Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

asked the Minister representing the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, upon notice, on 13 December 2011:

Has the department appointed a former adviser to Ms Gillard as a Director in the Workplace Relations group; if so: (a) what are the duties of the officer; (b) will the officer be working on any aspects of the review of the Fair Work Act 2009; and (c) is the officer employed in an ongoing or non-ongoing position.

Mark Arbib (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Sport) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations has provided the following answer to the honourable senator's question:

Ms Andrea Lester, workplace relations adviser to the former Deputy Prime Minister, the Hon Julia Gillard MP, is engaged in a non-ongoing capacity with the department for the period 26 October 2011 to 26 February 2011. For the period 26 October to 16 December 2011, Ms Lester's duties were to assist the Workplace Relations Policy Group on the equal remuneration case for social and community sector workers. Ms Lester did not work on the post-implementation review of the Fair Work Act 2009 during this period.

From 16 December 2011, Ms Lester is backfilling in the office of the new Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations until permanent staff are appointed. These arrangements are in line with the Department of Finance and Deregulation Ministerial entitlements guidelines which determine that portfolio departments are responsible for the provision of relief staff for periods up to 12 weeks in duration.