Mr WOOD - 2008-09-11
Mr Bill Sommerville resigned from the Offenders Aid and Rehabilitation Services NT, known as OARS NT, in July this year. Three weeks prior to his resignation, the Justice Department gave OARS NT a grant of $30 000 and, in August last year, the federal Attorney-General’s Department gave a grant of $245 000. Could you advise whether a report has been completed into the organisation’s funds? What was the outcome of that report? Is there any money missing? Has any contact been made with the former CEO, Bill Sommerville?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, all of what the member for Nelson said was factual, except, I believe the federal government gave a significantly extra amount of money. My recollection is this is probably around $400 000.
This is a tragedy. OARS had the potential to be a fantastic organisation ...
Mr Tollner: Still does.
Dr BURNS: I know the member for Fong Lim was of great assistance when he was in the federal government - I am paying him a compliment now - to get some funding for OARS as it does fill a very important role. It is a real tragedy about Bill Sommerville - I have known Bill for many years, and I thought he was on the straight and narrow this time; I suppose everyone did. Obviously, money has gone missing there.
In direct answer to your question, I believe the federal government put around $400 000 into that; the Territory government put in around $30 000. At this stage, it is unclear exactly how much money is missing, but it is probably a substantial amount. Those investigations are ongoing.
I say to the House, that this government would like to see OARS continue. For those who are not familiar with its operations, they have a property in the rural area, which is a type of halfway house where prisoners can stay and pick up skills. They can work there after their release from gaol. They can work out where they are going in that transition from being in gaol to resuming a normal life.
As a government, we would like to see OARS continue. There is a lot of responsibility on the OARS Board because that is separate to government. However, we need to try to work together with the OARS Board and the Commonwealth to see whether we can resurrect OARS. I hope that the damage is not too great that it fails.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, all of what the member for Nelson said was factual, except, I believe the federal government gave a significantly extra amount of money. My recollection is this is probably around $400 000.
This is a tragedy. OARS had the potential to be a fantastic organisation ...
Mr Tollner: Still does.
Dr BURNS: I know the member for Fong Lim was of great assistance when he was in the federal government - I am paying him a compliment now - to get some funding for OARS as it does fill a very important role. It is a real tragedy about Bill Sommerville - I have known Bill for many years, and I thought he was on the straight and narrow this time; I suppose everyone did. Obviously, money has gone missing there.
In direct answer to your question, I believe the federal government put around $400 000 into that; the Territory government put in around $30 000. At this stage, it is unclear exactly how much money is missing, but it is probably a substantial amount. Those investigations are ongoing.
I say to the House, that this government would like to see OARS continue. For those who are not familiar with its operations, they have a property in the rural area, which is a type of halfway house where prisoners can stay and pick up skills. They can work there after their release from gaol. They can work out where they are going in that transition from being in gaol to resuming a normal life.
As a government, we would like to see OARS continue. There is a lot of responsibility on the OARS Board because that is separate to government. However, we need to try to work together with the OARS Board and the Commonwealth to see whether we can resurrect OARS. I hope that the damage is not too great that it fails.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016