Page 948 - Week 03 - Tuesday, 29 March 2011
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The action indeed—and actions undertaken by the minister for community services in relation to Bimberi over the last six months—has been exemplary in terms of the reviews, the changed culture that is sought to be initiated and the independent statutory review and inquiry by the human rights commissioner and the children’s commissioner. Similarly, the minister for education has indicated that he has been in touch with complainants and constituents in relation to these issues, just as he indicates that he has been in touch with Ms McEwan in relation to her allegations. He has responded and responded in writing to her. The allegations are simply unfounded. (Time expired.)
MR SMYTH: A supplementary, Mr Speaker.
MR SPEAKER: Mr Smyth, you have the floor.
MR SMYTH: Thank you, Mr Speaker. Chief Minister, do you support the actions of your Attorney-General, who was accused in this morning’s plea of sending “a very damaging message to all Bimberi staff about the importance of staff confidentiality”?
MR STANHOPE: The Attorney-General has my full support, and his actions in relation to this issue have been entirely appropriate. Indeed, Mrs Dunne’s question was based on a falsity in relation to issues around the circumstances applying to the initial release of a correspondent’s or a submitter’s name, I believe, to Mrs Dunne.
Mrs Dunne: No, not to me; to her supervisor.
MR STANHOPE: We will have to check that particular fact but that is not our understanding. Indeed, the Attorney-General acted immediately and strongly in relation to that particular issue.
Opposition members interjecting—
MR SPEAKER: Order, members!
MR STANHOPE: He met with—
Mrs Dunne interjecting—
MR SPEAKER: Order, Mrs Dunne!
MR STANHOPE: the commissioner, he discussed the issue, he met with his department. He discussed the issue, went through the issues and had a full and complete appreciation of all the issues that arose in relation to what was an unfortunate, in fact, misunderstanding, as I understand it, regarding the commissioner and the level of knowledge that he understood that Mrs Dunne had in relation to this particular person’s identity. And those are the facts.
Mr Hanson: Very unfortunate.
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