❓ Hon. Robin Chapple questions the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs regarding an investigation into Department of Aboriginal Affairs (DAA) staff. The Minister refuses to comment on the investigation and accuses Chapple of misrepresenting the government's position in a media release.
AnsweredQoN 230Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
DEPARTMENT OF ABORIGINAL AFFAIRS — STAFF —
INVESTIGATION
230. Hon ROBIN CHAPPLE to the Minister
for Aboriginal Affairs:
I refer to question without notice 168, asked by me of the Minister for
Aboriginal Affairs, and question without notice 158, asked by me of the Leader
of the House representing the Premier, both of which were asked on 10 March
2015 in the Legislative Council. I have a further question.
(1) Has the minister now been provided with
advice that officers within his department are, or were, under any form of
investigation?
(2) If no to
question (1), why not?
(3) Given that the Public Sector
Commissioner has now concluded the report, will the minister table the report
or advise the house of its content?
(4) If no to
question (3), why not?
(5) Has the minister had any discussions
with the Premier in relation to the matter of this investigation; and, if so,
when?
(6) Does the minister still have the
confidence of the Premier in fulfilling his role as Minister for Aboriginal
Affairs?
INVESTIGATION
230. Hon ROBIN CHAPPLE to the Minister
for Aboriginal Affairs:
I refer to question without notice 168, asked by me of the Minister for
Aboriginal Affairs, and question without notice 158, asked by me of the Leader
of the House representing the Premier, both of which were asked on 10 March
2015 in the Legislative Council. I have a further question.
(1) Has the minister now been provided with
advice that officers within his department are, or were, under any form of
investigation?
(2) If no to
question (1), why not?
(3) Given that the Public Sector
Commissioner has now concluded the report, will the minister table the report
or advise the house of its content?
(4) If no to
question (3), why not?
(5) Has the minister had any discussions
with the Premier in relation to the matter of this investigation; and, if so,
when?
(6) Does the minister still have the
confidence of the Premier in fulfilling his role as Minister for Aboriginal
Affairs?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the
honourable member for some notice of the question.
(1)–(5) As a matter of principle, it
is not appropriate practice to comment on any investigation or employment
matter, whether or not such an investigation was being undertaken.
� Can I
just emphasise something here, Mr President. This is virtually an identical
question to the question that the honourable member asked of the Premier last
week and he got an identical response. The question without notice he asked me
was whether I was aware of any investigation being undertaken by the director
general, and I said no. I said ''no'' quite categorically. I was
dismayed, I have to say, when I saw a media release by Hon Robin Chapple that
is headed ''DAA executives cannot be trusted'' and states —
Mr Chapple said he had become aware the Public Sector Commission (PSC)
was investigating several matters within DAA and that the government had today
confirmed in question time these investigations were underway.
I did nothing of the kind, nor did the Premier, on any occasion, so
might I suggest to the honourable member that he correct this media release
because it does not reflect what was said in this chamber. It does not
correctly state in any shape or form what was said in this chamber, and I am
repeating that in this response. I call on the honourable member to do the
honourable thing and correct that media release.
(6) Yes.
honourable member for some notice of the question.
(1)–(5) As a matter of principle, it
is not appropriate practice to comment on any investigation or employment
matter, whether or not such an investigation was being undertaken.
� Can I
just emphasise something here, Mr President. This is virtually an identical
question to the question that the honourable member asked of the Premier last
week and he got an identical response. The question without notice he asked me
was whether I was aware of any investigation being undertaken by the director
general, and I said no. I said ''no'' quite categorically. I was
dismayed, I have to say, when I saw a media release by Hon Robin Chapple that
is headed ''DAA executives cannot be trusted'' and states —
Mr Chapple said he had become aware the Public Sector Commission (PSC)
was investigating several matters within DAA and that the government had today
confirmed in question time these investigations were underway.
I did nothing of the kind, nor did the Premier, on any occasion, so
might I suggest to the honourable member that he correct this media release
because it does not reflect what was said in this chamber. It does not
correctly state in any shape or form what was said in this chamber, and I am
repeating that in this response. I call on the honourable member to do the
honourable thing and correct that media release.
(6) Yes.
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