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Parliamentary Questions


Question Without Notice No. 244 asked in the Legislative Council on 11 April 2018 by Hon Peter Collier

Parliament: 40 Session: 1

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.