Page 949 - Week 03 - Tuesday, 29 March 2011
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MR STANHOPE: It was. It was an unfortunate misunderstanding by the commissioner of the level of information that he believed—
Mr Hanson: So many unfortunate misunderstandings.
MR SPEAKER: Thank you, Mr Hanson; that is enough.
MR STANHOPE: that Mrs Dunne, by her behaviour, had about this person’s identity. That is what it was—an innocent mistake, based on a misunderstanding of the level of Mrs Dunne’s involvement with this particular complainant. And that was the basis. With respect to looking for conspiracies in relation to a letter written by a supervisor at the ATSI unit within the department, seeking essentially to support his staff through a potentially difficult issue, that is something that is totally unremarkable in all public services throughout the whole of Australia. (Time expired.)
MR SPEAKER: Mr Hargreaves, a supplementary question?
MR HARGREAVES: Does the Chief Minister have confidence—
Members interjecting—
MR SPEAKER: Order! Mr Hargreaves has the floor.
Ms Gallagher interjecting—
MR SPEAKER: Ms Gallagher! Mr Hargreaves has the floor.
Mr Doszpot interjecting—
MR SPEAKER: Mr Doszpot!
MR HARGREAVES: Does the Chief Minister have the confidence that those opposite will allow natural justice to run its course, or will they continue to interfere?
MR STANHOPE: This Assembly having sought and this government having agreed to establish an arm’s length, statutorily independent review by the human rights commissioner and by the children’s commissioner into this issue—a proposal or a process which the Liberal Party opposed at the outset and which the Liberal Party has, since its establishment, sought to undermine, to vilify, to demean and essentially to nullify—I must say I am enormously regretful that the Liberal Party is playing such spoiling politics with such an important issue—the welfare of children at Bimberi.
These are very difficult children. They are very difficult to manage. There is perhaps no greater challenge to any government than managing children in care. We take the responsibility seriously, but these are incredibly difficult children. That is why they have been locked up. That is why they have lost their liberty. They are deeply traumatised. They have the most complex issues. Many of them are violent. Many of them are incredibly difficult to handle. It is a credit to staff in terms of their devotion
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