Page 3230 - Week 08 - Tuesday, 16 August 2011

Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video


MR BARR: I have just outlined my response to all of the issues contained within that brief.

MR SMYTH: A supplementary, Mr Speaker.

MR SPEAKER: Yes, Mr Smyth.

MR SMYTH: Minister, what did you do to investigate claims in the brief from Neil Savery that “I find this level of interference, which in the case of the Department of Land and Property Services is occurring on an ever more frequent basis, although not always as obviously as in this case, has the potential to make the role of ACTPLA as a statutory authority for a range of tasks increasingly difficult and puts the government at risk”?

MR BARR: As I indicated in my initial response, I undertook a number of courses of action. Of course, in the context of the review of the ACT public service by Dr Allan Hawke, I raised my concerns about the capacity for the previous administrative arrangements to lead to a degree of concern in terms of the statutory independence of the Planning and Land Authority, and I was pleased that those issues were addressed by Dr Hawke and that the new structures will ensure that those issues do not arise in the future.

MR SMYTH: A supplementary, Mr Speaker.

MR SPEAKER: Yes, Mr Smyth.

MR SMYTH: Thank you, Mr Speaker. Minister, when did you or your office inform the then Chief Minister or his office about the concerns expressed by Mr Savery?

MR BARR: Obviously there were a number of discussions and in the context of the material that was provided by the chief planning executive in the discharge of his duties there was the opportunity to discuss these matters. I outlined in my initial response to Mr Seselja the responses that I put in place in relation to the receipt of that brief.

Bimberi Youth Justice Centre—review

MS HUNTER: My question is to the Minister for Children and Young People. Minister, the Bimberi review outlined several breaches of the Children and Young People Act 2008 in regards to the use of restraints and segregation. In your answer to me on 16 February 2011 you stated that you received monthly briefings on these matters and would follow up on the earlier Human Rights Commission report. Prior to the publication of the Bimberi review, were you aware of the extent of these practices within Bimberi and if not, why not?

MS BURCH: I thank Ms Hunter for her question. I will just say at the outset that the government will be responding in full to the report end September, early October as we are required to do. I am looking forward to delivering that full report.


Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video