Page 2278 - Week 07 - Tuesday, 16 June 2009
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me—to find out that this is not the first time such a letter has been written by the CEO of ACT Health. He also wrote to the previous shadow minister for health criticising one of her media releases. I do not have a copy of that letter, but I do have a copy of the ABC media report of this event titled “ACT opposition warned away from criticising health system”. I seek leave to table the media report.
Leave granted.
MR HANSON: I table the following document:
Media report—ABC News, dated 8 September 2007.
Mrs Burke is reported in the media as saying the letters are alarming, and it is the first time that the head of the department has written to her in such a way.
With regard to matters of precedence and matters of contempt, I turn to the Companion to the standing orders of the Legislative Assembly for the Australian Capital Territory, and I note that a finding of contempt against officials of the Department of Health was made by the Assembly in 2003. I refer specifically to page 318, paragraph 17.29, and also to appendix 16. In this case, what occurred is that advice was distributed to senior management of the department appearing before estimates committee hearings on how they should manipulate the proceedings, avoid answering questions, present information selectively and make party-political points.
This matter has broad implications and precedence, and the implications for all of the non-executive members of the Assembly, I believe, are significant. We should be free to publicly criticise the government—
Ms Gallagher: And tell lies.
MR HANSON: and the executive—
Ms Gallagher: And tell lies.
MR HANSON: robustly—
Ms Gallagher: And tell lies.
MR HANSON: without fear—
Ms Gallagher: And tell lies.
MR HANSON: and without interference. Let me quote from standing orders 277(a) and (b) to do with matters of contempt:
A person shall not improperly interfere with the free exercise by the Assembly or a committee of its authority, or with the free performance by a Member of the Member’s duties as a Member … A person shall not, by fraud, intimidation, force or threat of any kind, by the offer or promise of any inducement or benefit of any kind, or by other improper means, influence a Member in the Member’s conduct …
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