Page 2189 - Week 08 - Thursday, 10 September 1992
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MR MOORE: I ask a supplementary question. The internal memo to which Ms Follett refers begins, "The Secretary of the Chief Minister's Department Mr. Bill Harris has directed". Is the Chief Minister suggesting that Mr Bill Harris has been incorrectly reported, or that he did not issue a directive to that effect?
MS FOLLETT: Madam Speaker, as I said, it is an internal memo, and it does read as Mr Moore says; I have no query with that. I can only say that I have advice from Mr Harris, and I will quote from it:
Following my advice to you yesterday -
and the advice is dated today -
that I have not issued a directive in relation to the provision of information to non-Executive Members of the Assembly, further enquiries have been made of other ACT agencies.
Mr Harris goes on to assure me that no directive of the character outlined by Mr Humphries in question time yesterday has been issued. So, I take it, Mr Moore, that if this has been duly issued in the Government Solicitor's Office it was not at Mr Harris's instigation.
Mr Humphries: Madam Speaker, I ask Ms Follett to table the document from which she is reading.
MS FOLLETT: I do so.
Government Service - Provision of Information to Assembly Members
MR HUMPHRIES: My question of the Chief Minister concerns her last answer. Chief Minister, how is it that the officer concerned from the Attorney-General's Department would be in a position to state categorically, as you have just quoted, "The Secretary of the Chief Minister's Department Mr. Bill Harris has directed that", when, on your interpretation of events, there has been no directive? On what basis has that statement been made to officers of the Attorney-General's Department by that senior officer of the department, if no directive has been given? Does this not lead to the impression that in fact there was a directive, and that the directive indeed came from, as the officer suggests, Mr Bill Harris?
MS FOLLETT: Madam Speaker, I am unable to answer for the officer who signed this internal memorandum. I am happy to make further inquiries, if that is what members wish. I can only repeat that it is an internal document. It has not been issued by a Minister or by the head of an agency. It is clearly an officer's interpretation of the guidelines - and, I might say, a pretty correct interpretation of the guidelines. But, as I say, I will make inquiries on it and advise.
Australian National Training Authority
MR LAMONT: My question is directed to the Minister for Education and Training. Today's Canberra Times carries a report which says that Canberra is "unlikely to win the contest to be the home of the new Australian National Training Authority". What is the Government's position in relation to the location of the authority, and when will the decision be made?
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