Mr BURKE - 2001-11-28
In her previous answer, the Chief Minister stated in this House that she has written to all public servants assuring them, I assume, that their jobs are safe. How does the Chief Minister reconcile with her previous statement that managing the budgets of departments and the responsibility for attrition in those departments rests with the CEOs of those departments? She said that often in this Chamber, and publicly. Where does the responsibility lie? Does it lie with the Chief Minister or does it lie with the CEOs of the departments? In either case, surely she can, therefore, give an answer in this House as to what the staffing levels of the departments are now, and what those staffing levels will be in 12 months time?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thought we were trying to have a variety of questions in this House and it has just been almost terminal. I do understand that after 26 years of being in government, the now opposition has not quite come to terms with what opposition and what Question Time is about. It has been day after day - very sadly, for the debate in the House - a woeful performance, an absolutely woeful performance.
I know that the previous administration did not grasp many things and budgetary management was not high on the list of things that they actually did do well. Do you understand that there is a new culture in the Territory? It is not the CLP culture; it is a culture of better management, of more effective management ...
Mr Reed: Did you write to public servants individually? That is the question.
Ms MARTIN: Yes.
Mr Reed: Right. Thank you. At least we got that out of you.
Ms MARTIN: I said I did.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Thank you, you have answered it. I like the shortness of your answer.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thought we were trying to have a variety of questions in this House and it has just been almost terminal. I do understand that after 26 years of being in government, the now opposition has not quite come to terms with what opposition and what Question Time is about. It has been day after day - very sadly, for the debate in the House - a woeful performance, an absolutely woeful performance.
I know that the previous administration did not grasp many things and budgetary management was not high on the list of things that they actually did do well. Do you understand that there is a new culture in the Territory? It is not the CLP culture; it is a culture of better management, of more effective management ...
Mr Reed: Did you write to public servants individually? That is the question.
Ms MARTIN: Yes.
Mr Reed: Right. Thank you. At least we got that out of you.
Ms MARTIN: I said I did.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Thank you, you have answered it. I like the shortness of your answer.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016