Ms CARNEY - 2005-10-11
Are aware of an article in the Centralian Advocate on 16 September 2005, headed ‘Papunya cover up’, in which it reports, ‘The Territory government refused to answer questions about the role of the public servants at the centre of Mr Hanley’s allegations’. In a previous answer, you indicated that you had not referred the matter to the Commissioner for Public Employment to investigate, although you did refer to a number of other investigations that are under way. Can you please answer this question: was one of the so-called public servants Bob Durnan, a staffer employed by you in the Office of Central Australia in Alice Springs - yes or no?
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, before you respond, I just remind the Leader of the Opposition that, although parliamentary privilege is something we have as members, people who are not members of this parliament do not have a right of reply. It is a very serious matter to be naming people in this Chamber who do not have a right of reply. I caution you for any further questions. Chief Minister, I would have you bear that in mind as well.
ANSWER
Yes, Madam Speaker. It saddens me that we have the litany of allegations from the Leader of the Opposition. It is allegation after allegation. When you understand what the circumstances are that have led to those allegations, and the personalities involved behind many of them, it is disappointing that the Opposition Leader should accept as fact a whole range of allegations, some of which are wild allegations. You would expect a member of this parliament to be able to apply more discretion to some of the allegations and reports that have been written.
I say again to the Opposition Leader: we have taken the allegations seriously. I fundamentally believe that that is what they are – allegations. However, we are taking them seriously. I have listed through this parliamentary Question Time what we are doing. I am not going to make any specific response to anything as the Opposition Leader has challenged me. No, I will not.
The allegations will circle widely. They have certainly been promoted, and they will probably continue to be circulated widely because we have a man, in John Elferink, who wants to see the woman who won his seat smeared. We have a very difficult personal circumstance that is currently facing the member for Macdonnell. For the Opposition Leader to come in here …
Ms Carney: And ask questions – how dare she!
Ms MARTIN: … and try to make gain out of family conflict, I find personally very distressing.
Ms Carney: Oh, rubbish!
Ms MARTIN: Madam Speaker, she can shuffle her papers and …
Ms Carney: Read the Hansard!
Ms MARTIN: … and look exhausted and yawn, and make all the signs that she is doing, but the fundamentals are, two things: a man who lost a seat to a very fine member of parliament, and a very difficult and bitter family conflict. Two aspects, and what do we have? The Opposition Leader, who is rubbing her hands about it, who is in this parliament regurgitating allegation after allegation with no foundation.
However, this government is taking those allegations seriously. We are putting them forward to the appropriate authorities. They are with Justice and Consumer Affairs, the police, and the Electoral Commissioner, if he decides to pick them up. They are being dealt with. I say to the Leader of the Opposition: that is appropriate government behaviour. Your allegations and smears …
Ms Carney: They are not my allegations! So, cagey as ever!
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms MARTIN: … bring discredit to you and the opposition.
Madam SPEAKER: Chief Minister, before you respond, I just remind the Leader of the Opposition that, although parliamentary privilege is something we have as members, people who are not members of this parliament do not have a right of reply. It is a very serious matter to be naming people in this Chamber who do not have a right of reply. I caution you for any further questions. Chief Minister, I would have you bear that in mind as well.
ANSWER
Yes, Madam Speaker. It saddens me that we have the litany of allegations from the Leader of the Opposition. It is allegation after allegation. When you understand what the circumstances are that have led to those allegations, and the personalities involved behind many of them, it is disappointing that the Opposition Leader should accept as fact a whole range of allegations, some of which are wild allegations. You would expect a member of this parliament to be able to apply more discretion to some of the allegations and reports that have been written.
I say again to the Opposition Leader: we have taken the allegations seriously. I fundamentally believe that that is what they are – allegations. However, we are taking them seriously. I have listed through this parliamentary Question Time what we are doing. I am not going to make any specific response to anything as the Opposition Leader has challenged me. No, I will not.
The allegations will circle widely. They have certainly been promoted, and they will probably continue to be circulated widely because we have a man, in John Elferink, who wants to see the woman who won his seat smeared. We have a very difficult personal circumstance that is currently facing the member for Macdonnell. For the Opposition Leader to come in here …
Ms Carney: And ask questions – how dare she!
Ms MARTIN: … and try to make gain out of family conflict, I find personally very distressing.
Ms Carney: Oh, rubbish!
Ms MARTIN: Madam Speaker, she can shuffle her papers and …
Ms Carney: Read the Hansard!
Ms MARTIN: … and look exhausted and yawn, and make all the signs that she is doing, but the fundamentals are, two things: a man who lost a seat to a very fine member of parliament, and a very difficult and bitter family conflict. Two aspects, and what do we have? The Opposition Leader, who is rubbing her hands about it, who is in this parliament regurgitating allegation after allegation with no foundation.
However, this government is taking those allegations seriously. We are putting them forward to the appropriate authorities. They are with Justice and Consumer Affairs, the police, and the Electoral Commissioner, if he decides to pick them up. They are being dealt with. I say to the Leader of the Opposition: that is appropriate government behaviour. Your allegations and smears …
Ms Carney: They are not my allegations! So, cagey as ever!
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms MARTIN: … bring discredit to you and the opposition.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016