1115. Hon ALISON XAMON to the Leader of the House representing the Attorney General:
I refer to the role of the Commissioner for Equal Opportunity.
(1) Given that the former commissioner’s contract finished in May 2018, why do we still have an Acting Commissioner for Equal Opportunity?
(2) When will a permanent commissioner be appointed?
Hon SUE ELLERY replied:
I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question.
(1)–(2) The Acting Commissioner for Equal Opportunity, Dr John Byrne, was appointed in May 2018. Dr Byrne was appointed following the unexpected departure of former commissioner, Ms Allanah Lucas. Section 78 of the Equal Opportunity Act 1984 has the effect that a person may act for not longer than 12 months during a vacancy in the office of the commissioner. Accordingly, the government intends to appoint a permanent commissioner by May 2019.