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House of Assembly - Fifty-Second Parliament, First Session (52-1)
2010-09-30 Daily Xml
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ROBERTS, MS R.

Mrs REDMOND (Heysen—Leader of the Opposition) (15:00): My question is for the Premier. Can the Premier confirm that his former economics adviser received a 16-week payout following the election, with the position subsequently being advertised but not filled, and will the Premier now rule out reappointing his former adviser Rowan Roberts to the same position; and, if he does reappoint Ms Roberts, will he require her to repay the 16-week termination payout?

The Hon. M.D. RANN (Ramsay—Premier, Minister for Economic Development, Minister for Social Inclusion, Minister for the Arts, Minister for Sustainability and Climate Change) (15:01): I understand that Ms Roberts is in Germany. She is in the Black Forest region of Germany. We have with us today a very distinguished citizen. Mein Freund, guten Abend. Hagen Stehr is here today. He advises me on German linguistics and philosophy.

Mrs REDMOND: Point of order.

The SPEAKER: Order! There is a point of order. The Leader of the Opposition.

Mrs REDMOND: The question was very specifically about whether that person received a payout of 16 weeks' pay, and whether the position was then advertised but not filled and whether the Premier plans to re-employ that person.

The SPEAKER: I will listen very carefully to the Premier.

The Hon. M.D. RANN: I will get a report for the honourable member, but I understand, as I say, that the person concerned, who I believe had a substantive position in the Public Service, is currently in the Black Forest—not Black Forest in South Australia, not Black Forest cake—

Mrs Redmond interjecting:

The Hon. M.D. RANN: Well, that is just what I have told you. I understand that a number of the people who have been hired by the opposition—some of whom the state is funding in legal matters against the state—get the same payouts in your office. I know that the leader has made an application for a substantial increase in funding for the Leader of the Opposition's office. That is why I believe that the member for Waite will come back, because he knows how to get—

Mr PENGILLY: Point of order!

The SPEAKER: Order! There is a point of order.

Mr PENGILLY: I believe the Premier is debating the issue and not answering the question.

The SPEAKER: I do uphold that point of order. I think that the Premier has gone too far.

An honourable member interjecting:

The Hon. M.D. RANN: Put someone in a headlock, do a garrotte, parachute to safety—all those things. I will get a report for the honourable member; but, given that she has not applied for a position on my staff and given that she has married a German economist and is now living in the Black Forest, it does seem a somewhat nebulous question, but I understand the leader's own sensitivity. I want to know, too, because I understand that recently—

Mr VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN: Point of order!

The SPEAKER: Order! There is a point of order; the member for Stuart.

Mr PISONI: Point of order!

The SPEAKER: We have already got one. The member for Stuart.

Mr VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN: I do not think it is appropriate for the Premier to be asking questions.

The SPEAKER: I am not sure whether that was a point of order. Premier, have you finished?

The Hon. M.D. RANN: I have finished.

The SPEAKER: The member for Little Para.

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