❓ A WA parliamentary question addresses the protocol for members of Parliament and the public contacting staff within the Ministry of Justice. The Attorney General clarifies the policy, stating it's a matter of courtesy for MPs to contact the minister's office first.
AnsweredQoN 25Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
(1) Is it correct that members of Parliament who want to contact staff or employees of the Ministry of Justice must do so through the minister's office? (2) Does this apply to members of the public? (3) What is the minister's policy about members of Parliament and the public contacting officers of the Ministry of Justice throughout the State? Hon PETER FOSS
AnswerView source ↗
(1)-(3) My policy is the same as the one that used to apply under the previous Labor Government; that is, it is a courtesy that members of Parliament contact the minister first if they wish to deal with anyone in the department. I always make sure that they - Hon Tom Stephens: If we want to call the police we need to ring the minister? Hon PETER FOSS: Come on! Hon Tom Stephens: That is what it amounts to. If I need a police officer, I need to ring the minister. The PRESIDENT: Order! Let us hear the answer. Hon PETER FOSS: If a member of Parliament as a client wants to go to court and file a complaint or wants to go to jail as a visitor that is one thing, but if he wants to deal with members of the Ministry of Justice, I would expect him to behave in the same way as I behaved under the Labor Government. I always wrote to the minister first and said I would like to speak to his department. I did not always get permission from the Labor Government, but I have always given permission. I believe it is a matter of courtesy and proper behaviour that members of Parliament who wish to speak to any government employee in their official capacity as a member of Parliament should first of all contact the minister's office, which will facilitate that. It is purely a matter of courtesy and appropriate behaviour - Hon Ken Travers interjected. Hon PETER FOSS: Particularly parliamentary committees. The appropriate way to deal with any of these matters is to deal first of all with the minister. I have responsibility to members in this Parliament, and if they wish to deal with government employees, they should deal through me. I am sure any members who have ever asked my office for any form of facilitation in their dealings with government employees would have received the utmost courtesy and assistance, and their inquiry would have been expedited, but I maintain that it is a matter of courtesy and appropriate behaviour that my office be contacted first.
(2) Does this apply to members of the public? (3) What is the minister's policy about members of Parliament and the public contacting officers of the Ministry of Justice throughout the State? Hon PETER FOSS replied: (1)-(3) My policy is the same as the one that used to apply under the previous Labor Government; that is, it is a courtesy that members of Parliament contact the minister first if they wish to deal with anyone in the department. I always make sure that they - Hon Tom Stephens: If we want to call the police we need to ring the minister? Hon PETER FOSS: Come on! Hon Tom Stephens: That is what it amounts to. If I need a police officer, I need to ring the minister. The PRESIDENT: Order! Let us hear the answer. Hon PETER FOSS: If a member of Parliament as a client wants to go to court and file a complaint or wants to go to jail as a visitor that is one thing, but if he wants to deal with members of the Ministry of Justice, I would expect him to behave in the same way as I behaved under the Labor Government. I always wrote to the minister first and said I would like to speak to his department. I did not always get permission from the Labor Government, but I have always given permission. I believe it is a matter of courtesy and proper behaviour that members of Parliament who wish to speak to any government employee in their official capacity as a member of Parliament should first of all contact the minister's office, which will facilitate that. It is purely a matter of courtesy and appropriate behaviour - Hon Ken Travers interjected. Hon PETER FOSS: Particularly parliamentary committees. The appropriate way to deal with any of these matters is to deal first of all with the minister. I have responsibility to members in this Parliament, and if they wish to deal with government employees, they should deal through me. I am sure any members who have ever asked my office for any form of facilitation in their dealings with government employees would have received the utmost courtesy and assistance, and their inquiry would have been expedited, but I maintain that it is a matter of courtesy and appropriate behaviour that my office be contacted first.
