Mrs BRAHAM - 2006-02-21
Last Wednesday, in answer to my question regarding rehabilitation facilities in Alice Springs for juvenile petrol sniffers, you stated: ‘My agency has negotiated directly with two agencies to date, both DASA and ASYASS. They have juvenile beds available …’. Nothing could be further from the truth. There has been no approach to ASYASS to be involved in this important service, although they had a purpose-built unit, that was funded, by the way, by the Community Harmony Program. Will you apologise to this House for misleading with that information, and the general public regarding ASYASS?
Mr HENDERSON: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The member for Braitling well knows she cannot accuse any member of this House of misleading the parliament unless she does so by way of substantive motion. I would ask the member for Braitling to either do so or withdraw the allegation.
Mrs BRAHAM: Madam Speaker, I will rephrase the question.
Minister, will you apologise to ASYASS for passing on this incorrect information? Will you now get your department to negotiate directly with ASYASS to provide a service for juvenile petrol sniffers? Will you ensure they have adequate funding, and do you really understand that we need a facility for juvenile petrol sniffers in Alice Springs?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I am pleased to respond to the member for Braitling. I find it curious, because the member for Braitling is of the opinion that ASYASS would not be a good service for juvenile petrol sniffing rehabilitation, and I challenge her on that view.
It certainly has been the advice provided to me as minister for my agency that they have been negotiating with both ASYASS and DASA, and that both of those services have indicated they have beds available for juvenile petrol sniffers. When I queried this advice …
Mrs Braham: Minister, you are wrong. ASYASS has already notified you.
Ms LAWRIE: If you ask the question let me respond without interruption, member for Braitling.
Mrs Braham: Get it right, minister.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Braitling, order!
Ms LAWRIE: When I queried this advice, I said does that mean the beds that were made available, the new beds that have not been used yet under Community Harmony, I was advised, yes, indeed, it does mean those beds. We do not as yet have an issue with how negotiations have gone with my agency. I am more than happy to commit my agency to go back to discussions with ASYASS, but that has been the advice I have been provided. It seems a shame and a waste for ASYASS to have beds, courtesy of the taxpayer, funded by the taxpayer, and available for good use in juvenile petrol sniffing rehabilitation. If ASYASS have an issue with negotiations, as to how they have gone, as to what funding is attached, I am more than happy to ensure my agency follows that up with them.
However, the advice I provided to the Assembly was the advice I have been given from my agency, and I know that no-one put their hand up for the juvenile petrol sniffing tender in Alice Springs. I know that will not occur again, because my agency not only went back and had discussions with DASA and ASYASS, they also had discussions with Tangentyere.
Mr HENDERSON: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The member for Braitling well knows she cannot accuse any member of this House of misleading the parliament unless she does so by way of substantive motion. I would ask the member for Braitling to either do so or withdraw the allegation.
Mrs BRAHAM: Madam Speaker, I will rephrase the question.
Minister, will you apologise to ASYASS for passing on this incorrect information? Will you now get your department to negotiate directly with ASYASS to provide a service for juvenile petrol sniffers? Will you ensure they have adequate funding, and do you really understand that we need a facility for juvenile petrol sniffers in Alice Springs?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I am pleased to respond to the member for Braitling. I find it curious, because the member for Braitling is of the opinion that ASYASS would not be a good service for juvenile petrol sniffing rehabilitation, and I challenge her on that view.
It certainly has been the advice provided to me as minister for my agency that they have been negotiating with both ASYASS and DASA, and that both of those services have indicated they have beds available for juvenile petrol sniffers. When I queried this advice …
Mrs Braham: Minister, you are wrong. ASYASS has already notified you.
Ms LAWRIE: If you ask the question let me respond without interruption, member for Braitling.
Mrs Braham: Get it right, minister.
Madam SPEAKER: Member for Braitling, order!
Ms LAWRIE: When I queried this advice, I said does that mean the beds that were made available, the new beds that have not been used yet under Community Harmony, I was advised, yes, indeed, it does mean those beds. We do not as yet have an issue with how negotiations have gone with my agency. I am more than happy to commit my agency to go back to discussions with ASYASS, but that has been the advice I have been provided. It seems a shame and a waste for ASYASS to have beds, courtesy of the taxpayer, funded by the taxpayer, and available for good use in juvenile petrol sniffing rehabilitation. If ASYASS have an issue with negotiations, as to how they have gone, as to what funding is attached, I am more than happy to ensure my agency follows that up with them.
However, the advice I provided to the Assembly was the advice I have been given from my agency, and I know that no-one put their hand up for the juvenile petrol sniffing tender in Alice Springs. I know that will not occur again, because my agency not only went back and had discussions with DASA and ASYASS, they also had discussions with Tangentyere.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016