Mr EDE - 1995-08-16
I refer the Chief Minister to the serious allegations made to the NT News by the former Chief Electoral Officer, Charlie Phillips. He said an attempt was made by 2 public servants to influence the conduct of the 1990 election campaign, in particular to limit the number and the extent of mobile polling places. This raises 2 important issues. Firstly, is it a fact that the 2 public servants involved in this offence were senior members of the Department of the Chief Minister, people who could be in a position to influence the activities of the Chief Electoral Officer and, in the normal course of events, his future public service career? Secondly, can the Chief Minister advise whether his investigations have shown whether one or both of the 2 senior public servants who attempted to influence the Chief Electoral Officer were acting on instructions - in particular, instructions issued by the former Chief Minister?
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, the Leader of the Opposition refers to allegations that have been made, through a newspaper, by the former Chief Electoral Officer. In July 1990, the very same electoral officer prepared a paper - and I will table the paper - in which he said that `the integrity of the electoral process, which is at the heart of the democratic system, has been scrupulously protected by the government'. That is the very same man who now, 4 years after the event, trapezes along to the local media, having left the public service and become a member of the ALP who is campaigning actively in the electorate of Jingili ...
Mr Stirling: Oh really!
Mr STONE: Are we supposed to give credibility to a person who makes allegations of that sort?
Mr Ede: Table the document.
Mr STONE: This is the very same person who, by way of memorandum through the Department of the Chief Minister on 12 March 1992, forwarded a copy of a paper and said: `A copy of a paper outlining some relevant philosophical issues is attached as promised'. In other words, he was reasserting ...
Mr Bell: Will you table that?
Mr STONE: I will indeed.
He was reasserting the statement that the `integrity of the electoral process, which is at the heart of the democratic system, has been scrupulously protected by the government'.
Mr Speaker, I table both documents. It is the allegations of that person that the Leader of the Opposition would have this Chamber give credence to. He is a member of the ALP! This is a party political exercise. It is clumsy and incompetent, and all they are doing is playing politics.
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ANSWER
Mr Speaker, the Leader of the Opposition refers to allegations that have been made, through a newspaper, by the former Chief Electoral Officer. In July 1990, the very same electoral officer prepared a paper - and I will table the paper - in which he said that `the integrity of the electoral process, which is at the heart of the democratic system, has been scrupulously protected by the government'. That is the very same man who now, 4 years after the event, trapezes along to the local media, having left the public service and become a member of the ALP who is campaigning actively in the electorate of Jingili ...
Mr Stirling: Oh really!
Mr STONE: Are we supposed to give credibility to a person who makes allegations of that sort?
Mr Ede: Table the document.
Mr STONE: This is the very same person who, by way of memorandum through the Department of the Chief Minister on 12 March 1992, forwarded a copy of a paper and said: `A copy of a paper outlining some relevant philosophical issues is attached as promised'. In other words, he was reasserting ...
Mr Bell: Will you table that?
Mr STONE: I will indeed.
He was reasserting the statement that the `integrity of the electoral process, which is at the heart of the democratic system, has been scrupulously protected by the government'.
Mr Speaker, I table both documents. It is the allegations of that person that the Leader of the Opposition would have this Chamber give credence to. He is a member of the ALP! This is a party political exercise. It is clumsy and incompetent, and all they are doing is playing politics.
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Last updated: 09 Aug 2016