Page 188 - Week 01 - Wednesday, 28 November 2012
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Minister, how will you determine which of your staff are ministerial and which are crossbench staff?
MR RATTENBURY: That is not a delineation that has been drawn clearly in my office. My staff have a range of responsibilities. I think in my discussions with the Chief Minister I have indicated it would be arbitrary and artificial to draw distinctions. Those staff who do have to work with ministerial documents have clear training and that training is being arranged. They will have clear guidance on what the protocols are, as all the rest of the staff who work for ministers do. So I will expect staff who work for me to follow exactly the same guidelines that apply to all ministerial staff.
MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Mr Smyth.
MR SMYTH: Minister, how will you ensure that your crossbench staff are kept separate from your ministerial staff on matters of cabinet confidentiality?
MR RATTENBURY: As I indicated in my previous answer, my staff will be trained in the protocols that are applicable to all staff that work for ministers.
MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Mr Coe.
MR COE: Minister, how will your staff be expected to behave on matters you have considered but then refused to support with regard to cabinet?
MR RATTENBURY: I am unclear of the purpose of the question. As I have indicated, the staff will be trained and expected to adhere to protocols that all ministerial staff do. In matters where I have participated in the cabinet discussion and, under the agreement, have indicated to the ALP that I intend to take a different view and I do not agree with the decision of the other members of cabinet, obviously there will be a necessity for both me and my staff to not use in any inappropriate way information that we have had access to. That would be a breach of the cabinet handbook.
MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Mr Coe.
MR COE: Minister, will your staff, including your staff working on your crossbench issues, be also required to assist in some ministerial duties and, if so, how can they do that without breaching cabinet handbook guidelines?
MR RATTENBURY: As I indicated in my very first answer to Mr Smyth, I certainly do not intend to draw arbitrary lines. Certainly in this place the Greens have a significant track record of using information in an appropriate manner. That is a track record we intend to build on. As I have also previously indicated, the usual protocols will be applied to my staff that apply to all staff.
Ms Gallagher: I ask that all further questions be placed on the notice paper.
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