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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2002 Week 3 Hansard (6 March) . . Page.. 629 ..

MR STANHOPE (continuing):

There is a standard and the public service, through the Public Service Commissioner, is working assiduously on-heaven forbid and shock, horror-a review of all of these issues. He has actually released a number of discussion papers already. I hope that you will be contributing to them, because you have much to learn.

MR HUMPHRIES: I have a supplementary question, Mr Speaker. If the standard you have set is not an impeccable standard, Chief Minister, what is it? Can you tell us what the new standard operating under the Stanhope government might be with respect to those issues about due process?

MR STANHOPE: I think it is interesting that the Leader of the Opposition has taken a defensive position here in terms of standards.

MR SPEAKER: I think it is hypothetical.

MR STANHOPE: It is hypothetical, of course, but I will just give a brief response. We have high standards and they are standards that we will stand by.

Mr Humphries: But what are they?

MR STANHOPE: I will illustrate the sorts of things we will not do. We will not steal people's mail. We will not hack into people's computers. Those are the sorts of standards that we will not have.

Mr Humphries: And neither will we.

MR STANHOPE: Good. I am pleased to hear that.

Legislative Assembly-alleged security breach

MR HARGREAVES: Mr Speaker, my question, through you, is to the Minister for Police, Emergency Services and Corrections. Can the minister confirm that the police are investigating a complaint made about a possible security breach in the Legislative Assembly?

MR SPEAKER: Order! Can I intervene at this stage. I would like members to be cautious about the words they choose on a matter which is the subject of investigation by police, in order that we avoid to the fullest extent possible anything that might prejudice those investigations. I offer that as a warning, not because I intend to prevent these sorts of questions arising-I cannot invoke the sub judice rule because there are not any matters before the courts. But I raise that precautionary note in respect of any questions that members may wish to ask in relation to the matter, or indeed any answer. Mr Hargreaves, would you continue.

MR HARGREAVES: Thank you very much, Mr Speaker. I welcome your advice. I am concerned for the integrity of the parliamentary process. I have a further question for the minister. Can the minister say what is the nature of the complaint and what action the police may have taken?

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