Senate Finance and Public Administration Legislation Committee [Part 2], , 1:07:03 to 1:13:47
Senator Sharma questions the appointment process for the Deputy Secretary role and the ongoing status of the Fuel Security Coordinator.
Topics: Public service staffing, Energy storage
Speakers: Speaker 3, Senator Dave Sharma, Speaker 1, Speaker 13, Unknown Speaker
>> Excellent. Senator Sharma.
>> Just had a few questions about the role of the fuel security coordinator.
>> Thank you, Senator.
>> Is that you, Mr. Gifford?
>> Oh, it depends on the nature of your question, but I believe Mr. Harris may join me at the table.
>> Okay, sure. Um so I understand that that role has or the contract for that fuel supply coordinator has expired. >> When did that contractual arrangement end?
>> Uh I recall from our last uh discussion that estimates we were talking at that point in time about the first 3-month contract. Um and at the end of that 3-month contract, Ms. Harris uh was substantively appointed to the deputy secretary role at the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet. So she's currently deputy secretary um for the economy economy industry and resources group and at the same time our fuel supply coordinator.
when when did that ban three position it's a band three position the deputy secretary role. Correct. When did that become vacant?
>> Uh it became vacant with Ms. Narell Letti was previously in the role on an acting basis. She's uh subsequently been promoted to uh DQ. Um so um I haven't got an exact date in front of me but I can tell you that Ms. Harris was appointed from the 1st of July.
>> Okay. Was it an advertised vacancy?
>> Uh it wasn't an advertised vacancy. You was using a merit pool from a band three merit merit based process elsewhere in
>> I said so the the vacancy wasn't advertised.
>> No, it was not.
>> Okay. And sorry to just explain that process again. If it's not advertised, I thought my understanding was the public service commissioner's directions are that vacancies at that level should be advertised.
>> Uh no, if there is another process which is a like for like um appointment, sorry, vacancy, then a merit pool can be used for the purposes of filling that substantive vacancy. In this particular instance, it was a a deputy secretary role advertised at Treasury which created a merit-based pool which was used for this purpose.
>> I see. Okay. And when was that appointment made then or the
>> uh the 1st of July of 2026.
>> Okay. And has it been gazetted?
>> Uh yes, I believe it has. Senator,
>> could you just would you mind just taking a notice? I couldn't find it in the gazette. So if you wouldn't mind taking
>> We'll leave that with me, Senator. I'll follow that up.
and so Miss Harris, and sorry to ask these questions in your presence here. Um are you still the independent reviewer of the Water Act or is that
>> No, Senator, I'm not.
>> When did that arrangement come to an
end? uh formally on the 30th of June. Although I think as we discussed last time the m after I had been appointed as the fuel coordinator I really wasn't able to spend um really time on that role. Um and so uh DQ made other arrangements in relation to being able to continue um that review um but it but it formally um ceased on the 30th of
>> Okay. Thank you. Thanks Miss Harrison and Mr. Gifford. That was all I had. Chair.
>> uh I uh I'm sorry you've caught me on the hop. I'm still recovering from my last round of questioning. Um I think the rest of our questions for this uh section we can probably take on notice and very helpful. Um well with that I will thank Prime Minister and Cabinet and I will thank um Minister Wong for your time today and for all of the officials who have uh come along to enjoy the afternoon with us. Thank you so much. >> Suspension cuz we're changing. Yes, we are changing ministers. So we will suspend um for a few minutes while we change that over. >> Y we'll return at 10 to 9. >> Yes. 10 to 9.
>> You told me there was a revolving door
right. Uh, my error there. Um, I thought