Mrs HICKEY - 1996-11-28
Several times this week, the Chief Minister has boldly stated that the report from the Director of Public Prosecutions clears his government and his department. If he is so confident about that, will he give this House a clear, unqualified, categorical assurance that no private
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and confidential information on any Territorian has been passed by his government or any of the government departments to third parties, not only during this period but during the period of the last election?
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, it is simply amazing. I thought Territorians would have been interested to hear about projects that are on the go in the Territory, about the fact that ours is the growth economy of Australia and that we have the lowest levels of unemployment. We expected some probing questions from members opposite about how we might be able to improve on that performance for the benefit of all Territorians, but all we have had are the same tired old allegations that they have been running now for 2 weeks to nil effect. If the question the Leader of the Opposition is asking is whether I, Shane Stone, have ever made any confidential information ...
Mrs Hickey: No, your government or any ...
Mr STONE: ... available, I will say in a very unqualified way that the answer is no.
Mrs Hickey: And what about your government?
Mr STONE: Which part of that word don't you understand? How many times ...
Mrs Hickey: What part of the question don't you understand?
Mr STONE: How many times do I have to tell you that, neither as an individual nor in my capacity as Chief Minister, have I ever released such information?
Mrs Hickey: And does that apply to your government?
Mr STONE: I am here to answer for myself. I am satisfied that the police report to the DPP, which has been tabled in this parliament, shows that no one had done anything wrong. Members opposite have tried very hard to cast these murky, unsubstantiated allegations against the Deputy Chief Minister and the Attorney-General ...
Mrs Hickey interjecting.
Mr STONE: You have failed miserably. Why don't you move on?
Mrs Hickey: Give a categorical assurance.
Mr STONE: Why don't you move on? There are far more important issues in the lives of Territorians.
Mrs Hickey: Yes or no. That will do it.
Mr SPEAKER: Order!
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and confidential information on any Territorian has been passed by his government or any of the government departments to third parties, not only during this period but during the period of the last election?
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, it is simply amazing. I thought Territorians would have been interested to hear about projects that are on the go in the Territory, about the fact that ours is the growth economy of Australia and that we have the lowest levels of unemployment. We expected some probing questions from members opposite about how we might be able to improve on that performance for the benefit of all Territorians, but all we have had are the same tired old allegations that they have been running now for 2 weeks to nil effect. If the question the Leader of the Opposition is asking is whether I, Shane Stone, have ever made any confidential information ...
Mrs Hickey: No, your government or any ...
Mr STONE: ... available, I will say in a very unqualified way that the answer is no.
Mrs Hickey: And what about your government?
Mr STONE: Which part of that word don't you understand? How many times ...
Mrs Hickey: What part of the question don't you understand?
Mr STONE: How many times do I have to tell you that, neither as an individual nor in my capacity as Chief Minister, have I ever released such information?
Mrs Hickey: And does that apply to your government?
Mr STONE: I am here to answer for myself. I am satisfied that the police report to the DPP, which has been tabled in this parliament, shows that no one had done anything wrong. Members opposite have tried very hard to cast these murky, unsubstantiated allegations against the Deputy Chief Minister and the Attorney-General ...
Mrs Hickey interjecting.
Mr STONE: You have failed miserably. Why don't you move on?
Mrs Hickey: Give a categorical assurance.
Mr STONE: Why don't you move on? There are far more important issues in the lives of Territorians.
Mrs Hickey: Yes or no. That will do it.
Mr SPEAKER: Order!
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Last updated: 09 Aug 2016