(3) What is the minister's policy about members of Parliament and the public contacting officers of the Ministry of Justice throughout the State? Hon PETER FOSS replied: (1)-(3) My policy is the same as the one that used to apply under the previous Labor Government; that is, it is a courtesy that members of Parliament contact the minister first if they wish to deal with anyone in the department. I always make sure that they - Hon Tom Stephens: If we want to call the police we need to ring the minister? Hon PETER FOSS: Come on! Hon Tom Stephens: That is what it amounts to. If I need a police officer, I need to ring the minister. The PRESIDENT: Order! Let us hear the answer. Hon PETER FOSS: If a member of Parliament as a client wants to go to court and file a complaint or wants to go to jail as a visitor that is one thing, but if he wants to deal with members of the Ministry of Justice, I would expect him to behave in the same way as I behaved under the Labor Government. I always wrote to the minister first and said I would like to speak to his department. I did not always get permission from the Labor Government, but I have always given permission. I believe it is a matter of courtesy and proper behaviour that members of Parliament who wish to speak to any government employee in their official capacity as a member of Parliament should first of all contact the minister's office, which will facilitate that. It is purely a matter of courtesy and appropriate behaviour - Hon Ken Travers interjected. Hon PETER FOSS: Particularly parliamentary committees. The appropriate way to deal with any of these matters is to deal first of all with the minister. I have responsibility to members in this Parliament, and if they wish to deal with government employees, they should deal through me. I am sure any members who have ever asked my office for any form of facilitation in their dealings with government employees would have received the utmost courtesy and assistance, and their inquiry would have been expedited, but I maintain that it is a matter of courtesy and appropriate behaviour that my office be contacted first.
Hon PETER FOSS replied: (1)-(3) My policy is the same as the one that used to apply under the previous Labor Government; that is, it is a courtesy that members of Parliament contact the minister first if they wish to deal with anyone in the department. I always make sure that they - Hon Tom Stephens: If we want to call the police we need to ring the minister? Hon PETER FOSS: Come on! Hon Tom Stephens: That is what it amounts to. If I need a police officer, I need to ring the minister. The PRESIDENT: Order! Let us hear the answer. Hon PETER FOSS: If a member of Parliament as a client wants to go to court and file a complaint or wants to go to jail as a visitor that is one thing, but if he wants to deal with members of the Ministry of Justice, I would expect him to behave in the same way as I behaved under the Labor Government. I always wrote to the minister first and said I would like to speak to his department. I did not always get permission from the Labor Government, but I have always given permission. I believe it is a matter of courtesy and proper behaviour that members of Parliament who wish to speak to any government employee in their official capacity as a member of Parliament should first of all contact the minister's office, which will facilitate that. It is purely a matter of courtesy and appropriate behaviour - Hon Ken Travers interjected. Hon PETER FOSS: Particularly parliamentary committees. The appropriate way to deal with any of these matters is to deal first of all with the minister. I have responsibility to members in this Parliament, and if they wish to deal with government employees, they should deal through me. I am sure any members who have ever asked my office for any form of facilitation in their dealings with government employees would have received the utmost courtesy and assistance, and their inquiry would have been expedited, but I maintain that it is a matter of courtesy and appropriate behaviour that my office be contacted first.
(1)-(3) My policy is the same as the one that used to apply under the previous Labor Government; that is, it is a courtesy that members of Parliament contact the minister first if they wish to deal with anyone in the department. I always make sure that they - Hon Tom Stephens: If we want to call the police we need to ring the minister? Hon PETER FOSS: Come on! Hon Tom Stephens: That is what it amounts to. If I need a police officer, I need to ring the minister. The PRESIDENT: Order! Let us hear the answer. Hon PETER FOSS: If a member of Parliament as a client wants to go to court and file a complaint or wants to go to jail as a visitor that is one thing, but if he wants to deal with members of the Ministry of Justice, I would expect him to behave in the same way as I behaved under the Labor Government. I always wrote to the minister first and said I would like to speak to his department. I did not always get permission from the Labor Government, but I have always given permission. I believe it is a matter of courtesy and proper behaviour that members of Parliament who wish to speak to any government employee in their official capacity as a member of Parliament should first of all contact the minister's office, which will facilitate that. It is purely a matter of courtesy and appropriate behaviour - Hon Ken Travers interjected. Hon PETER FOSS: Particularly parliamentary committees. The appropriate way to deal with any of these matters is to deal first of all with the minister. I have responsibility to members in this Parliament, and if they wish to deal with government employees, they should deal through me. I am sure any members who have ever asked my office for any form of facilitation in their dealings with government employees would have received the utmost courtesy and assistance, and their inquiry would have been expedited, but I maintain that it is a matter of courtesy and appropriate behaviour that my office be contacted first.
