Mr BELL - 1996-05-14
I refer him to the Country Liberal Party administration's payment of the private legal bills of the member for Sanderson - I wrote to him about this last week - when the member for Sanderson made a personal, private decision to sue the NT News. As the Attorney-General knows, the Country Liberal Party administration has broken the law. Indeed, it is in breach of the constitution of the Northern Territory because there was no statutory authorisation for the payment made to the member for Sanderson's private legal advisers, as section 45 of the Self-Government Act requires. My question is twofold. Firstly, will he table the advice of the Solicitor for the Northern Territory about the government's breaches of the Self-Government Act, as I requested in the letter I sent to him last week and, secondly, will he confirm that the payments to the member for Sanderson's private legal advisers were made from the Department of Law vote?
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, I make one point clear: I am not prepared to accept the views in the preamble by the member for MacDonnell and his allegations about breaches of the law. It is my view and the view of others that there has been no breach of the law. The member for MacDonnell raised some very specific and detailed allegations in his correspondence to me. I note that his question is out of order in that he is asking for a legal opinion.
Mr Ede: He is asking you to table the document, and asking where the money came from.
Mr HATTON: May I answer the question? I am not prepared to tender an opinion. I have sought advice on the allegations made by the member for MacDonnell and that is being addressed at the moment. When I receive the advice, I will consider whether or not I will table the matters and how they will be dealt with.
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ANSWER
Mr Speaker, I make one point clear: I am not prepared to accept the views in the preamble by the member for MacDonnell and his allegations about breaches of the law. It is my view and the view of others that there has been no breach of the law. The member for MacDonnell raised some very specific and detailed allegations in his correspondence to me. I note that his question is out of order in that he is asking for a legal opinion.
Mr Ede: He is asking you to table the document, and asking where the money came from.
Mr HATTON: May I answer the question? I am not prepared to tender an opinion. I have sought advice on the allegations made by the member for MacDonnell and that is being addressed at the moment. When I receive the advice, I will consider whether or not I will table the matters and how they will be dealt with.
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Last updated: 09 Aug 2016