Dubai Trade and Investment Office

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Leader of the Opposition) (15:07): Further supplementary: the minister talked about the recruitment process for the office. Can the minister outline the remuneration level for the director of the office, how many people will be in that office and whether anyone has been appointed to that office yet?

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY (Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment) (15:07): I will start with the last question first. No, nobody has been appointed. As I said, it was only on 13 September—so that's only 12 days ago—that the actual advertisement went live. I know we are a fast-acting, quick government, but we do need to take a little bit more time than 12 days to appoint somebody.

I don't have the exact figure of the remuneration package. As members would know, the arrangement is that we employ people with Austrade, so they are employed on a similar salary package and, my understanding is, with similar qualifications and similar responsibilities as within Austrade, but I will bring back those details for the honourable member.