❓ A parliamentary question regarding an assault by a 17-year-old in care on a disabled woman. The Minister's response is highly defensive and avoids directly answering the questions, instead attacking the Leader of the Opposition's past record.
AnsweredQoN 587Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
DEPARTMENT FOR CHILD PROTECTION — INCIDENT INVOLVING 17-YEAR-OLD IN CARE
I refer to the assault by a 17-year-old registered sex offender in the care of the Department for Child Protection on a young disabled woman on 14 August 2010. (1) Is the review into the decision making that led to the placement of the young person who committed the assault being conducted by an independent person or persons; and, if yes, who is conducting the review? (2) What are the terms of reference of the review? (3) Will the review examine the circumstances on the night of the incident including the actions of all staff on the premises where the incident occurred? (4) Will the reviewer interview the mother of the young woman who was assaulted; and, if not, why not? (6) When will the review be completed? (7) Will the review, protecting the identity of the young person who committed the assault and the identity of the victim, be made public; and, if not, why not? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY
I refer to the assault by a 17-year-old registered sex offender in the care of the Department for Child Protection on a young disabled woman on 14 August 2010. (1) Is the review into the decision making that led to the placement of the young person who committed the assault being conducted by an independent person or persons; and, if yes, who is conducting the review? (2) What are the terms of reference of the review? (3) Will the review examine the circumstances on the night of the incident including the actions of all staff on the premises where the incident occurred? (4) Will the reviewer interview the mother of the young woman who was assaulted; and, if not, why not? (6) When will the review be completed? (7) Will the review, protecting the identity of the young person who committed the assault and the identity of the victim, be made public; and, if not, why not? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for the question. The Leader of the Opposition has a very, very short memory. I once said that if the Leader of the Opposition comes into this place to throw stones, I will throw stones back. Hon Sue Ellery : I have not thrown a single stone. I have asked a question. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : The Leader of the Opposition was aware that this boy had molested a three-year-old at McDonald’s in 2007 and yet put this boy in a suburban street with a school — Point of Order Hon SUE ELLERY : The minister is not answering the question at all. I made no allegations or aspersions in my question. I asked a series of factual questions and it would be helpful to get factual answers. The PRESIDENT : There is no point of order, but I hope that the minister will get to the answer. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. Yet, the now Leader of the Opposition and former Minister for Child Protection put this boy in a suburban street within the vicinity of a school, within the vicinity of a day care centre, within the vicinity of a park and within the vicinity of a McDonald’s. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, members! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I did not think that members were allowed to read their speeches or their answers. The PRESIDENT : There is no point of order; that does not apply to ministers. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. I was not reading my answer. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! This is the first question in a three-week session—not a good start! We do not want three weeks to appear to be three years. Let the minister answer the question. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. On 1 July 2008, this boy escaped from 24-hour care, went into a McDonald’s and molested two little girls. Was the Leader of the Opposition responsible for that? Was she the minister at the time of that offence? Did she apologise to the parents of those two little girls? Hon Sue Ellery : Will you answer the question? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Did the Leader of the Opposition, the then minister, apologise to those parents? Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, members! Sixteen questions have been asked—backwards and forwards across chamber. A question has been asked and now we are waiting on the answer. The answer, as members know, can take the form that the minister wants it to take. Members do not have to agree with the answer; they do not have to like it; but they do have to listen to it. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : In answer to my question, the department said that the then minister did not apologise. I, on the other hand, apologised to the mother of the girl who was assaulted. In fact, on the Tuesday night—after saying in this place on the Thursday that I would write to that lady to express my feelings—a call from the girl’s mother was logged in my office at five o’clock in which the mother said what a beautiful letter it was and thanked me. Hon Sue Ellery : Are you familiar with the question at all? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : How does the Leader of the Opposition like it? She does not like it! Hon Sue Ellery : I was just asking you to answer my question. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No; the Leader of the Opposition does not like it! Did she apologise to the mother of the two girls? No she did not! Now, in answer to this question—maybe I will get to the answer now! Hon Sue Ellery : That would be good. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Yes. (1)–(7) The review of the alleged assault by a 17-year-old on a young disabled woman on 14 August 2010 is being conducted by the Disability Services Commission and as such questions relating to the review should be referred to that department. Further to that, I take my responsibilities very seriously. I have just stated in this place that the Leader of the Opposition, the former minister, knew about a three-year-old being molested and that she knew about two little girls being molested, yet she did not apologise.
(1) Is the review into the decision making that led to the placement of the young person who committed the assault being conducted by an independent person or persons; and, if yes, who is conducting the review? (2) What are the terms of reference of the review? (3) Will the review examine the circumstances on the night of the incident including the actions of all staff on the premises where the incident occurred? (4) Will the reviewer interview the mother of the young woman who was assaulted; and, if not, why not? (6) When will the review be completed? (7) Will the review, protecting the identity of the young person who committed the assault and the identity of the victim, be made public; and, if not, why not? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY replied: I thank the honourable member for the question. The Leader of the Opposition has a very, very short memory. I once said that if the Leader of the Opposition comes into this place to throw stones, I will throw stones back. Hon Sue Ellery : I have not thrown a single stone. I have asked a question. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : The Leader of the Opposition was aware that this boy had molested a three-year-old at McDonald’s in 2007 and yet put this boy in a suburban street with a school — Point of Order Hon SUE ELLERY : The minister is not answering the question at all. I made no allegations or aspersions in my question. I asked a series of factual questions and it would be helpful to get factual answers. The PRESIDENT : There is no point of order, but I hope that the minister will get to the answer. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. Yet, the now Leader of the Opposition and former Minister for Child Protection put this boy in a suburban street within the vicinity of a school, within the vicinity of a day care centre, within the vicinity of a park and within the vicinity of a McDonald’s. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, members! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I did not think that members were allowed to read their speeches or their answers. The PRESIDENT : There is no point of order; that does not apply to ministers. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. I was not reading my answer. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! This is the first question in a three-week session—not a good start! We do not want three weeks to appear to be three years. Let the minister answer the question. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. On 1 July 2008, this boy escaped from 24-hour care, went into a McDonald’s and molested two little girls. Was the Leader of the Opposition responsible for that? Was she the minister at the time of that offence? Did she apologise to the parents of those two little girls? Hon Sue Ellery : Will you answer the question? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Did the Leader of the Opposition, the then minister, apologise to those parents? Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, members! Sixteen questions have been asked—backwards and forwards across chamber. A question has been asked and now we are waiting on the answer. The answer, as members know, can take the form that the minister wants it to take. Members do not have to agree with the answer; they do not have to like it; but they do have to listen to it. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : In answer to my question, the department said that the then minister did not apologise. I, on the other hand, apologised to the mother of the girl who was assaulted. In fact, on the Tuesday night—after saying in this place on the Thursday that I would write to that lady to express my feelings—a call from the girl’s mother was logged in my office at five o’clock in which the mother said what a beautiful letter it was and thanked me. Hon Sue Ellery : Are you familiar with the question at all? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : How does the Leader of the Opposition like it? She does not like it! Hon Sue Ellery : I was just asking you to answer my question. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No; the Leader of the Opposition does not like it! Did she apologise to the mother of the two girls? No she did not! Now, in answer to this question—maybe I will get to the answer now! Hon Sue Ellery : That would be good. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Yes. (1)–(7) The review of the alleged assault by a 17-year-old on a young disabled woman on 14 August 2010 is being conducted by the Disability Services Commission and as such questions relating to the review should be referred to that department. Further to that, I take my responsibilities very seriously. I have just stated in this place that the Leader of the Opposition, the former minister, knew about a three-year-old being molested and that she knew about two little girls being molested, yet she did not apologise.
(2) What are the terms of reference of the review? (3) Will the review examine the circumstances on the night of the incident including the actions of all staff on the premises where the incident occurred? (4) Will the reviewer interview the mother of the young woman who was assaulted; and, if not, why not? (6) When will the review be completed? (7) Will the review, protecting the identity of the young person who committed the assault and the identity of the victim, be made public; and, if not, why not? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY replied: I thank the honourable member for the question. The Leader of the Opposition has a very, very short memory. I once said that if the Leader of the Opposition comes into this place to throw stones, I will throw stones back. Hon Sue Ellery : I have not thrown a single stone. I have asked a question. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : The Leader of the Opposition was aware that this boy had molested a three-year-old at McDonald’s in 2007 and yet put this boy in a suburban street with a school — Point of Order Hon SUE ELLERY : The minister is not answering the question at all. I made no allegations or aspersions in my question. I asked a series of factual questions and it would be helpful to get factual answers. The PRESIDENT : There is no point of order, but I hope that the minister will get to the answer. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. Yet, the now Leader of the Opposition and former Minister for Child Protection put this boy in a suburban street within the vicinity of a school, within the vicinity of a day care centre, within the vicinity of a park and within the vicinity of a McDonald’s. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, members! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I did not think that members were allowed to read their speeches or their answers. The PRESIDENT : There is no point of order; that does not apply to ministers. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. I was not reading my answer. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! This is the first question in a three-week session—not a good start! We do not want three weeks to appear to be three years. Let the minister answer the question. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. On 1 July 2008, this boy escaped from 24-hour care, went into a McDonald’s and molested two little girls. Was the Leader of the Opposition responsible for that? Was she the minister at the time of that offence? Did she apologise to the parents of those two little girls? Hon Sue Ellery : Will you answer the question? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Did the Leader of the Opposition, the then minister, apologise to those parents? Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, members! Sixteen questions have been asked—backwards and forwards across chamber. A question has been asked and now we are waiting on the answer. The answer, as members know, can take the form that the minister wants it to take. Members do not have to agree with the answer; they do not have to like it; but they do have to listen to it. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : In answer to my question, the department said that the then minister did not apologise. I, on the other hand, apologised to the mother of the girl who was assaulted. In fact, on the Tuesday night—after saying in this place on the Thursday that I would write to that lady to express my feelings—a call from the girl’s mother was logged in my office at five o’clock in which the mother said what a beautiful letter it was and thanked me. Hon Sue Ellery : Are you familiar with the question at all? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : How does the Leader of the Opposition like it? She does not like it! Hon Sue Ellery : I was just asking you to answer my question. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No; the Leader of the Opposition does not like it! Did she apologise to the mother of the two girls? No she did not! Now, in answer to this question—maybe I will get to the answer now! Hon Sue Ellery : That would be good. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Yes. (1)–(7) The review of the alleged assault by a 17-year-old on a young disabled woman on 14 August 2010 is being conducted by the Disability Services Commission and as such questions relating to the review should be referred to that department. Further to that, I take my responsibilities very seriously. I have just stated in this place that the Leader of the Opposition, the former minister, knew about a three-year-old being molested and that she knew about two little girls being molested, yet she did not apologise.
(3) Will the review examine the circumstances on the night of the incident including the actions of all staff on the premises where the incident occurred? (4) Will the reviewer interview the mother of the young woman who was assaulted; and, if not, why not? (6) When will the review be completed? (7) Will the review, protecting the identity of the young person who committed the assault and the identity of the victim, be made public; and, if not, why not? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY replied: I thank the honourable member for the question. The Leader of the Opposition has a very, very short memory. I once said that if the Leader of the Opposition comes into this place to throw stones, I will throw stones back. Hon Sue Ellery : I have not thrown a single stone. I have asked a question. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : The Leader of the Opposition was aware that this boy had molested a three-year-old at McDonald’s in 2007 and yet put this boy in a suburban street with a school — Point of Order Hon SUE ELLERY : The minister is not answering the question at all. I made no allegations or aspersions in my question. I asked a series of factual questions and it would be helpful to get factual answers. The PRESIDENT : There is no point of order, but I hope that the minister will get to the answer. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. Yet, the now Leader of the Opposition and former Minister for Child Protection put this boy in a suburban street within the vicinity of a school, within the vicinity of a day care centre, within the vicinity of a park and within the vicinity of a McDonald’s. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, members! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I did not think that members were allowed to read their speeches or their answers. The PRESIDENT : There is no point of order; that does not apply to ministers. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. I was not reading my answer. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! This is the first question in a three-week session—not a good start! We do not want three weeks to appear to be three years. Let the minister answer the question. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. On 1 July 2008, this boy escaped from 24-hour care, went into a McDonald’s and molested two little girls. Was the Leader of the Opposition responsible for that? Was she the minister at the time of that offence? Did she apologise to the parents of those two little girls? Hon Sue Ellery : Will you answer the question? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Did the Leader of the Opposition, the then minister, apologise to those parents? Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, members! Sixteen questions have been asked—backwards and forwards across chamber. A question has been asked and now we are waiting on the answer. The answer, as members know, can take the form that the minister wants it to take. Members do not have to agree with the answer; they do not have to like it; but they do have to listen to it. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : In answer to my question, the department said that the then minister did not apologise. I, on the other hand, apologised to the mother of the girl who was assaulted. In fact, on the Tuesday night—after saying in this place on the Thursday that I would write to that lady to express my feelings—a call from the girl’s mother was logged in my office at five o’clock in which the mother said what a beautiful letter it was and thanked me. Hon Sue Ellery : Are you familiar with the question at all? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : How does the Leader of the Opposition like it? She does not like it! Hon Sue Ellery : I was just asking you to answer my question. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No; the Leader of the Opposition does not like it! Did she apologise to the mother of the two girls? No she did not! Now, in answer to this question—maybe I will get to the answer now! Hon Sue Ellery : That would be good. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Yes. (1)–(7) The review of the alleged assault by a 17-year-old on a young disabled woman on 14 August 2010 is being conducted by the Disability Services Commission and as such questions relating to the review should be referred to that department. Further to that, I take my responsibilities very seriously. I have just stated in this place that the Leader of the Opposition, the former minister, knew about a three-year-old being molested and that she knew about two little girls being molested, yet she did not apologise.
(4) Will the reviewer interview the mother of the young woman who was assaulted; and, if not, why not? (6) When will the review be completed? (7) Will the review, protecting the identity of the young person who committed the assault and the identity of the victim, be made public; and, if not, why not? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY replied: I thank the honourable member for the question. The Leader of the Opposition has a very, very short memory. I once said that if the Leader of the Opposition comes into this place to throw stones, I will throw stones back. Hon Sue Ellery : I have not thrown a single stone. I have asked a question. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : The Leader of the Opposition was aware that this boy had molested a three-year-old at McDonald’s in 2007 and yet put this boy in a suburban street with a school — Point of Order Hon SUE ELLERY : The minister is not answering the question at all. I made no allegations or aspersions in my question. I asked a series of factual questions and it would be helpful to get factual answers. The PRESIDENT : There is no point of order, but I hope that the minister will get to the answer. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. Yet, the now Leader of the Opposition and former Minister for Child Protection put this boy in a suburban street within the vicinity of a school, within the vicinity of a day care centre, within the vicinity of a park and within the vicinity of a McDonald’s. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, members! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I did not think that members were allowed to read their speeches or their answers. The PRESIDENT : There is no point of order; that does not apply to ministers. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. I was not reading my answer. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! This is the first question in a three-week session—not a good start! We do not want three weeks to appear to be three years. Let the minister answer the question. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. On 1 July 2008, this boy escaped from 24-hour care, went into a McDonald’s and molested two little girls. Was the Leader of the Opposition responsible for that? Was she the minister at the time of that offence? Did she apologise to the parents of those two little girls? Hon Sue Ellery : Will you answer the question? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Did the Leader of the Opposition, the then minister, apologise to those parents? Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, members! Sixteen questions have been asked—backwards and forwards across chamber. A question has been asked and now we are waiting on the answer. The answer, as members know, can take the form that the minister wants it to take. Members do not have to agree with the answer; they do not have to like it; but they do have to listen to it. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : In answer to my question, the department said that the then minister did not apologise. I, on the other hand, apologised to the mother of the girl who was assaulted. In fact, on the Tuesday night—after saying in this place on the Thursday that I would write to that lady to express my feelings—a call from the girl’s mother was logged in my office at five o’clock in which the mother said what a beautiful letter it was and thanked me. Hon Sue Ellery : Are you familiar with the question at all? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : How does the Leader of the Opposition like it? She does not like it! Hon Sue Ellery : I was just asking you to answer my question. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No; the Leader of the Opposition does not like it! Did she apologise to the mother of the two girls? No she did not! Now, in answer to this question—maybe I will get to the answer now! Hon Sue Ellery : That would be good. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Yes. (1)–(7) The review of the alleged assault by a 17-year-old on a young disabled woman on 14 August 2010 is being conducted by the Disability Services Commission and as such questions relating to the review should be referred to that department. Further to that, I take my responsibilities very seriously. I have just stated in this place that the Leader of the Opposition, the former minister, knew about a three-year-old being molested and that she knew about two little girls being molested, yet she did not apologise.
