❓ Mr. Watson questions the Premier on perceived inconsistencies in compensation payments to abuse victims and Perth Glory. The Premier vehemently denies any wrongdoing or influence, defending the government's handling of the abuse compensation scheme.
AnsweredQoN 660Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
ST ANDREWS HOSTEL, KATANNING — PERTH GLORY COMPENSATION
660. Mr P.B. WATSON to the Premier:
I refer to the compensation payment of $400 000 made to Tony
Sage and Perth Glory and the Premier's refusal to offset the payment to
Tony Sage with the $250 000 owed from Perth Glory.
(1) Why has
the Premier offset the previous compensation paid to the victims of abuse
identified from the Blaxell inquiry yet has not done the same with the Perth
Glory compensation?
(2) Why are
there different rules governing those who have access to influence ministers
from those who do not have the same capacity?
(3) Will the
Premier now undertake to pay the full compensation to the abuse victims of the
Katanning hostel regardless of any previous compensation payments received?
660. Mr P.B. WATSON to the Premier:
I refer to the compensation payment of $400 000 made to Tony
Sage and Perth Glory and the Premier's refusal to offset the payment to
Tony Sage with the $250 000 owed from Perth Glory.
(1) Why has
the Premier offset the previous compensation paid to the victims of abuse
identified from the Blaxell inquiry yet has not done the same with the Perth
Glory compensation?
(2) Why are
there different rules governing those who have access to influence ministers
from those who do not have the same capacity?
(3) Will the
Premier now undertake to pay the full compensation to the abuse victims of the
Katanning hostel regardless of any previous compensation payments received?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(3)
I fail to see the relationship between the victims of abuse at Katanning hostel
and the situation with the contractual arrangements relating to nib Stadium and
Perth Glory.
Mr P.B. Watson :
You don't care!
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
Mr Speaker, I do care.
Mr P.B. Watson :
You don't!
The
SPEAKER : Member for Albany, I call you to order for the second time.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : The member for Albany has asked a number of questions in this
house, and I give him credit for raising the issue of those people who were
abused as children at the Katanning hostel. This government very quickly set up
the Blaxell inquiry. It reported, we adopted its recommendations and we also
agreed to an ex gratia compensation—if I can use that term—payment.
That was not recommended by Blaxell, and yet —
Mr
P.B. Watson : But it wasn't in the terms of the inquiry by the
minister.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Albany!
Mr
P.B. Watson : You set up the terms of the inquiry and you didn't
include it, so you wouldn't have to pay.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Albany, do you want to have a rest?
Mr P.B. Watson :
Um!
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : Former Supreme Court Justice Blaxell produced his report and
made his recommendations, and we accepted them. In addition, this government
decided to set up a compensation or ex gratia scheme. That was made available
to the students who had attended that hostel, and indeed others. I forget the
total number of applications made.
Mr
A.J. Simpson : It was 106.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : It was 106; thank you, minister.
They were dealt with, and dealt with
quickly. Also it was made very clear at the time of application that any payout
would take into consideration payments that people had received under the
Redress system. That was very clear. It is not a compensation scheme in the
sense that we cannot compensate now adults for the abuse they suffered as children,
but it was done quickly and it was done in good faith by this state. To suggest
that there is any relationship between something that was handled properly,
compassionately and quickly by this government with what happened at nib
Stadium is disingenuous and disrespectful to the people who in good faith
sought compensation.
Mr P.B. Watson :
Rubbish!
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
You need to lift your sights a little bit, member for Albany, because that is
not the way you deal —
Mr P.B. Watson : I
have met them. I have sat down with those people, and you haven't even
got the ticker to do it!
The SPEAKER :
Member for Albany!
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
This government handled that with respect and compassion for the individuals.
Probably no amount of money can compensate those people for the abuse they
suffered but we dealt with it.
With respect to the other part of
the totally unrelated question on the situation at nib Stadium, the Minister
for Sport and Recreation already answered that last week. The innuendo, the
implication, that somehow a minister was influenced is wrong. It is wrong, and
I take it as somewhat offensive that a member over there can accuse people on
this side of the house—ministers—of behaving under influence.
Mr P.B. Watson : I
never said that.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : If
the member for Albany has any evidence —
Mr M.P. Murray :
Get back to the subject.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
This was the question.
If the member for Albany has any evidence of improper conduct
by a minister, tell me or take it to the Corruption and Crime Commission.
Mr P.B. Watson :
Read the question I asked you. You are gutless!
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
The member for Albany should do his job, show some respect and if he has any
evidence of anything wrong, deal with it.
I fail to see the relationship between the victims of abuse at Katanning hostel
and the situation with the contractual arrangements relating to nib Stadium and
Perth Glory.
Mr P.B. Watson :
You don't care!
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
Mr Speaker, I do care.
Mr P.B. Watson :
You don't!
The
SPEAKER : Member for Albany, I call you to order for the second time.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : The member for Albany has asked a number of questions in this
house, and I give him credit for raising the issue of those people who were
abused as children at the Katanning hostel. This government very quickly set up
the Blaxell inquiry. It reported, we adopted its recommendations and we also
agreed to an ex gratia compensation—if I can use that term—payment.
That was not recommended by Blaxell, and yet —
Mr
P.B. Watson : But it wasn't in the terms of the inquiry by the
minister.
The
SPEAKER : Member for Albany!
Mr
P.B. Watson : You set up the terms of the inquiry and you didn't
include it, so you wouldn't have to pay.
The SPEAKER :
Member for Albany, do you want to have a rest?
Mr P.B. Watson :
Um!
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : Former Supreme Court Justice Blaxell produced his report and
made his recommendations, and we accepted them. In addition, this government
decided to set up a compensation or ex gratia scheme. That was made available
to the students who had attended that hostel, and indeed others. I forget the
total number of applications made.
Mr
A.J. Simpson : It was 106.
Mr
C.J. BARNETT : It was 106; thank you, minister.
They were dealt with, and dealt with
quickly. Also it was made very clear at the time of application that any payout
would take into consideration payments that people had received under the
Redress system. That was very clear. It is not a compensation scheme in the
sense that we cannot compensate now adults for the abuse they suffered as children,
but it was done quickly and it was done in good faith by this state. To suggest
that there is any relationship between something that was handled properly,
compassionately and quickly by this government with what happened at nib
Stadium is disingenuous and disrespectful to the people who in good faith
sought compensation.
Mr P.B. Watson :
Rubbish!
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
You need to lift your sights a little bit, member for Albany, because that is
not the way you deal —
Mr P.B. Watson : I
have met them. I have sat down with those people, and you haven't even
got the ticker to do it!
The SPEAKER :
Member for Albany!
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
This government handled that with respect and compassion for the individuals.
Probably no amount of money can compensate those people for the abuse they
suffered but we dealt with it.
With respect to the other part of
the totally unrelated question on the situation at nib Stadium, the Minister
for Sport and Recreation already answered that last week. The innuendo, the
implication, that somehow a minister was influenced is wrong. It is wrong, and
I take it as somewhat offensive that a member over there can accuse people on
this side of the house—ministers—of behaving under influence.
Mr P.B. Watson : I
never said that.
Mr C.J. BARNETT : If
the member for Albany has any evidence —
Mr M.P. Murray :
Get back to the subject.
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
This was the question.
If the member for Albany has any evidence of improper conduct
by a minister, tell me or take it to the Corruption and Crime Commission.
Mr P.B. Watson :
Read the question I asked you. You are gutless!
Mr C.J. BARNETT :
The member for Albany should do his job, show some respect and if he has any
evidence of anything wrong, deal with it.
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