Page 3536 - Week 12 - Wednesday, 12 October 1994
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Aboriginal Deaths in Custody - Implementation Report
MR KAINE: Madam Speaker, through you, I have a question to Mr Lamont, in the absence of the Chief Minister. I take him at his word. I do not expect him to be able to answer it, but I would like the answer as quickly as possible. It has to do with the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody. This afternoon we may get to debate the implementation report for the year 1992-93. I would like Mr Lamont to take the question. In connection with the 1993-94 implementation report, which is now long overdue, when did the Chief Minister's Department ask Territory government agencies to provide material for incorporation in that report? Given that it took the Government just a fortnight short of a full year to table the report for 1992-93, does the Chief Minister see merit in getting Territory agencies working on preparing their contributions a good deal earlier than was the case for the preceding year? Finally, if she does not think so, is this an indication of the priority that she applies to the question of Aboriginal deaths in custody?
MR LAMONT: I thank the member for his question. I do not have specific details of the dates on which the information was sought, Mr Kaine, but I undertake to provide that to you. However, I would reject out of hand the spurious assertion, that you attempt to roll into your question, that this Government has not been a proactive government in dealing with issues associated with Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait Islanders.
MR KAINE: I have a supplementary question, Madam Speaker. I asked what the Chief Minister's priority was on this matter. It does not seem to be very high. It was a specific question in connection with the 1993-94 implementation report. It is now October. Would the Chief Minister assure the Assembly that she will produce the report for 1993-94 before we go into recess, leading up to the next election? If she does not, the report will, like the last one, be useless.
MR LAMONT: Madam Speaker, in relation to the detail of Mr Kaine's question: Obviously, the Chief Minister will be back at question time tomorrow and will, in her answer, wipe the floor with Mr Kaine once again.
Education - Liberal Party Policy
MS ELLIS: Madam Speaker, my question is directed to the Minister for Education. I ask the Minister: In today's Canberra Times there was an article entitled "Carnell's vision for the future of our schools". Given the Liberals' history of failure in education during the Alliance Government's term of office, is this latest Liberal vision a clear and correct vision or a totally blurred vision?
Mr Kaine: On a point of order, Madam Speaker: I do not believe that anybody sitting on that side of the house is responsible for, or can answer for, Mrs Carnell's opinions on anything. It is totally improper that they should be asked to comment on them.
MADAM SPEAKER: It is a perfectly valid point of order; but Mr Wood will take that into account when he answers and will refer to his own responsibilities, not Mrs Carnell's.
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