Hon Tom Stephens: If we want to call the police we need to ring the minister? Hon PETER FOSS: Come on! Hon Tom Stephens: That is what it amounts to. If I need a police officer, I need to ring the minister. The PRESIDENT: Order! Let us hear the answer. Hon PETER FOSS: If a member of Parliament as a client wants to go to court and file a complaint or wants to go to jail as a visitor that is one thing, but if he wants to deal with members of the Ministry of Justice, I would expect him to behave in the same way as I behaved under the Labor Government. I always wrote to the minister first and said I would like to speak to his department. I did not always get permission from the Labor Government, but I have always given permission. I believe it is a matter of courtesy and proper behaviour that members of Parliament who wish to speak to any government employee in their official capacity as a member of Parliament should first of all contact the minister's office, which will facilitate that. It is purely a matter of courtesy and appropriate behaviour - Hon Ken Travers interjected. Hon PETER FOSS: Particularly parliamentary committees. The appropriate way to deal with any of these matters is to deal first of all with the minister. I have responsibility to members in this Parliament, and if they wish to deal with government employees, they should deal through me. I am sure any members who have ever asked my office for any form of facilitation in their dealings with government employees would have received the utmost courtesy and assistance, and their inquiry would have been expedited, but I maintain that it is a matter of courtesy and appropriate behaviour that my office be contacted first.
Hon PETER FOSS: Come on! Hon Tom Stephens: That is what it amounts to. If I need a police officer, I need to ring the minister. The PRESIDENT: Order! Let us hear the answer. Hon PETER FOSS: If a member of Parliament as a client wants to go to court and file a complaint or wants to go to jail as a visitor that is one thing, but if he wants to deal with members of the Ministry of Justice, I would expect him to behave in the same way as I behaved under the Labor Government. I always wrote to the minister first and said I would like to speak to his department. I did not always get permission from the Labor Government, but I have always given permission. I believe it is a matter of courtesy and proper behaviour that members of Parliament who wish to speak to any government employee in their official capacity as a member of Parliament should first of all contact the minister's office, which will facilitate that. It is purely a matter of courtesy and appropriate behaviour - Hon Ken Travers interjected. Hon PETER FOSS: Particularly parliamentary committees. The appropriate way to deal with any of these matters is to deal first of all with the minister. I have responsibility to members in this Parliament, and if they wish to deal with government employees, they should deal through me. I am sure any members who have ever asked my office for any form of facilitation in their dealings with government employees would have received the utmost courtesy and assistance, and their inquiry would have been expedited, but I maintain that it is a matter of courtesy and appropriate behaviour that my office be contacted first.
Hon Tom Stephens: That is what it amounts to. If I need a police officer, I need to ring the minister. The PRESIDENT: Order! Let us hear the answer. Hon PETER FOSS: If a member of Parliament as a client wants to go to court and file a complaint or wants to go to jail as a visitor that is one thing, but if he wants to deal with members of the Ministry of Justice, I would expect him to behave in the same way as I behaved under the Labor Government. I always wrote to the minister first and said I would like to speak to his department. I did not always get permission from the Labor Government, but I have always given permission. I believe it is a matter of courtesy and proper behaviour that members of Parliament who wish to speak to any government employee in their official capacity as a member of Parliament should first of all contact the minister's office, which will facilitate that. It is purely a matter of courtesy and appropriate behaviour - Hon Ken Travers interjected. Hon PETER FOSS: Particularly parliamentary committees. The appropriate way to deal with any of these matters is to deal first of all with the minister. I have responsibility to members in this Parliament, and if they wish to deal with government employees, they should deal through me. I am sure any members who have ever asked my office for any form of facilitation in their dealings with government employees would have received the utmost courtesy and assistance, and their inquiry would have been expedited, but I maintain that it is a matter of courtesy and appropriate behaviour that my office be contacted first.
