Mr BAILEY - 1996-11-21
I am concerned that, not only did the minister possibly say things he should not have said in the past, but that he may have compounded that by comments he has made today. Therefore, I need to take honourable members through the facts. This is crucial. On Thursday 15 August, I asked a question in relation to the tapes. I asked : `Can the minister give a categorical assurance that no information from his department was provided to the Country Liberal Party campaign?'
Mr COULTER: A point of order, Mr Speaker! We have no objection if the opposition wishes to move a substantive motion censuring the minister, but it is not appropriate in Question Time for the honourable member to take us step by step over this issue. Question Time is to allow questions to be asked of ministers on areas for which they have responsibility.
Mr Bailey: A question will be asked.
Mr Coulter: Then ask it. There is no need to provide us with a history lesson. Simply ask the question.
Mr SPEAKER: Order! There is no point of order but I ask the member for Wanguri to move as quickly as possible to put his question. A reasonable amount of background to it is acceptable.
Mr BAILEY: Mr Speaker, my question to the Minister for Health Services is: on the following evidence, did he mislead the Assembly? I have indicated the question I asked on 15 August. Also on 15 August, the member for MacDonnell asked him, referring to 1994: `In view of the fact that the request for names and addresses of pensioners was obtained from his department, can the minister confirm that the Chief Minister misled this House on 29 February when he gave the categorical undertaking that no information had ever been passed to the Country Liberal Party?' On 20 August, I asked whether he had an answer yet to my question of 15 August, and he said: `I have taken that question on notice and will report to this Assembly by Thursday'.
Mr Coulter: Put your question.
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Mr BAILEY: The question is: has he misled the Assembly? That is what I asked him at the beginning.
He said: `When I am asked questions of the seriousness he implies, I will not answer off the top of my head ...'
Mr SPEAKER: Order! Is there much more background? You have asked the question.
Mr BAILEY: The answer he gave then ...
Mr SPEAKER: Order! Member for Wanguri, you have asked your question, as I understand it.
Mr BAILEY: Mr Speaker, I have to state the last part ...
Members interjecting.
Mr SPEAKER: Order! How much more do you have?
Mr BAILEY: Mr Speaker, the seriousness of this ...
Mr SPEAKER: Order! How much more do you have?
Members interjecting.
Mr SPEAKER: Let us hear it.
Mr BAILEY: When asked again for the answer, his answer was: `The member for Wanguri asked for a categorical denial in his original question. I give him that categorical denial. While I am on my feet, I will answer the member for MacDonnell's question. The answer is no'. In other words, the Country Liberal Party has never accessed personal departmental files. The minister said no in relation to the 1994 election campaign. The proof is that it happened. He said no. He should resign. That is the ministerial responsibility that he should have. He cannot weasel his way out of it.
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, the member has to provide the proof if he wants to continue making the accusations.
Mr Bailey: We have provided the proof.
Mr SPEAKER: Order! You have asked your question.
Mr BURKE: Certainly, in regard to the scintillating and incisive question of deep concern to the electorate that the member for MacDonnell also asked, I answered it. The member for MacDonnell asked in the House: `Could the Minister for Health Services please
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explain what I am supposed to have asked him that deserves a summary answer of no?' He could not even remember the question he had asked. That is the depth of this debate.
In relation to the accusations that are being made, I took a question on notice on 15 August. The question is recorded in Hansard. I said I would answer that question at a certain point. The question was: `Can the minister give this House a categorical assurance, in relation to the Nick Dondas campaign, that no information from his department was provided to the Country Liberal Party campaign?' I categorically deny that. The fact that there is a police investigation into unsubstantiated allegations ...
Ms Martin: It was safer in the army, Denis.
Mr BURKE: I can think of any number of occasions when a minister might seek information from his department. Certainly, I am on record in this House as saying that I am writing to all the nurses in the Northern Territory, and why shouldn't I? To get that information, I drafted a letter and asked my department to send it to all the nurses on the register. That is a simple example.
Members interjecting.
Mr SPEAKER: Order! I am having extreme difficulty hearing the minister's answer. There is far too much discussion on both sides.
