WATER AND ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATION — SPECIAL
ADVISER
611. Hon TJORN SIBMA to the minister representing the
Minister for Environment:
This question is dated 19 August
and, for the minister's reference, is C585.
I refer to the minister's
confirmation that a public servant within the Department of Water and
Environmental Regulation was appointed to
the position of special adviser, regulatory reform on 9 August at a salary of $486
956.68 per annum.
(1) What process
was followed in the creation of the abovementioned position and the appointment
of the individual to that position; for example, was the position advertised;
and, if not, why not?
(2) Who was responsible for
managing the above recruitment or appointment process?
(3) To whom does
the individual holding the position of special adviser, regulatory reform,
report, and what are the key performance indicators for the position?
(4) With respect
to the salary mentioned above, why is the individual remunerated at a level
higher than the director general of DWER, and what factors were considered in
setting that salary?
Hon SUE
ELLERY replied:
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question. I provide the following answer on behalf of the
minister representing the Minister for Environment.
The figure the honourable member
has cited in his question describes salary and superannuation entitlements.
(1)–(4) The person is a CEO who has been transferred to
the performance of other functions under section 50 of the Public Sector
Management Act 1994. The person can then be deployed by the Public Sector
Commissioner to functions or projects as needed. A transfer under this
section does not affect the terms or conditions of their employment contract.
Operationally, the person reports to the director general of the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation. The Public
Sector Commissioner remains their employing authority.