❓ The Minister for Justice responds to questions regarding the suspension of AIMS Corporation's duties after the escape of prisoners, asserting the decision was made independently by the Director General of the Department of Justice.
AnsweredQoN 327Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer the minister to her press release of yesterday that seized upon “apparent security lapses” by AIMS Corporation staff following “preliminary internal investigations” into the escape of nine serious risk prisoners from the Supreme Court. (1) Does the minister admit it is inappropriate for her to attack AIMS and to suspend its duties at the Supreme Court based solely upon unproved and unchecked allegations? (2) Given that AIMS is unable to comment or defend itself against the minister’s allegations, will she concede that AIMS was simply an easy target in her desperate attempts to shift blame to any available scapegoat? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS
AnswerView source ↗
(1)-(2) The questions have deteriorated somewhat. I am not attacking AIMS at all. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: I am explaining to the public the rationale behind the Director General of the Department of Justice’s unprecedented action yesterday. It is unprecedented. The director general is the only person with the ability to do that - not the minister or the Government. That is his choice. The member for Kalgoorlie asked a nonsense question: did he ask me? The director general has absolute and total responsibility for deciding to terminate or suspend the contracts. It would be totally improper for me to direct him or to advise him in any way about it. He outlined to me his concerns and the action that he proposed to take. I said that in the circumstances I thought that was the appropriate course to take. Yes, it is unprecedented action. I think that the Government, quite rightly, informed the public of Western Australia of the basis on which he decided to take that action in the public interest.
(1) Does the minister admit it is inappropriate for her to attack AIMS and to suspend its duties at the Supreme Court based solely upon unproved and unchecked allegations? (2) Given that AIMS is unable to comment or defend itself against the minister’s allegations, will she concede that AIMS was simply an easy target in her desperate attempts to shift blame to any available scapegoat? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS replied: (1)-(2) The questions have deteriorated somewhat. I am not attacking AIMS at all. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: I am explaining to the public the rationale behind the Director General of the Department of Justice’s unprecedented action yesterday. It is unprecedented. The director general is the only person with the ability to do that - not the minister or the Government. That is his choice. The member for Kalgoorlie asked a nonsense question: did he ask me? The director general has absolute and total responsibility for deciding to terminate or suspend the contracts. It would be totally improper for me to direct him or to advise him in any way about it. He outlined to me his concerns and the action that he proposed to take. I said that in the circumstances I thought that was the appropriate course to take. Yes, it is unprecedented action. I think that the Government, quite rightly, informed the public of Western Australia of the basis on which he decided to take that action in the public interest.
(2) Given that AIMS is unable to comment or defend itself against the minister’s allegations, will she concede that AIMS was simply an easy target in her desperate attempts to shift blame to any available scapegoat? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS replied: (1)-(2) The questions have deteriorated somewhat. I am not attacking AIMS at all. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: I am explaining to the public the rationale behind the Director General of the Department of Justice’s unprecedented action yesterday. It is unprecedented. The director general is the only person with the ability to do that - not the minister or the Government. That is his choice. The member for Kalgoorlie asked a nonsense question: did he ask me? The director general has absolute and total responsibility for deciding to terminate or suspend the contracts. It would be totally improper for me to direct him or to advise him in any way about it. He outlined to me his concerns and the action that he proposed to take. I said that in the circumstances I thought that was the appropriate course to take. Yes, it is unprecedented action. I think that the Government, quite rightly, informed the public of Western Australia of the basis on which he decided to take that action in the public interest.
Mrs M.H. ROBERTS replied: (1)-(2) The questions have deteriorated somewhat. I am not attacking AIMS at all. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: I am explaining to the public the rationale behind the Director General of the Department of Justice’s unprecedented action yesterday. It is unprecedented. The director general is the only person with the ability to do that - not the minister or the Government. That is his choice. The member for Kalgoorlie asked a nonsense question: did he ask me? The director general has absolute and total responsibility for deciding to terminate or suspend the contracts. It would be totally improper for me to direct him or to advise him in any way about it. He outlined to me his concerns and the action that he proposed to take. I said that in the circumstances I thought that was the appropriate course to take. Yes, it is unprecedented action. I think that the Government, quite rightly, informed the public of Western Australia of the basis on which he decided to take that action in the public interest.
