DEPARTMENT OF JOBS, TOURISM, SCIENCE AND INNOVATION
— ACTING DIRECTOR GENERAL
244. Hon PETER COLLIER to
the Leader of the House representing the Minister for Public Sector Management:
I refer to the agreement between the government and the
director general of the Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation to
part ways.
(1) Who has
been appointed acting director general of the Department of Jobs, Tourism,
Science and Innovation, and when will a permanent appointment be made?
(2) Will the
new director general of the Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation
also be appointed chief executive officer of the Department of Treasury?
(3) Will the
Premier be making any changes to the structure of the Department of Jobs,
Tourism, Science and Innovation as a result of the removal of Mr Wood?
(4) What
additional senior roles within the Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and
Innovation will be established to oversee the tourism portfolio?
(5) Will the
government appoint a separate chief executive officer of Tourism WA and excise
it from the Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation to ensure that
it receives the leadership and focus it apparently requires?
Hon SUE ELLERY replied:
I thank the honourable member for some notice of the
question.
(1) Mr Wood is
still the current director general of the department. The acting Public Sector
Commissioner has directed the director general of the Department of Transport,
Mr Richard Sellers, to act in the position from next week.
(2) No.
Although Mr Sellers is a dedicated public servant, we will not require him to
be the CEO of the Department of Treasury.
(3)–(4)
The acting director general will determine what changes are required to the
structure, culture and operations of the department to ensure that it more
closely meets the government's expectations in relation to all of its
important functions: defence, tourism, science and innovation, resources,
international education, and trade.
(5) The
government brought tourism inside the Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and
Innovation because, unlike the previous government, this McGowan Labor
government understands the importance of tourism to the state's economy
and future economic development, hence it is included in the government's
economic development agency.