❓ A parliamentary question regarding the Minister for Health's alleged failure to act on letters concerning sexual abuse allegations in Aboriginal communities, which the Minister denies receiving.
AnsweredQoN 436Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
MINISTER FOR HEALTH - PERCY JOHNSON AND LIONEL QUARTERMAINE LETTERS
I refer to the minister’s failure to act three years ago on direct requests on behalf of Lionel Quartermaine and Percy Johnson for meetings relating to serious allegations of sexual abuse in Aboriginal communities. Given that the minister was re-sent those same letters by fax less than a fortnight ago, I ask - (1) Does the minister now recall seeing the letters that were sent to his office in 2004? (2) What action has the minister taken to accommodate those requests and serious concerns now that he does not have the “I did not see them” excuse to hide behind? (3) Has the minister referred the concerns to any other relevant ministers for action; and, if so, to whom? Mr J.A. McGINTY
I refer to the minister’s failure to act three years ago on direct requests on behalf of Lionel Quartermaine and Percy Johnson for meetings relating to serious allegations of sexual abuse in Aboriginal communities. Given that the minister was re-sent those same letters by fax less than a fortnight ago, I ask - (1) Does the minister now recall seeing the letters that were sent to his office in 2004? (2) What action has the minister taken to accommodate those requests and serious concerns now that he does not have the “I did not see them” excuse to hide behind? (3) Has the minister referred the concerns to any other relevant ministers for action; and, if so, to whom? Mr J.A. McGINTY
AnswerView source ↗
(1)-(3) The letters, if they ever were sent, were never received in my office. That is crystal clear. When the issue was raised, I had no recollection of them. Dr K.D. Hames : I can give you a statutory declaration saying they were sent. Mr J.A. McGINTY : They were never received in my office. I smell a bit of a rat about all this. I have gone back and checked. I think about 65 000 items of correspondence have been received in my office in the six and half years - Mr C.J. Barnett : Hate mail! Mr J.A. McGINTY : That is just the ones from the member! When the member raised this matter publicly, I checked every one of those 65 000 items, and no correspondence from any of the people mentioned had been received. Initially, the check was of Mr Quartermaine, and also of Mr Johnson. I have known Percy Johnson for decades, and I regard him very fondly. He is very passionate about Aboriginal interests. There was no correspondence from either of those persons. I met with Percy Johnson, from memory in January 2004, and he made no mention of these matters. Dr K.D. Hames : It came through Lionel Quartermaine. Mr J.A. McGINTY : No, it did not. Dr K.D. Hames interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY : If the member would just let me explain, there is no record of that correspondence ever being received. It was not addressed to me. It was not addressed to my office. I never received it. It does not show up anywhere on the correspondence register. When the letters were faxed to my office about two weeks ago - I forget exactly when - I went to the person to whom they were addressed, who is no longer employed in my office; she is a junior person. She said they were not sent to me at about that time. She had no recollection of them, and denied it was the case that they were sent to me. Frankly, what can I do if letters are not addressed to me, I do not receive them, and they are not received anywhere in the office? The member can criticise all he likes, but there is not much I can do about it.
Given that the minister was re-sent those same letters by fax less than a fortnight ago, I ask - (1) Does the minister now recall seeing the letters that were sent to his office in 2004? (2) What action has the minister taken to accommodate those requests and serious concerns now that he does not have the “I did not see them” excuse to hide behind? (3) Has the minister referred the concerns to any other relevant ministers for action; and, if so, to whom? Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: (1)-(3) The letters, if they ever were sent, were never received in my office. That is crystal clear. When the issue was raised, I had no recollection of them. Dr K.D. Hames : I can give you a statutory declaration saying they were sent. Mr J.A. McGINTY : They were never received in my office. I smell a bit of a rat about all this. I have gone back and checked. I think about 65 000 items of correspondence have been received in my office in the six and half years - Mr C.J. Barnett : Hate mail! Mr J.A. McGINTY : That is just the ones from the member! When the member raised this matter publicly, I checked every one of those 65 000 items, and no correspondence from any of the people mentioned had been received. Initially, the check was of Mr Quartermaine, and also of Mr Johnson. I have known Percy Johnson for decades, and I regard him very fondly. He is very passionate about Aboriginal interests. There was no correspondence from either of those persons. I met with Percy Johnson, from memory in January 2004, and he made no mention of these matters. Dr K.D. Hames : It came through Lionel Quartermaine. Mr J.A. McGINTY : No, it did not. Dr K.D. Hames interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY : If the member would just let me explain, there is no record of that correspondence ever being received. It was not addressed to me. It was not addressed to my office. I never received it. It does not show up anywhere on the correspondence register. When the letters were faxed to my office about two weeks ago - I forget exactly when - I went to the person to whom they were addressed, who is no longer employed in my office; she is a junior person. She said they were not sent to me at about that time. She had no recollection of them, and denied it was the case that they were sent to me. Frankly, what can I do if letters are not addressed to me, I do not receive them, and they are not received anywhere in the office? The member can criticise all he likes, but there is not much I can do about it.
