Page 1067 - Week 04 - Thursday, 1 April 1993
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Dear Mr Williams
Thank you for your facsimile of 15 January 1993 which, inter alia, invites me to a forum on domestic violence.
Given your interest in the issue, I have enclosed for your consideration a very informative discussion paper on domestic violence which was prepared by the ACT Community Law Reform Committee (CLRC) following a reference I gave to that committee. As the Government is progressing this matter through this committee, it is inappropriate for me to attend your forum.
In addition, I believe that the terms of reference in the discussion paper pave the way for a wide-ranging review of the ACT legislation and provide an appropriate mechanism where community concerns about domestic violence can be considered by an impartial, independent and reputable body. I am sure the CLRC would welcome any submission your organisation wished to furnish.
(Extension of time granted) The letter continues:
I have asked an officer from my Department to provide you with details of public hearings and the date for the closing of submissions.
Thank you for your interest in this matter.
I quote a second letter from Mr Connolly to Mr Williams, dated 27 January and labelled annexure C:
Dear Mr Williams
I refer to your facsimile of 15 January, my response of 21 January and your telephone call to my office last Monday.
For the reason stated in my letter to you, I do not intend to participate in your forum, nor do I wish to send a representative.
Let me highlight that the reason stated in the letter why Mr Connolly found it inappropriate to attend was the work being done by the Community Law Reform Committee. That was the reason he clearly gave in the letter, and he restated it in the second letter.
Let us look at the evidence. Mr Connolly told the house that he did not attend the domestic violence forum because of the letter. This is the major point. We ask ourselves: Was Mr Connolly's assertion true or did he mislead the parliament? He said that he did not go because of the letter, but we see in Mr Connolly's letter that he gave an entirely different reason for not attending the forum. Let me read that section of the letter again. Mr Connolly said:
Given your interest in this issue, I have enclosed for your consideration a very informative discussion paper on domestic violence which was prepared by the ACT Community Law Reform Committee ... following a reference I gave to that committee. As the Government is progressing this matter through this committee, it is inappropriate for me to attend your forum.
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