Page 302 - Week 01 - Thursday, 29 November 2012
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MS GALLAGHER: I must say I do not imagine one vote would have been changed if there was discussion about the administration of whether 100 Treasury officers sat on one level of Nara House or another level of Nara House. It is normally the prerogative of the Chief Minister—and I do note the pain that has been rushing across the chamber over question time today of losing yet another election. Mr Smyth, how many is it now for you? Five?
MADAM SPEAKER: Relevance, Chief Minister.
MS GALLAGHER: Well, it goes to the question, Madam Speaker—
MADAM SPEAKER: No, it does not go to the question.
MS GALLAGHER: Well, question time today has become derisory. The questions are derisory; they do not warrant the respect of ministers in answering them—
Mr Seselja: A point of order, Madam Speaker—
MS GALLAGHER: —and we are doing our best.
MADAM SPEAKER: A point of order.
Mr Seselja: The minister can have the opportunity at the end of question time to raise issues. She is asked to answer a question and to be directly relevant. She is being nowhere near relevant, and I would ask you to ask her to be directly relevant or sit her down.
MADAM SPEAKER: Chief Minister, the standing orders require you to be directly relevant. The question was about the amalgamation of CMD with Treasury. Would you answer the question, please.
MS GALLAGHER: Yes, thank you, Madam Speaker, I will answer the question. It is the prerogative of a re-elected Chief Minister to have a look at how the administrative arrangements work. I acknowledge that Mr Smyth has not been in the position of being Chief Minister, so he may not be aware that when you win an election you get some choices in front of you. You get some choices about who will be your ministers, what the portfolios are going to look like and what is the best way to structure your administrative arrangements.
So following the successful re-election of this government with the support of Mr Rattenbury, I sat down to a range of different decisions that had to be taken. One of those was about the efficient administration of the ACT public service. I made that decision. I have announced that decision. The decision has been implemented, and I have answered all your questions, Mr Smyth, fully and truthfully, and they are all on the record.
MADAM SPEAKER: Supplementary question, Mr Smyth.
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