(1) Does the minister now recall seeing the letters that were sent to his office in 2004? (2) What action has the minister taken to accommodate those requests and serious concerns now that he does not have the “I did not see them” excuse to hide behind? (3) Has the minister referred the concerns to any other relevant ministers for action; and, if so, to whom? Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: (1)-(3) The letters, if they ever were sent, were never received in my office. That is crystal clear. When the issue was raised, I had no recollection of them. Dr K.D. Hames : I can give you a statutory declaration saying they were sent. Mr J.A. McGINTY : They were never received in my office. I smell a bit of a rat about all this. I have gone back and checked. I think about 65 000 items of correspondence have been received in my office in the six and half years - Mr C.J. Barnett : Hate mail! Mr J.A. McGINTY : That is just the ones from the member! When the member raised this matter publicly, I checked every one of those 65 000 items, and no correspondence from any of the people mentioned had been received. Initially, the check was of Mr Quartermaine, and also of Mr Johnson. I have known Percy Johnson for decades, and I regard him very fondly. He is very passionate about Aboriginal interests. There was no correspondence from either of those persons. I met with Percy Johnson, from memory in January 2004, and he made no mention of these matters. Dr K.D. Hames : It came through Lionel Quartermaine. Mr J.A. McGINTY : No, it did not. Dr K.D. Hames interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY : If the member would just let me explain, there is no record of that correspondence ever being received. It was not addressed to me. It was not addressed to my office. I never received it. It does not show up anywhere on the correspondence register. When the letters were faxed to my office about two weeks ago - I forget exactly when - I went to the person to whom they were addressed, who is no longer employed in my office; she is a junior person. She said they were not sent to me at about that time. She had no recollection of them, and denied it was the case that they were sent to me. Frankly, what can I do if letters are not addressed to me, I do not receive them, and they are not received anywhere in the office? The member can criticise all he likes, but there is not much I can do about it.
(2) What action has the minister taken to accommodate those requests and serious concerns now that he does not have the “I did not see them” excuse to hide behind? (3) Has the minister referred the concerns to any other relevant ministers for action; and, if so, to whom? Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: (1)-(3) The letters, if they ever were sent, were never received in my office. That is crystal clear. When the issue was raised, I had no recollection of them. Dr K.D. Hames : I can give you a statutory declaration saying they were sent. Mr J.A. McGINTY : They were never received in my office. I smell a bit of a rat about all this. I have gone back and checked. I think about 65 000 items of correspondence have been received in my office in the six and half years - Mr C.J. Barnett : Hate mail! Mr J.A. McGINTY : That is just the ones from the member! When the member raised this matter publicly, I checked every one of those 65 000 items, and no correspondence from any of the people mentioned had been received. Initially, the check was of Mr Quartermaine, and also of Mr Johnson. I have known Percy Johnson for decades, and I regard him very fondly. He is very passionate about Aboriginal interests. There was no correspondence from either of those persons. I met with Percy Johnson, from memory in January 2004, and he made no mention of these matters. Dr K.D. Hames : It came through Lionel Quartermaine. Mr J.A. McGINTY : No, it did not. Dr K.D. Hames interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY : If the member would just let me explain, there is no record of that correspondence ever being received. It was not addressed to me. It was not addressed to my office. I never received it. It does not show up anywhere on the correspondence register. When the letters were faxed to my office about two weeks ago - I forget exactly when - I went to the person to whom they were addressed, who is no longer employed in my office; she is a junior person. She said they were not sent to me at about that time. She had no recollection of them, and denied it was the case that they were sent to me. Frankly, what can I do if letters are not addressed to me, I do not receive them, and they are not received anywhere in the office? The member can criticise all he likes, but there is not much I can do about it.
(3) Has the minister referred the concerns to any other relevant ministers for action; and, if so, to whom? Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: (1)-(3) The letters, if they ever were sent, were never received in my office. That is crystal clear. When the issue was raised, I had no recollection of them. Dr K.D. Hames : I can give you a statutory declaration saying they were sent. Mr J.A. McGINTY : They were never received in my office. I smell a bit of a rat about all this. I have gone back and checked. I think about 65 000 items of correspondence have been received in my office in the six and half years - Mr C.J. Barnett : Hate mail! Mr J.A. McGINTY : That is just the ones from the member! When the member raised this matter publicly, I checked every one of those 65 000 items, and no correspondence from any of the people mentioned had been received. Initially, the check was of Mr Quartermaine, and also of Mr Johnson. I have known Percy Johnson for decades, and I regard him very fondly. He is very passionate about Aboriginal interests. There was no correspondence from either of those persons. I met with Percy Johnson, from memory in January 2004, and he made no mention of these matters. Dr K.D. Hames : It came through Lionel Quartermaine. Mr J.A. McGINTY : No, it did not. Dr K.D. Hames interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY : If the member would just let me explain, there is no record of that correspondence ever being received. It was not addressed to me. It was not addressed to my office. I never received it. It does not show up anywhere on the correspondence register. When the letters were faxed to my office about two weeks ago - I forget exactly when - I went to the person to whom they were addressed, who is no longer employed in my office; she is a junior person. She said they were not sent to me at about that time. She had no recollection of them, and denied it was the case that they were sent to me. Frankly, what can I do if letters are not addressed to me, I do not receive them, and they are not received anywhere in the office? The member can criticise all he likes, but there is not much I can do about it.
Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: (1)-(3) The letters, if they ever were sent, were never received in my office. That is crystal clear. When the issue was raised, I had no recollection of them. Dr K.D. Hames : I can give you a statutory declaration saying they were sent. Mr J.A. McGINTY : They were never received in my office. I smell a bit of a rat about all this. I have gone back and checked. I think about 65 000 items of correspondence have been received in my office in the six and half years - Mr C.J. Barnett : Hate mail! Mr J.A. McGINTY : That is just the ones from the member! When the member raised this matter publicly, I checked every one of those 65 000 items, and no correspondence from any of the people mentioned had been received. Initially, the check was of Mr Quartermaine, and also of Mr Johnson. I have known Percy Johnson for decades, and I regard him very fondly. He is very passionate about Aboriginal interests. There was no correspondence from either of those persons. I met with Percy Johnson, from memory in January 2004, and he made no mention of these matters. Dr K.D. Hames : It came through Lionel Quartermaine. Mr J.A. McGINTY : No, it did not. Dr K.D. Hames interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY : If the member would just let me explain, there is no record of that correspondence ever being received. It was not addressed to me. It was not addressed to my office. I never received it. It does not show up anywhere on the correspondence register. When the letters were faxed to my office about two weeks ago - I forget exactly when - I went to the person to whom they were addressed, who is no longer employed in my office; she is a junior person. She said they were not sent to me at about that time. She had no recollection of them, and denied it was the case that they were sent to me. Frankly, what can I do if letters are not addressed to me, I do not receive them, and they are not received anywhere in the office? The member can criticise all he likes, but there is not much I can do about it.
(1)-(3) The letters, if they ever were sent, were never received in my office. That is crystal clear. When the issue was raised, I had no recollection of them. Dr K.D. Hames : I can give you a statutory declaration saying they were sent. Mr J.A. McGINTY : They were never received in my office. I smell a bit of a rat about all this. I have gone back and checked. I think about 65 000 items of correspondence have been received in my office in the six and half years - Mr C.J. Barnett : Hate mail! Mr J.A. McGINTY : That is just the ones from the member! When the member raised this matter publicly, I checked every one of those 65 000 items, and no correspondence from any of the people mentioned had been received. Initially, the check was of Mr Quartermaine, and also of Mr Johnson. I have known Percy Johnson for decades, and I regard him very fondly. He is very passionate about Aboriginal interests. There was no correspondence from either of those persons. I met with Percy Johnson, from memory in January 2004, and he made no mention of these matters. Dr K.D. Hames : It came through Lionel Quartermaine. Mr J.A. McGINTY : No, it did not. Dr K.D. Hames interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY : If the member would just let me explain, there is no record of that correspondence ever being received. It was not addressed to me. It was not addressed to my office. I never received it. It does not show up anywhere on the correspondence register. When the letters were faxed to my office about two weeks ago - I forget exactly when - I went to the person to whom they were addressed, who is no longer employed in my office; she is a junior person. She said they were not sent to me at about that time. She had no recollection of them, and denied it was the case that they were sent to me. Frankly, what can I do if letters are not addressed to me, I do not receive them, and they are not received anywhere in the office? The member can criticise all he likes, but there is not much I can do about it.
Dr K.D. Hames : I can give you a statutory declaration saying they were sent. Mr J.A. McGINTY : They were never received in my office. I smell a bit of a rat about all this. I have gone back and checked. I think about 65 000 items of correspondence have been received in my office in the six and half years - Mr C.J. Barnett : Hate mail! Mr J.A. McGINTY : That is just the ones from the member! When the member raised this matter publicly, I checked every one of those 65 000 items, and no correspondence from any of the people mentioned had been received. Initially, the check was of Mr Quartermaine, and also of Mr Johnson. I have known Percy Johnson for decades, and I regard him very fondly. He is very passionate about Aboriginal interests. There was no correspondence from either of those persons. I met with Percy Johnson, from memory in January 2004, and he made no mention of these matters. Dr K.D. Hames : It came through Lionel Quartermaine. Mr J.A. McGINTY : No, it did not. Dr K.D. Hames interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY : If the member would just let me explain, there is no record of that correspondence ever being received. It was not addressed to me. It was not addressed to my office. I never received it. It does not show up anywhere on the correspondence register. When the letters were faxed to my office about two weeks ago - I forget exactly when - I went to the person to whom they were addressed, who is no longer employed in my office; she is a junior person. She said they were not sent to me at about that time. She had no recollection of them, and denied it was the case that they were sent to me. Frankly, what can I do if letters are not addressed to me, I do not receive them, and they are not received anywhere in the office? The member can criticise all he likes, but there is not much I can do about it.
Mr J.A. McGINTY : They were never received in my office. I smell a bit of a rat about all this. I have gone back and checked. I think about 65 000 items of correspondence have been received in my office in the six and half years - Mr C.J. Barnett : Hate mail! Mr J.A. McGINTY : That is just the ones from the member! When the member raised this matter publicly, I checked every one of those 65 000 items, and no correspondence from any of the people mentioned had been received. Initially, the check was of Mr Quartermaine, and also of Mr Johnson. I have known Percy Johnson for decades, and I regard him very fondly. He is very passionate about Aboriginal interests. There was no correspondence from either of those persons. I met with Percy Johnson, from memory in January 2004, and he made no mention of these matters. Dr K.D. Hames : It came through Lionel Quartermaine. Mr J.A. McGINTY : No, it did not. Dr K.D. Hames interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY : If the member would just let me explain, there is no record of that correspondence ever being received. It was not addressed to me. It was not addressed to my office. I never received it. It does not show up anywhere on the correspondence register. When the letters were faxed to my office about two weeks ago - I forget exactly when - I went to the person to whom they were addressed, who is no longer employed in my office; she is a junior person. She said they were not sent to me at about that time. She had no recollection of them, and denied it was the case that they were sent to me. Frankly, what can I do if letters are not addressed to me, I do not receive them, and they are not received anywhere in the office? The member can criticise all he likes, but there is not much I can do about it.
