Page 2098 - Week 06 - Tuesday, 21 June 2011
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
… reputations were being slurred without any procedural fairness or natural justice …
Minister, the review in this instance was conducted in secret and is still secret. Given your new pledge on accountability, minister, will you now release the secret report into bullying in the obstetrics unit at the Canberra Hospital?
MS GALLAGHER: My comments about reputations being slurred without access to natural justice remain; that remains my view. In relation to the Public Interest Disclosure Act, Mrs Dunne, I have not seen the report. I am not allowed to see the report. The law, and the legal advice to the government, is very clear. I cannot provide you with that report, even if I wanted to. I have written to the attorney, based on our experience with dealing with that matter under the Public Interest Disclosure Act, with my view as to how that process was undertaken and the fact that in my view it did not allow for as much information to be made public as I think should have. But the law is very clear on that.
My recollection of where this issue got to was that my views were being put through into the Public Interest Disclosure Act review that is underway. But I cannot, Mrs Dunne. I have not even seen the review, and I cannot be briefed on it either. That is the way the law is. So if you are asking me whether I will break the law and provide it to you, the answer is no.
MR SPEAKER: Mrs Dunne, a supplementary?
MRS DUNNE: Minister, how can Canberrans believe your new focus on government accountability when you do not attempt to be transparent about the report into bullying in the obstetrics unit?
MS GALLAGHER: I have provided all the information that is within my capacity to provide around the issue of looking into the workplace culture at the Canberra Hospital’s obstetrics unit. I have provided all of that information and it is available to every member of this place and all of the community. Whatever information I could make public, I have made public.
MR HARGREAVES: A supplementary, Mr Speaker.
MR SPEAKER: Yes, Mr Hargreaves.
MR HARGREAVES: Thanks very much, Mr Speaker. Chief Minister and Minister for Health, have you received in recent times much email or queries in your office regarding this matter?
MS GALLAGHER: No; I cannot recall receiving any correspondence, email or letters, in relation to this matter recently. I did receive a couple of emails or communications after the review was handed down, and staff made some decisions to leave the Canberra Hospital, which I still to this day believe is very regrettable.
MR HANSON: A supplementary, Mr Speaker?
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video