(6) When will the review be completed? (7) Will the review, protecting the identity of the young person who committed the assault and the identity of the victim, be made public; and, if not, why not? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY replied: I thank the honourable member for the question. The Leader of the Opposition has a very, very short memory. I once said that if the Leader of the Opposition comes into this place to throw stones, I will throw stones back. Hon Sue Ellery : I have not thrown a single stone. I have asked a question. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : The Leader of the Opposition was aware that this boy had molested a three-year-old at McDonald’s in 2007 and yet put this boy in a suburban street with a school — Point of Order Hon SUE ELLERY : The minister is not answering the question at all. I made no allegations or aspersions in my question. I asked a series of factual questions and it would be helpful to get factual answers. The PRESIDENT : There is no point of order, but I hope that the minister will get to the answer. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. Yet, the now Leader of the Opposition and former Minister for Child Protection put this boy in a suburban street within the vicinity of a school, within the vicinity of a day care centre, within the vicinity of a park and within the vicinity of a McDonald’s. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, members! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I did not think that members were allowed to read their speeches or their answers. The PRESIDENT : There is no point of order; that does not apply to ministers. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. I was not reading my answer. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! This is the first question in a three-week session—not a good start! We do not want three weeks to appear to be three years. Let the minister answer the question. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. On 1 July 2008, this boy escaped from 24-hour care, went into a McDonald’s and molested two little girls. Was the Leader of the Opposition responsible for that? Was she the minister at the time of that offence? Did she apologise to the parents of those two little girls? Hon Sue Ellery : Will you answer the question? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Did the Leader of the Opposition, the then minister, apologise to those parents? Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, members! Sixteen questions have been asked—backwards and forwards across chamber. A question has been asked and now we are waiting on the answer. The answer, as members know, can take the form that the minister wants it to take. Members do not have to agree with the answer; they do not have to like it; but they do have to listen to it. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : In answer to my question, the department said that the then minister did not apologise. I, on the other hand, apologised to the mother of the girl who was assaulted. In fact, on the Tuesday night—after saying in this place on the Thursday that I would write to that lady to express my feelings—a call from the girl’s mother was logged in my office at five o’clock in which the mother said what a beautiful letter it was and thanked me. Hon Sue Ellery : Are you familiar with the question at all? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : How does the Leader of the Opposition like it? She does not like it! Hon Sue Ellery : I was just asking you to answer my question. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No; the Leader of the Opposition does not like it! Did she apologise to the mother of the two girls? No she did not! Now, in answer to this question—maybe I will get to the answer now! Hon Sue Ellery : That would be good. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Yes. (1)–(7) The review of the alleged assault by a 17-year-old on a young disabled woman on 14 August 2010 is being conducted by the Disability Services Commission and as such questions relating to the review should be referred to that department. Further to that, I take my responsibilities very seriously. I have just stated in this place that the Leader of the Opposition, the former minister, knew about a three-year-old being molested and that she knew about two little girls being molested, yet she did not apologise.
(7) Will the review, protecting the identity of the young person who committed the assault and the identity of the victim, be made public; and, if not, why not? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY replied: I thank the honourable member for the question. The Leader of the Opposition has a very, very short memory. I once said that if the Leader of the Opposition comes into this place to throw stones, I will throw stones back. Hon Sue Ellery : I have not thrown a single stone. I have asked a question. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : The Leader of the Opposition was aware that this boy had molested a three-year-old at McDonald’s in 2007 and yet put this boy in a suburban street with a school — Point of Order Hon SUE ELLERY : The minister is not answering the question at all. I made no allegations or aspersions in my question. I asked a series of factual questions and it would be helpful to get factual answers. The PRESIDENT : There is no point of order, but I hope that the minister will get to the answer. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. Yet, the now Leader of the Opposition and former Minister for Child Protection put this boy in a suburban street within the vicinity of a school, within the vicinity of a day care centre, within the vicinity of a park and within the vicinity of a McDonald’s. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, members! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I did not think that members were allowed to read their speeches or their answers. The PRESIDENT : There is no point of order; that does not apply to ministers. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. I was not reading my answer. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! This is the first question in a three-week session—not a good start! We do not want three weeks to appear to be three years. Let the minister answer the question. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. On 1 July 2008, this boy escaped from 24-hour care, went into a McDonald’s and molested two little girls. Was the Leader of the Opposition responsible for that? Was she the minister at the time of that offence? Did she apologise to the parents of those two little girls? Hon Sue Ellery : Will you answer the question? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Did the Leader of the Opposition, the then minister, apologise to those parents? Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, members! Sixteen questions have been asked—backwards and forwards across chamber. A question has been asked and now we are waiting on the answer. The answer, as members know, can take the form that the minister wants it to take. Members do not have to agree with the answer; they do not have to like it; but they do have to listen to it. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : In answer to my question, the department said that the then minister did not apologise. I, on the other hand, apologised to the mother of the girl who was assaulted. In fact, on the Tuesday night—after saying in this place on the Thursday that I would write to that lady to express my feelings—a call from the girl’s mother was logged in my office at five o’clock in which the mother said what a beautiful letter it was and thanked me. Hon Sue Ellery : Are you familiar with the question at all? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : How does the Leader of the Opposition like it? She does not like it! Hon Sue Ellery : I was just asking you to answer my question. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No; the Leader of the Opposition does not like it! Did she apologise to the mother of the two girls? No she did not! Now, in answer to this question—maybe I will get to the answer now! Hon Sue Ellery : That would be good. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Yes. (1)–(7) The review of the alleged assault by a 17-year-old on a young disabled woman on 14 August 2010 is being conducted by the Disability Services Commission and as such questions relating to the review should be referred to that department. Further to that, I take my responsibilities very seriously. I have just stated in this place that the Leader of the Opposition, the former minister, knew about a three-year-old being molested and that she knew about two little girls being molested, yet she did not apologise.
Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY replied: I thank the honourable member for the question. The Leader of the Opposition has a very, very short memory. I once said that if the Leader of the Opposition comes into this place to throw stones, I will throw stones back. Hon Sue Ellery : I have not thrown a single stone. I have asked a question. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : The Leader of the Opposition was aware that this boy had molested a three-year-old at McDonald’s in 2007 and yet put this boy in a suburban street with a school — Point of Order Hon SUE ELLERY : The minister is not answering the question at all. I made no allegations or aspersions in my question. I asked a series of factual questions and it would be helpful to get factual answers. The PRESIDENT : There is no point of order, but I hope that the minister will get to the answer. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. Yet, the now Leader of the Opposition and former Minister for Child Protection put this boy in a suburban street within the vicinity of a school, within the vicinity of a day care centre, within the vicinity of a park and within the vicinity of a McDonald’s. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, members! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I did not think that members were allowed to read their speeches or their answers. The PRESIDENT : There is no point of order; that does not apply to ministers. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. I was not reading my answer. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! This is the first question in a three-week session—not a good start! We do not want three weeks to appear to be three years. Let the minister answer the question. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. On 1 July 2008, this boy escaped from 24-hour care, went into a McDonald’s and molested two little girls. Was the Leader of the Opposition responsible for that? Was she the minister at the time of that offence? Did she apologise to the parents of those two little girls? Hon Sue Ellery : Will you answer the question? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Did the Leader of the Opposition, the then minister, apologise to those parents? Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, members! Sixteen questions have been asked—backwards and forwards across chamber. A question has been asked and now we are waiting on the answer. The answer, as members know, can take the form that the minister wants it to take. Members do not have to agree with the answer; they do not have to like it; but they do have to listen to it. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : In answer to my question, the department said that the then minister did not apologise. I, on the other hand, apologised to the mother of the girl who was assaulted. In fact, on the Tuesday night—after saying in this place on the Thursday that I would write to that lady to express my feelings—a call from the girl’s mother was logged in my office at five o’clock in which the mother said what a beautiful letter it was and thanked me. Hon Sue Ellery : Are you familiar with the question at all? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : How does the Leader of the Opposition like it? She does not like it! Hon Sue Ellery : I was just asking you to answer my question. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No; the Leader of the Opposition does not like it! Did she apologise to the mother of the two girls? No she did not! Now, in answer to this question—maybe I will get to the answer now! Hon Sue Ellery : That would be good. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Yes. (1)–(7) The review of the alleged assault by a 17-year-old on a young disabled woman on 14 August 2010 is being conducted by the Disability Services Commission and as such questions relating to the review should be referred to that department. Further to that, I take my responsibilities very seriously. I have just stated in this place that the Leader of the Opposition, the former minister, knew about a three-year-old being molested and that she knew about two little girls being molested, yet she did not apologise.
I thank the honourable member for the question. The Leader of the Opposition has a very, very short memory. I once said that if the Leader of the Opposition comes into this place to throw stones, I will throw stones back. Hon Sue Ellery : I have not thrown a single stone. I have asked a question. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : The Leader of the Opposition was aware that this boy had molested a three-year-old at McDonald’s in 2007 and yet put this boy in a suburban street with a school — Point of Order Hon SUE ELLERY : The minister is not answering the question at all. I made no allegations or aspersions in my question. I asked a series of factual questions and it would be helpful to get factual answers. The PRESIDENT : There is no point of order, but I hope that the minister will get to the answer. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. Yet, the now Leader of the Opposition and former Minister for Child Protection put this boy in a suburban street within the vicinity of a school, within the vicinity of a day care centre, within the vicinity of a park and within the vicinity of a McDonald’s. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, members! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I did not think that members were allowed to read their speeches or their answers. The PRESIDENT : There is no point of order; that does not apply to ministers. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. I was not reading my answer. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! This is the first question in a three-week session—not a good start! We do not want three weeks to appear to be three years. Let the minister answer the question. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. On 1 July 2008, this boy escaped from 24-hour care, went into a McDonald’s and molested two little girls. Was the Leader of the Opposition responsible for that? Was she the minister at the time of that offence? Did she apologise to the parents of those two little girls? Hon Sue Ellery : Will you answer the question? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Did the Leader of the Opposition, the then minister, apologise to those parents? Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, members! Sixteen questions have been asked—backwards and forwards across chamber. A question has been asked and now we are waiting on the answer. The answer, as members know, can take the form that the minister wants it to take. Members do not have to agree with the answer; they do not have to like it; but they do have to listen to it. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : In answer to my question, the department said that the then minister did not apologise. I, on the other hand, apologised to the mother of the girl who was assaulted. In fact, on the Tuesday night—after saying in this place on the Thursday that I would write to that lady to express my feelings—a call from the girl’s mother was logged in my office at five o’clock in which the mother said what a beautiful letter it was and thanked me. Hon Sue Ellery : Are you familiar with the question at all? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : How does the Leader of the Opposition like it? She does not like it! Hon Sue Ellery : I was just asking you to answer my question. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No; the Leader of the Opposition does not like it! Did she apologise to the mother of the two girls? No she did not! Now, in answer to this question—maybe I will get to the answer now! Hon Sue Ellery : That would be good. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Yes. (1)–(7) The review of the alleged assault by a 17-year-old on a young disabled woman on 14 August 2010 is being conducted by the Disability Services Commission and as such questions relating to the review should be referred to that department. Further to that, I take my responsibilities very seriously. I have just stated in this place that the Leader of the Opposition, the former minister, knew about a three-year-old being molested and that she knew about two little girls being molested, yet she did not apologise.
The Leader of the Opposition has a very, very short memory. I once said that if the Leader of the Opposition comes into this place to throw stones, I will throw stones back. Hon Sue Ellery : I have not thrown a single stone. I have asked a question. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : The Leader of the Opposition was aware that this boy had molested a three-year-old at McDonald’s in 2007 and yet put this boy in a suburban street with a school — Point of Order Hon SUE ELLERY : The minister is not answering the question at all. I made no allegations or aspersions in my question. I asked a series of factual questions and it would be helpful to get factual answers. The PRESIDENT : There is no point of order, but I hope that the minister will get to the answer. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. Yet, the now Leader of the Opposition and former Minister for Child Protection put this boy in a suburban street within the vicinity of a school, within the vicinity of a day care centre, within the vicinity of a park and within the vicinity of a McDonald’s. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, members! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I did not think that members were allowed to read their speeches or their answers. The PRESIDENT : There is no point of order; that does not apply to ministers. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. I was not reading my answer. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! This is the first question in a three-week session—not a good start! We do not want three weeks to appear to be three years. Let the minister answer the question. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. On 1 July 2008, this boy escaped from 24-hour care, went into a McDonald’s and molested two little girls. Was the Leader of the Opposition responsible for that? Was she the minister at the time of that offence? Did she apologise to the parents of those two little girls? Hon Sue Ellery : Will you answer the question? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Did the Leader of the Opposition, the then minister, apologise to those parents? Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, members! Sixteen questions have been asked—backwards and forwards across chamber. A question has been asked and now we are waiting on the answer. The answer, as members know, can take the form that the minister wants it to take. Members do not have to agree with the answer; they do not have to like it; but they do have to listen to it. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : In answer to my question, the department said that the then minister did not apologise. I, on the other hand, apologised to the mother of the girl who was assaulted. In fact, on the Tuesday night—after saying in this place on the Thursday that I would write to that lady to express my feelings—a call from the girl’s mother was logged in my office at five o’clock in which the mother said what a beautiful letter it was and thanked me. Hon Sue Ellery : Are you familiar with the question at all? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : How does the Leader of the Opposition like it? She does not like it! Hon Sue Ellery : I was just asking you to answer my question. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No; the Leader of the Opposition does not like it! Did she apologise to the mother of the two girls? No she did not! Now, in answer to this question—maybe I will get to the answer now! Hon Sue Ellery : That would be good. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Yes. (1)–(7) The review of the alleged assault by a 17-year-old on a young disabled woman on 14 August 2010 is being conducted by the Disability Services Commission and as such questions relating to the review should be referred to that department. Further to that, I take my responsibilities very seriously. I have just stated in this place that the Leader of the Opposition, the former minister, knew about a three-year-old being molested and that she knew about two little girls being molested, yet she did not apologise.