Mr C.J. Barnett : Hate mail! Mr J.A. McGINTY : That is just the ones from the member! When the member raised this matter publicly, I checked every one of those 65 000 items, and no correspondence from any of the people mentioned had been received. Initially, the check was of Mr Quartermaine, and also of Mr Johnson. I have known Percy Johnson for decades, and I regard him very fondly. He is very passionate about Aboriginal interests. There was no correspondence from either of those persons. I met with Percy Johnson, from memory in January 2004, and he made no mention of these matters. Dr K.D. Hames : It came through Lionel Quartermaine. Mr J.A. McGINTY : No, it did not. Dr K.D. Hames interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY : If the member would just let me explain, there is no record of that correspondence ever being received. It was not addressed to me. It was not addressed to my office. I never received it. It does not show up anywhere on the correspondence register. When the letters were faxed to my office about two weeks ago - I forget exactly when - I went to the person to whom they were addressed, who is no longer employed in my office; she is a junior person. She said they were not sent to me at about that time. She had no recollection of them, and denied it was the case that they were sent to me. Frankly, what can I do if letters are not addressed to me, I do not receive them, and they are not received anywhere in the office? The member can criticise all he likes, but there is not much I can do about it.
Mr J.A. McGINTY : That is just the ones from the member! When the member raised this matter publicly, I checked every one of those 65 000 items, and no correspondence from any of the people mentioned had been received. Initially, the check was of Mr Quartermaine, and also of Mr Johnson. I have known Percy Johnson for decades, and I regard him very fondly. He is very passionate about Aboriginal interests. There was no correspondence from either of those persons. I met with Percy Johnson, from memory in January 2004, and he made no mention of these matters. Dr K.D. Hames : It came through Lionel Quartermaine. Mr J.A. McGINTY : No, it did not. Dr K.D. Hames interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY : If the member would just let me explain, there is no record of that correspondence ever being received. It was not addressed to me. It was not addressed to my office. I never received it. It does not show up anywhere on the correspondence register. When the letters were faxed to my office about two weeks ago - I forget exactly when - I went to the person to whom they were addressed, who is no longer employed in my office; she is a junior person. She said they were not sent to me at about that time. She had no recollection of them, and denied it was the case that they were sent to me. Frankly, what can I do if letters are not addressed to me, I do not receive them, and they are not received anywhere in the office? The member can criticise all he likes, but there is not much I can do about it.
When the member raised this matter publicly, I checked every one of those 65 000 items, and no correspondence from any of the people mentioned had been received. Initially, the check was of Mr Quartermaine, and also of Mr Johnson. I have known Percy Johnson for decades, and I regard him very fondly. He is very passionate about Aboriginal interests. There was no correspondence from either of those persons. I met with Percy Johnson, from memory in January 2004, and he made no mention of these matters. Dr K.D. Hames : It came through Lionel Quartermaine. Mr J.A. McGINTY : No, it did not. Dr K.D. Hames interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY : If the member would just let me explain, there is no record of that correspondence ever being received. It was not addressed to me. It was not addressed to my office. I never received it. It does not show up anywhere on the correspondence register. When the letters were faxed to my office about two weeks ago - I forget exactly when - I went to the person to whom they were addressed, who is no longer employed in my office; she is a junior person. She said they were not sent to me at about that time. She had no recollection of them, and denied it was the case that they were sent to me. Frankly, what can I do if letters are not addressed to me, I do not receive them, and they are not received anywhere in the office? The member can criticise all he likes, but there is not much I can do about it.
Dr K.D. Hames : It came through Lionel Quartermaine. Mr J.A. McGINTY : No, it did not. Dr K.D. Hames interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY : If the member would just let me explain, there is no record of that correspondence ever being received. It was not addressed to me. It was not addressed to my office. I never received it. It does not show up anywhere on the correspondence register. When the letters were faxed to my office about two weeks ago - I forget exactly when - I went to the person to whom they were addressed, who is no longer employed in my office; she is a junior person. She said they were not sent to me at about that time. She had no recollection of them, and denied it was the case that they were sent to me. Frankly, what can I do if letters are not addressed to me, I do not receive them, and they are not received anywhere in the office? The member can criticise all he likes, but there is not much I can do about it.
Mr J.A. McGINTY : No, it did not. Dr K.D. Hames interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY : If the member would just let me explain, there is no record of that correspondence ever being received. It was not addressed to me. It was not addressed to my office. I never received it. It does not show up anywhere on the correspondence register. When the letters were faxed to my office about two weeks ago - I forget exactly when - I went to the person to whom they were addressed, who is no longer employed in my office; she is a junior person. She said they were not sent to me at about that time. She had no recollection of them, and denied it was the case that they were sent to me. Frankly, what can I do if letters are not addressed to me, I do not receive them, and they are not received anywhere in the office? The member can criticise all he likes, but there is not much I can do about it.
