Page 3694 - Week 10 - Tuesday, 18 September 2018
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same protection and immunity as a judge of the Supreme Court in proceedings in that court”. Minister, will you guarantee that board members of your proposed inquiry will receive the same protection and immunity as that provided under the Inquiries Act, and under what legal instrument will that protection be provided?
MS FITZHARRIS: No, I will not, and that is because this matter of workplace culture does not warrant a royal commission.
MISS C BURCH: Minister, will you guarantee that any and all board members are completely independent of your government?
MS FITZHARRIS: Yes.
MRS DUNNE: Minister, will the government indemnify board members against civil claims, and under which legal authority will you do so?
MS FITZHARRIS: I will take that on notice.
ACT Health—workplace culture
MS LEE: My question is to the Minister for Health and Wellbeing and relates to the proposed inquiry into the ACT health system. Minister, in an inquiry conducted under the Inquiries Act 1991, a person subpoenaed to attend or appearing before a board as a witness has “the same protection and is subject to the same liabilities as a witness in proceedings in the Supreme Court”. Minister, will your proposed inquiry have the power to subpoena witnesses, and under what legal authority will it do so?
MS FITZHARRIS: I repeat a number of my previous answers. There is no proposal that I am aware of to inquire into the ACT health system, which the opposition have repeatedly claimed. I have announced an independent review into workplace culture in the delivery of public healthcare services. I will, in the coming days, provide further information for the community and for the Assembly around a number of serious matters relating to commitments that I have already provided: that the review will be independent; that people wishing to come forward will be protected; and that a final report will be made public. I look forward to making further announcements in the very near future.
MS LEE: Minister, will you guarantee that witnesses appearing at your proposed inquiry or review have the same protections as a witness in proceedings in the Supreme Court, and under what legal instrument will that protection be covered?
MS FITZHARRIS: I refer Ms Lee to my previous answers.
MRS DUNNE: Minister, will witnesses at your proposed inquiry, review or whatever you like to call it, be subject to the same liabilities? For example, will they be subject to the rules of perjury?
MS FITZHARRIS: I refer Mrs Dunne to my previous answers.
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