(1)-(2) The questions have deteriorated somewhat. I am not attacking AIMS at all. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: I am explaining to the public the rationale behind the Director General of the Department of Justice’s unprecedented action yesterday. It is unprecedented. The director general is the only person with the ability to do that - not the minister or the Government. That is his choice. The member for Kalgoorlie asked a nonsense question: did he ask me? The director general has absolute and total responsibility for deciding to terminate or suspend the contracts. It would be totally improper for me to direct him or to advise him in any way about it. He outlined to me his concerns and the action that he proposed to take. I said that in the circumstances I thought that was the appropriate course to take. Yes, it is unprecedented action. I think that the Government, quite rightly, informed the public of Western Australia of the basis on which he decided to take that action in the public interest.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: I am explaining to the public the rationale behind the Director General of the Department of Justice’s unprecedented action yesterday. It is unprecedented. The director general is the only person with the ability to do that - not the minister or the Government. That is his choice. The member for Kalgoorlie asked a nonsense question: did he ask me? The director general has absolute and total responsibility for deciding to terminate or suspend the contracts. It would be totally improper for me to direct him or to advise him in any way about it. He outlined to me his concerns and the action that he proposed to take. I said that in the circumstances I thought that was the appropriate course to take. Yes, it is unprecedented action. I think that the Government, quite rightly, informed the public of Western Australia of the basis on which he decided to take that action in the public interest.
The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: I am explaining to the public the rationale behind the Director General of the Department of Justice’s unprecedented action yesterday. It is unprecedented. The director general is the only person with the ability to do that - not the minister or the Government. That is his choice. The member for Kalgoorlie asked a nonsense question: did he ask me? The director general has absolute and total responsibility for deciding to terminate or suspend the contracts. It would be totally improper for me to direct him or to advise him in any way about it. He outlined to me his concerns and the action that he proposed to take. I said that in the circumstances I thought that was the appropriate course to take. Yes, it is unprecedented action. I think that the Government, quite rightly, informed the public of Western Australia of the basis on which he decided to take that action in the public interest.
Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: I am explaining to the public the rationale behind the Director General of the Department of Justice’s unprecedented action yesterday. It is unprecedented. The director general is the only person with the ability to do that - not the minister or the Government. That is his choice. The member for Kalgoorlie asked a nonsense question: did he ask me? The director general has absolute and total responsibility for deciding to terminate or suspend the contracts. It would be totally improper for me to direct him or to advise him in any way about it. He outlined to me his concerns and the action that he proposed to take. I said that in the circumstances I thought that was the appropriate course to take. Yes, it is unprecedented action. I think that the Government, quite rightly, informed the public of Western Australia of the basis on which he decided to take that action in the public interest.
(1) Does the minister admit it is inappropriate for her to attack AIMS and to suspend its duties at the Supreme Court based solely upon unproved and unchecked allegations? (2) Given that AIMS is unable to comment or defend itself against the minister’s allegations, will she concede that AIMS was simply an easy target in her desperate attempts to shift blame to any available scapegoat? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS replied: (1)-(2) The questions have deteriorated somewhat. I am not attacking AIMS at all. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: I am explaining to the public the rationale behind the Director General of the Department of Justice’s unprecedented action yesterday. It is unprecedented. The director general is the only person with the ability to do that - not the minister or the Government. That is his choice. The member for Kalgoorlie asked a nonsense question: did he ask me? The director general has absolute and total responsibility for deciding to terminate or suspend the contracts. It would be totally improper for me to direct him or to advise him in any way about it. He outlined to me his concerns and the action that he proposed to take. I said that in the circumstances I thought that was the appropriate course to take. Yes, it is unprecedented action. I think that the Government, quite rightly, informed the public of Western Australia of the basis on which he decided to take that action in the public interest.
