Mr BURKE - 2005-02-15
Is it true that within your organisation on the fifth floor of Parliament House, you have compiled a secret database, whereby you track comment and political affiliation of Territorians, as well as record comments made by public servants and business people? Some examples are: recording Mr Armstrong of the Cattlemen’s Association as being part of the federal Coalition; recording Norman Fry of the Northern Land Council as giving positive third-party endorsement of your government; recording Ian Smith, CEO of the Seafood Council as making negative comments against government; recording five entries against the name of Warren Anderson, a man who is already engaged in defamation proceedings against your government; and recording Anne Shepherd, the Mayor of Katherine, as being critical of your government. It also includes …
Mr HENDERSON: A point of order, Madam Speaker.
Madam SPEAKER: I think those are enough examples. That is enough!
Mr BURKE: It also includes the names of members of parliament, private business people and public servants. They all appear in the dossier. Why are you keeping secret files on Territorians, and do you believe that such files will create mistrust, suspicion and fear in your leadership …
Mr HENDERSON: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The member for Macdonnell is waving around documents and making very serious allegations. I would urge a ruling from you whether that is appropriate behaviour from the member for Macdonnell.
Madam SPEAKER: Firstly, I believe all you managed to do was draw attention to the fact that the member for Macdonnell was waving around a file, which I believe often happens in this House, unfortunately. It may not have the title on it that was entirely appropriate. Member for Macdonnell, you have been asked if you will table that file.
Mr ELFERINK: Madam Speaker, there is no requirement under standing orders for me to table this …
Madam SPEAKER: No, however, you have been asked.
Mr ELFERINK: … and I am not going to.
Madam SPEAKER: That is fine. That is all you have to say.
Mr Elferink interjecting.
Members interjecting.
Mr Elferink: Who is going to die over this up there? Who is going to get shafted?
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order!
Mr BALDWIN: A point of order, Madam Speaker! This is a copy of their file, and they should …
Madam SPEAKER: I do not believe that is a point of order. Good try!
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, from the nature of the question, I believe the Opposition Leader has more knowledge of what is on the appropriate databases of government than I do. As members of parliament, we all know we have databases that we use for interest groups, for contacting constituents, for logging constituents’ interests, for logging constituents’ complaints and concerns – all those things. Every single member of this House would have those in their databases.
The government database is entirely appropriate, and I …
Dr Lim: Anne Shepherd is your constituent, is she?
Madam SPEAKER: Order, member for Greatorex.
Dr Lim: She is your constituent, is she?
Madam SPEAKER: Order, thank you!
Ms MARTIN: I will say that, in 2005, you would be seriously shocked at a member of parliament or a government, where we have such excellent IT, that we did not have such databases – which are totally appropriate.
Mr HENDERSON: A point of order, Madam Speaker.
Madam SPEAKER: I think those are enough examples. That is enough!
Mr BURKE: It also includes the names of members of parliament, private business people and public servants. They all appear in the dossier. Why are you keeping secret files on Territorians, and do you believe that such files will create mistrust, suspicion and fear in your leadership …
Mr HENDERSON: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The member for Macdonnell is waving around documents and making very serious allegations. I would urge a ruling from you whether that is appropriate behaviour from the member for Macdonnell.
Madam SPEAKER: Firstly, I believe all you managed to do was draw attention to the fact that the member for Macdonnell was waving around a file, which I believe often happens in this House, unfortunately. It may not have the title on it that was entirely appropriate. Member for Macdonnell, you have been asked if you will table that file.
Mr ELFERINK: Madam Speaker, there is no requirement under standing orders for me to table this …
Madam SPEAKER: No, however, you have been asked.
Mr ELFERINK: … and I am not going to.
Madam SPEAKER: That is fine. That is all you have to say.
Mr Elferink interjecting.
Members interjecting.
Mr Elferink: Who is going to die over this up there? Who is going to get shafted?
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order!
Mr BALDWIN: A point of order, Madam Speaker! This is a copy of their file, and they should …
Madam SPEAKER: I do not believe that is a point of order. Good try!
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, from the nature of the question, I believe the Opposition Leader has more knowledge of what is on the appropriate databases of government than I do. As members of parliament, we all know we have databases that we use for interest groups, for contacting constituents, for logging constituents’ interests, for logging constituents’ complaints and concerns – all those things. Every single member of this House would have those in their databases.
The government database is entirely appropriate, and I …
Dr Lim: Anne Shepherd is your constituent, is she?
Madam SPEAKER: Order, member for Greatorex.
Dr Lim: She is your constituent, is she?
Madam SPEAKER: Order, thank you!
Ms MARTIN: I will say that, in 2005, you would be seriously shocked at a member of parliament or a government, where we have such excellent IT, that we did not have such databases – which are totally appropriate.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016