Ministerial Staff

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS (14:23): My questions are to the minister representing the Premier:

1. On what date did Ms Anastasia Tavlaridis leave the job as the manager of the Premier's ministerial office?

2. What new position did Ms Tavlaridis move to within the Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure?

3. Was that position advertised prior to her taking the position and, if not, why not?

4. What is the salary level of this new position?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Employment, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation, Minister for Manufacturing and Innovation, Minister for Automotive Transformation, Minister for Science and Information Economy) (14:24): I will refer those questions to another minister and see if there is a reply that can be brought back, but I also might take the opportunity to reflect on the manner and the way some members of this chamber choose to conduct themselves. I think all of us here are and will be judged not just on what we achieve but on how we conduct ourselves in doing it.

Nearly all of us act with the dignity and respect, I think, which most of the public expect from their elected representatives. Certainly, I know my apprenticeship before coming to parliament, working for the Hon. Terry Roberts, was a good example of how to conduct yourself and how to gain the respect of others.

Sure, in the rough and tumble of the day-to-day of politics, certainly the views will be put in a forthright way. I probably don't always live up to the example the late Terry Roberts set in doing that; however, I object regularly to the way the Hon. Rob Lucas uses parliamentary privilege in this place—a privilege that we all enjoy. Regularly, his contributions, and particularly his contribution late last night, would almost certainly see him on the wrong end of a defamation suit.

I am sure all of us, when we finish here in this chamber, will look back on our political career at what we have done and how we have done it. People will consider the Hon. Rob Lucas's legacy. Many on our side will consider the sale of ETSA and the closure of schools and not look favourably upon it, but I am sure many on his side will take it very, very differently.

One thing that I am sure most people will remember Rob Lucas for is being a coward—an absolute coward—regularly singling out and naming individuals who can't defend themselves, often on the basis of made-up rumours or, as he did last night, on the basis of, 'I don't know if it's true or not, so I am going to say it on the record.' What I would do is challenge the Hon. Rob Lucas. Why don't you go and ask your colleagues, honestly ask them: 'Tell me, give me honest feedback, I won't hold it against you, do you think and do you believe I am a liability and an embarrassment to this party?'

When our careers are finished and we look back on what we have done, there is no doubt the Hon. Rob Lucas's political epitaph will start with 'was a political coward'. I think you need to have a good hard look at yourself and think: is this really what you want to be doing for so long, Rob?