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Legislative Council - Fifty-Third Parliament, First Session (53-1)
2014-06-05 Daily Xml
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Office for the Public Sector

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS (15:12): I seek leave to make an explanation prior to directing a question to the minister representing the Minister for the Public Sector on the subject of public sector appointments.

Leave granted.

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS: A whistleblower has advised the Liberal Party that, on 7 April of this year, minister Close took a cabinet submission to cabinet, which, amongst other things, says words to the effect that she intended to recommend to the Governor at a subsequent date that Ms Erma Ranieri be appointed the Commissioner for Public Employment. On 6 May, almost a month later, minister Close was asked a question in the following terms:

Can the minister assure the house that when the current Commissioner for Public Employment concludes his term she will ensure the position is publicly advertised and that there is an open and merit-based appointment process for the new position.

The minister responded, and I quote:

I am yet to turn my mind to such an eventuality and will take the question on board.

Subsequent to those questions being asked on 6 May, I am advised that the electronic cabinet online site (known as ECO), whilst it continued to note that cabinet submission 102, minister Close's submission, that the recommendations in that had been approved, the actual submission 102 has been removed from ECO. I am advised that it was removed because there were concerns from the government and the minister that, if that submission was leaked, it would confirm that minister Close had misled parliament on 6 May in response to that question.

This week minister Close advised the house that Ms Erma Ranieri had been confirmed as the chief executive officer of the new Office for the Public Sector, whilst noting that the current commissioner's term of appointment would be concluding in October of this year. I am advised that the Public Sector Act, section 29, indicates that only administrative units in the public sector can have persons appointed as chief executive officers. My questions to the minister are as follows:

1. Was the minister, or her office, involved in any way in removing her cabinet submission 102 dated 7 April 2014 from ECO and, if so, what were the reasons for removing her submission from ECO?

2. Can the minister provide a gazettal date of any proclamation to create this new administrative unit, the Office for the Public Sector, under the Public Sector Act and, if it has not been gazetted, can the minister explain what is the legal basis for her claim that Ms Erma Ranieri has been appointed as the chief executive officer of the administrative unit known as the Office for the Public Sector?

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Let's listen to the answer.

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Employment, Higher Education and Skills, Minister for Science and Information Economy, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Business Services and Consumers) (15:16): I thank the honourable member for his questions and I am pleased to refer those questions to minister Close in another place and bring back a response.

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