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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2002 Week 6 Hansard (14 May) . . Page.. 1561 ..

MRS DUNNE (continuing):

In response to your email of 4 May, it was not possible to arrange a briefing with Mr Murray, however I can provide the attached information-

which I read.

If you require any further information please do not hesitate to contact me.

Regards

Steve Ramsden.

Minister, when did it become policy to deny members of the Assembly access to senior members of the ACT administration for confidential briefings on matters relating to their duties and the safety of the ACT community?

MR QUINLAN: If you want information, the conventional thing is that you go through the minister's office.

Mrs Dunne: Yes, that is what we did.

MR QUINLAN: Yes, but if it is the right process that a briefing be given, you will get a briefing. I understand, for example, that your Mr Pratt was asking to wander around the department of education to talk not to senior officers but to "the real people". Is that right-"the real people"? A bit of a wander about.

Mrs Dunne: Mr Speaker, I have a point of order. I asked why I could not get a briefing from the senior officer. I am not interested in what Mr Pratt did or did not do.

MR QUINLAN: Actually, Mrs Dunne, you asked when it became policy to deny members access to senior officers, as I recall. So I am dismissing the point of order, Mr Speaker.

It is not our intention to withhold information that you require. At the same time it is also not our intention that the time of senior officers be taken up by a "wander through" process. If you want information, ask for it; if it needs to be explained, we will give you a briefing. But at the end of the day, it will be our choice.

MRS DUNNE: Mr Speaker, I have a supplementary question. Minister, what, given your continuing gaffs over police numbers, are you trying to hide from the Assembly and the ACT people?

MR QUINLAN: Nothing.

Mr Stanhope: I ask that further questions be placed on the notice paper.

Public Sector Management Act-executive contracts

Papers and statement by minister

MR STANHOPE (Chief Minister, Attorney-General, Minister for Health, Minister for Community Affairs and Minister for Women): Mr Speaker, for the information of members, I present the following papers:

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