Page 2194 - Week 08 - Thursday, 10 September 1992
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Canberra Times - Police Investigation
MR DE DOMENICO: My question is addressed to the Chief Minister. In media reports of recent times Ms Gillian Biscoe is mentioned as the public service officer who authorised raids on the Canberra Times by the police. However, other reports over the past few days tend to say that Mr Harris was responsible. On television, Ms Linda Webb was mentioned as a possibility of being responsible. Can the Chief Minister now please tell us which of her public servants authorised Tuesday's raid on the Canberra Times? In other words, who is responsible?
MS FOLLETT: Madam Speaker, may I say again that the investigation into the alleged leak of information to the Canberra Times was instigated by the Head of Administration in conjunction with the Secretary of the Department of Health. I do not know how often I have to say that. Of course, there was no raid on the Canberra Times. I think that kind of sensationalism is regrettable. Madam Speaker, quite clearly, people are smarting over this issue; but I, for one, fully support both the public service and the Federal Police in the correct exercise of their duty. I am amazed that members opposite continue to try to beat up this issue into something which it is not and continue to try to raise the temperature of the whole debate in a way that is unhelpful and in a way that I think does them no credit.
Quite clearly, the Government's interest is in protecting sensitive information and discovering the source of alleged leaks. We have no interest in making life difficult for the Canberra Times or indeed for anybody else; but it is important, as our administration has quite clearly acknowledged, that confidential and sensitive information remain that way. That is the purpose of this investigation. I, for one, have full confidence in the administration and in the police to fully explore the matter in a responsible manner. As far as I am aware, that is exactly what they are doing.
Assembly Precincts - Police Investigation
MR CORNWELL: Madam Speaker, my question is directed to your good self. I ask it as much for my own guidance as the Deputy Speaker as I do for information. It relates to the police raids on a member's office in this Assembly. I ask: Which member's office was raided and who authorised the raids upon these Assembly premises? I sincerely hope that, in view of the Chief Minister's answer recently, it was not the Secretary of the Department of Health or the Head of Administration. You as Speaker, as presiding officer, have responsibility for the activities in the Assembly precincts. Therefore, I also ask: Was the Leader of the Opposition advised of the presence of police on Assembly premises? If not, why not?
MADAM SPEAKER: Mr Cornwell, I indicated yesterday that I had had police advice that they were to interview people in Mr Berry's office yesterday and that they had been in the building the day before. I indicated that that was within the guidelines of the protocol that we had established. In my capacity as Speaker, I did not inform the Leader of the Opposition; that is correct. I will double-check the protocols on that and, if indeed it was an omission, I will undertake to do so in the future.
Ms Follett: I ask that further questions be placed on the notice paper.
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