Mr WOOD - 2005-08-17
In light of concerns about terrorism in this country, especially after the recent London suicide bombings, I am concerned that Work Health changes to the shotfirer’s course - which, as you would know, is about explosives - means that any person can now complete a course before a thorough police check has been undertaken. Does the government realise that, previously, you could not do a shotfirer’s course until you had a police check? Will the government make sure that you can only do a shotfirer’s course after you have the required police check so as to ensure there is no chance of a potential terrorist obtaining all the information required to make bombs and disappear without a trace? Whose idea was it in the first place to change the original process?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nelson for his question. It would be a concern to me as minister, and to this government, if the requirements that a police check is conducted prior to the person doing a course was not still the case. I am not advised that there has been any change to this procedure. Again, I will obtain information before the end of sittings if it has changed. My knowledge of it is that the procedures have not changed; you are required to do a police check in the first place.
If the member has absolute evidence of it occurring the other way, he ought put that either before WorkSafe, my office or, in fact, the police, as soon as possible so an investigation can be carried out to bear out the facts in this. It makes sense that you do the police check first. If it is not happening that way, it will be very quickly corrected. However, I would be surprised if there had been a change in the procedure without coming to government.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the member for Nelson for his question. It would be a concern to me as minister, and to this government, if the requirements that a police check is conducted prior to the person doing a course was not still the case. I am not advised that there has been any change to this procedure. Again, I will obtain information before the end of sittings if it has changed. My knowledge of it is that the procedures have not changed; you are required to do a police check in the first place.
If the member has absolute evidence of it occurring the other way, he ought put that either before WorkSafe, my office or, in fact, the police, as soon as possible so an investigation can be carried out to bear out the facts in this. It makes sense that you do the police check first. If it is not happening that way, it will be very quickly corrected. However, I would be surprised if there had been a change in the procedure without coming to government.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016