Mr STIRLING - 1995-02-22
Is the minister aware that senior officers in his department are attempting to persuade health delivery officers that they should not make personal submissions to the Public Accounts Committee review of Aboriginal health funding? Is he aware that they are being told that they should seek instead to contribute to a departmental submission? Is the minister aware that any attempt to induce a person to refrain from giving evidence to a parliamentary committee is an offence under section 20(1) of the Legislative Assembly (Powers and Privileges) Act and carries a penalty of $5000 or imprisonment for 6 months? Will the minister give an instruction to his department advising that public servants are protected by the provisions of the Legislative Assembly (Powers and Privileges) Act in providing evidence to the Public Accounts Committee and will he encourage them to do so?
Page 435
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, I am not aware of the circumstances to which the member for Nhulunbuy alludes. However, I am aware of the record of members opposite and their propensity for emotion rather than getting the facts right. I will speak to the secretary of my department about this matter and advise the honourable member of the outcome of that discussion at a later date.
Page 436
Page 435
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, I am not aware of the circumstances to which the member for Nhulunbuy alludes. However, I am aware of the record of members opposite and their propensity for emotion rather than getting the facts right. I will speak to the secretary of my department about this matter and advise the honourable member of the outcome of that discussion at a later date.
Page 436
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016