Mr MILLS - 2008-09-11
I note reports that the Assistant Secretary for Health, Peter Campos, has not been sacked but has been shifted to another department. In 2007, the Chief Executive of the Department of Health, David Ashbridge, renewed Mr Campos’ contract for a further three years. At the time, the Chief Executive was aware that there were at least four complaints against Mr Campos with the Office of the Commissioner for Public Employment, and a Coronial investigation was also under way.
How does a senior departmental person get a contract renewal when he is under serious investigation; and further, what bonus was paid to Mr Campos for meeting the department’s budget targets for 2006 and 2007?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Greatorex for his question. As I made it abundantly clear in this place yesterday, the hiring and firing of staff is squarely in the area of chief executive officers of our department …
Mr Bohlin: What have they said about it?
Dr BURNS: What does the Public Sector Employment and Management Act say? I suggest to you, member for Drysdale that you take the time to read it. It states very clearly in there …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order!
Dr BURNS: I will read section 24 of the act. It says:
So on and so forth.
The hiring and firing of employees is the purview of the Chief Executive Officer ...
Members interjecting.
Dr BURNS: It would be completely improper for a minister to interfere in the hiring and firing of employees ...
Ms Carney: You must have known about the complaints, minister.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Dr BURNS: Madam Speaker, in the interests of natural justice, the member for Greatorex has talked about complaints to the OCPE – complaints. He talked about an investigation by the Coroner. Until there is some definitive decision, either by the OCPE or the Coroner, in these matters, it would have been wrong for the Chief Executive Officer, on the basis of proceedings ongoing, to terminate his employment ...
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Dr BURNS: This is the way the CLP would operate in government ...
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Dr BURNS: This is the same party that, during the election campaign, promised to slash the public service. They have no respect for the public service whatsoever.
I was asked the same question in a media conference earlier about Mr Campos. ‘What was his future? What is going on there?’ As I answered that question outside, I will answer it inside. Mr Campos has a contract with government so there are two alternatives open. One is to terminate that contract and pay Mr Campos out; the other one is to find him employment elsewhere ...
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Dr BURNS: Madam Speaker, those are decisions …
Mr Elferink: A contract implies that you get bang for buck.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, member for Port Darwin! Minister, you have the call.
Dr BURNS: Thank you, Madam Speaker. Those are decisions, as I have outlined before, through the act, that squarely fall with the head of the department.
In relation to the other question asked by the member for Greatorex about whether Mr Campos or any other executive had been paid bonuses for bringing departments or sections in on budget, I am assured by the Chief Executive Officer that that is not the case.
How does a senior departmental person get a contract renewal when he is under serious investigation; and further, what bonus was paid to Mr Campos for meeting the department’s budget targets for 2006 and 2007?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Greatorex for his question. As I made it abundantly clear in this place yesterday, the hiring and firing of staff is squarely in the area of chief executive officers of our department …
Mr Bohlin: What have they said about it?
Dr BURNS: What does the Public Sector Employment and Management Act say? I suggest to you, member for Drysdale that you take the time to read it. It states very clearly in there …
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order!
Dr BURNS: I will read section 24 of the act. It says:
- Functions of Chief Executive Officers
…
(a) to direct the employees employed by or in the Chief Executive Officer's Agency;
…
(c) to devise organisational structures and arrangements for the Agency;
So on and so forth.
The hiring and firing of employees is the purview of the Chief Executive Officer ...
Members interjecting.
Dr BURNS: It would be completely improper for a minister to interfere in the hiring and firing of employees ...
Ms Carney: You must have known about the complaints, minister.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Dr BURNS: Madam Speaker, in the interests of natural justice, the member for Greatorex has talked about complaints to the OCPE – complaints. He talked about an investigation by the Coroner. Until there is some definitive decision, either by the OCPE or the Coroner, in these matters, it would have been wrong for the Chief Executive Officer, on the basis of proceedings ongoing, to terminate his employment ...
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Dr BURNS: This is the way the CLP would operate in government ...
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Dr BURNS: This is the same party that, during the election campaign, promised to slash the public service. They have no respect for the public service whatsoever.
I was asked the same question in a media conference earlier about Mr Campos. ‘What was his future? What is going on there?’ As I answered that question outside, I will answer it inside. Mr Campos has a contract with government so there are two alternatives open. One is to terminate that contract and pay Mr Campos out; the other one is to find him employment elsewhere ...
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Dr BURNS: Madam Speaker, those are decisions …
Mr Elferink: A contract implies that you get bang for buck.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, member for Port Darwin! Minister, you have the call.
Dr BURNS: Thank you, Madam Speaker. Those are decisions, as I have outlined before, through the act, that squarely fall with the head of the department.
In relation to the other question asked by the member for Greatorex about whether Mr Campos or any other executive had been paid bonuses for bringing departments or sections in on budget, I am assured by the Chief Executive Officer that that is not the case.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016