❓ Question regarding the WA Redress scheme's decision to remove the waiver requirement for applicants, leading to a heated exchange between ministers regarding past actions and statements on the issue.
AnsweredQoN 5Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
REDRESS WA — WAIVER
My constituents have received the Redress newsletter and were pleasantly surprised to read that they do not have to sign a waiver. Will the minister explain the reasons behind that decision? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY
My constituents have received the Redress newsletter and were pleasantly surprised to read that they do not have to sign a waiver. Will the minister explain the reasons behind that decision? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY
AnswerView source ↗
I thank Hon Brian Ellis for some notice of the question. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! We have heard a question; now let us hear the answer. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. The former government was going to make Redress applicants sign a deed of settlement or waiver on receipt of their payment. This meant that they would not have been able to pursue any legal avenue that could have been open to them. Given that this scheme allowed people who were abused in care prior to 2006—some of those people are still young—I felt that it was immoral to make people waive their legal entitlements. Hon Sue Ellery interjected. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Many are out of time; however, the younger ones may have avenues of recourse and this government will not take them away. If applicants wish to pursue other avenues that may be available to them — Hon Sue Ellery : You are a disgrace on this issue. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Did Hon Sue Ellery just say I was a disgrace on this issue? Hon Sue Ellery : I did. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Right! If applicants wish to pursue other avenues that may be available to them, they can still do so under this government. Hon Ken Travers interjected. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I note that Hon Sue Ellery said in a press release on 17 February that abolishing the waiver is meaningless and nothing short of cruel trickery for the vast majority of applicants and that this government has shown itself to be heartless and cruel. Hon Sue Ellery : For the vast majority of applicants. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Well, if that is the case, why on 23 October did the State Solicitor’s Office write to DCP and say, and I quote — I refer to your email dated 8 October 2007 clarifying that this Office had been requested by the Minister for Child Protection — That was you, Hon Sue Ellery — to draft “a waiver to provide the tightest possible wording to prevent beneficiaries of the proposed Redress Scheme from seeking further compensation.” Now who is unjust and cruel? Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : Can I ask the minister to identify the document that she is quoting from? The PRESIDENT : Hon Ken Travers can ask. The minister knows her rights, I am sure. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, I am not going to table it and I am not going to quote — Several members interjected. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I am quoting. I am quoting a document. Hon Ken Travers : You are embarrassed. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, I am not embarrassed. It is a confidential document. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let the minister finish her answer, which I am sure she is getting close to. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon Sue Ellery : It’s confidential but you are reading it. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I am reading out my typed-out notes. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I am not sure that the minister is able to deny the house the knowledge of the document that she is quoting from. I understand the rules about whether or not she has to table it and I will get to that later. But at this stage I think she is required to identify the document that she quoted from where she started with the words “and I quote”. Hon Simon O’Brien : She just held them up and showed them to you and said they were her notes. It’s pretty obvious. Hon Sue Ellery : Was she quoting or not? The PRESIDENT : The standing order Hon Ken Travers is referring to relates to a member. A minister does not have to table the document if the minister chooses not to. Hon KEN TRAVERS : No, I am not asking for the document to be tabled. I am asking for the minister to identify the document that she is quoting from. The PRESIDENT : I think that standing order relates to a member. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I have already said that it was from the State Solicitor’s Office on 23 October to the Department for Child Protection, and I would be very embarrassed if I were Hon Sue Ellery. Hon Sue Ellery : You know you have some hide to say that! Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Why did the member and her government want to stop any Redress applicant from seeking further compensation? Hon Sue Ellery : Every time you put out a newsletter I get call after call after call from really distressed people — Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, you tried to stop those people — The PRESIDENT : Order! We are coming up very soon to International Women’s Day so — Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! We do not want women to get themselves a bad reputation for misbehaviour in the chamber. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President, but some things are over and above misbehaviour. The Labor Party is absolutely appalling! Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, minister! I think you are coming to your concluding remarks. If you address your remarks through the Chair, I am sure you can get to the end of your answer very quickly. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. I just point out that the former government was going to make Redress applicants sign a watertight waiver and that was from the State Solicitor’s Office so that those vulnerable people who are able to go on and get further recourse — Hon Sue Ellery : You know you’ll be struck by lightning any minute—you will be! Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I demanded an apology from Hon Sue Ellery on air last week and I actually got that apology because she was absolutely disgraceful! Hon Sue Ellery interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I just want to know under standing order 47 whether the minister is claiming that the document she quoted from is a confidential document; and, if so, why was she quoting it in the house? The PRESIDENT : You asked for the minister to table the document initially, but the minister may or may not, depending on how the minister feels about it, table that document and she may not table it on the grounds that it is a confidential document so that may be the grounds on which she chooses not to table the document. Hon KEN TRAVERS : With all due respect Mr President, it is the only ground; she needs to claim it as a confidential document not to table it. I have not asked for it to be tabled up till now but I will do so. I ask for it to be tabled and I ask whether the minister is seeking to claim it as a confidential document. The PRESIDENT : I think you will find confidentiality is not the only reason a minister may decline to table a document. However, the minister has been asked for a second time to table the document, if the minister would like to indicate whether she chooses to or otherwise. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I will take advice on that, Mr President, and if the advice that I receive is to table that tomorrow then I will do it but at present the answer is no. The PRESIDENT : You cannot take advice; you have to give an indication now. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Then the answer is no and I have the right to do that. Questions without Notice Resumed The PRESIDENT : Okay, we will move on with questions without notice. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : The minister has not told us whether it is a confidential document. That is what I am asking: does the minister claim it to be a confidential document? My reading of the standing orders is very clear; that is, she needs to claim it as a confidential document and not deny the house access to it just because she chooses. I put to you, Mr President, the fact that after repeated questions the minister has not stated that it is a confidential document and that therefore means that it is. She quoted from it and it should be tabled. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Mr President, it is a confidential document. Questions without Notice Resumed Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let us move on with questions without notice.
Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY replied: I thank Hon Brian Ellis for some notice of the question. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! We have heard a question; now let us hear the answer. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. The former government was going to make Redress applicants sign a deed of settlement or waiver on receipt of their payment. This meant that they would not have been able to pursue any legal avenue that could have been open to them. Given that this scheme allowed people who were abused in care prior to 2006—some of those people are still young—I felt that it was immoral to make people waive their legal entitlements. Hon Sue Ellery interjected. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Many are out of time; however, the younger ones may have avenues of recourse and this government will not take them away. If applicants wish to pursue other avenues that may be available to them — Hon Sue Ellery : You are a disgrace on this issue. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Did Hon Sue Ellery just say I was a disgrace on this issue? Hon Sue Ellery : I did. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Right! If applicants wish to pursue other avenues that may be available to them, they can still do so under this government. Hon Ken Travers interjected. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I note that Hon Sue Ellery said in a press release on 17 February that abolishing the waiver is meaningless and nothing short of cruel trickery for the vast majority of applicants and that this government has shown itself to be heartless and cruel. Hon Sue Ellery : For the vast majority of applicants. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Well, if that is the case, why on 23 October did the State Solicitor’s Office write to DCP and say, and I quote — I refer to your email dated 8 October 2007 clarifying that this Office had been requested by the Minister for Child Protection — That was you, Hon Sue Ellery — to draft “a waiver to provide the tightest possible wording to prevent beneficiaries of the proposed Redress Scheme from seeking further compensation.” Now who is unjust and cruel? Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : Can I ask the minister to identify the document that she is quoting from? The PRESIDENT : Hon Ken Travers can ask. The minister knows her rights, I am sure. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, I am not going to table it and I am not going to quote — Several members interjected. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I am quoting. I am quoting a document. Hon Ken Travers : You are embarrassed. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, I am not embarrassed. It is a confidential document. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let the minister finish her answer, which I am sure she is getting close to. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon Sue Ellery : It’s confidential but you are reading it. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I am reading out my typed-out notes. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I am not sure that the minister is able to deny the house the knowledge of the document that she is quoting from. I understand the rules about whether or not she has to table it and I will get to that later. But at this stage I think she is required to identify the document that she quoted from where she started with the words “and I quote”. Hon Simon O’Brien : She just held them up and showed them to you and said they were her notes. It’s pretty obvious. Hon Sue Ellery : Was she quoting or not? The PRESIDENT : The standing order Hon Ken Travers is referring to relates to a member. A minister does not have to table the document if the minister chooses not to. Hon KEN TRAVERS : No, I am not asking for the document to be tabled. I am asking for the minister to identify the document that she is quoting from. The PRESIDENT : I think that standing order relates to a member. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I have already said that it was from the State Solicitor’s Office on 23 October to the Department for Child Protection, and I would be very embarrassed if I were Hon Sue Ellery. Hon Sue Ellery : You know you have some hide to say that! Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Why did the member and her government want to stop any Redress applicant from seeking further compensation? Hon Sue Ellery : Every time you put out a newsletter I get call after call after call from really distressed people — Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, you tried to stop those people — The PRESIDENT : Order! We are coming up very soon to International Women’s Day so — Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! We do not want women to get themselves a bad reputation for misbehaviour in the chamber. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President, but some things are over and above misbehaviour. The Labor Party is absolutely appalling! Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, minister! I think you are coming to your concluding remarks. If you address your remarks through the Chair, I am sure you can get to the end of your answer very quickly. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. I just point out that the former government was going to make Redress applicants sign a watertight waiver and that was from the State Solicitor’s Office so that those vulnerable people who are able to go on and get further recourse — Hon Sue Ellery : You know you’ll be struck by lightning any minute—you will be! Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I demanded an apology from Hon Sue Ellery on air last week and I actually got that apology because she was absolutely disgraceful! Hon Sue Ellery interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I just want to know under standing order 47 whether the minister is claiming that the document she quoted from is a confidential document; and, if so, why was she quoting it in the house? The PRESIDENT : You asked for the minister to table the document initially, but the minister may or may not, depending on how the minister feels about it, table that document and she may not table it on the grounds that it is a confidential document so that may be the grounds on which she chooses not to table the document. Hon KEN TRAVERS : With all due respect Mr President, it is the only ground; she needs to claim it as a confidential document not to table it. I have not asked for it to be tabled up till now but I will do so. I ask for it to be tabled and I ask whether the minister is seeking to claim it as a confidential document. The PRESIDENT : I think you will find confidentiality is not the only reason a minister may decline to table a document. However, the minister has been asked for a second time to table the document, if the minister would like to indicate whether she chooses to or otherwise. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I will take advice on that, Mr President, and if the advice that I receive is to table that tomorrow then I will do it but at present the answer is no. The PRESIDENT : You cannot take advice; you have to give an indication now. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Then the answer is no and I have the right to do that. Questions without Notice Resumed The PRESIDENT : Okay, we will move on with questions without notice. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : The minister has not told us whether it is a confidential document. That is what I am asking: does the minister claim it to be a confidential document? My reading of the standing orders is very clear; that is, she needs to claim it as a confidential document and not deny the house access to it just because she chooses. I put to you, Mr President, the fact that after repeated questions the minister has not stated that it is a confidential document and that therefore means that it is. She quoted from it and it should be tabled. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Mr President, it is a confidential document. Questions without Notice Resumed Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let us move on with questions without notice.
I thank Hon Brian Ellis for some notice of the question. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! We have heard a question; now let us hear the answer. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. The former government was going to make Redress applicants sign a deed of settlement or waiver on receipt of their payment. This meant that they would not have been able to pursue any legal avenue that could have been open to them. Given that this scheme allowed people who were abused in care prior to 2006—some of those people are still young—I felt that it was immoral to make people waive their legal entitlements. Hon Sue Ellery interjected. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Many are out of time; however, the younger ones may have avenues of recourse and this government will not take them away. If applicants wish to pursue other avenues that may be available to them — Hon Sue Ellery : You are a disgrace on this issue. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Did Hon Sue Ellery just say I was a disgrace on this issue? Hon Sue Ellery : I did. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Right! If applicants wish to pursue other avenues that may be available to them, they can still do so under this government. Hon Ken Travers interjected. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I note that Hon Sue Ellery said in a press release on 17 February that abolishing the waiver is meaningless and nothing short of cruel trickery for the vast majority of applicants and that this government has shown itself to be heartless and cruel. Hon Sue Ellery : For the vast majority of applicants. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Well, if that is the case, why on 23 October did the State Solicitor’s Office write to DCP and say, and I quote — I refer to your email dated 8 October 2007 clarifying that this Office had been requested by the Minister for Child Protection — That was you, Hon Sue Ellery — to draft “a waiver to provide the tightest possible wording to prevent beneficiaries of the proposed Redress Scheme from seeking further compensation.” Now who is unjust and cruel? Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : Can I ask the minister to identify the document that she is quoting from? The PRESIDENT : Hon Ken Travers can ask. The minister knows her rights, I am sure. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, I am not going to table it and I am not going to quote — Several members interjected. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I am quoting. I am quoting a document. Hon Ken Travers : You are embarrassed. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, I am not embarrassed. It is a confidential document. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let the minister finish her answer, which I am sure she is getting close to. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon Sue Ellery : It’s confidential but you are reading it. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I am reading out my typed-out notes. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I am not sure that the minister is able to deny the house the knowledge of the document that she is quoting from. I understand the rules about whether or not she has to table it and I will get to that later. But at this stage I think she is required to identify the document that she quoted from where she started with the words “and I quote”. Hon Simon O’Brien : She just held them up and showed them to you and said they were her notes. It’s pretty obvious. Hon Sue Ellery : Was she quoting or not? The PRESIDENT : The standing order Hon Ken Travers is referring to relates to a member. A minister does not have to table the document if the minister chooses not to. Hon KEN TRAVERS : No, I am not asking for the document to be tabled. I am asking for the minister to identify the document that she is quoting from. The PRESIDENT : I think that standing order relates to a member. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I have already said that it was from the State Solicitor’s Office on 23 October to the Department for Child Protection, and I would be very embarrassed if I were Hon Sue Ellery. Hon Sue Ellery : You know you have some hide to say that! Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Why did the member and her government want to stop any Redress applicant from seeking further compensation? Hon Sue Ellery : Every time you put out a newsletter I get call after call after call from really distressed people — Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, you tried to stop those people — The PRESIDENT : Order! We are coming up very soon to International Women’s Day so — Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! We do not want women to get themselves a bad reputation for misbehaviour in the chamber. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President, but some things are over and above misbehaviour. The Labor Party is absolutely appalling! Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, minister! I think you are coming to your concluding remarks. If you address your remarks through the Chair, I am sure you can get to the end of your answer very quickly. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. I just point out that the former government was going to make Redress applicants sign a watertight waiver and that was from the State Solicitor’s Office so that those vulnerable people who are able to go on and get further recourse — Hon Sue Ellery : You know you’ll be struck by lightning any minute—you will be! Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I demanded an apology from Hon Sue Ellery on air last week and I actually got that apology because she was absolutely disgraceful! Hon Sue Ellery interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I just want to know under standing order 47 whether the minister is claiming that the document she quoted from is a confidential document; and, if so, why was she quoting it in the house? The PRESIDENT : You asked for the minister to table the document initially, but the minister may or may not, depending on how the minister feels about it, table that document and she may not table it on the grounds that it is a confidential document so that may be the grounds on which she chooses not to table the document. Hon KEN TRAVERS : With all due respect Mr President, it is the only ground; she needs to claim it as a confidential document not to table it. I have not asked for it to be tabled up till now but I will do so. I ask for it to be tabled and I ask whether the minister is seeking to claim it as a confidential document. The PRESIDENT : I think you will find confidentiality is not the only reason a minister may decline to table a document. However, the minister has been asked for a second time to table the document, if the minister would like to indicate whether she chooses to or otherwise. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I will take advice on that, Mr President, and if the advice that I receive is to table that tomorrow then I will do it but at present the answer is no. The PRESIDENT : You cannot take advice; you have to give an indication now. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Then the answer is no and I have the right to do that. Questions without Notice Resumed The PRESIDENT : Okay, we will move on with questions without notice. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : The minister has not told us whether it is a confidential document. That is what I am asking: does the minister claim it to be a confidential document? My reading of the standing orders is very clear; that is, she needs to claim it as a confidential document and not deny the house access to it just because she chooses. I put to you, Mr President, the fact that after repeated questions the minister has not stated that it is a confidential document and that therefore means that it is. She quoted from it and it should be tabled. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Mr President, it is a confidential document. Questions without Notice Resumed Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let us move on with questions without notice.
Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! We have heard a question; now let us hear the answer. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. The former government was going to make Redress applicants sign a deed of settlement or waiver on receipt of their payment. This meant that they would not have been able to pursue any legal avenue that could have been open to them. Given that this scheme allowed people who were abused in care prior to 2006—some of those people are still young—I felt that it was immoral to make people waive their legal entitlements. Hon Sue Ellery interjected. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Many are out of time; however, the younger ones may have avenues of recourse and this government will not take them away. If applicants wish to pursue other avenues that may be available to them — Hon Sue Ellery : You are a disgrace on this issue. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Did Hon Sue Ellery just say I was a disgrace on this issue? Hon Sue Ellery : I did. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Right! If applicants wish to pursue other avenues that may be available to them, they can still do so under this government. Hon Ken Travers interjected. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I note that Hon Sue Ellery said in a press release on 17 February that abolishing the waiver is meaningless and nothing short of cruel trickery for the vast majority of applicants and that this government has shown itself to be heartless and cruel. Hon Sue Ellery : For the vast majority of applicants. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Well, if that is the case, why on 23 October did the State Solicitor’s Office write to DCP and say, and I quote — I refer to your email dated 8 October 2007 clarifying that this Office had been requested by the Minister for Child Protection — That was you, Hon Sue Ellery — to draft “a waiver to provide the tightest possible wording to prevent beneficiaries of the proposed Redress Scheme from seeking further compensation.” Now who is unjust and cruel? Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : Can I ask the minister to identify the document that she is quoting from? The PRESIDENT : Hon Ken Travers can ask. The minister knows her rights, I am sure. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, I am not going to table it and I am not going to quote — Several members interjected. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I am quoting. I am quoting a document. Hon Ken Travers : You are embarrassed. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, I am not embarrassed. It is a confidential document. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let the minister finish her answer, which I am sure she is getting close to. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon Sue Ellery : It’s confidential but you are reading it. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I am reading out my typed-out notes. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I am not sure that the minister is able to deny the house the knowledge of the document that she is quoting from. I understand the rules about whether or not she has to table it and I will get to that later. But at this stage I think she is required to identify the document that she quoted from where she started with the words “and I quote”. Hon Simon O’Brien : She just held them up and showed them to you and said they were her notes. It’s pretty obvious. Hon Sue Ellery : Was she quoting or not? The PRESIDENT : The standing order Hon Ken Travers is referring to relates to a member. A minister does not have to table the document if the minister chooses not to. Hon KEN TRAVERS : No, I am not asking for the document to be tabled. I am asking for the minister to identify the document that she is quoting from. The PRESIDENT : I think that standing order relates to a member. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I have already said that it was from the State Solicitor’s Office on 23 October to the Department for Child Protection, and I would be very embarrassed if I were Hon Sue Ellery. Hon Sue Ellery : You know you have some hide to say that! Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Why did the member and her government want to stop any Redress applicant from seeking further compensation? Hon Sue Ellery : Every time you put out a newsletter I get call after call after call from really distressed people — Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, you tried to stop those people — The PRESIDENT : Order! We are coming up very soon to International Women’s Day so — Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! We do not want women to get themselves a bad reputation for misbehaviour in the chamber. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President, but some things are over and above misbehaviour. The Labor Party is absolutely appalling! Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, minister! I think you are coming to your concluding remarks. If you address your remarks through the Chair, I am sure you can get to the end of your answer very quickly. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. I just point out that the former government was going to make Redress applicants sign a watertight waiver and that was from the State Solicitor’s Office so that those vulnerable people who are able to go on and get further recourse — Hon Sue Ellery : You know you’ll be struck by lightning any minute—you will be! Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I demanded an apology from Hon Sue Ellery on air last week and I actually got that apology because she was absolutely disgraceful! Hon Sue Ellery interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I just want to know under standing order 47 whether the minister is claiming that the document she quoted from is a confidential document; and, if so, why was she quoting it in the house? The PRESIDENT : You asked for the minister to table the document initially, but the minister may or may not, depending on how the minister feels about it, table that document and she may not table it on the grounds that it is a confidential document so that may be the grounds on which she chooses not to table the document. Hon KEN TRAVERS : With all due respect Mr President, it is the only ground; she needs to claim it as a confidential document not to table it. I have not asked for it to be tabled up till now but I will do so. I ask for it to be tabled and I ask whether the minister is seeking to claim it as a confidential document. The PRESIDENT : I think you will find confidentiality is not the only reason a minister may decline to table a document. However, the minister has been asked for a second time to table the document, if the minister would like to indicate whether she chooses to or otherwise. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I will take advice on that, Mr President, and if the advice that I receive is to table that tomorrow then I will do it but at present the answer is no. The PRESIDENT : You cannot take advice; you have to give an indication now. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Then the answer is no and I have the right to do that. Questions without Notice Resumed The PRESIDENT : Okay, we will move on with questions without notice. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : The minister has not told us whether it is a confidential document. That is what I am asking: does the minister claim it to be a confidential document? My reading of the standing orders is very clear; that is, she needs to claim it as a confidential document and not deny the house access to it just because she chooses. I put to you, Mr President, the fact that after repeated questions the minister has not stated that it is a confidential document and that therefore means that it is. She quoted from it and it should be tabled. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Mr President, it is a confidential document. Questions without Notice Resumed Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let us move on with questions without notice.
The PRESIDENT : Order! We have heard a question; now let us hear the answer. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. The former government was going to make Redress applicants sign a deed of settlement or waiver on receipt of their payment. This meant that they would not have been able to pursue any legal avenue that could have been open to them. Given that this scheme allowed people who were abused in care prior to 2006—some of those people are still young—I felt that it was immoral to make people waive their legal entitlements. Hon Sue Ellery interjected. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Many are out of time; however, the younger ones may have avenues of recourse and this government will not take them away. If applicants wish to pursue other avenues that may be available to them — Hon Sue Ellery : You are a disgrace on this issue. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Did Hon Sue Ellery just say I was a disgrace on this issue? Hon Sue Ellery : I did. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Right! If applicants wish to pursue other avenues that may be available to them, they can still do so under this government. Hon Ken Travers interjected. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I note that Hon Sue Ellery said in a press release on 17 February that abolishing the waiver is meaningless and nothing short of cruel trickery for the vast majority of applicants and that this government has shown itself to be heartless and cruel. Hon Sue Ellery : For the vast majority of applicants. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Well, if that is the case, why on 23 October did the State Solicitor’s Office write to DCP and say, and I quote — I refer to your email dated 8 October 2007 clarifying that this Office had been requested by the Minister for Child Protection — That was you, Hon Sue Ellery — to draft “a waiver to provide the tightest possible wording to prevent beneficiaries of the proposed Redress Scheme from seeking further compensation.” Now who is unjust and cruel? Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : Can I ask the minister to identify the document that she is quoting from? The PRESIDENT : Hon Ken Travers can ask. The minister knows her rights, I am sure. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, I am not going to table it and I am not going to quote — Several members interjected. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I am quoting. I am quoting a document. Hon Ken Travers : You are embarrassed. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, I am not embarrassed. It is a confidential document. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let the minister finish her answer, which I am sure she is getting close to. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon Sue Ellery : It’s confidential but you are reading it. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I am reading out my typed-out notes. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I am not sure that the minister is able to deny the house the knowledge of the document that she is quoting from. I understand the rules about whether or not she has to table it and I will get to that later. But at this stage I think she is required to identify the document that she quoted from where she started with the words “and I quote”. Hon Simon O’Brien : She just held them up and showed them to you and said they were her notes. It’s pretty obvious. Hon Sue Ellery : Was she quoting or not? The PRESIDENT : The standing order Hon Ken Travers is referring to relates to a member. A minister does not have to table the document if the minister chooses not to. Hon KEN TRAVERS : No, I am not asking for the document to be tabled. I am asking for the minister to identify the document that she is quoting from. The PRESIDENT : I think that standing order relates to a member. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I have already said that it was from the State Solicitor’s Office on 23 October to the Department for Child Protection, and I would be very embarrassed if I were Hon Sue Ellery. Hon Sue Ellery : You know you have some hide to say that! Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Why did the member and her government want to stop any Redress applicant from seeking further compensation? Hon Sue Ellery : Every time you put out a newsletter I get call after call after call from really distressed people — Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, you tried to stop those people — The PRESIDENT : Order! We are coming up very soon to International Women’s Day so — Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! We do not want women to get themselves a bad reputation for misbehaviour in the chamber. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President, but some things are over and above misbehaviour. The Labor Party is absolutely appalling! Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, minister! I think you are coming to your concluding remarks. If you address your remarks through the Chair, I am sure you can get to the end of your answer very quickly. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. I just point out that the former government was going to make Redress applicants sign a watertight waiver and that was from the State Solicitor’s Office so that those vulnerable people who are able to go on and get further recourse — Hon Sue Ellery : You know you’ll be struck by lightning any minute—you will be! Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I demanded an apology from Hon Sue Ellery on air last week and I actually got that apology because she was absolutely disgraceful! Hon Sue Ellery interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I just want to know under standing order 47 whether the minister is claiming that the document she quoted from is a confidential document; and, if so, why was she quoting it in the house? The PRESIDENT : You asked for the minister to table the document initially, but the minister may or may not, depending on how the minister feels about it, table that document and she may not table it on the grounds that it is a confidential document so that may be the grounds on which she chooses not to table the document. Hon KEN TRAVERS : With all due respect Mr President, it is the only ground; she needs to claim it as a confidential document not to table it. I have not asked for it to be tabled up till now but I will do so. I ask for it to be tabled and I ask whether the minister is seeking to claim it as a confidential document. The PRESIDENT : I think you will find confidentiality is not the only reason a minister may decline to table a document. However, the minister has been asked for a second time to table the document, if the minister would like to indicate whether she chooses to or otherwise. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I will take advice on that, Mr President, and if the advice that I receive is to table that tomorrow then I will do it but at present the answer is no. The PRESIDENT : You cannot take advice; you have to give an indication now. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Then the answer is no and I have the right to do that. Questions without Notice Resumed The PRESIDENT : Okay, we will move on with questions without notice. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : The minister has not told us whether it is a confidential document. That is what I am asking: does the minister claim it to be a confidential document? My reading of the standing orders is very clear; that is, she needs to claim it as a confidential document and not deny the house access to it just because she chooses. I put to you, Mr President, the fact that after repeated questions the minister has not stated that it is a confidential document and that therefore means that it is. She quoted from it and it should be tabled. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Mr President, it is a confidential document. Questions without Notice Resumed Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let us move on with questions without notice.
Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. The former government was going to make Redress applicants sign a deed of settlement or waiver on receipt of their payment. This meant that they would not have been able to pursue any legal avenue that could have been open to them. Given that this scheme allowed people who were abused in care prior to 2006—some of those people are still young—I felt that it was immoral to make people waive their legal entitlements. Hon Sue Ellery interjected. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Many are out of time; however, the younger ones may have avenues of recourse and this government will not take them away. If applicants wish to pursue other avenues that may be available to them — Hon Sue Ellery : You are a disgrace on this issue. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Did Hon Sue Ellery just say I was a disgrace on this issue? Hon Sue Ellery : I did. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Right! If applicants wish to pursue other avenues that may be available to them, they can still do so under this government. Hon Ken Travers interjected. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I note that Hon Sue Ellery said in a press release on 17 February that abolishing the waiver is meaningless and nothing short of cruel trickery for the vast majority of applicants and that this government has shown itself to be heartless and cruel. Hon Sue Ellery : For the vast majority of applicants. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Well, if that is the case, why on 23 October did the State Solicitor’s Office write to DCP and say, and I quote — I refer to your email dated 8 October 2007 clarifying that this Office had been requested by the Minister for Child Protection — That was you, Hon Sue Ellery — to draft “a waiver to provide the tightest possible wording to prevent beneficiaries of the proposed Redress Scheme from seeking further compensation.” Now who is unjust and cruel? Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : Can I ask the minister to identify the document that she is quoting from? The PRESIDENT : Hon Ken Travers can ask. The minister knows her rights, I am sure. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, I am not going to table it and I am not going to quote — Several members interjected. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I am quoting. I am quoting a document. Hon Ken Travers : You are embarrassed. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, I am not embarrassed. It is a confidential document. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let the minister finish her answer, which I am sure she is getting close to. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon Sue Ellery : It’s confidential but you are reading it. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I am reading out my typed-out notes. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I am not sure that the minister is able to deny the house the knowledge of the document that she is quoting from. I understand the rules about whether or not she has to table it and I will get to that later. But at this stage I think she is required to identify the document that she quoted from where she started with the words “and I quote”. Hon Simon O’Brien : She just held them up and showed them to you and said they were her notes. It’s pretty obvious. Hon Sue Ellery : Was she quoting or not? The PRESIDENT : The standing order Hon Ken Travers is referring to relates to a member. A minister does not have to table the document if the minister chooses not to. Hon KEN TRAVERS : No, I am not asking for the document to be tabled. I am asking for the minister to identify the document that she is quoting from. The PRESIDENT : I think that standing order relates to a member. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I have already said that it was from the State Solicitor’s Office on 23 October to the Department for Child Protection, and I would be very embarrassed if I were Hon Sue Ellery. Hon Sue Ellery : You know you have some hide to say that! Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Why did the member and her government want to stop any Redress applicant from seeking further compensation? Hon Sue Ellery : Every time you put out a newsletter I get call after call after call from really distressed people — Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, you tried to stop those people — The PRESIDENT : Order! We are coming up very soon to International Women’s Day so — Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! We do not want women to get themselves a bad reputation for misbehaviour in the chamber. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President, but some things are over and above misbehaviour. The Labor Party is absolutely appalling! Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, minister! I think you are coming to your concluding remarks. If you address your remarks through the Chair, I am sure you can get to the end of your answer very quickly. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. I just point out that the former government was going to make Redress applicants sign a watertight waiver and that was from the State Solicitor’s Office so that those vulnerable people who are able to go on and get further recourse — Hon Sue Ellery : You know you’ll be struck by lightning any minute—you will be! Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I demanded an apology from Hon Sue Ellery on air last week and I actually got that apology because she was absolutely disgraceful! Hon Sue Ellery interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I just want to know under standing order 47 whether the minister is claiming that the document she quoted from is a confidential document; and, if so, why was she quoting it in the house? The PRESIDENT : You asked for the minister to table the document initially, but the minister may or may not, depending on how the minister feels about it, table that document and she may not table it on the grounds that it is a confidential document so that may be the grounds on which she chooses not to table the document. Hon KEN TRAVERS : With all due respect Mr President, it is the only ground; she needs to claim it as a confidential document not to table it. I have not asked for it to be tabled up till now but I will do so. I ask for it to be tabled and I ask whether the minister is seeking to claim it as a confidential document. The PRESIDENT : I think you will find confidentiality is not the only reason a minister may decline to table a document. However, the minister has been asked for a second time to table the document, if the minister would like to indicate whether she chooses to or otherwise. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I will take advice on that, Mr President, and if the advice that I receive is to table that tomorrow then I will do it but at present the answer is no. The PRESIDENT : You cannot take advice; you have to give an indication now. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Then the answer is no and I have the right to do that. Questions without Notice Resumed The PRESIDENT : Okay, we will move on with questions without notice. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : The minister has not told us whether it is a confidential document. That is what I am asking: does the minister claim it to be a confidential document? My reading of the standing orders is very clear; that is, she needs to claim it as a confidential document and not deny the house access to it just because she chooses. I put to you, Mr President, the fact that after repeated questions the minister has not stated that it is a confidential document and that therefore means that it is. She quoted from it and it should be tabled. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Mr President, it is a confidential document. Questions without Notice Resumed Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let us move on with questions without notice.
The former government was going to make Redress applicants sign a deed of settlement or waiver on receipt of their payment. This meant that they would not have been able to pursue any legal avenue that could have been open to them. Given that this scheme allowed people who were abused in care prior to 2006—some of those people are still young—I felt that it was immoral to make people waive their legal entitlements. Hon Sue Ellery interjected. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Many are out of time; however, the younger ones may have avenues of recourse and this government will not take them away. If applicants wish to pursue other avenues that may be available to them — Hon Sue Ellery : You are a disgrace on this issue. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Did Hon Sue Ellery just say I was a disgrace on this issue? Hon Sue Ellery : I did. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Right! If applicants wish to pursue other avenues that may be available to them, they can still do so under this government. Hon Ken Travers interjected. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I note that Hon Sue Ellery said in a press release on 17 February that abolishing the waiver is meaningless and nothing short of cruel trickery for the vast majority of applicants and that this government has shown itself to be heartless and cruel. Hon Sue Ellery : For the vast majority of applicants. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Well, if that is the case, why on 23 October did the State Solicitor’s Office write to DCP and say, and I quote — I refer to your email dated 8 October 2007 clarifying that this Office had been requested by the Minister for Child Protection — That was you, Hon Sue Ellery — to draft “a waiver to provide the tightest possible wording to prevent beneficiaries of the proposed Redress Scheme from seeking further compensation.” Now who is unjust and cruel? Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : Can I ask the minister to identify the document that she is quoting from? The PRESIDENT : Hon Ken Travers can ask. The minister knows her rights, I am sure. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, I am not going to table it and I am not going to quote — Several members interjected. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I am quoting. I am quoting a document. Hon Ken Travers : You are embarrassed. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, I am not embarrassed. It is a confidential document. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let the minister finish her answer, which I am sure she is getting close to. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon Sue Ellery : It’s confidential but you are reading it. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I am reading out my typed-out notes. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I am not sure that the minister is able to deny the house the knowledge of the document that she is quoting from. I understand the rules about whether or not she has to table it and I will get to that later. But at this stage I think she is required to identify the document that she quoted from where she started with the words “and I quote”. Hon Simon O’Brien : She just held them up and showed them to you and said they were her notes. It’s pretty obvious. Hon Sue Ellery : Was she quoting or not? The PRESIDENT : The standing order Hon Ken Travers is referring to relates to a member. A minister does not have to table the document if the minister chooses not to. Hon KEN TRAVERS : No, I am not asking for the document to be tabled. I am asking for the minister to identify the document that she is quoting from. The PRESIDENT : I think that standing order relates to a member. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I have already said that it was from the State Solicitor’s Office on 23 October to the Department for Child Protection, and I would be very embarrassed if I were Hon Sue Ellery. Hon Sue Ellery : You know you have some hide to say that! Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Why did the member and her government want to stop any Redress applicant from seeking further compensation? Hon Sue Ellery : Every time you put out a newsletter I get call after call after call from really distressed people — Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, you tried to stop those people — The PRESIDENT : Order! We are coming up very soon to International Women’s Day so — Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! We do not want women to get themselves a bad reputation for misbehaviour in the chamber. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President, but some things are over and above misbehaviour. The Labor Party is absolutely appalling! Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, minister! I think you are coming to your concluding remarks. If you address your remarks through the Chair, I am sure you can get to the end of your answer very quickly. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. I just point out that the former government was going to make Redress applicants sign a watertight waiver and that was from the State Solicitor’s Office so that those vulnerable people who are able to go on and get further recourse — Hon Sue Ellery : You know you’ll be struck by lightning any minute—you will be! Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I demanded an apology from Hon Sue Ellery on air last week and I actually got that apology because she was absolutely disgraceful! Hon Sue Ellery interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I just want to know under standing order 47 whether the minister is claiming that the document she quoted from is a confidential document; and, if so, why was she quoting it in the house? The PRESIDENT : You asked for the minister to table the document initially, but the minister may or may not, depending on how the minister feels about it, table that document and she may not table it on the grounds that it is a confidential document so that may be the grounds on which she chooses not to table the document. Hon KEN TRAVERS : With all due respect Mr President, it is the only ground; she needs to claim it as a confidential document not to table it. I have not asked for it to be tabled up till now but I will do so. I ask for it to be tabled and I ask whether the minister is seeking to claim it as a confidential document. The PRESIDENT : I think you will find confidentiality is not the only reason a minister may decline to table a document. However, the minister has been asked for a second time to table the document, if the minister would like to indicate whether she chooses to or otherwise. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I will take advice on that, Mr President, and if the advice that I receive is to table that tomorrow then I will do it but at present the answer is no. The PRESIDENT : You cannot take advice; you have to give an indication now. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Then the answer is no and I have the right to do that. Questions without Notice Resumed The PRESIDENT : Okay, we will move on with questions without notice. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : The minister has not told us whether it is a confidential document. That is what I am asking: does the minister claim it to be a confidential document? My reading of the standing orders is very clear; that is, she needs to claim it as a confidential document and not deny the house access to it just because she chooses. I put to you, Mr President, the fact that after repeated questions the minister has not stated that it is a confidential document and that therefore means that it is. She quoted from it and it should be tabled. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Mr President, it is a confidential document. Questions without Notice Resumed Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let us move on with questions without notice.
Hon Sue Ellery interjected. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Many are out of time; however, the younger ones may have avenues of recourse and this government will not take them away. If applicants wish to pursue other avenues that may be available to them — Hon Sue Ellery : You are a disgrace on this issue. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Did Hon Sue Ellery just say I was a disgrace on this issue? Hon Sue Ellery : I did. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Right! If applicants wish to pursue other avenues that may be available to them, they can still do so under this government. Hon Ken Travers interjected. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I note that Hon Sue Ellery said in a press release on 17 February that abolishing the waiver is meaningless and nothing short of cruel trickery for the vast majority of applicants and that this government has shown itself to be heartless and cruel. Hon Sue Ellery : For the vast majority of applicants. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Well, if that is the case, why on 23 October did the State Solicitor’s Office write to DCP and say, and I quote — I refer to your email dated 8 October 2007 clarifying that this Office had been requested by the Minister for Child Protection — That was you, Hon Sue Ellery — to draft “a waiver to provide the tightest possible wording to prevent beneficiaries of the proposed Redress Scheme from seeking further compensation.” Now who is unjust and cruel? Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : Can I ask the minister to identify the document that she is quoting from? The PRESIDENT : Hon Ken Travers can ask. The minister knows her rights, I am sure. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, I am not going to table it and I am not going to quote — Several members interjected. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I am quoting. I am quoting a document. Hon Ken Travers : You are embarrassed. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, I am not embarrassed. It is a confidential document. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let the minister finish her answer, which I am sure she is getting close to. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon Sue Ellery : It’s confidential but you are reading it. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I am reading out my typed-out notes. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I am not sure that the minister is able to deny the house the knowledge of the document that she is quoting from. I understand the rules about whether or not she has to table it and I will get to that later. But at this stage I think she is required to identify the document that she quoted from where she started with the words “and I quote”. Hon Simon O’Brien : She just held them up and showed them to you and said they were her notes. It’s pretty obvious. Hon Sue Ellery : Was she quoting or not? The PRESIDENT : The standing order Hon Ken Travers is referring to relates to a member. A minister does not have to table the document if the minister chooses not to. Hon KEN TRAVERS : No, I am not asking for the document to be tabled. I am asking for the minister to identify the document that she is quoting from. The PRESIDENT : I think that standing order relates to a member. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I have already said that it was from the State Solicitor’s Office on 23 October to the Department for Child Protection, and I would be very embarrassed if I were Hon Sue Ellery. Hon Sue Ellery : You know you have some hide to say that! Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Why did the member and her government want to stop any Redress applicant from seeking further compensation? Hon Sue Ellery : Every time you put out a newsletter I get call after call after call from really distressed people — Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, you tried to stop those people — The PRESIDENT : Order! We are coming up very soon to International Women’s Day so — Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! We do not want women to get themselves a bad reputation for misbehaviour in the chamber. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President, but some things are over and above misbehaviour. The Labor Party is absolutely appalling! Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, minister! I think you are coming to your concluding remarks. If you address your remarks through the Chair, I am sure you can get to the end of your answer very quickly. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. I just point out that the former government was going to make Redress applicants sign a watertight waiver and that was from the State Solicitor’s Office so that those vulnerable people who are able to go on and get further recourse — Hon Sue Ellery : You know you’ll be struck by lightning any minute—you will be! Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I demanded an apology from Hon Sue Ellery on air last week and I actually got that apology because she was absolutely disgraceful! Hon Sue Ellery interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I just want to know under standing order 47 whether the minister is claiming that the document she quoted from is a confidential document; and, if so, why was she quoting it in the house? The PRESIDENT : You asked for the minister to table the document initially, but the minister may or may not, depending on how the minister feels about it, table that document and she may not table it on the grounds that it is a confidential document so that may be the grounds on which she chooses not to table the document. Hon KEN TRAVERS : With all due respect Mr President, it is the only ground; she needs to claim it as a confidential document not to table it. I have not asked for it to be tabled up till now but I will do so. I ask for it to be tabled and I ask whether the minister is seeking to claim it as a confidential document. The PRESIDENT : I think you will find confidentiality is not the only reason a minister may decline to table a document. However, the minister has been asked for a second time to table the document, if the minister would like to indicate whether she chooses to or otherwise. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I will take advice on that, Mr President, and if the advice that I receive is to table that tomorrow then I will do it but at present the answer is no. The PRESIDENT : You cannot take advice; you have to give an indication now. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Then the answer is no and I have the right to do that. Questions without Notice Resumed The PRESIDENT : Okay, we will move on with questions without notice. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : The minister has not told us whether it is a confidential document. That is what I am asking: does the minister claim it to be a confidential document? My reading of the standing orders is very clear; that is, she needs to claim it as a confidential document and not deny the house access to it just because she chooses. I put to you, Mr President, the fact that after repeated questions the minister has not stated that it is a confidential document and that therefore means that it is. She quoted from it and it should be tabled. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Mr President, it is a confidential document. Questions without Notice Resumed Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let us move on with questions without notice.
Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Many are out of time; however, the younger ones may have avenues of recourse and this government will not take them away. If applicants wish to pursue other avenues that may be available to them — Hon Sue Ellery : You are a disgrace on this issue. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Did Hon Sue Ellery just say I was a disgrace on this issue? Hon Sue Ellery : I did. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Right! If applicants wish to pursue other avenues that may be available to them, they can still do so under this government. Hon Ken Travers interjected. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I note that Hon Sue Ellery said in a press release on 17 February that abolishing the waiver is meaningless and nothing short of cruel trickery for the vast majority of applicants and that this government has shown itself to be heartless and cruel. Hon Sue Ellery : For the vast majority of applicants. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Well, if that is the case, why on 23 October did the State Solicitor’s Office write to DCP and say, and I quote — I refer to your email dated 8 October 2007 clarifying that this Office had been requested by the Minister for Child Protection — That was you, Hon Sue Ellery — to draft “a waiver to provide the tightest possible wording to prevent beneficiaries of the proposed Redress Scheme from seeking further compensation.” Now who is unjust and cruel? Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : Can I ask the minister to identify the document that she is quoting from? The PRESIDENT : Hon Ken Travers can ask. The minister knows her rights, I am sure. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, I am not going to table it and I am not going to quote — Several members interjected. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I am quoting. I am quoting a document. Hon Ken Travers : You are embarrassed. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, I am not embarrassed. It is a confidential document. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let the minister finish her answer, which I am sure she is getting close to. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon Sue Ellery : It’s confidential but you are reading it. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I am reading out my typed-out notes. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I am not sure that the minister is able to deny the house the knowledge of the document that she is quoting from. I understand the rules about whether or not she has to table it and I will get to that later. But at this stage I think she is required to identify the document that she quoted from where she started with the words “and I quote”. Hon Simon O’Brien : She just held them up and showed them to you and said they were her notes. It’s pretty obvious. Hon Sue Ellery : Was she quoting or not? The PRESIDENT : The standing order Hon Ken Travers is referring to relates to a member. A minister does not have to table the document if the minister chooses not to. Hon KEN TRAVERS : No, I am not asking for the document to be tabled. I am asking for the minister to identify the document that she is quoting from. The PRESIDENT : I think that standing order relates to a member. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I have already said that it was from the State Solicitor’s Office on 23 October to the Department for Child Protection, and I would be very embarrassed if I were Hon Sue Ellery. Hon Sue Ellery : You know you have some hide to say that! Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Why did the member and her government want to stop any Redress applicant from seeking further compensation? Hon Sue Ellery : Every time you put out a newsletter I get call after call after call from really distressed people — Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, you tried to stop those people — The PRESIDENT : Order! We are coming up very soon to International Women’s Day so — Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! We do not want women to get themselves a bad reputation for misbehaviour in the chamber. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President, but some things are over and above misbehaviour. The Labor Party is absolutely appalling! Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, minister! I think you are coming to your concluding remarks. If you address your remarks through the Chair, I am sure you can get to the end of your answer very quickly. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. I just point out that the former government was going to make Redress applicants sign a watertight waiver and that was from the State Solicitor’s Office so that those vulnerable people who are able to go on and get further recourse — Hon Sue Ellery : You know you’ll be struck by lightning any minute—you will be! Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I demanded an apology from Hon Sue Ellery on air last week and I actually got that apology because she was absolutely disgraceful! Hon Sue Ellery interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I just want to know under standing order 47 whether the minister is claiming that the document she quoted from is a confidential document; and, if so, why was she quoting it in the house? The PRESIDENT : You asked for the minister to table the document initially, but the minister may or may not, depending on how the minister feels about it, table that document and she may not table it on the grounds that it is a confidential document so that may be the grounds on which she chooses not to table the document. Hon KEN TRAVERS : With all due respect Mr President, it is the only ground; she needs to claim it as a confidential document not to table it. I have not asked for it to be tabled up till now but I will do so. I ask for it to be tabled and I ask whether the minister is seeking to claim it as a confidential document. The PRESIDENT : I think you will find confidentiality is not the only reason a minister may decline to table a document. However, the minister has been asked for a second time to table the document, if the minister would like to indicate whether she chooses to or otherwise. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I will take advice on that, Mr President, and if the advice that I receive is to table that tomorrow then I will do it but at present the answer is no. The PRESIDENT : You cannot take advice; you have to give an indication now. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Then the answer is no and I have the right to do that. Questions without Notice Resumed The PRESIDENT : Okay, we will move on with questions without notice. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : The minister has not told us whether it is a confidential document. That is what I am asking: does the minister claim it to be a confidential document? My reading of the standing orders is very clear; that is, she needs to claim it as a confidential document and not deny the house access to it just because she chooses. I put to you, Mr President, the fact that after repeated questions the minister has not stated that it is a confidential document and that therefore means that it is. She quoted from it and it should be tabled. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Mr President, it is a confidential document. Questions without Notice Resumed Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let us move on with questions without notice.
Hon Sue Ellery : You are a disgrace on this issue. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Did Hon Sue Ellery just say I was a disgrace on this issue? Hon Sue Ellery : I did. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Right! If applicants wish to pursue other avenues that may be available to them, they can still do so under this government. Hon Ken Travers interjected. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I note that Hon Sue Ellery said in a press release on 17 February that abolishing the waiver is meaningless and nothing short of cruel trickery for the vast majority of applicants and that this government has shown itself to be heartless and cruel. Hon Sue Ellery : For the vast majority of applicants. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Well, if that is the case, why on 23 October did the State Solicitor’s Office write to DCP and say, and I quote — I refer to your email dated 8 October 2007 clarifying that this Office had been requested by the Minister for Child Protection — That was you, Hon Sue Ellery — to draft “a waiver to provide the tightest possible wording to prevent beneficiaries of the proposed Redress Scheme from seeking further compensation.” Now who is unjust and cruel? Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : Can I ask the minister to identify the document that she is quoting from? The PRESIDENT : Hon Ken Travers can ask. The minister knows her rights, I am sure. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, I am not going to table it and I am not going to quote — Several members interjected. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I am quoting. I am quoting a document. Hon Ken Travers : You are embarrassed. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, I am not embarrassed. It is a confidential document. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let the minister finish her answer, which I am sure she is getting close to. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon Sue Ellery : It’s confidential but you are reading it. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I am reading out my typed-out notes. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I am not sure that the minister is able to deny the house the knowledge of the document that she is quoting from. I understand the rules about whether or not she has to table it and I will get to that later. But at this stage I think she is required to identify the document that she quoted from where she started with the words “and I quote”. Hon Simon O’Brien : She just held them up and showed them to you and said they were her notes. It’s pretty obvious. Hon Sue Ellery : Was she quoting or not? The PRESIDENT : The standing order Hon Ken Travers is referring to relates to a member. A minister does not have to table the document if the minister chooses not to. Hon KEN TRAVERS : No, I am not asking for the document to be tabled. I am asking for the minister to identify the document that she is quoting from. The PRESIDENT : I think that standing order relates to a member. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I have already said that it was from the State Solicitor’s Office on 23 October to the Department for Child Protection, and I would be very embarrassed if I were Hon Sue Ellery. Hon Sue Ellery : You know you have some hide to say that! Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Why did the member and her government want to stop any Redress applicant from seeking further compensation? Hon Sue Ellery : Every time you put out a newsletter I get call after call after call from really distressed people — Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, you tried to stop those people — The PRESIDENT : Order! We are coming up very soon to International Women’s Day so — Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! We do not want women to get themselves a bad reputation for misbehaviour in the chamber. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President, but some things are over and above misbehaviour. The Labor Party is absolutely appalling! Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, minister! I think you are coming to your concluding remarks. If you address your remarks through the Chair, I am sure you can get to the end of your answer very quickly. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. I just point out that the former government was going to make Redress applicants sign a watertight waiver and that was from the State Solicitor’s Office so that those vulnerable people who are able to go on and get further recourse — Hon Sue Ellery : You know you’ll be struck by lightning any minute—you will be! Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I demanded an apology from Hon Sue Ellery on air last week and I actually got that apology because she was absolutely disgraceful! Hon Sue Ellery interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I just want to know under standing order 47 whether the minister is claiming that the document she quoted from is a confidential document; and, if so, why was she quoting it in the house? The PRESIDENT : You asked for the minister to table the document initially, but the minister may or may not, depending on how the minister feels about it, table that document and she may not table it on the grounds that it is a confidential document so that may be the grounds on which she chooses not to table the document. Hon KEN TRAVERS : With all due respect Mr President, it is the only ground; she needs to claim it as a confidential document not to table it. I have not asked for it to be tabled up till now but I will do so. I ask for it to be tabled and I ask whether the minister is seeking to claim it as a confidential document. The PRESIDENT : I think you will find confidentiality is not the only reason a minister may decline to table a document. However, the minister has been asked for a second time to table the document, if the minister would like to indicate whether she chooses to or otherwise. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I will take advice on that, Mr President, and if the advice that I receive is to table that tomorrow then I will do it but at present the answer is no. The PRESIDENT : You cannot take advice; you have to give an indication now. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Then the answer is no and I have the right to do that. Questions without Notice Resumed The PRESIDENT : Okay, we will move on with questions without notice. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : The minister has not told us whether it is a confidential document. That is what I am asking: does the minister claim it to be a confidential document? My reading of the standing orders is very clear; that is, she needs to claim it as a confidential document and not deny the house access to it just because she chooses. I put to you, Mr President, the fact that after repeated questions the minister has not stated that it is a confidential document and that therefore means that it is. She quoted from it and it should be tabled. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Mr President, it is a confidential document. Questions without Notice Resumed Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let us move on with questions without notice.
Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Did Hon Sue Ellery just say I was a disgrace on this issue? Hon Sue Ellery : I did. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Right! If applicants wish to pursue other avenues that may be available to them, they can still do so under this government. Hon Ken Travers interjected. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I note that Hon Sue Ellery said in a press release on 17 February that abolishing the waiver is meaningless and nothing short of cruel trickery for the vast majority of applicants and that this government has shown itself to be heartless and cruel. Hon Sue Ellery : For the vast majority of applicants. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Well, if that is the case, why on 23 October did the State Solicitor’s Office write to DCP and say, and I quote — I refer to your email dated 8 October 2007 clarifying that this Office had been requested by the Minister for Child Protection — That was you, Hon Sue Ellery — to draft “a waiver to provide the tightest possible wording to prevent beneficiaries of the proposed Redress Scheme from seeking further compensation.” Now who is unjust and cruel? Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : Can I ask the minister to identify the document that she is quoting from? The PRESIDENT : Hon Ken Travers can ask. The minister knows her rights, I am sure. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, I am not going to table it and I am not going to quote — Several members interjected. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I am quoting. I am quoting a document. Hon Ken Travers : You are embarrassed. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, I am not embarrassed. It is a confidential document. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let the minister finish her answer, which I am sure she is getting close to. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon Sue Ellery : It’s confidential but you are reading it. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I am reading out my typed-out notes. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I am not sure that the minister is able to deny the house the knowledge of the document that she is quoting from. I understand the rules about whether or not she has to table it and I will get to that later. But at this stage I think she is required to identify the document that she quoted from where she started with the words “and I quote”. Hon Simon O’Brien : She just held them up and showed them to you and said they were her notes. It’s pretty obvious. Hon Sue Ellery : Was she quoting or not? The PRESIDENT : The standing order Hon Ken Travers is referring to relates to a member. A minister does not have to table the document if the minister chooses not to. Hon KEN TRAVERS : No, I am not asking for the document to be tabled. I am asking for the minister to identify the document that she is quoting from. The PRESIDENT : I think that standing order relates to a member. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I have already said that it was from the State Solicitor’s Office on 23 October to the Department for Child Protection, and I would be very embarrassed if I were Hon Sue Ellery. Hon Sue Ellery : You know you have some hide to say that! Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Why did the member and her government want to stop any Redress applicant from seeking further compensation? Hon Sue Ellery : Every time you put out a newsletter I get call after call after call from really distressed people — Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, you tried to stop those people — The PRESIDENT : Order! We are coming up very soon to International Women’s Day so — Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! We do not want women to get themselves a bad reputation for misbehaviour in the chamber. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President, but some things are over and above misbehaviour. The Labor Party is absolutely appalling! Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, minister! I think you are coming to your concluding remarks. If you address your remarks through the Chair, I am sure you can get to the end of your answer very quickly. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. I just point out that the former government was going to make Redress applicants sign a watertight waiver and that was from the State Solicitor’s Office so that those vulnerable people who are able to go on and get further recourse — Hon Sue Ellery : You know you’ll be struck by lightning any minute—you will be! Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I demanded an apology from Hon Sue Ellery on air last week and I actually got that apology because she was absolutely disgraceful! Hon Sue Ellery interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I just want to know under standing order 47 whether the minister is claiming that the document she quoted from is a confidential document; and, if so, why was she quoting it in the house? The PRESIDENT : You asked for the minister to table the document initially, but the minister may or may not, depending on how the minister feels about it, table that document and she may not table it on the grounds that it is a confidential document so that may be the grounds on which she chooses not to table the document. Hon KEN TRAVERS : With all due respect Mr President, it is the only ground; she needs to claim it as a confidential document not to table it. I have not asked for it to be tabled up till now but I will do so. I ask for it to be tabled and I ask whether the minister is seeking to claim it as a confidential document. The PRESIDENT : I think you will find confidentiality is not the only reason a minister may decline to table a document. However, the minister has been asked for a second time to table the document, if the minister would like to indicate whether she chooses to or otherwise. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I will take advice on that, Mr President, and if the advice that I receive is to table that tomorrow then I will do it but at present the answer is no. The PRESIDENT : You cannot take advice; you have to give an indication now. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Then the answer is no and I have the right to do that. Questions without Notice Resumed The PRESIDENT : Okay, we will move on with questions without notice. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : The minister has not told us whether it is a confidential document. That is what I am asking: does the minister claim it to be a confidential document? My reading of the standing orders is very clear; that is, she needs to claim it as a confidential document and not deny the house access to it just because she chooses. I put to you, Mr President, the fact that after repeated questions the minister has not stated that it is a confidential document and that therefore means that it is. She quoted from it and it should be tabled. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Mr President, it is a confidential document. Questions without Notice Resumed Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let us move on with questions without notice.
Hon Sue Ellery : I did. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Right! If applicants wish to pursue other avenues that may be available to them, they can still do so under this government. Hon Ken Travers interjected. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I note that Hon Sue Ellery said in a press release on 17 February that abolishing the waiver is meaningless and nothing short of cruel trickery for the vast majority of applicants and that this government has shown itself to be heartless and cruel. Hon Sue Ellery : For the vast majority of applicants. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Well, if that is the case, why on 23 October did the State Solicitor’s Office write to DCP and say, and I quote — I refer to your email dated 8 October 2007 clarifying that this Office had been requested by the Minister for Child Protection — That was you, Hon Sue Ellery — to draft “a waiver to provide the tightest possible wording to prevent beneficiaries of the proposed Redress Scheme from seeking further compensation.” Now who is unjust and cruel? Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : Can I ask the minister to identify the document that she is quoting from? The PRESIDENT : Hon Ken Travers can ask. The minister knows her rights, I am sure. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, I am not going to table it and I am not going to quote — Several members interjected. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I am quoting. I am quoting a document. Hon Ken Travers : You are embarrassed. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, I am not embarrassed. It is a confidential document. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let the minister finish her answer, which I am sure she is getting close to. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon Sue Ellery : It’s confidential but you are reading it. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I am reading out my typed-out notes. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I am not sure that the minister is able to deny the house the knowledge of the document that she is quoting from. I understand the rules about whether or not she has to table it and I will get to that later. But at this stage I think she is required to identify the document that she quoted from where she started with the words “and I quote”. Hon Simon O’Brien : She just held them up and showed them to you and said they were her notes. It’s pretty obvious. Hon Sue Ellery : Was she quoting or not? The PRESIDENT : The standing order Hon Ken Travers is referring to relates to a member. A minister does not have to table the document if the minister chooses not to. Hon KEN TRAVERS : No, I am not asking for the document to be tabled. I am asking for the minister to identify the document that she is quoting from. The PRESIDENT : I think that standing order relates to a member. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I have already said that it was from the State Solicitor’s Office on 23 October to the Department for Child Protection, and I would be very embarrassed if I were Hon Sue Ellery. Hon Sue Ellery : You know you have some hide to say that! Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Why did the member and her government want to stop any Redress applicant from seeking further compensation? Hon Sue Ellery : Every time you put out a newsletter I get call after call after call from really distressed people — Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, you tried to stop those people — The PRESIDENT : Order! We are coming up very soon to International Women’s Day so — Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! We do not want women to get themselves a bad reputation for misbehaviour in the chamber. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President, but some things are over and above misbehaviour. The Labor Party is absolutely appalling! Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, minister! I think you are coming to your concluding remarks. If you address your remarks through the Chair, I am sure you can get to the end of your answer very quickly. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. I just point out that the former government was going to make Redress applicants sign a watertight waiver and that was from the State Solicitor’s Office so that those vulnerable people who are able to go on and get further recourse — Hon Sue Ellery : You know you’ll be struck by lightning any minute—you will be! Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I demanded an apology from Hon Sue Ellery on air last week and I actually got that apology because she was absolutely disgraceful! Hon Sue Ellery interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I just want to know under standing order 47 whether the minister is claiming that the document she quoted from is a confidential document; and, if so, why was she quoting it in the house? The PRESIDENT : You asked for the minister to table the document initially, but the minister may or may not, depending on how the minister feels about it, table that document and she may not table it on the grounds that it is a confidential document so that may be the grounds on which she chooses not to table the document. Hon KEN TRAVERS : With all due respect Mr President, it is the only ground; she needs to claim it as a confidential document not to table it. I have not asked for it to be tabled up till now but I will do so. I ask for it to be tabled and I ask whether the minister is seeking to claim it as a confidential document. The PRESIDENT : I think you will find confidentiality is not the only reason a minister may decline to table a document. However, the minister has been asked for a second time to table the document, if the minister would like to indicate whether she chooses to or otherwise. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I will take advice on that, Mr President, and if the advice that I receive is to table that tomorrow then I will do it but at present the answer is no. The PRESIDENT : You cannot take advice; you have to give an indication now. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Then the answer is no and I have the right to do that. Questions without Notice Resumed The PRESIDENT : Okay, we will move on with questions without notice. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : The minister has not told us whether it is a confidential document. That is what I am asking: does the minister claim it to be a confidential document? My reading of the standing orders is very clear; that is, she needs to claim it as a confidential document and not deny the house access to it just because she chooses. I put to you, Mr President, the fact that after repeated questions the minister has not stated that it is a confidential document and that therefore means that it is. She quoted from it and it should be tabled. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Mr President, it is a confidential document. Questions without Notice Resumed Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let us move on with questions without notice.
Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Right! If applicants wish to pursue other avenues that may be available to them, they can still do so under this government. Hon Ken Travers interjected. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I note that Hon Sue Ellery said in a press release on 17 February that abolishing the waiver is meaningless and nothing short of cruel trickery for the vast majority of applicants and that this government has shown itself to be heartless and cruel. Hon Sue Ellery : For the vast majority of applicants. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Well, if that is the case, why on 23 October did the State Solicitor’s Office write to DCP and say, and I quote — I refer to your email dated 8 October 2007 clarifying that this Office had been requested by the Minister for Child Protection — That was you, Hon Sue Ellery — to draft “a waiver to provide the tightest possible wording to prevent beneficiaries of the proposed Redress Scheme from seeking further compensation.” Now who is unjust and cruel? Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : Can I ask the minister to identify the document that she is quoting from? The PRESIDENT : Hon Ken Travers can ask. The minister knows her rights, I am sure. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, I am not going to table it and I am not going to quote — Several members interjected. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I am quoting. I am quoting a document. Hon Ken Travers : You are embarrassed. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, I am not embarrassed. It is a confidential document. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let the minister finish her answer, which I am sure she is getting close to. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon Sue Ellery : It’s confidential but you are reading it. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I am reading out my typed-out notes. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I am not sure that the minister is able to deny the house the knowledge of the document that she is quoting from. I understand the rules about whether or not she has to table it and I will get to that later. But at this stage I think she is required to identify the document that she quoted from where she started with the words “and I quote”. Hon Simon O’Brien : She just held them up and showed them to you and said they were her notes. It’s pretty obvious. Hon Sue Ellery : Was she quoting or not? The PRESIDENT : The standing order Hon Ken Travers is referring to relates to a member. A minister does not have to table the document if the minister chooses not to. Hon KEN TRAVERS : No, I am not asking for the document to be tabled. I am asking for the minister to identify the document that she is quoting from. The PRESIDENT : I think that standing order relates to a member. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I have already said that it was from the State Solicitor’s Office on 23 October to the Department for Child Protection, and I would be very embarrassed if I were Hon Sue Ellery. Hon Sue Ellery : You know you have some hide to say that! Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Why did the member and her government want to stop any Redress applicant from seeking further compensation? Hon Sue Ellery : Every time you put out a newsletter I get call after call after call from really distressed people — Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, you tried to stop those people — The PRESIDENT : Order! We are coming up very soon to International Women’s Day so — Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! We do not want women to get themselves a bad reputation for misbehaviour in the chamber. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President, but some things are over and above misbehaviour. The Labor Party is absolutely appalling! Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, minister! I think you are coming to your concluding remarks. If you address your remarks through the Chair, I am sure you can get to the end of your answer very quickly. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. I just point out that the former government was going to make Redress applicants sign a watertight waiver and that was from the State Solicitor’s Office so that those vulnerable people who are able to go on and get further recourse — Hon Sue Ellery : You know you’ll be struck by lightning any minute—you will be! Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I demanded an apology from Hon Sue Ellery on air last week and I actually got that apology because she was absolutely disgraceful! Hon Sue Ellery interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I just want to know under standing order 47 whether the minister is claiming that the document she quoted from is a confidential document; and, if so, why was she quoting it in the house? The PRESIDENT : You asked for the minister to table the document initially, but the minister may or may not, depending on how the minister feels about it, table that document and she may not table it on the grounds that it is a confidential document so that may be the grounds on which she chooses not to table the document. Hon KEN TRAVERS : With all due respect Mr President, it is the only ground; she needs to claim it as a confidential document not to table it. I have not asked for it to be tabled up till now but I will do so. I ask for it to be tabled and I ask whether the minister is seeking to claim it as a confidential document. The PRESIDENT : I think you will find confidentiality is not the only reason a minister may decline to table a document. However, the minister has been asked for a second time to table the document, if the minister would like to indicate whether she chooses to or otherwise. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I will take advice on that, Mr President, and if the advice that I receive is to table that tomorrow then I will do it but at present the answer is no. The PRESIDENT : You cannot take advice; you have to give an indication now. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Then the answer is no and I have the right to do that. Questions without Notice Resumed The PRESIDENT : Okay, we will move on with questions without notice. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : The minister has not told us whether it is a confidential document. That is what I am asking: does the minister claim it to be a confidential document? My reading of the standing orders is very clear; that is, she needs to claim it as a confidential document and not deny the house access to it just because she chooses. I put to you, Mr President, the fact that after repeated questions the minister has not stated that it is a confidential document and that therefore means that it is. She quoted from it and it should be tabled. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Mr President, it is a confidential document. Questions without Notice Resumed Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let us move on with questions without notice.
If applicants wish to pursue other avenues that may be available to them, they can still do so under this government. Hon Ken Travers interjected. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I note that Hon Sue Ellery said in a press release on 17 February that abolishing the waiver is meaningless and nothing short of cruel trickery for the vast majority of applicants and that this government has shown itself to be heartless and cruel. Hon Sue Ellery : For the vast majority of applicants. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Well, if that is the case, why on 23 October did the State Solicitor’s Office write to DCP and say, and I quote — I refer to your email dated 8 October 2007 clarifying that this Office had been requested by the Minister for Child Protection — That was you, Hon Sue Ellery — to draft “a waiver to provide the tightest possible wording to prevent beneficiaries of the proposed Redress Scheme from seeking further compensation.” Now who is unjust and cruel? Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : Can I ask the minister to identify the document that she is quoting from? The PRESIDENT : Hon Ken Travers can ask. The minister knows her rights, I am sure. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, I am not going to table it and I am not going to quote — Several members interjected. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I am quoting. I am quoting a document. Hon Ken Travers : You are embarrassed. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, I am not embarrassed. It is a confidential document. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let the minister finish her answer, which I am sure she is getting close to. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon Sue Ellery : It’s confidential but you are reading it. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I am reading out my typed-out notes. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I am not sure that the minister is able to deny the house the knowledge of the document that she is quoting from. I understand the rules about whether or not she has to table it and I will get to that later. But at this stage I think she is required to identify the document that she quoted from where she started with the words “and I quote”. Hon Simon O’Brien : She just held them up and showed them to you and said they were her notes. It’s pretty obvious. Hon Sue Ellery : Was she quoting or not? The PRESIDENT : The standing order Hon Ken Travers is referring to relates to a member. A minister does not have to table the document if the minister chooses not to. Hon KEN TRAVERS : No, I am not asking for the document to be tabled. I am asking for the minister to identify the document that she is quoting from. The PRESIDENT : I think that standing order relates to a member. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I have already said that it was from the State Solicitor’s Office on 23 October to the Department for Child Protection, and I would be very embarrassed if I were Hon Sue Ellery. Hon Sue Ellery : You know you have some hide to say that! Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Why did the member and her government want to stop any Redress applicant from seeking further compensation? Hon Sue Ellery : Every time you put out a newsletter I get call after call after call from really distressed people — Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, you tried to stop those people — The PRESIDENT : Order! We are coming up very soon to International Women’s Day so — Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! We do not want women to get themselves a bad reputation for misbehaviour in the chamber. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President, but some things are over and above misbehaviour. The Labor Party is absolutely appalling! Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, minister! I think you are coming to your concluding remarks. If you address your remarks through the Chair, I am sure you can get to the end of your answer very quickly. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. I just point out that the former government was going to make Redress applicants sign a watertight waiver and that was from the State Solicitor’s Office so that those vulnerable people who are able to go on and get further recourse — Hon Sue Ellery : You know you’ll be struck by lightning any minute—you will be! Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I demanded an apology from Hon Sue Ellery on air last week and I actually got that apology because she was absolutely disgraceful! Hon Sue Ellery interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I just want to know under standing order 47 whether the minister is claiming that the document she quoted from is a confidential document; and, if so, why was she quoting it in the house? The PRESIDENT : You asked for the minister to table the document initially, but the minister may or may not, depending on how the minister feels about it, table that document and she may not table it on the grounds that it is a confidential document so that may be the grounds on which she chooses not to table the document. Hon KEN TRAVERS : With all due respect Mr President, it is the only ground; she needs to claim it as a confidential document not to table it. I have not asked for it to be tabled up till now but I will do so. I ask for it to be tabled and I ask whether the minister is seeking to claim it as a confidential document. The PRESIDENT : I think you will find confidentiality is not the only reason a minister may decline to table a document. However, the minister has been asked for a second time to table the document, if the minister would like to indicate whether she chooses to or otherwise. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I will take advice on that, Mr President, and if the advice that I receive is to table that tomorrow then I will do it but at present the answer is no. The PRESIDENT : You cannot take advice; you have to give an indication now. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Then the answer is no and I have the right to do that. Questions without Notice Resumed The PRESIDENT : Okay, we will move on with questions without notice. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : The minister has not told us whether it is a confidential document. That is what I am asking: does the minister claim it to be a confidential document? My reading of the standing orders is very clear; that is, she needs to claim it as a confidential document and not deny the house access to it just because she chooses. I put to you, Mr President, the fact that after repeated questions the minister has not stated that it is a confidential document and that therefore means that it is. She quoted from it and it should be tabled. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Mr President, it is a confidential document. Questions without Notice Resumed Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let us move on with questions without notice.
Hon Ken Travers interjected. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I note that Hon Sue Ellery said in a press release on 17 February that abolishing the waiver is meaningless and nothing short of cruel trickery for the vast majority of applicants and that this government has shown itself to be heartless and cruel. Hon Sue Ellery : For the vast majority of applicants. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Well, if that is the case, why on 23 October did the State Solicitor’s Office write to DCP and say, and I quote — I refer to your email dated 8 October 2007 clarifying that this Office had been requested by the Minister for Child Protection — That was you, Hon Sue Ellery — to draft “a waiver to provide the tightest possible wording to prevent beneficiaries of the proposed Redress Scheme from seeking further compensation.” Now who is unjust and cruel? Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : Can I ask the minister to identify the document that she is quoting from? The PRESIDENT : Hon Ken Travers can ask. The minister knows her rights, I am sure. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, I am not going to table it and I am not going to quote — Several members interjected. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I am quoting. I am quoting a document. Hon Ken Travers : You are embarrassed. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, I am not embarrassed. It is a confidential document. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let the minister finish her answer, which I am sure she is getting close to. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon Sue Ellery : It’s confidential but you are reading it. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I am reading out my typed-out notes. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I am not sure that the minister is able to deny the house the knowledge of the document that she is quoting from. I understand the rules about whether or not she has to table it and I will get to that later. But at this stage I think she is required to identify the document that she quoted from where she started with the words “and I quote”. Hon Simon O’Brien : She just held them up and showed them to you and said they were her notes. It’s pretty obvious. Hon Sue Ellery : Was she quoting or not? The PRESIDENT : The standing order Hon Ken Travers is referring to relates to a member. A minister does not have to table the document if the minister chooses not to. Hon KEN TRAVERS : No, I am not asking for the document to be tabled. I am asking for the minister to identify the document that she is quoting from. The PRESIDENT : I think that standing order relates to a member. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I have already said that it was from the State Solicitor’s Office on 23 October to the Department for Child Protection, and I would be very embarrassed if I were Hon Sue Ellery. Hon Sue Ellery : You know you have some hide to say that! Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Why did the member and her government want to stop any Redress applicant from seeking further compensation? Hon Sue Ellery : Every time you put out a newsletter I get call after call after call from really distressed people — Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, you tried to stop those people — The PRESIDENT : Order! We are coming up very soon to International Women’s Day so — Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! We do not want women to get themselves a bad reputation for misbehaviour in the chamber. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President, but some things are over and above misbehaviour. The Labor Party is absolutely appalling! Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, minister! I think you are coming to your concluding remarks. If you address your remarks through the Chair, I am sure you can get to the end of your answer very quickly. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. I just point out that the former government was going to make Redress applicants sign a watertight waiver and that was from the State Solicitor’s Office so that those vulnerable people who are able to go on and get further recourse — Hon Sue Ellery : You know you’ll be struck by lightning any minute—you will be! Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I demanded an apology from Hon Sue Ellery on air last week and I actually got that apology because she was absolutely disgraceful! Hon Sue Ellery interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I just want to know under standing order 47 whether the minister is claiming that the document she quoted from is a confidential document; and, if so, why was she quoting it in the house? The PRESIDENT : You asked for the minister to table the document initially, but the minister may or may not, depending on how the minister feels about it, table that document and she may not table it on the grounds that it is a confidential document so that may be the grounds on which she chooses not to table the document. Hon KEN TRAVERS : With all due respect Mr President, it is the only ground; she needs to claim it as a confidential document not to table it. I have not asked for it to be tabled up till now but I will do so. I ask for it to be tabled and I ask whether the minister is seeking to claim it as a confidential document. The PRESIDENT : I think you will find confidentiality is not the only reason a minister may decline to table a document. However, the minister has been asked for a second time to table the document, if the minister would like to indicate whether she chooses to or otherwise. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I will take advice on that, Mr President, and if the advice that I receive is to table that tomorrow then I will do it but at present the answer is no. The PRESIDENT : You cannot take advice; you have to give an indication now. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Then the answer is no and I have the right to do that. Questions without Notice Resumed The PRESIDENT : Okay, we will move on with questions without notice. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : The minister has not told us whether it is a confidential document. That is what I am asking: does the minister claim it to be a confidential document? My reading of the standing orders is very clear; that is, she needs to claim it as a confidential document and not deny the house access to it just because she chooses. I put to you, Mr President, the fact that after repeated questions the minister has not stated that it is a confidential document and that therefore means that it is. She quoted from it and it should be tabled. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Mr President, it is a confidential document. Questions without Notice Resumed Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let us move on with questions without notice.
Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I note that Hon Sue Ellery said in a press release on 17 February that abolishing the waiver is meaningless and nothing short of cruel trickery for the vast majority of applicants and that this government has shown itself to be heartless and cruel. Hon Sue Ellery : For the vast majority of applicants. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Well, if that is the case, why on 23 October did the State Solicitor’s Office write to DCP and say, and I quote — I refer to your email dated 8 October 2007 clarifying that this Office had been requested by the Minister for Child Protection — That was you, Hon Sue Ellery — to draft “a waiver to provide the tightest possible wording to prevent beneficiaries of the proposed Redress Scheme from seeking further compensation.” Now who is unjust and cruel? Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : Can I ask the minister to identify the document that she is quoting from? The PRESIDENT : Hon Ken Travers can ask. The minister knows her rights, I am sure. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, I am not going to table it and I am not going to quote — Several members interjected. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I am quoting. I am quoting a document. Hon Ken Travers : You are embarrassed. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, I am not embarrassed. It is a confidential document. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let the minister finish her answer, which I am sure she is getting close to. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon Sue Ellery : It’s confidential but you are reading it. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I am reading out my typed-out notes. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I am not sure that the minister is able to deny the house the knowledge of the document that she is quoting from. I understand the rules about whether or not she has to table it and I will get to that later. But at this stage I think she is required to identify the document that she quoted from where she started with the words “and I quote”. Hon Simon O’Brien : She just held them up and showed them to you and said they were her notes. It’s pretty obvious. Hon Sue Ellery : Was she quoting or not? The PRESIDENT : The standing order Hon Ken Travers is referring to relates to a member. A minister does not have to table the document if the minister chooses not to. Hon KEN TRAVERS : No, I am not asking for the document to be tabled. I am asking for the minister to identify the document that she is quoting from. The PRESIDENT : I think that standing order relates to a member. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I have already said that it was from the State Solicitor’s Office on 23 October to the Department for Child Protection, and I would be very embarrassed if I were Hon Sue Ellery. Hon Sue Ellery : You know you have some hide to say that! Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Why did the member and her government want to stop any Redress applicant from seeking further compensation? Hon Sue Ellery : Every time you put out a newsletter I get call after call after call from really distressed people — Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, you tried to stop those people — The PRESIDENT : Order! We are coming up very soon to International Women’s Day so — Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! We do not want women to get themselves a bad reputation for misbehaviour in the chamber. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President, but some things are over and above misbehaviour. The Labor Party is absolutely appalling! Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, minister! I think you are coming to your concluding remarks. If you address your remarks through the Chair, I am sure you can get to the end of your answer very quickly. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. I just point out that the former government was going to make Redress applicants sign a watertight waiver and that was from the State Solicitor’s Office so that those vulnerable people who are able to go on and get further recourse — Hon Sue Ellery : You know you’ll be struck by lightning any minute—you will be! Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I demanded an apology from Hon Sue Ellery on air last week and I actually got that apology because she was absolutely disgraceful! Hon Sue Ellery interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I just want to know under standing order 47 whether the minister is claiming that the document she quoted from is a confidential document; and, if so, why was she quoting it in the house? The PRESIDENT : You asked for the minister to table the document initially, but the minister may or may not, depending on how the minister feels about it, table that document and she may not table it on the grounds that it is a confidential document so that may be the grounds on which she chooses not to table the document. Hon KEN TRAVERS : With all due respect Mr President, it is the only ground; she needs to claim it as a confidential document not to table it. I have not asked for it to be tabled up till now but I will do so. I ask for it to be tabled and I ask whether the minister is seeking to claim it as a confidential document. The PRESIDENT : I think you will find confidentiality is not the only reason a minister may decline to table a document. However, the minister has been asked for a second time to table the document, if the minister would like to indicate whether she chooses to or otherwise. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I will take advice on that, Mr President, and if the advice that I receive is to table that tomorrow then I will do it but at present the answer is no. The PRESIDENT : You cannot take advice; you have to give an indication now. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Then the answer is no and I have the right to do that. Questions without Notice Resumed The PRESIDENT : Okay, we will move on with questions without notice. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : The minister has not told us whether it is a confidential document. That is what I am asking: does the minister claim it to be a confidential document? My reading of the standing orders is very clear; that is, she needs to claim it as a confidential document and not deny the house access to it just because she chooses. I put to you, Mr President, the fact that after repeated questions the minister has not stated that it is a confidential document and that therefore means that it is. She quoted from it and it should be tabled. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Mr President, it is a confidential document. Questions without Notice Resumed Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let us move on with questions without notice.
Hon Sue Ellery : For the vast majority of applicants. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Well, if that is the case, why on 23 October did the State Solicitor’s Office write to DCP and say, and I quote — I refer to your email dated 8 October 2007 clarifying that this Office had been requested by the Minister for Child Protection — That was you, Hon Sue Ellery — to draft “a waiver to provide the tightest possible wording to prevent beneficiaries of the proposed Redress Scheme from seeking further compensation.” Now who is unjust and cruel? Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : Can I ask the minister to identify the document that she is quoting from? The PRESIDENT : Hon Ken Travers can ask. The minister knows her rights, I am sure. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, I am not going to table it and I am not going to quote — Several members interjected. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I am quoting. I am quoting a document. Hon Ken Travers : You are embarrassed. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, I am not embarrassed. It is a confidential document. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let the minister finish her answer, which I am sure she is getting close to. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon Sue Ellery : It’s confidential but you are reading it. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I am reading out my typed-out notes. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I am not sure that the minister is able to deny the house the knowledge of the document that she is quoting from. I understand the rules about whether or not she has to table it and I will get to that later. But at this stage I think she is required to identify the document that she quoted from where she started with the words “and I quote”. Hon Simon O’Brien : She just held them up and showed them to you and said they were her notes. It’s pretty obvious. Hon Sue Ellery : Was she quoting or not? The PRESIDENT : The standing order Hon Ken Travers is referring to relates to a member. A minister does not have to table the document if the minister chooses not to. Hon KEN TRAVERS : No, I am not asking for the document to be tabled. I am asking for the minister to identify the document that she is quoting from. The PRESIDENT : I think that standing order relates to a member. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I have already said that it was from the State Solicitor’s Office on 23 October to the Department for Child Protection, and I would be very embarrassed if I were Hon Sue Ellery. Hon Sue Ellery : You know you have some hide to say that! Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Why did the member and her government want to stop any Redress applicant from seeking further compensation? Hon Sue Ellery : Every time you put out a newsletter I get call after call after call from really distressed people — Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, you tried to stop those people — The PRESIDENT : Order! We are coming up very soon to International Women’s Day so — Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! We do not want women to get themselves a bad reputation for misbehaviour in the chamber. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President, but some things are over and above misbehaviour. The Labor Party is absolutely appalling! Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, minister! I think you are coming to your concluding remarks. If you address your remarks through the Chair, I am sure you can get to the end of your answer very quickly. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. I just point out that the former government was going to make Redress applicants sign a watertight waiver and that was from the State Solicitor’s Office so that those vulnerable people who are able to go on and get further recourse — Hon Sue Ellery : You know you’ll be struck by lightning any minute—you will be! Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I demanded an apology from Hon Sue Ellery on air last week and I actually got that apology because she was absolutely disgraceful! Hon Sue Ellery interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I just want to know under standing order 47 whether the minister is claiming that the document she quoted from is a confidential document; and, if so, why was she quoting it in the house? The PRESIDENT : You asked for the minister to table the document initially, but the minister may or may not, depending on how the minister feels about it, table that document and she may not table it on the grounds that it is a confidential document so that may be the grounds on which she chooses not to table the document. Hon KEN TRAVERS : With all due respect Mr President, it is the only ground; she needs to claim it as a confidential document not to table it. I have not asked for it to be tabled up till now but I will do so. I ask for it to be tabled and I ask whether the minister is seeking to claim it as a confidential document. The PRESIDENT : I think you will find confidentiality is not the only reason a minister may decline to table a document. However, the minister has been asked for a second time to table the document, if the minister would like to indicate whether she chooses to or otherwise. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I will take advice on that, Mr President, and if the advice that I receive is to table that tomorrow then I will do it but at present the answer is no. The PRESIDENT : You cannot take advice; you have to give an indication now. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Then the answer is no and I have the right to do that. Questions without Notice Resumed The PRESIDENT : Okay, we will move on with questions without notice. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : The minister has not told us whether it is a confidential document. That is what I am asking: does the minister claim it to be a confidential document? My reading of the standing orders is very clear; that is, she needs to claim it as a confidential document and not deny the house access to it just because she chooses. I put to you, Mr President, the fact that after repeated questions the minister has not stated that it is a confidential document and that therefore means that it is. She quoted from it and it should be tabled. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Mr President, it is a confidential document. Questions without Notice Resumed Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let us move on with questions without notice.
Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Well, if that is the case, why on 23 October did the State Solicitor’s Office write to DCP and say, and I quote — I refer to your email dated 8 October 2007 clarifying that this Office had been requested by the Minister for Child Protection — That was you, Hon Sue Ellery — to draft “a waiver to provide the tightest possible wording to prevent beneficiaries of the proposed Redress Scheme from seeking further compensation.” Now who is unjust and cruel? Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : Can I ask the minister to identify the document that she is quoting from? The PRESIDENT : Hon Ken Travers can ask. The minister knows her rights, I am sure. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, I am not going to table it and I am not going to quote — Several members interjected. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I am quoting. I am quoting a document. Hon Ken Travers : You are embarrassed. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, I am not embarrassed. It is a confidential document. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let the minister finish her answer, which I am sure she is getting close to. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon Sue Ellery : It’s confidential but you are reading it. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I am reading out my typed-out notes. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I am not sure that the minister is able to deny the house the knowledge of the document that she is quoting from. I understand the rules about whether or not she has to table it and I will get to that later. But at this stage I think she is required to identify the document that she quoted from where she started with the words “and I quote”. Hon Simon O’Brien : She just held them up and showed them to you and said they were her notes. It’s pretty obvious. Hon Sue Ellery : Was she quoting or not? The PRESIDENT : The standing order Hon Ken Travers is referring to relates to a member. A minister does not have to table the document if the minister chooses not to. Hon KEN TRAVERS : No, I am not asking for the document to be tabled. I am asking for the minister to identify the document that she is quoting from. The PRESIDENT : I think that standing order relates to a member. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I have already said that it was from the State Solicitor’s Office on 23 October to the Department for Child Protection, and I would be very embarrassed if I were Hon Sue Ellery. Hon Sue Ellery : You know you have some hide to say that! Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Why did the member and her government want to stop any Redress applicant from seeking further compensation? Hon Sue Ellery : Every time you put out a newsletter I get call after call after call from really distressed people — Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, you tried to stop those people — The PRESIDENT : Order! We are coming up very soon to International Women’s Day so — Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! We do not want women to get themselves a bad reputation for misbehaviour in the chamber. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President, but some things are over and above misbehaviour. The Labor Party is absolutely appalling! Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, minister! I think you are coming to your concluding remarks. If you address your remarks through the Chair, I am sure you can get to the end of your answer very quickly. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. I just point out that the former government was going to make Redress applicants sign a watertight waiver and that was from the State Solicitor’s Office so that those vulnerable people who are able to go on and get further recourse — Hon Sue Ellery : You know you’ll be struck by lightning any minute—you will be! Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I demanded an apology from Hon Sue Ellery on air last week and I actually got that apology because she was absolutely disgraceful! Hon Sue Ellery interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I just want to know under standing order 47 whether the minister is claiming that the document she quoted from is a confidential document; and, if so, why was she quoting it in the house? The PRESIDENT : You asked for the minister to table the document initially, but the minister may or may not, depending on how the minister feels about it, table that document and she may not table it on the grounds that it is a confidential document so that may be the grounds on which she chooses not to table the document. Hon KEN TRAVERS : With all due respect Mr President, it is the only ground; she needs to claim it as a confidential document not to table it. I have not asked for it to be tabled up till now but I will do so. I ask for it to be tabled and I ask whether the minister is seeking to claim it as a confidential document. The PRESIDENT : I think you will find confidentiality is not the only reason a minister may decline to table a document. However, the minister has been asked for a second time to table the document, if the minister would like to indicate whether she chooses to or otherwise. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I will take advice on that, Mr President, and if the advice that I receive is to table that tomorrow then I will do it but at present the answer is no. The PRESIDENT : You cannot take advice; you have to give an indication now. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Then the answer is no and I have the right to do that. Questions without Notice Resumed The PRESIDENT : Okay, we will move on with questions without notice. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : The minister has not told us whether it is a confidential document. That is what I am asking: does the minister claim it to be a confidential document? My reading of the standing orders is very clear; that is, she needs to claim it as a confidential document and not deny the house access to it just because she chooses. I put to you, Mr President, the fact that after repeated questions the minister has not stated that it is a confidential document and that therefore means that it is. She quoted from it and it should be tabled. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Mr President, it is a confidential document. Questions without Notice Resumed Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let us move on with questions without notice.
Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : Can I ask the minister to identify the document that she is quoting from? The PRESIDENT : Hon Ken Travers can ask. The minister knows her rights, I am sure. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, I am not going to table it and I am not going to quote — Several members interjected. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I am quoting. I am quoting a document. Hon Ken Travers : You are embarrassed. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, I am not embarrassed. It is a confidential document. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let the minister finish her answer, which I am sure she is getting close to. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon Sue Ellery : It’s confidential but you are reading it. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I am reading out my typed-out notes. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I am not sure that the minister is able to deny the house the knowledge of the document that she is quoting from. I understand the rules about whether or not she has to table it and I will get to that later. But at this stage I think she is required to identify the document that she quoted from where she started with the words “and I quote”. Hon Simon O’Brien : She just held them up and showed them to you and said they were her notes. It’s pretty obvious. Hon Sue Ellery : Was she quoting or not? The PRESIDENT : The standing order Hon Ken Travers is referring to relates to a member. A minister does not have to table the document if the minister chooses not to. Hon KEN TRAVERS : No, I am not asking for the document to be tabled. I am asking for the minister to identify the document that she is quoting from. The PRESIDENT : I think that standing order relates to a member. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I have already said that it was from the State Solicitor’s Office on 23 October to the Department for Child Protection, and I would be very embarrassed if I were Hon Sue Ellery. Hon Sue Ellery : You know you have some hide to say that! Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Why did the member and her government want to stop any Redress applicant from seeking further compensation? Hon Sue Ellery : Every time you put out a newsletter I get call after call after call from really distressed people — Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, you tried to stop those people — The PRESIDENT : Order! We are coming up very soon to International Women’s Day so — Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! We do not want women to get themselves a bad reputation for misbehaviour in the chamber. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President, but some things are over and above misbehaviour. The Labor Party is absolutely appalling! Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, minister! I think you are coming to your concluding remarks. If you address your remarks through the Chair, I am sure you can get to the end of your answer very quickly. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. I just point out that the former government was going to make Redress applicants sign a watertight waiver and that was from the State Solicitor’s Office so that those vulnerable people who are able to go on and get further recourse — Hon Sue Ellery : You know you’ll be struck by lightning any minute—you will be! Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I demanded an apology from Hon Sue Ellery on air last week and I actually got that apology because she was absolutely disgraceful! Hon Sue Ellery interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I just want to know under standing order 47 whether the minister is claiming that the document she quoted from is a confidential document; and, if so, why was she quoting it in the house? The PRESIDENT : You asked for the minister to table the document initially, but the minister may or may not, depending on how the minister feels about it, table that document and she may not table it on the grounds that it is a confidential document so that may be the grounds on which she chooses not to table the document. Hon KEN TRAVERS : With all due respect Mr President, it is the only ground; she needs to claim it as a confidential document not to table it. I have not asked for it to be tabled up till now but I will do so. I ask for it to be tabled and I ask whether the minister is seeking to claim it as a confidential document. The PRESIDENT : I think you will find confidentiality is not the only reason a minister may decline to table a document. However, the minister has been asked for a second time to table the document, if the minister would like to indicate whether she chooses to or otherwise. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I will take advice on that, Mr President, and if the advice that I receive is to table that tomorrow then I will do it but at present the answer is no. The PRESIDENT : You cannot take advice; you have to give an indication now. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Then the answer is no and I have the right to do that. Questions without Notice Resumed The PRESIDENT : Okay, we will move on with questions without notice. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : The minister has not told us whether it is a confidential document. That is what I am asking: does the minister claim it to be a confidential document? My reading of the standing orders is very clear; that is, she needs to claim it as a confidential document and not deny the house access to it just because she chooses. I put to you, Mr President, the fact that after repeated questions the minister has not stated that it is a confidential document and that therefore means that it is. She quoted from it and it should be tabled. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Mr President, it is a confidential document. Questions without Notice Resumed Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let us move on with questions without notice.
The PRESIDENT : Order! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : Can I ask the minister to identify the document that she is quoting from? The PRESIDENT : Hon Ken Travers can ask. The minister knows her rights, I am sure. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, I am not going to table it and I am not going to quote — Several members interjected. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I am quoting. I am quoting a document. Hon Ken Travers : You are embarrassed. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, I am not embarrassed. It is a confidential document. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let the minister finish her answer, which I am sure she is getting close to. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon Sue Ellery : It’s confidential but you are reading it. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I am reading out my typed-out notes. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I am not sure that the minister is able to deny the house the knowledge of the document that she is quoting from. I understand the rules about whether or not she has to table it and I will get to that later. But at this stage I think she is required to identify the document that she quoted from where she started with the words “and I quote”. Hon Simon O’Brien : She just held them up and showed them to you and said they were her notes. It’s pretty obvious. Hon Sue Ellery : Was she quoting or not? The PRESIDENT : The standing order Hon Ken Travers is referring to relates to a member. A minister does not have to table the document if the minister chooses not to. Hon KEN TRAVERS : No, I am not asking for the document to be tabled. I am asking for the minister to identify the document that she is quoting from. The PRESIDENT : I think that standing order relates to a member. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I have already said that it was from the State Solicitor’s Office on 23 October to the Department for Child Protection, and I would be very embarrassed if I were Hon Sue Ellery. Hon Sue Ellery : You know you have some hide to say that! Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Why did the member and her government want to stop any Redress applicant from seeking further compensation? Hon Sue Ellery : Every time you put out a newsletter I get call after call after call from really distressed people — Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, you tried to stop those people — The PRESIDENT : Order! We are coming up very soon to International Women’s Day so — Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! We do not want women to get themselves a bad reputation for misbehaviour in the chamber. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President, but some things are over and above misbehaviour. The Labor Party is absolutely appalling! Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, minister! I think you are coming to your concluding remarks. If you address your remarks through the Chair, I am sure you can get to the end of your answer very quickly. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. I just point out that the former government was going to make Redress applicants sign a watertight waiver and that was from the State Solicitor’s Office so that those vulnerable people who are able to go on and get further recourse — Hon Sue Ellery : You know you’ll be struck by lightning any minute—you will be! Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I demanded an apology from Hon Sue Ellery on air last week and I actually got that apology because she was absolutely disgraceful! Hon Sue Ellery interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I just want to know under standing order 47 whether the minister is claiming that the document she quoted from is a confidential document; and, if so, why was she quoting it in the house? The PRESIDENT : You asked for the minister to table the document initially, but the minister may or may not, depending on how the minister feels about it, table that document and she may not table it on the grounds that it is a confidential document so that may be the grounds on which she chooses not to table the document. Hon KEN TRAVERS : With all due respect Mr President, it is the only ground; she needs to claim it as a confidential document not to table it. I have not asked for it to be tabled up till now but I will do so. I ask for it to be tabled and I ask whether the minister is seeking to claim it as a confidential document. The PRESIDENT : I think you will find confidentiality is not the only reason a minister may decline to table a document. However, the minister has been asked for a second time to table the document, if the minister would like to indicate whether she chooses to or otherwise. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I will take advice on that, Mr President, and if the advice that I receive is to table that tomorrow then I will do it but at present the answer is no. The PRESIDENT : You cannot take advice; you have to give an indication now. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Then the answer is no and I have the right to do that. Questions without Notice Resumed The PRESIDENT : Okay, we will move on with questions without notice. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : The minister has not told us whether it is a confidential document. That is what I am asking: does the minister claim it to be a confidential document? My reading of the standing orders is very clear; that is, she needs to claim it as a confidential document and not deny the house access to it just because she chooses. I put to you, Mr President, the fact that after repeated questions the minister has not stated that it is a confidential document and that therefore means that it is. She quoted from it and it should be tabled. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Mr President, it is a confidential document. Questions without Notice Resumed Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let us move on with questions without notice.
The PRESIDENT : Hon Ken Travers can ask. The minister knows her rights, I am sure. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, I am not going to table it and I am not going to quote — Several members interjected. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I am quoting. I am quoting a document. Hon Ken Travers : You are embarrassed. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, I am not embarrassed. It is a confidential document. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let the minister finish her answer, which I am sure she is getting close to. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon Sue Ellery : It’s confidential but you are reading it. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I am reading out my typed-out notes. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I am not sure that the minister is able to deny the house the knowledge of the document that she is quoting from. I understand the rules about whether or not she has to table it and I will get to that later. But at this stage I think she is required to identify the document that she quoted from where she started with the words “and I quote”. Hon Simon O’Brien : She just held them up and showed them to you and said they were her notes. It’s pretty obvious. Hon Sue Ellery : Was she quoting or not? The PRESIDENT : The standing order Hon Ken Travers is referring to relates to a member. A minister does not have to table the document if the minister chooses not to. Hon KEN TRAVERS : No, I am not asking for the document to be tabled. I am asking for the minister to identify the document that she is quoting from. The PRESIDENT : I think that standing order relates to a member. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I have already said that it was from the State Solicitor’s Office on 23 October to the Department for Child Protection, and I would be very embarrassed if I were Hon Sue Ellery. Hon Sue Ellery : You know you have some hide to say that! Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Why did the member and her government want to stop any Redress applicant from seeking further compensation? Hon Sue Ellery : Every time you put out a newsletter I get call after call after call from really distressed people — Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, you tried to stop those people — The PRESIDENT : Order! We are coming up very soon to International Women’s Day so — Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! We do not want women to get themselves a bad reputation for misbehaviour in the chamber. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President, but some things are over and above misbehaviour. The Labor Party is absolutely appalling! Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, minister! I think you are coming to your concluding remarks. If you address your remarks through the Chair, I am sure you can get to the end of your answer very quickly. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. I just point out that the former government was going to make Redress applicants sign a watertight waiver and that was from the State Solicitor’s Office so that those vulnerable people who are able to go on and get further recourse — Hon Sue Ellery : You know you’ll be struck by lightning any minute—you will be! Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I demanded an apology from Hon Sue Ellery on air last week and I actually got that apology because she was absolutely disgraceful! Hon Sue Ellery interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I just want to know under standing order 47 whether the minister is claiming that the document she quoted from is a confidential document; and, if so, why was she quoting it in the house? The PRESIDENT : You asked for the minister to table the document initially, but the minister may or may not, depending on how the minister feels about it, table that document and she may not table it on the grounds that it is a confidential document so that may be the grounds on which she chooses not to table the document. Hon KEN TRAVERS : With all due respect Mr President, it is the only ground; she needs to claim it as a confidential document not to table it. I have not asked for it to be tabled up till now but I will do so. I ask for it to be tabled and I ask whether the minister is seeking to claim it as a confidential document. The PRESIDENT : I think you will find confidentiality is not the only reason a minister may decline to table a document. However, the minister has been asked for a second time to table the document, if the minister would like to indicate whether she chooses to or otherwise. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I will take advice on that, Mr President, and if the advice that I receive is to table that tomorrow then I will do it but at present the answer is no. The PRESIDENT : You cannot take advice; you have to give an indication now. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Then the answer is no and I have the right to do that. Questions without Notice Resumed The PRESIDENT : Okay, we will move on with questions without notice. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : The minister has not told us whether it is a confidential document. That is what I am asking: does the minister claim it to be a confidential document? My reading of the standing orders is very clear; that is, she needs to claim it as a confidential document and not deny the house access to it just because she chooses. I put to you, Mr President, the fact that after repeated questions the minister has not stated that it is a confidential document and that therefore means that it is. She quoted from it and it should be tabled. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Mr President, it is a confidential document. Questions without Notice Resumed Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let us move on with questions without notice.
Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, I am not going to table it and I am not going to quote — Several members interjected. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I am quoting. I am quoting a document. Hon Ken Travers : You are embarrassed. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, I am not embarrassed. It is a confidential document. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let the minister finish her answer, which I am sure she is getting close to. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon Sue Ellery : It’s confidential but you are reading it. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I am reading out my typed-out notes. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I am not sure that the minister is able to deny the house the knowledge of the document that she is quoting from. I understand the rules about whether or not she has to table it and I will get to that later. But at this stage I think she is required to identify the document that she quoted from where she started with the words “and I quote”. Hon Simon O’Brien : She just held them up and showed them to you and said they were her notes. It’s pretty obvious. Hon Sue Ellery : Was she quoting or not? The PRESIDENT : The standing order Hon Ken Travers is referring to relates to a member. A minister does not have to table the document if the minister chooses not to. Hon KEN TRAVERS : No, I am not asking for the document to be tabled. I am asking for the minister to identify the document that she is quoting from. The PRESIDENT : I think that standing order relates to a member. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I have already said that it was from the State Solicitor’s Office on 23 October to the Department for Child Protection, and I would be very embarrassed if I were Hon Sue Ellery. Hon Sue Ellery : You know you have some hide to say that! Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Why did the member and her government want to stop any Redress applicant from seeking further compensation? Hon Sue Ellery : Every time you put out a newsletter I get call after call after call from really distressed people — Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, you tried to stop those people — The PRESIDENT : Order! We are coming up very soon to International Women’s Day so — Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! We do not want women to get themselves a bad reputation for misbehaviour in the chamber. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President, but some things are over and above misbehaviour. The Labor Party is absolutely appalling! Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, minister! I think you are coming to your concluding remarks. If you address your remarks through the Chair, I am sure you can get to the end of your answer very quickly. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. I just point out that the former government was going to make Redress applicants sign a watertight waiver and that was from the State Solicitor’s Office so that those vulnerable people who are able to go on and get further recourse — Hon Sue Ellery : You know you’ll be struck by lightning any minute—you will be! Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I demanded an apology from Hon Sue Ellery on air last week and I actually got that apology because she was absolutely disgraceful! Hon Sue Ellery interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I just want to know under standing order 47 whether the minister is claiming that the document she quoted from is a confidential document; and, if so, why was she quoting it in the house? The PRESIDENT : You asked for the minister to table the document initially, but the minister may or may not, depending on how the minister feels about it, table that document and she may not table it on the grounds that it is a confidential document so that may be the grounds on which she chooses not to table the document. Hon KEN TRAVERS : With all due respect Mr President, it is the only ground; she needs to claim it as a confidential document not to table it. I have not asked for it to be tabled up till now but I will do so. I ask for it to be tabled and I ask whether the minister is seeking to claim it as a confidential document. The PRESIDENT : I think you will find confidentiality is not the only reason a minister may decline to table a document. However, the minister has been asked for a second time to table the document, if the minister would like to indicate whether she chooses to or otherwise. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I will take advice on that, Mr President, and if the advice that I receive is to table that tomorrow then I will do it but at present the answer is no. The PRESIDENT : You cannot take advice; you have to give an indication now. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Then the answer is no and I have the right to do that. Questions without Notice Resumed The PRESIDENT : Okay, we will move on with questions without notice. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : The minister has not told us whether it is a confidential document. That is what I am asking: does the minister claim it to be a confidential document? My reading of the standing orders is very clear; that is, she needs to claim it as a confidential document and not deny the house access to it just because she chooses. I put to you, Mr President, the fact that after repeated questions the minister has not stated that it is a confidential document and that therefore means that it is. She quoted from it and it should be tabled. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Mr President, it is a confidential document. Questions without Notice Resumed Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let us move on with questions without notice.
Several members interjected. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I am quoting. I am quoting a document. Hon Ken Travers : You are embarrassed. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, I am not embarrassed. It is a confidential document. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let the minister finish her answer, which I am sure she is getting close to. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon Sue Ellery : It’s confidential but you are reading it. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I am reading out my typed-out notes. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I am not sure that the minister is able to deny the house the knowledge of the document that she is quoting from. I understand the rules about whether or not she has to table it and I will get to that later. But at this stage I think she is required to identify the document that she quoted from where she started with the words “and I quote”. Hon Simon O’Brien : She just held them up and showed them to you and said they were her notes. It’s pretty obvious. Hon Sue Ellery : Was she quoting or not? The PRESIDENT : The standing order Hon Ken Travers is referring to relates to a member. A minister does not have to table the document if the minister chooses not to. Hon KEN TRAVERS : No, I am not asking for the document to be tabled. I am asking for the minister to identify the document that she is quoting from. The PRESIDENT : I think that standing order relates to a member. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I have already said that it was from the State Solicitor’s Office on 23 October to the Department for Child Protection, and I would be very embarrassed if I were Hon Sue Ellery. Hon Sue Ellery : You know you have some hide to say that! Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Why did the member and her government want to stop any Redress applicant from seeking further compensation? Hon Sue Ellery : Every time you put out a newsletter I get call after call after call from really distressed people — Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, you tried to stop those people — The PRESIDENT : Order! We are coming up very soon to International Women’s Day so — Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! We do not want women to get themselves a bad reputation for misbehaviour in the chamber. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President, but some things are over and above misbehaviour. The Labor Party is absolutely appalling! Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, minister! I think you are coming to your concluding remarks. If you address your remarks through the Chair, I am sure you can get to the end of your answer very quickly. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. I just point out that the former government was going to make Redress applicants sign a watertight waiver and that was from the State Solicitor’s Office so that those vulnerable people who are able to go on and get further recourse — Hon Sue Ellery : You know you’ll be struck by lightning any minute—you will be! Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I demanded an apology from Hon Sue Ellery on air last week and I actually got that apology because she was absolutely disgraceful! Hon Sue Ellery interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I just want to know under standing order 47 whether the minister is claiming that the document she quoted from is a confidential document; and, if so, why was she quoting it in the house? The PRESIDENT : You asked for the minister to table the document initially, but the minister may or may not, depending on how the minister feels about it, table that document and she may not table it on the grounds that it is a confidential document so that may be the grounds on which she chooses not to table the document. Hon KEN TRAVERS : With all due respect Mr President, it is the only ground; she needs to claim it as a confidential document not to table it. I have not asked for it to be tabled up till now but I will do so. I ask for it to be tabled and I ask whether the minister is seeking to claim it as a confidential document. The PRESIDENT : I think you will find confidentiality is not the only reason a minister may decline to table a document. However, the minister has been asked for a second time to table the document, if the minister would like to indicate whether she chooses to or otherwise. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I will take advice on that, Mr President, and if the advice that I receive is to table that tomorrow then I will do it but at present the answer is no. The PRESIDENT : You cannot take advice; you have to give an indication now. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Then the answer is no and I have the right to do that. Questions without Notice Resumed The PRESIDENT : Okay, we will move on with questions without notice. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : The minister has not told us whether it is a confidential document. That is what I am asking: does the minister claim it to be a confidential document? My reading of the standing orders is very clear; that is, she needs to claim it as a confidential document and not deny the house access to it just because she chooses. I put to you, Mr President, the fact that after repeated questions the minister has not stated that it is a confidential document and that therefore means that it is. She quoted from it and it should be tabled. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Mr President, it is a confidential document. Questions without Notice Resumed Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let us move on with questions without notice.
Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I am quoting. I am quoting a document. Hon Ken Travers : You are embarrassed. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, I am not embarrassed. It is a confidential document. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let the minister finish her answer, which I am sure she is getting close to. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon Sue Ellery : It’s confidential but you are reading it. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I am reading out my typed-out notes. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I am not sure that the minister is able to deny the house the knowledge of the document that she is quoting from. I understand the rules about whether or not she has to table it and I will get to that later. But at this stage I think she is required to identify the document that she quoted from where she started with the words “and I quote”. Hon Simon O’Brien : She just held them up and showed them to you and said they were her notes. It’s pretty obvious. Hon Sue Ellery : Was she quoting or not? The PRESIDENT : The standing order Hon Ken Travers is referring to relates to a member. A minister does not have to table the document if the minister chooses not to. Hon KEN TRAVERS : No, I am not asking for the document to be tabled. I am asking for the minister to identify the document that she is quoting from. The PRESIDENT : I think that standing order relates to a member. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I have already said that it was from the State Solicitor’s Office on 23 October to the Department for Child Protection, and I would be very embarrassed if I were Hon Sue Ellery. Hon Sue Ellery : You know you have some hide to say that! Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Why did the member and her government want to stop any Redress applicant from seeking further compensation? Hon Sue Ellery : Every time you put out a newsletter I get call after call after call from really distressed people — Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, you tried to stop those people — The PRESIDENT : Order! We are coming up very soon to International Women’s Day so — Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! We do not want women to get themselves a bad reputation for misbehaviour in the chamber. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President, but some things are over and above misbehaviour. The Labor Party is absolutely appalling! Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, minister! I think you are coming to your concluding remarks. If you address your remarks through the Chair, I am sure you can get to the end of your answer very quickly. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. I just point out that the former government was going to make Redress applicants sign a watertight waiver and that was from the State Solicitor’s Office so that those vulnerable people who are able to go on and get further recourse — Hon Sue Ellery : You know you’ll be struck by lightning any minute—you will be! Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I demanded an apology from Hon Sue Ellery on air last week and I actually got that apology because she was absolutely disgraceful! Hon Sue Ellery interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I just want to know under standing order 47 whether the minister is claiming that the document she quoted from is a confidential document; and, if so, why was she quoting it in the house? The PRESIDENT : You asked for the minister to table the document initially, but the minister may or may not, depending on how the minister feels about it, table that document and she may not table it on the grounds that it is a confidential document so that may be the grounds on which she chooses not to table the document. Hon KEN TRAVERS : With all due respect Mr President, it is the only ground; she needs to claim it as a confidential document not to table it. I have not asked for it to be tabled up till now but I will do so. I ask for it to be tabled and I ask whether the minister is seeking to claim it as a confidential document. The PRESIDENT : I think you will find confidentiality is not the only reason a minister may decline to table a document. However, the minister has been asked for a second time to table the document, if the minister would like to indicate whether she chooses to or otherwise. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I will take advice on that, Mr President, and if the advice that I receive is to table that tomorrow then I will do it but at present the answer is no. The PRESIDENT : You cannot take advice; you have to give an indication now. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Then the answer is no and I have the right to do that. Questions without Notice Resumed The PRESIDENT : Okay, we will move on with questions without notice. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : The minister has not told us whether it is a confidential document. That is what I am asking: does the minister claim it to be a confidential document? My reading of the standing orders is very clear; that is, she needs to claim it as a confidential document and not deny the house access to it just because she chooses. I put to you, Mr President, the fact that after repeated questions the minister has not stated that it is a confidential document and that therefore means that it is. She quoted from it and it should be tabled. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Mr President, it is a confidential document. Questions without Notice Resumed Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let us move on with questions without notice.
Hon Ken Travers : You are embarrassed. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, I am not embarrassed. It is a confidential document. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let the minister finish her answer, which I am sure she is getting close to. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon Sue Ellery : It’s confidential but you are reading it. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I am reading out my typed-out notes. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I am not sure that the minister is able to deny the house the knowledge of the document that she is quoting from. I understand the rules about whether or not she has to table it and I will get to that later. But at this stage I think she is required to identify the document that she quoted from where she started with the words “and I quote”. Hon Simon O’Brien : She just held them up and showed them to you and said they were her notes. It’s pretty obvious. Hon Sue Ellery : Was she quoting or not? The PRESIDENT : The standing order Hon Ken Travers is referring to relates to a member. A minister does not have to table the document if the minister chooses not to. Hon KEN TRAVERS : No, I am not asking for the document to be tabled. I am asking for the minister to identify the document that she is quoting from. The PRESIDENT : I think that standing order relates to a member. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I have already said that it was from the State Solicitor’s Office on 23 October to the Department for Child Protection, and I would be very embarrassed if I were Hon Sue Ellery. Hon Sue Ellery : You know you have some hide to say that! Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Why did the member and her government want to stop any Redress applicant from seeking further compensation? Hon Sue Ellery : Every time you put out a newsletter I get call after call after call from really distressed people — Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, you tried to stop those people — The PRESIDENT : Order! We are coming up very soon to International Women’s Day so — Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! We do not want women to get themselves a bad reputation for misbehaviour in the chamber. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President, but some things are over and above misbehaviour. The Labor Party is absolutely appalling! Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, minister! I think you are coming to your concluding remarks. If you address your remarks through the Chair, I am sure you can get to the end of your answer very quickly. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. I just point out that the former government was going to make Redress applicants sign a watertight waiver and that was from the State Solicitor’s Office so that those vulnerable people who are able to go on and get further recourse — Hon Sue Ellery : You know you’ll be struck by lightning any minute—you will be! Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I demanded an apology from Hon Sue Ellery on air last week and I actually got that apology because she was absolutely disgraceful! Hon Sue Ellery interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I just want to know under standing order 47 whether the minister is claiming that the document she quoted from is a confidential document; and, if so, why was she quoting it in the house? The PRESIDENT : You asked for the minister to table the document initially, but the minister may or may not, depending on how the minister feels about it, table that document and she may not table it on the grounds that it is a confidential document so that may be the grounds on which she chooses not to table the document. Hon KEN TRAVERS : With all due respect Mr President, it is the only ground; she needs to claim it as a confidential document not to table it. I have not asked for it to be tabled up till now but I will do so. I ask for it to be tabled and I ask whether the minister is seeking to claim it as a confidential document. The PRESIDENT : I think you will find confidentiality is not the only reason a minister may decline to table a document. However, the minister has been asked for a second time to table the document, if the minister would like to indicate whether she chooses to or otherwise. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I will take advice on that, Mr President, and if the advice that I receive is to table that tomorrow then I will do it but at present the answer is no. The PRESIDENT : You cannot take advice; you have to give an indication now. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Then the answer is no and I have the right to do that. Questions without Notice Resumed The PRESIDENT : Okay, we will move on with questions without notice. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : The minister has not told us whether it is a confidential document. That is what I am asking: does the minister claim it to be a confidential document? My reading of the standing orders is very clear; that is, she needs to claim it as a confidential document and not deny the house access to it just because she chooses. I put to you, Mr President, the fact that after repeated questions the minister has not stated that it is a confidential document and that therefore means that it is. She quoted from it and it should be tabled. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Mr President, it is a confidential document. Questions without Notice Resumed Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let us move on with questions without notice.
Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, I am not embarrassed. It is a confidential document. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let the minister finish her answer, which I am sure she is getting close to. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon Sue Ellery : It’s confidential but you are reading it. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I am reading out my typed-out notes. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I am not sure that the minister is able to deny the house the knowledge of the document that she is quoting from. I understand the rules about whether or not she has to table it and I will get to that later. But at this stage I think she is required to identify the document that she quoted from where she started with the words “and I quote”. Hon Simon O’Brien : She just held them up and showed them to you and said they were her notes. It’s pretty obvious. Hon Sue Ellery : Was she quoting or not? The PRESIDENT : The standing order Hon Ken Travers is referring to relates to a member. A minister does not have to table the document if the minister chooses not to. Hon KEN TRAVERS : No, I am not asking for the document to be tabled. I am asking for the minister to identify the document that she is quoting from. The PRESIDENT : I think that standing order relates to a member. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I have already said that it was from the State Solicitor’s Office on 23 October to the Department for Child Protection, and I would be very embarrassed if I were Hon Sue Ellery. Hon Sue Ellery : You know you have some hide to say that! Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Why did the member and her government want to stop any Redress applicant from seeking further compensation? Hon Sue Ellery : Every time you put out a newsletter I get call after call after call from really distressed people — Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, you tried to stop those people — The PRESIDENT : Order! We are coming up very soon to International Women’s Day so — Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! We do not want women to get themselves a bad reputation for misbehaviour in the chamber. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President, but some things are over and above misbehaviour. The Labor Party is absolutely appalling! Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, minister! I think you are coming to your concluding remarks. If you address your remarks through the Chair, I am sure you can get to the end of your answer very quickly. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. I just point out that the former government was going to make Redress applicants sign a watertight waiver and that was from the State Solicitor’s Office so that those vulnerable people who are able to go on and get further recourse — Hon Sue Ellery : You know you’ll be struck by lightning any minute—you will be! Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I demanded an apology from Hon Sue Ellery on air last week and I actually got that apology because she was absolutely disgraceful! Hon Sue Ellery interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I just want to know under standing order 47 whether the minister is claiming that the document she quoted from is a confidential document; and, if so, why was she quoting it in the house? The PRESIDENT : You asked for the minister to table the document initially, but the minister may or may not, depending on how the minister feels about it, table that document and she may not table it on the grounds that it is a confidential document so that may be the grounds on which she chooses not to table the document. Hon KEN TRAVERS : With all due respect Mr President, it is the only ground; she needs to claim it as a confidential document not to table it. I have not asked for it to be tabled up till now but I will do so. I ask for it to be tabled and I ask whether the minister is seeking to claim it as a confidential document. The PRESIDENT : I think you will find confidentiality is not the only reason a minister may decline to table a document. However, the minister has been asked for a second time to table the document, if the minister would like to indicate whether she chooses to or otherwise. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I will take advice on that, Mr President, and if the advice that I receive is to table that tomorrow then I will do it but at present the answer is no. The PRESIDENT : You cannot take advice; you have to give an indication now. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Then the answer is no and I have the right to do that. Questions without Notice Resumed The PRESIDENT : Okay, we will move on with questions without notice. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : The minister has not told us whether it is a confidential document. That is what I am asking: does the minister claim it to be a confidential document? My reading of the standing orders is very clear; that is, she needs to claim it as a confidential document and not deny the house access to it just because she chooses. I put to you, Mr President, the fact that after repeated questions the minister has not stated that it is a confidential document and that therefore means that it is. She quoted from it and it should be tabled. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Mr President, it is a confidential document. Questions without Notice Resumed Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let us move on with questions without notice.
The PRESIDENT : Order! Let the minister finish her answer, which I am sure she is getting close to. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon Sue Ellery : It’s confidential but you are reading it. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I am reading out my typed-out notes. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I am not sure that the minister is able to deny the house the knowledge of the document that she is quoting from. I understand the rules about whether or not she has to table it and I will get to that later. But at this stage I think she is required to identify the document that she quoted from where she started with the words “and I quote”. Hon Simon O’Brien : She just held them up and showed them to you and said they were her notes. It’s pretty obvious. Hon Sue Ellery : Was she quoting or not? The PRESIDENT : The standing order Hon Ken Travers is referring to relates to a member. A minister does not have to table the document if the minister chooses not to. Hon KEN TRAVERS : No, I am not asking for the document to be tabled. I am asking for the minister to identify the document that she is quoting from. The PRESIDENT : I think that standing order relates to a member. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I have already said that it was from the State Solicitor’s Office on 23 October to the Department for Child Protection, and I would be very embarrassed if I were Hon Sue Ellery. Hon Sue Ellery : You know you have some hide to say that! Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Why did the member and her government want to stop any Redress applicant from seeking further compensation? Hon Sue Ellery : Every time you put out a newsletter I get call after call after call from really distressed people — Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, you tried to stop those people — The PRESIDENT : Order! We are coming up very soon to International Women’s Day so — Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! We do not want women to get themselves a bad reputation for misbehaviour in the chamber. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President, but some things are over and above misbehaviour. The Labor Party is absolutely appalling! Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, minister! I think you are coming to your concluding remarks. If you address your remarks through the Chair, I am sure you can get to the end of your answer very quickly. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. I just point out that the former government was going to make Redress applicants sign a watertight waiver and that was from the State Solicitor’s Office so that those vulnerable people who are able to go on and get further recourse — Hon Sue Ellery : You know you’ll be struck by lightning any minute—you will be! Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I demanded an apology from Hon Sue Ellery on air last week and I actually got that apology because she was absolutely disgraceful! Hon Sue Ellery interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I just want to know under standing order 47 whether the minister is claiming that the document she quoted from is a confidential document; and, if so, why was she quoting it in the house? The PRESIDENT : You asked for the minister to table the document initially, but the minister may or may not, depending on how the minister feels about it, table that document and she may not table it on the grounds that it is a confidential document so that may be the grounds on which she chooses not to table the document. Hon KEN TRAVERS : With all due respect Mr President, it is the only ground; she needs to claim it as a confidential document not to table it. I have not asked for it to be tabled up till now but I will do so. I ask for it to be tabled and I ask whether the minister is seeking to claim it as a confidential document. The PRESIDENT : I think you will find confidentiality is not the only reason a minister may decline to table a document. However, the minister has been asked for a second time to table the document, if the minister would like to indicate whether she chooses to or otherwise. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I will take advice on that, Mr President, and if the advice that I receive is to table that tomorrow then I will do it but at present the answer is no. The PRESIDENT : You cannot take advice; you have to give an indication now. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Then the answer is no and I have the right to do that. Questions without Notice Resumed The PRESIDENT : Okay, we will move on with questions without notice. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : The minister has not told us whether it is a confidential document. That is what I am asking: does the minister claim it to be a confidential document? My reading of the standing orders is very clear; that is, she needs to claim it as a confidential document and not deny the house access to it just because she chooses. I put to you, Mr President, the fact that after repeated questions the minister has not stated that it is a confidential document and that therefore means that it is. She quoted from it and it should be tabled. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Mr President, it is a confidential document. Questions without Notice Resumed Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let us move on with questions without notice.
Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I am reading out my typed-out notes. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I am not sure that the minister is able to deny the house the knowledge of the document that she is quoting from. I understand the rules about whether or not she has to table it and I will get to that later. But at this stage I think she is required to identify the document that she quoted from where she started with the words “and I quote”. Hon Simon O’Brien : She just held them up and showed them to you and said they were her notes. It’s pretty obvious. Hon Sue Ellery : Was she quoting or not? The PRESIDENT : The standing order Hon Ken Travers is referring to relates to a member. A minister does not have to table the document if the minister chooses not to. Hon KEN TRAVERS : No, I am not asking for the document to be tabled. I am asking for the minister to identify the document that she is quoting from. The PRESIDENT : I think that standing order relates to a member. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I have already said that it was from the State Solicitor’s Office on 23 October to the Department for Child Protection, and I would be very embarrassed if I were Hon Sue Ellery. Hon Sue Ellery : You know you have some hide to say that! Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Why did the member and her government want to stop any Redress applicant from seeking further compensation? Hon Sue Ellery : Every time you put out a newsletter I get call after call after call from really distressed people — Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, you tried to stop those people — The PRESIDENT : Order! We are coming up very soon to International Women’s Day so — Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! We do not want women to get themselves a bad reputation for misbehaviour in the chamber. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President, but some things are over and above misbehaviour. The Labor Party is absolutely appalling! Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, minister! I think you are coming to your concluding remarks. If you address your remarks through the Chair, I am sure you can get to the end of your answer very quickly. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. I just point out that the former government was going to make Redress applicants sign a watertight waiver and that was from the State Solicitor’s Office so that those vulnerable people who are able to go on and get further recourse — Hon Sue Ellery : You know you’ll be struck by lightning any minute—you will be! Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I demanded an apology from Hon Sue Ellery on air last week and I actually got that apology because she was absolutely disgraceful! Hon Sue Ellery interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I just want to know under standing order 47 whether the minister is claiming that the document she quoted from is a confidential document; and, if so, why was she quoting it in the house? The PRESIDENT : You asked for the minister to table the document initially, but the minister may or may not, depending on how the minister feels about it, table that document and she may not table it on the grounds that it is a confidential document so that may be the grounds on which she chooses not to table the document. Hon KEN TRAVERS : With all due respect Mr President, it is the only ground; she needs to claim it as a confidential document not to table it. I have not asked for it to be tabled up till now but I will do so. I ask for it to be tabled and I ask whether the minister is seeking to claim it as a confidential document. The PRESIDENT : I think you will find confidentiality is not the only reason a minister may decline to table a document. However, the minister has been asked for a second time to table the document, if the minister would like to indicate whether she chooses to or otherwise. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I will take advice on that, Mr President, and if the advice that I receive is to table that tomorrow then I will do it but at present the answer is no. The PRESIDENT : You cannot take advice; you have to give an indication now. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Then the answer is no and I have the right to do that. Questions without Notice Resumed The PRESIDENT : Okay, we will move on with questions without notice. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : The minister has not told us whether it is a confidential document. That is what I am asking: does the minister claim it to be a confidential document? My reading of the standing orders is very clear; that is, she needs to claim it as a confidential document and not deny the house access to it just because she chooses. I put to you, Mr President, the fact that after repeated questions the minister has not stated that it is a confidential document and that therefore means that it is. She quoted from it and it should be tabled. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Mr President, it is a confidential document. Questions without Notice Resumed Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let us move on with questions without notice.
Hon Simon O’Brien : She just held them up and showed them to you and said they were her notes. It’s pretty obvious. Hon Sue Ellery : Was she quoting or not? The PRESIDENT : The standing order Hon Ken Travers is referring to relates to a member. A minister does not have to table the document if the minister chooses not to. Hon KEN TRAVERS : No, I am not asking for the document to be tabled. I am asking for the minister to identify the document that she is quoting from. The PRESIDENT : I think that standing order relates to a member. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I have already said that it was from the State Solicitor’s Office on 23 October to the Department for Child Protection, and I would be very embarrassed if I were Hon Sue Ellery. Hon Sue Ellery : You know you have some hide to say that! Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Why did the member and her government want to stop any Redress applicant from seeking further compensation? Hon Sue Ellery : Every time you put out a newsletter I get call after call after call from really distressed people — Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, you tried to stop those people — The PRESIDENT : Order! We are coming up very soon to International Women’s Day so — Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! We do not want women to get themselves a bad reputation for misbehaviour in the chamber. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President, but some things are over and above misbehaviour. The Labor Party is absolutely appalling! Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, minister! I think you are coming to your concluding remarks. If you address your remarks through the Chair, I am sure you can get to the end of your answer very quickly. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. I just point out that the former government was going to make Redress applicants sign a watertight waiver and that was from the State Solicitor’s Office so that those vulnerable people who are able to go on and get further recourse — Hon Sue Ellery : You know you’ll be struck by lightning any minute—you will be! Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I demanded an apology from Hon Sue Ellery on air last week and I actually got that apology because she was absolutely disgraceful! Hon Sue Ellery interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I just want to know under standing order 47 whether the minister is claiming that the document she quoted from is a confidential document; and, if so, why was she quoting it in the house? The PRESIDENT : You asked for the minister to table the document initially, but the minister may or may not, depending on how the minister feels about it, table that document and she may not table it on the grounds that it is a confidential document so that may be the grounds on which she chooses not to table the document. Hon KEN TRAVERS : With all due respect Mr President, it is the only ground; she needs to claim it as a confidential document not to table it. I have not asked for it to be tabled up till now but I will do so. I ask for it to be tabled and I ask whether the minister is seeking to claim it as a confidential document. The PRESIDENT : I think you will find confidentiality is not the only reason a minister may decline to table a document. However, the minister has been asked for a second time to table the document, if the minister would like to indicate whether she chooses to or otherwise. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I will take advice on that, Mr President, and if the advice that I receive is to table that tomorrow then I will do it but at present the answer is no. The PRESIDENT : You cannot take advice; you have to give an indication now. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Then the answer is no and I have the right to do that. Questions without Notice Resumed The PRESIDENT : Okay, we will move on with questions without notice. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : The minister has not told us whether it is a confidential document. That is what I am asking: does the minister claim it to be a confidential document? My reading of the standing orders is very clear; that is, she needs to claim it as a confidential document and not deny the house access to it just because she chooses. I put to you, Mr President, the fact that after repeated questions the minister has not stated that it is a confidential document and that therefore means that it is. She quoted from it and it should be tabled. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Mr President, it is a confidential document. Questions without Notice Resumed Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let us move on with questions without notice.
Hon Sue Ellery : Was she quoting or not? The PRESIDENT : The standing order Hon Ken Travers is referring to relates to a member. A minister does not have to table the document if the minister chooses not to. Hon KEN TRAVERS : No, I am not asking for the document to be tabled. I am asking for the minister to identify the document that she is quoting from. The PRESIDENT : I think that standing order relates to a member. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I have already said that it was from the State Solicitor’s Office on 23 October to the Department for Child Protection, and I would be very embarrassed if I were Hon Sue Ellery. Hon Sue Ellery : You know you have some hide to say that! Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Why did the member and her government want to stop any Redress applicant from seeking further compensation? Hon Sue Ellery : Every time you put out a newsletter I get call after call after call from really distressed people — Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, you tried to stop those people — The PRESIDENT : Order! We are coming up very soon to International Women’s Day so — Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! We do not want women to get themselves a bad reputation for misbehaviour in the chamber. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President, but some things are over and above misbehaviour. The Labor Party is absolutely appalling! Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, minister! I think you are coming to your concluding remarks. If you address your remarks through the Chair, I am sure you can get to the end of your answer very quickly. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. I just point out that the former government was going to make Redress applicants sign a watertight waiver and that was from the State Solicitor’s Office so that those vulnerable people who are able to go on and get further recourse — Hon Sue Ellery : You know you’ll be struck by lightning any minute—you will be! Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I demanded an apology from Hon Sue Ellery on air last week and I actually got that apology because she was absolutely disgraceful! Hon Sue Ellery interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I just want to know under standing order 47 whether the minister is claiming that the document she quoted from is a confidential document; and, if so, why was she quoting it in the house? The PRESIDENT : You asked for the minister to table the document initially, but the minister may or may not, depending on how the minister feels about it, table that document and she may not table it on the grounds that it is a confidential document so that may be the grounds on which she chooses not to table the document. Hon KEN TRAVERS : With all due respect Mr President, it is the only ground; she needs to claim it as a confidential document not to table it. I have not asked for it to be tabled up till now but I will do so. I ask for it to be tabled and I ask whether the minister is seeking to claim it as a confidential document. The PRESIDENT : I think you will find confidentiality is not the only reason a minister may decline to table a document. However, the minister has been asked for a second time to table the document, if the minister would like to indicate whether she chooses to or otherwise. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I will take advice on that, Mr President, and if the advice that I receive is to table that tomorrow then I will do it but at present the answer is no. The PRESIDENT : You cannot take advice; you have to give an indication now. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Then the answer is no and I have the right to do that. Questions without Notice Resumed The PRESIDENT : Okay, we will move on with questions without notice. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : The minister has not told us whether it is a confidential document. That is what I am asking: does the minister claim it to be a confidential document? My reading of the standing orders is very clear; that is, she needs to claim it as a confidential document and not deny the house access to it just because she chooses. I put to you, Mr President, the fact that after repeated questions the minister has not stated that it is a confidential document and that therefore means that it is. She quoted from it and it should be tabled. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Mr President, it is a confidential document. Questions without Notice Resumed Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let us move on with questions without notice.
