❓ Hon Sue Ellery asks the Minister for Mental Health if she referred events related to employee deaths to the Corruption and Crime Commission. The Minister explains why she hasn't directly referred the matter, alleging that a member of Parliament is encouraging staff to break the law.
AnsweredQoN 472Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
MENTAL HEALTH
SERVICES — EMPLOYEE DEATHS
472. Hon SUE ELLERY to the Minister for Mental Health:
Has the minister made a referral to the Corruption and Crime
Commission in relation to the events she spoke about in her answer to Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich in question time
earlier today; and, if not, why not?
SERVICES — EMPLOYEE DEATHS
472. Hon SUE ELLERY to the Minister for Mental Health:
Has the minister made a referral to the Corruption and Crime
Commission in relation to the events she spoke about in her answer to Hon Ljiljanna Ravlich in question time
earlier today; and, if not, why not?
AnswerView source ↗
Mr President, I hope this is relevant now. I can talk about it, can I—because
I have been dying to talk about this?
Several members
interjected.
The PRESIDENT : Order! Let us hear the answer.
Hon HELEN MORTON : I know very well that if I had made a
referral, I would certainly not be talking about it in this place. But I do
want to be able to talk about what has happened and what I have done about it,
which may have —
Hon Sue Ellery : Are you implying it is correct?
Hon HELEN MORTON : I have no idea. I think I said ''which
may have'' resulted in the Corruption and Crime Commission becoming
involved with this member. So am I allowed to talk about what I have done?
Several members
interjected.
The PRESIDENT : Order! I think
the question was quite specific and the answer should be quite specific as well—and
concise.
Hon HELEN MORTON : So, should I go on?
The PRESIDENT : It depends on what you are going to say.
Hon Sue Ellery : Have you made a referral; if not, why not?
Hon HELEN MORTON : In answer to the question why not, I think
I need to go a bit further, Mr President. I have indicated that I have not made
a direct referral to the CCC, but I need to explain why I have got here as to
why I have not done that. Is that okay?
The PRESIDENT : That is relevant.
Hon HELEN MORTON : Thank you, Mr President.
Staff at Alma Street
Centre were contacted last night by a union representative. The staff member
was asked to give confidential information about the recent suicides reported
in the media. The staff member declined. The union representative said that
they were asking on behalf of Ms Ravlich's office. This is similar
behaviour to a recent incident when Ms Ravlich's office directly
contacted a staff member at Bentley mental health service about patient
details; they similarly refused. These staff members understood the situation.
They understood that had they provided that information, they would have
contravened the Mental Health Act—a criminal offence. This information
was brought to my attention. I brought it to the attention of the director
general, and I said to him, ''You have to do what you have to do under
these circumstances.'' In providing that —
Several members
interjected.
The PRESIDENT : Order! Let us
hear the minister's answer.
Hon HELEN MORTON : I have had discussions with the director
general about this. I have made it absolutely clear that it is his staff who
have raised this issue and that he needs to make sure that this is dealt with
appropriately—that there is a member of Parliament in this house who is
attempting to encourage staff to break the law. I have said, ''You need
to deal with this. You need to deal with it seriously, and you need to make
sure that it is dealt with quickly.''
I have been dying to talk about this?
Several members
interjected.
The PRESIDENT : Order! Let us hear the answer.
Hon HELEN MORTON : I know very well that if I had made a
referral, I would certainly not be talking about it in this place. But I do
want to be able to talk about what has happened and what I have done about it,
which may have —
Hon Sue Ellery : Are you implying it is correct?
Hon HELEN MORTON : I have no idea. I think I said ''which
may have'' resulted in the Corruption and Crime Commission becoming
involved with this member. So am I allowed to talk about what I have done?
Several members
interjected.
The PRESIDENT : Order! I think
the question was quite specific and the answer should be quite specific as well—and
concise.
Hon HELEN MORTON : So, should I go on?
The PRESIDENT : It depends on what you are going to say.
Hon Sue Ellery : Have you made a referral; if not, why not?
Hon HELEN MORTON : In answer to the question why not, I think
I need to go a bit further, Mr President. I have indicated that I have not made
a direct referral to the CCC, but I need to explain why I have got here as to
why I have not done that. Is that okay?
The PRESIDENT : That is relevant.
Hon HELEN MORTON : Thank you, Mr President.
Staff at Alma Street
Centre were contacted last night by a union representative. The staff member
was asked to give confidential information about the recent suicides reported
in the media. The staff member declined. The union representative said that
they were asking on behalf of Ms Ravlich's office. This is similar
behaviour to a recent incident when Ms Ravlich's office directly
contacted a staff member at Bentley mental health service about patient
details; they similarly refused. These staff members understood the situation.
They understood that had they provided that information, they would have
contravened the Mental Health Act—a criminal offence. This information
was brought to my attention. I brought it to the attention of the director
general, and I said to him, ''You have to do what you have to do under
these circumstances.'' In providing that —
Several members
interjected.
The PRESIDENT : Order! Let us
hear the minister's answer.
Hon HELEN MORTON : I have had discussions with the director
general about this. I have made it absolutely clear that it is his staff who
have raised this issue and that he needs to make sure that this is dealt with
appropriately—that there is a member of Parliament in this house who is
attempting to encourage staff to break the law. I have said, ''You need
to deal with this. You need to deal with it seriously, and you need to make
sure that it is dealt with quickly.''
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