Page 3910 - Week 13 - Tuesday, 29 October 2013
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were negotiations with the officer who was ranked highly suitable for the job around a remuneration package, and that has been settled upon. I am very confident that the territory is paying what it should, based on the candidate’s experience, previous roles in other administrations and what we needed to get the job done.
MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Mr Wall.
MR WALL: Chief Minister, why was the head of Capital Metro engaged at a level of 3.12, as opposed to 3.7 as the position was advertised?
MS GALLAGHER: The Mercer report sized the job at the upper end of 3.7, although, if you had listened to my answer just before, it also made comment in the report that it felt a remuneration package up to $420,000 was reasonable for the job that was being asked.
As members would be aware, there is a section in the public sector management standards that allows for a director-general employment benefit to be paid, and we have followed the proper process in relation to that. That is specifically in the area of employment market pressures, particular specialist skills and knowledge of the individual concerned.
Her appointment has been welcomed by many. I look forward to working with her on delivering this very important infrastructure project. The government has very high expectations. As the leader of that agency, we believe that a suitable remuneration package was required to attract the best person to the job, and we have done that.
MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Mr Coe.
MR COE: Chief Minister, do you believe that the risk and responsibility, that of the head of Capital Metro, is comparable to that of the head of Health?
MS GALLAGHER: The director-generals of various agencies have different responsibilities and roles and very different risks associated with the jobs that they have been asked to do. These are not made pitting one director-general against another. These negotiations are done carefully, aware of what the market price is for particular jobs, mindful of specialist skills, and this happens with every director-general, I would say. The act allows for a specialist payment to be made—very transparent, very open—under certain circumstances for my approval, which I have followed with the employment of Ms Thomas.
MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Mr Coe.
MR COE: Minister, do you believe that the head of Capital Metro has the second most difficult job in the ACT public service?
MS GALLAGHER: I think the directors-general of any agency have an extremely difficult job—all of them. And they are all very different. I do not rank anyone above anyone else. There is a head of service; there are directors-general. There are salary pay points that are individually negotiated and there is capacity for specialist
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