Ms PURICK - 2010-02-23
The Country Liberals knew on Wednesday of last week the woman you handpicked as Anti-Discrimination Commissioner, Pat Miller, was not going to take the position. Do you seriously expect Territorians to believe the first you knew about Pat Miller reconsidering the position was yesterday?
Will you table details of all communication you have had with Ms Miller since she accepted the position last November? Will you be reconsidering people who nominated and applied for the position the first time round, including Mr Bonson?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Goyder for her question. If the CLP knew so emphatically, then they knew what Pat herself did not know. Pat is a woman of integrity. She is a woman of her word and …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms LAWRIE: … she said to me yesterday that she had spent the weekend considering the personal issues she is now confronting of having to focus on the personal side of life, if she could indeed take up that position, and that she arrived at the decision on the weekend and wanted me to know yesterday.
If they knew …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms LAWRIE: … that in fact, that a woman of integrity had said to me, then I find that a very strange assertion from the member for Goyder.
Very clearly, what I have said is the government will be readvertising the position and will be putting in place head hunters. Everyone who applied previously will be notified by the Department of Justice that we are reopening the position, and if they wish to be reconsidered, they do not have to reapply. If they indicate they want to be reconsidered, that original application will go into the mix.
Will you table details of all communication you have had with Ms Miller since she accepted the position last November? Will you be reconsidering people who nominated and applied for the position the first time round, including Mr Bonson?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Goyder for her question. If the CLP knew so emphatically, then they knew what Pat herself did not know. Pat is a woman of integrity. She is a woman of her word and …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms LAWRIE: … she said to me yesterday that she had spent the weekend considering the personal issues she is now confronting of having to focus on the personal side of life, if she could indeed take up that position, and that she arrived at the decision on the weekend and wanted me to know yesterday.
If they knew …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms LAWRIE: … that in fact, that a woman of integrity had said to me, then I find that a very strange assertion from the member for Goyder.
Very clearly, what I have said is the government will be readvertising the position and will be putting in place head hunters. Everyone who applied previously will be notified by the Department of Justice that we are reopening the position, and if they wish to be reconsidered, they do not have to reapply. If they indicate they want to be reconsidered, that original application will go into the mix.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016