The PRESIDENT: Order! Let us hear the answer. Hon PETER FOSS: If a member of Parliament as a client wants to go to court and file a complaint or wants to go to jail as a visitor that is one thing, but if he wants to deal with members of the Ministry of Justice, I would expect him to behave in the same way as I behaved under the Labor Government. I always wrote to the minister first and said I would like to speak to his department. I did not always get permission from the Labor Government, but I have always given permission. I believe it is a matter of courtesy and proper behaviour that members of Parliament who wish to speak to any government employee in their official capacity as a member of Parliament should first of all contact the minister's office, which will facilitate that. It is purely a matter of courtesy and appropriate behaviour - Hon Ken Travers interjected. Hon PETER FOSS: Particularly parliamentary committees. The appropriate way to deal with any of these matters is to deal first of all with the minister. I have responsibility to members in this Parliament, and if they wish to deal with government employees, they should deal through me. I am sure any members who have ever asked my office for any form of facilitation in their dealings with government employees would have received the utmost courtesy and assistance, and their inquiry would have been expedited, but I maintain that it is a matter of courtesy and appropriate behaviour that my office be contacted first.
Hon PETER FOSS: If a member of Parliament as a client wants to go to court and file a complaint or wants to go to jail as a visitor that is one thing, but if he wants to deal with members of the Ministry of Justice, I would expect him to behave in the same way as I behaved under the Labor Government. I always wrote to the minister first and said I would like to speak to his department. I did not always get permission from the Labor Government, but I have always given permission. I believe it is a matter of courtesy and proper behaviour that members of Parliament who wish to speak to any government employee in their official capacity as a member of Parliament should first of all contact the minister's office, which will facilitate that. It is purely a matter of courtesy and appropriate behaviour - Hon Ken Travers interjected. Hon PETER FOSS: Particularly parliamentary committees. The appropriate way to deal with any of these matters is to deal first of all with the minister. I have responsibility to members in this Parliament, and if they wish to deal with government employees, they should deal through me. I am sure any members who have ever asked my office for any form of facilitation in their dealings with government employees would have received the utmost courtesy and assistance, and their inquiry would have been expedited, but I maintain that it is a matter of courtesy and appropriate behaviour that my office be contacted first.
Hon Ken Travers interjected. Hon PETER FOSS: Particularly parliamentary committees. The appropriate way to deal with any of these matters is to deal first of all with the minister. I have responsibility to members in this Parliament, and if they wish to deal with government employees, they should deal through me. I am sure any members who have ever asked my office for any form of facilitation in their dealings with government employees would have received the utmost courtesy and assistance, and their inquiry would have been expedited, but I maintain that it is a matter of courtesy and appropriate behaviour that my office be contacted first.
Hon PETER FOSS: Particularly parliamentary committees. The appropriate way to deal with any of these matters is to deal first of all with the minister. I have responsibility to members in this Parliament, and if they wish to deal with government employees, they should deal through me. I am sure any members who have ever asked my office for any form of facilitation in their dealings with government employees would have received the utmost courtesy and assistance, and their inquiry would have been expedited, but I maintain that it is a matter of courtesy and appropriate behaviour that my office be contacted first.
(2) Does this apply to members of the public? (3) What is the minister's policy about members of Parliament and the public contacting officers of the Ministry of Justice throughout the State? Hon PETER FOSS replied: (1)-(3) My policy is the same as the one that used to apply under the previous Labor Government; that is, it is a courtesy that members of Parliament contact the minister first if they wish to deal with anyone in the department. I always make sure that they - Hon Tom Stephens: If we want to call the police we need to ring the minister? Hon PETER FOSS: Come on! Hon Tom Stephens: That is what it amounts to. If I need a police officer, I need to ring the minister. The PRESIDENT: Order! Let us hear the answer. Hon PETER FOSS: If a member of Parliament as a client wants to go to court and file a complaint or wants to go to jail as a visitor that is one thing, but if he wants to deal with members of the Ministry of Justice, I would expect him to behave in the same way as I behaved under the Labor Government. I always wrote to the minister first and said I would like to speak to his department. I did not always get permission from the Labor Government, but I have always given permission. I believe it is a matter of courtesy and proper behaviour that members of Parliament who wish to speak to any government employee in their official capacity as a member of Parliament should first of all contact the minister's office, which will facilitate that. It is purely a matter of courtesy and appropriate behaviour - Hon Ken Travers interjected. Hon PETER FOSS: Particularly parliamentary committees. The appropriate way to deal with any of these matters is to deal first of all with the minister. I have responsibility to members in this Parliament, and if they wish to deal with government employees, they should deal through me. I am sure any members who have ever asked my office for any form of facilitation in their dealings with government employees would have received the utmost courtesy and assistance, and their inquiry would have been expedited, but I maintain that it is a matter of courtesy and appropriate behaviour that my office be contacted first.
