Page 1913 - Week 07 - Thursday, 20 August 1992
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MR CONNOLLY: I thank Ms Szuty for her question. Operation Paradox has been running for a few years now. It started in Victoria and has been run for about three years in the ACT. As a result of previous years' Operation Paradox, I think we have had six matters brought through to a successful prosecution in the ACT. We take allegations of child sexual assault extremely seriously in the ACT. Matters are investigated vigorously by the Australian Federal Police. Sergeant Fiona Crombie, who is in charge of the sexual assault unit, has been prominent in the media this week, but she is very busy during the rest of the year.
The Director of Public Prosecutions also takes these matters very seriously and there is a dedicated unit within the DPP's office to bring these matters to prosecution. I have asked for a brief on prosecution figures in the ACT, which, in due course, when I receive it, I will bring to members' attention. My clear impression, from discussion with the police and with the prosecutors, is that we are prosecuting this type of offence at a much higher rate in the ACT than other parts of Australia. That indicates not that this type of offence is more prevalent in the ACT; rather, that we have an effective and accessible sexual assault unit in the police which is working well with women's groups and with other groups, and that we have a dedicated staff in the DPP's office which, again, makes the process of bringing matters to prosecution easier.
We are pioneers in Australia in using video evidence for these prosecutions in the courts. We also have a very high success rate in terms of the number of matters prosecuted resulting in convictions. I do not have a statistical breakdown of that, but I have requested it. Vigorous action will follow Operation Paradox. Last year some six matters were successfully prosecuted as a result of the phone-in. I would anticipate that the same would occur this year, but I will bring to members' attention in due course some statistics on that.
Palliative Care Service
MR CORNWELL: My question is to the Minister for Health. In last year's ACT budget, Mr Berry, the Government made some $205,000 available for the development of an integrated palliative care service. Included in that development was a team consisting of a medical director, a registered nurse and an administrative assistant. In reply to a recent question on notice you indicated that no staff had been appointed as yet and that there had been no change made in this financial year despite the allocation of $205,000. I ask: Why?
MR BERRY: I do not have that information in front of me. I will make sure that I provide an answer for the member.
Rocking Cradles
MR STEVENSON: My question is to Terry Connolly in his responsibility for consumer affairs. It concerns the withdrawal of rocking cradles by a Melbourne-based distributor. This action was taken after a three-month-old girl suffocated when a metal locking pin came out, causing the cradle to tilt. Authorities who have tested this unit have shown that it is a defect in manufacture and that it could cause further accidents and deaths, as it has in America. The distributor, Siesta Nursery Products, has just recalled thousands of
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