Dr LIM - 2004-12-02
You tabled the so-called grievance report on the Central Australian office of DEET at the last sittings in October. However, you seem to be paralysed by inaction with the recommendations of the report. Grievances such as bullying and harassment have not been resolved. Whilst I have high regard for the General Manager, and presently Acting General Manager, the newly-appointed General Manager has gone on annual leave until next year …
Madam SPEAKER: Your question?
Dr LIM: When will the grievances brought by said teachers be resolved?
Mr Ah Kit: It is a matter before the House.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for his question. However, as my colleague, the member for Arnhem pointed out, it is a question before the House for debate this afternoon. Nonetheless, I am happy to take the question. I am pleased to hear the member for Greatorex speak with confidence of Paul Newman, who is Acting General Manager. Paul came out of Principal Group Clusters at Katherine schools, and we expect him to be doing a fine job in the absence of Rita Henry.
The appointment of Rita Henry to the senior position in the Central Australian DEET office is one that has been widely applauded, as she has been acknowledged as a person of great integrity and capability, and a person who will get the operations of DEET in Alice Springs going, looking after people, as she is a people-focussed person. You can never have too many of them in the public service, or in senior positions.
It is a fact that Rita has been heavily involved in and around the secondary review this year. She is not in a position to take up her new position in Alice Springs until early in the new year. Public servants are entitled to annual leave. Rita is one of those people who puts her heart and soul into everything she does. She, more than anyone else I can probably think of, is entitled to her small annual leave break.
Again, I refer the member for Greatorex to his own comments in relation to Paul Newman. He said he was happy with that appointment; therefore, he ought to be happy with Paul running the place until Rita is able to take up the position. They both certainly have 100% confidence from me and the chief executive of DEET, and we expect them to do an excellent job through next year and beyond.
Madam SPEAKER: Your question?
Dr LIM: When will the grievances brought by said teachers be resolved?
Mr Ah Kit: It is a matter before the House.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for his question. However, as my colleague, the member for Arnhem pointed out, it is a question before the House for debate this afternoon. Nonetheless, I am happy to take the question. I am pleased to hear the member for Greatorex speak with confidence of Paul Newman, who is Acting General Manager. Paul came out of Principal Group Clusters at Katherine schools, and we expect him to be doing a fine job in the absence of Rita Henry.
The appointment of Rita Henry to the senior position in the Central Australian DEET office is one that has been widely applauded, as she has been acknowledged as a person of great integrity and capability, and a person who will get the operations of DEET in Alice Springs going, looking after people, as she is a people-focussed person. You can never have too many of them in the public service, or in senior positions.
It is a fact that Rita has been heavily involved in and around the secondary review this year. She is not in a position to take up her new position in Alice Springs until early in the new year. Public servants are entitled to annual leave. Rita is one of those people who puts her heart and soul into everything she does. She, more than anyone else I can probably think of, is entitled to her small annual leave break.
Again, I refer the member for Greatorex to his own comments in relation to Paul Newman. He said he was happy with that appointment; therefore, he ought to be happy with Paul running the place until Rita is able to take up the position. They both certainly have 100% confidence from me and the chief executive of DEET, and we expect them to do an excellent job through next year and beyond.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016