Page 436 - Week 02 - Wednesday, 18 February 2015
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I am writing in response to the Canberra Times article (17/2/15) regarding ACT Minister Joy Burch’s son Lloyd Burch and how he came to be involved in the Menslink school program, Silence is Deadly.
The Menslink CEO Martin Fisk provided the following information to the Board to explain how Lloyd Burch became a volunteer involved in Menslink:
• Mr Lloyd Burch first volunteered to assist Menslink with charity collections at the Multicultural Festival in February and subsequently at a Brumbies match in March 2014.
• Subsequently, Martin Fisk, the Menslink CEO approached Lloyd Burch directly. Martin Fisk, the CEO, approached Lloyd Burch directly to talk in schools, after learning of his sentencing deferral. Martin confirmed that the sole intent of this approach was to assist a young man repay his debt to society through community service and provide a real-life warning to other young men about the dangers of drug use and crime.
• At no point in time did Minister Burch or her staff approach Martin Fisk or any other Menslink staff or Board member to request her son be involved in the school-based programs conducted by Menslink.
Let me repeat that for the benefit of the Leader of the Opposition, who was not listening:
• At no point in time did Minister Burch or her staff approach Martin Fisk or any other Menslink staff or Board member to request her son be involved in the school-based programs conducted by Menslink.
That has been the basis of your grubby campaign throughout—that there was some improper influence. This has put that to bed finally, Mr Hanson, and you should drop those allegations.
MADAM SPEAKER: Address the chair, Chief Minister.
MR BARR: Menslink have made a clear statement, Madam Speaker, on that matter. I go on with the statement:
• As a Menslink volunteer Lloyd Burch and Menslink staff attended ten Silence is Deadly presentations in schools in the Canberra region. This level of attendance consequently breached the Working With Vulnerable People (WWVP) legislation which allows up to 3 visits in 28 days or 7 in a year.
• Students were not placed at risk due to this breach in the WWVP policy by Menslink.
I repeat:
• Students were not placed at risk due to this breach in the WWVP policy by Menslink.
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