The PRESIDENT : The standing order Hon Ken Travers is referring to relates to a member. A minister does not have to table the document if the minister chooses not to. Hon KEN TRAVERS : No, I am not asking for the document to be tabled. I am asking for the minister to identify the document that she is quoting from. The PRESIDENT : I think that standing order relates to a member. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I have already said that it was from the State Solicitor’s Office on 23 October to the Department for Child Protection, and I would be very embarrassed if I were Hon Sue Ellery. Hon Sue Ellery : You know you have some hide to say that! Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Why did the member and her government want to stop any Redress applicant from seeking further compensation? Hon Sue Ellery : Every time you put out a newsletter I get call after call after call from really distressed people — Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, you tried to stop those people — The PRESIDENT : Order! We are coming up very soon to International Women’s Day so — Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! We do not want women to get themselves a bad reputation for misbehaviour in the chamber. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President, but some things are over and above misbehaviour. The Labor Party is absolutely appalling! Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, minister! I think you are coming to your concluding remarks. If you address your remarks through the Chair, I am sure you can get to the end of your answer very quickly. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. I just point out that the former government was going to make Redress applicants sign a watertight waiver and that was from the State Solicitor’s Office so that those vulnerable people who are able to go on and get further recourse — Hon Sue Ellery : You know you’ll be struck by lightning any minute—you will be! Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I demanded an apology from Hon Sue Ellery on air last week and I actually got that apology because she was absolutely disgraceful! Hon Sue Ellery interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I just want to know under standing order 47 whether the minister is claiming that the document she quoted from is a confidential document; and, if so, why was she quoting it in the house? The PRESIDENT : You asked for the minister to table the document initially, but the minister may or may not, depending on how the minister feels about it, table that document and she may not table it on the grounds that it is a confidential document so that may be the grounds on which she chooses not to table the document. Hon KEN TRAVERS : With all due respect Mr President, it is the only ground; she needs to claim it as a confidential document not to table it. I have not asked for it to be tabled up till now but I will do so. I ask for it to be tabled and I ask whether the minister is seeking to claim it as a confidential document. The PRESIDENT : I think you will find confidentiality is not the only reason a minister may decline to table a document. However, the minister has been asked for a second time to table the document, if the minister would like to indicate whether she chooses to or otherwise. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I will take advice on that, Mr President, and if the advice that I receive is to table that tomorrow then I will do it but at present the answer is no. The PRESIDENT : You cannot take advice; you have to give an indication now. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Then the answer is no and I have the right to do that. Questions without Notice Resumed The PRESIDENT : Okay, we will move on with questions without notice. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : The minister has not told us whether it is a confidential document. That is what I am asking: does the minister claim it to be a confidential document? My reading of the standing orders is very clear; that is, she needs to claim it as a confidential document and not deny the house access to it just because she chooses. I put to you, Mr President, the fact that after repeated questions the minister has not stated that it is a confidential document and that therefore means that it is. She quoted from it and it should be tabled. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Mr President, it is a confidential document. Questions without Notice Resumed Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let us move on with questions without notice.
Hon KEN TRAVERS : No, I am not asking for the document to be tabled. I am asking for the minister to identify the document that she is quoting from. The PRESIDENT : I think that standing order relates to a member. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I have already said that it was from the State Solicitor’s Office on 23 October to the Department for Child Protection, and I would be very embarrassed if I were Hon Sue Ellery. Hon Sue Ellery : You know you have some hide to say that! Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Why did the member and her government want to stop any Redress applicant from seeking further compensation? Hon Sue Ellery : Every time you put out a newsletter I get call after call after call from really distressed people — Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, you tried to stop those people — The PRESIDENT : Order! We are coming up very soon to International Women’s Day so — Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! We do not want women to get themselves a bad reputation for misbehaviour in the chamber. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President, but some things are over and above misbehaviour. The Labor Party is absolutely appalling! Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, minister! I think you are coming to your concluding remarks. If you address your remarks through the Chair, I am sure you can get to the end of your answer very quickly. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. I just point out that the former government was going to make Redress applicants sign a watertight waiver and that was from the State Solicitor’s Office so that those vulnerable people who are able to go on and get further recourse — Hon Sue Ellery : You know you’ll be struck by lightning any minute—you will be! Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I demanded an apology from Hon Sue Ellery on air last week and I actually got that apology because she was absolutely disgraceful! Hon Sue Ellery interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I just want to know under standing order 47 whether the minister is claiming that the document she quoted from is a confidential document; and, if so, why was she quoting it in the house? The PRESIDENT : You asked for the minister to table the document initially, but the minister may or may not, depending on how the minister feels about it, table that document and she may not table it on the grounds that it is a confidential document so that may be the grounds on which she chooses not to table the document. Hon KEN TRAVERS : With all due respect Mr President, it is the only ground; she needs to claim it as a confidential document not to table it. I have not asked for it to be tabled up till now but I will do so. I ask for it to be tabled and I ask whether the minister is seeking to claim it as a confidential document. The PRESIDENT : I think you will find confidentiality is not the only reason a minister may decline to table a document. However, the minister has been asked for a second time to table the document, if the minister would like to indicate whether she chooses to or otherwise. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I will take advice on that, Mr President, and if the advice that I receive is to table that tomorrow then I will do it but at present the answer is no. The PRESIDENT : You cannot take advice; you have to give an indication now. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Then the answer is no and I have the right to do that. Questions without Notice Resumed The PRESIDENT : Okay, we will move on with questions without notice. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : The minister has not told us whether it is a confidential document. That is what I am asking: does the minister claim it to be a confidential document? My reading of the standing orders is very clear; that is, she needs to claim it as a confidential document and not deny the house access to it just because she chooses. I put to you, Mr President, the fact that after repeated questions the minister has not stated that it is a confidential document and that therefore means that it is. She quoted from it and it should be tabled. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Mr President, it is a confidential document. Questions without Notice Resumed Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let us move on with questions without notice.
The PRESIDENT : I think that standing order relates to a member. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I have already said that it was from the State Solicitor’s Office on 23 October to the Department for Child Protection, and I would be very embarrassed if I were Hon Sue Ellery. Hon Sue Ellery : You know you have some hide to say that! Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Why did the member and her government want to stop any Redress applicant from seeking further compensation? Hon Sue Ellery : Every time you put out a newsletter I get call after call after call from really distressed people — Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, you tried to stop those people — The PRESIDENT : Order! We are coming up very soon to International Women’s Day so — Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! We do not want women to get themselves a bad reputation for misbehaviour in the chamber. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President, but some things are over and above misbehaviour. The Labor Party is absolutely appalling! Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, minister! I think you are coming to your concluding remarks. If you address your remarks through the Chair, I am sure you can get to the end of your answer very quickly. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. I just point out that the former government was going to make Redress applicants sign a watertight waiver and that was from the State Solicitor’s Office so that those vulnerable people who are able to go on and get further recourse — Hon Sue Ellery : You know you’ll be struck by lightning any minute—you will be! Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I demanded an apology from Hon Sue Ellery on air last week and I actually got that apology because she was absolutely disgraceful! Hon Sue Ellery interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I just want to know under standing order 47 whether the minister is claiming that the document she quoted from is a confidential document; and, if so, why was she quoting it in the house? The PRESIDENT : You asked for the minister to table the document initially, but the minister may or may not, depending on how the minister feels about it, table that document and she may not table it on the grounds that it is a confidential document so that may be the grounds on which she chooses not to table the document. Hon KEN TRAVERS : With all due respect Mr President, it is the only ground; she needs to claim it as a confidential document not to table it. I have not asked for it to be tabled up till now but I will do so. I ask for it to be tabled and I ask whether the minister is seeking to claim it as a confidential document. The PRESIDENT : I think you will find confidentiality is not the only reason a minister may decline to table a document. However, the minister has been asked for a second time to table the document, if the minister would like to indicate whether she chooses to or otherwise. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I will take advice on that, Mr President, and if the advice that I receive is to table that tomorrow then I will do it but at present the answer is no. The PRESIDENT : You cannot take advice; you have to give an indication now. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Then the answer is no and I have the right to do that. Questions without Notice Resumed The PRESIDENT : Okay, we will move on with questions without notice. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : The minister has not told us whether it is a confidential document. That is what I am asking: does the minister claim it to be a confidential document? My reading of the standing orders is very clear; that is, she needs to claim it as a confidential document and not deny the house access to it just because she chooses. I put to you, Mr President, the fact that after repeated questions the minister has not stated that it is a confidential document and that therefore means that it is. She quoted from it and it should be tabled. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Mr President, it is a confidential document. Questions without Notice Resumed Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let us move on with questions without notice.
Hon Sue Ellery : You know you have some hide to say that! Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Why did the member and her government want to stop any Redress applicant from seeking further compensation? Hon Sue Ellery : Every time you put out a newsletter I get call after call after call from really distressed people — Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, you tried to stop those people — The PRESIDENT : Order! We are coming up very soon to International Women’s Day so — Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! We do not want women to get themselves a bad reputation for misbehaviour in the chamber. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President, but some things are over and above misbehaviour. The Labor Party is absolutely appalling! Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, minister! I think you are coming to your concluding remarks. If you address your remarks through the Chair, I am sure you can get to the end of your answer very quickly. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. I just point out that the former government was going to make Redress applicants sign a watertight waiver and that was from the State Solicitor’s Office so that those vulnerable people who are able to go on and get further recourse — Hon Sue Ellery : You know you’ll be struck by lightning any minute—you will be! Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I demanded an apology from Hon Sue Ellery on air last week and I actually got that apology because she was absolutely disgraceful! Hon Sue Ellery interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I just want to know under standing order 47 whether the minister is claiming that the document she quoted from is a confidential document; and, if so, why was she quoting it in the house? The PRESIDENT : You asked for the minister to table the document initially, but the minister may or may not, depending on how the minister feels about it, table that document and she may not table it on the grounds that it is a confidential document so that may be the grounds on which she chooses not to table the document. Hon KEN TRAVERS : With all due respect Mr President, it is the only ground; she needs to claim it as a confidential document not to table it. I have not asked for it to be tabled up till now but I will do so. I ask for it to be tabled and I ask whether the minister is seeking to claim it as a confidential document. The PRESIDENT : I think you will find confidentiality is not the only reason a minister may decline to table a document. However, the minister has been asked for a second time to table the document, if the minister would like to indicate whether she chooses to or otherwise. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I will take advice on that, Mr President, and if the advice that I receive is to table that tomorrow then I will do it but at present the answer is no. The PRESIDENT : You cannot take advice; you have to give an indication now. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Then the answer is no and I have the right to do that. Questions without Notice Resumed The PRESIDENT : Okay, we will move on with questions without notice. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : The minister has not told us whether it is a confidential document. That is what I am asking: does the minister claim it to be a confidential document? My reading of the standing orders is very clear; that is, she needs to claim it as a confidential document and not deny the house access to it just because she chooses. I put to you, Mr President, the fact that after repeated questions the minister has not stated that it is a confidential document and that therefore means that it is. She quoted from it and it should be tabled. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Mr President, it is a confidential document. Questions without Notice Resumed Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let us move on with questions without notice.
Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Why did the member and her government want to stop any Redress applicant from seeking further compensation? Hon Sue Ellery : Every time you put out a newsletter I get call after call after call from really distressed people — Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, you tried to stop those people — The PRESIDENT : Order! We are coming up very soon to International Women’s Day so — Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! We do not want women to get themselves a bad reputation for misbehaviour in the chamber. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President, but some things are over and above misbehaviour. The Labor Party is absolutely appalling! Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, minister! I think you are coming to your concluding remarks. If you address your remarks through the Chair, I am sure you can get to the end of your answer very quickly. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. I just point out that the former government was going to make Redress applicants sign a watertight waiver and that was from the State Solicitor’s Office so that those vulnerable people who are able to go on and get further recourse — Hon Sue Ellery : You know you’ll be struck by lightning any minute—you will be! Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I demanded an apology from Hon Sue Ellery on air last week and I actually got that apology because she was absolutely disgraceful! Hon Sue Ellery interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I just want to know under standing order 47 whether the minister is claiming that the document she quoted from is a confidential document; and, if so, why was she quoting it in the house? The PRESIDENT : You asked for the minister to table the document initially, but the minister may or may not, depending on how the minister feels about it, table that document and she may not table it on the grounds that it is a confidential document so that may be the grounds on which she chooses not to table the document. Hon KEN TRAVERS : With all due respect Mr President, it is the only ground; she needs to claim it as a confidential document not to table it. I have not asked for it to be tabled up till now but I will do so. I ask for it to be tabled and I ask whether the minister is seeking to claim it as a confidential document. The PRESIDENT : I think you will find confidentiality is not the only reason a minister may decline to table a document. However, the minister has been asked for a second time to table the document, if the minister would like to indicate whether she chooses to or otherwise. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I will take advice on that, Mr President, and if the advice that I receive is to table that tomorrow then I will do it but at present the answer is no. The PRESIDENT : You cannot take advice; you have to give an indication now. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Then the answer is no and I have the right to do that. Questions without Notice Resumed The PRESIDENT : Okay, we will move on with questions without notice. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : The minister has not told us whether it is a confidential document. That is what I am asking: does the minister claim it to be a confidential document? My reading of the standing orders is very clear; that is, she needs to claim it as a confidential document and not deny the house access to it just because she chooses. I put to you, Mr President, the fact that after repeated questions the minister has not stated that it is a confidential document and that therefore means that it is. She quoted from it and it should be tabled. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Mr President, it is a confidential document. Questions without Notice Resumed Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let us move on with questions without notice.
Hon Sue Ellery : Every time you put out a newsletter I get call after call after call from really distressed people — Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, you tried to stop those people — The PRESIDENT : Order! We are coming up very soon to International Women’s Day so — Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! We do not want women to get themselves a bad reputation for misbehaviour in the chamber. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President, but some things are over and above misbehaviour. The Labor Party is absolutely appalling! Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, minister! I think you are coming to your concluding remarks. If you address your remarks through the Chair, I am sure you can get to the end of your answer very quickly. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. I just point out that the former government was going to make Redress applicants sign a watertight waiver and that was from the State Solicitor’s Office so that those vulnerable people who are able to go on and get further recourse — Hon Sue Ellery : You know you’ll be struck by lightning any minute—you will be! Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I demanded an apology from Hon Sue Ellery on air last week and I actually got that apology because she was absolutely disgraceful! Hon Sue Ellery interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I just want to know under standing order 47 whether the minister is claiming that the document she quoted from is a confidential document; and, if so, why was she quoting it in the house? The PRESIDENT : You asked for the minister to table the document initially, but the minister may or may not, depending on how the minister feels about it, table that document and she may not table it on the grounds that it is a confidential document so that may be the grounds on which she chooses not to table the document. Hon KEN TRAVERS : With all due respect Mr President, it is the only ground; she needs to claim it as a confidential document not to table it. I have not asked for it to be tabled up till now but I will do so. I ask for it to be tabled and I ask whether the minister is seeking to claim it as a confidential document. The PRESIDENT : I think you will find confidentiality is not the only reason a minister may decline to table a document. However, the minister has been asked for a second time to table the document, if the minister would like to indicate whether she chooses to or otherwise. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I will take advice on that, Mr President, and if the advice that I receive is to table that tomorrow then I will do it but at present the answer is no. The PRESIDENT : You cannot take advice; you have to give an indication now. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Then the answer is no and I have the right to do that. Questions without Notice Resumed The PRESIDENT : Okay, we will move on with questions without notice. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : The minister has not told us whether it is a confidential document. That is what I am asking: does the minister claim it to be a confidential document? My reading of the standing orders is very clear; that is, she needs to claim it as a confidential document and not deny the house access to it just because she chooses. I put to you, Mr President, the fact that after repeated questions the minister has not stated that it is a confidential document and that therefore means that it is. She quoted from it and it should be tabled. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Mr President, it is a confidential document. Questions without Notice Resumed Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let us move on with questions without notice.
Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, you tried to stop those people — The PRESIDENT : Order! We are coming up very soon to International Women’s Day so — Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! We do not want women to get themselves a bad reputation for misbehaviour in the chamber. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President, but some things are over and above misbehaviour. The Labor Party is absolutely appalling! Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, minister! I think you are coming to your concluding remarks. If you address your remarks through the Chair, I am sure you can get to the end of your answer very quickly. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. I just point out that the former government was going to make Redress applicants sign a watertight waiver and that was from the State Solicitor’s Office so that those vulnerable people who are able to go on and get further recourse — Hon Sue Ellery : You know you’ll be struck by lightning any minute—you will be! Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I demanded an apology from Hon Sue Ellery on air last week and I actually got that apology because she was absolutely disgraceful! Hon Sue Ellery interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I just want to know under standing order 47 whether the minister is claiming that the document she quoted from is a confidential document; and, if so, why was she quoting it in the house? The PRESIDENT : You asked for the minister to table the document initially, but the minister may or may not, depending on how the minister feels about it, table that document and she may not table it on the grounds that it is a confidential document so that may be the grounds on which she chooses not to table the document. Hon KEN TRAVERS : With all due respect Mr President, it is the only ground; she needs to claim it as a confidential document not to table it. I have not asked for it to be tabled up till now but I will do so. I ask for it to be tabled and I ask whether the minister is seeking to claim it as a confidential document. The PRESIDENT : I think you will find confidentiality is not the only reason a minister may decline to table a document. However, the minister has been asked for a second time to table the document, if the minister would like to indicate whether she chooses to or otherwise. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I will take advice on that, Mr President, and if the advice that I receive is to table that tomorrow then I will do it but at present the answer is no. The PRESIDENT : You cannot take advice; you have to give an indication now. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Then the answer is no and I have the right to do that. Questions without Notice Resumed The PRESIDENT : Okay, we will move on with questions without notice. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : The minister has not told us whether it is a confidential document. That is what I am asking: does the minister claim it to be a confidential document? My reading of the standing orders is very clear; that is, she needs to claim it as a confidential document and not deny the house access to it just because she chooses. I put to you, Mr President, the fact that after repeated questions the minister has not stated that it is a confidential document and that therefore means that it is. She quoted from it and it should be tabled. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Mr President, it is a confidential document. Questions without Notice Resumed Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let us move on with questions without notice.
The PRESIDENT : Order! We are coming up very soon to International Women’s Day so — Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! We do not want women to get themselves a bad reputation for misbehaviour in the chamber. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President, but some things are over and above misbehaviour. The Labor Party is absolutely appalling! Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, minister! I think you are coming to your concluding remarks. If you address your remarks through the Chair, I am sure you can get to the end of your answer very quickly. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. I just point out that the former government was going to make Redress applicants sign a watertight waiver and that was from the State Solicitor’s Office so that those vulnerable people who are able to go on and get further recourse — Hon Sue Ellery : You know you’ll be struck by lightning any minute—you will be! Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I demanded an apology from Hon Sue Ellery on air last week and I actually got that apology because she was absolutely disgraceful! Hon Sue Ellery interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I just want to know under standing order 47 whether the minister is claiming that the document she quoted from is a confidential document; and, if so, why was she quoting it in the house? The PRESIDENT : You asked for the minister to table the document initially, but the minister may or may not, depending on how the minister feels about it, table that document and she may not table it on the grounds that it is a confidential document so that may be the grounds on which she chooses not to table the document. Hon KEN TRAVERS : With all due respect Mr President, it is the only ground; she needs to claim it as a confidential document not to table it. I have not asked for it to be tabled up till now but I will do so. I ask for it to be tabled and I ask whether the minister is seeking to claim it as a confidential document. The PRESIDENT : I think you will find confidentiality is not the only reason a minister may decline to table a document. However, the minister has been asked for a second time to table the document, if the minister would like to indicate whether she chooses to or otherwise. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I will take advice on that, Mr President, and if the advice that I receive is to table that tomorrow then I will do it but at present the answer is no. The PRESIDENT : You cannot take advice; you have to give an indication now. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Then the answer is no and I have the right to do that. Questions without Notice Resumed The PRESIDENT : Okay, we will move on with questions without notice. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : The minister has not told us whether it is a confidential document. That is what I am asking: does the minister claim it to be a confidential document? My reading of the standing orders is very clear; that is, she needs to claim it as a confidential document and not deny the house access to it just because she chooses. I put to you, Mr President, the fact that after repeated questions the minister has not stated that it is a confidential document and that therefore means that it is. She quoted from it and it should be tabled. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Mr President, it is a confidential document. Questions without Notice Resumed Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let us move on with questions without notice.
Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! We do not want women to get themselves a bad reputation for misbehaviour in the chamber. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President, but some things are over and above misbehaviour. The Labor Party is absolutely appalling! Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, minister! I think you are coming to your concluding remarks. If you address your remarks through the Chair, I am sure you can get to the end of your answer very quickly. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. I just point out that the former government was going to make Redress applicants sign a watertight waiver and that was from the State Solicitor’s Office so that those vulnerable people who are able to go on and get further recourse — Hon Sue Ellery : You know you’ll be struck by lightning any minute—you will be! Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I demanded an apology from Hon Sue Ellery on air last week and I actually got that apology because she was absolutely disgraceful! Hon Sue Ellery interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I just want to know under standing order 47 whether the minister is claiming that the document she quoted from is a confidential document; and, if so, why was she quoting it in the house? The PRESIDENT : You asked for the minister to table the document initially, but the minister may or may not, depending on how the minister feels about it, table that document and she may not table it on the grounds that it is a confidential document so that may be the grounds on which she chooses not to table the document. Hon KEN TRAVERS : With all due respect Mr President, it is the only ground; she needs to claim it as a confidential document not to table it. I have not asked for it to be tabled up till now but I will do so. I ask for it to be tabled and I ask whether the minister is seeking to claim it as a confidential document. The PRESIDENT : I think you will find confidentiality is not the only reason a minister may decline to table a document. However, the minister has been asked for a second time to table the document, if the minister would like to indicate whether she chooses to or otherwise. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I will take advice on that, Mr President, and if the advice that I receive is to table that tomorrow then I will do it but at present the answer is no. The PRESIDENT : You cannot take advice; you have to give an indication now. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Then the answer is no and I have the right to do that. Questions without Notice Resumed The PRESIDENT : Okay, we will move on with questions without notice. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : The minister has not told us whether it is a confidential document. That is what I am asking: does the minister claim it to be a confidential document? My reading of the standing orders is very clear; that is, she needs to claim it as a confidential document and not deny the house access to it just because she chooses. I put to you, Mr President, the fact that after repeated questions the minister has not stated that it is a confidential document and that therefore means that it is. She quoted from it and it should be tabled. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Mr President, it is a confidential document. Questions without Notice Resumed Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let us move on with questions without notice.
The PRESIDENT : Order! We do not want women to get themselves a bad reputation for misbehaviour in the chamber. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President, but some things are over and above misbehaviour. The Labor Party is absolutely appalling! Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, minister! I think you are coming to your concluding remarks. If you address your remarks through the Chair, I am sure you can get to the end of your answer very quickly. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. I just point out that the former government was going to make Redress applicants sign a watertight waiver and that was from the State Solicitor’s Office so that those vulnerable people who are able to go on and get further recourse — Hon Sue Ellery : You know you’ll be struck by lightning any minute—you will be! Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I demanded an apology from Hon Sue Ellery on air last week and I actually got that apology because she was absolutely disgraceful! Hon Sue Ellery interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I just want to know under standing order 47 whether the minister is claiming that the document she quoted from is a confidential document; and, if so, why was she quoting it in the house? The PRESIDENT : You asked for the minister to table the document initially, but the minister may or may not, depending on how the minister feels about it, table that document and she may not table it on the grounds that it is a confidential document so that may be the grounds on which she chooses not to table the document. Hon KEN TRAVERS : With all due respect Mr President, it is the only ground; she needs to claim it as a confidential document not to table it. I have not asked for it to be tabled up till now but I will do so. I ask for it to be tabled and I ask whether the minister is seeking to claim it as a confidential document. The PRESIDENT : I think you will find confidentiality is not the only reason a minister may decline to table a document. However, the minister has been asked for a second time to table the document, if the minister would like to indicate whether she chooses to or otherwise. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I will take advice on that, Mr President, and if the advice that I receive is to table that tomorrow then I will do it but at present the answer is no. The PRESIDENT : You cannot take advice; you have to give an indication now. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Then the answer is no and I have the right to do that. Questions without Notice Resumed The PRESIDENT : Okay, we will move on with questions without notice. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : The minister has not told us whether it is a confidential document. That is what I am asking: does the minister claim it to be a confidential document? My reading of the standing orders is very clear; that is, she needs to claim it as a confidential document and not deny the house access to it just because she chooses. I put to you, Mr President, the fact that after repeated questions the minister has not stated that it is a confidential document and that therefore means that it is. She quoted from it and it should be tabled. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Mr President, it is a confidential document. Questions without Notice Resumed Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let us move on with questions without notice.
Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President, but some things are over and above misbehaviour. The Labor Party is absolutely appalling! Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, minister! I think you are coming to your concluding remarks. If you address your remarks through the Chair, I am sure you can get to the end of your answer very quickly. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. I just point out that the former government was going to make Redress applicants sign a watertight waiver and that was from the State Solicitor’s Office so that those vulnerable people who are able to go on and get further recourse — Hon Sue Ellery : You know you’ll be struck by lightning any minute—you will be! Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I demanded an apology from Hon Sue Ellery on air last week and I actually got that apology because she was absolutely disgraceful! Hon Sue Ellery interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I just want to know under standing order 47 whether the minister is claiming that the document she quoted from is a confidential document; and, if so, why was she quoting it in the house? The PRESIDENT : You asked for the minister to table the document initially, but the minister may or may not, depending on how the minister feels about it, table that document and she may not table it on the grounds that it is a confidential document so that may be the grounds on which she chooses not to table the document. Hon KEN TRAVERS : With all due respect Mr President, it is the only ground; she needs to claim it as a confidential document not to table it. I have not asked for it to be tabled up till now but I will do so. I ask for it to be tabled and I ask whether the minister is seeking to claim it as a confidential document. The PRESIDENT : I think you will find confidentiality is not the only reason a minister may decline to table a document. However, the minister has been asked for a second time to table the document, if the minister would like to indicate whether she chooses to or otherwise. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I will take advice on that, Mr President, and if the advice that I receive is to table that tomorrow then I will do it but at present the answer is no. The PRESIDENT : You cannot take advice; you have to give an indication now. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Then the answer is no and I have the right to do that. Questions without Notice Resumed The PRESIDENT : Okay, we will move on with questions without notice. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : The minister has not told us whether it is a confidential document. That is what I am asking: does the minister claim it to be a confidential document? My reading of the standing orders is very clear; that is, she needs to claim it as a confidential document and not deny the house access to it just because she chooses. I put to you, Mr President, the fact that after repeated questions the minister has not stated that it is a confidential document and that therefore means that it is. She quoted from it and it should be tabled. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Mr President, it is a confidential document. Questions without Notice Resumed Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let us move on with questions without notice.
Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, minister! I think you are coming to your concluding remarks. If you address your remarks through the Chair, I am sure you can get to the end of your answer very quickly. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. I just point out that the former government was going to make Redress applicants sign a watertight waiver and that was from the State Solicitor’s Office so that those vulnerable people who are able to go on and get further recourse — Hon Sue Ellery : You know you’ll be struck by lightning any minute—you will be! Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I demanded an apology from Hon Sue Ellery on air last week and I actually got that apology because she was absolutely disgraceful! Hon Sue Ellery interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I just want to know under standing order 47 whether the minister is claiming that the document she quoted from is a confidential document; and, if so, why was she quoting it in the house? The PRESIDENT : You asked for the minister to table the document initially, but the minister may or may not, depending on how the minister feels about it, table that document and she may not table it on the grounds that it is a confidential document so that may be the grounds on which she chooses not to table the document. Hon KEN TRAVERS : With all due respect Mr President, it is the only ground; she needs to claim it as a confidential document not to table it. I have not asked for it to be tabled up till now but I will do so. I ask for it to be tabled and I ask whether the minister is seeking to claim it as a confidential document. The PRESIDENT : I think you will find confidentiality is not the only reason a minister may decline to table a document. However, the minister has been asked for a second time to table the document, if the minister would like to indicate whether she chooses to or otherwise. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I will take advice on that, Mr President, and if the advice that I receive is to table that tomorrow then I will do it but at present the answer is no. The PRESIDENT : You cannot take advice; you have to give an indication now. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Then the answer is no and I have the right to do that. Questions without Notice Resumed The PRESIDENT : Okay, we will move on with questions without notice. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : The minister has not told us whether it is a confidential document. That is what I am asking: does the minister claim it to be a confidential document? My reading of the standing orders is very clear; that is, she needs to claim it as a confidential document and not deny the house access to it just because she chooses. I put to you, Mr President, the fact that after repeated questions the minister has not stated that it is a confidential document and that therefore means that it is. She quoted from it and it should be tabled. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Mr President, it is a confidential document. Questions without Notice Resumed Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let us move on with questions without notice.
The PRESIDENT : Order, minister! I think you are coming to your concluding remarks. If you address your remarks through the Chair, I am sure you can get to the end of your answer very quickly. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. I just point out that the former government was going to make Redress applicants sign a watertight waiver and that was from the State Solicitor’s Office so that those vulnerable people who are able to go on and get further recourse — Hon Sue Ellery : You know you’ll be struck by lightning any minute—you will be! Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I demanded an apology from Hon Sue Ellery on air last week and I actually got that apology because she was absolutely disgraceful! Hon Sue Ellery interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I just want to know under standing order 47 whether the minister is claiming that the document she quoted from is a confidential document; and, if so, why was she quoting it in the house? The PRESIDENT : You asked for the minister to table the document initially, but the minister may or may not, depending on how the minister feels about it, table that document and she may not table it on the grounds that it is a confidential document so that may be the grounds on which she chooses not to table the document. Hon KEN TRAVERS : With all due respect Mr President, it is the only ground; she needs to claim it as a confidential document not to table it. I have not asked for it to be tabled up till now but I will do so. I ask for it to be tabled and I ask whether the minister is seeking to claim it as a confidential document. The PRESIDENT : I think you will find confidentiality is not the only reason a minister may decline to table a document. However, the minister has been asked for a second time to table the document, if the minister would like to indicate whether she chooses to or otherwise. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I will take advice on that, Mr President, and if the advice that I receive is to table that tomorrow then I will do it but at present the answer is no. The PRESIDENT : You cannot take advice; you have to give an indication now. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Then the answer is no and I have the right to do that. Questions without Notice Resumed The PRESIDENT : Okay, we will move on with questions without notice. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : The minister has not told us whether it is a confidential document. That is what I am asking: does the minister claim it to be a confidential document? My reading of the standing orders is very clear; that is, she needs to claim it as a confidential document and not deny the house access to it just because she chooses. I put to you, Mr President, the fact that after repeated questions the minister has not stated that it is a confidential document and that therefore means that it is. She quoted from it and it should be tabled. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Mr President, it is a confidential document. Questions without Notice Resumed Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let us move on with questions without notice.
Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. I just point out that the former government was going to make Redress applicants sign a watertight waiver and that was from the State Solicitor’s Office so that those vulnerable people who are able to go on and get further recourse — Hon Sue Ellery : You know you’ll be struck by lightning any minute—you will be! Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I demanded an apology from Hon Sue Ellery on air last week and I actually got that apology because she was absolutely disgraceful! Hon Sue Ellery interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I just want to know under standing order 47 whether the minister is claiming that the document she quoted from is a confidential document; and, if so, why was she quoting it in the house? The PRESIDENT : You asked for the minister to table the document initially, but the minister may or may not, depending on how the minister feels about it, table that document and she may not table it on the grounds that it is a confidential document so that may be the grounds on which she chooses not to table the document. Hon KEN TRAVERS : With all due respect Mr President, it is the only ground; she needs to claim it as a confidential document not to table it. I have not asked for it to be tabled up till now but I will do so. I ask for it to be tabled and I ask whether the minister is seeking to claim it as a confidential document. The PRESIDENT : I think you will find confidentiality is not the only reason a minister may decline to table a document. However, the minister has been asked for a second time to table the document, if the minister would like to indicate whether she chooses to or otherwise. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I will take advice on that, Mr President, and if the advice that I receive is to table that tomorrow then I will do it but at present the answer is no. The PRESIDENT : You cannot take advice; you have to give an indication now. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Then the answer is no and I have the right to do that. Questions without Notice Resumed The PRESIDENT : Okay, we will move on with questions without notice. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : The minister has not told us whether it is a confidential document. That is what I am asking: does the minister claim it to be a confidential document? My reading of the standing orders is very clear; that is, she needs to claim it as a confidential document and not deny the house access to it just because she chooses. I put to you, Mr President, the fact that after repeated questions the minister has not stated that it is a confidential document and that therefore means that it is. She quoted from it and it should be tabled. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Mr President, it is a confidential document. Questions without Notice Resumed Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let us move on with questions without notice.
Hon Sue Ellery : You know you’ll be struck by lightning any minute—you will be! Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I demanded an apology from Hon Sue Ellery on air last week and I actually got that apology because she was absolutely disgraceful! Hon Sue Ellery interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I just want to know under standing order 47 whether the minister is claiming that the document she quoted from is a confidential document; and, if so, why was she quoting it in the house? The PRESIDENT : You asked for the minister to table the document initially, but the minister may or may not, depending on how the minister feels about it, table that document and she may not table it on the grounds that it is a confidential document so that may be the grounds on which she chooses not to table the document. Hon KEN TRAVERS : With all due respect Mr President, it is the only ground; she needs to claim it as a confidential document not to table it. I have not asked for it to be tabled up till now but I will do so. I ask for it to be tabled and I ask whether the minister is seeking to claim it as a confidential document. The PRESIDENT : I think you will find confidentiality is not the only reason a minister may decline to table a document. However, the minister has been asked for a second time to table the document, if the minister would like to indicate whether she chooses to or otherwise. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I will take advice on that, Mr President, and if the advice that I receive is to table that tomorrow then I will do it but at present the answer is no. The PRESIDENT : You cannot take advice; you have to give an indication now. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Then the answer is no and I have the right to do that. Questions without Notice Resumed The PRESIDENT : Okay, we will move on with questions without notice. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : The minister has not told us whether it is a confidential document. That is what I am asking: does the minister claim it to be a confidential document? My reading of the standing orders is very clear; that is, she needs to claim it as a confidential document and not deny the house access to it just because she chooses. I put to you, Mr President, the fact that after repeated questions the minister has not stated that it is a confidential document and that therefore means that it is. She quoted from it and it should be tabled. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Mr President, it is a confidential document. Questions without Notice Resumed Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let us move on with questions without notice.
Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I demanded an apology from Hon Sue Ellery on air last week and I actually got that apology because she was absolutely disgraceful! Hon Sue Ellery interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I just want to know under standing order 47 whether the minister is claiming that the document she quoted from is a confidential document; and, if so, why was she quoting it in the house? The PRESIDENT : You asked for the minister to table the document initially, but the minister may or may not, depending on how the minister feels about it, table that document and she may not table it on the grounds that it is a confidential document so that may be the grounds on which she chooses not to table the document. Hon KEN TRAVERS : With all due respect Mr President, it is the only ground; she needs to claim it as a confidential document not to table it. I have not asked for it to be tabled up till now but I will do so. I ask for it to be tabled and I ask whether the minister is seeking to claim it as a confidential document. The PRESIDENT : I think you will find confidentiality is not the only reason a minister may decline to table a document. However, the minister has been asked for a second time to table the document, if the minister would like to indicate whether she chooses to or otherwise. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I will take advice on that, Mr President, and if the advice that I receive is to table that tomorrow then I will do it but at present the answer is no. The PRESIDENT : You cannot take advice; you have to give an indication now. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Then the answer is no and I have the right to do that. Questions without Notice Resumed The PRESIDENT : Okay, we will move on with questions without notice. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : The minister has not told us whether it is a confidential document. That is what I am asking: does the minister claim it to be a confidential document? My reading of the standing orders is very clear; that is, she needs to claim it as a confidential document and not deny the house access to it just because she chooses. I put to you, Mr President, the fact that after repeated questions the minister has not stated that it is a confidential document and that therefore means that it is. She quoted from it and it should be tabled. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Mr President, it is a confidential document. Questions without Notice Resumed Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let us move on with questions without notice.
Hon Sue Ellery interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I just want to know under standing order 47 whether the minister is claiming that the document she quoted from is a confidential document; and, if so, why was she quoting it in the house? The PRESIDENT : You asked for the minister to table the document initially, but the minister may or may not, depending on how the minister feels about it, table that document and she may not table it on the grounds that it is a confidential document so that may be the grounds on which she chooses not to table the document. Hon KEN TRAVERS : With all due respect Mr President, it is the only ground; she needs to claim it as a confidential document not to table it. I have not asked for it to be tabled up till now but I will do so. I ask for it to be tabled and I ask whether the minister is seeking to claim it as a confidential document. The PRESIDENT : I think you will find confidentiality is not the only reason a minister may decline to table a document. However, the minister has been asked for a second time to table the document, if the minister would like to indicate whether she chooses to or otherwise. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I will take advice on that, Mr President, and if the advice that I receive is to table that tomorrow then I will do it but at present the answer is no. The PRESIDENT : You cannot take advice; you have to give an indication now. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Then the answer is no and I have the right to do that. Questions without Notice Resumed The PRESIDENT : Okay, we will move on with questions without notice. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : The minister has not told us whether it is a confidential document. That is what I am asking: does the minister claim it to be a confidential document? My reading of the standing orders is very clear; that is, she needs to claim it as a confidential document and not deny the house access to it just because she chooses. I put to you, Mr President, the fact that after repeated questions the minister has not stated that it is a confidential document and that therefore means that it is. She quoted from it and it should be tabled. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Mr President, it is a confidential document. Questions without Notice Resumed Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let us move on with questions without notice.
The PRESIDENT : Order! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I just want to know under standing order 47 whether the minister is claiming that the document she quoted from is a confidential document; and, if so, why was she quoting it in the house? The PRESIDENT : You asked for the minister to table the document initially, but the minister may or may not, depending on how the minister feels about it, table that document and she may not table it on the grounds that it is a confidential document so that may be the grounds on which she chooses not to table the document. Hon KEN TRAVERS : With all due respect Mr President, it is the only ground; she needs to claim it as a confidential document not to table it. I have not asked for it to be tabled up till now but I will do so. I ask for it to be tabled and I ask whether the minister is seeking to claim it as a confidential document. The PRESIDENT : I think you will find confidentiality is not the only reason a minister may decline to table a document. However, the minister has been asked for a second time to table the document, if the minister would like to indicate whether she chooses to or otherwise. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I will take advice on that, Mr President, and if the advice that I receive is to table that tomorrow then I will do it but at present the answer is no. The PRESIDENT : You cannot take advice; you have to give an indication now. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Then the answer is no and I have the right to do that. Questions without Notice Resumed The PRESIDENT : Okay, we will move on with questions without notice. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : The minister has not told us whether it is a confidential document. That is what I am asking: does the minister claim it to be a confidential document? My reading of the standing orders is very clear; that is, she needs to claim it as a confidential document and not deny the house access to it just because she chooses. I put to you, Mr President, the fact that after repeated questions the minister has not stated that it is a confidential document and that therefore means that it is. She quoted from it and it should be tabled. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Mr President, it is a confidential document. Questions without Notice Resumed Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let us move on with questions without notice.
The PRESIDENT : You asked for the minister to table the document initially, but the minister may or may not, depending on how the minister feels about it, table that document and she may not table it on the grounds that it is a confidential document so that may be the grounds on which she chooses not to table the document. Hon KEN TRAVERS : With all due respect Mr President, it is the only ground; she needs to claim it as a confidential document not to table it. I have not asked for it to be tabled up till now but I will do so. I ask for it to be tabled and I ask whether the minister is seeking to claim it as a confidential document. The PRESIDENT : I think you will find confidentiality is not the only reason a minister may decline to table a document. However, the minister has been asked for a second time to table the document, if the minister would like to indicate whether she chooses to or otherwise. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I will take advice on that, Mr President, and if the advice that I receive is to table that tomorrow then I will do it but at present the answer is no. The PRESIDENT : You cannot take advice; you have to give an indication now. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Then the answer is no and I have the right to do that. Questions without Notice Resumed The PRESIDENT : Okay, we will move on with questions without notice. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : The minister has not told us whether it is a confidential document. That is what I am asking: does the minister claim it to be a confidential document? My reading of the standing orders is very clear; that is, she needs to claim it as a confidential document and not deny the house access to it just because she chooses. I put to you, Mr President, the fact that after repeated questions the minister has not stated that it is a confidential document and that therefore means that it is. She quoted from it and it should be tabled. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Mr President, it is a confidential document. Questions without Notice Resumed Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let us move on with questions without notice.
Hon KEN TRAVERS : With all due respect Mr President, it is the only ground; she needs to claim it as a confidential document not to table it. I have not asked for it to be tabled up till now but I will do so. I ask for it to be tabled and I ask whether the minister is seeking to claim it as a confidential document. The PRESIDENT : I think you will find confidentiality is not the only reason a minister may decline to table a document. However, the minister has been asked for a second time to table the document, if the minister would like to indicate whether she chooses to or otherwise. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I will take advice on that, Mr President, and if the advice that I receive is to table that tomorrow then I will do it but at present the answer is no. The PRESIDENT : You cannot take advice; you have to give an indication now. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Then the answer is no and I have the right to do that. Questions without Notice Resumed The PRESIDENT : Okay, we will move on with questions without notice. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : The minister has not told us whether it is a confidential document. That is what I am asking: does the minister claim it to be a confidential document? My reading of the standing orders is very clear; that is, she needs to claim it as a confidential document and not deny the house access to it just because she chooses. I put to you, Mr President, the fact that after repeated questions the minister has not stated that it is a confidential document and that therefore means that it is. She quoted from it and it should be tabled. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Mr President, it is a confidential document. Questions without Notice Resumed Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let us move on with questions without notice.
