Page 945 - Week 03 - Tuesday, 29 March 2011
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delivering into Bimberi—to ensure that you are being told what is happening on a regular basis?
MS BURCH: I thank Ms Hunter for her question. I have a number of mechanisms through to my office on the operations and conditions out at Bimberi. Certainly, I have regular briefings with the department. They would incorporate a regular fortnightly briefing and regular monthly meetings on routine reporting. But that does not mean to say that critical incidents are reported to me as and when they happen, in a very quick response time.
We also have a public advocate system in place that meets with me, and regularly raises a broad range of issues. At the last meeting I had with the Public Advocate, she noted the improvements at Bimberi.
Opposition members interjecting—
MS BURCH: We accept that there were challenges before, and there remain challenges ahead. But all in all, there is good progress, goodwill, good intent and good work getting done.
Mr Hargreaves: On a point of order, Mr Speaker, this is just getting repetitious. I am really having trouble hearing the answer.
MR SPEAKER: There is no point of order at this point, Mr Hargreaves.
Mr Hargreaves: I beg your pardon, Mr Speaker; on your ruling, are you telling me that their interjections are acceptable?
MR SPEAKER: Mr Hargreaves, I have the glory of having a discretion on these matters, and I think that at this point I have spoken to a number of members and they have quietened down when I have asked them to. Question time will continue.
Bimberi Youth Justice Centre—inquiry
MRS DUNNE: Mr Speaker, my question is to the Chief Minister. Chief Minister, today in the Canberra Times a former teacher from Bimberi youth detention centre published a plea to you. In that plea this courageous teacher outlined the failures of your cabinet colleagues to take action at Bimberi. Last year when this teacher took her concerns to the responsible minister, she was flicked to the Children and Young People Commissioner, who later revealed her identity to her supervisor. Do you support the actions of the responsible minister in flicking these matters to the Children and Young People Commissioner rather than addressing the matters herself as required by the ministerial code of conduct?
MR STANHOPE: I thank Mrs Dunne for the question. I would need to say at the outset that I have indeed received a letter from a person who has publicly acknowledged that she has written to me. Irrespective of that, I am in the process of receiving advice from the ACT Government Solicitor on my obligations under the
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