CORRUPTION AND CRIME
COMMISSIONER — REAPPOINTMENT
718. Hon PETER COLLIER to
the Leader of the House representing the Attorney General:
This
question without notice is asked on behalf of Hon Michael Mischin, who is away on urgent parliamentary business.
I refer to the report on The
West online on 6 August 2020, headlined ''John McKechnie to return
as WA's Corruption and Crime Commission boss with support of Liberals'',
and the article in The West Australian of Friday, 7 August 2020,
headlined ''Law backs CCC chief''.
(1) Who was the ''senior
Liberal'' to whom the Attorney General referred, and did that senior
Liberal agree to being quoted?
(2) Who advised the media or leaked to the media that
the Attorney General was proposing a further amendment along the lines
mentioned?
(3) Is it
intended by the government that in bypassing the statutory appointment process
established by the Labor government in the
Corruption, Crime and Misconduct Act 2003, the Leader of the Opposition will be
provided with the same information about Mr McKechnie as is available to the
government, including the list of ongoing and emerging operational activities
that the Attorney General obtained on 2 April 2020?
(4) If no to (3),
why not; and how is any Leader of the Opposition to make a reasoned decision to
support the nominee proposed by the Premier?
(5) Have the two
unsuccessful applicants for the position of Corruption and Crime Commissioner,
considered suitable by the nominating committee and the Joint Standing
Committee on the Corruption and Crime Commission, been advised that the
government will not be requiring their services; and, if so, when; and, if not,
why not?
Hon SUE
ELLERY replied:
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question.
(1) I decline to name them.
(2) It is not within my knowledge.
The member would have to ask the media.
(3) The government is not intending to bypass any
statutory process; it is placing before the Parliament for its deliberation a revised
statutory process. If the proposed amendment passes the Parliament, I understand
that the certificate of disclosure
provided to me covering the list of ongoing and emerging operational activities
would extend to the Leader of the Opposition under the Corruption, Crime and
Misconduct Act 2003.
(4) Not applicable.
(5) Communications with applicants
to public sector positions are a matter for the government.