Page 1188 - Week 05 - Tuesday, 11 May 1993
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .
Government Service - Overtime and Redundancy Payments
MR DE DOMENICO: My question is also to the Chief Minister. It refers to the question that Mr Lamont just asked her and to her reply. I refer the Chief Minister to the inquiry by Mr Len Sorbello into a particular allegation of improper practices within her own department. I also thank the Chief Minister for sending Mr Harris down to talk to Mrs Carnell and me about this last week. Chief Minister, did your Investigations Unit recommend referring the allegation to the Federal Police, according to department policy? If so, why have not the police been called in?
MS FOLLETT: I believe that the action which has been taken administratively under the Public Service Act is entirely appropriate in this matter. I think it would be appropriate also for Mr De Domenico and others interested to await the outcome of the inquiry that is taking place under the Public Service Act. I believe that this inquiry will not be protracted and that we can expect a report on it shortly. I think that the action under the Public Service Act, combined with the Auditor-General's more general scrutiny of all of these arrangements, is the appropriate way to proceed at the moment.
MR DE DOMENICO: I ask a supplementary question, Madam Speaker. First of all, the Chief Minister has not answered whether there was a recommendation from her unit to call in the police, and, if so, why they were not called in. Secondly, in terms of open government that she has spoken about before, will the Chief Minister make sure that copies of Mr Sorbello's report are available to members of this Assembly?
MS FOLLETT: Madam Speaker, I am a little hesitant to give Mr De Domenico the assurance that he seeks on the report that Mr Sorbello may produce.
Mr De Domenico: Why? Are you waiting to see what he is going to say first?
MS FOLLETT: It is precisely for the reason that Mr De Domenico mentions; that none of us know what that report may say. It may recommend a further course of action. I am quite happy to arrange for Mr De Domenico to be briefed on this matter, as he already has been, as it progresses and to keep him informed, as he obviously requires to be. There are, of course, some issues of privacy involved. As the very nature of this inquiry implies, there may be a need for further action to be taken - for example, through the police and/or the courts - and it may not be appropriate for the full report to be made a public document. Under the Public Service Act these matters are usually dealt with on a confidential basis, and I believe that that is the preferred course of action.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .