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Legislative Council - Fifty-First Parliament, Third Session (51-3)
2009-03-05 Daily Xml
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NOSKE, MS K.

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS (14:51): I seek leave to make an explanation before asking the Leader of the Government a question about a public sector appointment.

Leave granted.

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS: Recently the minister's Department of Planning and Local Government appointed a new person to be in charge of Strategic Communications in his department. The person appointed was Ms Kaye Noske, who is a former Labor government ministerial staffer who was recently head of communications in PIRSA. I have received a number of complaints from persons within the Public Service about the process used to make the appointment within the minister's department.

I have been informed that the position was not advertised, contrary to usual public sector guidelines in relation to such a senior appointment, and in doing so this prevented a number of other persons from applying for consideration for that position. I have also been informed that, just prior to the appointment, the minister's department significantly increased the remuneration payable for the position to a level of $120,000 in salary and the addition of a car, significantly above the old level for the position.

I have also been informed that Ms Noske was approached to apply for the position and indicated that she would do so only if the position was reclassified and the salary increased to $120,000 with the addition of the car. My questions to the minister are:

1. What is the total employment cost (TEC) for this position, including, obviously, the superannuation, car and any other benefits that attach to the position? What was the total employment cost for that position prior to the appointment of Ms Noske?

2. What process was used by the minister's department for increasing the total employment costs for that position, and why did the minister's department increase the TEC significantly?

3. Why did the minister's department not advertise this position publicly so that a proper merit-based appointment could have occurred for that senior position, and what is the term and the nature of Ms Noske's appointment to the position?

The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY (Minister for Mineral Resources Development, Minister for Urban Development and Planning, Minister for Small Business) (14:53): My understanding was that it was for a limited time, but they are matters for the Chief Executive of my department. I will get the information—

The Hon. R.I. Lucas interjecting:

The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY: I do not know; I will have to ask the Chief Executive. What I do know is that, for many years, Ms Kaye Noske worked with the Department of Primary Industries and Resources in its Communication Unit, and from my experience I know that she performed an excellent job. I know that she is very good at her job. I am very pleased that she is able to work in the department, particularly at such a crucial time when the government is rolling out its planning reforms. There is significant workload in relation to providing information with respect to the many details associated with the new planning system and in particular the code.

That workload will continue over the next six months as the code is refined to bring in areas where the residential code applies for new dwellings and also where character areas apply. I am pleased that we have a very experienced media person in Kay Noske in such a key position within the department. I will get the details from the chief executive.

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