Dr K.D. Hames interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY : If the member would just let me explain, there is no record of that correspondence ever being received. It was not addressed to me. It was not addressed to my office. I never received it. It does not show up anywhere on the correspondence register. When the letters were faxed to my office about two weeks ago - I forget exactly when - I went to the person to whom they were addressed, who is no longer employed in my office; she is a junior person. She said they were not sent to me at about that time. She had no recollection of them, and denied it was the case that they were sent to me. Frankly, what can I do if letters are not addressed to me, I do not receive them, and they are not received anywhere in the office? The member can criticise all he likes, but there is not much I can do about it.
Mr J.A. McGINTY : If the member would just let me explain, there is no record of that correspondence ever being received. It was not addressed to me. It was not addressed to my office. I never received it. It does not show up anywhere on the correspondence register. When the letters were faxed to my office about two weeks ago - I forget exactly when - I went to the person to whom they were addressed, who is no longer employed in my office; she is a junior person. She said they were not sent to me at about that time. She had no recollection of them, and denied it was the case that they were sent to me. Frankly, what can I do if letters are not addressed to me, I do not receive them, and they are not received anywhere in the office? The member can criticise all he likes, but there is not much I can do about it.
Given that the minister was re-sent those same letters by fax less than a fortnight ago, I ask - (1) Does the minister now recall seeing the letters that were sent to his office in 2004? (2) What action has the minister taken to accommodate those requests and serious concerns now that he does not have the “I did not see them” excuse to hide behind? (3) Has the minister referred the concerns to any other relevant ministers for action; and, if so, to whom? Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: (1)-(3) The letters, if they ever were sent, were never received in my office. That is crystal clear. When the issue was raised, I had no recollection of them. Dr K.D. Hames : I can give you a statutory declaration saying they were sent. Mr J.A. McGINTY : They were never received in my office. I smell a bit of a rat about all this. I have gone back and checked. I think about 65 000 items of correspondence have been received in my office in the six and half years - Mr C.J. Barnett : Hate mail! Mr J.A. McGINTY : That is just the ones from the member! When the member raised this matter publicly, I checked every one of those 65 000 items, and no correspondence from any of the people mentioned had been received. Initially, the check was of Mr Quartermaine, and also of Mr Johnson. I have known Percy Johnson for decades, and I regard him very fondly. He is very passionate about Aboriginal interests. There was no correspondence from either of those persons. I met with Percy Johnson, from memory in January 2004, and he made no mention of these matters. Dr K.D. Hames : It came through Lionel Quartermaine. Mr J.A. McGINTY : No, it did not. Dr K.D. Hames interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY : If the member would just let me explain, there is no record of that correspondence ever being received. It was not addressed to me. It was not addressed to my office. I never received it. It does not show up anywhere on the correspondence register. When the letters were faxed to my office about two weeks ago - I forget exactly when - I went to the person to whom they were addressed, who is no longer employed in my office; she is a junior person. She said they were not sent to me at about that time. She had no recollection of them, and denied it was the case that they were sent to me. Frankly, what can I do if letters are not addressed to me, I do not receive them, and they are not received anywhere in the office? The member can criticise all he likes, but there is not much I can do about it.
(1) Does the minister now recall seeing the letters that were sent to his office in 2004? (2) What action has the minister taken to accommodate those requests and serious concerns now that he does not have the “I did not see them” excuse to hide behind? (3) Has the minister referred the concerns to any other relevant ministers for action; and, if so, to whom? Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: (1)-(3) The letters, if they ever were sent, were never received in my office. That is crystal clear. When the issue was raised, I had no recollection of them. Dr K.D. Hames : I can give you a statutory declaration saying they were sent. Mr J.A. McGINTY : They were never received in my office. I smell a bit of a rat about all this. I have gone back and checked. I think about 65 000 items of correspondence have been received in my office in the six and half years - Mr C.J. Barnett : Hate mail! Mr J.A. McGINTY : That is just the ones from the member! When the member raised this matter publicly, I checked every one of those 65 000 items, and no correspondence from any of the people mentioned had been received. Initially, the check was of Mr Quartermaine, and also of Mr Johnson. I have known Percy Johnson for decades, and I regard him very fondly. He is very passionate about Aboriginal interests. There was no correspondence from either of those persons. I met with Percy Johnson, from memory in January 2004, and he made no mention of these matters. Dr K.D. Hames : It came through Lionel Quartermaine. Mr J.A. McGINTY : No, it did not. Dr K.D. Hames interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY : If the member would just let me explain, there is no record of that correspondence ever being received. It was not addressed to me. It was not addressed to my office. I never received it. It does not show up anywhere on the correspondence register. When the letters were faxed to my office about two weeks ago - I forget exactly when - I went to the person to whom they were addressed, who is no longer employed in my office; she is a junior person. She said they were not sent to me at about that time. She had no recollection of them, and denied it was the case that they were sent to me. Frankly, what can I do if letters are not addressed to me, I do not receive them, and they are not received anywhere in the office? The member can criticise all he likes, but there is not much I can do about it.
