Mr ELFERINK - 2000-10-11
My question arises out of a comment by the Treasurer and is directed to the Chief Minister. The Leader of the Opposition who came to this Chamber and said that her leadership would end mudslinging, yesterday went onto ABC radio and said there was no deception of police when she deliberately withheld information with which she could have assisted them in an investigation they were conducting. What is the Chief Minister’s response to this claim?
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, may I say that it gives me no pleasure to pursue this issue. But it can be quickly decided by some simple acknowledgement from the Leader of the Opposition of what constitutes a deception or not and whether or not she is guilty of that deception. Yesterday on ABC radio with regards to the Adele/Catherine deceiving of the Police Commissioner affair, the Leader of the Opposition said: ‘There was no deception. It was - there was - it was a situation that has been grasped by Denis Burke and he is attempting to distort that situation’.
The dictionary definition of ‘deception’ is this: ‘The act of deceiving; the state of being deceived; something that deceives or is intended to deceive; a sham; a cheat’. I will recap for Territorians and members of this House what transpired and others can judge whether the Leader of the Opposition has engaged or has not engaged in a deception of the police and the public.
On 22 August, using a false name, and with the full knowledge of the Labor Opposition Leader, and in collusion, I believe, with one John Bailey, her chief of staff rang ABC talkback radio claiming that police had failed to investigate a burglary at her home, because she told them she opposed mandatory sentencing.
Mr Stirling: Say it outside. Cowards’ castle.
Mr SPEAKER: Order!
Mr BURKE: Following the complaint on public radio - you don’t like hearing this, that’s why …
Mr Stirling: Go outside and allege that against Bailey and see what you get.
Mr BURKE: I’ll go out any time.
Members interjecting.
Mr SPEAKER: Order!
Mr BURKE: Following the complaint on public radio, the Police Commissioner launched an investigation appealing for the caller to come forward to assist police with their investigations. The Opposition Leader and her chief of staff ignored police requests for almost two weeks, until they were forced to admit to their deception when it was revealed on national television. After being exposed on national television, the Labor Opposition Leader claimed her chief of staff had used a false name because she feared the government.
Now, not only did they not reveal the deception to police and cause unnecessary investigation by police, but then she went on and said that the reason her staffer used a false name was that she feared retribution from the government. That was claimed and quoted. You wonder why these things go on. That was claimed and quoted in the NT News on 6 September, quoting Ms Martin as saying with regards to Ms Young’s true identity: ‘There is fear, there is intimidation about giving your name and being public about who you are, and saying things that are critical’.
The editorial of 6 September in the NT News said: ‘Ms Martin said Ms Young had not wanted to reveal her identity because of fears of intimidation and victimisation by the CLP government’. This is what her chief of staff told the ABC’s Media Watch :
I identified myself and where I worked at the commencement of the conversation. I informed Kate Findlayson that I wouldn’t be of any use to her as a story as I work for the Leader of the Opposition.
Yesterday, Clare Martin admitted that this was the true version. This was the true version and the ABC knew exactly what was happening and fear of the government was not the reason her chief of staff used a false name.
There is further deception in another untruthful attempt to explain away, first of all, the perception of police …
Ms Martin: You just make it up, Denis, don’t you?
Mr BURKE: … and I simply …
Members interjecting.
Mr BURKE: The Leader of the Opposition says I make it up.
Members interjecting.
Mr SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Mr BURKE: We have deception and collusion at the highest level …
Mr Stirling: Go outside and allege collusion.
Mr BURKE: I will go outside at lunch time and speak to any camera and any reporter you wish to nominate on this issue.
Mr Speaker, there is collusion and deception at the highest level in the Leader of the Opposition’s office to deceive police, to deceive the public and to lie to, not only Fred McCue, but to the media and to continue that deception. The definition of deception is this: The art of deceiving; the state of being deceived; something that deceives or intended to deceive; a sham; a cheat. I let others be the judge.
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, may I say that it gives me no pleasure to pursue this issue. But it can be quickly decided by some simple acknowledgement from the Leader of the Opposition of what constitutes a deception or not and whether or not she is guilty of that deception. Yesterday on ABC radio with regards to the Adele/Catherine deceiving of the Police Commissioner affair, the Leader of the Opposition said: ‘There was no deception. It was - there was - it was a situation that has been grasped by Denis Burke and he is attempting to distort that situation’.
The dictionary definition of ‘deception’ is this: ‘The act of deceiving; the state of being deceived; something that deceives or is intended to deceive; a sham; a cheat’. I will recap for Territorians and members of this House what transpired and others can judge whether the Leader of the Opposition has engaged or has not engaged in a deception of the police and the public.
On 22 August, using a false name, and with the full knowledge of the Labor Opposition Leader, and in collusion, I believe, with one John Bailey, her chief of staff rang ABC talkback radio claiming that police had failed to investigate a burglary at her home, because she told them she opposed mandatory sentencing.
Mr Stirling: Say it outside. Cowards’ castle.
Mr SPEAKER: Order!
Mr BURKE: Following the complaint on public radio - you don’t like hearing this, that’s why …
Mr Stirling: Go outside and allege that against Bailey and see what you get.
Mr BURKE: I’ll go out any time.
Members interjecting.
Mr SPEAKER: Order!
Mr BURKE: Following the complaint on public radio, the Police Commissioner launched an investigation appealing for the caller to come forward to assist police with their investigations. The Opposition Leader and her chief of staff ignored police requests for almost two weeks, until they were forced to admit to their deception when it was revealed on national television. After being exposed on national television, the Labor Opposition Leader claimed her chief of staff had used a false name because she feared the government.
Now, not only did they not reveal the deception to police and cause unnecessary investigation by police, but then she went on and said that the reason her staffer used a false name was that she feared retribution from the government. That was claimed and quoted. You wonder why these things go on. That was claimed and quoted in the NT News on 6 September, quoting Ms Martin as saying with regards to Ms Young’s true identity: ‘There is fear, there is intimidation about giving your name and being public about who you are, and saying things that are critical’.
The editorial of 6 September in the NT News said: ‘Ms Martin said Ms Young had not wanted to reveal her identity because of fears of intimidation and victimisation by the CLP government’. This is what her chief of staff told the ABC’s Media Watch :
I identified myself and where I worked at the commencement of the conversation. I informed Kate Findlayson that I wouldn’t be of any use to her as a story as I work for the Leader of the Opposition.
Yesterday, Clare Martin admitted that this was the true version. This was the true version and the ABC knew exactly what was happening and fear of the government was not the reason her chief of staff used a false name.
There is further deception in another untruthful attempt to explain away, first of all, the perception of police …
Ms Martin: You just make it up, Denis, don’t you?
Mr BURKE: … and I simply …
Members interjecting.
Mr BURKE: The Leader of the Opposition says I make it up.
Members interjecting.
Mr SPEAKER: Order! Order!
Mr BURKE: We have deception and collusion at the highest level …
Mr Stirling: Go outside and allege collusion.
Mr BURKE: I will go outside at lunch time and speak to any camera and any reporter you wish to nominate on this issue.
Mr Speaker, there is collusion and deception at the highest level in the Leader of the Opposition’s office to deceive police, to deceive the public and to lie to, not only Fred McCue, but to the media and to continue that deception. The definition of deception is this: The art of deceiving; the state of being deceived; something that deceives or intended to deceive; a sham; a cheat. I let others be the judge.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016