LOCAL GOVERNMENT — AUDITOR GENERAL'S REPORT
60. Mr R.S. LOVE to the Premier:
I refer to the Auditor General's
report, Regulation and support of the local government sector, which
found that the Department of Local
Government, Sport and Cultural Industries is not providing efficient and
effective regulation and support to the local government sector and
lacks fundamental aspects of a good regulatory framework.
(1) Is the
Premier satisfied with the report's findings that highlight multiple
failings of the department?
(2) Is this gross mismanagement the reason the Premier
fired the Minister for Local Government and appointed a new one?
Several members interjected.
Mr R.S. Love: You sacked him
and moved him off to some other place; found another job for him. What do you
do when they fail? What do you do when you owe your mates?
The SPEAKER: Members, we would
like to hear from the Premier, thank you.
Mr M.
McGOWAN replied:
(1)–(2) Madam
Speaker, I am aware of some people who have been fired recently, but it is not
the Minister for Tourism. If the member wanted detailed answers in relation to
that report, he should have given me some notice or asked the Minister for
Local Government. Since he decided to impugn the character of the Minister for
Tourism, I want to staunchly defend him. He is an outstanding minister and a terrific
person.
Mr R.S. Love: Have you read
the report?
Mr M. McGOWAN: I think I may
have answered the member's question with my opening statement.
The
Minister for Tourism is an outstanding minister, a great local member of
Parliament and a valued member of this house
by people on all sides. I will say to the member that it is a bit mean-spirited
on his behalf to attack and impugn the character of the Minister for
Tourism in the way he has. He is well liked on all sides and regarded as
someone who has done a good job in the
portfolios he has held. I realise some people have a bit of a vendetta against
him, but I think it is a very, very small minority because most people
know that he is diligent, hardworking, decent, effective and someone who does
not play partisan politics at all.