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Legislative Council - Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2)
2013-06-19 Daily Xml
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MINISTERIAL STAFF

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS (15:07): I seek leave to make a brief explanation prior to directing a question to the minister representing the Minister for Finance on the subject of taxpayer funded expenses.

Leave granted.

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS: Mr Michael Gorey is listed in the latest ministerial staff directory as the acting chief of staff and media adviser to minister O'Brien. He has previously acted as media adviser for minister Gago and minister O'Brien at various times since he was first appointed as a government spin doctor in 2010.

A whistleblower within the Public Service has provided to the opposition a copy of an invoice for $3,036, an invoice from De'luxe Removals, local/country/interstate furniture removalists, for the pick-up and delivery of furniture and household contents for Mr Michael Gorey from an address in Mount Gambier to an address in Mile End (which I will not put on the public record) on 6 and 7 December 2010. Part of that invoice was a cost of $1,160 to do the packing for Mr Gorey.

This particular invoice and expense was incurred at taxpayer expense for the removal of the furniture and household contents for Mr Gorey from his domicile in Mount Gambier when he first started as a government appointed, taxpayer funded spin doctor for the government. My questions to the minister are:

1. Does the government pay furniture and household contents removal costs for all ministerial staff who move to such jobs in Adelaide?

2. If yes, what is the policy that provides for the taxpayers to fund such costs; and will the minister provide a copy of that policy?

3. What total costs have been incurred by taxpayers since January 2002 under this particular policy?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, Minister for Forests, Minister for Regional Development, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for State/Local Government Relations) (15:10): I thank the honourable member for his questions and will refer them to the relevant minister in another place and bring back a response.

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