Page 2681 - Week 10 - Tuesday, 13 August 1991
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .
Planner. I therefore put steps in train to advertise the position and follow a merit selection process. This approach was outlined in my earlier letter to Mr O'Neill which is included in his report.
There are legal requirements which require a break of one day in an acting appointment beyond 12 months and because there was no process in train I decided to extend the acting appointment until after the merit selection process was completed. This extension of the acting appointment was not at pleasure but until the office is permanently filled. As indicated in my letter to Mr O'Neill of 12 August, I was prepared to consider a fixed date appointment, but expected that that be no later than October or November 1991. Mr O'Neill would have been aware of this if he had awaited my reply.
Mr Speaker, on coming into office this Government inherited a most unclear and unsatisfactory situation. The acting appointment announced by Mr Kaine in June 1990 was about to end. There was no process in train for choosing a permanent appointee and I moved quickly to rectify this position.
Mr Speaker, I conclude by reiterating my belief that the Acting Auditor-General's independence has in no way been affected by this situation. His reports to date stand testimony to this.
Mr Humphries: Are you going to move that we note that statement or something? We would rather you did, so that we can debate it.
MR SPEAKER: Order! There is a debate coming up on the report.
MS FOLLETT: Yes, Mr Speaker. Perhaps I could clarify that. The report would automatically go to the Public Accounts Committee and they would report upon it. I leave it to you if you want to speak separately.
MR SPEAKER: You may wish to make a statement, by seeking leave.
Mr Humphries: No, I do not.
MR KAINE (Leader of the Opposition), by leave: Mr Speaker, I must say that I was quite astonished to read the report from the Auditor-General on this matter. I notice with some dismay that the Chief Minister refers to the situation she inherited from the previous Government. The situation was that as Chief Minister I was well aware that this appointment expired on 30 June, and before the no-confidence motion against me that I lost I had initiated action to review the Auditor-General's appointment. There
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .