Page 5423 - Week 13 - Tuesday, 16 November 2010
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Minister, the question available on the Assembly committee’s website has track changes enabled on it. By using this function, it indicates that a complete answer to the question actually was prepared but then deleted. The electronic records appear to indicate that the answer was deleted by an ACT public servant working in your office. Minister, what justification can you provide for an answer to an estimates question to be prepared by your department and then deleted by a public servant working in your office?
MR BARR: I will have a look at the questions—I do not have them in front of me—and I will come back to the Assembly.
MR SPEAKER: Supplementary, Mr Seselja?
MR SESELJA: Yes, thank you, Mr Speaker. Minister, did you issue instructions that the answer prepared by your department be deleted? Was it a member of your personal staff or was it the public service deleting answers without authorisation?
MR BARR: It is difficult, without having the questions in front of me, to be able to ascertain that. I will have a look. Of course it is up to the minister how questions on notice are answered, and I will investigate those questions.
Mr Seselja interjecting—
MR BARR: I will investigate those questions that the member has raised and get back to the Assembly.
MR SMYTH: A supplementary, Mr Speaker.
MR SPEAKER: Yes, Mr Smyth.
MR SMYTH: Thank you, Mr Speaker. Minister, was the question deleted because the answers were embarrassing or was it deleted merely to frustrate and hold in contempt the processes of accountability of the Assembly?
MR BARR: Neither, Mr Speaker.
MR SMYTH: A supplementary, Mr Speaker.
Members interjecting—
MR SPEAKER: Order! Mr Smyth has the floor.
MR SMYTH: Thank you, Mr Speaker. Minister, how many other answers to questions on notice have been deleted by your office?
MR BARR: None, Mr Speaker.
Children—foster and kinship carers
MS HUNTER: My question is to the Minister for Children and Young People and concerns the new financial subsidy arrangements that were recently implemented for
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