The PRESIDENT : I think you will find confidentiality is not the only reason a minister may decline to table a document. However, the minister has been asked for a second time to table the document, if the minister would like to indicate whether she chooses to or otherwise. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I will take advice on that, Mr President, and if the advice that I receive is to table that tomorrow then I will do it but at present the answer is no. The PRESIDENT : You cannot take advice; you have to give an indication now. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Then the answer is no and I have the right to do that. Questions without Notice Resumed The PRESIDENT : Okay, we will move on with questions without notice. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : The minister has not told us whether it is a confidential document. That is what I am asking: does the minister claim it to be a confidential document? My reading of the standing orders is very clear; that is, she needs to claim it as a confidential document and not deny the house access to it just because she chooses. I put to you, Mr President, the fact that after repeated questions the minister has not stated that it is a confidential document and that therefore means that it is. She quoted from it and it should be tabled. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Mr President, it is a confidential document. Questions without Notice Resumed Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let us move on with questions without notice.
Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I will take advice on that, Mr President, and if the advice that I receive is to table that tomorrow then I will do it but at present the answer is no. The PRESIDENT : You cannot take advice; you have to give an indication now. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Then the answer is no and I have the right to do that. Questions without Notice Resumed The PRESIDENT : Okay, we will move on with questions without notice. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : The minister has not told us whether it is a confidential document. That is what I am asking: does the minister claim it to be a confidential document? My reading of the standing orders is very clear; that is, she needs to claim it as a confidential document and not deny the house access to it just because she chooses. I put to you, Mr President, the fact that after repeated questions the minister has not stated that it is a confidential document and that therefore means that it is. She quoted from it and it should be tabled. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Mr President, it is a confidential document. Questions without Notice Resumed Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let us move on with questions without notice.
The PRESIDENT : You cannot take advice; you have to give an indication now. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Then the answer is no and I have the right to do that. Questions without Notice Resumed The PRESIDENT : Okay, we will move on with questions without notice. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : The minister has not told us whether it is a confidential document. That is what I am asking: does the minister claim it to be a confidential document? My reading of the standing orders is very clear; that is, she needs to claim it as a confidential document and not deny the house access to it just because she chooses. I put to you, Mr President, the fact that after repeated questions the minister has not stated that it is a confidential document and that therefore means that it is. She quoted from it and it should be tabled. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Mr President, it is a confidential document. Questions without Notice Resumed Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let us move on with questions without notice.
Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Then the answer is no and I have the right to do that. Questions without Notice Resumed The PRESIDENT : Okay, we will move on with questions without notice. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : The minister has not told us whether it is a confidential document. That is what I am asking: does the minister claim it to be a confidential document? My reading of the standing orders is very clear; that is, she needs to claim it as a confidential document and not deny the house access to it just because she chooses. I put to you, Mr President, the fact that after repeated questions the minister has not stated that it is a confidential document and that therefore means that it is. She quoted from it and it should be tabled. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Mr President, it is a confidential document. Questions without Notice Resumed Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let us move on with questions without notice.
Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Mr President, it is a confidential document. Questions without Notice Resumed Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let us move on with questions without notice.
The PRESIDENT : Order! Let us move on with questions without notice.
Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY replied: I thank Hon Brian Ellis for some notice of the question. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! We have heard a question; now let us hear the answer. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. The former government was going to make Redress applicants sign a deed of settlement or waiver on receipt of their payment. This meant that they would not have been able to pursue any legal avenue that could have been open to them. Given that this scheme allowed people who were abused in care prior to 2006—some of those people are still young—I felt that it was immoral to make people waive their legal entitlements. Hon Sue Ellery interjected. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Many are out of time; however, the younger ones may have avenues of recourse and this government will not take them away. If applicants wish to pursue other avenues that may be available to them — Hon Sue Ellery : You are a disgrace on this issue. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Did Hon Sue Ellery just say I was a disgrace on this issue? Hon Sue Ellery : I did. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Right! If applicants wish to pursue other avenues that may be available to them, they can still do so under this government. Hon Ken Travers interjected. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I note that Hon Sue Ellery said in a press release on 17 February that abolishing the waiver is meaningless and nothing short of cruel trickery for the vast majority of applicants and that this government has shown itself to be heartless and cruel. Hon Sue Ellery : For the vast majority of applicants. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Well, if that is the case, why on 23 October did the State Solicitor’s Office write to DCP and say, and I quote — I refer to your email dated 8 October 2007 clarifying that this Office had been requested by the Minister for Child Protection — That was you, Hon Sue Ellery — to draft “a waiver to provide the tightest possible wording to prevent beneficiaries of the proposed Redress Scheme from seeking further compensation.” Now who is unjust and cruel? Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : Can I ask the minister to identify the document that she is quoting from? The PRESIDENT : Hon Ken Travers can ask. The minister knows her rights, I am sure. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, I am not going to table it and I am not going to quote — Several members interjected. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I am quoting. I am quoting a document. Hon Ken Travers : You are embarrassed. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, I am not embarrassed. It is a confidential document. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let the minister finish her answer, which I am sure she is getting close to. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon Sue Ellery : It’s confidential but you are reading it. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I am reading out my typed-out notes. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I am not sure that the minister is able to deny the house the knowledge of the document that she is quoting from. I understand the rules about whether or not she has to table it and I will get to that later. But at this stage I think she is required to identify the document that she quoted from where she started with the words “and I quote”. Hon Simon O’Brien : She just held them up and showed them to you and said they were her notes. It’s pretty obvious. Hon Sue Ellery : Was she quoting or not? The PRESIDENT : The standing order Hon Ken Travers is referring to relates to a member. A minister does not have to table the document if the minister chooses not to. Hon KEN TRAVERS : No, I am not asking for the document to be tabled. I am asking for the minister to identify the document that she is quoting from. The PRESIDENT : I think that standing order relates to a member. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I have already said that it was from the State Solicitor’s Office on 23 October to the Department for Child Protection, and I would be very embarrassed if I were Hon Sue Ellery. Hon Sue Ellery : You know you have some hide to say that! Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Why did the member and her government want to stop any Redress applicant from seeking further compensation? Hon Sue Ellery : Every time you put out a newsletter I get call after call after call from really distressed people — Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, you tried to stop those people — The PRESIDENT : Order! We are coming up very soon to International Women’s Day so — Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! We do not want women to get themselves a bad reputation for misbehaviour in the chamber. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President, but some things are over and above misbehaviour. The Labor Party is absolutely appalling! Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, minister! I think you are coming to your concluding remarks. If you address your remarks through the Chair, I am sure you can get to the end of your answer very quickly. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. I just point out that the former government was going to make Redress applicants sign a watertight waiver and that was from the State Solicitor’s Office so that those vulnerable people who are able to go on and get further recourse — Hon Sue Ellery : You know you’ll be struck by lightning any minute—you will be! Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I demanded an apology from Hon Sue Ellery on air last week and I actually got that apology because she was absolutely disgraceful! Hon Sue Ellery interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I just want to know under standing order 47 whether the minister is claiming that the document she quoted from is a confidential document; and, if so, why was she quoting it in the house? The PRESIDENT : You asked for the minister to table the document initially, but the minister may or may not, depending on how the minister feels about it, table that document and she may not table it on the grounds that it is a confidential document so that may be the grounds on which she chooses not to table the document. Hon KEN TRAVERS : With all due respect Mr President, it is the only ground; she needs to claim it as a confidential document not to table it. I have not asked for it to be tabled up till now but I will do so. I ask for it to be tabled and I ask whether the minister is seeking to claim it as a confidential document. The PRESIDENT : I think you will find confidentiality is not the only reason a minister may decline to table a document. However, the minister has been asked for a second time to table the document, if the minister would like to indicate whether she chooses to or otherwise. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I will take advice on that, Mr President, and if the advice that I receive is to table that tomorrow then I will do it but at present the answer is no. The PRESIDENT : You cannot take advice; you have to give an indication now. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Then the answer is no and I have the right to do that. Questions without Notice Resumed The PRESIDENT : Okay, we will move on with questions without notice. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : The minister has not told us whether it is a confidential document. That is what I am asking: does the minister claim it to be a confidential document? My reading of the standing orders is very clear; that is, she needs to claim it as a confidential document and not deny the house access to it just because she chooses. I put to you, Mr President, the fact that after repeated questions the minister has not stated that it is a confidential document and that therefore means that it is. She quoted from it and it should be tabled. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Mr President, it is a confidential document. Questions without Notice Resumed Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let us move on with questions without notice.
I thank Hon Brian Ellis for some notice of the question. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! We have heard a question; now let us hear the answer. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. The former government was going to make Redress applicants sign a deed of settlement or waiver on receipt of their payment. This meant that they would not have been able to pursue any legal avenue that could have been open to them. Given that this scheme allowed people who were abused in care prior to 2006—some of those people are still young—I felt that it was immoral to make people waive their legal entitlements. Hon Sue Ellery interjected. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Many are out of time; however, the younger ones may have avenues of recourse and this government will not take them away. If applicants wish to pursue other avenues that may be available to them — Hon Sue Ellery : You are a disgrace on this issue. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Did Hon Sue Ellery just say I was a disgrace on this issue? Hon Sue Ellery : I did. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Right! If applicants wish to pursue other avenues that may be available to them, they can still do so under this government. Hon Ken Travers interjected. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I note that Hon Sue Ellery said in a press release on 17 February that abolishing the waiver is meaningless and nothing short of cruel trickery for the vast majority of applicants and that this government has shown itself to be heartless and cruel. Hon Sue Ellery : For the vast majority of applicants. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Well, if that is the case, why on 23 October did the State Solicitor’s Office write to DCP and say, and I quote — I refer to your email dated 8 October 2007 clarifying that this Office had been requested by the Minister for Child Protection — That was you, Hon Sue Ellery — to draft “a waiver to provide the tightest possible wording to prevent beneficiaries of the proposed Redress Scheme from seeking further compensation.” Now who is unjust and cruel? Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : Can I ask the minister to identify the document that she is quoting from? The PRESIDENT : Hon Ken Travers can ask. The minister knows her rights, I am sure. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, I am not going to table it and I am not going to quote — Several members interjected. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I am quoting. I am quoting a document. Hon Ken Travers : You are embarrassed. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, I am not embarrassed. It is a confidential document. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let the minister finish her answer, which I am sure she is getting close to. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon Sue Ellery : It’s confidential but you are reading it. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I am reading out my typed-out notes. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I am not sure that the minister is able to deny the house the knowledge of the document that she is quoting from. I understand the rules about whether or not she has to table it and I will get to that later. But at this stage I think she is required to identify the document that she quoted from where she started with the words “and I quote”. Hon Simon O’Brien : She just held them up and showed them to you and said they were her notes. It’s pretty obvious. Hon Sue Ellery : Was she quoting or not? The PRESIDENT : The standing order Hon Ken Travers is referring to relates to a member. A minister does not have to table the document if the minister chooses not to. Hon KEN TRAVERS : No, I am not asking for the document to be tabled. I am asking for the minister to identify the document that she is quoting from. The PRESIDENT : I think that standing order relates to a member. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I have already said that it was from the State Solicitor’s Office on 23 October to the Department for Child Protection, and I would be very embarrassed if I were Hon Sue Ellery. Hon Sue Ellery : You know you have some hide to say that! Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Why did the member and her government want to stop any Redress applicant from seeking further compensation? Hon Sue Ellery : Every time you put out a newsletter I get call after call after call from really distressed people — Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, you tried to stop those people — The PRESIDENT : Order! We are coming up very soon to International Women’s Day so — Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! We do not want women to get themselves a bad reputation for misbehaviour in the chamber. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President, but some things are over and above misbehaviour. The Labor Party is absolutely appalling! Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, minister! I think you are coming to your concluding remarks. If you address your remarks through the Chair, I am sure you can get to the end of your answer very quickly. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. I just point out that the former government was going to make Redress applicants sign a watertight waiver and that was from the State Solicitor’s Office so that those vulnerable people who are able to go on and get further recourse — Hon Sue Ellery : You know you’ll be struck by lightning any minute—you will be! Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I demanded an apology from Hon Sue Ellery on air last week and I actually got that apology because she was absolutely disgraceful! Hon Sue Ellery interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I just want to know under standing order 47 whether the minister is claiming that the document she quoted from is a confidential document; and, if so, why was she quoting it in the house? The PRESIDENT : You asked for the minister to table the document initially, but the minister may or may not, depending on how the minister feels about it, table that document and she may not table it on the grounds that it is a confidential document so that may be the grounds on which she chooses not to table the document. Hon KEN TRAVERS : With all due respect Mr President, it is the only ground; she needs to claim it as a confidential document not to table it. I have not asked for it to be tabled up till now but I will do so. I ask for it to be tabled and I ask whether the minister is seeking to claim it as a confidential document. The PRESIDENT : I think you will find confidentiality is not the only reason a minister may decline to table a document. However, the minister has been asked for a second time to table the document, if the minister would like to indicate whether she chooses to or otherwise. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I will take advice on that, Mr President, and if the advice that I receive is to table that tomorrow then I will do it but at present the answer is no. The PRESIDENT : You cannot take advice; you have to give an indication now. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Then the answer is no and I have the right to do that. Questions without Notice Resumed The PRESIDENT : Okay, we will move on with questions without notice. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : The minister has not told us whether it is a confidential document. That is what I am asking: does the minister claim it to be a confidential document? My reading of the standing orders is very clear; that is, she needs to claim it as a confidential document and not deny the house access to it just because she chooses. I put to you, Mr President, the fact that after repeated questions the minister has not stated that it is a confidential document and that therefore means that it is. She quoted from it and it should be tabled. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Mr President, it is a confidential document. Questions without Notice Resumed Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let us move on with questions without notice.
Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! We have heard a question; now let us hear the answer. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. The former government was going to make Redress applicants sign a deed of settlement or waiver on receipt of their payment. This meant that they would not have been able to pursue any legal avenue that could have been open to them. Given that this scheme allowed people who were abused in care prior to 2006—some of those people are still young—I felt that it was immoral to make people waive their legal entitlements. Hon Sue Ellery interjected. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Many are out of time; however, the younger ones may have avenues of recourse and this government will not take them away. If applicants wish to pursue other avenues that may be available to them — Hon Sue Ellery : You are a disgrace on this issue. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Did Hon Sue Ellery just say I was a disgrace on this issue? Hon Sue Ellery : I did. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Right! If applicants wish to pursue other avenues that may be available to them, they can still do so under this government. Hon Ken Travers interjected. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I note that Hon Sue Ellery said in a press release on 17 February that abolishing the waiver is meaningless and nothing short of cruel trickery for the vast majority of applicants and that this government has shown itself to be heartless and cruel. Hon Sue Ellery : For the vast majority of applicants. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Well, if that is the case, why on 23 October did the State Solicitor’s Office write to DCP and say, and I quote — I refer to your email dated 8 October 2007 clarifying that this Office had been requested by the Minister for Child Protection — That was you, Hon Sue Ellery — to draft “a waiver to provide the tightest possible wording to prevent beneficiaries of the proposed Redress Scheme from seeking further compensation.” Now who is unjust and cruel? Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : Can I ask the minister to identify the document that she is quoting from? The PRESIDENT : Hon Ken Travers can ask. The minister knows her rights, I am sure. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, I am not going to table it and I am not going to quote — Several members interjected. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I am quoting. I am quoting a document. Hon Ken Travers : You are embarrassed. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, I am not embarrassed. It is a confidential document. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let the minister finish her answer, which I am sure she is getting close to. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon Sue Ellery : It’s confidential but you are reading it. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I am reading out my typed-out notes. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I am not sure that the minister is able to deny the house the knowledge of the document that she is quoting from. I understand the rules about whether or not she has to table it and I will get to that later. But at this stage I think she is required to identify the document that she quoted from where she started with the words “and I quote”. Hon Simon O’Brien : She just held them up and showed them to you and said they were her notes. It’s pretty obvious. Hon Sue Ellery : Was she quoting or not? The PRESIDENT : The standing order Hon Ken Travers is referring to relates to a member. A minister does not have to table the document if the minister chooses not to. Hon KEN TRAVERS : No, I am not asking for the document to be tabled. I am asking for the minister to identify the document that she is quoting from. The PRESIDENT : I think that standing order relates to a member. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I have already said that it was from the State Solicitor’s Office on 23 October to the Department for Child Protection, and I would be very embarrassed if I were Hon Sue Ellery. Hon Sue Ellery : You know you have some hide to say that! Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Why did the member and her government want to stop any Redress applicant from seeking further compensation? Hon Sue Ellery : Every time you put out a newsletter I get call after call after call from really distressed people — Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, you tried to stop those people — The PRESIDENT : Order! We are coming up very soon to International Women’s Day so — Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! We do not want women to get themselves a bad reputation for misbehaviour in the chamber. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President, but some things are over and above misbehaviour. The Labor Party is absolutely appalling! Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, minister! I think you are coming to your concluding remarks. If you address your remarks through the Chair, I am sure you can get to the end of your answer very quickly. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. I just point out that the former government was going to make Redress applicants sign a watertight waiver and that was from the State Solicitor’s Office so that those vulnerable people who are able to go on and get further recourse — Hon Sue Ellery : You know you’ll be struck by lightning any minute—you will be! Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I demanded an apology from Hon Sue Ellery on air last week and I actually got that apology because she was absolutely disgraceful! Hon Sue Ellery interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I just want to know under standing order 47 whether the minister is claiming that the document she quoted from is a confidential document; and, if so, why was she quoting it in the house? The PRESIDENT : You asked for the minister to table the document initially, but the minister may or may not, depending on how the minister feels about it, table that document and she may not table it on the grounds that it is a confidential document so that may be the grounds on which she chooses not to table the document. Hon KEN TRAVERS : With all due respect Mr President, it is the only ground; she needs to claim it as a confidential document not to table it. I have not asked for it to be tabled up till now but I will do so. I ask for it to be tabled and I ask whether the minister is seeking to claim it as a confidential document. The PRESIDENT : I think you will find confidentiality is not the only reason a minister may decline to table a document. However, the minister has been asked for a second time to table the document, if the minister would like to indicate whether she chooses to or otherwise. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I will take advice on that, Mr President, and if the advice that I receive is to table that tomorrow then I will do it but at present the answer is no. The PRESIDENT : You cannot take advice; you have to give an indication now. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Then the answer is no and I have the right to do that. Questions without Notice Resumed The PRESIDENT : Okay, we will move on with questions without notice. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : The minister has not told us whether it is a confidential document. That is what I am asking: does the minister claim it to be a confidential document? My reading of the standing orders is very clear; that is, she needs to claim it as a confidential document and not deny the house access to it just because she chooses. I put to you, Mr President, the fact that after repeated questions the minister has not stated that it is a confidential document and that therefore means that it is. She quoted from it and it should be tabled. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Mr President, it is a confidential document. Questions without Notice Resumed Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let us move on with questions without notice.
The PRESIDENT : Order! We have heard a question; now let us hear the answer. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. The former government was going to make Redress applicants sign a deed of settlement or waiver on receipt of their payment. This meant that they would not have been able to pursue any legal avenue that could have been open to them. Given that this scheme allowed people who were abused in care prior to 2006—some of those people are still young—I felt that it was immoral to make people waive their legal entitlements. Hon Sue Ellery interjected. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Many are out of time; however, the younger ones may have avenues of recourse and this government will not take them away. If applicants wish to pursue other avenues that may be available to them — Hon Sue Ellery : You are a disgrace on this issue. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Did Hon Sue Ellery just say I was a disgrace on this issue? Hon Sue Ellery : I did. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Right! If applicants wish to pursue other avenues that may be available to them, they can still do so under this government. Hon Ken Travers interjected. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I note that Hon Sue Ellery said in a press release on 17 February that abolishing the waiver is meaningless and nothing short of cruel trickery for the vast majority of applicants and that this government has shown itself to be heartless and cruel. Hon Sue Ellery : For the vast majority of applicants. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Well, if that is the case, why on 23 October did the State Solicitor’s Office write to DCP and say, and I quote — I refer to your email dated 8 October 2007 clarifying that this Office had been requested by the Minister for Child Protection — That was you, Hon Sue Ellery — to draft “a waiver to provide the tightest possible wording to prevent beneficiaries of the proposed Redress Scheme from seeking further compensation.” Now who is unjust and cruel? Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : Can I ask the minister to identify the document that she is quoting from? The PRESIDENT : Hon Ken Travers can ask. The minister knows her rights, I am sure. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, I am not going to table it and I am not going to quote — Several members interjected. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I am quoting. I am quoting a document. Hon Ken Travers : You are embarrassed. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, I am not embarrassed. It is a confidential document. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let the minister finish her answer, which I am sure she is getting close to. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon Sue Ellery : It’s confidential but you are reading it. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I am reading out my typed-out notes. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I am not sure that the minister is able to deny the house the knowledge of the document that she is quoting from. I understand the rules about whether or not she has to table it and I will get to that later. But at this stage I think she is required to identify the document that she quoted from where she started with the words “and I quote”. Hon Simon O’Brien : She just held them up and showed them to you and said they were her notes. It’s pretty obvious. Hon Sue Ellery : Was she quoting or not? The PRESIDENT : The standing order Hon Ken Travers is referring to relates to a member. A minister does not have to table the document if the minister chooses not to. Hon KEN TRAVERS : No, I am not asking for the document to be tabled. I am asking for the minister to identify the document that she is quoting from. The PRESIDENT : I think that standing order relates to a member. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I have already said that it was from the State Solicitor’s Office on 23 October to the Department for Child Protection, and I would be very embarrassed if I were Hon Sue Ellery. Hon Sue Ellery : You know you have some hide to say that! Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Why did the member and her government want to stop any Redress applicant from seeking further compensation? Hon Sue Ellery : Every time you put out a newsletter I get call after call after call from really distressed people — Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, you tried to stop those people — The PRESIDENT : Order! We are coming up very soon to International Women’s Day so — Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! We do not want women to get themselves a bad reputation for misbehaviour in the chamber. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President, but some things are over and above misbehaviour. The Labor Party is absolutely appalling! Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, minister! I think you are coming to your concluding remarks. If you address your remarks through the Chair, I am sure you can get to the end of your answer very quickly. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. I just point out that the former government was going to make Redress applicants sign a watertight waiver and that was from the State Solicitor’s Office so that those vulnerable people who are able to go on and get further recourse — Hon Sue Ellery : You know you’ll be struck by lightning any minute—you will be! Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I demanded an apology from Hon Sue Ellery on air last week and I actually got that apology because she was absolutely disgraceful! Hon Sue Ellery interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I just want to know under standing order 47 whether the minister is claiming that the document she quoted from is a confidential document; and, if so, why was she quoting it in the house? The PRESIDENT : You asked for the minister to table the document initially, but the minister may or may not, depending on how the minister feels about it, table that document and she may not table it on the grounds that it is a confidential document so that may be the grounds on which she chooses not to table the document. Hon KEN TRAVERS : With all due respect Mr President, it is the only ground; she needs to claim it as a confidential document not to table it. I have not asked for it to be tabled up till now but I will do so. I ask for it to be tabled and I ask whether the minister is seeking to claim it as a confidential document. The PRESIDENT : I think you will find confidentiality is not the only reason a minister may decline to table a document. However, the minister has been asked for a second time to table the document, if the minister would like to indicate whether she chooses to or otherwise. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I will take advice on that, Mr President, and if the advice that I receive is to table that tomorrow then I will do it but at present the answer is no. The PRESIDENT : You cannot take advice; you have to give an indication now. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Then the answer is no and I have the right to do that. Questions without Notice Resumed The PRESIDENT : Okay, we will move on with questions without notice. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : The minister has not told us whether it is a confidential document. That is what I am asking: does the minister claim it to be a confidential document? My reading of the standing orders is very clear; that is, she needs to claim it as a confidential document and not deny the house access to it just because she chooses. I put to you, Mr President, the fact that after repeated questions the minister has not stated that it is a confidential document and that therefore means that it is. She quoted from it and it should be tabled. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Mr President, it is a confidential document. Questions without Notice Resumed Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let us move on with questions without notice.
Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. The former government was going to make Redress applicants sign a deed of settlement or waiver on receipt of their payment. This meant that they would not have been able to pursue any legal avenue that could have been open to them. Given that this scheme allowed people who were abused in care prior to 2006—some of those people are still young—I felt that it was immoral to make people waive their legal entitlements. Hon Sue Ellery interjected. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Many are out of time; however, the younger ones may have avenues of recourse and this government will not take them away. If applicants wish to pursue other avenues that may be available to them — Hon Sue Ellery : You are a disgrace on this issue. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Did Hon Sue Ellery just say I was a disgrace on this issue? Hon Sue Ellery : I did. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Right! If applicants wish to pursue other avenues that may be available to them, they can still do so under this government. Hon Ken Travers interjected. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I note that Hon Sue Ellery said in a press release on 17 February that abolishing the waiver is meaningless and nothing short of cruel trickery for the vast majority of applicants and that this government has shown itself to be heartless and cruel. Hon Sue Ellery : For the vast majority of applicants. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Well, if that is the case, why on 23 October did the State Solicitor’s Office write to DCP and say, and I quote — I refer to your email dated 8 October 2007 clarifying that this Office had been requested by the Minister for Child Protection — That was you, Hon Sue Ellery — to draft “a waiver to provide the tightest possible wording to prevent beneficiaries of the proposed Redress Scheme from seeking further compensation.” Now who is unjust and cruel? Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : Can I ask the minister to identify the document that she is quoting from? The PRESIDENT : Hon Ken Travers can ask. The minister knows her rights, I am sure. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, I am not going to table it and I am not going to quote — Several members interjected. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I am quoting. I am quoting a document. Hon Ken Travers : You are embarrassed. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, I am not embarrassed. It is a confidential document. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let the minister finish her answer, which I am sure she is getting close to. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon Sue Ellery : It’s confidential but you are reading it. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I am reading out my typed-out notes. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I am not sure that the minister is able to deny the house the knowledge of the document that she is quoting from. I understand the rules about whether or not she has to table it and I will get to that later. But at this stage I think she is required to identify the document that she quoted from where she started with the words “and I quote”. Hon Simon O’Brien : She just held them up and showed them to you and said they were her notes. It’s pretty obvious. Hon Sue Ellery : Was she quoting or not? The PRESIDENT : The standing order Hon Ken Travers is referring to relates to a member. A minister does not have to table the document if the minister chooses not to. Hon KEN TRAVERS : No, I am not asking for the document to be tabled. I am asking for the minister to identify the document that she is quoting from. The PRESIDENT : I think that standing order relates to a member. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I have already said that it was from the State Solicitor’s Office on 23 October to the Department for Child Protection, and I would be very embarrassed if I were Hon Sue Ellery. Hon Sue Ellery : You know you have some hide to say that! Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Why did the member and her government want to stop any Redress applicant from seeking further compensation? Hon Sue Ellery : Every time you put out a newsletter I get call after call after call from really distressed people — Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, you tried to stop those people — The PRESIDENT : Order! We are coming up very soon to International Women’s Day so — Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! We do not want women to get themselves a bad reputation for misbehaviour in the chamber. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President, but some things are over and above misbehaviour. The Labor Party is absolutely appalling! Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, minister! I think you are coming to your concluding remarks. If you address your remarks through the Chair, I am sure you can get to the end of your answer very quickly. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. I just point out that the former government was going to make Redress applicants sign a watertight waiver and that was from the State Solicitor’s Office so that those vulnerable people who are able to go on and get further recourse — Hon Sue Ellery : You know you’ll be struck by lightning any minute—you will be! Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I demanded an apology from Hon Sue Ellery on air last week and I actually got that apology because she was absolutely disgraceful! Hon Sue Ellery interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I just want to know under standing order 47 whether the minister is claiming that the document she quoted from is a confidential document; and, if so, why was she quoting it in the house? The PRESIDENT : You asked for the minister to table the document initially, but the minister may or may not, depending on how the minister feels about it, table that document and she may not table it on the grounds that it is a confidential document so that may be the grounds on which she chooses not to table the document. Hon KEN TRAVERS : With all due respect Mr President, it is the only ground; she needs to claim it as a confidential document not to table it. I have not asked for it to be tabled up till now but I will do so. I ask for it to be tabled and I ask whether the minister is seeking to claim it as a confidential document. The PRESIDENT : I think you will find confidentiality is not the only reason a minister may decline to table a document. However, the minister has been asked for a second time to table the document, if the minister would like to indicate whether she chooses to or otherwise. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I will take advice on that, Mr President, and if the advice that I receive is to table that tomorrow then I will do it but at present the answer is no. The PRESIDENT : You cannot take advice; you have to give an indication now. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Then the answer is no and I have the right to do that. Questions without Notice Resumed The PRESIDENT : Okay, we will move on with questions without notice. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : The minister has not told us whether it is a confidential document. That is what I am asking: does the minister claim it to be a confidential document? My reading of the standing orders is very clear; that is, she needs to claim it as a confidential document and not deny the house access to it just because she chooses. I put to you, Mr President, the fact that after repeated questions the minister has not stated that it is a confidential document and that therefore means that it is. She quoted from it and it should be tabled. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Mr President, it is a confidential document. Questions without Notice Resumed Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let us move on with questions without notice.
The former government was going to make Redress applicants sign a deed of settlement or waiver on receipt of their payment. This meant that they would not have been able to pursue any legal avenue that could have been open to them. Given that this scheme allowed people who were abused in care prior to 2006—some of those people are still young—I felt that it was immoral to make people waive their legal entitlements. Hon Sue Ellery interjected. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Many are out of time; however, the younger ones may have avenues of recourse and this government will not take them away. If applicants wish to pursue other avenues that may be available to them — Hon Sue Ellery : You are a disgrace on this issue. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Did Hon Sue Ellery just say I was a disgrace on this issue? Hon Sue Ellery : I did. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Right! If applicants wish to pursue other avenues that may be available to them, they can still do so under this government. Hon Ken Travers interjected. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I note that Hon Sue Ellery said in a press release on 17 February that abolishing the waiver is meaningless and nothing short of cruel trickery for the vast majority of applicants and that this government has shown itself to be heartless and cruel. Hon Sue Ellery : For the vast majority of applicants. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Well, if that is the case, why on 23 October did the State Solicitor’s Office write to DCP and say, and I quote — I refer to your email dated 8 October 2007 clarifying that this Office had been requested by the Minister for Child Protection — That was you, Hon Sue Ellery — to draft “a waiver to provide the tightest possible wording to prevent beneficiaries of the proposed Redress Scheme from seeking further compensation.” Now who is unjust and cruel? Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : Can I ask the minister to identify the document that she is quoting from? The PRESIDENT : Hon Ken Travers can ask. The minister knows her rights, I am sure. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, I am not going to table it and I am not going to quote — Several members interjected. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I am quoting. I am quoting a document. Hon Ken Travers : You are embarrassed. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, I am not embarrassed. It is a confidential document. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let the minister finish her answer, which I am sure she is getting close to. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon Sue Ellery : It’s confidential but you are reading it. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I am reading out my typed-out notes. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I am not sure that the minister is able to deny the house the knowledge of the document that she is quoting from. I understand the rules about whether or not she has to table it and I will get to that later. But at this stage I think she is required to identify the document that she quoted from where she started with the words “and I quote”. Hon Simon O’Brien : She just held them up and showed them to you and said they were her notes. It’s pretty obvious. Hon Sue Ellery : Was she quoting or not? The PRESIDENT : The standing order Hon Ken Travers is referring to relates to a member. A minister does not have to table the document if the minister chooses not to. Hon KEN TRAVERS : No, I am not asking for the document to be tabled. I am asking for the minister to identify the document that she is quoting from. The PRESIDENT : I think that standing order relates to a member. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I have already said that it was from the State Solicitor’s Office on 23 October to the Department for Child Protection, and I would be very embarrassed if I were Hon Sue Ellery. Hon Sue Ellery : You know you have some hide to say that! Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Why did the member and her government want to stop any Redress applicant from seeking further compensation? Hon Sue Ellery : Every time you put out a newsletter I get call after call after call from really distressed people — Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, you tried to stop those people — The PRESIDENT : Order! We are coming up very soon to International Women’s Day so — Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! We do not want women to get themselves a bad reputation for misbehaviour in the chamber. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President, but some things are over and above misbehaviour. The Labor Party is absolutely appalling! Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, minister! I think you are coming to your concluding remarks. If you address your remarks through the Chair, I am sure you can get to the end of your answer very quickly. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. I just point out that the former government was going to make Redress applicants sign a watertight waiver and that was from the State Solicitor’s Office so that those vulnerable people who are able to go on and get further recourse — Hon Sue Ellery : You know you’ll be struck by lightning any minute—you will be! Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I demanded an apology from Hon Sue Ellery on air last week and I actually got that apology because she was absolutely disgraceful! Hon Sue Ellery interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I just want to know under standing order 47 whether the minister is claiming that the document she quoted from is a confidential document; and, if so, why was she quoting it in the house? The PRESIDENT : You asked for the minister to table the document initially, but the minister may or may not, depending on how the minister feels about it, table that document and she may not table it on the grounds that it is a confidential document so that may be the grounds on which she chooses not to table the document. Hon KEN TRAVERS : With all due respect Mr President, it is the only ground; she needs to claim it as a confidential document not to table it. I have not asked for it to be tabled up till now but I will do so. I ask for it to be tabled and I ask whether the minister is seeking to claim it as a confidential document. The PRESIDENT : I think you will find confidentiality is not the only reason a minister may decline to table a document. However, the minister has been asked for a second time to table the document, if the minister would like to indicate whether she chooses to or otherwise. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I will take advice on that, Mr President, and if the advice that I receive is to table that tomorrow then I will do it but at present the answer is no. The PRESIDENT : You cannot take advice; you have to give an indication now. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Then the answer is no and I have the right to do that. Questions without Notice Resumed The PRESIDENT : Okay, we will move on with questions without notice. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : The minister has not told us whether it is a confidential document. That is what I am asking: does the minister claim it to be a confidential document? My reading of the standing orders is very clear; that is, she needs to claim it as a confidential document and not deny the house access to it just because she chooses. I put to you, Mr President, the fact that after repeated questions the minister has not stated that it is a confidential document and that therefore means that it is. She quoted from it and it should be tabled. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Mr President, it is a confidential document. Questions without Notice Resumed Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let us move on with questions without notice.
Hon Sue Ellery interjected. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Many are out of time; however, the younger ones may have avenues of recourse and this government will not take them away. If applicants wish to pursue other avenues that may be available to them — Hon Sue Ellery : You are a disgrace on this issue. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Did Hon Sue Ellery just say I was a disgrace on this issue? Hon Sue Ellery : I did. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Right! If applicants wish to pursue other avenues that may be available to them, they can still do so under this government. Hon Ken Travers interjected. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I note that Hon Sue Ellery said in a press release on 17 February that abolishing the waiver is meaningless and nothing short of cruel trickery for the vast majority of applicants and that this government has shown itself to be heartless and cruel. Hon Sue Ellery : For the vast majority of applicants. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Well, if that is the case, why on 23 October did the State Solicitor’s Office write to DCP and say, and I quote — I refer to your email dated 8 October 2007 clarifying that this Office had been requested by the Minister for Child Protection — That was you, Hon Sue Ellery — to draft “a waiver to provide the tightest possible wording to prevent beneficiaries of the proposed Redress Scheme from seeking further compensation.” Now who is unjust and cruel? Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : Can I ask the minister to identify the document that she is quoting from? The PRESIDENT : Hon Ken Travers can ask. The minister knows her rights, I am sure. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, I am not going to table it and I am not going to quote — Several members interjected. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I am quoting. I am quoting a document. Hon Ken Travers : You are embarrassed. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, I am not embarrassed. It is a confidential document. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let the minister finish her answer, which I am sure she is getting close to. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon Sue Ellery : It’s confidential but you are reading it. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I am reading out my typed-out notes. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I am not sure that the minister is able to deny the house the knowledge of the document that she is quoting from. I understand the rules about whether or not she has to table it and I will get to that later. But at this stage I think she is required to identify the document that she quoted from where she started with the words “and I quote”. Hon Simon O’Brien : She just held them up and showed them to you and said they were her notes. It’s pretty obvious. Hon Sue Ellery : Was she quoting or not? The PRESIDENT : The standing order Hon Ken Travers is referring to relates to a member. A minister does not have to table the document if the minister chooses not to. Hon KEN TRAVERS : No, I am not asking for the document to be tabled. I am asking for the minister to identify the document that she is quoting from. The PRESIDENT : I think that standing order relates to a member. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I have already said that it was from the State Solicitor’s Office on 23 October to the Department for Child Protection, and I would be very embarrassed if I were Hon Sue Ellery. Hon Sue Ellery : You know you have some hide to say that! Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Why did the member and her government want to stop any Redress applicant from seeking further compensation? Hon Sue Ellery : Every time you put out a newsletter I get call after call after call from really distressed people — Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, you tried to stop those people — The PRESIDENT : Order! We are coming up very soon to International Women’s Day so — Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! We do not want women to get themselves a bad reputation for misbehaviour in the chamber. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President, but some things are over and above misbehaviour. The Labor Party is absolutely appalling! Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, minister! I think you are coming to your concluding remarks. If you address your remarks through the Chair, I am sure you can get to the end of your answer very quickly. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. I just point out that the former government was going to make Redress applicants sign a watertight waiver and that was from the State Solicitor’s Office so that those vulnerable people who are able to go on and get further recourse — Hon Sue Ellery : You know you’ll be struck by lightning any minute—you will be! Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I demanded an apology from Hon Sue Ellery on air last week and I actually got that apology because she was absolutely disgraceful! Hon Sue Ellery interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I just want to know under standing order 47 whether the minister is claiming that the document she quoted from is a confidential document; and, if so, why was she quoting it in the house? The PRESIDENT : You asked for the minister to table the document initially, but the minister may or may not, depending on how the minister feels about it, table that document and she may not table it on the grounds that it is a confidential document so that may be the grounds on which she chooses not to table the document. Hon KEN TRAVERS : With all due respect Mr President, it is the only ground; she needs to claim it as a confidential document not to table it. I have not asked for it to be tabled up till now but I will do so. I ask for it to be tabled and I ask whether the minister is seeking to claim it as a confidential document. The PRESIDENT : I think you will find confidentiality is not the only reason a minister may decline to table a document. However, the minister has been asked for a second time to table the document, if the minister would like to indicate whether she chooses to or otherwise. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I will take advice on that, Mr President, and if the advice that I receive is to table that tomorrow then I will do it but at present the answer is no. The PRESIDENT : You cannot take advice; you have to give an indication now. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Then the answer is no and I have the right to do that. Questions without Notice Resumed The PRESIDENT : Okay, we will move on with questions without notice. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : The minister has not told us whether it is a confidential document. That is what I am asking: does the minister claim it to be a confidential document? My reading of the standing orders is very clear; that is, she needs to claim it as a confidential document and not deny the house access to it just because she chooses. I put to you, Mr President, the fact that after repeated questions the minister has not stated that it is a confidential document and that therefore means that it is. She quoted from it and it should be tabled. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Mr President, it is a confidential document. Questions without Notice Resumed Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let us move on with questions without notice.
Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Many are out of time; however, the younger ones may have avenues of recourse and this government will not take them away. If applicants wish to pursue other avenues that may be available to them — Hon Sue Ellery : You are a disgrace on this issue. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Did Hon Sue Ellery just say I was a disgrace on this issue? Hon Sue Ellery : I did. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Right! If applicants wish to pursue other avenues that may be available to them, they can still do so under this government. Hon Ken Travers interjected. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I note that Hon Sue Ellery said in a press release on 17 February that abolishing the waiver is meaningless and nothing short of cruel trickery for the vast majority of applicants and that this government has shown itself to be heartless and cruel. Hon Sue Ellery : For the vast majority of applicants. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Well, if that is the case, why on 23 October did the State Solicitor’s Office write to DCP and say, and I quote — I refer to your email dated 8 October 2007 clarifying that this Office had been requested by the Minister for Child Protection — That was you, Hon Sue Ellery — to draft “a waiver to provide the tightest possible wording to prevent beneficiaries of the proposed Redress Scheme from seeking further compensation.” Now who is unjust and cruel? Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : Can I ask the minister to identify the document that she is quoting from? The PRESIDENT : Hon Ken Travers can ask. The minister knows her rights, I am sure. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, I am not going to table it and I am not going to quote — Several members interjected. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I am quoting. I am quoting a document. Hon Ken Travers : You are embarrassed. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, I am not embarrassed. It is a confidential document. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let the minister finish her answer, which I am sure she is getting close to. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon Sue Ellery : It’s confidential but you are reading it. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I am reading out my typed-out notes. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I am not sure that the minister is able to deny the house the knowledge of the document that she is quoting from. I understand the rules about whether or not she has to table it and I will get to that later. But at this stage I think she is required to identify the document that she quoted from where she started with the words “and I quote”. Hon Simon O’Brien : She just held them up and showed them to you and said they were her notes. It’s pretty obvious. Hon Sue Ellery : Was she quoting or not? The PRESIDENT : The standing order Hon Ken Travers is referring to relates to a member. A minister does not have to table the document if the minister chooses not to. Hon KEN TRAVERS : No, I am not asking for the document to be tabled. I am asking for the minister to identify the document that she is quoting from. The PRESIDENT : I think that standing order relates to a member. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I have already said that it was from the State Solicitor’s Office on 23 October to the Department for Child Protection, and I would be very embarrassed if I were Hon Sue Ellery. Hon Sue Ellery : You know you have some hide to say that! Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Why did the member and her government want to stop any Redress applicant from seeking further compensation? Hon Sue Ellery : Every time you put out a newsletter I get call after call after call from really distressed people — Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, you tried to stop those people — The PRESIDENT : Order! We are coming up very soon to International Women’s Day so — Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! We do not want women to get themselves a bad reputation for misbehaviour in the chamber. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President, but some things are over and above misbehaviour. The Labor Party is absolutely appalling! Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, minister! I think you are coming to your concluding remarks. If you address your remarks through the Chair, I am sure you can get to the end of your answer very quickly. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. I just point out that the former government was going to make Redress applicants sign a watertight waiver and that was from the State Solicitor’s Office so that those vulnerable people who are able to go on and get further recourse — Hon Sue Ellery : You know you’ll be struck by lightning any minute—you will be! Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I demanded an apology from Hon Sue Ellery on air last week and I actually got that apology because she was absolutely disgraceful! Hon Sue Ellery interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I just want to know under standing order 47 whether the minister is claiming that the document she quoted from is a confidential document; and, if so, why was she quoting it in the house? The PRESIDENT : You asked for the minister to table the document initially, but the minister may or may not, depending on how the minister feels about it, table that document and she may not table it on the grounds that it is a confidential document so that may be the grounds on which she chooses not to table the document. Hon KEN TRAVERS : With all due respect Mr President, it is the only ground; she needs to claim it as a confidential document not to table it. I have not asked for it to be tabled up till now but I will do so. I ask for it to be tabled and I ask whether the minister is seeking to claim it as a confidential document. The PRESIDENT : I think you will find confidentiality is not the only reason a minister may decline to table a document. However, the minister has been asked for a second time to table the document, if the minister would like to indicate whether she chooses to or otherwise. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I will take advice on that, Mr President, and if the advice that I receive is to table that tomorrow then I will do it but at present the answer is no. The PRESIDENT : You cannot take advice; you have to give an indication now. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Then the answer is no and I have the right to do that. Questions without Notice Resumed The PRESIDENT : Okay, we will move on with questions without notice. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : The minister has not told us whether it is a confidential document. That is what I am asking: does the minister claim it to be a confidential document? My reading of the standing orders is very clear; that is, she needs to claim it as a confidential document and not deny the house access to it just because she chooses. I put to you, Mr President, the fact that after repeated questions the minister has not stated that it is a confidential document and that therefore means that it is. She quoted from it and it should be tabled. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Mr President, it is a confidential document. Questions without Notice Resumed Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let us move on with questions without notice.
