Dawson defends Premier’s absence from budget process

Junior Minister Dr Karl Dawson

Amid continued criticism being levied against the Premier for his absence from the territory during the budget process, Junior Minister Dr Karl Dawson has defended the leader, saying Premier Wheatley still managed to played his part in the important national exercise.

Speaking in the House of Assembly earlier this week, Minister Dawson said while the Premier was attending the COP28 climate conference in Dubai, ministers Kye Rymer and Lorna Smith made sure that “the seat of the Minister of Finance was filled at all times during the Standing Finance activities.”

Dr Dawson said although the Opposition members continue to bemoan the Premier’s absence, they know that the Premier returned to the territory to play his role, as decisions could not be finalised without him.

“My colleagues know that whether the substantive holder (the Finance Minister) or a substitute was present, at the end of the day, all the information and requests totalling up to $30 million had to be taken into account before a decision had to be made as to which one would receive priority,” Minister Dawson said.

He continued: “The substantive holder of the post (Minister Wheatley) was quite available for those conversations — when all the notes and reports from the Ministry of Finance were presented to him, and he did have a say in what would be presented to this House as the budget for 2024,” Minister Dawson explained.

Premier Wheatley has come under fire lately for the frequent international trips members of his government have been taking since they took office in April of this year. Wheatley was absent for most of the budget process, which involved meetings with the heads of departments and agencies who discussed challenges and advocated for more funds to fulfil their duties.

Though the public is not pleased with the globe-trotting habits of the Wheatley administration, there are signs that the behaviour will continue as millions have been set aside in the 2024 budget for the government’s traveling expenses.

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