Parliamentary Questions & Answers

Question Without Notice No. 539 asked in the Legislative Council on 6 September 2017 by Hon Tjorn Sibma

Parliament: 40 Session: 1

DEPARTMENT OF THE PREMIER AND CABINET — SENIOR EXECUTIVE SERVICE

539.

Hon TJORN SIBMA

to the Leader of the House representing the Premier:

I refer to the Premier's vow to end big payouts for senior public servants who leave their positions or are removed from their positions before contract expiry and the Premier's recent appointment of eight new directors general.
(1) Did each of the eight directors general receive a new employment contract?
(2) How long is each contract term?

(3) Has the Public Sector Commissioner carried out the Premier's instruction to limit excessive payouts through the insertion of a contractual clause in each of the new contracts?

(4) If not, why not?
Hon SUE ELLERY replied:
I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question.
The Public Sector Commissioner advises —
(1) Yes.

(2) A quarantined recruitment, selection and appointment process for the director general positions was established and undertaken by the Public Sector Commission. Consistent with the government's commitment to reducing the size of the senior executive service by 20 per cent, an invitation to apply for these positions was made to chief executive officers of machinery of government–affected agencies only. The appointment terms are consistent with the officer's existing senior executive service contracts or an appointment of a minimum of two years, whichever is greater.

The rest of the answer to (2) is in tabular form, so I seek leave to have that incorporated into Hansard.
Leave granted.
The following material was incorporated —

Name	Departments and concurrent appointments	Term
Mr Mark Webb PSM	Director General, Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions; Chief Executive Officer, Botanic Gardens and Parks Authority; Chief Executive Officer, Rottnest Island Authority; Chief Executive Officer, Zoological Parks Authority	29 August 2017 to 22 November 2019
Mr Stephen Wood	Director General, Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation; and Chief Executive Officer, Western Australian Treasury Corporation	29 August 2017 to 28 November 2021
Dr Adam Tomison	Director General, Department of Justice	29 August 2017 to 11 December 2021
Dr Duncan Ord OAM	Director General, Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries; General Manager, Perth Theatre Trust	29 August 2017 to 29 August 2019
Mr David Smith	Director General, Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety	29 August 2017 to 19 November 2019
Ms Gail McGowan	Director General, Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage	29 August 2017 to 29 August 2019
Mr Ralph Addis	Director General, Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development; and Chief Executive Officer, Rural Business Development Corporation	29 August 2017 to 10 November 2019
Mr Mike Rowe	Director General, Department of Water and Environmental Regulation	29 August 2017 to 20 June 2019

(3)–(4) Eligibility and entitlement to compensation for an executive officer ceasing employment before the expiry of their contract is provided for under section 59 of the Public Sector Management Act 1994. The Public Sector Commissioner cannot be instructed on this matter and is required to act independently when determining compensation payments. However, the commissioner has advised government that he has considered its position and this will be reflected in the approach to compensation payments.