(2) Given that AIMS is unable to comment or defend itself against the minister’s allegations, will she concede that AIMS was simply an easy target in her desperate attempts to shift blame to any available scapegoat? Mrs M.H. ROBERTS replied: (1)-(2) The questions have deteriorated somewhat. I am not attacking AIMS at all. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: I am explaining to the public the rationale behind the Director General of the Department of Justice’s unprecedented action yesterday. It is unprecedented. The director general is the only person with the ability to do that - not the minister or the Government. That is his choice. The member for Kalgoorlie asked a nonsense question: did he ask me? The director general has absolute and total responsibility for deciding to terminate or suspend the contracts. It would be totally improper for me to direct him or to advise him in any way about it. He outlined to me his concerns and the action that he proposed to take. I said that in the circumstances I thought that was the appropriate course to take. Yes, it is unprecedented action. I think that the Government, quite rightly, informed the public of Western Australia of the basis on which he decided to take that action in the public interest.
Mrs M.H. ROBERTS replied: (1)-(2) The questions have deteriorated somewhat. I am not attacking AIMS at all. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: I am explaining to the public the rationale behind the Director General of the Department of Justice’s unprecedented action yesterday. It is unprecedented. The director general is the only person with the ability to do that - not the minister or the Government. That is his choice. The member for Kalgoorlie asked a nonsense question: did he ask me? The director general has absolute and total responsibility for deciding to terminate or suspend the contracts. It would be totally improper for me to direct him or to advise him in any way about it. He outlined to me his concerns and the action that he proposed to take. I said that in the circumstances I thought that was the appropriate course to take. Yes, it is unprecedented action. I think that the Government, quite rightly, informed the public of Western Australia of the basis on which he decided to take that action in the public interest.
(1)-(2) The questions have deteriorated somewhat. I am not attacking AIMS at all. Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: I am explaining to the public the rationale behind the Director General of the Department of Justice’s unprecedented action yesterday. It is unprecedented. The director general is the only person with the ability to do that - not the minister or the Government. That is his choice. The member for Kalgoorlie asked a nonsense question: did he ask me? The director general has absolute and total responsibility for deciding to terminate or suspend the contracts. It would be totally improper for me to direct him or to advise him in any way about it. He outlined to me his concerns and the action that he proposed to take. I said that in the circumstances I thought that was the appropriate course to take. Yes, it is unprecedented action. I think that the Government, quite rightly, informed the public of Western Australia of the basis on which he decided to take that action in the public interest.
Several members interjected. The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: I am explaining to the public the rationale behind the Director General of the Department of Justice’s unprecedented action yesterday. It is unprecedented. The director general is the only person with the ability to do that - not the minister or the Government. That is his choice. The member for Kalgoorlie asked a nonsense question: did he ask me? The director general has absolute and total responsibility for deciding to terminate or suspend the contracts. It would be totally improper for me to direct him or to advise him in any way about it. He outlined to me his concerns and the action that he proposed to take. I said that in the circumstances I thought that was the appropriate course to take. Yes, it is unprecedented action. I think that the Government, quite rightly, informed the public of Western Australia of the basis on which he decided to take that action in the public interest.
The SPEAKER: Order, members! Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: I am explaining to the public the rationale behind the Director General of the Department of Justice’s unprecedented action yesterday. It is unprecedented. The director general is the only person with the ability to do that - not the minister or the Government. That is his choice. The member for Kalgoorlie asked a nonsense question: did he ask me? The director general has absolute and total responsibility for deciding to terminate or suspend the contracts. It would be totally improper for me to direct him or to advise him in any way about it. He outlined to me his concerns and the action that he proposed to take. I said that in the circumstances I thought that was the appropriate course to take. Yes, it is unprecedented action. I think that the Government, quite rightly, informed the public of Western Australia of the basis on which he decided to take that action in the public interest.
Mrs M.H. ROBERTS: I am explaining to the public the rationale behind the Director General of the Department of Justice’s unprecedented action yesterday. It is unprecedented. The director general is the only person with the ability to do that - not the minister or the Government. That is his choice. The member for Kalgoorlie asked a nonsense question: did he ask me? The director general has absolute and total responsibility for deciding to terminate or suspend the contracts. It would be totally improper for me to direct him or to advise him in any way about it. He outlined to me his concerns and the action that he proposed to take. I said that in the circumstances I thought that was the appropriate course to take. Yes, it is unprecedented action. I think that the Government, quite rightly, informed the public of Western Australia of the basis on which he decided to take that action in the public interest.
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