Page 1054 - Week 03 - Wednesday, 30 March 2011

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MRS DUNNE: Minister, are you satisfied that all these claims have been investigated and will you table for us the results of those investigations of these claims?

MS BURCH: I thank Mrs Dunne for her question. As far as I am aware, not one of the claimants making these allegations has put their name to it. I have had information brought to me courtesy of Mrs Dunne that staff have been stood down. That is, indeed, wrong—absolutely wrong. Staff have been moved from Bimberi at their own request, and those movements occurred in November last year, before this motion for the inquiry even came to this Assembly. We have discussed, I think, quite extensively here the former woodwork teacher and his views, and I think we have responded to those.

MR SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Mr Seselja?

MR SESELJA: Thank you, Mr Speaker. Minister, why would these staff speak out publicly if everything is, as you claim, running satisfactorily with the investigation?

MS BURCH: I do not think I am able to put myself in the mindset and the mind of people who are making these comments. I have been very clear in what our processes are and I have encouraged people to come forward. Again, I say that I encourage those people. Indeed, if you know of these individuals, if you know of the circumstances of which they are being harassed and bullied, then you are obligated, indeed, to bring them forward.

MR COE: A supplementary, Mr Speaker.

MR SPEAKER: Yes, Mr Coe.

MR COE: Minister, do you believe when people raise concerns in the media it is a shape or a form of bringing it to your attention?

MS BURCH: I would have thought people put things in the media they want to draw attention to very broadly, myself included.

Planning—Hawke review

MS LE COUTEUR: My question is to the Minister for Planning and concerns the changes to the ACT executive structure and administration arising from the Hawke review. In his report Dr Hawke said:

… the current arrangements in relation to land and planning are, at best, hindering if not actively obstructing and frustrating achievement of the Government’s priorities.

Is government land release an example of a government priority that has been frustrated, or what would examples be, and how will the proposed changes fix or streamline the current process?


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