Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .

Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2002 Week 2 Hansard (19 February) . . Page.. 343 ..

Gallop report

MR SMYTH: My question is to the Chief Minister, Mr Stanhope. Chief Minister, having not opposed the injunction against the tabling and/or publication of the Gallop report sought by officers on 24 December last year, the government is reported to have begun negotiating with its public servants. When did those negotiations begin, and were you, your office, or any other member of the government party to those negotiations?

MR STANHOPE: Thank you, Mr Smyth, for the question. I regret I don't understand it. I have not been involved in any negotiations. I have had consultations with each of the officers who believe themselves to have been grievously-

Mr Smyth: Well that is negotiation.

Mr Humphries: That is negotiation.

MR STANHOPE: I don't negotiate with my senior officers. I talk and consult with them. What am I negotiating about? I am not negotiating. I meet with my departmental advisers daily. So the answer to your question is: if you mean by "negotiations" have I talked to or consulted with my senior officers, yes, yes, yes-probably every single day since I have been a minister. How appalling!

Mr Smyth: You called them "negotiations" in the media.

Mr Humphries: You referred to them as negotiations in the media.

MR STANHOPE: Which negotiations?

Mr Humphries: You used the word "negotiations".

MR STANHOPE: When?

Mr Humphries: In the media in January.

MR STANHOPE: I am not having negotiations with anybody about anything. I have had discussions and consultations with each of my officers.

I have to say in relation to the issues raised in the report that each of those officers who are aggrieved by certain findings and recommendations indeed approached me for meetings, even those for whom I do not have a direct responsibility-such as the head of Community Care and Ms Grayson, the other officer from Community Care, who of course are responsible directly to the board and are not responsible directly to me. They have no line of accountability directly to me; they are responsible to the board. Nevertheless, they sought, and of course I granted, meetings to discuss with them their concerns around these issues.

I met similarly with Dr Gregory and Glenys Beauchamp from the department of health. I met them in company with their legal adviser. But it was not for the purpose of negotiation-it was for the purpose of consultations around the issues. I also met with

Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .