Page 145 - Week 01 - Wednesday, 10 February 2016
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Canberra Times reports that you and the Deputy Chief Minister have been briefed by police and that the Burch matter goes, and I quote, “beyond an indiscrete conversation with a powerful trade union leader”. Mr Corbell is quoted as saying that it is “unprecedented”. The Burch matter is now the subject of a police inquiry. If it is such a serious matter that it has warranted the resignations of Minister Burch and her chief of staff, when will you, Chief Minister, brief the Assembly on the unprecedented matters that you and the Deputy Chief Minister are aware of concerning the conduct of the previous office of Ms Burch? If not, why not?
MR BARR: The Chief Police Officer has indicated that he will respond publicly at the conclusion of the police evaluation.
MADAM SPEAKER: Supplementary question, Mr Doszpot.
MR DOSZPOT: So, Chief Minister, do the “unprecedented matters” referred to by Mr Corbell refer to matters that are outside the jurisdiction of the ACT?
MR BARR: I am not in a position to comment on it; I am not conducting the evaluation.
MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Mr Hanson.
MR HANSON: Chief Minister, what actions have you personally taken with regard to the staff of the executive as a consequence of being advised by the police of the ongoing investigation?
MR BARR: My actions are on the public record.
MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Mr Hanson.
MR HANSON: Other than from ACT Policing, have you received any briefings from other government agencies concerned with these matters? If so, when was that briefing?
MR BARR: No.
Director of Public Prosecutions—resourcing
MR WALL: My question is to the Attorney General. In the DPP’s 2014-15 annual report it is reported that there has been a dramatic increase in prosecution work in the superior courts and there has been a particularly noticeable increase in sexual assault-related offences. Trials increased 86.9 per cent between 2001 and 2014. The DPP has reported that the major challenges facing his office are increased workloads and tightening resources. Attorney, what are you doing to deal with these increased workloads and tightening resources faced by the DPP?
MR CORBELL: I thank Mr Wall for the question. Our DPP does an excellent job. I have full confidence in him and his office. Obviously in various parts of the justice system there are workload pressures. Most recently, as the DPP has observed,
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