Question Without Notice No. 723 asked in the Legislative Council on 31 October 2017 by Hon Tjorn Sibma
Parliament: 40 Session: 1
MINISTER FOR POLICE — PRINCIPAL POLICY ADVISER — LORNA CLARKE
723. Hon TJORN SIBMA to the Leader of the House representing the Premier:
I refer to the answer provided to my question of 12 October 2017 regarding Ms Lorna Clarke's employment within the office of the Minister for Police and her local government election campaign.
(1) Did Ms Clarke have access to information concerning grants made via the minister's portfolio for crime prevention in the period leading up to local government elections held on 21 October?
(2) Has Ms Clarke at any time since her appointment within the minister's office provided advice to the minister or the department in respect of how and where community grants were to be allocated to recipient organisations?
(3) With whom in the Department of Premier and Cabinet did Ms Clarke discuss her intention to run for local government office, and when did this discussion take place?
(4) In respect of (3), was Ms Clarke advised of any requirements or obligations by which she was expected to abide as an employee of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet?
(5) In respect of (3) and (4), how was Ms Clarke's compliance with her obligations as a public sector employee within a ministerial office actively managed throughout her local government campaign and by whom?
Hon SUE ELLERY replied:
(1)–(2) Yes. However, the ministerial office ensured that strategies were developed to manage and mitigate any potential, perceived or actual conflicts of interest. Ms Clarke has not participated in the selection of recipient organisations.
(3)–(5) Ms Clarke had discussions with the director general and senior officers within the department about campaigning in the recent local government elections in August 2017. Ms Clarke was reminded of her obligations under the department's code of conduct as an employee of the department and has been responsible for identifying potential, perceived or actual conflicts of interest. Ms Clarke discussed some of her campaign material with departmental officers during the election campaign to ensure that it complied with her obligations as an employee. This material was deemed to be satisfactory. Ms Clarke also discussed strategies to ensure that the mitigation of any potential, perceived or actual conflicts of interest matters with her manager, the minister's chief of staff.