Mr BURKE: That is a simple example of a situation where a minister might wish to obtain information from his department in order to write to people.
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Mr COULTER: A point of order, Mr Speaker! We have no objection if the opposition wishes to move a substantive motion censuring the minister, but it is not appropriate in Question Time for the honourable member to take us step by step over this issue. Question Time is to allow questions to be asked of ministers on areas for which they have responsibility.
Mr Bailey: A question will be asked.
Mr Coulter: Then ask it. There is no need to provide us with a history lesson. Simply ask the question.
Mr SPEAKER: Order! There is no point of order but I ask the member for Wanguri to move as quickly as possible to put his question. A reasonable amount of background to it is acceptable.
Mr BAILEY: Mr Speaker, my question to the Minister for Health Services is: on the following evidence, did he mislead the Assembly? I have indicated the question I asked on 15 August. Also on 15 August, the member for MacDonnell asked him, referring to 1994: `In view of the fact that the request for names and addresses of pensioners was obtained from his department, can the minister confirm that the Chief Minister misled this House on 29 February when he gave the categorical undertaking that no information had ever been passed to the Country Liberal Party?' On 20 August, I asked whether he had an answer yet to my question of 15 August, and he said: `I have taken that question on notice and will report to this Assembly by Thursday'.
Mr Coulter: Put your question.
Page 1798
Mr BAILEY: The question is: has he misled the Assembly? That is what I asked him at the beginning.
He said: `When I am asked questions of the seriousness he implies, I will not answer off the top of my head ...'
Mr SPEAKER: Order! Is there much more background? You have asked the question.
Mr BAILEY: The answer he gave then ...
Mr SPEAKER: Order! Member for Wanguri, you have asked your question, as I understand it.
Mr BAILEY: Mr Speaker, I have to state the last part ...
Members interjecting.
Mr SPEAKER: Order! How much more do you have?
Mr BAILEY: Mr Speaker, the seriousness of this ...
Mr SPEAKER: Order! How much more do you have?
Members interjecting.
Mr SPEAKER: Let us hear it.
Mr BAILEY: When asked again for the answer, his answer was: `The member for Wanguri asked for a categorical denial in his original question. I give him that categorical denial. While I am on my feet, I will answer the member for MacDonnell's question. The answer is no'. In other words, the Country Liberal Party has never accessed personal departmental files. The minister said no in relation to the 1994 election campaign. The proof is that it happened. He said no. He should resign. That is the ministerial responsibility that he should have. He cannot weasel his way out of it.
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, the member has to provide the proof if he wants to continue making the accusations.
Mr Bailey: We have provided the proof.
Mr SPEAKER: Order! You have asked your question.
Mr BURKE: Certainly, in regard to the scintillating and incisive question of deep concern to the electorate that the member for MacDonnell also asked, I answered it. The member for MacDonnell asked in the House: `Could the Minister for Health Services please
Page 1799
explain what I am supposed to have asked him that deserves a summary answer of no?' He could not even remember the question he had asked. That is the depth of this debate.
In relation to the accusations that are being made, I took a question on notice on 15 August. The question is recorded in Hansard. I said I would answer that question at a certain point. The question was: `Can the minister give this House a categorical assurance, in relation to the Nick Dondas campaign, that no information from his department was provided to the Country Liberal Party campaign?' I categorically deny that. The fact that there is a police investigation into unsubstantiated allegations ...
Ms Martin: It was safer in the army, Denis.
Mr BURKE: I can think of any number of occasions when a minister might seek information from his department. Certainly, I am on record in this House as saying that I am writing to all the nurses in the Northern Territory, and why shouldn't I? To get that information, I drafted a letter and asked my department to send it to all the nurses on the register. That is a simple example.
Members interjecting.
Mr SPEAKER: Order! I am having extreme difficulty hearing the minister's answer. There is far too much discussion on both sides.
Mr BURKE: That is a simple example of a situation where a minister might wish to obtain information from his department in order to write to people.
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Last updated: 09 Aug 2016