Hon Sue Ellery : I have not thrown a single stone. I have asked a question. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : The Leader of the Opposition was aware that this boy had molested a three-year-old at McDonald’s in 2007 and yet put this boy in a suburban street with a school — Point of Order Hon SUE ELLERY : The minister is not answering the question at all. I made no allegations or aspersions in my question. I asked a series of factual questions and it would be helpful to get factual answers. The PRESIDENT : There is no point of order, but I hope that the minister will get to the answer. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. Yet, the now Leader of the Opposition and former Minister for Child Protection put this boy in a suburban street within the vicinity of a school, within the vicinity of a day care centre, within the vicinity of a park and within the vicinity of a McDonald’s. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, members! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I did not think that members were allowed to read their speeches or their answers. The PRESIDENT : There is no point of order; that does not apply to ministers. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. I was not reading my answer. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! This is the first question in a three-week session—not a good start! We do not want three weeks to appear to be three years. Let the minister answer the question. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. On 1 July 2008, this boy escaped from 24-hour care, went into a McDonald’s and molested two little girls. Was the Leader of the Opposition responsible for that? Was she the minister at the time of that offence? Did she apologise to the parents of those two little girls? Hon Sue Ellery : Will you answer the question? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Did the Leader of the Opposition, the then minister, apologise to those parents? Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, members! Sixteen questions have been asked—backwards and forwards across chamber. A question has been asked and now we are waiting on the answer. The answer, as members know, can take the form that the minister wants it to take. Members do not have to agree with the answer; they do not have to like it; but they do have to listen to it. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : In answer to my question, the department said that the then minister did not apologise. I, on the other hand, apologised to the mother of the girl who was assaulted. In fact, on the Tuesday night—after saying in this place on the Thursday that I would write to that lady to express my feelings—a call from the girl’s mother was logged in my office at five o’clock in which the mother said what a beautiful letter it was and thanked me. Hon Sue Ellery : Are you familiar with the question at all? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : How does the Leader of the Opposition like it? She does not like it! Hon Sue Ellery : I was just asking you to answer my question. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No; the Leader of the Opposition does not like it! Did she apologise to the mother of the two girls? No she did not! Now, in answer to this question—maybe I will get to the answer now! Hon Sue Ellery : That would be good. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Yes. (1)–(7) The review of the alleged assault by a 17-year-old on a young disabled woman on 14 August 2010 is being conducted by the Disability Services Commission and as such questions relating to the review should be referred to that department. Further to that, I take my responsibilities very seriously. I have just stated in this place that the Leader of the Opposition, the former minister, knew about a three-year-old being molested and that she knew about two little girls being molested, yet she did not apologise.
Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : The Leader of the Opposition was aware that this boy had molested a three-year-old at McDonald’s in 2007 and yet put this boy in a suburban street with a school — Point of Order Hon SUE ELLERY : The minister is not answering the question at all. I made no allegations or aspersions in my question. I asked a series of factual questions and it would be helpful to get factual answers. The PRESIDENT : There is no point of order, but I hope that the minister will get to the answer. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. Yet, the now Leader of the Opposition and former Minister for Child Protection put this boy in a suburban street within the vicinity of a school, within the vicinity of a day care centre, within the vicinity of a park and within the vicinity of a McDonald’s. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, members! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I did not think that members were allowed to read their speeches or their answers. The PRESIDENT : There is no point of order; that does not apply to ministers. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. I was not reading my answer. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! This is the first question in a three-week session—not a good start! We do not want three weeks to appear to be three years. Let the minister answer the question. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. On 1 July 2008, this boy escaped from 24-hour care, went into a McDonald’s and molested two little girls. Was the Leader of the Opposition responsible for that? Was she the minister at the time of that offence? Did she apologise to the parents of those two little girls? Hon Sue Ellery : Will you answer the question? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Did the Leader of the Opposition, the then minister, apologise to those parents? Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, members! Sixteen questions have been asked—backwards and forwards across chamber. A question has been asked and now we are waiting on the answer. The answer, as members know, can take the form that the minister wants it to take. Members do not have to agree with the answer; they do not have to like it; but they do have to listen to it. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : In answer to my question, the department said that the then minister did not apologise. I, on the other hand, apologised to the mother of the girl who was assaulted. In fact, on the Tuesday night—after saying in this place on the Thursday that I would write to that lady to express my feelings—a call from the girl’s mother was logged in my office at five o’clock in which the mother said what a beautiful letter it was and thanked me. Hon Sue Ellery : Are you familiar with the question at all? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : How does the Leader of the Opposition like it? She does not like it! Hon Sue Ellery : I was just asking you to answer my question. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No; the Leader of the Opposition does not like it! Did she apologise to the mother of the two girls? No she did not! Now, in answer to this question—maybe I will get to the answer now! Hon Sue Ellery : That would be good. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Yes. (1)–(7) The review of the alleged assault by a 17-year-old on a young disabled woman on 14 August 2010 is being conducted by the Disability Services Commission and as such questions relating to the review should be referred to that department. Further to that, I take my responsibilities very seriously. I have just stated in this place that the Leader of the Opposition, the former minister, knew about a three-year-old being molested and that she knew about two little girls being molested, yet she did not apologise.
The PRESIDENT : There is no point of order, but I hope that the minister will get to the answer. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. Yet, the now Leader of the Opposition and former Minister for Child Protection put this boy in a suburban street within the vicinity of a school, within the vicinity of a day care centre, within the vicinity of a park and within the vicinity of a McDonald’s. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, members! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I did not think that members were allowed to read their speeches or their answers. The PRESIDENT : There is no point of order; that does not apply to ministers. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. I was not reading my answer. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! This is the first question in a three-week session—not a good start! We do not want three weeks to appear to be three years. Let the minister answer the question. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. On 1 July 2008, this boy escaped from 24-hour care, went into a McDonald’s and molested two little girls. Was the Leader of the Opposition responsible for that? Was she the minister at the time of that offence? Did she apologise to the parents of those two little girls? Hon Sue Ellery : Will you answer the question? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Did the Leader of the Opposition, the then minister, apologise to those parents? Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, members! Sixteen questions have been asked—backwards and forwards across chamber. A question has been asked and now we are waiting on the answer. The answer, as members know, can take the form that the minister wants it to take. Members do not have to agree with the answer; they do not have to like it; but they do have to listen to it. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : In answer to my question, the department said that the then minister did not apologise. I, on the other hand, apologised to the mother of the girl who was assaulted. In fact, on the Tuesday night—after saying in this place on the Thursday that I would write to that lady to express my feelings—a call from the girl’s mother was logged in my office at five o’clock in which the mother said what a beautiful letter it was and thanked me. Hon Sue Ellery : Are you familiar with the question at all? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : How does the Leader of the Opposition like it? She does not like it! Hon Sue Ellery : I was just asking you to answer my question. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No; the Leader of the Opposition does not like it! Did she apologise to the mother of the two girls? No she did not! Now, in answer to this question—maybe I will get to the answer now! Hon Sue Ellery : That would be good. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Yes. (1)–(7) The review of the alleged assault by a 17-year-old on a young disabled woman on 14 August 2010 is being conducted by the Disability Services Commission and as such questions relating to the review should be referred to that department. Further to that, I take my responsibilities very seriously. I have just stated in this place that the Leader of the Opposition, the former minister, knew about a three-year-old being molested and that she knew about two little girls being molested, yet she did not apologise.
Yet, the now Leader of the Opposition and former Minister for Child Protection put this boy in a suburban street within the vicinity of a school, within the vicinity of a day care centre, within the vicinity of a park and within the vicinity of a McDonald’s. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, members! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I did not think that members were allowed to read their speeches or their answers. The PRESIDENT : There is no point of order; that does not apply to ministers. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. I was not reading my answer. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! This is the first question in a three-week session—not a good start! We do not want three weeks to appear to be three years. Let the minister answer the question. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. On 1 July 2008, this boy escaped from 24-hour care, went into a McDonald’s and molested two little girls. Was the Leader of the Opposition responsible for that? Was she the minister at the time of that offence? Did she apologise to the parents of those two little girls? Hon Sue Ellery : Will you answer the question? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Did the Leader of the Opposition, the then minister, apologise to those parents? Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, members! Sixteen questions have been asked—backwards and forwards across chamber. A question has been asked and now we are waiting on the answer. The answer, as members know, can take the form that the minister wants it to take. Members do not have to agree with the answer; they do not have to like it; but they do have to listen to it. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : In answer to my question, the department said that the then minister did not apologise. I, on the other hand, apologised to the mother of the girl who was assaulted. In fact, on the Tuesday night—after saying in this place on the Thursday that I would write to that lady to express my feelings—a call from the girl’s mother was logged in my office at five o’clock in which the mother said what a beautiful letter it was and thanked me. Hon Sue Ellery : Are you familiar with the question at all? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : How does the Leader of the Opposition like it? She does not like it! Hon Sue Ellery : I was just asking you to answer my question. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No; the Leader of the Opposition does not like it! Did she apologise to the mother of the two girls? No she did not! Now, in answer to this question—maybe I will get to the answer now! Hon Sue Ellery : That would be good. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Yes. (1)–(7) The review of the alleged assault by a 17-year-old on a young disabled woman on 14 August 2010 is being conducted by the Disability Services Commission and as such questions relating to the review should be referred to that department. Further to that, I take my responsibilities very seriously. I have just stated in this place that the Leader of the Opposition, the former minister, knew about a three-year-old being molested and that she knew about two little girls being molested, yet she did not apologise.
Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, members! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I did not think that members were allowed to read their speeches or their answers. The PRESIDENT : There is no point of order; that does not apply to ministers. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. I was not reading my answer. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! This is the first question in a three-week session—not a good start! We do not want three weeks to appear to be three years. Let the minister answer the question. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. On 1 July 2008, this boy escaped from 24-hour care, went into a McDonald’s and molested two little girls. Was the Leader of the Opposition responsible for that? Was she the minister at the time of that offence? Did she apologise to the parents of those two little girls? Hon Sue Ellery : Will you answer the question? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Did the Leader of the Opposition, the then minister, apologise to those parents? Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, members! Sixteen questions have been asked—backwards and forwards across chamber. A question has been asked and now we are waiting on the answer. The answer, as members know, can take the form that the minister wants it to take. Members do not have to agree with the answer; they do not have to like it; but they do have to listen to it. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : In answer to my question, the department said that the then minister did not apologise. I, on the other hand, apologised to the mother of the girl who was assaulted. In fact, on the Tuesday night—after saying in this place on the Thursday that I would write to that lady to express my feelings—a call from the girl’s mother was logged in my office at five o’clock in which the mother said what a beautiful letter it was and thanked me. Hon Sue Ellery : Are you familiar with the question at all? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : How does the Leader of the Opposition like it? She does not like it! Hon Sue Ellery : I was just asking you to answer my question. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No; the Leader of the Opposition does not like it! Did she apologise to the mother of the two girls? No she did not! Now, in answer to this question—maybe I will get to the answer now! Hon Sue Ellery : That would be good. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Yes. (1)–(7) The review of the alleged assault by a 17-year-old on a young disabled woman on 14 August 2010 is being conducted by the Disability Services Commission and as such questions relating to the review should be referred to that department. Further to that, I take my responsibilities very seriously. I have just stated in this place that the Leader of the Opposition, the former minister, knew about a three-year-old being molested and that she knew about two little girls being molested, yet she did not apologise.
The PRESIDENT : Order, members! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I did not think that members were allowed to read their speeches or their answers. The PRESIDENT : There is no point of order; that does not apply to ministers. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. I was not reading my answer. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! This is the first question in a three-week session—not a good start! We do not want three weeks to appear to be three years. Let the minister answer the question. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. On 1 July 2008, this boy escaped from 24-hour care, went into a McDonald’s and molested two little girls. Was the Leader of the Opposition responsible for that? Was she the minister at the time of that offence? Did she apologise to the parents of those two little girls? Hon Sue Ellery : Will you answer the question? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Did the Leader of the Opposition, the then minister, apologise to those parents? Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, members! Sixteen questions have been asked—backwards and forwards across chamber. A question has been asked and now we are waiting on the answer. The answer, as members know, can take the form that the minister wants it to take. Members do not have to agree with the answer; they do not have to like it; but they do have to listen to it. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : In answer to my question, the department said that the then minister did not apologise. I, on the other hand, apologised to the mother of the girl who was assaulted. In fact, on the Tuesday night—after saying in this place on the Thursday that I would write to that lady to express my feelings—a call from the girl’s mother was logged in my office at five o’clock in which the mother said what a beautiful letter it was and thanked me. Hon Sue Ellery : Are you familiar with the question at all? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : How does the Leader of the Opposition like it? She does not like it! Hon Sue Ellery : I was just asking you to answer my question. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No; the Leader of the Opposition does not like it! Did she apologise to the mother of the two girls? No she did not! Now, in answer to this question—maybe I will get to the answer now! Hon Sue Ellery : That would be good. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Yes. (1)–(7) The review of the alleged assault by a 17-year-old on a young disabled woman on 14 August 2010 is being conducted by the Disability Services Commission and as such questions relating to the review should be referred to that department. Further to that, I take my responsibilities very seriously. I have just stated in this place that the Leader of the Opposition, the former minister, knew about a three-year-old being molested and that she knew about two little girls being molested, yet she did not apologise.
The PRESIDENT : There is no point of order; that does not apply to ministers. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. I was not reading my answer. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! This is the first question in a three-week session—not a good start! We do not want three weeks to appear to be three years. Let the minister answer the question. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. On 1 July 2008, this boy escaped from 24-hour care, went into a McDonald’s and molested two little girls. Was the Leader of the Opposition responsible for that? Was she the minister at the time of that offence? Did she apologise to the parents of those two little girls? Hon Sue Ellery : Will you answer the question? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Did the Leader of the Opposition, the then minister, apologise to those parents? Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, members! Sixteen questions have been asked—backwards and forwards across chamber. A question has been asked and now we are waiting on the answer. The answer, as members know, can take the form that the minister wants it to take. Members do not have to agree with the answer; they do not have to like it; but they do have to listen to it. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : In answer to my question, the department said that the then minister did not apologise. I, on the other hand, apologised to the mother of the girl who was assaulted. In fact, on the Tuesday night—after saying in this place on the Thursday that I would write to that lady to express my feelings—a call from the girl’s mother was logged in my office at five o’clock in which the mother said what a beautiful letter it was and thanked me. Hon Sue Ellery : Are you familiar with the question at all? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : How does the Leader of the Opposition like it? She does not like it! Hon Sue Ellery : I was just asking you to answer my question. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No; the Leader of the Opposition does not like it! Did she apologise to the mother of the two girls? No she did not! Now, in answer to this question—maybe I will get to the answer now! Hon Sue Ellery : That would be good. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Yes. (1)–(7) The review of the alleged assault by a 17-year-old on a young disabled woman on 14 August 2010 is being conducted by the Disability Services Commission and as such questions relating to the review should be referred to that department. Further to that, I take my responsibilities very seriously. I have just stated in this place that the Leader of the Opposition, the former minister, knew about a three-year-old being molested and that she knew about two little girls being molested, yet she did not apologise.
Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. I was not reading my answer. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! This is the first question in a three-week session—not a good start! We do not want three weeks to appear to be three years. Let the minister answer the question. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. On 1 July 2008, this boy escaped from 24-hour care, went into a McDonald’s and molested two little girls. Was the Leader of the Opposition responsible for that? Was she the minister at the time of that offence? Did she apologise to the parents of those two little girls? Hon Sue Ellery : Will you answer the question? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Did the Leader of the Opposition, the then minister, apologise to those parents? Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, members! Sixteen questions have been asked—backwards and forwards across chamber. A question has been asked and now we are waiting on the answer. The answer, as members know, can take the form that the minister wants it to take. Members do not have to agree with the answer; they do not have to like it; but they do have to listen to it. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : In answer to my question, the department said that the then minister did not apologise. I, on the other hand, apologised to the mother of the girl who was assaulted. In fact, on the Tuesday night—after saying in this place on the Thursday that I would write to that lady to express my feelings—a call from the girl’s mother was logged in my office at five o’clock in which the mother said what a beautiful letter it was and thanked me. Hon Sue Ellery : Are you familiar with the question at all? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : How does the Leader of the Opposition like it? She does not like it! Hon Sue Ellery : I was just asking you to answer my question. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No; the Leader of the Opposition does not like it! Did she apologise to the mother of the two girls? No she did not! Now, in answer to this question—maybe I will get to the answer now! Hon Sue Ellery : That would be good. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Yes. (1)–(7) The review of the alleged assault by a 17-year-old on a young disabled woman on 14 August 2010 is being conducted by the Disability Services Commission and as such questions relating to the review should be referred to that department. Further to that, I take my responsibilities very seriously. I have just stated in this place that the Leader of the Opposition, the former minister, knew about a three-year-old being molested and that she knew about two little girls being molested, yet she did not apologise.
Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! This is the first question in a three-week session—not a good start! We do not want three weeks to appear to be three years. Let the minister answer the question. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. On 1 July 2008, this boy escaped from 24-hour care, went into a McDonald’s and molested two little girls. Was the Leader of the Opposition responsible for that? Was she the minister at the time of that offence? Did she apologise to the parents of those two little girls? Hon Sue Ellery : Will you answer the question? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Did the Leader of the Opposition, the then minister, apologise to those parents? Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, members! Sixteen questions have been asked—backwards and forwards across chamber. A question has been asked and now we are waiting on the answer. The answer, as members know, can take the form that the minister wants it to take. Members do not have to agree with the answer; they do not have to like it; but they do have to listen to it. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : In answer to my question, the department said that the then minister did not apologise. I, on the other hand, apologised to the mother of the girl who was assaulted. In fact, on the Tuesday night—after saying in this place on the Thursday that I would write to that lady to express my feelings—a call from the girl’s mother was logged in my office at five o’clock in which the mother said what a beautiful letter it was and thanked me. Hon Sue Ellery : Are you familiar with the question at all? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : How does the Leader of the Opposition like it? She does not like it! Hon Sue Ellery : I was just asking you to answer my question. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No; the Leader of the Opposition does not like it! Did she apologise to the mother of the two girls? No she did not! Now, in answer to this question—maybe I will get to the answer now! Hon Sue Ellery : That would be good. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Yes. (1)–(7) The review of the alleged assault by a 17-year-old on a young disabled woman on 14 August 2010 is being conducted by the Disability Services Commission and as such questions relating to the review should be referred to that department. Further to that, I take my responsibilities very seriously. I have just stated in this place that the Leader of the Opposition, the former minister, knew about a three-year-old being molested and that she knew about two little girls being molested, yet she did not apologise.
The PRESIDENT : Order! This is the first question in a three-week session—not a good start! We do not want three weeks to appear to be three years. Let the minister answer the question. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. On 1 July 2008, this boy escaped from 24-hour care, went into a McDonald’s and molested two little girls. Was the Leader of the Opposition responsible for that? Was she the minister at the time of that offence? Did she apologise to the parents of those two little girls? Hon Sue Ellery : Will you answer the question? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Did the Leader of the Opposition, the then minister, apologise to those parents? Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, members! Sixteen questions have been asked—backwards and forwards across chamber. A question has been asked and now we are waiting on the answer. The answer, as members know, can take the form that the minister wants it to take. Members do not have to agree with the answer; they do not have to like it; but they do have to listen to it. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : In answer to my question, the department said that the then minister did not apologise. I, on the other hand, apologised to the mother of the girl who was assaulted. In fact, on the Tuesday night—after saying in this place on the Thursday that I would write to that lady to express my feelings—a call from the girl’s mother was logged in my office at five o’clock in which the mother said what a beautiful letter it was and thanked me. Hon Sue Ellery : Are you familiar with the question at all? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : How does the Leader of the Opposition like it? She does not like it! Hon Sue Ellery : I was just asking you to answer my question. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No; the Leader of the Opposition does not like it! Did she apologise to the mother of the two girls? No she did not! Now, in answer to this question—maybe I will get to the answer now! Hon Sue Ellery : That would be good. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Yes. (1)–(7) The review of the alleged assault by a 17-year-old on a young disabled woman on 14 August 2010 is being conducted by the Disability Services Commission and as such questions relating to the review should be referred to that department. Further to that, I take my responsibilities very seriously. I have just stated in this place that the Leader of the Opposition, the former minister, knew about a three-year-old being molested and that she knew about two little girls being molested, yet she did not apologise.
On 1 July 2008, this boy escaped from 24-hour care, went into a McDonald’s and molested two little girls. Was the Leader of the Opposition responsible for that? Was she the minister at the time of that offence? Did she apologise to the parents of those two little girls? Hon Sue Ellery : Will you answer the question? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Did the Leader of the Opposition, the then minister, apologise to those parents? Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, members! Sixteen questions have been asked—backwards and forwards across chamber. A question has been asked and now we are waiting on the answer. The answer, as members know, can take the form that the minister wants it to take. Members do not have to agree with the answer; they do not have to like it; but they do have to listen to it. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : In answer to my question, the department said that the then minister did not apologise. I, on the other hand, apologised to the mother of the girl who was assaulted. In fact, on the Tuesday night—after saying in this place on the Thursday that I would write to that lady to express my feelings—a call from the girl’s mother was logged in my office at five o’clock in which the mother said what a beautiful letter it was and thanked me. Hon Sue Ellery : Are you familiar with the question at all? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : How does the Leader of the Opposition like it? She does not like it! Hon Sue Ellery : I was just asking you to answer my question. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No; the Leader of the Opposition does not like it! Did she apologise to the mother of the two girls? No she did not! Now, in answer to this question—maybe I will get to the answer now! Hon Sue Ellery : That would be good. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Yes. (1)–(7) The review of the alleged assault by a 17-year-old on a young disabled woman on 14 August 2010 is being conducted by the Disability Services Commission and as such questions relating to the review should be referred to that department. Further to that, I take my responsibilities very seriously. I have just stated in this place that the Leader of the Opposition, the former minister, knew about a three-year-old being molested and that she knew about two little girls being molested, yet she did not apologise.
Hon Sue Ellery : Will you answer the question? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Did the Leader of the Opposition, the then minister, apologise to those parents? Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, members! Sixteen questions have been asked—backwards and forwards across chamber. A question has been asked and now we are waiting on the answer. The answer, as members know, can take the form that the minister wants it to take. Members do not have to agree with the answer; they do not have to like it; but they do have to listen to it. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : In answer to my question, the department said that the then minister did not apologise. I, on the other hand, apologised to the mother of the girl who was assaulted. In fact, on the Tuesday night—after saying in this place on the Thursday that I would write to that lady to express my feelings—a call from the girl’s mother was logged in my office at five o’clock in which the mother said what a beautiful letter it was and thanked me. Hon Sue Ellery : Are you familiar with the question at all? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : How does the Leader of the Opposition like it? She does not like it! Hon Sue Ellery : I was just asking you to answer my question. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No; the Leader of the Opposition does not like it! Did she apologise to the mother of the two girls? No she did not! Now, in answer to this question—maybe I will get to the answer now! Hon Sue Ellery : That would be good. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Yes. (1)–(7) The review of the alleged assault by a 17-year-old on a young disabled woman on 14 August 2010 is being conducted by the Disability Services Commission and as such questions relating to the review should be referred to that department. Further to that, I take my responsibilities very seriously. I have just stated in this place that the Leader of the Opposition, the former minister, knew about a three-year-old being molested and that she knew about two little girls being molested, yet she did not apologise.
Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Did the Leader of the Opposition, the then minister, apologise to those parents? Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, members! Sixteen questions have been asked—backwards and forwards across chamber. A question has been asked and now we are waiting on the answer. The answer, as members know, can take the form that the minister wants it to take. Members do not have to agree with the answer; they do not have to like it; but they do have to listen to it. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : In answer to my question, the department said that the then minister did not apologise. I, on the other hand, apologised to the mother of the girl who was assaulted. In fact, on the Tuesday night—after saying in this place on the Thursday that I would write to that lady to express my feelings—a call from the girl’s mother was logged in my office at five o’clock in which the mother said what a beautiful letter it was and thanked me. Hon Sue Ellery : Are you familiar with the question at all? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : How does the Leader of the Opposition like it? She does not like it! Hon Sue Ellery : I was just asking you to answer my question. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No; the Leader of the Opposition does not like it! Did she apologise to the mother of the two girls? No she did not! Now, in answer to this question—maybe I will get to the answer now! Hon Sue Ellery : That would be good. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Yes. (1)–(7) The review of the alleged assault by a 17-year-old on a young disabled woman on 14 August 2010 is being conducted by the Disability Services Commission and as such questions relating to the review should be referred to that department. Further to that, I take my responsibilities very seriously. I have just stated in this place that the Leader of the Opposition, the former minister, knew about a three-year-old being molested and that she knew about two little girls being molested, yet she did not apologise.
Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, members! Sixteen questions have been asked—backwards and forwards across chamber. A question has been asked and now we are waiting on the answer. The answer, as members know, can take the form that the minister wants it to take. Members do not have to agree with the answer; they do not have to like it; but they do have to listen to it. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : In answer to my question, the department said that the then minister did not apologise. I, on the other hand, apologised to the mother of the girl who was assaulted. In fact, on the Tuesday night—after saying in this place on the Thursday that I would write to that lady to express my feelings—a call from the girl’s mother was logged in my office at five o’clock in which the mother said what a beautiful letter it was and thanked me. Hon Sue Ellery : Are you familiar with the question at all? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : How does the Leader of the Opposition like it? She does not like it! Hon Sue Ellery : I was just asking you to answer my question. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No; the Leader of the Opposition does not like it! Did she apologise to the mother of the two girls? No she did not! Now, in answer to this question—maybe I will get to the answer now! Hon Sue Ellery : That would be good. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Yes. (1)–(7) The review of the alleged assault by a 17-year-old on a young disabled woman on 14 August 2010 is being conducted by the Disability Services Commission and as such questions relating to the review should be referred to that department. Further to that, I take my responsibilities very seriously. I have just stated in this place that the Leader of the Opposition, the former minister, knew about a three-year-old being molested and that she knew about two little girls being molested, yet she did not apologise.
The PRESIDENT : Order, members! Sixteen questions have been asked—backwards and forwards across chamber. A question has been asked and now we are waiting on the answer. The answer, as members know, can take the form that the minister wants it to take. Members do not have to agree with the answer; they do not have to like it; but they do have to listen to it. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : In answer to my question, the department said that the then minister did not apologise. I, on the other hand, apologised to the mother of the girl who was assaulted. In fact, on the Tuesday night—after saying in this place on the Thursday that I would write to that lady to express my feelings—a call from the girl’s mother was logged in my office at five o’clock in which the mother said what a beautiful letter it was and thanked me. Hon Sue Ellery : Are you familiar with the question at all? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : How does the Leader of the Opposition like it? She does not like it! Hon Sue Ellery : I was just asking you to answer my question. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No; the Leader of the Opposition does not like it! Did she apologise to the mother of the two girls? No she did not! Now, in answer to this question—maybe I will get to the answer now! Hon Sue Ellery : That would be good. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Yes. (1)–(7) The review of the alleged assault by a 17-year-old on a young disabled woman on 14 August 2010 is being conducted by the Disability Services Commission and as such questions relating to the review should be referred to that department. Further to that, I take my responsibilities very seriously. I have just stated in this place that the Leader of the Opposition, the former minister, knew about a three-year-old being molested and that she knew about two little girls being molested, yet she did not apologise.
Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : In answer to my question, the department said that the then minister did not apologise. I, on the other hand, apologised to the mother of the girl who was assaulted. In fact, on the Tuesday night—after saying in this place on the Thursday that I would write to that lady to express my feelings—a call from the girl’s mother was logged in my office at five o’clock in which the mother said what a beautiful letter it was and thanked me. Hon Sue Ellery : Are you familiar with the question at all? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : How does the Leader of the Opposition like it? She does not like it! Hon Sue Ellery : I was just asking you to answer my question. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No; the Leader of the Opposition does not like it! Did she apologise to the mother of the two girls? No she did not! Now, in answer to this question—maybe I will get to the answer now! Hon Sue Ellery : That would be good. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Yes. (1)–(7) The review of the alleged assault by a 17-year-old on a young disabled woman on 14 August 2010 is being conducted by the Disability Services Commission and as such questions relating to the review should be referred to that department. Further to that, I take my responsibilities very seriously. I have just stated in this place that the Leader of the Opposition, the former minister, knew about a three-year-old being molested and that she knew about two little girls being molested, yet she did not apologise.
Hon Sue Ellery : Are you familiar with the question at all? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : How does the Leader of the Opposition like it? She does not like it! Hon Sue Ellery : I was just asking you to answer my question. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No; the Leader of the Opposition does not like it! Did she apologise to the mother of the two girls? No she did not! Now, in answer to this question—maybe I will get to the answer now! Hon Sue Ellery : That would be good. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Yes. (1)–(7) The review of the alleged assault by a 17-year-old on a young disabled woman on 14 August 2010 is being conducted by the Disability Services Commission and as such questions relating to the review should be referred to that department. Further to that, I take my responsibilities very seriously. I have just stated in this place that the Leader of the Opposition, the former minister, knew about a three-year-old being molested and that she knew about two little girls being molested, yet she did not apologise.
Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : How does the Leader of the Opposition like it? She does not like it! Hon Sue Ellery : I was just asking you to answer my question. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No; the Leader of the Opposition does not like it! Did she apologise to the mother of the two girls? No she did not! Now, in answer to this question—maybe I will get to the answer now! Hon Sue Ellery : That would be good. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Yes. (1)–(7) The review of the alleged assault by a 17-year-old on a young disabled woman on 14 August 2010 is being conducted by the Disability Services Commission and as such questions relating to the review should be referred to that department. Further to that, I take my responsibilities very seriously. I have just stated in this place that the Leader of the Opposition, the former minister, knew about a three-year-old being molested and that she knew about two little girls being molested, yet she did not apologise.
Hon Sue Ellery : I was just asking you to answer my question. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No; the Leader of the Opposition does not like it! Did she apologise to the mother of the two girls? No she did not! Now, in answer to this question—maybe I will get to the answer now! Hon Sue Ellery : That would be good. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Yes. (1)–(7) The review of the alleged assault by a 17-year-old on a young disabled woman on 14 August 2010 is being conducted by the Disability Services Commission and as such questions relating to the review should be referred to that department. Further to that, I take my responsibilities very seriously. I have just stated in this place that the Leader of the Opposition, the former minister, knew about a three-year-old being molested and that she knew about two little girls being molested, yet she did not apologise.
Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No; the Leader of the Opposition does not like it! Did she apologise to the mother of the two girls? No she did not! Now, in answer to this question—maybe I will get to the answer now! Hon Sue Ellery : That would be good. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Yes. (1)–(7) The review of the alleged assault by a 17-year-old on a young disabled woman on 14 August 2010 is being conducted by the Disability Services Commission and as such questions relating to the review should be referred to that department. Further to that, I take my responsibilities very seriously. I have just stated in this place that the Leader of the Opposition, the former minister, knew about a three-year-old being molested and that she knew about two little girls being molested, yet she did not apologise.
Now, in answer to this question—maybe I will get to the answer now! Hon Sue Ellery : That would be good. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Yes. (1)–(7) The review of the alleged assault by a 17-year-old on a young disabled woman on 14 August 2010 is being conducted by the Disability Services Commission and as such questions relating to the review should be referred to that department. Further to that, I take my responsibilities very seriously. I have just stated in this place that the Leader of the Opposition, the former minister, knew about a three-year-old being molested and that she knew about two little girls being molested, yet she did not apologise.
Hon Sue Ellery : That would be good. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Yes. (1)–(7) The review of the alleged assault by a 17-year-old on a young disabled woman on 14 August 2010 is being conducted by the Disability Services Commission and as such questions relating to the review should be referred to that department. Further to that, I take my responsibilities very seriously. I have just stated in this place that the Leader of the Opposition, the former minister, knew about a three-year-old being molested and that she knew about two little girls being molested, yet she did not apologise.
Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Yes. (1)–(7) The review of the alleged assault by a 17-year-old on a young disabled woman on 14 August 2010 is being conducted by the Disability Services Commission and as such questions relating to the review should be referred to that department. Further to that, I take my responsibilities very seriously. I have just stated in this place that the Leader of the Opposition, the former minister, knew about a three-year-old being molested and that she knew about two little girls being molested, yet she did not apologise.
(1)–(7) The review of the alleged assault by a 17-year-old on a young disabled woman on 14 August 2010 is being conducted by the Disability Services Commission and as such questions relating to the review should be referred to that department. Further to that, I take my responsibilities very seriously. I have just stated in this place that the Leader of the Opposition, the former minister, knew about a three-year-old being molested and that she knew about two little girls being molested, yet she did not apologise.
(1) Is the review into the decision making that led to the placement of the young person who committed the assault being conducted by an independent person or persons; and, if yes, who is conducting the review? (2) What are the terms of reference of the review? (3) Will the review examine the circumstances on the night of the incident including the actions of all staff on the premises where the incident occurred? (4) Will the reviewer interview the mother of the young woman who was assaulted; and, if not, why not? (6) When will the review be completed? (7) Will the review, protecting the identity of the young person who committed the assault and the identity of the victim, be made public; and, if not, why not? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY replied: I thank the honourable member for the question. The Leader of the Opposition has a very, very short memory. I once said that if the Leader of the Opposition comes into this place to throw stones, I will throw stones back. Hon Sue Ellery : I have not thrown a single stone. I have asked a question. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : The Leader of the Opposition was aware that this boy had molested a three-year-old at McDonald’s in 2007 and yet put this boy in a suburban street with a school — Point of Order Hon SUE ELLERY : The minister is not answering the question at all. I made no allegations or aspersions in my question. I asked a series of factual questions and it would be helpful to get factual answers. The PRESIDENT : There is no point of order, but I hope that the minister will get to the answer. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. Yet, the now Leader of the Opposition and former Minister for Child Protection put this boy in a suburban street within the vicinity of a school, within the vicinity of a day care centre, within the vicinity of a park and within the vicinity of a McDonald’s. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, members! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I did not think that members were allowed to read their speeches or their answers. The PRESIDENT : There is no point of order; that does not apply to ministers. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. I was not reading my answer. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! This is the first question in a three-week session—not a good start! We do not want three weeks to appear to be three years. Let the minister answer the question. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. On 1 July 2008, this boy escaped from 24-hour care, went into a McDonald’s and molested two little girls. Was the Leader of the Opposition responsible for that? Was she the minister at the time of that offence? Did she apologise to the parents of those two little girls? Hon Sue Ellery : Will you answer the question? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Did the Leader of the Opposition, the then minister, apologise to those parents? Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, members! Sixteen questions have been asked—backwards and forwards across chamber. A question has been asked and now we are waiting on the answer. The answer, as members know, can take the form that the minister wants it to take. Members do not have to agree with the answer; they do not have to like it; but they do have to listen to it. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : In answer to my question, the department said that the then minister did not apologise. I, on the other hand, apologised to the mother of the girl who was assaulted. In fact, on the Tuesday night—after saying in this place on the Thursday that I would write to that lady to express my feelings—a call from the girl’s mother was logged in my office at five o’clock in which the mother said what a beautiful letter it was and thanked me. Hon Sue Ellery : Are you familiar with the question at all? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : How does the Leader of the Opposition like it? She does not like it! Hon Sue Ellery : I was just asking you to answer my question. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No; the Leader of the Opposition does not like it! Did she apologise to the mother of the two girls? No she did not! Now, in answer to this question—maybe I will get to the answer now! Hon Sue Ellery : That would be good. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Yes. (1)–(7) The review of the alleged assault by a 17-year-old on a young disabled woman on 14 August 2010 is being conducted by the Disability Services Commission and as such questions relating to the review should be referred to that department. Further to that, I take my responsibilities very seriously. I have just stated in this place that the Leader of the Opposition, the former minister, knew about a three-year-old being molested and that she knew about two little girls being molested, yet she did not apologise.
(2) What are the terms of reference of the review? (3) Will the review examine the circumstances on the night of the incident including the actions of all staff on the premises where the incident occurred? (4) Will the reviewer interview the mother of the young woman who was assaulted; and, if not, why not? (6) When will the review be completed? (7) Will the review, protecting the identity of the young person who committed the assault and the identity of the victim, be made public; and, if not, why not? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY replied: I thank the honourable member for the question. The Leader of the Opposition has a very, very short memory. I once said that if the Leader of the Opposition comes into this place to throw stones, I will throw stones back. Hon Sue Ellery : I have not thrown a single stone. I have asked a question. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : The Leader of the Opposition was aware that this boy had molested a three-year-old at McDonald’s in 2007 and yet put this boy in a suburban street with a school — Point of Order Hon SUE ELLERY : The minister is not answering the question at all. I made no allegations or aspersions in my question. I asked a series of factual questions and it would be helpful to get factual answers. The PRESIDENT : There is no point of order, but I hope that the minister will get to the answer. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. Yet, the now Leader of the Opposition and former Minister for Child Protection put this boy in a suburban street within the vicinity of a school, within the vicinity of a day care centre, within the vicinity of a park and within the vicinity of a McDonald’s. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, members! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I did not think that members were allowed to read their speeches or their answers. The PRESIDENT : There is no point of order; that does not apply to ministers. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. I was not reading my answer. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! This is the first question in a three-week session—not a good start! We do not want three weeks to appear to be three years. Let the minister answer the question. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. On 1 July 2008, this boy escaped from 24-hour care, went into a McDonald’s and molested two little girls. Was the Leader of the Opposition responsible for that? Was she the minister at the time of that offence? Did she apologise to the parents of those two little girls? Hon Sue Ellery : Will you answer the question? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Did the Leader of the Opposition, the then minister, apologise to those parents? Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, members! Sixteen questions have been asked—backwards and forwards across chamber. A question has been asked and now we are waiting on the answer. The answer, as members know, can take the form that the minister wants it to take. Members do not have to agree with the answer; they do not have to like it; but they do have to listen to it. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : In answer to my question, the department said that the then minister did not apologise. I, on the other hand, apologised to the mother of the girl who was assaulted. In fact, on the Tuesday night—after saying in this place on the Thursday that I would write to that lady to express my feelings—a call from the girl’s mother was logged in my office at five o’clock in which the mother said what a beautiful letter it was and thanked me. Hon Sue Ellery : Are you familiar with the question at all? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : How does the Leader of the Opposition like it? She does not like it! Hon Sue Ellery : I was just asking you to answer my question. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No; the Leader of the Opposition does not like it! Did she apologise to the mother of the two girls? No she did not! Now, in answer to this question—maybe I will get to the answer now! Hon Sue Ellery : That would be good. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Yes. (1)–(7) The review of the alleged assault by a 17-year-old on a young disabled woman on 14 August 2010 is being conducted by the Disability Services Commission and as such questions relating to the review should be referred to that department. Further to that, I take my responsibilities very seriously. I have just stated in this place that the Leader of the Opposition, the former minister, knew about a three-year-old being molested and that she knew about two little girls being molested, yet she did not apologise.
(3) Will the review examine the circumstances on the night of the incident including the actions of all staff on the premises where the incident occurred? (4) Will the reviewer interview the mother of the young woman who was assaulted; and, if not, why not? (6) When will the review be completed? (7) Will the review, protecting the identity of the young person who committed the assault and the identity of the victim, be made public; and, if not, why not? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY replied: I thank the honourable member for the question. The Leader of the Opposition has a very, very short memory. I once said that if the Leader of the Opposition comes into this place to throw stones, I will throw stones back. Hon Sue Ellery : I have not thrown a single stone. I have asked a question. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : The Leader of the Opposition was aware that this boy had molested a three-year-old at McDonald’s in 2007 and yet put this boy in a suburban street with a school — Point of Order Hon SUE ELLERY : The minister is not answering the question at all. I made no allegations or aspersions in my question. I asked a series of factual questions and it would be helpful to get factual answers. The PRESIDENT : There is no point of order, but I hope that the minister will get to the answer. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. Yet, the now Leader of the Opposition and former Minister for Child Protection put this boy in a suburban street within the vicinity of a school, within the vicinity of a day care centre, within the vicinity of a park and within the vicinity of a McDonald’s. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, members! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I did not think that members were allowed to read their speeches or their answers. The PRESIDENT : There is no point of order; that does not apply to ministers. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. I was not reading my answer. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! This is the first question in a three-week session—not a good start! We do not want three weeks to appear to be three years. Let the minister answer the question. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. On 1 July 2008, this boy escaped from 24-hour care, went into a McDonald’s and molested two little girls. Was the Leader of the Opposition responsible for that? Was she the minister at the time of that offence? Did she apologise to the parents of those two little girls? Hon Sue Ellery : Will you answer the question? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Did the Leader of the Opposition, the then minister, apologise to those parents? Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, members! Sixteen questions have been asked—backwards and forwards across chamber. A question has been asked and now we are waiting on the answer. The answer, as members know, can take the form that the minister wants it to take. Members do not have to agree with the answer; they do not have to like it; but they do have to listen to it. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : In answer to my question, the department said that the then minister did not apologise. I, on the other hand, apologised to the mother of the girl who was assaulted. In fact, on the Tuesday night—after saying in this place on the Thursday that I would write to that lady to express my feelings—a call from the girl’s mother was logged in my office at five o’clock in which the mother said what a beautiful letter it was and thanked me. Hon Sue Ellery : Are you familiar with the question at all? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : How does the Leader of the Opposition like it? She does not like it! Hon Sue Ellery : I was just asking you to answer my question. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No; the Leader of the Opposition does not like it! Did she apologise to the mother of the two girls? No she did not! Now, in answer to this question—maybe I will get to the answer now! Hon Sue Ellery : That would be good. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Yes. (1)–(7) The review of the alleged assault by a 17-year-old on a young disabled woman on 14 August 2010 is being conducted by the Disability Services Commission and as such questions relating to the review should be referred to that department. Further to that, I take my responsibilities very seriously. I have just stated in this place that the Leader of the Opposition, the former minister, knew about a three-year-old being molested and that she knew about two little girls being molested, yet she did not apologise.
(4) Will the reviewer interview the mother of the young woman who was assaulted; and, if not, why not? (6) When will the review be completed? (7) Will the review, protecting the identity of the young person who committed the assault and the identity of the victim, be made public; and, if not, why not? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY replied: I thank the honourable member for the question. The Leader of the Opposition has a very, very short memory. I once said that if the Leader of the Opposition comes into this place to throw stones, I will throw stones back. Hon Sue Ellery : I have not thrown a single stone. I have asked a question. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : The Leader of the Opposition was aware that this boy had molested a three-year-old at McDonald’s in 2007 and yet put this boy in a suburban street with a school — Point of Order Hon SUE ELLERY : The minister is not answering the question at all. I made no allegations or aspersions in my question. I asked a series of factual questions and it would be helpful to get factual answers. The PRESIDENT : There is no point of order, but I hope that the minister will get to the answer. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. Yet, the now Leader of the Opposition and former Minister for Child Protection put this boy in a suburban street within the vicinity of a school, within the vicinity of a day care centre, within the vicinity of a park and within the vicinity of a McDonald’s. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, members! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I did not think that members were allowed to read their speeches or their answers. The PRESIDENT : There is no point of order; that does not apply to ministers. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. I was not reading my answer. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! This is the first question in a three-week session—not a good start! We do not want three weeks to appear to be three years. Let the minister answer the question. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. On 1 July 2008, this boy escaped from 24-hour care, went into a McDonald’s and molested two little girls. Was the Leader of the Opposition responsible for that? Was she the minister at the time of that offence? Did she apologise to the parents of those two little girls? Hon Sue Ellery : Will you answer the question? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Did the Leader of the Opposition, the then minister, apologise to those parents? Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, members! Sixteen questions have been asked—backwards and forwards across chamber. A question has been asked and now we are waiting on the answer. The answer, as members know, can take the form that the minister wants it to take. Members do not have to agree with the answer; they do not have to like it; but they do have to listen to it. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : In answer to my question, the department said that the then minister did not apologise. I, on the other hand, apologised to the mother of the girl who was assaulted. In fact, on the Tuesday night—after saying in this place on the Thursday that I would write to that lady to express my feelings—a call from the girl’s mother was logged in my office at five o’clock in which the mother said what a beautiful letter it was and thanked me. Hon Sue Ellery : Are you familiar with the question at all? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : How does the Leader of the Opposition like it? She does not like it! Hon Sue Ellery : I was just asking you to answer my question. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No; the Leader of the Opposition does not like it! Did she apologise to the mother of the two girls? No she did not! Now, in answer to this question—maybe I will get to the answer now! Hon Sue Ellery : That would be good. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Yes. (1)–(7) The review of the alleged assault by a 17-year-old on a young disabled woman on 14 August 2010 is being conducted by the Disability Services Commission and as such questions relating to the review should be referred to that department. Further to that, I take my responsibilities very seriously. I have just stated in this place that the Leader of the Opposition, the former minister, knew about a three-year-old being molested and that she knew about two little girls being molested, yet she did not apologise.
