Page 3467 - Week 10 - Tuesday, 17 September 2019
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euthanasia and issues of consumer affairs. Does this role come with any additional salary? If so, how much more will Special Secretary Cheyne be paid for her promotion?
MR BARR: No, no additional salary.
MR PARTON: Chief Minister, does this role come with an additional office staff allocation and, if so, how many more staff will Special Secretary Cheyne be allocated as a result of her promotion?
MR BARR: No, no additional staff.
MISS C BURCH: Chief Minister, does the creation of this role demonstrate a lack of confidence in the actual minister for consumer affairs, Minister Rattenbury, or is it simply because of a need to mend the bruised ego of a member of your caucus?
MR BARR: I have to say no to both parts of Miss Burch’s question. I must say that I am blessed on this side of the chamber with having so many talented members. It is indeed a challenge to ensure that everyone has the opportunity during their careers to serve in the executive government. Given the wonderful array of talent we have within the parliamentary Labor team, and indeed within the broader government, it is wonderful that Ms Cheyne is able to take on these additional responsibilities. I look forward to working with her to advance the ACT’s democratic cause as it relates to the ban on our being able to legislate on end of life issues.
I refer also to the report that she delivered today and the unanimity of views within that committee under Ms Cheyne’s leadership. I do note that the bipartisan tone that Mr Parton was seeking and talking about this morning has suddenly disappeared in question time.
Chief Minister—special secretary role
MISS C BURCH: My question is to the Chief Minister. Chief Minister, as your special secretary, will Ms Cheyne sit in on cabinet discussions and be permitted to vote? If so, when? If not, what is the point of the role?
MR BARR: No, the role is not part of the cabinet or part of executive government. The role is as outlined in my media release at the time.
MISS C BURCH: Chief Minister, will Ms Cheyne be permitted to attend ministerial council meetings in your stead and is holding her out as a minister to cross-jurisdictional counterparts tantamount to misrepresentation?
MR BARR: Non-executive members have in the past represented ministers at ministerial councils. That has occurred, as I understand it, on both sides of politics over the past 30 years. Sometimes it is not physically possible to be in two or three cities at once, given that most ministers sit on numerous ministerial councils. There are no immediate proposals for Ms Cheyne to represent me at a ministerial council but should there be a significant diary clash that would require the ACT to be represented
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