Hon Sue Ellery : You are a disgrace on this issue. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Did Hon Sue Ellery just say I was a disgrace on this issue? Hon Sue Ellery : I did. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Right! If applicants wish to pursue other avenues that may be available to them, they can still do so under this government. Hon Ken Travers interjected. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I note that Hon Sue Ellery said in a press release on 17 February that abolishing the waiver is meaningless and nothing short of cruel trickery for the vast majority of applicants and that this government has shown itself to be heartless and cruel. Hon Sue Ellery : For the vast majority of applicants. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Well, if that is the case, why on 23 October did the State Solicitor’s Office write to DCP and say, and I quote — I refer to your email dated 8 October 2007 clarifying that this Office had been requested by the Minister for Child Protection — That was you, Hon Sue Ellery — to draft “a waiver to provide the tightest possible wording to prevent beneficiaries of the proposed Redress Scheme from seeking further compensation.” Now who is unjust and cruel? Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : Can I ask the minister to identify the document that she is quoting from? The PRESIDENT : Hon Ken Travers can ask. The minister knows her rights, I am sure. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, I am not going to table it and I am not going to quote — Several members interjected. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I am quoting. I am quoting a document. Hon Ken Travers : You are embarrassed. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, I am not embarrassed. It is a confidential document. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let the minister finish her answer, which I am sure she is getting close to. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon Sue Ellery : It’s confidential but you are reading it. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I am reading out my typed-out notes. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I am not sure that the minister is able to deny the house the knowledge of the document that she is quoting from. I understand the rules about whether or not she has to table it and I will get to that later. But at this stage I think she is required to identify the document that she quoted from where she started with the words “and I quote”. Hon Simon O’Brien : She just held them up and showed them to you and said they were her notes. It’s pretty obvious. Hon Sue Ellery : Was she quoting or not? The PRESIDENT : The standing order Hon Ken Travers is referring to relates to a member. A minister does not have to table the document if the minister chooses not to. Hon KEN TRAVERS : No, I am not asking for the document to be tabled. I am asking for the minister to identify the document that she is quoting from. The PRESIDENT : I think that standing order relates to a member. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I have already said that it was from the State Solicitor’s Office on 23 October to the Department for Child Protection, and I would be very embarrassed if I were Hon Sue Ellery. Hon Sue Ellery : You know you have some hide to say that! Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Why did the member and her government want to stop any Redress applicant from seeking further compensation? Hon Sue Ellery : Every time you put out a newsletter I get call after call after call from really distressed people — Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, you tried to stop those people — The PRESIDENT : Order! We are coming up very soon to International Women’s Day so — Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! We do not want women to get themselves a bad reputation for misbehaviour in the chamber. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President, but some things are over and above misbehaviour. The Labor Party is absolutely appalling! Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, minister! I think you are coming to your concluding remarks. If you address your remarks through the Chair, I am sure you can get to the end of your answer very quickly. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. I just point out that the former government was going to make Redress applicants sign a watertight waiver and that was from the State Solicitor’s Office so that those vulnerable people who are able to go on and get further recourse — Hon Sue Ellery : You know you’ll be struck by lightning any minute—you will be! Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I demanded an apology from Hon Sue Ellery on air last week and I actually got that apology because she was absolutely disgraceful! Hon Sue Ellery interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I just want to know under standing order 47 whether the minister is claiming that the document she quoted from is a confidential document; and, if so, why was she quoting it in the house? The PRESIDENT : You asked for the minister to table the document initially, but the minister may or may not, depending on how the minister feels about it, table that document and she may not table it on the grounds that it is a confidential document so that may be the grounds on which she chooses not to table the document. Hon KEN TRAVERS : With all due respect Mr President, it is the only ground; she needs to claim it as a confidential document not to table it. I have not asked for it to be tabled up till now but I will do so. I ask for it to be tabled and I ask whether the minister is seeking to claim it as a confidential document. The PRESIDENT : I think you will find confidentiality is not the only reason a minister may decline to table a document. However, the minister has been asked for a second time to table the document, if the minister would like to indicate whether she chooses to or otherwise. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I will take advice on that, Mr President, and if the advice that I receive is to table that tomorrow then I will do it but at present the answer is no. The PRESIDENT : You cannot take advice; you have to give an indication now. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Then the answer is no and I have the right to do that. Questions without Notice Resumed The PRESIDENT : Okay, we will move on with questions without notice. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : The minister has not told us whether it is a confidential document. That is what I am asking: does the minister claim it to be a confidential document? My reading of the standing orders is very clear; that is, she needs to claim it as a confidential document and not deny the house access to it just because she chooses. I put to you, Mr President, the fact that after repeated questions the minister has not stated that it is a confidential document and that therefore means that it is. She quoted from it and it should be tabled. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Mr President, it is a confidential document. Questions without Notice Resumed Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let us move on with questions without notice.
Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Did Hon Sue Ellery just say I was a disgrace on this issue? Hon Sue Ellery : I did. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Right! If applicants wish to pursue other avenues that may be available to them, they can still do so under this government. Hon Ken Travers interjected. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I note that Hon Sue Ellery said in a press release on 17 February that abolishing the waiver is meaningless and nothing short of cruel trickery for the vast majority of applicants and that this government has shown itself to be heartless and cruel. Hon Sue Ellery : For the vast majority of applicants. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Well, if that is the case, why on 23 October did the State Solicitor’s Office write to DCP and say, and I quote — I refer to your email dated 8 October 2007 clarifying that this Office had been requested by the Minister for Child Protection — That was you, Hon Sue Ellery — to draft “a waiver to provide the tightest possible wording to prevent beneficiaries of the proposed Redress Scheme from seeking further compensation.” Now who is unjust and cruel? Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : Can I ask the minister to identify the document that she is quoting from? The PRESIDENT : Hon Ken Travers can ask. The minister knows her rights, I am sure. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, I am not going to table it and I am not going to quote — Several members interjected. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I am quoting. I am quoting a document. Hon Ken Travers : You are embarrassed. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, I am not embarrassed. It is a confidential document. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let the minister finish her answer, which I am sure she is getting close to. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon Sue Ellery : It’s confidential but you are reading it. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I am reading out my typed-out notes. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I am not sure that the minister is able to deny the house the knowledge of the document that she is quoting from. I understand the rules about whether or not she has to table it and I will get to that later. But at this stage I think she is required to identify the document that she quoted from where she started with the words “and I quote”. Hon Simon O’Brien : She just held them up and showed them to you and said they were her notes. It’s pretty obvious. Hon Sue Ellery : Was she quoting or not? The PRESIDENT : The standing order Hon Ken Travers is referring to relates to a member. A minister does not have to table the document if the minister chooses not to. Hon KEN TRAVERS : No, I am not asking for the document to be tabled. I am asking for the minister to identify the document that she is quoting from. The PRESIDENT : I think that standing order relates to a member. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I have already said that it was from the State Solicitor’s Office on 23 October to the Department for Child Protection, and I would be very embarrassed if I were Hon Sue Ellery. Hon Sue Ellery : You know you have some hide to say that! Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Why did the member and her government want to stop any Redress applicant from seeking further compensation? Hon Sue Ellery : Every time you put out a newsletter I get call after call after call from really distressed people — Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, you tried to stop those people — The PRESIDENT : Order! We are coming up very soon to International Women’s Day so — Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! We do not want women to get themselves a bad reputation for misbehaviour in the chamber. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President, but some things are over and above misbehaviour. The Labor Party is absolutely appalling! Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, minister! I think you are coming to your concluding remarks. If you address your remarks through the Chair, I am sure you can get to the end of your answer very quickly. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. I just point out that the former government was going to make Redress applicants sign a watertight waiver and that was from the State Solicitor’s Office so that those vulnerable people who are able to go on and get further recourse — Hon Sue Ellery : You know you’ll be struck by lightning any minute—you will be! Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I demanded an apology from Hon Sue Ellery on air last week and I actually got that apology because she was absolutely disgraceful! Hon Sue Ellery interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I just want to know under standing order 47 whether the minister is claiming that the document she quoted from is a confidential document; and, if so, why was she quoting it in the house? The PRESIDENT : You asked for the minister to table the document initially, but the minister may or may not, depending on how the minister feels about it, table that document and she may not table it on the grounds that it is a confidential document so that may be the grounds on which she chooses not to table the document. Hon KEN TRAVERS : With all due respect Mr President, it is the only ground; she needs to claim it as a confidential document not to table it. I have not asked for it to be tabled up till now but I will do so. I ask for it to be tabled and I ask whether the minister is seeking to claim it as a confidential document. The PRESIDENT : I think you will find confidentiality is not the only reason a minister may decline to table a document. However, the minister has been asked for a second time to table the document, if the minister would like to indicate whether she chooses to or otherwise. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I will take advice on that, Mr President, and if the advice that I receive is to table that tomorrow then I will do it but at present the answer is no. The PRESIDENT : You cannot take advice; you have to give an indication now. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Then the answer is no and I have the right to do that. Questions without Notice Resumed The PRESIDENT : Okay, we will move on with questions without notice. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : The minister has not told us whether it is a confidential document. That is what I am asking: does the minister claim it to be a confidential document? My reading of the standing orders is very clear; that is, she needs to claim it as a confidential document and not deny the house access to it just because she chooses. I put to you, Mr President, the fact that after repeated questions the minister has not stated that it is a confidential document and that therefore means that it is. She quoted from it and it should be tabled. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Mr President, it is a confidential document. Questions without Notice Resumed Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let us move on with questions without notice.
Hon Sue Ellery : I did. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Right! If applicants wish to pursue other avenues that may be available to them, they can still do so under this government. Hon Ken Travers interjected. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I note that Hon Sue Ellery said in a press release on 17 February that abolishing the waiver is meaningless and nothing short of cruel trickery for the vast majority of applicants and that this government has shown itself to be heartless and cruel. Hon Sue Ellery : For the vast majority of applicants. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Well, if that is the case, why on 23 October did the State Solicitor’s Office write to DCP and say, and I quote — I refer to your email dated 8 October 2007 clarifying that this Office had been requested by the Minister for Child Protection — That was you, Hon Sue Ellery — to draft “a waiver to provide the tightest possible wording to prevent beneficiaries of the proposed Redress Scheme from seeking further compensation.” Now who is unjust and cruel? Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : Can I ask the minister to identify the document that she is quoting from? The PRESIDENT : Hon Ken Travers can ask. The minister knows her rights, I am sure. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, I am not going to table it and I am not going to quote — Several members interjected. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I am quoting. I am quoting a document. Hon Ken Travers : You are embarrassed. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, I am not embarrassed. It is a confidential document. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let the minister finish her answer, which I am sure she is getting close to. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon Sue Ellery : It’s confidential but you are reading it. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I am reading out my typed-out notes. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I am not sure that the minister is able to deny the house the knowledge of the document that she is quoting from. I understand the rules about whether or not she has to table it and I will get to that later. But at this stage I think she is required to identify the document that she quoted from where she started with the words “and I quote”. Hon Simon O’Brien : She just held them up and showed them to you and said they were her notes. It’s pretty obvious. Hon Sue Ellery : Was she quoting or not? The PRESIDENT : The standing order Hon Ken Travers is referring to relates to a member. A minister does not have to table the document if the minister chooses not to. Hon KEN TRAVERS : No, I am not asking for the document to be tabled. I am asking for the minister to identify the document that she is quoting from. The PRESIDENT : I think that standing order relates to a member. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I have already said that it was from the State Solicitor’s Office on 23 October to the Department for Child Protection, and I would be very embarrassed if I were Hon Sue Ellery. Hon Sue Ellery : You know you have some hide to say that! Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Why did the member and her government want to stop any Redress applicant from seeking further compensation? Hon Sue Ellery : Every time you put out a newsletter I get call after call after call from really distressed people — Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, you tried to stop those people — The PRESIDENT : Order! We are coming up very soon to International Women’s Day so — Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! We do not want women to get themselves a bad reputation for misbehaviour in the chamber. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President, but some things are over and above misbehaviour. The Labor Party is absolutely appalling! Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, minister! I think you are coming to your concluding remarks. If you address your remarks through the Chair, I am sure you can get to the end of your answer very quickly. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. I just point out that the former government was going to make Redress applicants sign a watertight waiver and that was from the State Solicitor’s Office so that those vulnerable people who are able to go on and get further recourse — Hon Sue Ellery : You know you’ll be struck by lightning any minute—you will be! Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I demanded an apology from Hon Sue Ellery on air last week and I actually got that apology because she was absolutely disgraceful! Hon Sue Ellery interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I just want to know under standing order 47 whether the minister is claiming that the document she quoted from is a confidential document; and, if so, why was she quoting it in the house? The PRESIDENT : You asked for the minister to table the document initially, but the minister may or may not, depending on how the minister feels about it, table that document and she may not table it on the grounds that it is a confidential document so that may be the grounds on which she chooses not to table the document. Hon KEN TRAVERS : With all due respect Mr President, it is the only ground; she needs to claim it as a confidential document not to table it. I have not asked for it to be tabled up till now but I will do so. I ask for it to be tabled and I ask whether the minister is seeking to claim it as a confidential document. The PRESIDENT : I think you will find confidentiality is not the only reason a minister may decline to table a document. However, the minister has been asked for a second time to table the document, if the minister would like to indicate whether she chooses to or otherwise. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I will take advice on that, Mr President, and if the advice that I receive is to table that tomorrow then I will do it but at present the answer is no. The PRESIDENT : You cannot take advice; you have to give an indication now. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Then the answer is no and I have the right to do that. Questions without Notice Resumed The PRESIDENT : Okay, we will move on with questions without notice. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : The minister has not told us whether it is a confidential document. That is what I am asking: does the minister claim it to be a confidential document? My reading of the standing orders is very clear; that is, she needs to claim it as a confidential document and not deny the house access to it just because she chooses. I put to you, Mr President, the fact that after repeated questions the minister has not stated that it is a confidential document and that therefore means that it is. She quoted from it and it should be tabled. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Mr President, it is a confidential document. Questions without Notice Resumed Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let us move on with questions without notice.
Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Right! If applicants wish to pursue other avenues that may be available to them, they can still do so under this government. Hon Ken Travers interjected. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I note that Hon Sue Ellery said in a press release on 17 February that abolishing the waiver is meaningless and nothing short of cruel trickery for the vast majority of applicants and that this government has shown itself to be heartless and cruel. Hon Sue Ellery : For the vast majority of applicants. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Well, if that is the case, why on 23 October did the State Solicitor’s Office write to DCP and say, and I quote — I refer to your email dated 8 October 2007 clarifying that this Office had been requested by the Minister for Child Protection — That was you, Hon Sue Ellery — to draft “a waiver to provide the tightest possible wording to prevent beneficiaries of the proposed Redress Scheme from seeking further compensation.” Now who is unjust and cruel? Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : Can I ask the minister to identify the document that she is quoting from? The PRESIDENT : Hon Ken Travers can ask. The minister knows her rights, I am sure. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, I am not going to table it and I am not going to quote — Several members interjected. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I am quoting. I am quoting a document. Hon Ken Travers : You are embarrassed. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, I am not embarrassed. It is a confidential document. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let the minister finish her answer, which I am sure she is getting close to. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon Sue Ellery : It’s confidential but you are reading it. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I am reading out my typed-out notes. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I am not sure that the minister is able to deny the house the knowledge of the document that she is quoting from. I understand the rules about whether or not she has to table it and I will get to that later. But at this stage I think she is required to identify the document that she quoted from where she started with the words “and I quote”. Hon Simon O’Brien : She just held them up and showed them to you and said they were her notes. It’s pretty obvious. Hon Sue Ellery : Was she quoting or not? The PRESIDENT : The standing order Hon Ken Travers is referring to relates to a member. A minister does not have to table the document if the minister chooses not to. Hon KEN TRAVERS : No, I am not asking for the document to be tabled. I am asking for the minister to identify the document that she is quoting from. The PRESIDENT : I think that standing order relates to a member. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I have already said that it was from the State Solicitor’s Office on 23 October to the Department for Child Protection, and I would be very embarrassed if I were Hon Sue Ellery. Hon Sue Ellery : You know you have some hide to say that! Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Why did the member and her government want to stop any Redress applicant from seeking further compensation? Hon Sue Ellery : Every time you put out a newsletter I get call after call after call from really distressed people — Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, you tried to stop those people — The PRESIDENT : Order! We are coming up very soon to International Women’s Day so — Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! We do not want women to get themselves a bad reputation for misbehaviour in the chamber. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President, but some things are over and above misbehaviour. The Labor Party is absolutely appalling! Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, minister! I think you are coming to your concluding remarks. If you address your remarks through the Chair, I am sure you can get to the end of your answer very quickly. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. I just point out that the former government was going to make Redress applicants sign a watertight waiver and that was from the State Solicitor’s Office so that those vulnerable people who are able to go on and get further recourse — Hon Sue Ellery : You know you’ll be struck by lightning any minute—you will be! Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I demanded an apology from Hon Sue Ellery on air last week and I actually got that apology because she was absolutely disgraceful! Hon Sue Ellery interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I just want to know under standing order 47 whether the minister is claiming that the document she quoted from is a confidential document; and, if so, why was she quoting it in the house? The PRESIDENT : You asked for the minister to table the document initially, but the minister may or may not, depending on how the minister feels about it, table that document and she may not table it on the grounds that it is a confidential document so that may be the grounds on which she chooses not to table the document. Hon KEN TRAVERS : With all due respect Mr President, it is the only ground; she needs to claim it as a confidential document not to table it. I have not asked for it to be tabled up till now but I will do so. I ask for it to be tabled and I ask whether the minister is seeking to claim it as a confidential document. The PRESIDENT : I think you will find confidentiality is not the only reason a minister may decline to table a document. However, the minister has been asked for a second time to table the document, if the minister would like to indicate whether she chooses to or otherwise. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I will take advice on that, Mr President, and if the advice that I receive is to table that tomorrow then I will do it but at present the answer is no. The PRESIDENT : You cannot take advice; you have to give an indication now. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Then the answer is no and I have the right to do that. Questions without Notice Resumed The PRESIDENT : Okay, we will move on with questions without notice. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : The minister has not told us whether it is a confidential document. That is what I am asking: does the minister claim it to be a confidential document? My reading of the standing orders is very clear; that is, she needs to claim it as a confidential document and not deny the house access to it just because she chooses. I put to you, Mr President, the fact that after repeated questions the minister has not stated that it is a confidential document and that therefore means that it is. She quoted from it and it should be tabled. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Mr President, it is a confidential document. Questions without Notice Resumed Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let us move on with questions without notice.
If applicants wish to pursue other avenues that may be available to them, they can still do so under this government. Hon Ken Travers interjected. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I note that Hon Sue Ellery said in a press release on 17 February that abolishing the waiver is meaningless and nothing short of cruel trickery for the vast majority of applicants and that this government has shown itself to be heartless and cruel. Hon Sue Ellery : For the vast majority of applicants. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Well, if that is the case, why on 23 October did the State Solicitor’s Office write to DCP and say, and I quote — I refer to your email dated 8 October 2007 clarifying that this Office had been requested by the Minister for Child Protection — That was you, Hon Sue Ellery — to draft “a waiver to provide the tightest possible wording to prevent beneficiaries of the proposed Redress Scheme from seeking further compensation.” Now who is unjust and cruel? Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : Can I ask the minister to identify the document that she is quoting from? The PRESIDENT : Hon Ken Travers can ask. The minister knows her rights, I am sure. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, I am not going to table it and I am not going to quote — Several members interjected. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I am quoting. I am quoting a document. Hon Ken Travers : You are embarrassed. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, I am not embarrassed. It is a confidential document. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let the minister finish her answer, which I am sure she is getting close to. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon Sue Ellery : It’s confidential but you are reading it. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I am reading out my typed-out notes. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I am not sure that the minister is able to deny the house the knowledge of the document that she is quoting from. I understand the rules about whether or not she has to table it and I will get to that later. But at this stage I think she is required to identify the document that she quoted from where she started with the words “and I quote”. Hon Simon O’Brien : She just held them up and showed them to you and said they were her notes. It’s pretty obvious. Hon Sue Ellery : Was she quoting or not? The PRESIDENT : The standing order Hon Ken Travers is referring to relates to a member. A minister does not have to table the document if the minister chooses not to. Hon KEN TRAVERS : No, I am not asking for the document to be tabled. I am asking for the minister to identify the document that she is quoting from. The PRESIDENT : I think that standing order relates to a member. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I have already said that it was from the State Solicitor’s Office on 23 October to the Department for Child Protection, and I would be very embarrassed if I were Hon Sue Ellery. Hon Sue Ellery : You know you have some hide to say that! Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Why did the member and her government want to stop any Redress applicant from seeking further compensation? Hon Sue Ellery : Every time you put out a newsletter I get call after call after call from really distressed people — Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, you tried to stop those people — The PRESIDENT : Order! We are coming up very soon to International Women’s Day so — Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! We do not want women to get themselves a bad reputation for misbehaviour in the chamber. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President, but some things are over and above misbehaviour. The Labor Party is absolutely appalling! Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, minister! I think you are coming to your concluding remarks. If you address your remarks through the Chair, I am sure you can get to the end of your answer very quickly. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. I just point out that the former government was going to make Redress applicants sign a watertight waiver and that was from the State Solicitor’s Office so that those vulnerable people who are able to go on and get further recourse — Hon Sue Ellery : You know you’ll be struck by lightning any minute—you will be! Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I demanded an apology from Hon Sue Ellery on air last week and I actually got that apology because she was absolutely disgraceful! Hon Sue Ellery interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I just want to know under standing order 47 whether the minister is claiming that the document she quoted from is a confidential document; and, if so, why was she quoting it in the house? The PRESIDENT : You asked for the minister to table the document initially, but the minister may or may not, depending on how the minister feels about it, table that document and she may not table it on the grounds that it is a confidential document so that may be the grounds on which she chooses not to table the document. Hon KEN TRAVERS : With all due respect Mr President, it is the only ground; she needs to claim it as a confidential document not to table it. I have not asked for it to be tabled up till now but I will do so. I ask for it to be tabled and I ask whether the minister is seeking to claim it as a confidential document. The PRESIDENT : I think you will find confidentiality is not the only reason a minister may decline to table a document. However, the minister has been asked for a second time to table the document, if the minister would like to indicate whether she chooses to or otherwise. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I will take advice on that, Mr President, and if the advice that I receive is to table that tomorrow then I will do it but at present the answer is no. The PRESIDENT : You cannot take advice; you have to give an indication now. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Then the answer is no and I have the right to do that. Questions without Notice Resumed The PRESIDENT : Okay, we will move on with questions without notice. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : The minister has not told us whether it is a confidential document. That is what I am asking: does the minister claim it to be a confidential document? My reading of the standing orders is very clear; that is, she needs to claim it as a confidential document and not deny the house access to it just because she chooses. I put to you, Mr President, the fact that after repeated questions the minister has not stated that it is a confidential document and that therefore means that it is. She quoted from it and it should be tabled. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Mr President, it is a confidential document. Questions without Notice Resumed Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let us move on with questions without notice.
Hon Ken Travers interjected. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I note that Hon Sue Ellery said in a press release on 17 February that abolishing the waiver is meaningless and nothing short of cruel trickery for the vast majority of applicants and that this government has shown itself to be heartless and cruel. Hon Sue Ellery : For the vast majority of applicants. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Well, if that is the case, why on 23 October did the State Solicitor’s Office write to DCP and say, and I quote — I refer to your email dated 8 October 2007 clarifying that this Office had been requested by the Minister for Child Protection — That was you, Hon Sue Ellery — to draft “a waiver to provide the tightest possible wording to prevent beneficiaries of the proposed Redress Scheme from seeking further compensation.” Now who is unjust and cruel? Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : Can I ask the minister to identify the document that she is quoting from? The PRESIDENT : Hon Ken Travers can ask. The minister knows her rights, I am sure. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, I am not going to table it and I am not going to quote — Several members interjected. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I am quoting. I am quoting a document. Hon Ken Travers : You are embarrassed. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, I am not embarrassed. It is a confidential document. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let the minister finish her answer, which I am sure she is getting close to. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon Sue Ellery : It’s confidential but you are reading it. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I am reading out my typed-out notes. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I am not sure that the minister is able to deny the house the knowledge of the document that she is quoting from. I understand the rules about whether or not she has to table it and I will get to that later. But at this stage I think she is required to identify the document that she quoted from where she started with the words “and I quote”. Hon Simon O’Brien : She just held them up and showed them to you and said they were her notes. It’s pretty obvious. Hon Sue Ellery : Was she quoting or not? The PRESIDENT : The standing order Hon Ken Travers is referring to relates to a member. A minister does not have to table the document if the minister chooses not to. Hon KEN TRAVERS : No, I am not asking for the document to be tabled. I am asking for the minister to identify the document that she is quoting from. The PRESIDENT : I think that standing order relates to a member. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I have already said that it was from the State Solicitor’s Office on 23 October to the Department for Child Protection, and I would be very embarrassed if I were Hon Sue Ellery. Hon Sue Ellery : You know you have some hide to say that! Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Why did the member and her government want to stop any Redress applicant from seeking further compensation? Hon Sue Ellery : Every time you put out a newsletter I get call after call after call from really distressed people — Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, you tried to stop those people — The PRESIDENT : Order! We are coming up very soon to International Women’s Day so — Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! We do not want women to get themselves a bad reputation for misbehaviour in the chamber. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President, but some things are over and above misbehaviour. The Labor Party is absolutely appalling! Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, minister! I think you are coming to your concluding remarks. If you address your remarks through the Chair, I am sure you can get to the end of your answer very quickly. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. I just point out that the former government was going to make Redress applicants sign a watertight waiver and that was from the State Solicitor’s Office so that those vulnerable people who are able to go on and get further recourse — Hon Sue Ellery : You know you’ll be struck by lightning any minute—you will be! Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I demanded an apology from Hon Sue Ellery on air last week and I actually got that apology because she was absolutely disgraceful! Hon Sue Ellery interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I just want to know under standing order 47 whether the minister is claiming that the document she quoted from is a confidential document; and, if so, why was she quoting it in the house? The PRESIDENT : You asked for the minister to table the document initially, but the minister may or may not, depending on how the minister feels about it, table that document and she may not table it on the grounds that it is a confidential document so that may be the grounds on which she chooses not to table the document. Hon KEN TRAVERS : With all due respect Mr President, it is the only ground; she needs to claim it as a confidential document not to table it. I have not asked for it to be tabled up till now but I will do so. I ask for it to be tabled and I ask whether the minister is seeking to claim it as a confidential document. The PRESIDENT : I think you will find confidentiality is not the only reason a minister may decline to table a document. However, the minister has been asked for a second time to table the document, if the minister would like to indicate whether she chooses to or otherwise. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I will take advice on that, Mr President, and if the advice that I receive is to table that tomorrow then I will do it but at present the answer is no. The PRESIDENT : You cannot take advice; you have to give an indication now. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Then the answer is no and I have the right to do that. Questions without Notice Resumed The PRESIDENT : Okay, we will move on with questions without notice. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : The minister has not told us whether it is a confidential document. That is what I am asking: does the minister claim it to be a confidential document? My reading of the standing orders is very clear; that is, she needs to claim it as a confidential document and not deny the house access to it just because she chooses. I put to you, Mr President, the fact that after repeated questions the minister has not stated that it is a confidential document and that therefore means that it is. She quoted from it and it should be tabled. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Mr President, it is a confidential document. Questions without Notice Resumed Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let us move on with questions without notice.
Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I note that Hon Sue Ellery said in a press release on 17 February that abolishing the waiver is meaningless and nothing short of cruel trickery for the vast majority of applicants and that this government has shown itself to be heartless and cruel. Hon Sue Ellery : For the vast majority of applicants. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Well, if that is the case, why on 23 October did the State Solicitor’s Office write to DCP and say, and I quote — I refer to your email dated 8 October 2007 clarifying that this Office had been requested by the Minister for Child Protection — That was you, Hon Sue Ellery — to draft “a waiver to provide the tightest possible wording to prevent beneficiaries of the proposed Redress Scheme from seeking further compensation.” Now who is unjust and cruel? Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : Can I ask the minister to identify the document that she is quoting from? The PRESIDENT : Hon Ken Travers can ask. The minister knows her rights, I am sure. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, I am not going to table it and I am not going to quote — Several members interjected. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I am quoting. I am quoting a document. Hon Ken Travers : You are embarrassed. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, I am not embarrassed. It is a confidential document. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let the minister finish her answer, which I am sure she is getting close to. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon Sue Ellery : It’s confidential but you are reading it. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I am reading out my typed-out notes. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I am not sure that the minister is able to deny the house the knowledge of the document that she is quoting from. I understand the rules about whether or not she has to table it and I will get to that later. But at this stage I think she is required to identify the document that she quoted from where she started with the words “and I quote”. Hon Simon O’Brien : She just held them up and showed them to you and said they were her notes. It’s pretty obvious. Hon Sue Ellery : Was she quoting or not? The PRESIDENT : The standing order Hon Ken Travers is referring to relates to a member. A minister does not have to table the document if the minister chooses not to. Hon KEN TRAVERS : No, I am not asking for the document to be tabled. I am asking for the minister to identify the document that she is quoting from. The PRESIDENT : I think that standing order relates to a member. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I have already said that it was from the State Solicitor’s Office on 23 October to the Department for Child Protection, and I would be very embarrassed if I were Hon Sue Ellery. Hon Sue Ellery : You know you have some hide to say that! Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Why did the member and her government want to stop any Redress applicant from seeking further compensation? Hon Sue Ellery : Every time you put out a newsletter I get call after call after call from really distressed people — Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, you tried to stop those people — The PRESIDENT : Order! We are coming up very soon to International Women’s Day so — Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! We do not want women to get themselves a bad reputation for misbehaviour in the chamber. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President, but some things are over and above misbehaviour. The Labor Party is absolutely appalling! Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, minister! I think you are coming to your concluding remarks. If you address your remarks through the Chair, I am sure you can get to the end of your answer very quickly. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. I just point out that the former government was going to make Redress applicants sign a watertight waiver and that was from the State Solicitor’s Office so that those vulnerable people who are able to go on and get further recourse — Hon Sue Ellery : You know you’ll be struck by lightning any minute—you will be! Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I demanded an apology from Hon Sue Ellery on air last week and I actually got that apology because she was absolutely disgraceful! Hon Sue Ellery interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I just want to know under standing order 47 whether the minister is claiming that the document she quoted from is a confidential document; and, if so, why was she quoting it in the house? The PRESIDENT : You asked for the minister to table the document initially, but the minister may or may not, depending on how the minister feels about it, table that document and she may not table it on the grounds that it is a confidential document so that may be the grounds on which she chooses not to table the document. Hon KEN TRAVERS : With all due respect Mr President, it is the only ground; she needs to claim it as a confidential document not to table it. I have not asked for it to be tabled up till now but I will do so. I ask for it to be tabled and I ask whether the minister is seeking to claim it as a confidential document. The PRESIDENT : I think you will find confidentiality is not the only reason a minister may decline to table a document. However, the minister has been asked for a second time to table the document, if the minister would like to indicate whether she chooses to or otherwise. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I will take advice on that, Mr President, and if the advice that I receive is to table that tomorrow then I will do it but at present the answer is no. The PRESIDENT : You cannot take advice; you have to give an indication now. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Then the answer is no and I have the right to do that. Questions without Notice Resumed The PRESIDENT : Okay, we will move on with questions without notice. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : The minister has not told us whether it is a confidential document. That is what I am asking: does the minister claim it to be a confidential document? My reading of the standing orders is very clear; that is, she needs to claim it as a confidential document and not deny the house access to it just because she chooses. I put to you, Mr President, the fact that after repeated questions the minister has not stated that it is a confidential document and that therefore means that it is. She quoted from it and it should be tabled. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Mr President, it is a confidential document. Questions without Notice Resumed Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let us move on with questions without notice.
Hon Sue Ellery : For the vast majority of applicants. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Well, if that is the case, why on 23 October did the State Solicitor’s Office write to DCP and say, and I quote — I refer to your email dated 8 October 2007 clarifying that this Office had been requested by the Minister for Child Protection — That was you, Hon Sue Ellery — to draft “a waiver to provide the tightest possible wording to prevent beneficiaries of the proposed Redress Scheme from seeking further compensation.” Now who is unjust and cruel? Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : Can I ask the minister to identify the document that she is quoting from? The PRESIDENT : Hon Ken Travers can ask. The minister knows her rights, I am sure. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, I am not going to table it and I am not going to quote — Several members interjected. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I am quoting. I am quoting a document. Hon Ken Travers : You are embarrassed. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, I am not embarrassed. It is a confidential document. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let the minister finish her answer, which I am sure she is getting close to. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon Sue Ellery : It’s confidential but you are reading it. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I am reading out my typed-out notes. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I am not sure that the minister is able to deny the house the knowledge of the document that she is quoting from. I understand the rules about whether or not she has to table it and I will get to that later. But at this stage I think she is required to identify the document that she quoted from where she started with the words “and I quote”. Hon Simon O’Brien : She just held them up and showed them to you and said they were her notes. It’s pretty obvious. Hon Sue Ellery : Was she quoting or not? The PRESIDENT : The standing order Hon Ken Travers is referring to relates to a member. A minister does not have to table the document if the minister chooses not to. Hon KEN TRAVERS : No, I am not asking for the document to be tabled. I am asking for the minister to identify the document that she is quoting from. The PRESIDENT : I think that standing order relates to a member. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I have already said that it was from the State Solicitor’s Office on 23 October to the Department for Child Protection, and I would be very embarrassed if I were Hon Sue Ellery. Hon Sue Ellery : You know you have some hide to say that! Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Why did the member and her government want to stop any Redress applicant from seeking further compensation? Hon Sue Ellery : Every time you put out a newsletter I get call after call after call from really distressed people — Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, you tried to stop those people — The PRESIDENT : Order! We are coming up very soon to International Women’s Day so — Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! We do not want women to get themselves a bad reputation for misbehaviour in the chamber. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President, but some things are over and above misbehaviour. The Labor Party is absolutely appalling! Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, minister! I think you are coming to your concluding remarks. If you address your remarks through the Chair, I am sure you can get to the end of your answer very quickly. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. I just point out that the former government was going to make Redress applicants sign a watertight waiver and that was from the State Solicitor’s Office so that those vulnerable people who are able to go on and get further recourse — Hon Sue Ellery : You know you’ll be struck by lightning any minute—you will be! Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I demanded an apology from Hon Sue Ellery on air last week and I actually got that apology because she was absolutely disgraceful! Hon Sue Ellery interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I just want to know under standing order 47 whether the minister is claiming that the document she quoted from is a confidential document; and, if so, why was she quoting it in the house? The PRESIDENT : You asked for the minister to table the document initially, but the minister may or may not, depending on how the minister feels about it, table that document and she may not table it on the grounds that it is a confidential document so that may be the grounds on which she chooses not to table the document. Hon KEN TRAVERS : With all due respect Mr President, it is the only ground; she needs to claim it as a confidential document not to table it. I have not asked for it to be tabled up till now but I will do so. I ask for it to be tabled and I ask whether the minister is seeking to claim it as a confidential document. The PRESIDENT : I think you will find confidentiality is not the only reason a minister may decline to table a document. However, the minister has been asked for a second time to table the document, if the minister would like to indicate whether she chooses to or otherwise. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I will take advice on that, Mr President, and if the advice that I receive is to table that tomorrow then I will do it but at present the answer is no. The PRESIDENT : You cannot take advice; you have to give an indication now. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Then the answer is no and I have the right to do that. Questions without Notice Resumed The PRESIDENT : Okay, we will move on with questions without notice. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : The minister has not told us whether it is a confidential document. That is what I am asking: does the minister claim it to be a confidential document? My reading of the standing orders is very clear; that is, she needs to claim it as a confidential document and not deny the house access to it just because she chooses. I put to you, Mr President, the fact that after repeated questions the minister has not stated that it is a confidential document and that therefore means that it is. She quoted from it and it should be tabled. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Mr President, it is a confidential document. Questions without Notice Resumed Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let us move on with questions without notice.
Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Well, if that is the case, why on 23 October did the State Solicitor’s Office write to DCP and say, and I quote — I refer to your email dated 8 October 2007 clarifying that this Office had been requested by the Minister for Child Protection — That was you, Hon Sue Ellery — to draft “a waiver to provide the tightest possible wording to prevent beneficiaries of the proposed Redress Scheme from seeking further compensation.” Now who is unjust and cruel? Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : Can I ask the minister to identify the document that she is quoting from? The PRESIDENT : Hon Ken Travers can ask. The minister knows her rights, I am sure. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, I am not going to table it and I am not going to quote — Several members interjected. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I am quoting. I am quoting a document. Hon Ken Travers : You are embarrassed. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, I am not embarrassed. It is a confidential document. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let the minister finish her answer, which I am sure she is getting close to. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon Sue Ellery : It’s confidential but you are reading it. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I am reading out my typed-out notes. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I am not sure that the minister is able to deny the house the knowledge of the document that she is quoting from. I understand the rules about whether or not she has to table it and I will get to that later. But at this stage I think she is required to identify the document that she quoted from where she started with the words “and I quote”. Hon Simon O’Brien : She just held them up and showed them to you and said they were her notes. It’s pretty obvious. Hon Sue Ellery : Was she quoting or not? The PRESIDENT : The standing order Hon Ken Travers is referring to relates to a member. A minister does not have to table the document if the minister chooses not to. Hon KEN TRAVERS : No, I am not asking for the document to be tabled. I am asking for the minister to identify the document that she is quoting from. The PRESIDENT : I think that standing order relates to a member. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I have already said that it was from the State Solicitor’s Office on 23 October to the Department for Child Protection, and I would be very embarrassed if I were Hon Sue Ellery. Hon Sue Ellery : You know you have some hide to say that! Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Why did the member and her government want to stop any Redress applicant from seeking further compensation? Hon Sue Ellery : Every time you put out a newsletter I get call after call after call from really distressed people — Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, you tried to stop those people — The PRESIDENT : Order! We are coming up very soon to International Women’s Day so — Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! We do not want women to get themselves a bad reputation for misbehaviour in the chamber. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President, but some things are over and above misbehaviour. The Labor Party is absolutely appalling! Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, minister! I think you are coming to your concluding remarks. If you address your remarks through the Chair, I am sure you can get to the end of your answer very quickly. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. I just point out that the former government was going to make Redress applicants sign a watertight waiver and that was from the State Solicitor’s Office so that those vulnerable people who are able to go on and get further recourse — Hon Sue Ellery : You know you’ll be struck by lightning any minute—you will be! Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I demanded an apology from Hon Sue Ellery on air last week and I actually got that apology because she was absolutely disgraceful! Hon Sue Ellery interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I just want to know under standing order 47 whether the minister is claiming that the document she quoted from is a confidential document; and, if so, why was she quoting it in the house? The PRESIDENT : You asked for the minister to table the document initially, but the minister may or may not, depending on how the minister feels about it, table that document and she may not table it on the grounds that it is a confidential document so that may be the grounds on which she chooses not to table the document. Hon KEN TRAVERS : With all due respect Mr President, it is the only ground; she needs to claim it as a confidential document not to table it. I have not asked for it to be tabled up till now but I will do so. I ask for it to be tabled and I ask whether the minister is seeking to claim it as a confidential document. The PRESIDENT : I think you will find confidentiality is not the only reason a minister may decline to table a document. However, the minister has been asked for a second time to table the document, if the minister would like to indicate whether she chooses to or otherwise. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I will take advice on that, Mr President, and if the advice that I receive is to table that tomorrow then I will do it but at present the answer is no. The PRESIDENT : You cannot take advice; you have to give an indication now. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Then the answer is no and I have the right to do that. Questions without Notice Resumed The PRESIDENT : Okay, we will move on with questions without notice. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : The minister has not told us whether it is a confidential document. That is what I am asking: does the minister claim it to be a confidential document? My reading of the standing orders is very clear; that is, she needs to claim it as a confidential document and not deny the house access to it just because she chooses. I put to you, Mr President, the fact that after repeated questions the minister has not stated that it is a confidential document and that therefore means that it is. She quoted from it and it should be tabled. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Mr President, it is a confidential document. Questions without Notice Resumed Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let us move on with questions without notice.
Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : Can I ask the minister to identify the document that she is quoting from? The PRESIDENT : Hon Ken Travers can ask. The minister knows her rights, I am sure. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, I am not going to table it and I am not going to quote — Several members interjected. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I am quoting. I am quoting a document. Hon Ken Travers : You are embarrassed. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, I am not embarrassed. It is a confidential document. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let the minister finish her answer, which I am sure she is getting close to. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon Sue Ellery : It’s confidential but you are reading it. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I am reading out my typed-out notes. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I am not sure that the minister is able to deny the house the knowledge of the document that she is quoting from. I understand the rules about whether or not she has to table it and I will get to that later. But at this stage I think she is required to identify the document that she quoted from where she started with the words “and I quote”. Hon Simon O’Brien : She just held them up and showed them to you and said they were her notes. It’s pretty obvious. Hon Sue Ellery : Was she quoting or not? The PRESIDENT : The standing order Hon Ken Travers is referring to relates to a member. A minister does not have to table the document if the minister chooses not to. Hon KEN TRAVERS : No, I am not asking for the document to be tabled. I am asking for the minister to identify the document that she is quoting from. The PRESIDENT : I think that standing order relates to a member. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I have already said that it was from the State Solicitor’s Office on 23 October to the Department for Child Protection, and I would be very embarrassed if I were Hon Sue Ellery. Hon Sue Ellery : You know you have some hide to say that! Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Why did the member and her government want to stop any Redress applicant from seeking further compensation? Hon Sue Ellery : Every time you put out a newsletter I get call after call after call from really distressed people — Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, you tried to stop those people — The PRESIDENT : Order! We are coming up very soon to International Women’s Day so — Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! We do not want women to get themselves a bad reputation for misbehaviour in the chamber. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President, but some things are over and above misbehaviour. The Labor Party is absolutely appalling! Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, minister! I think you are coming to your concluding remarks. If you address your remarks through the Chair, I am sure you can get to the end of your answer very quickly. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. I just point out that the former government was going to make Redress applicants sign a watertight waiver and that was from the State Solicitor’s Office so that those vulnerable people who are able to go on and get further recourse — Hon Sue Ellery : You know you’ll be struck by lightning any minute—you will be! Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I demanded an apology from Hon Sue Ellery on air last week and I actually got that apology because she was absolutely disgraceful! Hon Sue Ellery interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I just want to know under standing order 47 whether the minister is claiming that the document she quoted from is a confidential document; and, if so, why was she quoting it in the house? The PRESIDENT : You asked for the minister to table the document initially, but the minister may or may not, depending on how the minister feels about it, table that document and she may not table it on the grounds that it is a confidential document so that may be the grounds on which she chooses not to table the document. Hon KEN TRAVERS : With all due respect Mr President, it is the only ground; she needs to claim it as a confidential document not to table it. I have not asked for it to be tabled up till now but I will do so. I ask for it to be tabled and I ask whether the minister is seeking to claim it as a confidential document. The PRESIDENT : I think you will find confidentiality is not the only reason a minister may decline to table a document. However, the minister has been asked for a second time to table the document, if the minister would like to indicate whether she chooses to or otherwise. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I will take advice on that, Mr President, and if the advice that I receive is to table that tomorrow then I will do it but at present the answer is no. The PRESIDENT : You cannot take advice; you have to give an indication now. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Then the answer is no and I have the right to do that. Questions without Notice Resumed The PRESIDENT : Okay, we will move on with questions without notice. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : The minister has not told us whether it is a confidential document. That is what I am asking: does the minister claim it to be a confidential document? My reading of the standing orders is very clear; that is, she needs to claim it as a confidential document and not deny the house access to it just because she chooses. I put to you, Mr President, the fact that after repeated questions the minister has not stated that it is a confidential document and that therefore means that it is. She quoted from it and it should be tabled. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Mr President, it is a confidential document. Questions without Notice Resumed Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let us move on with questions without notice.
The PRESIDENT : Order! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : Can I ask the minister to identify the document that she is quoting from? The PRESIDENT : Hon Ken Travers can ask. The minister knows her rights, I am sure. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, I am not going to table it and I am not going to quote — Several members interjected. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I am quoting. I am quoting a document. Hon Ken Travers : You are embarrassed. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, I am not embarrassed. It is a confidential document. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let the minister finish her answer, which I am sure she is getting close to. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon Sue Ellery : It’s confidential but you are reading it. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I am reading out my typed-out notes. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I am not sure that the minister is able to deny the house the knowledge of the document that she is quoting from. I understand the rules about whether or not she has to table it and I will get to that later. But at this stage I think she is required to identify the document that she quoted from where she started with the words “and I quote”. Hon Simon O’Brien : She just held them up and showed them to you and said they were her notes. It’s pretty obvious. Hon Sue Ellery : Was she quoting or not? The PRESIDENT : The standing order Hon Ken Travers is referring to relates to a member. A minister does not have to table the document if the minister chooses not to. Hon KEN TRAVERS : No, I am not asking for the document to be tabled. I am asking for the minister to identify the document that she is quoting from. The PRESIDENT : I think that standing order relates to a member. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I have already said that it was from the State Solicitor’s Office on 23 October to the Department for Child Protection, and I would be very embarrassed if I were Hon Sue Ellery. Hon Sue Ellery : You know you have some hide to say that! Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Why did the member and her government want to stop any Redress applicant from seeking further compensation? Hon Sue Ellery : Every time you put out a newsletter I get call after call after call from really distressed people — Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, you tried to stop those people — The PRESIDENT : Order! We are coming up very soon to International Women’s Day so — Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! We do not want women to get themselves a bad reputation for misbehaviour in the chamber. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President, but some things are over and above misbehaviour. The Labor Party is absolutely appalling! Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, minister! I think you are coming to your concluding remarks. If you address your remarks through the Chair, I am sure you can get to the end of your answer very quickly. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. I just point out that the former government was going to make Redress applicants sign a watertight waiver and that was from the State Solicitor’s Office so that those vulnerable people who are able to go on and get further recourse — Hon Sue Ellery : You know you’ll be struck by lightning any minute—you will be! Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I demanded an apology from Hon Sue Ellery on air last week and I actually got that apology because she was absolutely disgraceful! Hon Sue Ellery interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I just want to know under standing order 47 whether the minister is claiming that the document she quoted from is a confidential document; and, if so, why was she quoting it in the house? The PRESIDENT : You asked for the minister to table the document initially, but the minister may or may not, depending on how the minister feels about it, table that document and she may not table it on the grounds that it is a confidential document so that may be the grounds on which she chooses not to table the document. Hon KEN TRAVERS : With all due respect Mr President, it is the only ground; she needs to claim it as a confidential document not to table it. I have not asked for it to be tabled up till now but I will do so. I ask for it to be tabled and I ask whether the minister is seeking to claim it as a confidential document. The PRESIDENT : I think you will find confidentiality is not the only reason a minister may decline to table a document. However, the minister has been asked for a second time to table the document, if the minister would like to indicate whether she chooses to or otherwise. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I will take advice on that, Mr President, and if the advice that I receive is to table that tomorrow then I will do it but at present the answer is no. The PRESIDENT : You cannot take advice; you have to give an indication now. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Then the answer is no and I have the right to do that. Questions without Notice Resumed The PRESIDENT : Okay, we will move on with questions without notice. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : The minister has not told us whether it is a confidential document. That is what I am asking: does the minister claim it to be a confidential document? My reading of the standing orders is very clear; that is, she needs to claim it as a confidential document and not deny the house access to it just because she chooses. I put to you, Mr President, the fact that after repeated questions the minister has not stated that it is a confidential document and that therefore means that it is. She quoted from it and it should be tabled. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Mr President, it is a confidential document. Questions without Notice Resumed Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let us move on with questions without notice.
The PRESIDENT : Hon Ken Travers can ask. The minister knows her rights, I am sure. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, I am not going to table it and I am not going to quote — Several members interjected. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I am quoting. I am quoting a document. Hon Ken Travers : You are embarrassed. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, I am not embarrassed. It is a confidential document. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let the minister finish her answer, which I am sure she is getting close to. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon Sue Ellery : It’s confidential but you are reading it. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I am reading out my typed-out notes. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I am not sure that the minister is able to deny the house the knowledge of the document that she is quoting from. I understand the rules about whether or not she has to table it and I will get to that later. But at this stage I think she is required to identify the document that she quoted from where she started with the words “and I quote”. Hon Simon O’Brien : She just held them up and showed them to you and said they were her notes. It’s pretty obvious. Hon Sue Ellery : Was she quoting or not? The PRESIDENT : The standing order Hon Ken Travers is referring to relates to a member. A minister does not have to table the document if the minister chooses not to. Hon KEN TRAVERS : No, I am not asking for the document to be tabled. I am asking for the minister to identify the document that she is quoting from. The PRESIDENT : I think that standing order relates to a member. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I have already said that it was from the State Solicitor’s Office on 23 October to the Department for Child Protection, and I would be very embarrassed if I were Hon Sue Ellery. Hon Sue Ellery : You know you have some hide to say that! Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Why did the member and her government want to stop any Redress applicant from seeking further compensation? Hon Sue Ellery : Every time you put out a newsletter I get call after call after call from really distressed people — Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, you tried to stop those people — The PRESIDENT : Order! We are coming up very soon to International Women’s Day so — Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! We do not want women to get themselves a bad reputation for misbehaviour in the chamber. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President, but some things are over and above misbehaviour. The Labor Party is absolutely appalling! Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, minister! I think you are coming to your concluding remarks. If you address your remarks through the Chair, I am sure you can get to the end of your answer very quickly. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. I just point out that the former government was going to make Redress applicants sign a watertight waiver and that was from the State Solicitor’s Office so that those vulnerable people who are able to go on and get further recourse — Hon Sue Ellery : You know you’ll be struck by lightning any minute—you will be! Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I demanded an apology from Hon Sue Ellery on air last week and I actually got that apology because she was absolutely disgraceful! Hon Sue Ellery interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I just want to know under standing order 47 whether the minister is claiming that the document she quoted from is a confidential document; and, if so, why was she quoting it in the house? The PRESIDENT : You asked for the minister to table the document initially, but the minister may or may not, depending on how the minister feels about it, table that document and she may not table it on the grounds that it is a confidential document so that may be the grounds on which she chooses not to table the document. Hon KEN TRAVERS : With all due respect Mr President, it is the only ground; she needs to claim it as a confidential document not to table it. I have not asked for it to be tabled up till now but I will do so. I ask for it to be tabled and I ask whether the minister is seeking to claim it as a confidential document. The PRESIDENT : I think you will find confidentiality is not the only reason a minister may decline to table a document. However, the minister has been asked for a second time to table the document, if the minister would like to indicate whether she chooses to or otherwise. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I will take advice on that, Mr President, and if the advice that I receive is to table that tomorrow then I will do it but at present the answer is no. The PRESIDENT : You cannot take advice; you have to give an indication now. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Then the answer is no and I have the right to do that. Questions without Notice Resumed The PRESIDENT : Okay, we will move on with questions without notice. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : The minister has not told us whether it is a confidential document. That is what I am asking: does the minister claim it to be a confidential document? My reading of the standing orders is very clear; that is, she needs to claim it as a confidential document and not deny the house access to it just because she chooses. I put to you, Mr President, the fact that after repeated questions the minister has not stated that it is a confidential document and that therefore means that it is. She quoted from it and it should be tabled. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Mr President, it is a confidential document. Questions without Notice Resumed Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let us move on with questions without notice.
Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, I am not going to table it and I am not going to quote — Several members interjected. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I am quoting. I am quoting a document. Hon Ken Travers : You are embarrassed. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, I am not embarrassed. It is a confidential document. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let the minister finish her answer, which I am sure she is getting close to. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon Sue Ellery : It’s confidential but you are reading it. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I am reading out my typed-out notes. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I am not sure that the minister is able to deny the house the knowledge of the document that she is quoting from. I understand the rules about whether or not she has to table it and I will get to that later. But at this stage I think she is required to identify the document that she quoted from where she started with the words “and I quote”. Hon Simon O’Brien : She just held them up and showed them to you and said they were her notes. It’s pretty obvious. Hon Sue Ellery : Was she quoting or not? The PRESIDENT : The standing order Hon Ken Travers is referring to relates to a member. A minister does not have to table the document if the minister chooses not to. Hon KEN TRAVERS : No, I am not asking for the document to be tabled. I am asking for the minister to identify the document that she is quoting from. The PRESIDENT : I think that standing order relates to a member. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I have already said that it was from the State Solicitor’s Office on 23 October to the Department for Child Protection, and I would be very embarrassed if I were Hon Sue Ellery. Hon Sue Ellery : You know you have some hide to say that! Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Why did the member and her government want to stop any Redress applicant from seeking further compensation? Hon Sue Ellery : Every time you put out a newsletter I get call after call after call from really distressed people — Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, you tried to stop those people — The PRESIDENT : Order! We are coming up very soon to International Women’s Day so — Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! We do not want women to get themselves a bad reputation for misbehaviour in the chamber. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President, but some things are over and above misbehaviour. The Labor Party is absolutely appalling! Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, minister! I think you are coming to your concluding remarks. If you address your remarks through the Chair, I am sure you can get to the end of your answer very quickly. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. I just point out that the former government was going to make Redress applicants sign a watertight waiver and that was from the State Solicitor’s Office so that those vulnerable people who are able to go on and get further recourse — Hon Sue Ellery : You know you’ll be struck by lightning any minute—you will be! Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I demanded an apology from Hon Sue Ellery on air last week and I actually got that apology because she was absolutely disgraceful! Hon Sue Ellery interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I just want to know under standing order 47 whether the minister is claiming that the document she quoted from is a confidential document; and, if so, why was she quoting it in the house? The PRESIDENT : You asked for the minister to table the document initially, but the minister may or may not, depending on how the minister feels about it, table that document and she may not table it on the grounds that it is a confidential document so that may be the grounds on which she chooses not to table the document. Hon KEN TRAVERS : With all due respect Mr President, it is the only ground; she needs to claim it as a confidential document not to table it. I have not asked for it to be tabled up till now but I will do so. I ask for it to be tabled and I ask whether the minister is seeking to claim it as a confidential document. The PRESIDENT : I think you will find confidentiality is not the only reason a minister may decline to table a document. However, the minister has been asked for a second time to table the document, if the minister would like to indicate whether she chooses to or otherwise. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I will take advice on that, Mr President, and if the advice that I receive is to table that tomorrow then I will do it but at present the answer is no. The PRESIDENT : You cannot take advice; you have to give an indication now. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Then the answer is no and I have the right to do that. Questions without Notice Resumed The PRESIDENT : Okay, we will move on with questions without notice. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : The minister has not told us whether it is a confidential document. That is what I am asking: does the minister claim it to be a confidential document? My reading of the standing orders is very clear; that is, she needs to claim it as a confidential document and not deny the house access to it just because she chooses. I put to you, Mr President, the fact that after repeated questions the minister has not stated that it is a confidential document and that therefore means that it is. She quoted from it and it should be tabled. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Mr President, it is a confidential document. Questions without Notice Resumed Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let us move on with questions without notice.
Several members interjected. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I am quoting. I am quoting a document. Hon Ken Travers : You are embarrassed. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, I am not embarrassed. It is a confidential document. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let the minister finish her answer, which I am sure she is getting close to. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon Sue Ellery : It’s confidential but you are reading it. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I am reading out my typed-out notes. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I am not sure that the minister is able to deny the house the knowledge of the document that she is quoting from. I understand the rules about whether or not she has to table it and I will get to that later. But at this stage I think she is required to identify the document that she quoted from where she started with the words “and I quote”. Hon Simon O’Brien : She just held them up and showed them to you and said they were her notes. It’s pretty obvious. Hon Sue Ellery : Was she quoting or not? The PRESIDENT : The standing order Hon Ken Travers is referring to relates to a member. A minister does not have to table the document if the minister chooses not to. Hon KEN TRAVERS : No, I am not asking for the document to be tabled. I am asking for the minister to identify the document that she is quoting from. The PRESIDENT : I think that standing order relates to a member. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I have already said that it was from the State Solicitor’s Office on 23 October to the Department for Child Protection, and I would be very embarrassed if I were Hon Sue Ellery. Hon Sue Ellery : You know you have some hide to say that! Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Why did the member and her government want to stop any Redress applicant from seeking further compensation? Hon Sue Ellery : Every time you put out a newsletter I get call after call after call from really distressed people — Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, you tried to stop those people — The PRESIDENT : Order! We are coming up very soon to International Women’s Day so — Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! We do not want women to get themselves a bad reputation for misbehaviour in the chamber. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President, but some things are over and above misbehaviour. The Labor Party is absolutely appalling! Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, minister! I think you are coming to your concluding remarks. If you address your remarks through the Chair, I am sure you can get to the end of your answer very quickly. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. I just point out that the former government was going to make Redress applicants sign a watertight waiver and that was from the State Solicitor’s Office so that those vulnerable people who are able to go on and get further recourse — Hon Sue Ellery : You know you’ll be struck by lightning any minute—you will be! Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I demanded an apology from Hon Sue Ellery on air last week and I actually got that apology because she was absolutely disgraceful! Hon Sue Ellery interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I just want to know under standing order 47 whether the minister is claiming that the document she quoted from is a confidential document; and, if so, why was she quoting it in the house? The PRESIDENT : You asked for the minister to table the document initially, but the minister may or may not, depending on how the minister feels about it, table that document and she may not table it on the grounds that it is a confidential document so that may be the grounds on which she chooses not to table the document. Hon KEN TRAVERS : With all due respect Mr President, it is the only ground; she needs to claim it as a confidential document not to table it. I have not asked for it to be tabled up till now but I will do so. I ask for it to be tabled and I ask whether the minister is seeking to claim it as a confidential document. The PRESIDENT : I think you will find confidentiality is not the only reason a minister may decline to table a document. However, the minister has been asked for a second time to table the document, if the minister would like to indicate whether she chooses to or otherwise. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I will take advice on that, Mr President, and if the advice that I receive is to table that tomorrow then I will do it but at present the answer is no. The PRESIDENT : You cannot take advice; you have to give an indication now. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Then the answer is no and I have the right to do that. Questions without Notice Resumed The PRESIDENT : Okay, we will move on with questions without notice. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : The minister has not told us whether it is a confidential document. That is what I am asking: does the minister claim it to be a confidential document? My reading of the standing orders is very clear; that is, she needs to claim it as a confidential document and not deny the house access to it just because she chooses. I put to you, Mr President, the fact that after repeated questions the minister has not stated that it is a confidential document and that therefore means that it is. She quoted from it and it should be tabled. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Mr President, it is a confidential document. Questions without Notice Resumed Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let us move on with questions without notice.
Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I am quoting. I am quoting a document. Hon Ken Travers : You are embarrassed. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, I am not embarrassed. It is a confidential document. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let the minister finish her answer, which I am sure she is getting close to. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon Sue Ellery : It’s confidential but you are reading it. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I am reading out my typed-out notes. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I am not sure that the minister is able to deny the house the knowledge of the document that she is quoting from. I understand the rules about whether or not she has to table it and I will get to that later. But at this stage I think she is required to identify the document that she quoted from where she started with the words “and I quote”. Hon Simon O’Brien : She just held them up and showed them to you and said they were her notes. It’s pretty obvious. Hon Sue Ellery : Was she quoting or not? The PRESIDENT : The standing order Hon Ken Travers is referring to relates to a member. A minister does not have to table the document if the minister chooses not to. Hon KEN TRAVERS : No, I am not asking for the document to be tabled. I am asking for the minister to identify the document that she is quoting from. The PRESIDENT : I think that standing order relates to a member. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I have already said that it was from the State Solicitor’s Office on 23 October to the Department for Child Protection, and I would be very embarrassed if I were Hon Sue Ellery. Hon Sue Ellery : You know you have some hide to say that! Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Why did the member and her government want to stop any Redress applicant from seeking further compensation? Hon Sue Ellery : Every time you put out a newsletter I get call after call after call from really distressed people — Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, you tried to stop those people — The PRESIDENT : Order! We are coming up very soon to International Women’s Day so — Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! We do not want women to get themselves a bad reputation for misbehaviour in the chamber. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President, but some things are over and above misbehaviour. The Labor Party is absolutely appalling! Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, minister! I think you are coming to your concluding remarks. If you address your remarks through the Chair, I am sure you can get to the end of your answer very quickly. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. I just point out that the former government was going to make Redress applicants sign a watertight waiver and that was from the State Solicitor’s Office so that those vulnerable people who are able to go on and get further recourse — Hon Sue Ellery : You know you’ll be struck by lightning any minute—you will be! Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I demanded an apology from Hon Sue Ellery on air last week and I actually got that apology because she was absolutely disgraceful! Hon Sue Ellery interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I just want to know under standing order 47 whether the minister is claiming that the document she quoted from is a confidential document; and, if so, why was she quoting it in the house? The PRESIDENT : You asked for the minister to table the document initially, but the minister may or may not, depending on how the minister feels about it, table that document and she may not table it on the grounds that it is a confidential document so that may be the grounds on which she chooses not to table the document. Hon KEN TRAVERS : With all due respect Mr President, it is the only ground; she needs to claim it as a confidential document not to table it. I have not asked for it to be tabled up till now but I will do so. I ask for it to be tabled and I ask whether the minister is seeking to claim it as a confidential document. The PRESIDENT : I think you will find confidentiality is not the only reason a minister may decline to table a document. However, the minister has been asked for a second time to table the document, if the minister would like to indicate whether she chooses to or otherwise. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I will take advice on that, Mr President, and if the advice that I receive is to table that tomorrow then I will do it but at present the answer is no. The PRESIDENT : You cannot take advice; you have to give an indication now. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Then the answer is no and I have the right to do that. Questions without Notice Resumed The PRESIDENT : Okay, we will move on with questions without notice. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : The minister has not told us whether it is a confidential document. That is what I am asking: does the minister claim it to be a confidential document? My reading of the standing orders is very clear; that is, she needs to claim it as a confidential document and not deny the house access to it just because she chooses. I put to you, Mr President, the fact that after repeated questions the minister has not stated that it is a confidential document and that therefore means that it is. She quoted from it and it should be tabled. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Mr President, it is a confidential document. Questions without Notice Resumed Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let us move on with questions without notice.
Hon Ken Travers : You are embarrassed. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, I am not embarrassed. It is a confidential document. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let the minister finish her answer, which I am sure she is getting close to. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon Sue Ellery : It’s confidential but you are reading it. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I am reading out my typed-out notes. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I am not sure that the minister is able to deny the house the knowledge of the document that she is quoting from. I understand the rules about whether or not she has to table it and I will get to that later. But at this stage I think she is required to identify the document that she quoted from where she started with the words “and I quote”. Hon Simon O’Brien : She just held them up and showed them to you and said they were her notes. It’s pretty obvious. Hon Sue Ellery : Was she quoting or not? The PRESIDENT : The standing order Hon Ken Travers is referring to relates to a member. A minister does not have to table the document if the minister chooses not to. Hon KEN TRAVERS : No, I am not asking for the document to be tabled. I am asking for the minister to identify the document that she is quoting from. The PRESIDENT : I think that standing order relates to a member. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I have already said that it was from the State Solicitor’s Office on 23 October to the Department for Child Protection, and I would be very embarrassed if I were Hon Sue Ellery. Hon Sue Ellery : You know you have some hide to say that! Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Why did the member and her government want to stop any Redress applicant from seeking further compensation? Hon Sue Ellery : Every time you put out a newsletter I get call after call after call from really distressed people — Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, you tried to stop those people — The PRESIDENT : Order! We are coming up very soon to International Women’s Day so — Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! We do not want women to get themselves a bad reputation for misbehaviour in the chamber. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President, but some things are over and above misbehaviour. The Labor Party is absolutely appalling! Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, minister! I think you are coming to your concluding remarks. If you address your remarks through the Chair, I am sure you can get to the end of your answer very quickly. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. I just point out that the former government was going to make Redress applicants sign a watertight waiver and that was from the State Solicitor’s Office so that those vulnerable people who are able to go on and get further recourse — Hon Sue Ellery : You know you’ll be struck by lightning any minute—you will be! Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I demanded an apology from Hon Sue Ellery on air last week and I actually got that apology because she was absolutely disgraceful! Hon Sue Ellery interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I just want to know under standing order 47 whether the minister is claiming that the document she quoted from is a confidential document; and, if so, why was she quoting it in the house? The PRESIDENT : You asked for the minister to table the document initially, but the minister may or may not, depending on how the minister feels about it, table that document and she may not table it on the grounds that it is a confidential document so that may be the grounds on which she chooses not to table the document. Hon KEN TRAVERS : With all due respect Mr President, it is the only ground; she needs to claim it as a confidential document not to table it. I have not asked for it to be tabled up till now but I will do so. I ask for it to be tabled and I ask whether the minister is seeking to claim it as a confidential document. The PRESIDENT : I think you will find confidentiality is not the only reason a minister may decline to table a document. However, the minister has been asked for a second time to table the document, if the minister would like to indicate whether she chooses to or otherwise. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I will take advice on that, Mr President, and if the advice that I receive is to table that tomorrow then I will do it but at present the answer is no. The PRESIDENT : You cannot take advice; you have to give an indication now. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Then the answer is no and I have the right to do that. Questions without Notice Resumed The PRESIDENT : Okay, we will move on with questions without notice. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : The minister has not told us whether it is a confidential document. That is what I am asking: does the minister claim it to be a confidential document? My reading of the standing orders is very clear; that is, she needs to claim it as a confidential document and not deny the house access to it just because she chooses. I put to you, Mr President, the fact that after repeated questions the minister has not stated that it is a confidential document and that therefore means that it is. She quoted from it and it should be tabled. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Mr President, it is a confidential document. Questions without Notice Resumed Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let us move on with questions without notice.
Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, I am not embarrassed. It is a confidential document. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let the minister finish her answer, which I am sure she is getting close to. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon Sue Ellery : It’s confidential but you are reading it. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I am reading out my typed-out notes. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I am not sure that the minister is able to deny the house the knowledge of the document that she is quoting from. I understand the rules about whether or not she has to table it and I will get to that later. But at this stage I think she is required to identify the document that she quoted from where she started with the words “and I quote”. Hon Simon O’Brien : She just held them up and showed them to you and said they were her notes. It’s pretty obvious. Hon Sue Ellery : Was she quoting or not? The PRESIDENT : The standing order Hon Ken Travers is referring to relates to a member. A minister does not have to table the document if the minister chooses not to. Hon KEN TRAVERS : No, I am not asking for the document to be tabled. I am asking for the minister to identify the document that she is quoting from. The PRESIDENT : I think that standing order relates to a member. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I have already said that it was from the State Solicitor’s Office on 23 October to the Department for Child Protection, and I would be very embarrassed if I were Hon Sue Ellery. Hon Sue Ellery : You know you have some hide to say that! Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Why did the member and her government want to stop any Redress applicant from seeking further compensation? Hon Sue Ellery : Every time you put out a newsletter I get call after call after call from really distressed people — Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, you tried to stop those people — The PRESIDENT : Order! We are coming up very soon to International Women’s Day so — Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! We do not want women to get themselves a bad reputation for misbehaviour in the chamber. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President, but some things are over and above misbehaviour. The Labor Party is absolutely appalling! Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, minister! I think you are coming to your concluding remarks. If you address your remarks through the Chair, I am sure you can get to the end of your answer very quickly. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. I just point out that the former government was going to make Redress applicants sign a watertight waiver and that was from the State Solicitor’s Office so that those vulnerable people who are able to go on and get further recourse — Hon Sue Ellery : You know you’ll be struck by lightning any minute—you will be! Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I demanded an apology from Hon Sue Ellery on air last week and I actually got that apology because she was absolutely disgraceful! Hon Sue Ellery interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I just want to know under standing order 47 whether the minister is claiming that the document she quoted from is a confidential document; and, if so, why was she quoting it in the house? The PRESIDENT : You asked for the minister to table the document initially, but the minister may or may not, depending on how the minister feels about it, table that document and she may not table it on the grounds that it is a confidential document so that may be the grounds on which she chooses not to table the document. Hon KEN TRAVERS : With all due respect Mr President, it is the only ground; she needs to claim it as a confidential document not to table it. I have not asked for it to be tabled up till now but I will do so. I ask for it to be tabled and I ask whether the minister is seeking to claim it as a confidential document. The PRESIDENT : I think you will find confidentiality is not the only reason a minister may decline to table a document. However, the minister has been asked for a second time to table the document, if the minister would like to indicate whether she chooses to or otherwise. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I will take advice on that, Mr President, and if the advice that I receive is to table that tomorrow then I will do it but at present the answer is no. The PRESIDENT : You cannot take advice; you have to give an indication now. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Then the answer is no and I have the right to do that. Questions without Notice Resumed The PRESIDENT : Okay, we will move on with questions without notice. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : The minister has not told us whether it is a confidential document. That is what I am asking: does the minister claim it to be a confidential document? My reading of the standing orders is very clear; that is, she needs to claim it as a confidential document and not deny the house access to it just because she chooses. I put to you, Mr President, the fact that after repeated questions the minister has not stated that it is a confidential document and that therefore means that it is. She quoted from it and it should be tabled. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Mr President, it is a confidential document. Questions without Notice Resumed Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let us move on with questions without notice.
The PRESIDENT : Order! Let the minister finish her answer, which I am sure she is getting close to. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon Sue Ellery : It’s confidential but you are reading it. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I am reading out my typed-out notes. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I am not sure that the minister is able to deny the house the knowledge of the document that she is quoting from. I understand the rules about whether or not she has to table it and I will get to that later. But at this stage I think she is required to identify the document that she quoted from where she started with the words “and I quote”. Hon Simon O’Brien : She just held them up and showed them to you and said they were her notes. It’s pretty obvious. Hon Sue Ellery : Was she quoting or not? The PRESIDENT : The standing order Hon Ken Travers is referring to relates to a member. A minister does not have to table the document if the minister chooses not to. Hon KEN TRAVERS : No, I am not asking for the document to be tabled. I am asking for the minister to identify the document that she is quoting from. The PRESIDENT : I think that standing order relates to a member. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I have already said that it was from the State Solicitor’s Office on 23 October to the Department for Child Protection, and I would be very embarrassed if I were Hon Sue Ellery. Hon Sue Ellery : You know you have some hide to say that! Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Why did the member and her government want to stop any Redress applicant from seeking further compensation? Hon Sue Ellery : Every time you put out a newsletter I get call after call after call from really distressed people — Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, you tried to stop those people — The PRESIDENT : Order! We are coming up very soon to International Women’s Day so — Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! We do not want women to get themselves a bad reputation for misbehaviour in the chamber. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President, but some things are over and above misbehaviour. The Labor Party is absolutely appalling! Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, minister! I think you are coming to your concluding remarks. If you address your remarks through the Chair, I am sure you can get to the end of your answer very quickly. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. I just point out that the former government was going to make Redress applicants sign a watertight waiver and that was from the State Solicitor’s Office so that those vulnerable people who are able to go on and get further recourse — Hon Sue Ellery : You know you’ll be struck by lightning any minute—you will be! Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I demanded an apology from Hon Sue Ellery on air last week and I actually got that apology because she was absolutely disgraceful! Hon Sue Ellery interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I just want to know under standing order 47 whether the minister is claiming that the document she quoted from is a confidential document; and, if so, why was she quoting it in the house? The PRESIDENT : You asked for the minister to table the document initially, but the minister may or may not, depending on how the minister feels about it, table that document and she may not table it on the grounds that it is a confidential document so that may be the grounds on which she chooses not to table the document. Hon KEN TRAVERS : With all due respect Mr President, it is the only ground; she needs to claim it as a confidential document not to table it. I have not asked for it to be tabled up till now but I will do so. I ask for it to be tabled and I ask whether the minister is seeking to claim it as a confidential document. The PRESIDENT : I think you will find confidentiality is not the only reason a minister may decline to table a document. However, the minister has been asked for a second time to table the document, if the minister would like to indicate whether she chooses to or otherwise. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I will take advice on that, Mr President, and if the advice that I receive is to table that tomorrow then I will do it but at present the answer is no. The PRESIDENT : You cannot take advice; you have to give an indication now. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Then the answer is no and I have the right to do that. Questions without Notice Resumed The PRESIDENT : Okay, we will move on with questions without notice. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : The minister has not told us whether it is a confidential document. That is what I am asking: does the minister claim it to be a confidential document? My reading of the standing orders is very clear; that is, she needs to claim it as a confidential document and not deny the house access to it just because she chooses. I put to you, Mr President, the fact that after repeated questions the minister has not stated that it is a confidential document and that therefore means that it is. She quoted from it and it should be tabled. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Mr President, it is a confidential document. Questions without Notice Resumed Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let us move on with questions without notice.
Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I am reading out my typed-out notes. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I am not sure that the minister is able to deny the house the knowledge of the document that she is quoting from. I understand the rules about whether or not she has to table it and I will get to that later. But at this stage I think she is required to identify the document that she quoted from where she started with the words “and I quote”. Hon Simon O’Brien : She just held them up and showed them to you and said they were her notes. It’s pretty obvious. Hon Sue Ellery : Was she quoting or not? The PRESIDENT : The standing order Hon Ken Travers is referring to relates to a member. A minister does not have to table the document if the minister chooses not to. Hon KEN TRAVERS : No, I am not asking for the document to be tabled. I am asking for the minister to identify the document that she is quoting from. The PRESIDENT : I think that standing order relates to a member. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I have already said that it was from the State Solicitor’s Office on 23 October to the Department for Child Protection, and I would be very embarrassed if I were Hon Sue Ellery. Hon Sue Ellery : You know you have some hide to say that! Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Why did the member and her government want to stop any Redress applicant from seeking further compensation? Hon Sue Ellery : Every time you put out a newsletter I get call after call after call from really distressed people — Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, you tried to stop those people — The PRESIDENT : Order! We are coming up very soon to International Women’s Day so — Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! We do not want women to get themselves a bad reputation for misbehaviour in the chamber. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President, but some things are over and above misbehaviour. The Labor Party is absolutely appalling! Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, minister! I think you are coming to your concluding remarks. If you address your remarks through the Chair, I am sure you can get to the end of your answer very quickly. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. I just point out that the former government was going to make Redress applicants sign a watertight waiver and that was from the State Solicitor’s Office so that those vulnerable people who are able to go on and get further recourse — Hon Sue Ellery : You know you’ll be struck by lightning any minute—you will be! Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I demanded an apology from Hon Sue Ellery on air last week and I actually got that apology because she was absolutely disgraceful! Hon Sue Ellery interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I just want to know under standing order 47 whether the minister is claiming that the document she quoted from is a confidential document; and, if so, why was she quoting it in the house? The PRESIDENT : You asked for the minister to table the document initially, but the minister may or may not, depending on how the minister feels about it, table that document and she may not table it on the grounds that it is a confidential document so that may be the grounds on which she chooses not to table the document. Hon KEN TRAVERS : With all due respect Mr President, it is the only ground; she needs to claim it as a confidential document not to table it. I have not asked for it to be tabled up till now but I will do so. I ask for it to be tabled and I ask whether the minister is seeking to claim it as a confidential document. The PRESIDENT : I think you will find confidentiality is not the only reason a minister may decline to table a document. However, the minister has been asked for a second time to table the document, if the minister would like to indicate whether she chooses to or otherwise. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I will take advice on that, Mr President, and if the advice that I receive is to table that tomorrow then I will do it but at present the answer is no. The PRESIDENT : You cannot take advice; you have to give an indication now. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Then the answer is no and I have the right to do that. Questions without Notice Resumed The PRESIDENT : Okay, we will move on with questions without notice. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : The minister has not told us whether it is a confidential document. That is what I am asking: does the minister claim it to be a confidential document? My reading of the standing orders is very clear; that is, she needs to claim it as a confidential document and not deny the house access to it just because she chooses. I put to you, Mr President, the fact that after repeated questions the minister has not stated that it is a confidential document and that therefore means that it is. She quoted from it and it should be tabled. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Mr President, it is a confidential document. Questions without Notice Resumed Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let us move on with questions without notice.
Hon Simon O’Brien : She just held them up and showed them to you and said they were her notes. It’s pretty obvious. Hon Sue Ellery : Was she quoting or not? The PRESIDENT : The standing order Hon Ken Travers is referring to relates to a member. A minister does not have to table the document if the minister chooses not to. Hon KEN TRAVERS : No, I am not asking for the document to be tabled. I am asking for the minister to identify the document that she is quoting from. The PRESIDENT : I think that standing order relates to a member. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I have already said that it was from the State Solicitor’s Office on 23 October to the Department for Child Protection, and I would be very embarrassed if I were Hon Sue Ellery. Hon Sue Ellery : You know you have some hide to say that! Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Why did the member and her government want to stop any Redress applicant from seeking further compensation? Hon Sue Ellery : Every time you put out a newsletter I get call after call after call from really distressed people — Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, you tried to stop those people — The PRESIDENT : Order! We are coming up very soon to International Women’s Day so — Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! We do not want women to get themselves a bad reputation for misbehaviour in the chamber. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President, but some things are over and above misbehaviour. The Labor Party is absolutely appalling! Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, minister! I think you are coming to your concluding remarks. If you address your remarks through the Chair, I am sure you can get to the end of your answer very quickly. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. I just point out that the former government was going to make Redress applicants sign a watertight waiver and that was from the State Solicitor’s Office so that those vulnerable people who are able to go on and get further recourse — Hon Sue Ellery : You know you’ll be struck by lightning any minute—you will be! Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I demanded an apology from Hon Sue Ellery on air last week and I actually got that apology because she was absolutely disgraceful! Hon Sue Ellery interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I just want to know under standing order 47 whether the minister is claiming that the document she quoted from is a confidential document; and, if so, why was she quoting it in the house? The PRESIDENT : You asked for the minister to table the document initially, but the minister may or may not, depending on how the minister feels about it, table that document and she may not table it on the grounds that it is a confidential document so that may be the grounds on which she chooses not to table the document. Hon KEN TRAVERS : With all due respect Mr President, it is the only ground; she needs to claim it as a confidential document not to table it. I have not asked for it to be tabled up till now but I will do so. I ask for it to be tabled and I ask whether the minister is seeking to claim it as a confidential document. The PRESIDENT : I think you will find confidentiality is not the only reason a minister may decline to table a document. However, the minister has been asked for a second time to table the document, if the minister would like to indicate whether she chooses to or otherwise. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I will take advice on that, Mr President, and if the advice that I receive is to table that tomorrow then I will do it but at present the answer is no. The PRESIDENT : You cannot take advice; you have to give an indication now. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Then the answer is no and I have the right to do that. Questions without Notice Resumed The PRESIDENT : Okay, we will move on with questions without notice. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : The minister has not told us whether it is a confidential document. That is what I am asking: does the minister claim it to be a confidential document? My reading of the standing orders is very clear; that is, she needs to claim it as a confidential document and not deny the house access to it just because she chooses. I put to you, Mr President, the fact that after repeated questions the minister has not stated that it is a confidential document and that therefore means that it is. She quoted from it and it should be tabled. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Mr President, it is a confidential document. Questions without Notice Resumed Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let us move on with questions without notice.
Hon Sue Ellery : Was she quoting or not? The PRESIDENT : The standing order Hon Ken Travers is referring to relates to a member. A minister does not have to table the document if the minister chooses not to. Hon KEN TRAVERS : No, I am not asking for the document to be tabled. I am asking for the minister to identify the document that she is quoting from. The PRESIDENT : I think that standing order relates to a member. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I have already said that it was from the State Solicitor’s Office on 23 October to the Department for Child Protection, and I would be very embarrassed if I were Hon Sue Ellery. Hon Sue Ellery : You know you have some hide to say that! Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Why did the member and her government want to stop any Redress applicant from seeking further compensation? Hon Sue Ellery : Every time you put out a newsletter I get call after call after call from really distressed people — Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, you tried to stop those people — The PRESIDENT : Order! We are coming up very soon to International Women’s Day so — Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! We do not want women to get themselves a bad reputation for misbehaviour in the chamber. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President, but some things are over and above misbehaviour. The Labor Party is absolutely appalling! Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, minister! I think you are coming to your concluding remarks. If you address your remarks through the Chair, I am sure you can get to the end of your answer very quickly. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. I just point out that the former government was going to make Redress applicants sign a watertight waiver and that was from the State Solicitor’s Office so that those vulnerable people who are able to go on and get further recourse — Hon Sue Ellery : You know you’ll be struck by lightning any minute—you will be! Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I demanded an apology from Hon Sue Ellery on air last week and I actually got that apology because she was absolutely disgraceful! Hon Sue Ellery interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I just want to know under standing order 47 whether the minister is claiming that the document she quoted from is a confidential document; and, if so, why was she quoting it in the house? The PRESIDENT : You asked for the minister to table the document initially, but the minister may or may not, depending on how the minister feels about it, table that document and she may not table it on the grounds that it is a confidential document so that may be the grounds on which she chooses not to table the document. Hon KEN TRAVERS : With all due respect Mr President, it is the only ground; she needs to claim it as a confidential document not to table it. I have not asked for it to be tabled up till now but I will do so. I ask for it to be tabled and I ask whether the minister is seeking to claim it as a confidential document. The PRESIDENT : I think you will find confidentiality is not the only reason a minister may decline to table a document. However, the minister has been asked for a second time to table the document, if the minister would like to indicate whether she chooses to or otherwise. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I will take advice on that, Mr President, and if the advice that I receive is to table that tomorrow then I will do it but at present the answer is no. The PRESIDENT : You cannot take advice; you have to give an indication now. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Then the answer is no and I have the right to do that. Questions without Notice Resumed The PRESIDENT : Okay, we will move on with questions without notice. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : The minister has not told us whether it is a confidential document. That is what I am asking: does the minister claim it to be a confidential document? My reading of the standing orders is very clear; that is, she needs to claim it as a confidential document and not deny the house access to it just because she chooses. I put to you, Mr President, the fact that after repeated questions the minister has not stated that it is a confidential document and that therefore means that it is. She quoted from it and it should be tabled. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Mr President, it is a confidential document. Questions without Notice Resumed Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let us move on with questions without notice.
The PRESIDENT : The standing order Hon Ken Travers is referring to relates to a member. A minister does not have to table the document if the minister chooses not to. Hon KEN TRAVERS : No, I am not asking for the document to be tabled. I am asking for the minister to identify the document that she is quoting from. The PRESIDENT : I think that standing order relates to a member. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I have already said that it was from the State Solicitor’s Office on 23 October to the Department for Child Protection, and I would be very embarrassed if I were Hon Sue Ellery. Hon Sue Ellery : You know you have some hide to say that! Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Why did the member and her government want to stop any Redress applicant from seeking further compensation? Hon Sue Ellery : Every time you put out a newsletter I get call after call after call from really distressed people — Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, you tried to stop those people — The PRESIDENT : Order! We are coming up very soon to International Women’s Day so — Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! We do not want women to get themselves a bad reputation for misbehaviour in the chamber. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President, but some things are over and above misbehaviour. The Labor Party is absolutely appalling! Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, minister! I think you are coming to your concluding remarks. If you address your remarks through the Chair, I am sure you can get to the end of your answer very quickly. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. I just point out that the former government was going to make Redress applicants sign a watertight waiver and that was from the State Solicitor’s Office so that those vulnerable people who are able to go on and get further recourse — Hon Sue Ellery : You know you’ll be struck by lightning any minute—you will be! Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I demanded an apology from Hon Sue Ellery on air last week and I actually got that apology because she was absolutely disgraceful! Hon Sue Ellery interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I just want to know under standing order 47 whether the minister is claiming that the document she quoted from is a confidential document; and, if so, why was she quoting it in the house? The PRESIDENT : You asked for the minister to table the document initially, but the minister may or may not, depending on how the minister feels about it, table that document and she may not table it on the grounds that it is a confidential document so that may be the grounds on which she chooses not to table the document. Hon KEN TRAVERS : With all due respect Mr President, it is the only ground; she needs to claim it as a confidential document not to table it. I have not asked for it to be tabled up till now but I will do so. I ask for it to be tabled and I ask whether the minister is seeking to claim it as a confidential document. The PRESIDENT : I think you will find confidentiality is not the only reason a minister may decline to table a document. However, the minister has been asked for a second time to table the document, if the minister would like to indicate whether she chooses to or otherwise. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I will take advice on that, Mr President, and if the advice that I receive is to table that tomorrow then I will do it but at present the answer is no. The PRESIDENT : You cannot take advice; you have to give an indication now. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Then the answer is no and I have the right to do that. Questions without Notice Resumed The PRESIDENT : Okay, we will move on with questions without notice. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : The minister has not told us whether it is a confidential document. That is what I am asking: does the minister claim it to be a confidential document? My reading of the standing orders is very clear; that is, she needs to claim it as a confidential document and not deny the house access to it just because she chooses. I put to you, Mr President, the fact that after repeated questions the minister has not stated that it is a confidential document and that therefore means that it is. She quoted from it and it should be tabled. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Mr President, it is a confidential document. Questions without Notice Resumed Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let us move on with questions without notice.