(6) When will the review be completed? (7) Will the review, protecting the identity of the young person who committed the assault and the identity of the victim, be made public; and, if not, why not? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY replied: I thank the honourable member for the question. The Leader of the Opposition has a very, very short memory. I once said that if the Leader of the Opposition comes into this place to throw stones, I will throw stones back. Hon Sue Ellery : I have not thrown a single stone. I have asked a question. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : The Leader of the Opposition was aware that this boy had molested a three-year-old at McDonald’s in 2007 and yet put this boy in a suburban street with a school — Point of Order Hon SUE ELLERY : The minister is not answering the question at all. I made no allegations or aspersions in my question. I asked a series of factual questions and it would be helpful to get factual answers. The PRESIDENT : There is no point of order, but I hope that the minister will get to the answer. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. Yet, the now Leader of the Opposition and former Minister for Child Protection put this boy in a suburban street within the vicinity of a school, within the vicinity of a day care centre, within the vicinity of a park and within the vicinity of a McDonald’s. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, members! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I did not think that members were allowed to read their speeches or their answers. The PRESIDENT : There is no point of order; that does not apply to ministers. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. I was not reading my answer. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! This is the first question in a three-week session—not a good start! We do not want three weeks to appear to be three years. Let the minister answer the question. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. On 1 July 2008, this boy escaped from 24-hour care, went into a McDonald’s and molested two little girls. Was the Leader of the Opposition responsible for that? Was she the minister at the time of that offence? Did she apologise to the parents of those two little girls? Hon Sue Ellery : Will you answer the question? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Did the Leader of the Opposition, the then minister, apologise to those parents? Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, members! Sixteen questions have been asked—backwards and forwards across chamber. A question has been asked and now we are waiting on the answer. The answer, as members know, can take the form that the minister wants it to take. Members do not have to agree with the answer; they do not have to like it; but they do have to listen to it. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : In answer to my question, the department said that the then minister did not apologise. I, on the other hand, apologised to the mother of the girl who was assaulted. In fact, on the Tuesday night—after saying in this place on the Thursday that I would write to that lady to express my feelings—a call from the girl’s mother was logged in my office at five o’clock in which the mother said what a beautiful letter it was and thanked me. Hon Sue Ellery : Are you familiar with the question at all? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : How does the Leader of the Opposition like it? She does not like it! Hon Sue Ellery : I was just asking you to answer my question. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No; the Leader of the Opposition does not like it! Did she apologise to the mother of the two girls? No she did not! Now, in answer to this question—maybe I will get to the answer now! Hon Sue Ellery : That would be good. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Yes. (1)–(7) The review of the alleged assault by a 17-year-old on a young disabled woman on 14 August 2010 is being conducted by the Disability Services Commission and as such questions relating to the review should be referred to that department. Further to that, I take my responsibilities very seriously. I have just stated in this place that the Leader of the Opposition, the former minister, knew about a three-year-old being molested and that she knew about two little girls being molested, yet she did not apologise.
(7) Will the review, protecting the identity of the young person who committed the assault and the identity of the victim, be made public; and, if not, why not? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY replied: I thank the honourable member for the question. The Leader of the Opposition has a very, very short memory. I once said that if the Leader of the Opposition comes into this place to throw stones, I will throw stones back. Hon Sue Ellery : I have not thrown a single stone. I have asked a question. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : The Leader of the Opposition was aware that this boy had molested a three-year-old at McDonald’s in 2007 and yet put this boy in a suburban street with a school — Point of Order Hon SUE ELLERY : The minister is not answering the question at all. I made no allegations or aspersions in my question. I asked a series of factual questions and it would be helpful to get factual answers. The PRESIDENT : There is no point of order, but I hope that the minister will get to the answer. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. Yet, the now Leader of the Opposition and former Minister for Child Protection put this boy in a suburban street within the vicinity of a school, within the vicinity of a day care centre, within the vicinity of a park and within the vicinity of a McDonald’s. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, members! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I did not think that members were allowed to read their speeches or their answers. The PRESIDENT : There is no point of order; that does not apply to ministers. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. I was not reading my answer. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! This is the first question in a three-week session—not a good start! We do not want three weeks to appear to be three years. Let the minister answer the question. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. On 1 July 2008, this boy escaped from 24-hour care, went into a McDonald’s and molested two little girls. Was the Leader of the Opposition responsible for that? Was she the minister at the time of that offence? Did she apologise to the parents of those two little girls? Hon Sue Ellery : Will you answer the question? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Did the Leader of the Opposition, the then minister, apologise to those parents? Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, members! Sixteen questions have been asked—backwards and forwards across chamber. A question has been asked and now we are waiting on the answer. The answer, as members know, can take the form that the minister wants it to take. Members do not have to agree with the answer; they do not have to like it; but they do have to listen to it. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : In answer to my question, the department said that the then minister did not apologise. I, on the other hand, apologised to the mother of the girl who was assaulted. In fact, on the Tuesday night—after saying in this place on the Thursday that I would write to that lady to express my feelings—a call from the girl’s mother was logged in my office at five o’clock in which the mother said what a beautiful letter it was and thanked me. Hon Sue Ellery : Are you familiar with the question at all? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : How does the Leader of the Opposition like it? She does not like it! Hon Sue Ellery : I was just asking you to answer my question. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No; the Leader of the Opposition does not like it! Did she apologise to the mother of the two girls? No she did not! Now, in answer to this question—maybe I will get to the answer now! Hon Sue Ellery : That would be good. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Yes. (1)–(7) The review of the alleged assault by a 17-year-old on a young disabled woman on 14 August 2010 is being conducted by the Disability Services Commission and as such questions relating to the review should be referred to that department. Further to that, I take my responsibilities very seriously. I have just stated in this place that the Leader of the Opposition, the former minister, knew about a three-year-old being molested and that she knew about two little girls being molested, yet she did not apologise.
Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY replied: I thank the honourable member for the question. The Leader of the Opposition has a very, very short memory. I once said that if the Leader of the Opposition comes into this place to throw stones, I will throw stones back. Hon Sue Ellery : I have not thrown a single stone. I have asked a question. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : The Leader of the Opposition was aware that this boy had molested a three-year-old at McDonald’s in 2007 and yet put this boy in a suburban street with a school — Point of Order Hon SUE ELLERY : The minister is not answering the question at all. I made no allegations or aspersions in my question. I asked a series of factual questions and it would be helpful to get factual answers. The PRESIDENT : There is no point of order, but I hope that the minister will get to the answer. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. Yet, the now Leader of the Opposition and former Minister for Child Protection put this boy in a suburban street within the vicinity of a school, within the vicinity of a day care centre, within the vicinity of a park and within the vicinity of a McDonald’s. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, members! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I did not think that members were allowed to read their speeches or their answers. The PRESIDENT : There is no point of order; that does not apply to ministers. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. I was not reading my answer. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! This is the first question in a three-week session—not a good start! We do not want three weeks to appear to be three years. Let the minister answer the question. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. On 1 July 2008, this boy escaped from 24-hour care, went into a McDonald’s and molested two little girls. Was the Leader of the Opposition responsible for that? Was she the minister at the time of that offence? Did she apologise to the parents of those two little girls? Hon Sue Ellery : Will you answer the question? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Did the Leader of the Opposition, the then minister, apologise to those parents? Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, members! Sixteen questions have been asked—backwards and forwards across chamber. A question has been asked and now we are waiting on the answer. The answer, as members know, can take the form that the minister wants it to take. Members do not have to agree with the answer; they do not have to like it; but they do have to listen to it. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : In answer to my question, the department said that the then minister did not apologise. I, on the other hand, apologised to the mother of the girl who was assaulted. In fact, on the Tuesday night—after saying in this place on the Thursday that I would write to that lady to express my feelings—a call from the girl’s mother was logged in my office at five o’clock in which the mother said what a beautiful letter it was and thanked me. Hon Sue Ellery : Are you familiar with the question at all? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : How does the Leader of the Opposition like it? She does not like it! Hon Sue Ellery : I was just asking you to answer my question. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No; the Leader of the Opposition does not like it! Did she apologise to the mother of the two girls? No she did not! Now, in answer to this question—maybe I will get to the answer now! Hon Sue Ellery : That would be good. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Yes. (1)–(7) The review of the alleged assault by a 17-year-old on a young disabled woman on 14 August 2010 is being conducted by the Disability Services Commission and as such questions relating to the review should be referred to that department. Further to that, I take my responsibilities very seriously. I have just stated in this place that the Leader of the Opposition, the former minister, knew about a three-year-old being molested and that she knew about two little girls being molested, yet she did not apologise.
I thank the honourable member for the question. The Leader of the Opposition has a very, very short memory. I once said that if the Leader of the Opposition comes into this place to throw stones, I will throw stones back. Hon Sue Ellery : I have not thrown a single stone. I have asked a question. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : The Leader of the Opposition was aware that this boy had molested a three-year-old at McDonald’s in 2007 and yet put this boy in a suburban street with a school — Point of Order Hon SUE ELLERY : The minister is not answering the question at all. I made no allegations or aspersions in my question. I asked a series of factual questions and it would be helpful to get factual answers. The PRESIDENT : There is no point of order, but I hope that the minister will get to the answer. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. Yet, the now Leader of the Opposition and former Minister for Child Protection put this boy in a suburban street within the vicinity of a school, within the vicinity of a day care centre, within the vicinity of a park and within the vicinity of a McDonald’s. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, members! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I did not think that members were allowed to read their speeches or their answers. The PRESIDENT : There is no point of order; that does not apply to ministers. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. I was not reading my answer. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! This is the first question in a three-week session—not a good start! We do not want three weeks to appear to be three years. Let the minister answer the question. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. On 1 July 2008, this boy escaped from 24-hour care, went into a McDonald’s and molested two little girls. Was the Leader of the Opposition responsible for that? Was she the minister at the time of that offence? Did she apologise to the parents of those two little girls? Hon Sue Ellery : Will you answer the question? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Did the Leader of the Opposition, the then minister, apologise to those parents? Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, members! Sixteen questions have been asked—backwards and forwards across chamber. A question has been asked and now we are waiting on the answer. The answer, as members know, can take the form that the minister wants it to take. Members do not have to agree with the answer; they do not have to like it; but they do have to listen to it. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : In answer to my question, the department said that the then minister did not apologise. I, on the other hand, apologised to the mother of the girl who was assaulted. In fact, on the Tuesday night—after saying in this place on the Thursday that I would write to that lady to express my feelings—a call from the girl’s mother was logged in my office at five o’clock in which the mother said what a beautiful letter it was and thanked me. Hon Sue Ellery : Are you familiar with the question at all? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : How does the Leader of the Opposition like it? She does not like it! Hon Sue Ellery : I was just asking you to answer my question. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No; the Leader of the Opposition does not like it! Did she apologise to the mother of the two girls? No she did not! Now, in answer to this question—maybe I will get to the answer now! Hon Sue Ellery : That would be good. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Yes. (1)–(7) The review of the alleged assault by a 17-year-old on a young disabled woman on 14 August 2010 is being conducted by the Disability Services Commission and as such questions relating to the review should be referred to that department. Further to that, I take my responsibilities very seriously. I have just stated in this place that the Leader of the Opposition, the former minister, knew about a three-year-old being molested and that she knew about two little girls being molested, yet she did not apologise.
The Leader of the Opposition has a very, very short memory. I once said that if the Leader of the Opposition comes into this place to throw stones, I will throw stones back. Hon Sue Ellery : I have not thrown a single stone. I have asked a question. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : The Leader of the Opposition was aware that this boy had molested a three-year-old at McDonald’s in 2007 and yet put this boy in a suburban street with a school — Point of Order Hon SUE ELLERY : The minister is not answering the question at all. I made no allegations or aspersions in my question. I asked a series of factual questions and it would be helpful to get factual answers. The PRESIDENT : There is no point of order, but I hope that the minister will get to the answer. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. Yet, the now Leader of the Opposition and former Minister for Child Protection put this boy in a suburban street within the vicinity of a school, within the vicinity of a day care centre, within the vicinity of a park and within the vicinity of a McDonald’s. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, members! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I did not think that members were allowed to read their speeches or their answers. The PRESIDENT : There is no point of order; that does not apply to ministers. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. I was not reading my answer. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! This is the first question in a three-week session—not a good start! We do not want three weeks to appear to be three years. Let the minister answer the question. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. On 1 July 2008, this boy escaped from 24-hour care, went into a McDonald’s and molested two little girls. Was the Leader of the Opposition responsible for that? Was she the minister at the time of that offence? Did she apologise to the parents of those two little girls? Hon Sue Ellery : Will you answer the question? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Did the Leader of the Opposition, the then minister, apologise to those parents? Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, members! Sixteen questions have been asked—backwards and forwards across chamber. A question has been asked and now we are waiting on the answer. The answer, as members know, can take the form that the minister wants it to take. Members do not have to agree with the answer; they do not have to like it; but they do have to listen to it. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : In answer to my question, the department said that the then minister did not apologise. I, on the other hand, apologised to the mother of the girl who was assaulted. In fact, on the Tuesday night—after saying in this place on the Thursday that I would write to that lady to express my feelings—a call from the girl’s mother was logged in my office at five o’clock in which the mother said what a beautiful letter it was and thanked me. Hon Sue Ellery : Are you familiar with the question at all? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : How does the Leader of the Opposition like it? She does not like it! Hon Sue Ellery : I was just asking you to answer my question. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No; the Leader of the Opposition does not like it! Did she apologise to the mother of the two girls? No she did not! Now, in answer to this question—maybe I will get to the answer now! Hon Sue Ellery : That would be good. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Yes. (1)–(7) The review of the alleged assault by a 17-year-old on a young disabled woman on 14 August 2010 is being conducted by the Disability Services Commission and as such questions relating to the review should be referred to that department. Further to that, I take my responsibilities very seriously. I have just stated in this place that the Leader of the Opposition, the former minister, knew about a three-year-old being molested and that she knew about two little girls being molested, yet she did not apologise.
Hon Sue Ellery : I have not thrown a single stone. I have asked a question. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : The Leader of the Opposition was aware that this boy had molested a three-year-old at McDonald’s in 2007 and yet put this boy in a suburban street with a school — Point of Order Hon SUE ELLERY : The minister is not answering the question at all. I made no allegations or aspersions in my question. I asked a series of factual questions and it would be helpful to get factual answers. The PRESIDENT : There is no point of order, but I hope that the minister will get to the answer. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. Yet, the now Leader of the Opposition and former Minister for Child Protection put this boy in a suburban street within the vicinity of a school, within the vicinity of a day care centre, within the vicinity of a park and within the vicinity of a McDonald’s. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, members! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I did not think that members were allowed to read their speeches or their answers. The PRESIDENT : There is no point of order; that does not apply to ministers. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. I was not reading my answer. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! This is the first question in a three-week session—not a good start! We do not want three weeks to appear to be three years. Let the minister answer the question. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. On 1 July 2008, this boy escaped from 24-hour care, went into a McDonald’s and molested two little girls. Was the Leader of the Opposition responsible for that? Was she the minister at the time of that offence? Did she apologise to the parents of those two little girls? Hon Sue Ellery : Will you answer the question? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Did the Leader of the Opposition, the then minister, apologise to those parents? Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, members! Sixteen questions have been asked—backwards and forwards across chamber. A question has been asked and now we are waiting on the answer. The answer, as members know, can take the form that the minister wants it to take. Members do not have to agree with the answer; they do not have to like it; but they do have to listen to it. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : In answer to my question, the department said that the then minister did not apologise. I, on the other hand, apologised to the mother of the girl who was assaulted. In fact, on the Tuesday night—after saying in this place on the Thursday that I would write to that lady to express my feelings—a call from the girl’s mother was logged in my office at five o’clock in which the mother said what a beautiful letter it was and thanked me. Hon Sue Ellery : Are you familiar with the question at all? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : How does the Leader of the Opposition like it? She does not like it! Hon Sue Ellery : I was just asking you to answer my question. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No; the Leader of the Opposition does not like it! Did she apologise to the mother of the two girls? No she did not! Now, in answer to this question—maybe I will get to the answer now! Hon Sue Ellery : That would be good. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Yes. (1)–(7) The review of the alleged assault by a 17-year-old on a young disabled woman on 14 August 2010 is being conducted by the Disability Services Commission and as such questions relating to the review should be referred to that department. Further to that, I take my responsibilities very seriously. I have just stated in this place that the Leader of the Opposition, the former minister, knew about a three-year-old being molested and that she knew about two little girls being molested, yet she did not apologise.
Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : The Leader of the Opposition was aware that this boy had molested a three-year-old at McDonald’s in 2007 and yet put this boy in a suburban street with a school — Point of Order Hon SUE ELLERY : The minister is not answering the question at all. I made no allegations or aspersions in my question. I asked a series of factual questions and it would be helpful to get factual answers. The PRESIDENT : There is no point of order, but I hope that the minister will get to the answer. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. Yet, the now Leader of the Opposition and former Minister for Child Protection put this boy in a suburban street within the vicinity of a school, within the vicinity of a day care centre, within the vicinity of a park and within the vicinity of a McDonald’s. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, members! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I did not think that members were allowed to read their speeches or their answers. The PRESIDENT : There is no point of order; that does not apply to ministers. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. I was not reading my answer. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! This is the first question in a three-week session—not a good start! We do not want three weeks to appear to be three years. Let the minister answer the question. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. On 1 July 2008, this boy escaped from 24-hour care, went into a McDonald’s and molested two little girls. Was the Leader of the Opposition responsible for that? Was she the minister at the time of that offence? Did she apologise to the parents of those two little girls? Hon Sue Ellery : Will you answer the question? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Did the Leader of the Opposition, the then minister, apologise to those parents? Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, members! Sixteen questions have been asked—backwards and forwards across chamber. A question has been asked and now we are waiting on the answer. The answer, as members know, can take the form that the minister wants it to take. Members do not have to agree with the answer; they do not have to like it; but they do have to listen to it. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : In answer to my question, the department said that the then minister did not apologise. I, on the other hand, apologised to the mother of the girl who was assaulted. In fact, on the Tuesday night—after saying in this place on the Thursday that I would write to that lady to express my feelings—a call from the girl’s mother was logged in my office at five o’clock in which the mother said what a beautiful letter it was and thanked me. Hon Sue Ellery : Are you familiar with the question at all? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : How does the Leader of the Opposition like it? She does not like it! Hon Sue Ellery : I was just asking you to answer my question. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No; the Leader of the Opposition does not like it! Did she apologise to the mother of the two girls? No she did not! Now, in answer to this question—maybe I will get to the answer now! Hon Sue Ellery : That would be good. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Yes. (1)–(7) The review of the alleged assault by a 17-year-old on a young disabled woman on 14 August 2010 is being conducted by the Disability Services Commission and as such questions relating to the review should be referred to that department. Further to that, I take my responsibilities very seriously. I have just stated in this place that the Leader of the Opposition, the former minister, knew about a three-year-old being molested and that she knew about two little girls being molested, yet she did not apologise.
The PRESIDENT : There is no point of order, but I hope that the minister will get to the answer. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. Yet, the now Leader of the Opposition and former Minister for Child Protection put this boy in a suburban street within the vicinity of a school, within the vicinity of a day care centre, within the vicinity of a park and within the vicinity of a McDonald’s. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, members! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I did not think that members were allowed to read their speeches or their answers. The PRESIDENT : There is no point of order; that does not apply to ministers. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. I was not reading my answer. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! This is the first question in a three-week session—not a good start! We do not want three weeks to appear to be three years. Let the minister answer the question. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. On 1 July 2008, this boy escaped from 24-hour care, went into a McDonald’s and molested two little girls. Was the Leader of the Opposition responsible for that? Was she the minister at the time of that offence? Did she apologise to the parents of those two little girls? Hon Sue Ellery : Will you answer the question? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Did the Leader of the Opposition, the then minister, apologise to those parents? Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, members! Sixteen questions have been asked—backwards and forwards across chamber. A question has been asked and now we are waiting on the answer. The answer, as members know, can take the form that the minister wants it to take. Members do not have to agree with the answer; they do not have to like it; but they do have to listen to it. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : In answer to my question, the department said that the then minister did not apologise. I, on the other hand, apologised to the mother of the girl who was assaulted. In fact, on the Tuesday night—after saying in this place on the Thursday that I would write to that lady to express my feelings—a call from the girl’s mother was logged in my office at five o’clock in which the mother said what a beautiful letter it was and thanked me. Hon Sue Ellery : Are you familiar with the question at all? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : How does the Leader of the Opposition like it? She does not like it! Hon Sue Ellery : I was just asking you to answer my question. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No; the Leader of the Opposition does not like it! Did she apologise to the mother of the two girls? No she did not! Now, in answer to this question—maybe I will get to the answer now! Hon Sue Ellery : That would be good. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Yes. (1)–(7) The review of the alleged assault by a 17-year-old on a young disabled woman on 14 August 2010 is being conducted by the Disability Services Commission and as such questions relating to the review should be referred to that department. Further to that, I take my responsibilities very seriously. I have just stated in this place that the Leader of the Opposition, the former minister, knew about a three-year-old being molested and that she knew about two little girls being molested, yet she did not apologise.
Yet, the now Leader of the Opposition and former Minister for Child Protection put this boy in a suburban street within the vicinity of a school, within the vicinity of a day care centre, within the vicinity of a park and within the vicinity of a McDonald’s. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, members! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I did not think that members were allowed to read their speeches or their answers. The PRESIDENT : There is no point of order; that does not apply to ministers. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. I was not reading my answer. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! This is the first question in a three-week session—not a good start! We do not want three weeks to appear to be three years. Let the minister answer the question. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. On 1 July 2008, this boy escaped from 24-hour care, went into a McDonald’s and molested two little girls. Was the Leader of the Opposition responsible for that? Was she the minister at the time of that offence? Did she apologise to the parents of those two little girls? Hon Sue Ellery : Will you answer the question? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Did the Leader of the Opposition, the then minister, apologise to those parents? Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, members! Sixteen questions have been asked—backwards and forwards across chamber. A question has been asked and now we are waiting on the answer. The answer, as members know, can take the form that the minister wants it to take. Members do not have to agree with the answer; they do not have to like it; but they do have to listen to it. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : In answer to my question, the department said that the then minister did not apologise. I, on the other hand, apologised to the mother of the girl who was assaulted. In fact, on the Tuesday night—after saying in this place on the Thursday that I would write to that lady to express my feelings—a call from the girl’s mother was logged in my office at five o’clock in which the mother said what a beautiful letter it was and thanked me. Hon Sue Ellery : Are you familiar with the question at all? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : How does the Leader of the Opposition like it? She does not like it! Hon Sue Ellery : I was just asking you to answer my question. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No; the Leader of the Opposition does not like it! Did she apologise to the mother of the two girls? No she did not! Now, in answer to this question—maybe I will get to the answer now! Hon Sue Ellery : That would be good. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Yes. (1)–(7) The review of the alleged assault by a 17-year-old on a young disabled woman on 14 August 2010 is being conducted by the Disability Services Commission and as such questions relating to the review should be referred to that department. Further to that, I take my responsibilities very seriously. I have just stated in this place that the Leader of the Opposition, the former minister, knew about a three-year-old being molested and that she knew about two little girls being molested, yet she did not apologise.
Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, members! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I did not think that members were allowed to read their speeches or their answers. The PRESIDENT : There is no point of order; that does not apply to ministers. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. I was not reading my answer. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! This is the first question in a three-week session—not a good start! We do not want three weeks to appear to be three years. Let the minister answer the question. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. On 1 July 2008, this boy escaped from 24-hour care, went into a McDonald’s and molested two little girls. Was the Leader of the Opposition responsible for that? Was she the minister at the time of that offence? Did she apologise to the parents of those two little girls? Hon Sue Ellery : Will you answer the question? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Did the Leader of the Opposition, the then minister, apologise to those parents? Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, members! Sixteen questions have been asked—backwards and forwards across chamber. A question has been asked and now we are waiting on the answer. The answer, as members know, can take the form that the minister wants it to take. Members do not have to agree with the answer; they do not have to like it; but they do have to listen to it. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : In answer to my question, the department said that the then minister did not apologise. I, on the other hand, apologised to the mother of the girl who was assaulted. In fact, on the Tuesday night—after saying in this place on the Thursday that I would write to that lady to express my feelings—a call from the girl’s mother was logged in my office at five o’clock in which the mother said what a beautiful letter it was and thanked me. Hon Sue Ellery : Are you familiar with the question at all? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : How does the Leader of the Opposition like it? She does not like it! Hon Sue Ellery : I was just asking you to answer my question. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No; the Leader of the Opposition does not like it! Did she apologise to the mother of the two girls? No she did not! Now, in answer to this question—maybe I will get to the answer now! Hon Sue Ellery : That would be good. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Yes. (1)–(7) The review of the alleged assault by a 17-year-old on a young disabled woman on 14 August 2010 is being conducted by the Disability Services Commission and as such questions relating to the review should be referred to that department. Further to that, I take my responsibilities very seriously. I have just stated in this place that the Leader of the Opposition, the former minister, knew about a three-year-old being molested and that she knew about two little girls being molested, yet she did not apologise.
The PRESIDENT : Order, members! Point of Order Hon KEN TRAVERS : I did not think that members were allowed to read their speeches or their answers. The PRESIDENT : There is no point of order; that does not apply to ministers. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. I was not reading my answer. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! This is the first question in a three-week session—not a good start! We do not want three weeks to appear to be three years. Let the minister answer the question. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. On 1 July 2008, this boy escaped from 24-hour care, went into a McDonald’s and molested two little girls. Was the Leader of the Opposition responsible for that? Was she the minister at the time of that offence? Did she apologise to the parents of those two little girls? Hon Sue Ellery : Will you answer the question? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Did the Leader of the Opposition, the then minister, apologise to those parents? Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, members! Sixteen questions have been asked—backwards and forwards across chamber. A question has been asked and now we are waiting on the answer. The answer, as members know, can take the form that the minister wants it to take. Members do not have to agree with the answer; they do not have to like it; but they do have to listen to it. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : In answer to my question, the department said that the then minister did not apologise. I, on the other hand, apologised to the mother of the girl who was assaulted. In fact, on the Tuesday night—after saying in this place on the Thursday that I would write to that lady to express my feelings—a call from the girl’s mother was logged in my office at five o’clock in which the mother said what a beautiful letter it was and thanked me. Hon Sue Ellery : Are you familiar with the question at all? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : How does the Leader of the Opposition like it? She does not like it! Hon Sue Ellery : I was just asking you to answer my question. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No; the Leader of the Opposition does not like it! Did she apologise to the mother of the two girls? No she did not! Now, in answer to this question—maybe I will get to the answer now! Hon Sue Ellery : That would be good. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Yes. (1)–(7) The review of the alleged assault by a 17-year-old on a young disabled woman on 14 August 2010 is being conducted by the Disability Services Commission and as such questions relating to the review should be referred to that department. Further to that, I take my responsibilities very seriously. I have just stated in this place that the Leader of the Opposition, the former minister, knew about a three-year-old being molested and that she knew about two little girls being molested, yet she did not apologise.
The PRESIDENT : There is no point of order; that does not apply to ministers. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. I was not reading my answer. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! This is the first question in a three-week session—not a good start! We do not want three weeks to appear to be three years. Let the minister answer the question. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. On 1 July 2008, this boy escaped from 24-hour care, went into a McDonald’s and molested two little girls. Was the Leader of the Opposition responsible for that? Was she the minister at the time of that offence? Did she apologise to the parents of those two little girls? Hon Sue Ellery : Will you answer the question? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Did the Leader of the Opposition, the then minister, apologise to those parents? Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, members! Sixteen questions have been asked—backwards and forwards across chamber. A question has been asked and now we are waiting on the answer. The answer, as members know, can take the form that the minister wants it to take. Members do not have to agree with the answer; they do not have to like it; but they do have to listen to it. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : In answer to my question, the department said that the then minister did not apologise. I, on the other hand, apologised to the mother of the girl who was assaulted. In fact, on the Tuesday night—after saying in this place on the Thursday that I would write to that lady to express my feelings—a call from the girl’s mother was logged in my office at five o’clock in which the mother said what a beautiful letter it was and thanked me. Hon Sue Ellery : Are you familiar with the question at all? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : How does the Leader of the Opposition like it? She does not like it! Hon Sue Ellery : I was just asking you to answer my question. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No; the Leader of the Opposition does not like it! Did she apologise to the mother of the two girls? No she did not! Now, in answer to this question—maybe I will get to the answer now! Hon Sue Ellery : That would be good. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Yes. (1)–(7) The review of the alleged assault by a 17-year-old on a young disabled woman on 14 August 2010 is being conducted by the Disability Services Commission and as such questions relating to the review should be referred to that department. Further to that, I take my responsibilities very seriously. I have just stated in this place that the Leader of the Opposition, the former minister, knew about a three-year-old being molested and that she knew about two little girls being molested, yet she did not apologise.
Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. I was not reading my answer. Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! This is the first question in a three-week session—not a good start! We do not want three weeks to appear to be three years. Let the minister answer the question. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. On 1 July 2008, this boy escaped from 24-hour care, went into a McDonald’s and molested two little girls. Was the Leader of the Opposition responsible for that? Was she the minister at the time of that offence? Did she apologise to the parents of those two little girls? Hon Sue Ellery : Will you answer the question? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Did the Leader of the Opposition, the then minister, apologise to those parents? Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, members! Sixteen questions have been asked—backwards and forwards across chamber. A question has been asked and now we are waiting on the answer. The answer, as members know, can take the form that the minister wants it to take. Members do not have to agree with the answer; they do not have to like it; but they do have to listen to it. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : In answer to my question, the department said that the then minister did not apologise. I, on the other hand, apologised to the mother of the girl who was assaulted. In fact, on the Tuesday night—after saying in this place on the Thursday that I would write to that lady to express my feelings—a call from the girl’s mother was logged in my office at five o’clock in which the mother said what a beautiful letter it was and thanked me. Hon Sue Ellery : Are you familiar with the question at all? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : How does the Leader of the Opposition like it? She does not like it! Hon Sue Ellery : I was just asking you to answer my question. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No; the Leader of the Opposition does not like it! Did she apologise to the mother of the two girls? No she did not! Now, in answer to this question—maybe I will get to the answer now! Hon Sue Ellery : That would be good. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Yes. (1)–(7) The review of the alleged assault by a 17-year-old on a young disabled woman on 14 August 2010 is being conducted by the Disability Services Commission and as such questions relating to the review should be referred to that department. Further to that, I take my responsibilities very seriously. I have just stated in this place that the Leader of the Opposition, the former minister, knew about a three-year-old being molested and that she knew about two little girls being molested, yet she did not apologise.
Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order! This is the first question in a three-week session—not a good start! We do not want three weeks to appear to be three years. Let the minister answer the question. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. On 1 July 2008, this boy escaped from 24-hour care, went into a McDonald’s and molested two little girls. Was the Leader of the Opposition responsible for that? Was she the minister at the time of that offence? Did she apologise to the parents of those two little girls? Hon Sue Ellery : Will you answer the question? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Did the Leader of the Opposition, the then minister, apologise to those parents? Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, members! Sixteen questions have been asked—backwards and forwards across chamber. A question has been asked and now we are waiting on the answer. The answer, as members know, can take the form that the minister wants it to take. Members do not have to agree with the answer; they do not have to like it; but they do have to listen to it. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : In answer to my question, the department said that the then minister did not apologise. I, on the other hand, apologised to the mother of the girl who was assaulted. In fact, on the Tuesday night—after saying in this place on the Thursday that I would write to that lady to express my feelings—a call from the girl’s mother was logged in my office at five o’clock in which the mother said what a beautiful letter it was and thanked me. Hon Sue Ellery : Are you familiar with the question at all? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : How does the Leader of the Opposition like it? She does not like it! Hon Sue Ellery : I was just asking you to answer my question. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No; the Leader of the Opposition does not like it! Did she apologise to the mother of the two girls? No she did not! Now, in answer to this question—maybe I will get to the answer now! Hon Sue Ellery : That would be good. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Yes. (1)–(7) The review of the alleged assault by a 17-year-old on a young disabled woman on 14 August 2010 is being conducted by the Disability Services Commission and as such questions relating to the review should be referred to that department. Further to that, I take my responsibilities very seriously. I have just stated in this place that the Leader of the Opposition, the former minister, knew about a three-year-old being molested and that she knew about two little girls being molested, yet she did not apologise.
The PRESIDENT : Order! This is the first question in a three-week session—not a good start! We do not want three weeks to appear to be three years. Let the minister answer the question. Questions without Notice Resumed Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Thank you, Mr President. On 1 July 2008, this boy escaped from 24-hour care, went into a McDonald’s and molested two little girls. Was the Leader of the Opposition responsible for that? Was she the minister at the time of that offence? Did she apologise to the parents of those two little girls? Hon Sue Ellery : Will you answer the question? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Did the Leader of the Opposition, the then minister, apologise to those parents? Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, members! Sixteen questions have been asked—backwards and forwards across chamber. A question has been asked and now we are waiting on the answer. The answer, as members know, can take the form that the minister wants it to take. Members do not have to agree with the answer; they do not have to like it; but they do have to listen to it. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : In answer to my question, the department said that the then minister did not apologise. I, on the other hand, apologised to the mother of the girl who was assaulted. In fact, on the Tuesday night—after saying in this place on the Thursday that I would write to that lady to express my feelings—a call from the girl’s mother was logged in my office at five o’clock in which the mother said what a beautiful letter it was and thanked me. Hon Sue Ellery : Are you familiar with the question at all? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : How does the Leader of the Opposition like it? She does not like it! Hon Sue Ellery : I was just asking you to answer my question. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No; the Leader of the Opposition does not like it! Did she apologise to the mother of the two girls? No she did not! Now, in answer to this question—maybe I will get to the answer now! Hon Sue Ellery : That would be good. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Yes. (1)–(7) The review of the alleged assault by a 17-year-old on a young disabled woman on 14 August 2010 is being conducted by the Disability Services Commission and as such questions relating to the review should be referred to that department. Further to that, I take my responsibilities very seriously. I have just stated in this place that the Leader of the Opposition, the former minister, knew about a three-year-old being molested and that she knew about two little girls being molested, yet she did not apologise.
On 1 July 2008, this boy escaped from 24-hour care, went into a McDonald’s and molested two little girls. Was the Leader of the Opposition responsible for that? Was she the minister at the time of that offence? Did she apologise to the parents of those two little girls? Hon Sue Ellery : Will you answer the question? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Did the Leader of the Opposition, the then minister, apologise to those parents? Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, members! Sixteen questions have been asked—backwards and forwards across chamber. A question has been asked and now we are waiting on the answer. The answer, as members know, can take the form that the minister wants it to take. Members do not have to agree with the answer; they do not have to like it; but they do have to listen to it. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : In answer to my question, the department said that the then minister did not apologise. I, on the other hand, apologised to the mother of the girl who was assaulted. In fact, on the Tuesday night—after saying in this place on the Thursday that I would write to that lady to express my feelings—a call from the girl’s mother was logged in my office at five o’clock in which the mother said what a beautiful letter it was and thanked me. Hon Sue Ellery : Are you familiar with the question at all? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : How does the Leader of the Opposition like it? She does not like it! Hon Sue Ellery : I was just asking you to answer my question. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No; the Leader of the Opposition does not like it! Did she apologise to the mother of the two girls? No she did not! Now, in answer to this question—maybe I will get to the answer now! Hon Sue Ellery : That would be good. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Yes. (1)–(7) The review of the alleged assault by a 17-year-old on a young disabled woman on 14 August 2010 is being conducted by the Disability Services Commission and as such questions relating to the review should be referred to that department. Further to that, I take my responsibilities very seriously. I have just stated in this place that the Leader of the Opposition, the former minister, knew about a three-year-old being molested and that she knew about two little girls being molested, yet she did not apologise.
Hon Sue Ellery : Will you answer the question? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Did the Leader of the Opposition, the then minister, apologise to those parents? Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, members! Sixteen questions have been asked—backwards and forwards across chamber. A question has been asked and now we are waiting on the answer. The answer, as members know, can take the form that the minister wants it to take. Members do not have to agree with the answer; they do not have to like it; but they do have to listen to it. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : In answer to my question, the department said that the then minister did not apologise. I, on the other hand, apologised to the mother of the girl who was assaulted. In fact, on the Tuesday night—after saying in this place on the Thursday that I would write to that lady to express my feelings—a call from the girl’s mother was logged in my office at five o’clock in which the mother said what a beautiful letter it was and thanked me. Hon Sue Ellery : Are you familiar with the question at all? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : How does the Leader of the Opposition like it? She does not like it! Hon Sue Ellery : I was just asking you to answer my question. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No; the Leader of the Opposition does not like it! Did she apologise to the mother of the two girls? No she did not! Now, in answer to this question—maybe I will get to the answer now! Hon Sue Ellery : That would be good. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Yes. (1)–(7) The review of the alleged assault by a 17-year-old on a young disabled woman on 14 August 2010 is being conducted by the Disability Services Commission and as such questions relating to the review should be referred to that department. Further to that, I take my responsibilities very seriously. I have just stated in this place that the Leader of the Opposition, the former minister, knew about a three-year-old being molested and that she knew about two little girls being molested, yet she did not apologise.
Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Did the Leader of the Opposition, the then minister, apologise to those parents? Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, members! Sixteen questions have been asked—backwards and forwards across chamber. A question has been asked and now we are waiting on the answer. The answer, as members know, can take the form that the minister wants it to take. Members do not have to agree with the answer; they do not have to like it; but they do have to listen to it. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : In answer to my question, the department said that the then minister did not apologise. I, on the other hand, apologised to the mother of the girl who was assaulted. In fact, on the Tuesday night—after saying in this place on the Thursday that I would write to that lady to express my feelings—a call from the girl’s mother was logged in my office at five o’clock in which the mother said what a beautiful letter it was and thanked me. Hon Sue Ellery : Are you familiar with the question at all? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : How does the Leader of the Opposition like it? She does not like it! Hon Sue Ellery : I was just asking you to answer my question. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No; the Leader of the Opposition does not like it! Did she apologise to the mother of the two girls? No she did not! Now, in answer to this question—maybe I will get to the answer now! Hon Sue Ellery : That would be good. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Yes. (1)–(7) The review of the alleged assault by a 17-year-old on a young disabled woman on 14 August 2010 is being conducted by the Disability Services Commission and as such questions relating to the review should be referred to that department. Further to that, I take my responsibilities very seriously. I have just stated in this place that the Leader of the Opposition, the former minister, knew about a three-year-old being molested and that she knew about two little girls being molested, yet she did not apologise.
Several members interjected. The PRESIDENT : Order, members! Sixteen questions have been asked—backwards and forwards across chamber. A question has been asked and now we are waiting on the answer. The answer, as members know, can take the form that the minister wants it to take. Members do not have to agree with the answer; they do not have to like it; but they do have to listen to it. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : In answer to my question, the department said that the then minister did not apologise. I, on the other hand, apologised to the mother of the girl who was assaulted. In fact, on the Tuesday night—after saying in this place on the Thursday that I would write to that lady to express my feelings—a call from the girl’s mother was logged in my office at five o’clock in which the mother said what a beautiful letter it was and thanked me. Hon Sue Ellery : Are you familiar with the question at all? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : How does the Leader of the Opposition like it? She does not like it! Hon Sue Ellery : I was just asking you to answer my question. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No; the Leader of the Opposition does not like it! Did she apologise to the mother of the two girls? No she did not! Now, in answer to this question—maybe I will get to the answer now! Hon Sue Ellery : That would be good. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Yes. (1)–(7) The review of the alleged assault by a 17-year-old on a young disabled woman on 14 August 2010 is being conducted by the Disability Services Commission and as such questions relating to the review should be referred to that department. Further to that, I take my responsibilities very seriously. I have just stated in this place that the Leader of the Opposition, the former minister, knew about a three-year-old being molested and that she knew about two little girls being molested, yet she did not apologise.
The PRESIDENT : Order, members! Sixteen questions have been asked—backwards and forwards across chamber. A question has been asked and now we are waiting on the answer. The answer, as members know, can take the form that the minister wants it to take. Members do not have to agree with the answer; they do not have to like it; but they do have to listen to it. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : In answer to my question, the department said that the then minister did not apologise. I, on the other hand, apologised to the mother of the girl who was assaulted. In fact, on the Tuesday night—after saying in this place on the Thursday that I would write to that lady to express my feelings—a call from the girl’s mother was logged in my office at five o’clock in which the mother said what a beautiful letter it was and thanked me. Hon Sue Ellery : Are you familiar with the question at all? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : How does the Leader of the Opposition like it? She does not like it! Hon Sue Ellery : I was just asking you to answer my question. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No; the Leader of the Opposition does not like it! Did she apologise to the mother of the two girls? No she did not! Now, in answer to this question—maybe I will get to the answer now! Hon Sue Ellery : That would be good. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Yes. (1)–(7) The review of the alleged assault by a 17-year-old on a young disabled woman on 14 August 2010 is being conducted by the Disability Services Commission and as such questions relating to the review should be referred to that department. Further to that, I take my responsibilities very seriously. I have just stated in this place that the Leader of the Opposition, the former minister, knew about a three-year-old being molested and that she knew about two little girls being molested, yet she did not apologise.
Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : In answer to my question, the department said that the then minister did not apologise. I, on the other hand, apologised to the mother of the girl who was assaulted. In fact, on the Tuesday night—after saying in this place on the Thursday that I would write to that lady to express my feelings—a call from the girl’s mother was logged in my office at five o’clock in which the mother said what a beautiful letter it was and thanked me. Hon Sue Ellery : Are you familiar with the question at all? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : How does the Leader of the Opposition like it? She does not like it! Hon Sue Ellery : I was just asking you to answer my question. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No; the Leader of the Opposition does not like it! Did she apologise to the mother of the two girls? No she did not! Now, in answer to this question—maybe I will get to the answer now! Hon Sue Ellery : That would be good. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Yes. (1)–(7) The review of the alleged assault by a 17-year-old on a young disabled woman on 14 August 2010 is being conducted by the Disability Services Commission and as such questions relating to the review should be referred to that department. Further to that, I take my responsibilities very seriously. I have just stated in this place that the Leader of the Opposition, the former minister, knew about a three-year-old being molested and that she knew about two little girls being molested, yet she did not apologise.
Hon Sue Ellery : Are you familiar with the question at all? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : How does the Leader of the Opposition like it? She does not like it! Hon Sue Ellery : I was just asking you to answer my question. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No; the Leader of the Opposition does not like it! Did she apologise to the mother of the two girls? No she did not! Now, in answer to this question—maybe I will get to the answer now! Hon Sue Ellery : That would be good. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Yes. (1)–(7) The review of the alleged assault by a 17-year-old on a young disabled woman on 14 August 2010 is being conducted by the Disability Services Commission and as such questions relating to the review should be referred to that department. Further to that, I take my responsibilities very seriously. I have just stated in this place that the Leader of the Opposition, the former minister, knew about a three-year-old being molested and that she knew about two little girls being molested, yet she did not apologise.
Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : How does the Leader of the Opposition like it? She does not like it! Hon Sue Ellery : I was just asking you to answer my question. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No; the Leader of the Opposition does not like it! Did she apologise to the mother of the two girls? No she did not! Now, in answer to this question—maybe I will get to the answer now! Hon Sue Ellery : That would be good. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Yes. (1)–(7) The review of the alleged assault by a 17-year-old on a young disabled woman on 14 August 2010 is being conducted by the Disability Services Commission and as such questions relating to the review should be referred to that department. Further to that, I take my responsibilities very seriously. I have just stated in this place that the Leader of the Opposition, the former minister, knew about a three-year-old being molested and that she knew about two little girls being molested, yet she did not apologise.
Hon Sue Ellery : I was just asking you to answer my question. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No; the Leader of the Opposition does not like it! Did she apologise to the mother of the two girls? No she did not! Now, in answer to this question—maybe I will get to the answer now! Hon Sue Ellery : That would be good. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Yes. (1)–(7) The review of the alleged assault by a 17-year-old on a young disabled woman on 14 August 2010 is being conducted by the Disability Services Commission and as such questions relating to the review should be referred to that department. Further to that, I take my responsibilities very seriously. I have just stated in this place that the Leader of the Opposition, the former minister, knew about a three-year-old being molested and that she knew about two little girls being molested, yet she did not apologise.
Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : No; the Leader of the Opposition does not like it! Did she apologise to the mother of the two girls? No she did not! Now, in answer to this question—maybe I will get to the answer now! Hon Sue Ellery : That would be good. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Yes. (1)–(7) The review of the alleged assault by a 17-year-old on a young disabled woman on 14 August 2010 is being conducted by the Disability Services Commission and as such questions relating to the review should be referred to that department. Further to that, I take my responsibilities very seriously. I have just stated in this place that the Leader of the Opposition, the former minister, knew about a three-year-old being molested and that she knew about two little girls being molested, yet she did not apologise.
Now, in answer to this question—maybe I will get to the answer now! Hon Sue Ellery : That would be good. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Yes. (1)–(7) The review of the alleged assault by a 17-year-old on a young disabled woman on 14 August 2010 is being conducted by the Disability Services Commission and as such questions relating to the review should be referred to that department. Further to that, I take my responsibilities very seriously. I have just stated in this place that the Leader of the Opposition, the former minister, knew about a three-year-old being molested and that she knew about two little girls being molested, yet she did not apologise.
Hon Sue Ellery : That would be good. Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Yes. (1)–(7) The review of the alleged assault by a 17-year-old on a young disabled woman on 14 August 2010 is being conducted by the Disability Services Commission and as such questions relating to the review should be referred to that department. Further to that, I take my responsibilities very seriously. I have just stated in this place that the Leader of the Opposition, the former minister, knew about a three-year-old being molested and that she knew about two little girls being molested, yet she did not apologise.
Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY : Yes. (1)–(7) The review of the alleged assault by a 17-year-old on a young disabled woman on 14 August 2010 is being conducted by the Disability Services Commission and as such questions relating to the review should be referred to that department. Further to that, I take my responsibilities very seriously. I have just stated in this place that the Leader of the Opposition, the former minister, knew about a three-year-old being molested and that she knew about two little girls being molested, yet she did not apologise.
(1)–(7) The review of the alleged assault by a 17-year-old on a young disabled woman on 14 August 2010 is being conducted by the Disability Services Commission and as such questions relating to the review should be referred to that department. Further to that, I take my responsibilities very seriously. I have just stated in this place that the Leader of the Opposition, the former minister, knew about a three-year-old being molested and that she knew about two little girls being molested, yet she did not apologise.
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