Page 429 - Week 02 - Wednesday, 18 February 2015

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Wednesday, 18 February 2015

MADAM SPEAKER (Mrs Dunne) took the chair at 10 am and asked members to stand in silence and pray or reflect on their responsibilities to the people of the Australian Capital Territory.

Schools—safety

MR HANSON (Molonglo—Leader of the Opposition) (10.02): I move:

That this Assembly:

(1) notes that:

(a) a community organisation has been fined for exposing ACT school children to a convicted criminal without the required Working with Vulnerable People clearance;

(b) the breach involved ACT schools under the responsibility of the Minister for Education and Training;

(c) the Minister has failed to adequately address her full involvement or any influence she had in these events; and

(d) the Minister has a significant conflict of interest with regard to these events; and

(2) calls on the Chief Minister to:

(a) establish an independent and transparent inquiry into the circumstances surrounding these events and to report in full to the Assembly by 30 June 2015;

(b) stand Minister Burch down as ACT Education and Training Minister immediately pending the outcomes of that inquiry; and

(c) consult with the Leader of the Opposition and Mr Rattenbury on the terms of reference for the inquiry and the selection of the individual to conduct the inquiry.

I would like to start this morning by reading from the Ministerial Code of Conduct:

Ministers must not use their position or information gained in the performance of their duties to gain a direct or indirect advantage for themselves or their families or acquaintances that would not be available to the general public.

I would also like to quote from the members code of conduct that was agreed to and voted on by members of this Assembly:

Members should always act in the public interest, make decisions and choices on merit, and not seek to gain financial or other benefit for themselves, their family or friends.


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