Ms CARNEY - 2005-10-12
Another aspect surrounding Louisa May Turner’s death was that, when the person responsible for it went to court, his name was not on the court list. This also occurred in the case of a prominent Territorian charged with child sex offences. Do you know why it was that the name of the foreign national was not on the court list in this case? Can you understand the family’s heartache and frustration and, if so, why will you not meet with them?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, the question about the name on a court list was put to the Minister for Justice …
Ms Carney: I am asking if you know anything about it; that is the question.
Ms MARTIN: I have no knowledge of whether names are on court lists or not. The Minister for Justice and Attorney-General has undertaken to follow up the outstanding issues from that previous question and I am sure he will.
I have received some information from the Minister for Justice and Attorney-General, if you just give me a moment. We are advised that there was no name on the court list because the matter was brought forward on the list at the request of his lawyer as he pleaded guilty and wanted to leave the country. This is not an unusual event. Cases are expedited on the court list regularly and often this means names do not appear. I imagine, as a lawyer before you came into parliament, you would have understood that process …
Ms Carney: It is not common.
Ms MARTIN: Well, my advice, which I have received from the Department of Justice, is that that does happen from time to time, and that there was an explanation in this case. Whether or not the Opposition Leader accepts that, that is the advice that I have.
Ms Carney: Will you meet with the family?
Ms MARTIN: I am not aware that there has been a request for me to meet with the family. I know that many members working in government have had conversations with the family. I am not aware of a request for me to meet with the family. This is a very distressing case and I certainly feel very strongly for that family - what a dreadful thing to happen. I know that our thoughts have been with them since the time of the accident. However, I say again to the Opposition Leader: I am not aware of a request from the family to meet with me.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, the question about the name on a court list was put to the Minister for Justice …
Ms Carney: I am asking if you know anything about it; that is the question.
Ms MARTIN: I have no knowledge of whether names are on court lists or not. The Minister for Justice and Attorney-General has undertaken to follow up the outstanding issues from that previous question and I am sure he will.
I have received some information from the Minister for Justice and Attorney-General, if you just give me a moment. We are advised that there was no name on the court list because the matter was brought forward on the list at the request of his lawyer as he pleaded guilty and wanted to leave the country. This is not an unusual event. Cases are expedited on the court list regularly and often this means names do not appear. I imagine, as a lawyer before you came into parliament, you would have understood that process …
Ms Carney: It is not common.
Ms MARTIN: Well, my advice, which I have received from the Department of Justice, is that that does happen from time to time, and that there was an explanation in this case. Whether or not the Opposition Leader accepts that, that is the advice that I have.
Ms Carney: Will you meet with the family?
Ms MARTIN: I am not aware that there has been a request for me to meet with the family. I know that many members working in government have had conversations with the family. I am not aware of a request for me to meet with the family. This is a very distressing case and I certainly feel very strongly for that family - what a dreadful thing to happen. I know that our thoughts have been with them since the time of the accident. However, I say again to the Opposition Leader: I am not aware of a request from the family to meet with me.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016