DEPARTMENT OF THE PREMIER
AND CABINET — COMMUNICATIONS TEAM
968. Hon SIMON O'BRIEN to the Leader of the House
representing the Premier:
I refer to today's report
about a spin doctor team being recruited on the eve of the election.
(1) Are 22 new personnel being
employed, as the WA government advertisement indicates?
(2) Conversely,
are only three new personnel being employed to cover existing vacancies, as the
director general of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet is reported to
have said in response to inquiries?
(3) Where will these additional
staff, however many there may be, be accommodated?
(4) Will this new
agency be subject to direction by any media or other personnel in the office of
the Premier or any other minister?
Hon SUE
ELLERY replied:
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question.
(1) No.
(2) At this stage, there are only
two or three immediate vacancies.
(3) Since the
beginning of the pandemic, public sector officers have been sent to the
Department of the Premier and Cabinet to assist with emergency response
communications. This team also worked closely with the State Emergency Public
Information Coordinator under the direction of the State Emergency Coordinator.
The team is located at the Department of the Premier and Cabinet.
(4) As part of
its usual business, the department consults with the Premier's office
and relevant ministerial offices on the implementation of policy decisions and
operational matters, including communications.