More shake ups in HoA seating; Attorney General tossed in back row!
Hon Smith who now sits on the Opposition benches was replaced by Hon Julian Fraser RA (R3) who was appointed Deputy Premier and Minister for Environment, Natural Resources, Climate Change, Labour and Immigration.
Another shake up was the seating arrangements in the House of Assembly (HoA) Chambers with the removal of Hon Dawn J. Smith, Attorney General, from sitting next to the Premier and placed in the back row with the two Junior Ministers.
Not a rule more like tradition-Willock
In an invited comment, former Speaker of the HoA Julian Willock when asked about the seating arrangements of the Attorney General noted, “Usually where the Attorney General sits is up to the Premier, for example late Chief Minister Mr. Stoutt had the Attorney General in the back however it was late Mr. O’Neal of blessed memory I believed in 1995 who moved the AG to the front sitting next to him. Then both Dr Smith and Mr. Fahie kept the tradition, however, there is no rule or policy saying the AG has to sit next to the Premier; it was more like tradition not a rule.”
Mr. Willock opined that it was good to see the front bench made up of all the elected legislators who are Ministers like is practiced in the UK.
Meanwhile, Hon Smith took her seat on the opposition side of the isle as a Member of the HoA.
During her press conference on October 23, 2024, in response to a question from the media said she would lend her expertise in Financial Services if called upon to do so.
“I will have to, I remain a member of the House of Assembly and all of us are elected to represent the best interest of the people, so yes I would support to the extent that I can in the best interests of the people of the Territory,” Hon. Smith said in her response.
Small civil servants changes coming
According to a senior source familiar with the Wheatley administration there will be no more major shake-ups coming short of Hon Fraser’s portfolio being finalized and a handful of senior civil servants being reassigned to provide the best fit and support to Ministers. It was also rumoured that a senior officer in the Ministry of Financial Services had tendered her resignation following the ousting of Hon Smith, however talks are ongoing for a retraction of that resignation, according to sources in the Deputy Governor’s Office.
Meanwhile, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Financial Services Ms. Petrona N. Davis (before Hon Smith was sacked) retired which had nothing to do with the removal of the former subject minister.
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23 Responses to “More shake ups in HoA seating; Attorney General tossed in back row! ”
we have persons among us over staying
We have persons among us No work permit
And every man mout shut
Fix the $&# roads!!!
How disrespectful to the Honorable Lorna Smith and, now, the Honorable Dawn Smith. Shame, shame, shame.