Page 4047 - Week 10 - Tuesday, 20 September 2011
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alternative but to seek clarity on this, and the way forward through clarity was with independent review with the Public Advocate. She will certainly provide to us commentary on the circumstances surrounding this, if any breach occurred, and what alternatives were open to the director at the time.
I think that it is somewhat galling for Mrs Dunne to stand here and say, “What do you do in some circumstances?” when she herself has breached the confidence of the organisation that came to her in good faith before they came and raised these concerns with me, and provided their documentation in a flap and a flurry at the end of the week where it was quite easily identified as that provider. Mrs Dunne knows this because she went to some effort to conceal their identity. In fact, she also then provided a more secure copy of that document so that she would not be found out. She has been found out.
Mrs Dunne interjecting—
MS BURCH: She has absolute disregard for the people that come to her in confidence. You are quite happy to splash their name and ruin their reputation.
Mr Hargreaves: Point of order, Mr Speaker. Mrs Dunne said quite clearly across the chamber to the minister, “You broke the law.” That (1) is unparliamentary and (2) casts aspersions on the minister and on the member herself. And also she has to either put up or shut up. I ask you to ask her to withdraw, Mr Speaker.
Mr Seselja: On the point of order, Mr Speaker, earlier in question time Ms Burch acknowledged that her directorate had broken the law. Her directorate acts on her behalf. If they don’t like the fact that the directorate acts on her behalf, that is Mr Hargreaves’s problem. But she has acknowledged it in question time today.
Mr Hargreaves: On the point of order, Mr Speaker—
MR SPEAKER: Stop the clocks.
Mr Hargreaves: Mr Speaker, that is just being a bit disingenuous. The accusation was quite crisply clear across the chamber. Mrs Dunne could be more definitive in what she says, but she was not. She was precipitous, as usual, and you should ask her to withdraw that statement, Mr Speaker.
MR SPEAKER: I did not hear the remarks from Mrs Dunne. I intend to proceed without the point of order.
MS BURCH: I heard the remarks.
MR SPEAKER: I did not hear the remarks. I am going to proceed. Minister Burch, I invite you to return to the specific question rather than what you think Mrs Dunne might or might not have done, in the remaining time you have.
MS BURCH: Mr Speaker, I have made comment that there appears to be—may have been—a breach of this act. I have also said that under the circumstances the primary plank of the act is to provide safety and security for the children. (Time expired.)
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