❓ A parliamentary question alleges a conflict of interest regarding the location of a disability justice centre in Kenwick, suggesting the Minister prioritised her nephew's political career. The Minister denies any prior communication or influence.
AnsweredQoN 499Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
DISABILITY
JUSTICE CENTRE — KENWICK
499. Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH to the Minister for Mental
Health:
I refer to the minister's media release of Tuesday,
24 July 2012, announcing Kenwick as one of the two locations for the disability
justice centres.
(1) When did
the minister first communicate with her nephew Nathan Morton about the proposed
Kenwick disability justice centre?
(2) Was the
minister's nephew supportive of the location announced for the
disability justice centre in Kenwick?
(3) Is it true
that the minister has backflipped on this decision about the location of
Kenwick only because it is a threat to the minister's nephew's
political career?
JUSTICE CENTRE — KENWICK
499. Hon LJILJANNA RAVLICH to the Minister for Mental
Health:
I refer to the minister's media release of Tuesday,
24 July 2012, announcing Kenwick as one of the two locations for the disability
justice centres.
(1) When did
the minister first communicate with her nephew Nathan Morton about the proposed
Kenwick disability justice centre?
(2) Was the
minister's nephew supportive of the location announced for the
disability justice centre in Kenwick?
(3) Is it true
that the minister has backflipped on this decision about the location of
Kenwick only because it is a threat to the minister's nephew's
political career?
AnswerView source ↗
Unfortunately, the member was not
listening to the radio on the day that I answered that question.
Several members interjected.
Hon
HELEN MORTON : I know.
(1)–(3) I
had absolutely no communication with my nephew about this matter up until the
time the decision was made. Interestingly, all opposition members of
Parliament, including Hon Ljiljanna
Ravlich, were invited to a briefing on this ; no candidates were invited. The communication with my nephew
was that night, after I had made the decision. I went home and rang him and
told him that that was the situation.
Hon Sue Ellery : Why did you do that?
Hon
HELEN MORTON : I think the situation was that there were a number of people
who were being informed that day—a lot of people in fact—and so
given the queries that were about to be made and the suggestions that were
about to be made about some kind of linkage about that, I felt I ought to let
him know about the decision.
Hon Sue Ellery : W hy?
Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Yes, why?
Hon HELEN MORTON : The decision was made wholly and
solely on planning issues, and some silly suggestion that has been brought up
about linkages to something to do with a member of my family is just absolutely
and totally ridiculous.
Hon Sue Ellery : But you raised it, because you told
him before you told the public!
Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : What a disaster!
The PRESIDENT : O rder!
listening to the radio on the day that I answered that question.
Several members interjected.
Hon
HELEN MORTON : I know.
(1)–(3) I
had absolutely no communication with my nephew about this matter up until the
time the decision was made. Interestingly, all opposition members of
Parliament, including Hon Ljiljanna
Ravlich, were invited to a briefing on this ; no candidates were invited. The communication with my nephew
was that night, after I had made the decision. I went home and rang him and
told him that that was the situation.
Hon Sue Ellery : Why did you do that?
Hon
HELEN MORTON : I think the situation was that there were a number of people
who were being informed that day—a lot of people in fact—and so
given the queries that were about to be made and the suggestions that were
about to be made about some kind of linkage about that, I felt I ought to let
him know about the decision.
Hon Sue Ellery : W hy?
Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : Yes, why?
Hon HELEN MORTON : The decision was made wholly and
solely on planning issues, and some silly suggestion that has been brought up
about linkages to something to do with a member of my family is just absolutely
and totally ridiculous.
Hon Sue Ellery : But you raised it, because you told
him before you told the public!
Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich : What a disaster!
The PRESIDENT : O rder!
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