Page 4439 - Week 10 - Thursday, 23 September 2010
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systems, governance and capability in ACTION to be compromised over the past three to four years?
MR STANHOPE: I thank the Leader of the Opposition for the question. I have to say that I am not quite sure what the chief executive of TAMS was referring to when he made those comments. I am more than happy to ask him whether he can provide some further explanation of his intention.
Mr Seselja: You haven’t asked him to day?
MR STANHOPE: No. The process we have in place is that I have asked the department for a detailed response to each of the recommendations and each of the pertinent issues revealed within that Auditor-General’s report. I will await that before going to the detail of issues that have been raised by the Auditor-General.
MR SPEAKER: Mr Seselja, a supplementary?
MR SESELJA: Thank you. Minister, why have you allowed corporate systems, governance and capability in ACTION to be compromised over the past three for four years?
MR STANHOPE: I have not done that at all, as everybody would be aware.
Mr Seselja: So you are not responsible?
MR STANHOPE: I am certainly not responsible for the management of the Department of Territories and Municipal Services. I am the minister with administrative responsibility for Territories and Municipal Services, but I am not responsible for it.
Mr Smyth: You were responsible yesterday.
MR STANHOPE: Well, I actually do recall, in the not too distant past, I think most particularly Mr Smyth rabbitting on about political interference by ministers in the administration of TAMS. I could go back to the Hansard. In fact, I am sure I could find instances of repeated interjections, claims and even questions from members of the opposition about “untoward” political interference in the day-to-day management of departments. No minister manages departments. I am not responsible for the day-to-day management of the Department of Territories and Municipal Services or any other department, nor is any minister. Indeed, our systems of government actually do require that chief executives accept full responsibility for the administration of their departments.
MRS DUNNE: A supplementary question, Mr Speaker.
MR SPEAKER: Yes, Mrs Dunne.
MRS DUNNE: Minister, what role did Mr Hargreaves play when corporate systems, governance and capability in ACTION were somewhat compromised over the past three years?
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