The PRESIDENT: No, I'm fine. I can count you down.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! I wish to hear the Hon. Mr Ridgway.

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY: I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the minister for primary industries and resources a question regarding probity.

Leave granted.

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY: On Tuesday 9 July the government announced the appointment of a new deputy chief executive of the Department of Primary Industries. PIRSA, as the department is known, oversees the largest industry in the state, creating more work—food alone is a $14 billion industry, employing almost 20 per cent of the workforce, earning more export dollars than any other sector in South Australia. It is bigger than mining, it is more complex and it is more diverse.

So, the appointment of a deputy chief executive is important to PIRSA and every farmer, fisher, grain grower, seed merchant, crop sprayer, primary producer—everyone in South Australia, whether they live in Adelaide or beyond. The appointment should go to an administrator who knows every issue associated with the portfolio; it should—it must—not be a political appointment. My questions are:

1. Is the new deputy chief executive a Mr Don Frater?

2. Is this the same Don Frater who worked for the Department of the Premier and Cabinet and the cabinet office?

3. Is this the same Don Frater who is a member of the Labor Staffer Alumni?

4. Is this the same Don Frater who worked as the chief of staff to Senator Penny Wong?

5. When was the job advertised?

6. Where was it advertised?

7. How many people applied?

8. How many were interviewed?

9. Who was on the selection panel?

10. How long is his contract?

11. Did you discuss his appointment with the Premier or any other state or federal Labor minister or MP?

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! The Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries.

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, Minister for Forests, Minister for Regional Development, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for State/Local Government Relations) (14:22): Goodness gracious! I thank the honourable member for his question. We were looking for a real show stopper today but, as usual, we have got a—

The Hon. D.W. Ridgway: Stop the show with an answer for a change.

The PRESIDENT: The Hon. Mr Ridgway has asked the question and we will listen to the answer.

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: The honourable member would well and truly know that the appointment of executives are operational matters. It is a process that is completed by our chief executive. The usual routine and process would have been put in place for that and I am quite happy to find out the details of that—the date that the position was advertised or whatever. It is an operational matter and I am not familiar with the details of operational procedures, but I am more than happy to obtain those details and to bring them to this place as soon as possible. I can absolutely assure people that I am confident that the chief executive, Mr Scott Ashby, would have followed whatever the appropriate process and procedures were. I know he is a stickler for process and I am absolutely confident that he would have done everything that he was supposed to do. As I said, I am happy to bring those details back to you.

I know the position did become vacant because Mr Don Plowman, the previous deputy, retired. He was a wonderful man and I would like to put on record my recognition of his many, many years of service. The position became vacant because of his retirement from that position. The chief executive informed me that a process to fill the position was going to be put in place, but he did not outline the details to me. As I said, whatever usual process is required is left to him, but he did inform me that he was opening up the position at the time. That was some time ago, and a process took place.

I was informed fairly recently that the result of that process was the selection of Mr Don Frater. In terms of discussing it with any of my parliamentary colleagues, I did not do so. It is a process that is at arm's length from me; I leave it in the very capable hands of my chief executive, and I can absolutely assure members that neither did I have discussions with any of my factional colleagues about this position.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: I am asked the question, I give the answer, and they scoff. I did not discuss the appointment of Don Frater with any of my factional colleagues or my parliamentary colleagues. I am absolutely confident in the processes that my chief executive, Scott Ashby, has put in place.

I have done some work with Mr Don Frater in the past when he was working with Premier and Cabinet. There were issues around water, and what have you, that he needed to brief me on from time to time. I always enjoyed working with Don and held him in very high regard. I have always admired his intellectual capacities; he is an extremely bright man, and I always found him to be extremely helpful in the past.

I was delighted, absolutely delighted, when my chief executive, Scott Ashby, informed me of the result of that selection process. I look forward to having Mr Don Frater on the team, and I am sure that he will make an extremely valuable contribution to the PIRSA team, just as he has to the other government teams he has worked with in the past.