Hon Frank Hough questions the Minister for Consumer and Employment Protection regarding Harry Neesham's alleged backdating of a WorkCover claim deadline, potentially depriving injured Australians of their rights. The Minister, Hon Nick Griffiths, deflects responsibility by stating he was not in his current role at the time of the alleged incident.

AnsweredQoN 283Legislative Council
Asked
23 October 2002
Portfolio
Consumer and Employment Protection

QuestionView source ↗

In a 6PR radio interview conducted at 11.00 am on 14 December 1999, Paul O’Halloran asked the then Premier, Richard Court, and Harry Neesham when was the deadline to lodge a common law claim under the new WorkCover rules. At the time, neither man answered Mr O’Halloran’s question. This led Mr O’Halloran to make the public aware that the cut-off time was 5.00 pm that evening, which effectively deprived many injured Australians of their right to lodge a formal claim. (1) When did the minister become aware that Harry Neesham passed a regulation on 14 December 1999, which was not debated before Parliament and which had the effect of backdating the cut-off time to 5.00 pm the night before, 13 December? (2) When will the minister stand down Harry Neesham as a result of Mr Neesham’s despicable actions? (3) If the minister will not stand down Harry Neesham, why not? Hon NICK GRIFFITHS

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(3) The minister who is currently responsible for the Workers’ Compensation and Rehabilitation Act was not a minister at the date mentioned in the question and was consequently not involved in the process of approving these regulations.
(1) When did the minister become aware that Harry Neesham passed a regulation on 14 December 1999, which was not debated before Parliament and which had the effect of backdating the cut-off time to 5.00 pm the night before, 13 December? (2) When will the minister stand down Harry Neesham as a result of Mr Neesham’s despicable actions? (3) If the minister will not stand down Harry Neesham, why not? Hon NICK GRIFFITHS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(3) The minister who is currently responsible for the Workers’ Compensation and Rehabilitation Act was not a minister at the date mentioned in the question and was consequently not involved in the process of approving these regulations.
(2) When will the minister stand down Harry Neesham as a result of Mr Neesham’s despicable actions? (3) If the minister will not stand down Harry Neesham, why not? Hon NICK GRIFFITHS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(3) The minister who is currently responsible for the Workers’ Compensation and Rehabilitation Act was not a minister at the date mentioned in the question and was consequently not involved in the process of approving these regulations.
(3) If the minister will not stand down Harry Neesham, why not? Hon NICK GRIFFITHS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(3) The minister who is currently responsible for the Workers’ Compensation and Rehabilitation Act was not a minister at the date mentioned in the question and was consequently not involved in the process of approving these regulations.
Hon NICK GRIFFITHS replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(3) The minister who is currently responsible for the Workers’ Compensation and Rehabilitation Act was not a minister at the date mentioned in the question and was consequently not involved in the process of approving these regulations.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(3) The minister who is currently responsible for the Workers’ Compensation and Rehabilitation Act was not a minister at the date mentioned in the question and was consequently not involved in the process of approving these regulations.
(1)-(3) The minister who is currently responsible for the Workers’ Compensation and Rehabilitation Act was not a minister at the date mentioned in the question and was consequently not involved in the process of approving these regulations.

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