Page 8 - Week 01 - Tuesday, 9 February 2016
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
Today Mr Corbell said Mr Lammers had taken his concerns about Ms Hawthorne’s conduct directly to the Chief Minister, which led to the resignations.
However, Mr Corbell acknowledged that an investigation into Ms Burch’s office goes beyond what has been reported.
“What occurred over the last couple of days was quite unprecedented,” he said.
“These are serious, serious issues, and they go beyond the issues that have been reported in the media to date.
“This is not about a member of a minister’s staff relaying to a stakeholder that their concerns had been raised … these matters go beyond that.
“The reporting we’ve seen over the past 48 hours is not telling the full story, and the reason for that is that the police evaluation is ongoing.”
On 16 December Mr Barr made similar comments. I quote from the ABC again:
“In light of the circumstances surrounding the Police Minister’s office, and in consultation with the Police Minister … it was appropriate not only for the Minister’s chief of staff to resign, but for the minister also to resign,” he said.
Mr Barr said the matter went further than the alleged CFMEU briefing.
“This goes to broader issues in relation to the police portfolio,” he said.
“I need to stress it relates to matters beyond the specific issue that was aired in the Fairfax media a day or two ago in relation to an information request from the CFMEU.”
Until such time as the Assembly is advised of what these issues are and is satisfied that they have been resolved, it would be reckless to appoint her to a position of authority.
If you, Madam Speaker, were employing any staff, if you had responsibility in any organisation and you were looking to appoint someone to a senior position of management within that organisation, knowing that they had had to stand down because of serious matters that were unresolved, that were unprecedented, but you were not being told what they were and you still hired that person anyway, then you would be negligent in your duty. You would be negligent in your responsibility. That is what we are being asked to do in this place today.
A cloud now hangs over Ms Burch’s head, because the Chief Minister and the Deputy Chief Minister have said there are serious and other unprecedented issues. They have not told anybody what they are, but they have said, “Yes, but she should be a committee chair. She is not fit to be a minister; it is appropriate that she stand aside as a minister. She can be a committee chair but we are not going to tell you what these serious unprecedented other issues are.” Yes, this Assembly should say, “Forget all about that,” and have Ms Burch as a committee chair. It is extraordinary what we are being asked to do in relation to the committee system in this Assembly.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video