Page 4342 - Week 13 - Thursday, 17 November 2005
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likely to effect capital works processes Government-wide and may also have some implications for the private sector.
These factors have meant that the Policy development process has required a greater level of planning and development than was initially envisaged.
Prisons and prisoners—welfare workers
(Question No 592)
Mr Stefaniak asked the Attorney-General, upon notice, on 20 September 2005:
(1) Are there any plans, in the development of a prison for Canberra, to make welfare workers sign confidentiality agreements;
(2) Are there any plans to allow such an agreement to empower the Prison Service with the right to ban welfare workers from speaking to the media.
Mr Stanhope: The answer to the member’s question is as follows:
(1) I am assuming that this question refers to welfare workers employed by Corrective Services, rather than to community volunteers who may be involved in providing services to the prisoners.
All Corrective Service employees are bound by a duty of confidentiality that is part of their conditions of employment with the ACT Public Service.
They are prevented from disclosing information about operational matters which might prejudice the health, safety or welfare of any individual living or working in or visiting the prison, or that might jeopardise the security of the prison.
The Public Sector Management Act 1994, Part 2, Section 9 (m) and (n) outlines the general obligations of public sector employees in relation to information acquired in the course of their employment.
The information privacy principles as outlined in the Privacy Act 1988 (Cwlth), Division 2, Section 14 prohibit public sector employees from disclosing information about individual prisoners that enables them to be identified.
(2) All staff, including welfare workers and volunteers will be prevented from disclosing to the media matters that might contravene the Privacy Act 1988 (Cwlth) or the Public Sector Management Act 1994.
Women—leadership program
(Question No 594)
Mr Stefaniak asked the Minister for Sport and Recreation, upon notice, on 20 September 2005:
(1) How many women participated in the “Against all Odds: Effective Women Leaders” program workshop in late June;
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