Hon KEN TRAVERS : No, I am not asking for the document to be tabled. I am asking for the minister to identify the document that she is quoting from. The PRESIDENT : I think that standing order relates to a member. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I have already said that it was from the State Solicitor’s Office on 23 October to the Department for Child Protection, and I would be very embarrassed if I were Hon Sue Ellery. Hon Sue Ellery : You know you have some hide to say that! Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Why did the member and her government want to stop any Redress applicant from seeking further compensation? Hon Sue Ellery : Every time you put out a newsletter I get call after call after call from really distressed people — Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, you tried to stop those people — The PRESIDENT : Order! We are coming up very soon to International Women’s Day so — Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! We do not want women to get themselves a bad reputation for misbehaviour in the chamber. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President, but some things are over and above misbehaviour. The Labor Party is absolutely appalling! Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, minister! I think you are coming to your concluding remarks. If you address your remarks through the Chair, I am sure you can get to the end of your answer very quickly. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. I just point out that the former government was going to make Redress applicants sign a watertight waiver and that was from the State Solicitor’s Office so that those vulnerable people who are able to go on and get further recourse — Hon Sue Ellery : You know you’ll be struck by lightning any minute—you will be! Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I demanded an apology from Hon Sue Ellery on air last week and I actually got that apology because she was absolutely disgraceful! Hon Sue Ellery interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I just want to know under standing order 47 whether the minister is claiming that the document she quoted from is a confidential document; and, if so, why was she quoting it in the house? The PRESIDENT : You asked for the minister to table the document initially, but the minister may or may not, depending on how the minister feels about it, table that document and she may not table it on the grounds that it is a confidential document so that may be the grounds on which she chooses not to table the document. Hon KEN TRAVERS : With all due respect Mr President, it is the only ground; she needs to claim it as a confidential document not to table it. I have not asked for it to be tabled up till now but I will do so. I ask for it to be tabled and I ask whether the minister is seeking to claim it as a confidential document. The PRESIDENT : I think you will find confidentiality is not the only reason a minister may decline to table a document. However, the minister has been asked for a second time to table the document, if the minister would like to indicate whether she chooses to or otherwise. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I will take advice on that, Mr President, and if the advice that I receive is to table that tomorrow then I will do it but at present the answer is no. The PRESIDENT : You cannot take advice; you have to give an indication now. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Then the answer is no and I have the right to do that. Questions without Notice Resumed The PRESIDENT : Okay, we will move on with questions without notice. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : The minister has not told us whether it is a confidential document. That is what I am asking: does the minister claim it to be a confidential document? My reading of the standing orders is very clear; that is, she needs to claim it as a confidential document and not deny the house access to it just because she chooses. I put to you, Mr President, the fact that after repeated questions the minister has not stated that it is a confidential document and that therefore means that it is. She quoted from it and it should be tabled. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Mr President, it is a confidential document. Questions without Notice Resumed Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let us move on with questions without notice.
The PRESIDENT : I think that standing order relates to a member. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I have already said that it was from the State Solicitor’s Office on 23 October to the Department for Child Protection, and I would be very embarrassed if I were Hon Sue Ellery. Hon Sue Ellery : You know you have some hide to say that! Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Why did the member and her government want to stop any Redress applicant from seeking further compensation? Hon Sue Ellery : Every time you put out a newsletter I get call after call after call from really distressed people — Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, you tried to stop those people — The PRESIDENT : Order! We are coming up very soon to International Women’s Day so — Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! We do not want women to get themselves a bad reputation for misbehaviour in the chamber. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President, but some things are over and above misbehaviour. The Labor Party is absolutely appalling! Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, minister! I think you are coming to your concluding remarks. If you address your remarks through the Chair, I am sure you can get to the end of your answer very quickly. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. I just point out that the former government was going to make Redress applicants sign a watertight waiver and that was from the State Solicitor’s Office so that those vulnerable people who are able to go on and get further recourse — Hon Sue Ellery : You know you’ll be struck by lightning any minute—you will be! Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I demanded an apology from Hon Sue Ellery on air last week and I actually got that apology because she was absolutely disgraceful! Hon Sue Ellery interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I just want to know under standing order 47 whether the minister is claiming that the document she quoted from is a confidential document; and, if so, why was she quoting it in the house? The PRESIDENT : You asked for the minister to table the document initially, but the minister may or may not, depending on how the minister feels about it, table that document and she may not table it on the grounds that it is a confidential document so that may be the grounds on which she chooses not to table the document. Hon KEN TRAVERS : With all due respect Mr President, it is the only ground; she needs to claim it as a confidential document not to table it. I have not asked for it to be tabled up till now but I will do so. I ask for it to be tabled and I ask whether the minister is seeking to claim it as a confidential document. The PRESIDENT : I think you will find confidentiality is not the only reason a minister may decline to table a document. However, the minister has been asked for a second time to table the document, if the minister would like to indicate whether she chooses to or otherwise. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I will take advice on that, Mr President, and if the advice that I receive is to table that tomorrow then I will do it but at present the answer is no. The PRESIDENT : You cannot take advice; you have to give an indication now. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Then the answer is no and I have the right to do that. Questions without Notice Resumed The PRESIDENT : Okay, we will move on with questions without notice. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : The minister has not told us whether it is a confidential document. That is what I am asking: does the minister claim it to be a confidential document? My reading of the standing orders is very clear; that is, she needs to claim it as a confidential document and not deny the house access to it just because she chooses. I put to you, Mr President, the fact that after repeated questions the minister has not stated that it is a confidential document and that therefore means that it is. She quoted from it and it should be tabled. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Mr President, it is a confidential document. Questions without Notice Resumed Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let us move on with questions without notice.
Hon Sue Ellery : You know you have some hide to say that! Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Why did the member and her government want to stop any Redress applicant from seeking further compensation? Hon Sue Ellery : Every time you put out a newsletter I get call after call after call from really distressed people — Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, you tried to stop those people — The PRESIDENT : Order! We are coming up very soon to International Women’s Day so — Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! We do not want women to get themselves a bad reputation for misbehaviour in the chamber. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President, but some things are over and above misbehaviour. The Labor Party is absolutely appalling! Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, minister! I think you are coming to your concluding remarks. If you address your remarks through the Chair, I am sure you can get to the end of your answer very quickly. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. I just point out that the former government was going to make Redress applicants sign a watertight waiver and that was from the State Solicitor’s Office so that those vulnerable people who are able to go on and get further recourse — Hon Sue Ellery : You know you’ll be struck by lightning any minute—you will be! Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I demanded an apology from Hon Sue Ellery on air last week and I actually got that apology because she was absolutely disgraceful! Hon Sue Ellery interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I just want to know under standing order 47 whether the minister is claiming that the document she quoted from is a confidential document; and, if so, why was she quoting it in the house? The PRESIDENT : You asked for the minister to table the document initially, but the minister may or may not, depending on how the minister feels about it, table that document and she may not table it on the grounds that it is a confidential document so that may be the grounds on which she chooses not to table the document. Hon KEN TRAVERS : With all due respect Mr President, it is the only ground; she needs to claim it as a confidential document not to table it. I have not asked for it to be tabled up till now but I will do so. I ask for it to be tabled and I ask whether the minister is seeking to claim it as a confidential document. The PRESIDENT : I think you will find confidentiality is not the only reason a minister may decline to table a document. However, the minister has been asked for a second time to table the document, if the minister would like to indicate whether she chooses to or otherwise. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I will take advice on that, Mr President, and if the advice that I receive is to table that tomorrow then I will do it but at present the answer is no. The PRESIDENT : You cannot take advice; you have to give an indication now. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Then the answer is no and I have the right to do that. Questions without Notice Resumed The PRESIDENT : Okay, we will move on with questions without notice. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : The minister has not told us whether it is a confidential document. That is what I am asking: does the minister claim it to be a confidential document? My reading of the standing orders is very clear; that is, she needs to claim it as a confidential document and not deny the house access to it just because she chooses. I put to you, Mr President, the fact that after repeated questions the minister has not stated that it is a confidential document and that therefore means that it is. She quoted from it and it should be tabled. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Mr President, it is a confidential document. Questions without Notice Resumed Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let us move on with questions without notice.
Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Why did the member and her government want to stop any Redress applicant from seeking further compensation? Hon Sue Ellery : Every time you put out a newsletter I get call after call after call from really distressed people — Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, you tried to stop those people — The PRESIDENT : Order! We are coming up very soon to International Women’s Day so — Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! We do not want women to get themselves a bad reputation for misbehaviour in the chamber. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President, but some things are over and above misbehaviour. The Labor Party is absolutely appalling! Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, minister! I think you are coming to your concluding remarks. If you address your remarks through the Chair, I am sure you can get to the end of your answer very quickly. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. I just point out that the former government was going to make Redress applicants sign a watertight waiver and that was from the State Solicitor’s Office so that those vulnerable people who are able to go on and get further recourse — Hon Sue Ellery : You know you’ll be struck by lightning any minute—you will be! Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I demanded an apology from Hon Sue Ellery on air last week and I actually got that apology because she was absolutely disgraceful! Hon Sue Ellery interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I just want to know under standing order 47 whether the minister is claiming that the document she quoted from is a confidential document; and, if so, why was she quoting it in the house? The PRESIDENT : You asked for the minister to table the document initially, but the minister may or may not, depending on how the minister feels about it, table that document and she may not table it on the grounds that it is a confidential document so that may be the grounds on which she chooses not to table the document. Hon KEN TRAVERS : With all due respect Mr President, it is the only ground; she needs to claim it as a confidential document not to table it. I have not asked for it to be tabled up till now but I will do so. I ask for it to be tabled and I ask whether the minister is seeking to claim it as a confidential document. The PRESIDENT : I think you will find confidentiality is not the only reason a minister may decline to table a document. However, the minister has been asked for a second time to table the document, if the minister would like to indicate whether she chooses to or otherwise. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I will take advice on that, Mr President, and if the advice that I receive is to table that tomorrow then I will do it but at present the answer is no. The PRESIDENT : You cannot take advice; you have to give an indication now. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Then the answer is no and I have the right to do that. Questions without Notice Resumed The PRESIDENT : Okay, we will move on with questions without notice. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : The minister has not told us whether it is a confidential document. That is what I am asking: does the minister claim it to be a confidential document? My reading of the standing orders is very clear; that is, she needs to claim it as a confidential document and not deny the house access to it just because she chooses. I put to you, Mr President, the fact that after repeated questions the minister has not stated that it is a confidential document and that therefore means that it is. She quoted from it and it should be tabled. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Mr President, it is a confidential document. Questions without Notice Resumed Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let us move on with questions without notice.
Hon Sue Ellery : Every time you put out a newsletter I get call after call after call from really distressed people — Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, you tried to stop those people — The PRESIDENT : Order! We are coming up very soon to International Women’s Day so — Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! We do not want women to get themselves a bad reputation for misbehaviour in the chamber. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President, but some things are over and above misbehaviour. The Labor Party is absolutely appalling! Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, minister! I think you are coming to your concluding remarks. If you address your remarks through the Chair, I am sure you can get to the end of your answer very quickly. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. I just point out that the former government was going to make Redress applicants sign a watertight waiver and that was from the State Solicitor’s Office so that those vulnerable people who are able to go on and get further recourse — Hon Sue Ellery : You know you’ll be struck by lightning any minute—you will be! Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I demanded an apology from Hon Sue Ellery on air last week and I actually got that apology because she was absolutely disgraceful! Hon Sue Ellery interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I just want to know under standing order 47 whether the minister is claiming that the document she quoted from is a confidential document; and, if so, why was she quoting it in the house? The PRESIDENT : You asked for the minister to table the document initially, but the minister may or may not, depending on how the minister feels about it, table that document and she may not table it on the grounds that it is a confidential document so that may be the grounds on which she chooses not to table the document. Hon KEN TRAVERS : With all due respect Mr President, it is the only ground; she needs to claim it as a confidential document not to table it. I have not asked for it to be tabled up till now but I will do so. I ask for it to be tabled and I ask whether the minister is seeking to claim it as a confidential document. The PRESIDENT : I think you will find confidentiality is not the only reason a minister may decline to table a document. However, the minister has been asked for a second time to table the document, if the minister would like to indicate whether she chooses to or otherwise. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I will take advice on that, Mr President, and if the advice that I receive is to table that tomorrow then I will do it but at present the answer is no. The PRESIDENT : You cannot take advice; you have to give an indication now. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Then the answer is no and I have the right to do that. Questions without Notice Resumed The PRESIDENT : Okay, we will move on with questions without notice. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : The minister has not told us whether it is a confidential document. That is what I am asking: does the minister claim it to be a confidential document? My reading of the standing orders is very clear; that is, she needs to claim it as a confidential document and not deny the house access to it just because she chooses. I put to you, Mr President, the fact that after repeated questions the minister has not stated that it is a confidential document and that therefore means that it is. She quoted from it and it should be tabled. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Mr President, it is a confidential document. Questions without Notice Resumed Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let us move on with questions without notice.
Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No, you tried to stop those people — The PRESIDENT : Order! We are coming up very soon to International Women’s Day so — Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! We do not want women to get themselves a bad reputation for misbehaviour in the chamber. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President, but some things are over and above misbehaviour. The Labor Party is absolutely appalling! Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, minister! I think you are coming to your concluding remarks. If you address your remarks through the Chair, I am sure you can get to the end of your answer very quickly. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. I just point out that the former government was going to make Redress applicants sign a watertight waiver and that was from the State Solicitor’s Office so that those vulnerable people who are able to go on and get further recourse — Hon Sue Ellery : You know you’ll be struck by lightning any minute—you will be! Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I demanded an apology from Hon Sue Ellery on air last week and I actually got that apology because she was absolutely disgraceful! Hon Sue Ellery interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I just want to know under standing order 47 whether the minister is claiming that the document she quoted from is a confidential document; and, if so, why was she quoting it in the house? The PRESIDENT : You asked for the minister to table the document initially, but the minister may or may not, depending on how the minister feels about it, table that document and she may not table it on the grounds that it is a confidential document so that may be the grounds on which she chooses not to table the document. Hon KEN TRAVERS : With all due respect Mr President, it is the only ground; she needs to claim it as a confidential document not to table it. I have not asked for it to be tabled up till now but I will do so. I ask for it to be tabled and I ask whether the minister is seeking to claim it as a confidential document. The PRESIDENT : I think you will find confidentiality is not the only reason a minister may decline to table a document. However, the minister has been asked for a second time to table the document, if the minister would like to indicate whether she chooses to or otherwise. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I will take advice on that, Mr President, and if the advice that I receive is to table that tomorrow then I will do it but at present the answer is no. The PRESIDENT : You cannot take advice; you have to give an indication now. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Then the answer is no and I have the right to do that. Questions without Notice Resumed The PRESIDENT : Okay, we will move on with questions without notice. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : The minister has not told us whether it is a confidential document. That is what I am asking: does the minister claim it to be a confidential document? My reading of the standing orders is very clear; that is, she needs to claim it as a confidential document and not deny the house access to it just because she chooses. I put to you, Mr President, the fact that after repeated questions the minister has not stated that it is a confidential document and that therefore means that it is. She quoted from it and it should be tabled. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Mr President, it is a confidential document. Questions without Notice Resumed Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let us move on with questions without notice.
The PRESIDENT : Order! We are coming up very soon to International Women’s Day so — Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! We do not want women to get themselves a bad reputation for misbehaviour in the chamber. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President, but some things are over and above misbehaviour. The Labor Party is absolutely appalling! Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, minister! I think you are coming to your concluding remarks. If you address your remarks through the Chair, I am sure you can get to the end of your answer very quickly. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. I just point out that the former government was going to make Redress applicants sign a watertight waiver and that was from the State Solicitor’s Office so that those vulnerable people who are able to go on and get further recourse — Hon Sue Ellery : You know you’ll be struck by lightning any minute—you will be! Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I demanded an apology from Hon Sue Ellery on air last week and I actually got that apology because she was absolutely disgraceful! Hon Sue Ellery interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I just want to know under standing order 47 whether the minister is claiming that the document she quoted from is a confidential document; and, if so, why was she quoting it in the house? The PRESIDENT : You asked for the minister to table the document initially, but the minister may or may not, depending on how the minister feels about it, table that document and she may not table it on the grounds that it is a confidential document so that may be the grounds on which she chooses not to table the document. Hon KEN TRAVERS : With all due respect Mr President, it is the only ground; she needs to claim it as a confidential document not to table it. I have not asked for it to be tabled up till now but I will do so. I ask for it to be tabled and I ask whether the minister is seeking to claim it as a confidential document. The PRESIDENT : I think you will find confidentiality is not the only reason a minister may decline to table a document. However, the minister has been asked for a second time to table the document, if the minister would like to indicate whether she chooses to or otherwise. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I will take advice on that, Mr President, and if the advice that I receive is to table that tomorrow then I will do it but at present the answer is no. The PRESIDENT : You cannot take advice; you have to give an indication now. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Then the answer is no and I have the right to do that. Questions without Notice Resumed The PRESIDENT : Okay, we will move on with questions without notice. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : The minister has not told us whether it is a confidential document. That is what I am asking: does the minister claim it to be a confidential document? My reading of the standing orders is very clear; that is, she needs to claim it as a confidential document and not deny the house access to it just because she chooses. I put to you, Mr President, the fact that after repeated questions the minister has not stated that it is a confidential document and that therefore means that it is. She quoted from it and it should be tabled. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Mr President, it is a confidential document. Questions without Notice Resumed Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let us move on with questions without notice.
Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! We do not want women to get themselves a bad reputation for misbehaviour in the chamber. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President, but some things are over and above misbehaviour. The Labor Party is absolutely appalling! Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, minister! I think you are coming to your concluding remarks. If you address your remarks through the Chair, I am sure you can get to the end of your answer very quickly. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. I just point out that the former government was going to make Redress applicants sign a watertight waiver and that was from the State Solicitor’s Office so that those vulnerable people who are able to go on and get further recourse — Hon Sue Ellery : You know you’ll be struck by lightning any minute—you will be! Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I demanded an apology from Hon Sue Ellery on air last week and I actually got that apology because she was absolutely disgraceful! Hon Sue Ellery interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I just want to know under standing order 47 whether the minister is claiming that the document she quoted from is a confidential document; and, if so, why was she quoting it in the house? The PRESIDENT : You asked for the minister to table the document initially, but the minister may or may not, depending on how the minister feels about it, table that document and she may not table it on the grounds that it is a confidential document so that may be the grounds on which she chooses not to table the document. Hon KEN TRAVERS : With all due respect Mr President, it is the only ground; she needs to claim it as a confidential document not to table it. I have not asked for it to be tabled up till now but I will do so. I ask for it to be tabled and I ask whether the minister is seeking to claim it as a confidential document. The PRESIDENT : I think you will find confidentiality is not the only reason a minister may decline to table a document. However, the minister has been asked for a second time to table the document, if the minister would like to indicate whether she chooses to or otherwise. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I will take advice on that, Mr President, and if the advice that I receive is to table that tomorrow then I will do it but at present the answer is no. The PRESIDENT : You cannot take advice; you have to give an indication now. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Then the answer is no and I have the right to do that. Questions without Notice Resumed The PRESIDENT : Okay, we will move on with questions without notice. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : The minister has not told us whether it is a confidential document. That is what I am asking: does the minister claim it to be a confidential document? My reading of the standing orders is very clear; that is, she needs to claim it as a confidential document and not deny the house access to it just because she chooses. I put to you, Mr President, the fact that after repeated questions the minister has not stated that it is a confidential document and that therefore means that it is. She quoted from it and it should be tabled. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Mr President, it is a confidential document. Questions without Notice Resumed Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let us move on with questions without notice.
The PRESIDENT : Order! We do not want women to get themselves a bad reputation for misbehaviour in the chamber. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President, but some things are over and above misbehaviour. The Labor Party is absolutely appalling! Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, minister! I think you are coming to your concluding remarks. If you address your remarks through the Chair, I am sure you can get to the end of your answer very quickly. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. I just point out that the former government was going to make Redress applicants sign a watertight waiver and that was from the State Solicitor’s Office so that those vulnerable people who are able to go on and get further recourse — Hon Sue Ellery : You know you’ll be struck by lightning any minute—you will be! Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I demanded an apology from Hon Sue Ellery on air last week and I actually got that apology because she was absolutely disgraceful! Hon Sue Ellery interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I just want to know under standing order 47 whether the minister is claiming that the document she quoted from is a confidential document; and, if so, why was she quoting it in the house? The PRESIDENT : You asked for the minister to table the document initially, but the minister may or may not, depending on how the minister feels about it, table that document and she may not table it on the grounds that it is a confidential document so that may be the grounds on which she chooses not to table the document. Hon KEN TRAVERS : With all due respect Mr President, it is the only ground; she needs to claim it as a confidential document not to table it. I have not asked for it to be tabled up till now but I will do so. I ask for it to be tabled and I ask whether the minister is seeking to claim it as a confidential document. The PRESIDENT : I think you will find confidentiality is not the only reason a minister may decline to table a document. However, the minister has been asked for a second time to table the document, if the minister would like to indicate whether she chooses to or otherwise. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I will take advice on that, Mr President, and if the advice that I receive is to table that tomorrow then I will do it but at present the answer is no. The PRESIDENT : You cannot take advice; you have to give an indication now. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Then the answer is no and I have the right to do that. Questions without Notice Resumed The PRESIDENT : Okay, we will move on with questions without notice. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : The minister has not told us whether it is a confidential document. That is what I am asking: does the minister claim it to be a confidential document? My reading of the standing orders is very clear; that is, she needs to claim it as a confidential document and not deny the house access to it just because she chooses. I put to you, Mr President, the fact that after repeated questions the minister has not stated that it is a confidential document and that therefore means that it is. She quoted from it and it should be tabled. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Mr President, it is a confidential document. Questions without Notice Resumed Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let us move on with questions without notice.
Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President, but some things are over and above misbehaviour. The Labor Party is absolutely appalling! Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, minister! I think you are coming to your concluding remarks. If you address your remarks through the Chair, I am sure you can get to the end of your answer very quickly. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. I just point out that the former government was going to make Redress applicants sign a watertight waiver and that was from the State Solicitor’s Office so that those vulnerable people who are able to go on and get further recourse — Hon Sue Ellery : You know you’ll be struck by lightning any minute—you will be! Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I demanded an apology from Hon Sue Ellery on air last week and I actually got that apology because she was absolutely disgraceful! Hon Sue Ellery interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I just want to know under standing order 47 whether the minister is claiming that the document she quoted from is a confidential document; and, if so, why was she quoting it in the house? The PRESIDENT : You asked for the minister to table the document initially, but the minister may or may not, depending on how the minister feels about it, table that document and she may not table it on the grounds that it is a confidential document so that may be the grounds on which she chooses not to table the document. Hon KEN TRAVERS : With all due respect Mr President, it is the only ground; she needs to claim it as a confidential document not to table it. I have not asked for it to be tabled up till now but I will do so. I ask for it to be tabled and I ask whether the minister is seeking to claim it as a confidential document. The PRESIDENT : I think you will find confidentiality is not the only reason a minister may decline to table a document. However, the minister has been asked for a second time to table the document, if the minister would like to indicate whether she chooses to or otherwise. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I will take advice on that, Mr President, and if the advice that I receive is to table that tomorrow then I will do it but at present the answer is no. The PRESIDENT : You cannot take advice; you have to give an indication now. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Then the answer is no and I have the right to do that. Questions without Notice Resumed The PRESIDENT : Okay, we will move on with questions without notice. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : The minister has not told us whether it is a confidential document. That is what I am asking: does the minister claim it to be a confidential document? My reading of the standing orders is very clear; that is, she needs to claim it as a confidential document and not deny the house access to it just because she chooses. I put to you, Mr President, the fact that after repeated questions the minister has not stated that it is a confidential document and that therefore means that it is. She quoted from it and it should be tabled. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Mr President, it is a confidential document. Questions without Notice Resumed Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let us move on with questions without notice.
Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, minister! I think you are coming to your concluding remarks. If you address your remarks through the Chair, I am sure you can get to the end of your answer very quickly. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. I just point out that the former government was going to make Redress applicants sign a watertight waiver and that was from the State Solicitor’s Office so that those vulnerable people who are able to go on and get further recourse — Hon Sue Ellery : You know you’ll be struck by lightning any minute—you will be! Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I demanded an apology from Hon Sue Ellery on air last week and I actually got that apology because she was absolutely disgraceful! Hon Sue Ellery interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I just want to know under standing order 47 whether the minister is claiming that the document she quoted from is a confidential document; and, if so, why was she quoting it in the house? The PRESIDENT : You asked for the minister to table the document initially, but the minister may or may not, depending on how the minister feels about it, table that document and she may not table it on the grounds that it is a confidential document so that may be the grounds on which she chooses not to table the document. Hon KEN TRAVERS : With all due respect Mr President, it is the only ground; she needs to claim it as a confidential document not to table it. I have not asked for it to be tabled up till now but I will do so. I ask for it to be tabled and I ask whether the minister is seeking to claim it as a confidential document. The PRESIDENT : I think you will find confidentiality is not the only reason a minister may decline to table a document. However, the minister has been asked for a second time to table the document, if the minister would like to indicate whether she chooses to or otherwise. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I will take advice on that, Mr President, and if the advice that I receive is to table that tomorrow then I will do it but at present the answer is no. The PRESIDENT : You cannot take advice; you have to give an indication now. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Then the answer is no and I have the right to do that. Questions without Notice Resumed The PRESIDENT : Okay, we will move on with questions without notice. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : The minister has not told us whether it is a confidential document. That is what I am asking: does the minister claim it to be a confidential document? My reading of the standing orders is very clear; that is, she needs to claim it as a confidential document and not deny the house access to it just because she chooses. I put to you, Mr President, the fact that after repeated questions the minister has not stated that it is a confidential document and that therefore means that it is. She quoted from it and it should be tabled. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Mr President, it is a confidential document. Questions without Notice Resumed Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let us move on with questions without notice.
The PRESIDENT : Order, minister! I think you are coming to your concluding remarks. If you address your remarks through the Chair, I am sure you can get to the end of your answer very quickly. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. I just point out that the former government was going to make Redress applicants sign a watertight waiver and that was from the State Solicitor’s Office so that those vulnerable people who are able to go on and get further recourse — Hon Sue Ellery : You know you’ll be struck by lightning any minute—you will be! Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I demanded an apology from Hon Sue Ellery on air last week and I actually got that apology because she was absolutely disgraceful! Hon Sue Ellery interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I just want to know under standing order 47 whether the minister is claiming that the document she quoted from is a confidential document; and, if so, why was she quoting it in the house? The PRESIDENT : You asked for the minister to table the document initially, but the minister may or may not, depending on how the minister feels about it, table that document and she may not table it on the grounds that it is a confidential document so that may be the grounds on which she chooses not to table the document. Hon KEN TRAVERS : With all due respect Mr President, it is the only ground; she needs to claim it as a confidential document not to table it. I have not asked for it to be tabled up till now but I will do so. I ask for it to be tabled and I ask whether the minister is seeking to claim it as a confidential document. The PRESIDENT : I think you will find confidentiality is not the only reason a minister may decline to table a document. However, the minister has been asked for a second time to table the document, if the minister would like to indicate whether she chooses to or otherwise. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I will take advice on that, Mr President, and if the advice that I receive is to table that tomorrow then I will do it but at present the answer is no. The PRESIDENT : You cannot take advice; you have to give an indication now. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Then the answer is no and I have the right to do that. Questions without Notice Resumed The PRESIDENT : Okay, we will move on with questions without notice. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : The minister has not told us whether it is a confidential document. That is what I am asking: does the minister claim it to be a confidential document? My reading of the standing orders is very clear; that is, she needs to claim it as a confidential document and not deny the house access to it just because she chooses. I put to you, Mr President, the fact that after repeated questions the minister has not stated that it is a confidential document and that therefore means that it is. She quoted from it and it should be tabled. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Mr President, it is a confidential document. Questions without Notice Resumed Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let us move on with questions without notice.
Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. I just point out that the former government was going to make Redress applicants sign a watertight waiver and that was from the State Solicitor’s Office so that those vulnerable people who are able to go on and get further recourse — Hon Sue Ellery : You know you’ll be struck by lightning any minute—you will be! Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I demanded an apology from Hon Sue Ellery on air last week and I actually got that apology because she was absolutely disgraceful! Hon Sue Ellery interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I just want to know under standing order 47 whether the minister is claiming that the document she quoted from is a confidential document; and, if so, why was she quoting it in the house? The PRESIDENT : You asked for the minister to table the document initially, but the minister may or may not, depending on how the minister feels about it, table that document and she may not table it on the grounds that it is a confidential document so that may be the grounds on which she chooses not to table the document. Hon KEN TRAVERS : With all due respect Mr President, it is the only ground; she needs to claim it as a confidential document not to table it. I have not asked for it to be tabled up till now but I will do so. I ask for it to be tabled and I ask whether the minister is seeking to claim it as a confidential document. The PRESIDENT : I think you will find confidentiality is not the only reason a minister may decline to table a document. However, the minister has been asked for a second time to table the document, if the minister would like to indicate whether she chooses to or otherwise. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I will take advice on that, Mr President, and if the advice that I receive is to table that tomorrow then I will do it but at present the answer is no. The PRESIDENT : You cannot take advice; you have to give an indication now. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Then the answer is no and I have the right to do that. Questions without Notice Resumed The PRESIDENT : Okay, we will move on with questions without notice. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : The minister has not told us whether it is a confidential document. That is what I am asking: does the minister claim it to be a confidential document? My reading of the standing orders is very clear; that is, she needs to claim it as a confidential document and not deny the house access to it just because she chooses. I put to you, Mr President, the fact that after repeated questions the minister has not stated that it is a confidential document and that therefore means that it is. She quoted from it and it should be tabled. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Mr President, it is a confidential document. Questions without Notice Resumed Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let us move on with questions without notice.
Hon Sue Ellery : You know you’ll be struck by lightning any minute—you will be! Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I demanded an apology from Hon Sue Ellery on air last week and I actually got that apology because she was absolutely disgraceful! Hon Sue Ellery interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I just want to know under standing order 47 whether the minister is claiming that the document she quoted from is a confidential document; and, if so, why was she quoting it in the house? The PRESIDENT : You asked for the minister to table the document initially, but the minister may or may not, depending on how the minister feels about it, table that document and she may not table it on the grounds that it is a confidential document so that may be the grounds on which she chooses not to table the document. Hon KEN TRAVERS : With all due respect Mr President, it is the only ground; she needs to claim it as a confidential document not to table it. I have not asked for it to be tabled up till now but I will do so. I ask for it to be tabled and I ask whether the minister is seeking to claim it as a confidential document. The PRESIDENT : I think you will find confidentiality is not the only reason a minister may decline to table a document. However, the minister has been asked for a second time to table the document, if the minister would like to indicate whether she chooses to or otherwise. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I will take advice on that, Mr President, and if the advice that I receive is to table that tomorrow then I will do it but at present the answer is no. The PRESIDENT : You cannot take advice; you have to give an indication now. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Then the answer is no and I have the right to do that. Questions without Notice Resumed The PRESIDENT : Okay, we will move on with questions without notice. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : The minister has not told us whether it is a confidential document. That is what I am asking: does the minister claim it to be a confidential document? My reading of the standing orders is very clear; that is, she needs to claim it as a confidential document and not deny the house access to it just because she chooses. I put to you, Mr President, the fact that after repeated questions the minister has not stated that it is a confidential document and that therefore means that it is. She quoted from it and it should be tabled. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Mr President, it is a confidential document. Questions without Notice Resumed Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let us move on with questions without notice.
Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I demanded an apology from Hon Sue Ellery on air last week and I actually got that apology because she was absolutely disgraceful! Hon Sue Ellery interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I just want to know under standing order 47 whether the minister is claiming that the document she quoted from is a confidential document; and, if so, why was she quoting it in the house? The PRESIDENT : You asked for the minister to table the document initially, but the minister may or may not, depending on how the minister feels about it, table that document and she may not table it on the grounds that it is a confidential document so that may be the grounds on which she chooses not to table the document. Hon KEN TRAVERS : With all due respect Mr President, it is the only ground; she needs to claim it as a confidential document not to table it. I have not asked for it to be tabled up till now but I will do so. I ask for it to be tabled and I ask whether the minister is seeking to claim it as a confidential document. The PRESIDENT : I think you will find confidentiality is not the only reason a minister may decline to table a document. However, the minister has been asked for a second time to table the document, if the minister would like to indicate whether she chooses to or otherwise. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I will take advice on that, Mr President, and if the advice that I receive is to table that tomorrow then I will do it but at present the answer is no. The PRESIDENT : You cannot take advice; you have to give an indication now. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Then the answer is no and I have the right to do that. Questions without Notice Resumed The PRESIDENT : Okay, we will move on with questions without notice. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : The minister has not told us whether it is a confidential document. That is what I am asking: does the minister claim it to be a confidential document? My reading of the standing orders is very clear; that is, she needs to claim it as a confidential document and not deny the house access to it just because she chooses. I put to you, Mr President, the fact that after repeated questions the minister has not stated that it is a confidential document and that therefore means that it is. She quoted from it and it should be tabled. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Mr President, it is a confidential document. Questions without Notice Resumed Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let us move on with questions without notice.
Hon Sue Ellery interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I just want to know under standing order 47 whether the minister is claiming that the document she quoted from is a confidential document; and, if so, why was she quoting it in the house? The PRESIDENT : You asked for the minister to table the document initially, but the minister may or may not, depending on how the minister feels about it, table that document and she may not table it on the grounds that it is a confidential document so that may be the grounds on which she chooses not to table the document. Hon KEN TRAVERS : With all due respect Mr President, it is the only ground; she needs to claim it as a confidential document not to table it. I have not asked for it to be tabled up till now but I will do so. I ask for it to be tabled and I ask whether the minister is seeking to claim it as a confidential document. The PRESIDENT : I think you will find confidentiality is not the only reason a minister may decline to table a document. However, the minister has been asked for a second time to table the document, if the minister would like to indicate whether she chooses to or otherwise. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I will take advice on that, Mr President, and if the advice that I receive is to table that tomorrow then I will do it but at present the answer is no. The PRESIDENT : You cannot take advice; you have to give an indication now. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Then the answer is no and I have the right to do that. Questions without Notice Resumed The PRESIDENT : Okay, we will move on with questions without notice. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : The minister has not told us whether it is a confidential document. That is what I am asking: does the minister claim it to be a confidential document? My reading of the standing orders is very clear; that is, she needs to claim it as a confidential document and not deny the house access to it just because she chooses. I put to you, Mr President, the fact that after repeated questions the minister has not stated that it is a confidential document and that therefore means that it is. She quoted from it and it should be tabled. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Mr President, it is a confidential document. Questions without Notice Resumed Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let us move on with questions without notice.
The PRESIDENT : Order! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I just want to know under standing order 47 whether the minister is claiming that the document she quoted from is a confidential document; and, if so, why was she quoting it in the house? The PRESIDENT : You asked for the minister to table the document initially, but the minister may or may not, depending on how the minister feels about it, table that document and she may not table it on the grounds that it is a confidential document so that may be the grounds on which she chooses not to table the document. Hon KEN TRAVERS : With all due respect Mr President, it is the only ground; she needs to claim it as a confidential document not to table it. I have not asked for it to be tabled up till now but I will do so. I ask for it to be tabled and I ask whether the minister is seeking to claim it as a confidential document. The PRESIDENT : I think you will find confidentiality is not the only reason a minister may decline to table a document. However, the minister has been asked for a second time to table the document, if the minister would like to indicate whether she chooses to or otherwise. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I will take advice on that, Mr President, and if the advice that I receive is to table that tomorrow then I will do it but at present the answer is no. The PRESIDENT : You cannot take advice; you have to give an indication now. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Then the answer is no and I have the right to do that. Questions without Notice Resumed The PRESIDENT : Okay, we will move on with questions without notice. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : The minister has not told us whether it is a confidential document. That is what I am asking: does the minister claim it to be a confidential document? My reading of the standing orders is very clear; that is, she needs to claim it as a confidential document and not deny the house access to it just because she chooses. I put to you, Mr President, the fact that after repeated questions the minister has not stated that it is a confidential document and that therefore means that it is. She quoted from it and it should be tabled. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Mr President, it is a confidential document. Questions without Notice Resumed Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let us move on with questions without notice.
The PRESIDENT : You asked for the minister to table the document initially, but the minister may or may not, depending on how the minister feels about it, table that document and she may not table it on the grounds that it is a confidential document so that may be the grounds on which she chooses not to table the document. Hon KEN TRAVERS : With all due respect Mr President, it is the only ground; she needs to claim it as a confidential document not to table it. I have not asked for it to be tabled up till now but I will do so. I ask for it to be tabled and I ask whether the minister is seeking to claim it as a confidential document. The PRESIDENT : I think you will find confidentiality is not the only reason a minister may decline to table a document. However, the minister has been asked for a second time to table the document, if the minister would like to indicate whether she chooses to or otherwise. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I will take advice on that, Mr President, and if the advice that I receive is to table that tomorrow then I will do it but at present the answer is no. The PRESIDENT : You cannot take advice; you have to give an indication now. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Then the answer is no and I have the right to do that. Questions without Notice Resumed The PRESIDENT : Okay, we will move on with questions without notice. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : The minister has not told us whether it is a confidential document. That is what I am asking: does the minister claim it to be a confidential document? My reading of the standing orders is very clear; that is, she needs to claim it as a confidential document and not deny the house access to it just because she chooses. I put to you, Mr President, the fact that after repeated questions the minister has not stated that it is a confidential document and that therefore means that it is. She quoted from it and it should be tabled. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Mr President, it is a confidential document. Questions without Notice Resumed Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let us move on with questions without notice.
Hon KEN TRAVERS : With all due respect Mr President, it is the only ground; she needs to claim it as a confidential document not to table it. I have not asked for it to be tabled up till now but I will do so. I ask for it to be tabled and I ask whether the minister is seeking to claim it as a confidential document. The PRESIDENT : I think you will find confidentiality is not the only reason a minister may decline to table a document. However, the minister has been asked for a second time to table the document, if the minister would like to indicate whether she chooses to or otherwise. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I will take advice on that, Mr President, and if the advice that I receive is to table that tomorrow then I will do it but at present the answer is no. The PRESIDENT : You cannot take advice; you have to give an indication now. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Then the answer is no and I have the right to do that. Questions without Notice Resumed The PRESIDENT : Okay, we will move on with questions without notice. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : The minister has not told us whether it is a confidential document. That is what I am asking: does the minister claim it to be a confidential document? My reading of the standing orders is very clear; that is, she needs to claim it as a confidential document and not deny the house access to it just because she chooses. I put to you, Mr President, the fact that after repeated questions the minister has not stated that it is a confidential document and that therefore means that it is. She quoted from it and it should be tabled. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Mr President, it is a confidential document. Questions without Notice Resumed Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let us move on with questions without notice.
The PRESIDENT : I think you will find confidentiality is not the only reason a minister may decline to table a document. However, the minister has been asked for a second time to table the document, if the minister would like to indicate whether she chooses to or otherwise. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I will take advice on that, Mr President, and if the advice that I receive is to table that tomorrow then I will do it but at present the answer is no. The PRESIDENT : You cannot take advice; you have to give an indication now. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Then the answer is no and I have the right to do that. Questions without Notice Resumed The PRESIDENT : Okay, we will move on with questions without notice. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : The minister has not told us whether it is a confidential document. That is what I am asking: does the minister claim it to be a confidential document? My reading of the standing orders is very clear; that is, she needs to claim it as a confidential document and not deny the house access to it just because she chooses. I put to you, Mr President, the fact that after repeated questions the minister has not stated that it is a confidential document and that therefore means that it is. She quoted from it and it should be tabled. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Mr President, it is a confidential document. Questions without Notice Resumed Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let us move on with questions without notice.
Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : I will take advice on that, Mr President, and if the advice that I receive is to table that tomorrow then I will do it but at present the answer is no. The PRESIDENT : You cannot take advice; you have to give an indication now. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Then the answer is no and I have the right to do that. Questions without Notice Resumed The PRESIDENT : Okay, we will move on with questions without notice. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : The minister has not told us whether it is a confidential document. That is what I am asking: does the minister claim it to be a confidential document? My reading of the standing orders is very clear; that is, she needs to claim it as a confidential document and not deny the house access to it just because she chooses. I put to you, Mr President, the fact that after repeated questions the minister has not stated that it is a confidential document and that therefore means that it is. She quoted from it and it should be tabled. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Mr President, it is a confidential document. Questions without Notice Resumed Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let us move on with questions without notice.
The PRESIDENT : You cannot take advice; you have to give an indication now. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Then the answer is no and I have the right to do that. Questions without Notice Resumed The PRESIDENT : Okay, we will move on with questions without notice. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : The minister has not told us whether it is a confidential document. That is what I am asking: does the minister claim it to be a confidential document? My reading of the standing orders is very clear; that is, she needs to claim it as a confidential document and not deny the house access to it just because she chooses. I put to you, Mr President, the fact that after repeated questions the minister has not stated that it is a confidential document and that therefore means that it is. She quoted from it and it should be tabled. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Mr President, it is a confidential document. Questions without Notice Resumed Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let us move on with questions without notice.
Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Then the answer is no and I have the right to do that. Questions without Notice Resumed The PRESIDENT : Okay, we will move on with questions without notice. Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : The minister has not told us whether it is a confidential document. That is what I am asking: does the minister claim it to be a confidential document? My reading of the standing orders is very clear; that is, she needs to claim it as a confidential document and not deny the house access to it just because she chooses. I put to you, Mr President, the fact that after repeated questions the minister has not stated that it is a confidential document and that therefore means that it is. She quoted from it and it should be tabled. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Mr President, it is a confidential document. Questions without Notice Resumed Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let us move on with questions without notice.
Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Mr President, it is a confidential document. Questions without Notice Resumed Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! Let us move on with questions without notice.
The PRESIDENT : Order! Let us move on with questions without notice.
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