Page 1332 - Week 04 - Tuesday, 27 March 2012
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opportunities for the minister. I could do that on my ear. Perhaps I should do that. I’d get paid more.” It would be less work than he currently does in this place. But then again we have seen the minister lose three key staff across her office and her department last week, and probably more. I think that is probably testament to the fact that this is a department that is out of control.
We have a social compact. It has been there since 2004. It has been signed by a whole range of prominent people and the social compact makes very interesting reading. It basically says that the government undertakes to treat the community sector with respect. But when it boils down, under this minister there is no respect for the community sector. There is abject failure to take on board the work that is done by the community sector. The minister is shaking her head. She can shake her head in denial all she likes. The facts are out there. This is a department, an organisation, that has been accused of institutionalised abuse of children in care and their carers. This department and this minister have been found by the Public Advocate to have breached the law 24 times.
Ms Burch: That is wrong.
MRS DUNNE: This is a department—
MR ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Mr Hargreaves): Order! A point of order is being taken, Mrs Dunne.
Ms Burch: Mrs Dunne has said that I have breached the law. That is wrong. We have GSO advice—
MRS DUNNE: Use the standing orders at the end of the—
MR ASSISTANT SPEAKER: Mrs Dunne, you are not the Speaker at the moment.
Ms Burch: No. She is misleading the Assembly and she is making a statement that is absolutely wrong.
MR ASSISTANT SPEAKER: Mrs Dunne, I can deal with this, thank you very much. I do not need your help. Minister, if you have a case to make about misleading the Assembly, there are processes that you need employ. I would ask you to withdraw that comment or move the motion accordingly.
Ms Burch: I will come back to it when she has finished, so I can wrap them all up, thank you, Mr Assistant Speaker.
MRS DUNNE: You withdraw.
Ms Burch: I withdraw.
MR ASSISTANT SPEAKER: Mrs Dunne, I will deal with it.
Ms Burch: I said I will withdraw and I will wrap it all up together, thank you.
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