Page 2481 - Week 09 - Tuesday, 23 August 1994
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Under the public sector management legislation, those appointments of chief executive are made by the Chief Minister. The legislation does not require that there be a formal selection process. Nevertheless, there has been. Members will be well aware that those positions were advertised, with the exception of the head of Treasury, which was advertised only about a year ago. Madam Speaker, in the case of those appointments, there was a merit selection process, and that process canvassed a range of possible appointees. In the case of the Treasury appointment, there had been a process only about a year ago, and, again, it canvassed a range of possible appointees. Madam Speaker, with that information before me, I consider that the careful scrutiny that has gone on in relation to these positions has come up with the best appointments of the available people for all of those positions. The media release that Mrs Carnell refers to has been complied with. The jobs were advertised and a merit selection process was held.
This is in marked contrast, of course, to what occurred under the Liberals when they were in government, and I think they have forgotten that they ever were. Madam Speaker, the fact of the matter is that under the Liberals there was no such open process. No jobs were advertised. There was no merit selection. People were simply put into the jobs. Mr Kaine knows that this is the case. Madam Speaker, by contrast, in government, Labor has adopted an open approach. We have had a selection process, and we have made the best appointments for those positions.
Traffic Offences
MR MOORE: Madam Speaker, my question is directed to Mr Connolly as Attorney-General. Minister, are you aware that the ACT police, when issuing on-the-spot fines for traffic offences, ask the driver for their employer's name and address over and above all the information that is on their licence? Can the Minister explain why this action has been allowed to be an official part of a police officer's duty in the issuing of on-the-spot fines?
MR CONNOLLY: Madam Speaker, I was not aware that that question was asked. I was not aware that Mr Moore was interested in this. I shall make appropriate inquiries and provide an answer.
MR MOORE: I have a supplementary question, Madam Speaker. On making those inquiries, will the Minister also comment on whether he considers this an inappropriate invasion of privacy?
MR CONNOLLY: Madam Speaker, I do not want to comment on an allegation that Mr Moore seems to be making about police conduct. I will say that the general public perception of police courtesy and conduct in the ACT puts them well ahead of police forces in other States. The general run of correspondence that I see about police who happen to pull up drivers in the ACT and ask for licences draws a very favourable comparison with traffic police conduct in other parts of Australia. I had never before heard an allegation that police, as a matter of routine, were asking for the identity of the employer of a person. I shall make inquiries and report in due course.
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