Question Without Notice No. 288 asked in the Legislative Council on 27 June 2017 by Hon Michael Mischin
Parliament: 40 Session: 1
MINISTERIAL OFFICES — STAFFING
288. Hon MICHAEL MISCHIN to the Leader of the House representing the Premier:
I refer to the Premier's answer on 21 June 2017 to my question without notice 247 regarding the engagement of journalists in ministerial offices, in which his response was —
Information relating to staff in ministerial offices will be outlined in the Ministerial Resourcing Report that will be tabled in Parliament as part of this government's commitment to accountability and transparency.
(1) When will that report be tabled?
(2) Will that report also identify the journalists by name, the media organisation for which they formerly worked, the positions they now occupy and their salaries?
(3) If no to (2), how is that an answer to my question, and how is it consistent with accountability and transparency to refuse to give that information?
(4) Will that report also identify when each applied, or was approached, to join a minister's office, and by whom that approach was made?
(5) If no to (4), how is that an answer to my question, and how is it consistent with accountability and transparency to refuse to give that information?
Hon SUE ELLERY replied:
I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question.
(1) The Ministerial Resourcing Report was tabled in both houses of Parliament on Thursday, 15 June. For the benefit of the member, in the Legislative Council it is tabled paper 270.
(2), (4) No. The Ministerial Resourcing Report provides only information regarding positions, salaries and whether a ministerial officer has a car bay, credit card or mobile phone allocated to them. Although the ministerial merit panel approves the CVs of applicants, there is no central database of employees' previous employment as well as no guarantee that all previous employment has been disclosed, as is standard for CVs. As such it is impossible to verify an answer on employees' previous employment.
(3), (5) As per standing order 105(1)(b), questions may not seek an opinion.