(2) What action has the minister taken to accommodate those requests and serious concerns now that he does not have the “I did not see them” excuse to hide behind? (3) Has the minister referred the concerns to any other relevant ministers for action; and, if so, to whom? Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: (1)-(3) The letters, if they ever were sent, were never received in my office. That is crystal clear. When the issue was raised, I had no recollection of them. Dr K.D. Hames : I can give you a statutory declaration saying they were sent. Mr J.A. McGINTY : They were never received in my office. I smell a bit of a rat about all this. I have gone back and checked. I think about 65 000 items of correspondence have been received in my office in the six and half years - Mr C.J. Barnett : Hate mail! Mr J.A. McGINTY : That is just the ones from the member! When the member raised this matter publicly, I checked every one of those 65 000 items, and no correspondence from any of the people mentioned had been received. Initially, the check was of Mr Quartermaine, and also of Mr Johnson. I have known Percy Johnson for decades, and I regard him very fondly. He is very passionate about Aboriginal interests. There was no correspondence from either of those persons. I met with Percy Johnson, from memory in January 2004, and he made no mention of these matters. Dr K.D. Hames : It came through Lionel Quartermaine. Mr J.A. McGINTY : No, it did not. Dr K.D. Hames interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY : If the member would just let me explain, there is no record of that correspondence ever being received. It was not addressed to me. It was not addressed to my office. I never received it. It does not show up anywhere on the correspondence register. When the letters were faxed to my office about two weeks ago - I forget exactly when - I went to the person to whom they were addressed, who is no longer employed in my office; she is a junior person. She said they were not sent to me at about that time. She had no recollection of them, and denied it was the case that they were sent to me. Frankly, what can I do if letters are not addressed to me, I do not receive them, and they are not received anywhere in the office? The member can criticise all he likes, but there is not much I can do about it.
(3) Has the minister referred the concerns to any other relevant ministers for action; and, if so, to whom? Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: (1)-(3) The letters, if they ever were sent, were never received in my office. That is crystal clear. When the issue was raised, I had no recollection of them. Dr K.D. Hames : I can give you a statutory declaration saying they were sent. Mr J.A. McGINTY : They were never received in my office. I smell a bit of a rat about all this. I have gone back and checked. I think about 65 000 items of correspondence have been received in my office in the six and half years - Mr C.J. Barnett : Hate mail! Mr J.A. McGINTY : That is just the ones from the member! When the member raised this matter publicly, I checked every one of those 65 000 items, and no correspondence from any of the people mentioned had been received. Initially, the check was of Mr Quartermaine, and also of Mr Johnson. I have known Percy Johnson for decades, and I regard him very fondly. He is very passionate about Aboriginal interests. There was no correspondence from either of those persons. I met with Percy Johnson, from memory in January 2004, and he made no mention of these matters. Dr K.D. Hames : It came through Lionel Quartermaine. Mr J.A. McGINTY : No, it did not. Dr K.D. Hames interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY : If the member would just let me explain, there is no record of that correspondence ever being received. It was not addressed to me. It was not addressed to my office. I never received it. It does not show up anywhere on the correspondence register. When the letters were faxed to my office about two weeks ago - I forget exactly when - I went to the person to whom they were addressed, who is no longer employed in my office; she is a junior person. She said they were not sent to me at about that time. She had no recollection of them, and denied it was the case that they were sent to me. Frankly, what can I do if letters are not addressed to me, I do not receive them, and they are not received anywhere in the office? The member can criticise all he likes, but there is not much I can do about it.
Mr J.A. McGINTY replied: (1)-(3) The letters, if they ever were sent, were never received in my office. That is crystal clear. When the issue was raised, I had no recollection of them. Dr K.D. Hames : I can give you a statutory declaration saying they were sent. Mr J.A. McGINTY : They were never received in my office. I smell a bit of a rat about all this. I have gone back and checked. I think about 65 000 items of correspondence have been received in my office in the six and half years - Mr C.J. Barnett : Hate mail! Mr J.A. McGINTY : That is just the ones from the member! When the member raised this matter publicly, I checked every one of those 65 000 items, and no correspondence from any of the people mentioned had been received. Initially, the check was of Mr Quartermaine, and also of Mr Johnson. I have known Percy Johnson for decades, and I regard him very fondly. He is very passionate about Aboriginal interests. There was no correspondence from either of those persons. I met with Percy Johnson, from memory in January 2004, and he made no mention of these matters. Dr K.D. Hames : It came through Lionel Quartermaine. Mr J.A. McGINTY : No, it did not. Dr K.D. Hames interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY : If the member would just let me explain, there is no record of that correspondence ever being received. It was not addressed to me. It was not addressed to my office. I never received it. It does not show up anywhere on the correspondence register. When the letters were faxed to my office about two weeks ago - I forget exactly when - I went to the person to whom they were addressed, who is no longer employed in my office; she is a junior person. She said they were not sent to me at about that time. She had no recollection of them, and denied it was the case that they were sent to me. Frankly, what can I do if letters are not addressed to me, I do not receive them, and they are not received anywhere in the office? The member can criticise all he likes, but there is not much I can do about it.
