Question On Notice No. 778 asked in the Legislative Council on 9 August 2022 by Hon Colin De Grussa
Question Directed to the: Leader of the House representing the Premier
Parliament: 41 Session: 1
Question
I refer to senior leadership roles assisting the Government during the pandemic, and I ask, since the State of Emergency started in 2020, how many people have been:
(a) Acting Minister for Emergency Services;
(b) Acting Chief Health Officer;
(c) Acting Vaccine Commander;
(d) Acting Police Commissioner; and
(e) Acting State Emergency Coordinator?
Answered on 20 September 2022
(a) Five people have acted in the position of Minister for Emergency Services for brief periods over a 30 month period. In accordance with the Interpretation Act 1984, the Governor approves acting Ministerial arrangements. Acting Ministerial arrangements are published in the Government Gazette.
(b) Three.
(c) Two.
(d – e) Three, noting that section 10 of the Emergency Management Act 2005 states that the Commissioner of Police is to hold the office of State Emergency Coordinator.
It is not unreasonable for public servants, including those in parts (b – e), to utilise their industrial entitlements such as sick or annual leave over a period of more than two and a half years.