Page 378 - Week 02 - Thursday, 8 March 2007
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months, the ESA commissioner met with me directly on 15 separate occasions. That amounts to probably once a fortnight over the past six months.
In addition, I was able to demonstrate to those opposite that each of the chief officers of the four services were equally able to meet with me on three or four separate occasions over those six months. Any suggestion that the chief officers or the commissioner are unable to talk to the minister is simply not supported by the evidence.
Mr Pratt: The high-buy concept?
MR SPEAKER: I warn you, Mr Pratt.
MR CORBELL: They also fail to acknowledge that, since 2003 and with the passing of the Emergencies Act in 2004, those officers not only continue to have excellent access to the minister to raise issues of concern but also have their operational independence guaranteed in legislation. This did not exist before 2003. There were no guarantees under Mr Smyth and other Liberal ministers of operational independence in legislation; there was no freedom to act independently; there was no ability to make decisions based on operational needs and demands guaranteed in legislation. There is now. That situation is unchanged, even with the decision to consider the ESA as part of the justice portfolio.
Any suggestion that there is an inability for our senior executives in the ESA to operate with independence when it comes to operational matters is not in doubt. Have a look at the legislation. Any suggestion that the commissioner and his chief officers are unable to meet with me is not supported by the facts.
I have every confidence in the commissioner. I note today that, for the first time, we have an attack on the commissioner of the ESA by Mr Pratt and Mr Mulcahy. They are now taking the decision that the commissioner clearly is an impediment to their political critique of the ESA and they are going to start to undermine his position. I am going to stand by the commissioner and the senior staff of the ESA.
Mr Smyth: On a point of order: the question was about the detrimental effect on professional officers and volunteers. The minister has avoided it for four minutes. He might answer that question.
MR CORBELL: There is no point of order.
Mr Smyth: There is a point of order. You are not the Speaker, and you know it.
MR SPEAKER: Come to the subject matter.
MR CORBELL: The issues at hand are that the commissioner is there to manage the organisation and make sure that the ACT community is given the protection it needs and deserves in time of an emergency. I stand by the decisions that the managers in my department make to ensure the most effective operational arrangements for emergency services personnel. I will not put myself in the place of manager. That is
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