Page 5330 - Week 13 - Tuesday, 15 November 2011
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then, what that advice does actually say is that the minister did not breach the law.” There were accusations quite inappropriately, and the requirement to have those withdrawn, from those opposite that the minister did that. She has now come back into this chamber, tabled the advice which shows that clearly she did not do it, neither did the director-general, but that is not good enough for those opposite.
As the Chief Minister said, our concern is for these kids. How about we stop trying to find something in a situation that does not exist and how about we apply our minds in looking after these kids? I am sick to death of those opposite saying, “We have seen some advice from the Solicitor-General but, hey, the bush lawyers”—over there—“know better.” You do not know better. Through you, Madam Deputy Speaker, they do not know better. We have got a very learned Solicitor-General. We should take that advice and we should just understand that that is a valid advice. As far as insulting the Solicitor-General, I think that is just a step too far.
MRS DUNNE (Ginninderra): Madam Deputy Speaker, in accordance with standing order 47, I would like to explain words which I believe have been misunderstood by Mr Hargreaves. Mr Hargreaves has contended that I cannot say essentially that I disagreed with the words of the Solicitor-General and that I cannot contend that the law was broken. I remind you that the heading for the Solicitor-General’s advice to Mr Hehir is “Interpretation of Part 15.4 of the Children and Young People Act”. It is just that, an interpretation. It is an opinion, and his opinion differs from that of the Public Advocate.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
Adjournment
Children and young people—care and protection
Health—freedom of information requests
MS GALLAGHER (Molonglo—Chief Minister, Minister for Health and Minister for Industrial Relations) (5.24): I move:
That the Assembly do now adjourn.
I will raise a couple of points in the adjournment debate. One of them is linked to issues that were raised in question time today, with the opposition questioning the Attorney-General about things said in the media and whether or not he had corrected them. There are two matters I would like to raise around the opposition. One is that the Leader of the Opposition said on radio that I refused to apologise to the children affected by events referred to in the Public Advocate’s report. Mr Seselja said:
Katy Gallagher, when she was asked in the chamber to apologise to these kids, refused to do so. She was asked several times. She refused to apologise.
That is clearly incorrect, and that can be seen in Hansard of the previous sitting days. Indeed, Mr Seselja has acknowledged to me personally that he inadvertently misled in his statements, but I think—
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