Question Without Notice No. 300 asked in the Legislative Council on 27 June 2017 by Hon Simon O’Brien
Parliament: 40 Session: 1
DISABILITY SERVICES COMMISSION
300. Hon SIMON O'BRIEN to the Minister for Disability Services:
I am not trying to make the minister in any way nervous or anything when I ask the question.
(1) Is the government going to bring forward legislation to remove the independent status of the Disability Services Commission and subsume it into a larger department; and, if so, will there still be a standalone portfolio of Minister for Disability Services?
(2) Does any of this apply to the reason Dr Ron Chalmers was apparently pushed out of his office as director general of the Disability Services Commission?
Hon STEPHEN DAWSON replied:
I thank the honourable member for the question.
(1) Yes; at some stage legislation will be brought forward, but those details are being worked through at this stage.
Hon Simon O'Brien: Legislation to do what, minister, if I may?
Hon STEPHEN DAWSON: This is question time, member, so you ask the question and I give my answer. It was not on notice. I am very happy to organise a briefing, but let me answer what I heard the question was today.
In relation to an ongoing Minister for Disability Services, absolutely there will be one as part of the McGowan Labor government. I continue —
(2) Dr Ron Chalmers will finish at the agency in early August. He was intending to leave in early July; however, I have asked him to stay around longer to assist in negotiations with the federal government in relation to the National Disability Insurance Scheme.