Jay Weatherill backs education boss
Jay Weatherill is standing firm behind the Education Department boss, despite scathing criticism from a sacked senior executive.
The Premier's also defended telling his staff not to give evidence to a Parliamentary inquiry into school sex abuse, despite the threat of imprisonment.
The Premier told Seven News he's not concerned about former Deputy Chief Jan Andrew’s comments.
After being sacked last week, Jan Andrews yesterday gave explosive evidence to a Parliamentary inquiry into the rape of a western suburbs school girl taking aim at her former boss, Tony Harrison, saying she’d been made a scape goat for the sake of the department’s image.
“Tony Harrison is the man for the job. If he's hurt a few feelings along the way, so be it.
I support him. He's a strong leader and I'm right behind him." said the Premier.
He's refusing to front the committee and has told his staff to do the same.
"They're my employees and they're not participating in a political circus unless they're compelled to do so."
While the Premier himself can't be compelled to give evidence, lawyers have told the committee that Parliamentary staff can. If that's the case and they still refuse, they could face severe penalties, possibly jail time.
The Opposition’s Rob Lucas said "That'll be an issue I'm sure we won't have to address because the Parliament clearly has the power to require someone to attend."
