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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 11 Hansard (6 November) . . Page.. 3721 ..

MR OSBORNE (continuing):

There were a couple more questions and answers like that. The interview then continued:

Reporter: Are you concerned that your department hasn't told you about this?

Stefaniak: Ahhh, look, I think ...

Reporter: ... surely just to tell you ...

Then there was some silence. The reporter then said:

... as opposed to not having to make any comment, just so as you are aware.

Then there was some more silence and Mr Stefaniak said:

Just what did occur, actually?

The reporter said:

Early last week a raid was done on the Southside Youth Refuge ...

It then went on. There was then a break between that interview and the next interview, during which, I am told, the Minister took advice. The transcript reads:

Reporter: What do you know about the Southside Youth Refuge.

Stefaniak: I'm advised that the board had concerns and it quite appropriately called in the police to investigate the matter and the matter is now under police investigation ...

Blah, blah, blah! Minister, it would appear that Mr Stefaniak has repeatedly misled this house and, although he has had every opportunity to do so, he has not sought to correct the record. I ask what you intend to do about this matter.

MR HUMPHRIES: Mr Speaker, Mr Osborne has raised a fairly serious allegation. On the information available to me that he has presented to the house today, it is very difficult to form any view about whether or not anything might have occurred which is inappropriate or in breach of parliamentary practice. Indeed, on what Mr Osborne has said to the house today, if what he says is the complete picture, there seems to be some indication that Mr Stefaniak might have misled WIN Television but not that he has misled the house. However, Mr Speaker, because this is a serious matter and a matter which needs to be investigated appropriately, and since I am only acting for the course of this afternoon in the job the Chief Minister normally performs, when the Chief Minister returns, I will raise with her - - -

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