A WA parliamentary question seeks clarification from the Minister for Health regarding the timeline of their knowledge and actions related to emails between Brian Burke and Neale Fong. The Minister's response provides a detailed timeline and denies being confronted about emails between himself and Burke.

AnsweredQoN 505Legislative Council
Asked
27 June 2007
Portfolio
Health

QuestionView source ↗

MINISTER FOR HEALTH - EMAILS BETWEEN BRIAN BURKE AND NEALE FONG
(1) Why did the minister state in Parliament on 21 June 2007 that this was the earliest opportunity to raise the matter when he had actually had details of the email since 12 June 2007? (2) Why did the minister state that he was confronted about the emails between him and Brian Burke on the morning of 21 June 2007, when the answer from the minister to a question last night was that on 19 June he requested his chief of staff to meet with Dr Fong? (3) When did the minister’s chief of staff first raise the issue of the emails with Dr Fong? Hon SUE ELLERY

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) The Minister for Health was informed on 12 June 2007 that there were nine emails between Dr Fong and Mr Burke. He did not have any further details until the weekend of 16 and 17 June 2007. Those details are: the name of the sender, name of the recipient, date, time and subject heading. From 12 June to 20 June 2007, the Minister for Health attempted through his chief of staff to obtain a copy of the emails in their entirety. When the Minister for Health was advised that the totality of the emails could not be retrieved, he sought verification from the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet. Verification was received on 20 June 2007. On 21 June 2007, the Minister for Health made his statement in Parliament correcting the answer given to the member for Dawesville on 23 May 2007. (2) The Minister for Health was not confronted about emails between him and Mr Brian Burke on 21 June 2007. (3) 19 June 2007.
(2) Why did the minister state that he was confronted about the emails between him and Brian Burke on the morning of 21 June 2007, when the answer from the minister to a question last night was that on 19 June he requested his chief of staff to meet with Dr Fong? (3) When did the minister’s chief of staff first raise the issue of the emails with Dr Fong? Hon SUE ELLERY replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) The Minister for Health was informed on 12 June 2007 that there were nine emails between Dr Fong and Mr Burke. He did not have any further details until the weekend of 16 and 17 June 2007. Those details are: the name of the sender, name of the recipient, date, time and subject heading. From 12 June to 20 June 2007, the Minister for Health attempted through his chief of staff to obtain a copy of the emails in their entirety. When the Minister for Health was advised that the totality of the emails could not be retrieved, he sought verification from the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet. Verification was received on 20 June 2007. On 21 June 2007, the Minister for Health made his statement in Parliament correcting the answer given to the member for Dawesville on 23 May 2007. (2) The Minister for Health was not confronted about emails between him and Mr Brian Burke on 21 June 2007. (3) 19 June 2007.
(3) When did the minister’s chief of staff first raise the issue of the emails with Dr Fong? Hon SUE ELLERY replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) The Minister for Health was informed on 12 June 2007 that there were nine emails between Dr Fong and Mr Burke. He did not have any further details until the weekend of 16 and 17 June 2007. Those details are: the name of the sender, name of the recipient, date, time and subject heading. From 12 June to 20 June 2007, the Minister for Health attempted through his chief of staff to obtain a copy of the emails in their entirety. When the Minister for Health was advised that the totality of the emails could not be retrieved, he sought verification from the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet. Verification was received on 20 June 2007. On 21 June 2007, the Minister for Health made his statement in Parliament correcting the answer given to the member for Dawesville on 23 May 2007. (2) The Minister for Health was not confronted about emails between him and Mr Brian Burke on 21 June 2007. (3) 19 June 2007.
Hon SUE ELLERY replied: I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) The Minister for Health was informed on 12 June 2007 that there were nine emails between Dr Fong and Mr Burke. He did not have any further details until the weekend of 16 and 17 June 2007. Those details are: the name of the sender, name of the recipient, date, time and subject heading. From 12 June to 20 June 2007, the Minister for Health attempted through his chief of staff to obtain a copy of the emails in their entirety. When the Minister for Health was advised that the totality of the emails could not be retrieved, he sought verification from the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet. Verification was received on 20 June 2007. On 21 June 2007, the Minister for Health made his statement in Parliament correcting the answer given to the member for Dawesville on 23 May 2007. (2) The Minister for Health was not confronted about emails between him and Mr Brian Burke on 21 June 2007. (3) 19 June 2007.
I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question. (1) The Minister for Health was informed on 12 June 2007 that there were nine emails between Dr Fong and Mr Burke. He did not have any further details until the weekend of 16 and 17 June 2007. Those details are: the name of the sender, name of the recipient, date, time and subject heading. From 12 June to 20 June 2007, the Minister for Health attempted through his chief of staff to obtain a copy of the emails in their entirety. When the Minister for Health was advised that the totality of the emails could not be retrieved, he sought verification from the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet. Verification was received on 20 June 2007. On 21 June 2007, the Minister for Health made his statement in Parliament correcting the answer given to the member for Dawesville on 23 May 2007. (2) The Minister for Health was not confronted about emails between him and Mr Brian Burke on 21 June 2007. (3) 19 June 2007.
(1) The Minister for Health was informed on 12 June 2007 that there were nine emails between Dr Fong and Mr Burke. He did not have any further details until the weekend of 16 and 17 June 2007. Those details are: the name of the sender, name of the recipient, date, time and subject heading. From 12 June to 20 June 2007, the Minister for Health attempted through his chief of staff to obtain a copy of the emails in their entirety. When the Minister for Health was advised that the totality of the emails could not be retrieved, he sought verification from the Director General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet. Verification was received on 20 June 2007. On 21 June 2007, the Minister for Health made his statement in Parliament correcting the answer given to the member for Dawesville on 23 May 2007. (2) The Minister for Health was not confronted about emails between him and Mr Brian Burke on 21 June 2007. (3) 19 June 2007.
(2) The Minister for Health was not confronted about emails between him and Mr Brian Burke on 21 June 2007. (3) 19 June 2007.
(3) 19 June 2007.

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