Mrs HICKEY - 1995-10-12
Yesterday, the Chief Minister showed taxpayers the contempt people have come to expect from him by refusing to detail the cost of his trip to Greece and Cyprus. Perhaps the Chief Minister may be able to explain one aspect of this trip. Is it usual for government ministers or the Chief Minister to take government photographers overseas on international trips and, if so, why? How much did it cost to take the photographer? Further, has the Chief Minister restored the position of photographer in the Protocol Branch after his predecessor cut the position in the ERC process of 1991?
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, I will answer the last question first. I have restored the position of photographer in the Protocol Branch. The member has been a beneficiary of that move, as have other members opposite. They have been quite happy to receive photographs from time to time, and that includes the Leader of the Opposition. I have not heard any complaints about photographs reaching them through the system. Do not come in here and pretend that somehow you did not know about it: `Golly, we have just discovered there is a photographer back in the Protocol Branch'. Members opposite have known for a long time that the photographer is back on the job and they have been happy to accept photographs taken by him.
The member asked whether I took a personal photographer with me to Greece and Cyprus. That is the line that was run in the print media - the Chief Minister took a personal photographer. What the Chief Minister took with him was a protocol officer in place of a ministerial staff member. He is a protocol officer who was also able to act as photographer-cum-staff member, and also perform many other functions. I would have thought the member might rise to her feet and give a little credit for the way the party was scaled right back. Neither the Minister for Health Services nor I took any ministerial ...
Mrs Hickey interjecting.
Mr STONE: Are you interested in the answer or not?
Mr Bailey: Yes. We want to know how much it cost.
Mr SPEAKER: Order! The Chief Minister is answering a question.
Mr STONE: One would have thought that she would acknowledge that neither minister took any ministerial staff which they are entitled to do. Instead, we took protocol officers who were able to perform a range of functions, including photography. The photographer took many photographs, and they were not only of myself. They were of members of the delegation in their communities. If the member for Barkly thinks that that is unacceptable and it was the wrong thing to do - that members of the delegation should not have had a photographic record of their participation and their visit to their homeland - she should stand up and censure me and tell those delegation members that it was wrong. At least have the courage of your convictions and censure me.
Page 854
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, I will answer the last question first. I have restored the position of photographer in the Protocol Branch. The member has been a beneficiary of that move, as have other members opposite. They have been quite happy to receive photographs from time to time, and that includes the Leader of the Opposition. I have not heard any complaints about photographs reaching them through the system. Do not come in here and pretend that somehow you did not know about it: `Golly, we have just discovered there is a photographer back in the Protocol Branch'. Members opposite have known for a long time that the photographer is back on the job and they have been happy to accept photographs taken by him.
The member asked whether I took a personal photographer with me to Greece and Cyprus. That is the line that was run in the print media - the Chief Minister took a personal photographer. What the Chief Minister took with him was a protocol officer in place of a ministerial staff member. He is a protocol officer who was also able to act as photographer-cum-staff member, and also perform many other functions. I would have thought the member might rise to her feet and give a little credit for the way the party was scaled right back. Neither the Minister for Health Services nor I took any ministerial ...
Mrs Hickey interjecting.
Mr STONE: Are you interested in the answer or not?
Mr Bailey: Yes. We want to know how much it cost.
Mr SPEAKER: Order! The Chief Minister is answering a question.
Mr STONE: One would have thought that she would acknowledge that neither minister took any ministerial staff which they are entitled to do. Instead, we took protocol officers who were able to perform a range of functions, including photography. The photographer took many photographs, and they were not only of myself. They were of members of the delegation in their communities. If the member for Barkly thinks that that is unacceptable and it was the wrong thing to do - that members of the delegation should not have had a photographic record of their participation and their visit to their homeland - she should stand up and censure me and tell those delegation members that it was wrong. At least have the courage of your convictions and censure me.
Page 854
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016