(1)-(3) The letters, if they ever were sent, were never received in my office. That is crystal clear. When the issue was raised, I had no recollection of them. Dr K.D. Hames : I can give you a statutory declaration saying they were sent. Mr J.A. McGINTY : They were never received in my office. I smell a bit of a rat about all this. I have gone back and checked. I think about 65 000 items of correspondence have been received in my office in the six and half years - Mr C.J. Barnett : Hate mail! Mr J.A. McGINTY : That is just the ones from the member! When the member raised this matter publicly, I checked every one of those 65 000 items, and no correspondence from any of the people mentioned had been received. Initially, the check was of Mr Quartermaine, and also of Mr Johnson. I have known Percy Johnson for decades, and I regard him very fondly. He is very passionate about Aboriginal interests. There was no correspondence from either of those persons. I met with Percy Johnson, from memory in January 2004, and he made no mention of these matters. Dr K.D. Hames : It came through Lionel Quartermaine. Mr J.A. McGINTY : No, it did not. Dr K.D. Hames interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY : If the member would just let me explain, there is no record of that correspondence ever being received. It was not addressed to me. It was not addressed to my office. I never received it. It does not show up anywhere on the correspondence register. When the letters were faxed to my office about two weeks ago - I forget exactly when - I went to the person to whom they were addressed, who is no longer employed in my office; she is a junior person. She said they were not sent to me at about that time. She had no recollection of them, and denied it was the case that they were sent to me. Frankly, what can I do if letters are not addressed to me, I do not receive them, and they are not received anywhere in the office? The member can criticise all he likes, but there is not much I can do about it.
Dr K.D. Hames : I can give you a statutory declaration saying they were sent. Mr J.A. McGINTY : They were never received in my office. I smell a bit of a rat about all this. I have gone back and checked. I think about 65 000 items of correspondence have been received in my office in the six and half years - Mr C.J. Barnett : Hate mail! Mr J.A. McGINTY : That is just the ones from the member! When the member raised this matter publicly, I checked every one of those 65 000 items, and no correspondence from any of the people mentioned had been received. Initially, the check was of Mr Quartermaine, and also of Mr Johnson. I have known Percy Johnson for decades, and I regard him very fondly. He is very passionate about Aboriginal interests. There was no correspondence from either of those persons. I met with Percy Johnson, from memory in January 2004, and he made no mention of these matters. Dr K.D. Hames : It came through Lionel Quartermaine. Mr J.A. McGINTY : No, it did not. Dr K.D. Hames interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY : If the member would just let me explain, there is no record of that correspondence ever being received. It was not addressed to me. It was not addressed to my office. I never received it. It does not show up anywhere on the correspondence register. When the letters were faxed to my office about two weeks ago - I forget exactly when - I went to the person to whom they were addressed, who is no longer employed in my office; she is a junior person. She said they were not sent to me at about that time. She had no recollection of them, and denied it was the case that they were sent to me. Frankly, what can I do if letters are not addressed to me, I do not receive them, and they are not received anywhere in the office? The member can criticise all he likes, but there is not much I can do about it.
Mr J.A. McGINTY : They were never received in my office. I smell a bit of a rat about all this. I have gone back and checked. I think about 65 000 items of correspondence have been received in my office in the six and half years - Mr C.J. Barnett : Hate mail! Mr J.A. McGINTY : That is just the ones from the member! When the member raised this matter publicly, I checked every one of those 65 000 items, and no correspondence from any of the people mentioned had been received. Initially, the check was of Mr Quartermaine, and also of Mr Johnson. I have known Percy Johnson for decades, and I regard him very fondly. He is very passionate about Aboriginal interests. There was no correspondence from either of those persons. I met with Percy Johnson, from memory in January 2004, and he made no mention of these matters. Dr K.D. Hames : It came through Lionel Quartermaine. Mr J.A. McGINTY : No, it did not. Dr K.D. Hames interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY : If the member would just let me explain, there is no record of that correspondence ever being received. It was not addressed to me. It was not addressed to my office. I never received it. It does not show up anywhere on the correspondence register. When the letters were faxed to my office about two weeks ago - I forget exactly when - I went to the person to whom they were addressed, who is no longer employed in my office; she is a junior person. She said they were not sent to me at about that time. She had no recollection of them, and denied it was the case that they were sent to me. Frankly, what can I do if letters are not addressed to me, I do not receive them, and they are not received anywhere in the office? The member can criticise all he likes, but there is not much I can do about it.
Mr C.J. Barnett : Hate mail! Mr J.A. McGINTY : That is just the ones from the member! When the member raised this matter publicly, I checked every one of those 65 000 items, and no correspondence from any of the people mentioned had been received. Initially, the check was of Mr Quartermaine, and also of Mr Johnson. I have known Percy Johnson for decades, and I regard him very fondly. He is very passionate about Aboriginal interests. There was no correspondence from either of those persons. I met with Percy Johnson, from memory in January 2004, and he made no mention of these matters. Dr K.D. Hames : It came through Lionel Quartermaine. Mr J.A. McGINTY : No, it did not. Dr K.D. Hames interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY : If the member would just let me explain, there is no record of that correspondence ever being received. It was not addressed to me. It was not addressed to my office. I never received it. It does not show up anywhere on the correspondence register. When the letters were faxed to my office about two weeks ago - I forget exactly when - I went to the person to whom they were addressed, who is no longer employed in my office; she is a junior person. She said they were not sent to me at about that time. She had no recollection of them, and denied it was the case that they were sent to me. Frankly, what can I do if letters are not addressed to me, I do not receive them, and they are not received anywhere in the office? The member can criticise all he likes, but there is not much I can do about it.
