Ms CARNEY - 2005-08-23
You are aware of the Auditor-General’s rReport regarding ministerial travel. Whilst there were some clerical errors made in relation to travel by government, and possibly the Leader of the Opposition’s office, some ministerial claims were not merely clerical errors, such as ‘travel allowance claimed and paid when the minister was on leave’; and, ‘a higher rate of travel allowance claimed and paid for a capital city’, even though the particular minister stayed in a regional city. Such things can hardly be described as clerical errors.
Will you instruct the Auditor-General to undertake a full investigation into all ministerial travel so that Territorians can see the full extent of false claims made by ministers and, if not, why not?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I am happy to have this question because, as the House is aware, I was in Indonesia last week. I received reports from the House that there were claims of travel rorts from the ministry and opposition. I was very concerned, quite legitimately, that this government, including the then Opposition Leader, had been rorting the system. Evidently, according to reports I had, the Opposition Leader was quite hysterical …
Members interjecting.
Ms MARTIN: … claiming …
Members interjecting.
Ms MARTIN: No, absolutely! I know I was quite disturbed fromwhilst in Jakarta.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order!
Ms MARTIN: There we had the Opposition Leader claiming major rorting of they system. I was absolutely shocked.
Ms Carney: Where did you learn to act?
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms MARTIN: When I arrived back on the Friday morning I asked for a briefing.
Ms Carney: So you were beside yourself with shock, and you came back …
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms MARTIN: No, be quiet. You have had your performance! I am on my feet. You have asked the question.
Dr Lim: Oh, are you performing now? She is talking about performing!
Madam SPEAKER: Order, opposition members!
Ms MARTIN: Madam Speaker, I arrived back last Friday morning and I asked for a full briefing. And wWhat do I find out? That, basically, it is about ministers being underpaid in terms of travel allowance - , and we are talking the sum of $1000. I am not dismissing $1000 but, essentially, it is underpaidying..
The Opposition Leader has been hysterical and claimed all kinds of corruption of the system. Yet, I read interviews the Auditor-General had given in the media. He said, ‘administrative errors’ and ‘we need to sort them out’. He did not say ministers were responsible. He said there had been administrative errors, travel entitlements being calculated against an outdated RTD.
Ms Carney: Why do you not do a full investigation?
Madam SPEAKER: Leader of the Opposition!
Ms MARTIN: There were a number of administrative errors, and my department has said: ‘Yes, we’ll fix them up’. Quite clearly, the Auditor-General is not doing what the Opposition Leader says, which is that we need a full investigation of the system. He has said very clearly a number of times in the media that we need to sort out the administration of this. We will do it. My department has done it.
Again, I must place on record my bewilderment about an hysterical Opposition Leader claiming this major rort of the system, declaring corruption across government. I come back and find out, personally, my involvement in this – I have to tell you, Madam Speaker, and put it on the record – I have been underpaid $60.
Ms Carney interjecting.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Leader of the Opposition!
Ms MARTIN: It is $1000 we are talking about. Most of that is underpay in administrative errors, yet we have an hysterical Opposition Leader. I respect the right to say, if there has been a rorting of the system, sing it loud! Take it out and declare that this government is botching the system and has rorted the system. However, it was not the case. We had a performance from the Opposition Leader that the report from the Auditor-General simply did not warrant. Once I had investigated what it was all about, the Opposition Leader’s credibility, I have to say, is seriously in doubt.
Will you instruct the Auditor-General to undertake a full investigation into all ministerial travel so that Territorians can see the full extent of false claims made by ministers and, if not, why not?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I am happy to have this question because, as the House is aware, I was in Indonesia last week. I received reports from the House that there were claims of travel rorts from the ministry and opposition. I was very concerned, quite legitimately, that this government, including the then Opposition Leader, had been rorting the system. Evidently, according to reports I had, the Opposition Leader was quite hysterical …
Members interjecting.
Ms MARTIN: … claiming …
Members interjecting.
Ms MARTIN: No, absolutely! I know I was quite disturbed fromwhilst in Jakarta.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order, order!
Ms MARTIN: There we had the Opposition Leader claiming major rorting of they system. I was absolutely shocked.
Ms Carney: Where did you learn to act?
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms MARTIN: When I arrived back on the Friday morning I asked for a briefing.
Ms Carney: So you were beside yourself with shock, and you came back …
Madam SPEAKER: Order!
Ms MARTIN: No, be quiet. You have had your performance! I am on my feet. You have asked the question.
Dr Lim: Oh, are you performing now? She is talking about performing!
Madam SPEAKER: Order, opposition members!
Ms MARTIN: Madam Speaker, I arrived back last Friday morning and I asked for a full briefing. And wWhat do I find out? That, basically, it is about ministers being underpaid in terms of travel allowance - , and we are talking the sum of $1000. I am not dismissing $1000 but, essentially, it is underpaidying..
The Opposition Leader has been hysterical and claimed all kinds of corruption of the system. Yet, I read interviews the Auditor-General had given in the media. He said, ‘administrative errors’ and ‘we need to sort them out’. He did not say ministers were responsible. He said there had been administrative errors, travel entitlements being calculated against an outdated RTD.
Ms Carney: Why do you not do a full investigation?
Madam SPEAKER: Leader of the Opposition!
Ms MARTIN: There were a number of administrative errors, and my department has said: ‘Yes, we’ll fix them up’. Quite clearly, the Auditor-General is not doing what the Opposition Leader says, which is that we need a full investigation of the system. He has said very clearly a number of times in the media that we need to sort out the administration of this. We will do it. My department has done it.
Again, I must place on record my bewilderment about an hysterical Opposition Leader claiming this major rort of the system, declaring corruption across government. I come back and find out, personally, my involvement in this – I have to tell you, Madam Speaker, and put it on the record – I have been underpaid $60.
Ms Carney interjecting.
Members interjecting.
Madam SPEAKER: Order! Leader of the Opposition!
Ms MARTIN: It is $1000 we are talking about. Most of that is underpay in administrative errors, yet we have an hysterical Opposition Leader. I respect the right to say, if there has been a rorting of the system, sing it loud! Take it out and declare that this government is botching the system and has rorted the system. However, it was not the case. We had a performance from the Opposition Leader that the report from the Auditor-General simply did not warrant. Once I had investigated what it was all about, the Opposition Leader’s credibility, I have to say, is seriously in doubt.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016