Mr BURKE - 2005-02-08
After promoting Bob Collins as the Ambassador to the Northern Territory, you have now said that he was actually only a senior advisor. However, you have not appointed anyone to this important job of senior advisor, which makes one wonder just what type of job it was. Can you tell this parliament how much you paid Bob Collins for this important job, and did his remuneration include a car, phone, office and expense account? What actually did his work involve?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I do not have all those details with me. However, at the last two estimates hearings at which the member for Brennan was present when the questions were asked, we gave all those details quite up-front. Bob Collins was paid at an hourly rate and he did have an office, a car, and a phone. We made it perfectly clear that there was no annual salary. He was paid at an hourly rate. He certainly made a major contribution in areas such as indigenous education. I am sure that will be strongly supported by the minister.
In his work and contribution in an area like Desert Knowledge, we are replacing him with different people. He is not physically able to go back to work. As I said before, he has months of recovery from a bad car accident.
Yes, he was a very valuable part of this government. He made a very significant contribution and we were very proud of that. Because he did not want to be known as an ambassador – we all know Bob, he has own views of the world. I have spoken about it here before. Bob chose not to be the ambassador, but the senior advisor, and made an enormous contribution.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I do not have all those details with me. However, at the last two estimates hearings at which the member for Brennan was present when the questions were asked, we gave all those details quite up-front. Bob Collins was paid at an hourly rate and he did have an office, a car, and a phone. We made it perfectly clear that there was no annual salary. He was paid at an hourly rate. He certainly made a major contribution in areas such as indigenous education. I am sure that will be strongly supported by the minister.
In his work and contribution in an area like Desert Knowledge, we are replacing him with different people. He is not physically able to go back to work. As I said before, he has months of recovery from a bad car accident.
Yes, he was a very valuable part of this government. He made a very significant contribution and we were very proud of that. Because he did not want to be known as an ambassador – we all know Bob, he has own views of the world. I have spoken about it here before. Bob chose not to be the ambassador, but the senior advisor, and made an enormous contribution.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016