Mr J.A. McGINTY : That is just the ones from the member! When the member raised this matter publicly, I checked every one of those 65 000 items, and no correspondence from any of the people mentioned had been received. Initially, the check was of Mr Quartermaine, and also of Mr Johnson. I have known Percy Johnson for decades, and I regard him very fondly. He is very passionate about Aboriginal interests. There was no correspondence from either of those persons. I met with Percy Johnson, from memory in January 2004, and he made no mention of these matters. Dr K.D. Hames : It came through Lionel Quartermaine. Mr J.A. McGINTY : No, it did not. Dr K.D. Hames interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY : If the member would just let me explain, there is no record of that correspondence ever being received. It was not addressed to me. It was not addressed to my office. I never received it. It does not show up anywhere on the correspondence register. When the letters were faxed to my office about two weeks ago - I forget exactly when - I went to the person to whom they were addressed, who is no longer employed in my office; she is a junior person. She said they were not sent to me at about that time. She had no recollection of them, and denied it was the case that they were sent to me. Frankly, what can I do if letters are not addressed to me, I do not receive them, and they are not received anywhere in the office? The member can criticise all he likes, but there is not much I can do about it.
When the member raised this matter publicly, I checked every one of those 65 000 items, and no correspondence from any of the people mentioned had been received. Initially, the check was of Mr Quartermaine, and also of Mr Johnson. I have known Percy Johnson for decades, and I regard him very fondly. He is very passionate about Aboriginal interests. There was no correspondence from either of those persons. I met with Percy Johnson, from memory in January 2004, and he made no mention of these matters. Dr K.D. Hames : It came through Lionel Quartermaine. Mr J.A. McGINTY : No, it did not. Dr K.D. Hames interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY : If the member would just let me explain, there is no record of that correspondence ever being received. It was not addressed to me. It was not addressed to my office. I never received it. It does not show up anywhere on the correspondence register. When the letters were faxed to my office about two weeks ago - I forget exactly when - I went to the person to whom they were addressed, who is no longer employed in my office; she is a junior person. She said they were not sent to me at about that time. She had no recollection of them, and denied it was the case that they were sent to me. Frankly, what can I do if letters are not addressed to me, I do not receive them, and they are not received anywhere in the office? The member can criticise all he likes, but there is not much I can do about it.
Dr K.D. Hames : It came through Lionel Quartermaine. Mr J.A. McGINTY : No, it did not. Dr K.D. Hames interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY : If the member would just let me explain, there is no record of that correspondence ever being received. It was not addressed to me. It was not addressed to my office. I never received it. It does not show up anywhere on the correspondence register. When the letters were faxed to my office about two weeks ago - I forget exactly when - I went to the person to whom they were addressed, who is no longer employed in my office; she is a junior person. She said they were not sent to me at about that time. She had no recollection of them, and denied it was the case that they were sent to me. Frankly, what can I do if letters are not addressed to me, I do not receive them, and they are not received anywhere in the office? The member can criticise all he likes, but there is not much I can do about it.
Mr J.A. McGINTY : No, it did not. Dr K.D. Hames interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY : If the member would just let me explain, there is no record of that correspondence ever being received. It was not addressed to me. It was not addressed to my office. I never received it. It does not show up anywhere on the correspondence register. When the letters were faxed to my office about two weeks ago - I forget exactly when - I went to the person to whom they were addressed, who is no longer employed in my office; she is a junior person. She said they were not sent to me at about that time. She had no recollection of them, and denied it was the case that they were sent to me. Frankly, what can I do if letters are not addressed to me, I do not receive them, and they are not received anywhere in the office? The member can criticise all he likes, but there is not much I can do about it.
Dr K.D. Hames interjected. Mr J.A. McGINTY : If the member would just let me explain, there is no record of that correspondence ever being received. It was not addressed to me. It was not addressed to my office. I never received it. It does not show up anywhere on the correspondence register. When the letters were faxed to my office about two weeks ago - I forget exactly when - I went to the person to whom they were addressed, who is no longer employed in my office; she is a junior person. She said they were not sent to me at about that time. She had no recollection of them, and denied it was the case that they were sent to me. Frankly, what can I do if letters are not addressed to me, I do not receive them, and they are not received anywhere in the office? The member can criticise all he likes, but there is not much I can do about it.
Mr J.A. McGINTY : If the member would just let me explain, there is no record of that correspondence ever being received. It was not addressed to me. It was not addressed to my office. I never received it. It does not show up anywhere on the correspondence register. When the letters were faxed to my office about two weeks ago - I forget exactly when - I went to the person to whom they were addressed, who is no longer employed in my office; she is a junior person. She said they were not sent to me at about that time. She had no recollection of them, and denied it was the case that they were sent to me. Frankly, what can I do if letters are not addressed to me, I do not receive them, and they are not received anywhere in the office? The member can criticise all he likes, but there is not much I can do about it.
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