(3) What is the minister's policy about members of Parliament and the public contacting officers of the Ministry of Justice throughout the State? Hon PETER FOSS replied: (1)-(3) My policy is the same as the one that used to apply under the previous Labor Government; that is, it is a courtesy that members of Parliament contact the minister first if they wish to deal with anyone in the department. I always make sure that they - Hon Tom Stephens: If we want to call the police we need to ring the minister? Hon PETER FOSS: Come on! Hon Tom Stephens: That is what it amounts to. If I need a police officer, I need to ring the minister. The PRESIDENT: Order! Let us hear the answer. Hon PETER FOSS: If a member of Parliament as a client wants to go to court and file a complaint or wants to go to jail as a visitor that is one thing, but if he wants to deal with members of the Ministry of Justice, I would expect him to behave in the same way as I behaved under the Labor Government. I always wrote to the minister first and said I would like to speak to his department. I did not always get permission from the Labor Government, but I have always given permission. I believe it is a matter of courtesy and proper behaviour that members of Parliament who wish to speak to any government employee in their official capacity as a member of Parliament should first of all contact the minister's office, which will facilitate that. It is purely a matter of courtesy and appropriate behaviour - Hon Ken Travers interjected. Hon PETER FOSS: Particularly parliamentary committees. The appropriate way to deal with any of these matters is to deal first of all with the minister. I have responsibility to members in this Parliament, and if they wish to deal with government employees, they should deal through me. I am sure any members who have ever asked my office for any form of facilitation in their dealings with government employees would have received the utmost courtesy and assistance, and their inquiry would have been expedited, but I maintain that it is a matter of courtesy and appropriate behaviour that my office be contacted first.
Hon PETER FOSS replied: (1)-(3) My policy is the same as the one that used to apply under the previous Labor Government; that is, it is a courtesy that members of Parliament contact the minister first if they wish to deal with anyone in the department. I always make sure that they - Hon Tom Stephens: If we want to call the police we need to ring the minister? Hon PETER FOSS: Come on! Hon Tom Stephens: That is what it amounts to. If I need a police officer, I need to ring the minister. The PRESIDENT: Order! Let us hear the answer. Hon PETER FOSS: If a member of Parliament as a client wants to go to court and file a complaint or wants to go to jail as a visitor that is one thing, but if he wants to deal with members of the Ministry of Justice, I would expect him to behave in the same way as I behaved under the Labor Government. I always wrote to the minister first and said I would like to speak to his department. I did not always get permission from the Labor Government, but I have always given permission. I believe it is a matter of courtesy and proper behaviour that members of Parliament who wish to speak to any government employee in their official capacity as a member of Parliament should first of all contact the minister's office, which will facilitate that. It is purely a matter of courtesy and appropriate behaviour - Hon Ken Travers interjected. Hon PETER FOSS: Particularly parliamentary committees. The appropriate way to deal with any of these matters is to deal first of all with the minister. I have responsibility to members in this Parliament, and if they wish to deal with government employees, they should deal through me. I am sure any members who have ever asked my office for any form of facilitation in their dealings with government employees would have received the utmost courtesy and assistance, and their inquiry would have been expedited, but I maintain that it is a matter of courtesy and appropriate behaviour that my office be contacted first.
