Ms CARNEY - 2005-10-11
Are you aware of the report in the Centralian Advocate of 9 September 2005, as well as the previously referred to report in the Sunday Age of 25 September, which both assert that a statement given to police by Steven Hanley, the former manager of the Papunya store, alleges that public servants and/or Territory officials conspired to falsify a document as part of a formal investigation into the inappropriate disposal of goods at the Papunya store? What is your response to the allegation against the public servants? Have you undertaken your own investigation in relation to it or, alternatively, have you asked the Public Service Commissioner to investigate this matter?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I answered this question previously, and just because the member phrases it in a different way and gives it a different angle …
Ms Carney: The Public Service Commissioner?
Ms MARTIN: We have said that these allegations - and I state again that they are allegations - are being properly dealt with by government ...
Ms Carney: The Public Service Commissioner?
Ms MARTIN: We have the police looking into some aspects, the Department of Justice looking into other aspects, and the Commonwealth has a report from the Office of Evaluation and Audit that they are just about to release, as I understand.
Ms Carney: The Public Service Commissioner?
Ms MARTIN: The implication of these continued questions is that government is doing nothing …
Ms Carney: Well, I am just wondering whether you have spoken to the Public Service Commissioner.
Ms MARTIN: I restate to the Leader of the Opposition that we are appropriately responding. Your employee, John Elferink, the former member for Macdonnell, has already rung the Electoral Commissioner, for example. He is asking the Electoral Commission to investigate what allegations there are about distribution of goods …
Ms Carney: And in relation to public servants, what do you say?
Ms MARTIN: … and, appropriately, the action is being taken. These are allegations …
Ms Carney: Public Service Commissioner not contacted.
Ms MARTIN: … and I restate that we had a situation - you have mentioned Steve Hanley - where Steve Hanley and the current member for Macdonnell are having a very sad and difficult relationship break-up. I would have thought, from the Opposition Leader’s point of view, you might have been aware of some of the difficulties when relations do break up. There is no sensitivity on her part …
Ms CARNEY: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I am not entirely sure why the Chief Minister saw fit to make that last comment.
Mr Henderson: What is your point of order? Which standing order?
Ms CARNEY: It is one based on relevance, member for Wanguri, and patience is not a quality you have. I do ask, Madam Speaker, that you attempt to rein in the Chief Minister so that when she goes off on these extraordinary tangents she at least comes back to the question.
Madam SPEAKER: Leader of the Opposition, there is no point of order.
Ms MARTIN: Madam Speaker, there is a very clear purpose in all these allegations and in what the Opposition Leader is presenting to this parliament. It is an attempt to discredit the member for Macdonnell …
Ms Carney: It is about you and your government. It is about you …
Mr Henderson interjecting.
Ms Carney: And you, we will come to you.
Ms MARTIN: It is an attempt to discredit and smear the member for Macdonnell, initiated by the former member for Macdonnell. We are appropriately acting on allegations. I stand by the member for Macdonnell, who won that seat fairly, who is going through a very difficult personal circumstance. We stand by her 100%. We are fully supportive of what is going on. I know it is very difficult but, despite her difficult circumstances, she is working hard, she is doing what she is tasked to do here and that is working for her constituency. She is a very valuable member of this government.
I really take offence at the kind of allegations that are being promoted by the Leader of the Opposition, and drafted for her by the man who lost the seat of Macdonnell …
Ms CARNEY: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The Chief Minister should withdraw that. She does not know who drafted my question. As a matter of fact, it was me.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Leader of the Opposition, resume your seat.
Members interjecting.
Ms Carney: Madam Speaker, I counsel …
Madam SPEAKER: Order! No, Leader of the Opposition, there is no point of order. The Chief Minister is not on her feet. There is no point of order.
Ms Carney: Well, the Chief Minister is sailing extremely close to the wind.
Madam SPEAKER: Leader of the Opposition, resume your seat.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I answered this question previously, and just because the member phrases it in a different way and gives it a different angle …
Ms Carney: The Public Service Commissioner?
Ms MARTIN: We have said that these allegations - and I state again that they are allegations - are being properly dealt with by government ...
Ms Carney: The Public Service Commissioner?
Ms MARTIN: We have the police looking into some aspects, the Department of Justice looking into other aspects, and the Commonwealth has a report from the Office of Evaluation and Audit that they are just about to release, as I understand.
Ms Carney: The Public Service Commissioner?
Ms MARTIN: The implication of these continued questions is that government is doing nothing …
Ms Carney: Well, I am just wondering whether you have spoken to the Public Service Commissioner.
Ms MARTIN: I restate to the Leader of the Opposition that we are appropriately responding. Your employee, John Elferink, the former member for Macdonnell, has already rung the Electoral Commissioner, for example. He is asking the Electoral Commission to investigate what allegations there are about distribution of goods …
Ms Carney: And in relation to public servants, what do you say?
Ms MARTIN: … and, appropriately, the action is being taken. These are allegations …
Ms Carney: Public Service Commissioner not contacted.
Ms MARTIN: … and I restate that we had a situation - you have mentioned Steve Hanley - where Steve Hanley and the current member for Macdonnell are having a very sad and difficult relationship break-up. I would have thought, from the Opposition Leader’s point of view, you might have been aware of some of the difficulties when relations do break up. There is no sensitivity on her part …
Ms CARNEY: A point of order, Madam Speaker! I am not entirely sure why the Chief Minister saw fit to make that last comment.
Mr Henderson: What is your point of order? Which standing order?
Ms CARNEY: It is one based on relevance, member for Wanguri, and patience is not a quality you have. I do ask, Madam Speaker, that you attempt to rein in the Chief Minister so that when she goes off on these extraordinary tangents she at least comes back to the question.
Madam SPEAKER: Leader of the Opposition, there is no point of order.
Ms MARTIN: Madam Speaker, there is a very clear purpose in all these allegations and in what the Opposition Leader is presenting to this parliament. It is an attempt to discredit the member for Macdonnell …
Ms Carney: It is about you and your government. It is about you …
Mr Henderson interjecting.
Ms Carney: And you, we will come to you.
Ms MARTIN: It is an attempt to discredit and smear the member for Macdonnell, initiated by the former member for Macdonnell. We are appropriately acting on allegations. I stand by the member for Macdonnell, who won that seat fairly, who is going through a very difficult personal circumstance. We stand by her 100%. We are fully supportive of what is going on. I know it is very difficult but, despite her difficult circumstances, she is working hard, she is doing what she is tasked to do here and that is working for her constituency. She is a very valuable member of this government.
I really take offence at the kind of allegations that are being promoted by the Leader of the Opposition, and drafted for her by the man who lost the seat of Macdonnell …
Ms CARNEY: A point of order, Madam Speaker! The Chief Minister should withdraw that. She does not know who drafted my question. As a matter of fact, it was me.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Leader of the Opposition, resume your seat.
Members interjecting.
Ms Carney: Madam Speaker, I counsel …
Madam SPEAKER: Order! No, Leader of the Opposition, there is no point of order. The Chief Minister is not on her feet. There is no point of order.
Ms Carney: Well, the Chief Minister is sailing extremely close to the wind.
Madam SPEAKER: Leader of the Opposition, resume your seat.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016