FED: Barratt vows to fight on

AAP General News (Australia)
08-19-1999
FED: Barratt vows to fight on

CANBERRA, Aug 19 AAP - Defence Department Secretary Paul Barratt today vowed to fight to
retain his job, despite a federal court ruling that the prime minister had the right to sack
him.

Mr Barratt today claimed to have been vindicated when Justice Peter Hely ruled the
embattled secretary was entitled to procedural fairness and reasons for his dismissal.

But the Judge rejected Mr Barratt's claim he could only be sacked if he was unfit to remain
in office.

"I have always accepted that there are provisions under which a secretary can be
terminated," Mr Barratt told reporters.

"What I have not accepted is that it can be done capriciously and without reason and the
judgment vindicates me in full on that position."

Mr Barratt said he now intended to serve out the remainder of his five year contract and
denied his sacking was a foregone conclusion.

"I'm seeking strenuously to remain in office," he said.

"I have the goodwill to carry on in office, and to work with whoever the prime minister has
as the minister for defence."

But he indicated he would be seeking a payout for the remaining three and a half years of
his contract if he was sacked.

"As the judgment says, I've been deprived of livelihood for three and a half years," he
said.

"I think there would be grounds for that."

Mr Barratt also said he had ceased all communications with Defence Minister John Moore
since the minister tried to remove him on July 22, but denied this would make it impossible
for him to work with Mr Moore again.

"I will work with whoever is the minister for defence," he said.

But Mr Barratt refused to comment on his relationship with Mr Moore.

"I would not describe my relationship, that is a private matter for me and the Minister for
Defence," he said.

AAP ss/kr

KEYWORD: BARRATT LEAD

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