(1)-(3) My policy is the same as the one that used to apply under the previous Labor Government; that is, it is a courtesy that members of Parliament contact the minister first if they wish to deal with anyone in the department. I always make sure that they - Hon Tom Stephens: If we want to call the police we need to ring the minister? Hon PETER FOSS: Come on! Hon Tom Stephens: That is what it amounts to. If I need a police officer, I need to ring the minister. The PRESIDENT: Order! Let us hear the answer. Hon PETER FOSS: If a member of Parliament as a client wants to go to court and file a complaint or wants to go to jail as a visitor that is one thing, but if he wants to deal with members of the Ministry of Justice, I would expect him to behave in the same way as I behaved under the Labor Government. I always wrote to the minister first and said I would like to speak to his department. I did not always get permission from the Labor Government, but I have always given permission. I believe it is a matter of courtesy and proper behaviour that members of Parliament who wish to speak to any government employee in their official capacity as a member of Parliament should first of all contact the minister's office, which will facilitate that. It is purely a matter of courtesy and appropriate behaviour - Hon Ken Travers interjected. Hon PETER FOSS: Particularly parliamentary committees. The appropriate way to deal with any of these matters is to deal first of all with the minister. I have responsibility to members in this Parliament, and if they wish to deal with government employees, they should deal through me. I am sure any members who have ever asked my office for any form of facilitation in their dealings with government employees would have received the utmost courtesy and assistance, and their inquiry would have been expedited, but I maintain that it is a matter of courtesy and appropriate behaviour that my office be contacted first.
Hon Tom Stephens: If we want to call the police we need to ring the minister? Hon PETER FOSS: Come on! Hon Tom Stephens: That is what it amounts to. If I need a police officer, I need to ring the minister. The PRESIDENT: Order! Let us hear the answer. Hon PETER FOSS: If a member of Parliament as a client wants to go to court and file a complaint or wants to go to jail as a visitor that is one thing, but if he wants to deal with members of the Ministry of Justice, I would expect him to behave in the same way as I behaved under the Labor Government. I always wrote to the minister first and said I would like to speak to his department. I did not always get permission from the Labor Government, but I have always given permission. I believe it is a matter of courtesy and proper behaviour that members of Parliament who wish to speak to any government employee in their official capacity as a member of Parliament should first of all contact the minister's office, which will facilitate that. It is purely a matter of courtesy and appropriate behaviour - Hon Ken Travers interjected. Hon PETER FOSS: Particularly parliamentary committees. The appropriate way to deal with any of these matters is to deal first of all with the minister. I have responsibility to members in this Parliament, and if they wish to deal with government employees, they should deal through me. I am sure any members who have ever asked my office for any form of facilitation in their dealings with government employees would have received the utmost courtesy and assistance, and their inquiry would have been expedited, but I maintain that it is a matter of courtesy and appropriate behaviour that my office be contacted first.
Hon PETER FOSS: Come on! Hon Tom Stephens: That is what it amounts to. If I need a police officer, I need to ring the minister. The PRESIDENT: Order! Let us hear the answer. Hon PETER FOSS: If a member of Parliament as a client wants to go to court and file a complaint or wants to go to jail as a visitor that is one thing, but if he wants to deal with members of the Ministry of Justice, I would expect him to behave in the same way as I behaved under the Labor Government. I always wrote to the minister first and said I would like to speak to his department. I did not always get permission from the Labor Government, but I have always given permission. I believe it is a matter of courtesy and proper behaviour that members of Parliament who wish to speak to any government employee in their official capacity as a member of Parliament should first of all contact the minister's office, which will facilitate that. It is purely a matter of courtesy and appropriate behaviour - Hon Ken Travers interjected. Hon PETER FOSS: Particularly parliamentary committees. The appropriate way to deal with any of these matters is to deal first of all with the minister. I have responsibility to members in this Parliament, and if they wish to deal with government employees, they should deal through me. I am sure any members who have ever asked my office for any form of facilitation in their dealings with government employees would have received the utmost courtesy and assistance, and their inquiry would have been expedited, but I maintain that it is a matter of courtesy and appropriate behaviour that my office be contacted first.
