Legislative Council Fifty-Third Parliament, Second Session (53-2) 53 2 Parliament of South Australia Legislative Council published Question Time Question Time TAFE SA, Director Appointment TAFE SA, Director Appointment The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY Legislative Council Leader of the Opposition TAFE SA, Director Appointment The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY (Leader of the Opposition) (15:48): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Employment, Higher Education and Skills a question about an appointment by TAFE SA. Leave granted. The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY Legislative Council The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY: Recently, Mr Jadynne Harvey was appointed as the Director of Policy and Strategy at TAFE SA. Members would recall that Mr Harvey was a former adviser to the Premier, drawing a salary of some $145,000, and was implicated in the Debelle report in 2013. My questions to the minister are: 1.	When the position of Director of Policy and Strategy at TAFE SA created? 2.	Was the vacancy advertised internally or externally? 3.	Was the minister advertised of Mr Harvey's appointment prior to any public announcement? 4.	Was the minister advised of Mr Harvey's application or approach for the position of Director of Policy and Strategy at TAFE SA? 5.	Did the minister or any other member of the government or previous Labor minister provide a recommendation or reference for Mr Harvey in support of his application, either written or orally? 6.	Will the minister rule out that any involvement, either formally or informally, of any government minister or government official in Mr Harvey's appointment as Director of Policy and Strategy at TAFE SA? The Hon. G.E. GAGO Legislative Council Minister for Employment, Higher Education and Skills, Minister for Science and Information Economy, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Business Services and Consumers The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Employment, Higher Education and Skills, Minister for Science and Information Economy, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Business Services and Consumers) (15:49): I see that the break has not improved the disposition of the opposition; it continues to come into this place with snide innuendo and has no compunction whatsoever about possibly damaging the reputation of good people. As honourable members in this place know, TAFE SA is an independent statutory authority. It has its own board and makes its own independent decisions in relation to staffing matters and employment matters. I understand that it fairly recently did a review of its executive and the employment and hiring of staff is completely a matter for the board and its executive. If the honourable member wants answers to those questions he would need to contact TAFE SA, the chair, Mr Peter Vaughan, and I invite him to ask the appropriate authority.