ATTORNEY GENERAL — UNFAIR
DISMISSAL CASE
151. Hon NICK GOIRAN to the Leader of the House representing
the Premier:
I refer to my question without
notice 85 on 22 February 2022 regarding the unfair dismissal case brought by
the former electorate officer of the member for Kwinana in Public Service
Appeal Board matter 31/2020 in which the Premier declined to provide
information to the House, asserting that it would not be appropriate to
respond.
(1) Is the
Premier aware that on 17 March 2016, Hon Sue Ellery said that ''accurate
and timely information to Parliament and its transparent dissemination is
essential''?
(2) Are reports
true that the Premier said under oath in open court this month that ''gold-standard
transparency does not apply to every single thing''?
(3) Will the Premier reconsider providing the
requested information to Parliament, which includes uncomplicated material such as when the Premer was last briefed
about the status of the case, and what the cost is to taxpayers?
(4) If no to (3),
will the Premier undertake to comply with the law of our state and give a notice
to the Auditor General in compliance with section 82 of the Financial
Management Act 2006?
Hon SUE
ELLERY replied:
I thank the
honourable member for some notice of the question.
(1)–(3) As stated in the Premier's response to
Legislative Council question without notice 85 on 22 February 2022, the
matter is currently before the Public Service Appeal Board and, as such, it
would not be appropriate to comment. It is
worth noting the apparent hypocrisy of the member asking this question, who
commenced defamation proceedings
against his own party following the release of an internal review into the ''odious
behaviour'' of members of ''The Clan'', of which he
is a leader.
(4) The
information sought by the member does not relate to the conduct or operation of
an agency within the meaning of section 82 of the Financial Management Act
2006, and, as such, no requirement to provide a notice arises.