Page 2487 - Week 08 - Wednesday, 29 June 2005
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advisory group. Incidentally, this group told the opposition that if they had been asked to do so they could have met in April to ensure that statutory obligations were fulfilled. But this simply did not happen. So a number of breaches such as this have occurred.
We have a situation in which a committee recommended in good faith—there was no statutory duty to do so—the establishment of a working group in respect of Quamby. Although the recommendation was accepted in good faith by the government, that working group was not set up. When this was drawn to the minister’s attention, it was a case of, “Oops, we have forgotten about that” and they set it up very quickly indeed—I understand within one week.
Mr Seselja: One day.
MR STEFANIAK: One day, was it Mr Seselja? Mr Seselja is expressing his concern in a number of areas. His motion specifically calls on the minister to table in the Assembly all the relevant documents in relation to the establishment of this working group within the current sitting of this Assembly, which is until 12.30 pm on Friday. What is wrong with that? I understand that the group has now been set up. It is doing its job.
Ms Gallagher: Mrs Dunne has FOI’d them.
MR STEFANIAK: Well why not just table them? Why not simply table them? What is the problem with that?
Ms Gallagher: The FOI has been completed.
MR STEFANIAK: What is the problem with simply tabling them? I think this is an eminently sensible motion.
Obviously the minister’s amendment will get up—nine beats eight, depending on what Dr Foskey does and 10 is a little bit of icing on the cake when it comes to beating seven if Dr Foskey does not vote with the opposition. So the minister’s amendment is going to get up, regardless.
The government has committed, it seems, $40 million. I note there was some sort of argy-bargy as to an initial $20m, where some went back to consolidated revenue—I think $4 million was committed to ensure that essential things occur on site until the new Quamby is established. There are no dramas with that. I have heard that some of that has been put on hold. Maybe the minister needs to answer a few questions there, but in the scheme of things that does not seem too unreasonable. She has gone back and she has got some more money for a new detention centre.
Apart from the period in which there were some inappropriate staff at Quamby, which were weeded out, the staff generally have done a wonderful job. I known staff who have been there for many years, as well as staff who have passed through this facility. They are doing and have done an excellent job. Certainly, staff invariably do a difficult job well, as do the various people who assist. There are no dramas with that. But it is pointless having a motion of self-praise. It is very easy for a majority government just to amend sensible motions such as Mr Seselja’s and put in something of self-praise. Self-praise really should not be what it is all about.
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