Hon Tom Stephens: That is what it amounts to. If I need a police officer, I need to ring the minister. The PRESIDENT: Order! Let us hear the answer. Hon PETER FOSS: If a member of Parliament as a client wants to go to court and file a complaint or wants to go to jail as a visitor that is one thing, but if he wants to deal with members of the Ministry of Justice, I would expect him to behave in the same way as I behaved under the Labor Government. I always wrote to the minister first and said I would like to speak to his department. I did not always get permission from the Labor Government, but I have always given permission. I believe it is a matter of courtesy and proper behaviour that members of Parliament who wish to speak to any government employee in their official capacity as a member of Parliament should first of all contact the minister's office, which will facilitate that. It is purely a matter of courtesy and appropriate behaviour - Hon Ken Travers interjected. Hon PETER FOSS: Particularly parliamentary committees. The appropriate way to deal with any of these matters is to deal first of all with the minister. I have responsibility to members in this Parliament, and if they wish to deal with government employees, they should deal through me. I am sure any members who have ever asked my office for any form of facilitation in their dealings with government employees would have received the utmost courtesy and assistance, and their inquiry would have been expedited, but I maintain that it is a matter of courtesy and appropriate behaviour that my office be contacted first.
The PRESIDENT: Order! Let us hear the answer. Hon PETER FOSS: If a member of Parliament as a client wants to go to court and file a complaint or wants to go to jail as a visitor that is one thing, but if he wants to deal with members of the Ministry of Justice, I would expect him to behave in the same way as I behaved under the Labor Government. I always wrote to the minister first and said I would like to speak to his department. I did not always get permission from the Labor Government, but I have always given permission. I believe it is a matter of courtesy and proper behaviour that members of Parliament who wish to speak to any government employee in their official capacity as a member of Parliament should first of all contact the minister's office, which will facilitate that. It is purely a matter of courtesy and appropriate behaviour - Hon Ken Travers interjected. Hon PETER FOSS: Particularly parliamentary committees. The appropriate way to deal with any of these matters is to deal first of all with the minister. I have responsibility to members in this Parliament, and if they wish to deal with government employees, they should deal through me. I am sure any members who have ever asked my office for any form of facilitation in their dealings with government employees would have received the utmost courtesy and assistance, and their inquiry would have been expedited, but I maintain that it is a matter of courtesy and appropriate behaviour that my office be contacted first.
Hon PETER FOSS: If a member of Parliament as a client wants to go to court and file a complaint or wants to go to jail as a visitor that is one thing, but if he wants to deal with members of the Ministry of Justice, I would expect him to behave in the same way as I behaved under the Labor Government. I always wrote to the minister first and said I would like to speak to his department. I did not always get permission from the Labor Government, but I have always given permission. I believe it is a matter of courtesy and proper behaviour that members of Parliament who wish to speak to any government employee in their official capacity as a member of Parliament should first of all contact the minister's office, which will facilitate that. It is purely a matter of courtesy and appropriate behaviour - Hon Ken Travers interjected. Hon PETER FOSS: Particularly parliamentary committees. The appropriate way to deal with any of these matters is to deal first of all with the minister. I have responsibility to members in this Parliament, and if they wish to deal with government employees, they should deal through me. I am sure any members who have ever asked my office for any form of facilitation in their dealings with government employees would have received the utmost courtesy and assistance, and their inquiry would have been expedited, but I maintain that it is a matter of courtesy and appropriate behaviour that my office be contacted first.
Hon Ken Travers interjected. Hon PETER FOSS: Particularly parliamentary committees. The appropriate way to deal with any of these matters is to deal first of all with the minister. I have responsibility to members in this Parliament, and if they wish to deal with government employees, they should deal through me. I am sure any members who have ever asked my office for any form of facilitation in their dealings with government employees would have received the utmost courtesy and assistance, and their inquiry would have been expedited, but I maintain that it is a matter of courtesy and appropriate behaviour that my office be contacted first.
Hon PETER FOSS: Particularly parliamentary committees. The appropriate way to deal with any of these matters is to deal first of all with the minister. I have responsibility to members in this Parliament, and if they wish to deal with government employees, they should deal through me. I am sure any members who have ever asked my office for any form of facilitation in their dealings with government employees would have received the utmost courtesy and assistance, and their inquiry would have been expedited, but I maintain that it is a matter of courtesy and appropriate behaviour that my office be contacted first.
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