Page 388 - Week 02 - Tuesday, 17 February 2015
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now. I will stand by him as a son and as a young man that has shown, against the odds, that he can pick himself up and be the good man that he will be today and for years to come. And damn them to say any differently.
Questions without notice
Schools—safety
MR HANSON: My question is to the Chief Minister. Chief Minister, it was reported in the Canberra Times last week that an organisation had been fined as a result of exposing ACT schoolchildren to a convicted criminal awaiting sentencing without a working with vulnerable people clearance. With regard to the safety of children in schools in the ACT, Chief Minister, when did you or your office first become aware of this situation and what action did you take?
MR BARR: I have responded to those questions that Ms Lawson put to me, so it is good to see that the collaboration between the Canberra Times and the Canberra Liberals continues on this issue. I became aware at around the same time as other members of the community. In relation to these issues, I think Minister Burch has just given a thorough explanation of all that occurred, and these grubby, gutter tactics of the Leader of the Opposition reflect on his character and the character of all of those who support him to continue in the leadership of his party. If this sort of approach is going to dictate how this place is going to run over the next 18 months, it is a new low for the Legislative Assembly. The lengths to which this man is prepared to go to besmirch the reputation—
Mr Hanson: Madam Speaker, on a point of order.
MADAM SPEAKER: A point of order.
Mr Hanson: It is on relevance. The question very clearly is: when did the Chief Minister become aware of this breach of law?
Mr Corbell: He has answered it.
Mr Hanson: He has not answered that question. To say it was when the rest of the community became aware is a vague answer. I asked him for a specific date—when the Chief Minister became aware of this breach of law. It is a reasonable question, and I would ask that the Chief Minister be directly relevant.
Mr Corbell: On the point of order, Madam Speaker.
MADAM SPEAKER: On the point of order, Mr Corbell.
Mr Corbell: Mr Hanson did not say on which date; he asked when, and the Chief Minister said when. He may not have liked that answer, but the Chief Minister has said when he became aware, and he is elaborating on that answer.
MADAM SPEAKER: On the point of order, I cannot direct the Chief Minister on how to answer the question, but I would draw to the Chief Minister’s attention that
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