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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1998 Week 8 Hansard (29 October) . . Page.. 2471 ..

MR MOORE (continuing):

The number of medical beds currently being used by the public hospital is matched to the level of medical cost weights Calvary have contracted to deliver over the financial year and to clinical demand. In other words, the number of beds in use reflects the expected total of throughput for the year, but it is flexible to cope with seasonal variations that may occur - given that medical admissions are rarely booked; they are non-elective. This is very similar to the answer I think I gave yesterday.

At present - end of September figures - Calvary is under its notional year-to-date target for medical patient cost weights and has experienced no excess pressure on the beds in use. In other words, Calvary is meeting community demand with the available beds, and the level of community demand is more than adequately provided for by the level of cost weights purchased by the department.

MR HUMPHRIES: Mr Speaker, yesterday Mr Berry asked me a question in relation to a report to me by police upon the conclusion of their investigation into allegations of corrupt conduct by custodial staff at the Periodic Detention Centre. I undertook to seek advice on two aspects of the question and the investigation. Before I add those details, I should inform members, as I informed them during question time, that there is an ongoing Public Interest Disclosure Act investigation by the Auditor-General. In addition, the names of parties involved in proceedings before the court over this matter are still suppressed by court order.

Mr Speaker, I hope soon to be in a position to table a letter to me from the assistant commissioner which deals with this matter. The advice I have received is that tabling the report as it was initially provided may be at least prejudicial to a person against whom no adverse finding had been made by the courts. I have asked for a report to be produced for the information of members, and I will table that document at the earliest opportunity.

Secondly, Mr Berry asked me to confirm that two officers had no involvement in the investigation. Mr Speaker, I have studied fully my words in answers to previous questions in this place. I do not believe I have made such a statement in the Assembly to confirm. Nevertheless, I am happy to table advice from the director of Corrective Services about the involvement of two staff members in the investigation. I should point out that at the time I made such a public statement the investigation had been handed over to the police and the Auditor-General now that those two officers had no further involvement in the investigation.

Both officers, as the brief I will table reveals, declared knowledge of the accused officer. In one case the director felt that because there was an ongoing financial relationship it would be inappropriate for that officer to be involved in the investigation. That officer was identified as "Y" in the briefing I will table. The second officer, known as "X", knew the accused custodial staff member, as I would expect he would in an organisation the size of ACT Corrective Services. The director decided that there was no conflict of interest. In any case, further investigations were undertaken by the AFP. I table that briefing for the information of members.

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