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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 11 Hansard (6 November) . . Page.. 3720 ..

MR OSBORNE: My question is to the Deputy Chief Minister, Mr Humphries. Minister, over the last two days I have been asking the Minister for Family Services and Minister for Youth Services, Mr Stefaniak, about when he became aware that the Southside Youth Refuge was subject to a police investigation over an alleged misappropriation of funds. Yesterday in this place he said that he was given verbal advice on either 22 September or 23 September. I have here a transcript of an interview between Mr Stefaniak and WIN Television which took place on 9 October and, if members will allow me, I will quickly go through it. The transcript reads:

Reporter: Are you aware that a Canberra youth refuge is being investigated for fraud?

Stefaniak: No.

Reporter: You're not aware at all?

Stefaniak: No.

Reporter: You haven't been told by the police? The police have confirmed that they are investigating the Southside Youth Refuge. Are you in any way aware of that?

Stefaniak: No, I don't think so. I don't think anyone's told me about that one.

Reporter: Will you be talking to the police about it?

Stefaniak: Well, I think if anyone has concerns that are of a criminal nature they should take them to the appropriate authorities and the police are the appropriate authority. I'm not aware of what's occurring there.

Reporter: Will you be making a couple of phone calls now that you are aware?

Stefaniak: Well, now that you've told me I'll ask what's going on. No, I think obviously whenever there is an allegation of fraud the police are the people who need to investigate that. They're the experts and I would encourage anyone who has any concerns of a criminal nature to go to the police.

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