Mrs HICKEY - 2000-10-19
An evaluation of the Northern Territory Domestic Violence Strategy recommended and I quote: ‘That all future funding to service provision be based on a best value tendering process’.
Domestic violence legal service funding was removed from a community-based organisation in July this year and given to CLP mates, Withnall Maley, a commercial legal firm specialising in criminal matters. Is it the case that unlike the community-based legal help service, Withnall Maley has had to turn some female clients away because it is representing the alleged perpetrators?
Just where do women who are turned away go for help? What is this service now costing, and does the minister believe that victims of domestic violence are getting best value from this arrangement?
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, to take the last point first, yes, victims of domestic violence continue to get from the Northern Territory government the best attention to that particular issue that we can provide with programs and polices that have been applauded right throughout Australia.
With regards to the recent awarding of a tender for domestic violence legal help, I am advised that that came as a result of the consultant’s report into that particular item and other issues with regards to our policies and programs. The recommendations from the consultant were that an opportunity should be taken to put that particular service out to tender in order to get better options and better service than was possible.
I am quite happy to provide the member with not only a briefing but I am happy to come back and advise the House in more detail but my recollection is that with regard to the community legal service that was conducting the program, they had a set price to conduct the program in the future; they would not budge from that price. It was the department’s opinion and also the consultant’s opinion that a better service could be provided and at a cheaper price and therefore it was awarded to a provider who could achieve that task.
In Alice Springs, the provider giving the service was re-engaged. Any allegations of impropriety I would emphasise are absolutely baseless; these decisions were in the hands of hard working public servants and I support their decisions.
Domestic violence legal service funding was removed from a community-based organisation in July this year and given to CLP mates, Withnall Maley, a commercial legal firm specialising in criminal matters. Is it the case that unlike the community-based legal help service, Withnall Maley has had to turn some female clients away because it is representing the alleged perpetrators?
Just where do women who are turned away go for help? What is this service now costing, and does the minister believe that victims of domestic violence are getting best value from this arrangement?
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, to take the last point first, yes, victims of domestic violence continue to get from the Northern Territory government the best attention to that particular issue that we can provide with programs and polices that have been applauded right throughout Australia.
With regards to the recent awarding of a tender for domestic violence legal help, I am advised that that came as a result of the consultant’s report into that particular item and other issues with regards to our policies and programs. The recommendations from the consultant were that an opportunity should be taken to put that particular service out to tender in order to get better options and better service than was possible.
I am quite happy to provide the member with not only a briefing but I am happy to come back and advise the House in more detail but my recollection is that with regard to the community legal service that was conducting the program, they had a set price to conduct the program in the future; they would not budge from that price. It was the department’s opinion and also the consultant’s opinion that a better service could be provided and at a cheaper price and therefore it was awarded to a provider who could achieve that task.
In Alice Springs, the provider giving the service was re-engaged. Any allegations of impropriety I would emphasise are absolutely baseless; these decisions were in the hands of hard working public servants and I support their decisions.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016