Barry Cohen's article, "Quiet obedience can never serve Labor MPs well" http://www.onlineopinion.com.au/view.asp?article=5746 , has, by reflection, put the spotlight right on an aspect of this appointment that so far seems to have escaped attention: the planned eradication of ministerial responsibility and the role of Parliament.

Morris Iemma's outline of a 'ten year plan' for delivery of public services in NSW, published prior to the recent State elections, included a proposal that departmental heads would henceforth report direct to the NSW Cabinet. Not to Ministers! Presumably all of the conventions relating to cabinet secrecy are intended to apply to the new arrangements.

The consequences, so far as accountability of senior public servants and ministers, first to the Parliament, and through Parliament to the public, are concerned, are obviously going to be drastic.

The Minister who made this appointment, John Della Bosca, has so far escaped much attention in this discussion. See this link for some observations http://forum.onlineopinion.com.au/thread.asp?discussion=537#10457 .

The observation of meher baba in an earlier post that "One feels that Mr Coutts-Trotter and others of his ilk are appointed to their jobs in the hope that they will cajole and bully the public service to carry out their Minister's political agenda, rather than to ensure that their departments are effectively and professionally managed..." causes concern in this new context. The appointee will report direct to cabinet, so his performance in his public office, be it good or bad, will not be subject to public scrutiny. Should questions subsequently arise on these matters, the Minister may not necessarily be in a position to obtain answers for the Parliament or public, or, if he can, may claim cabinet secrecy prevents his revealing what he knows.

Should the subject of bullying come to have relevance, the link supplied by Dealing With The Mob in Barry Cohen's thread, http://www.badapplebullies.com/ , provides a chilling insight into the potential situation of departmental subordinates under Iemma's new arrangements.

This appointment abandons proper process!

as i said on my blog, "the questioning of coutts-trotter is a real kick in the face for the premise that criminal justice is rehabilitative. it seems to me that this is more party-politics mud slinging than an actual commentary on whether people who have served time for a criminal conviction should hold positions of high public importants. if one of the intentions of the criminal justice system is to reform or rehabilitate individuals, this instance certainly casts a long shadow on that ideal."

view the entry: http://plastikkpoet.blogspot.com/2007/04/prision-institution-is-rehabilitation.html

What kind of message are we sending if we decide that a criminal conviction will disbar you from life from fully participating in civil society?

This seems positively vindictive.

He comes across as a very focussed, talented individual, who is dedicated to public service. We need people like that.

Breaking the rules should not be taken lightly. But neither should it condemn you for ever more.

This person is a convicted drug dealer which should point him only in the direction of execution.

As usual, the ALP, being the champion of criminals be they paedophiles(of which the ALP has many amongst its ranks), drug dealers, etc. The issue here, is that children now have in charge of its ranks, a person who sold drugs, most likely sold drugs to children to children to feed his filthy habit.

Also, his only experience in education is teaching children how to stick a needle in their arm is yet another reason why he should not allowed within reach of any education facility. Not to forget that execution is where he should be.

I would like to comment on the appointment of Michael Coutts-Trotter. The appointment of someone from within the Department would have been disastrous for the honesty and integrity of this department. Please read the documents on wbde.org to see how the Department has in the past, acted corruptly in relation to whistleblowers and the government medical office. I believe there may be a genuine attempt by Iemma to clean up the Department of Education. Believe it or not, we have evidence that people in high positions within the Department are guilty of crimes under the N.S.W. Crimes Act in relation to public documents. We have evidence that shocking lies have been sent to the government medical office HealthQuest about whistleblowers in order to persuade that organization to certify people insane when they are not. Whistleblower Val Kerrison is a prime example but there are dozens of others. If a senior departmental official had been appointed to this position, such as some of their dishonest 'legal officers' and so on, the cycle of lies, deception and abuse of power would continue. I would like to think Michael Coutts-Trotter has the courage to put an end to this once and for all, and to sack all those currently holding top positions because they are ALL GUILTY. They cover for each other. They lie for each other. When the Minister for Education writes inquiring about some case or other, they write back telling him blatant lies about the situation. If it is a whistleblower trying to avoid the sack or trying to be re-employed the lies are all the bigger. This is one disgusting government department and I want to see it sorted, so go Micheal Coutts-Trotter and good luck. With the Teachers Federation backing the Department in their lies about HealthQuest what hope have you got.