Mrs PADGHAM-PURICH - 1996-11-21
Is full attention given to the matter of spent convictions of public service applicants which must be admitted in certain departments? I refer to the possible future occupation of those people as a juror, a firefighter or a teacher, and to their obtaining a firearms licence etc. If an applicant for a public sector job in one of those particular categories neglects to state he or she has a spent conviction which may affect their expected employment, and this matter is subsequently found out, is their employment then terminated automatically?
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, in respect of relevant offences, it is a policy that such people are not employed in those categories. Some of the more sensitive areas are in education, anything to do with children and child care ...
Mrs Padgham-Purich: Police, prison officers.
Mr FINCH: Yes, police and prison officers. That applies where the offence is considered to be relevant and may inhibit the proper function of the job. If a person does not declare a relevant previous conviction, subsequent action would depend obviously on the
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merits of the case. It is not easy to make a generalised statement. The real crux of the matter would be the relevance of the offence. In other words, if the person had not declared a previous offence, the potential impact of that type of activity in the workplace or the type of occupation would be judged on its merits.
If the honourable member has a specific case in mind, which perhaps she does, I would be more than happy to have it examined. In relation to applicants for teaching positions, we require them to give a clearance for an independent police check to be done.
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ANSWER
Mr Speaker, in respect of relevant offences, it is a policy that such people are not employed in those categories. Some of the more sensitive areas are in education, anything to do with children and child care ...
Mrs Padgham-Purich: Police, prison officers.
Mr FINCH: Yes, police and prison officers. That applies where the offence is considered to be relevant and may inhibit the proper function of the job. If a person does not declare a relevant previous conviction, subsequent action would depend obviously on the
Page 1800
merits of the case. It is not easy to make a generalised statement. The real crux of the matter would be the relevance of the offence. In other words, if the person had not declared a previous offence, the potential impact of that type of activity in the workplace or the type of occupation would be judged on its merits.
If the honourable member has a specific case in mind, which perhaps she does, I would be more than happy to have it examined. In relation to applicants for teaching positions, we require them to give a clearance for an independent police check to be done.
Page 1801
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016