Mr BAILEY - 1995-08-23
Recently, the minister attended a Criminal Lawyers Association conference in Bali, and I refer to a radio interview about that. The minister arrived at 3.30 am and attended the final session of the Criminal Lawyers Association conference which finished at midday that day. At dinner that night, he was presented with a prize - a sarong, I believe - for what was quoted as `best junket'. He addressed lawyers present at the dinner and said - and I am quoting here from a number of reports - `I do not give a rat's a... about your law. I am here for my health'. Given that his attendance at the conference accounted for only a few hours of a one-week trip, does the minister think this was good value for taxpayers' dollars?
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, the member is relying on an incorrect report that was brought back to Darwin by an ABC employee who is the spouse of one of the Labor Party hierarchy and a former candidate for the Legislative Assembly. One should be at least a little suspicious that there may be rather more to the story than was told.
What was it all about? In keeping with past practice, the organisers had invited me, as the then Attorney-General, not merely for social purposes but to participate in the conference. In fact, I prepared a thought-provoking speech on relationships between parliaments and the judiciary. I had been invited to attend the whole conference, but to participate in only one or two sessions. The Chief Minister was organising a Cabinet reshuffle and it was suggested that my presence might be required in Darwin.
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Members interjecting.
Mr FINCH: In the event, I was very pleased that my presence was required. In fact, I missed the first part of the conference ...
Mr Stirling: The first 2 days and 3 nights.
Mr FINCH: Listen to the answer.
The printed program indicated that the conference was to conclude on the Friday night, not the Thursday. My scheduled slot in the program was on the Friday. After the Cabinet reshuffle, I took the first available aircraft to the conference. My presence was still required by the organisers. They have written to me because they are quite embarrassed by the nonsense raised by the almost anonymous - except that we were able to track her down - ABC employee. It was shameful. In fact, I believe some of the comments made may make her husband's claim with the Taxation Office a little awkward for him to explain. This reflects a very small mind.
Let me come to my actual arrangements. I flew to Bali in the middle of the night. I love flying in the middle of the night for short conferences. In fact, I had arranged also to visit Indonesian education people on both Bali and Lombok, and Territory teachers who are on exchange as part of our ongoing development relationship with education in the area. When I arrived in the early hours of Thursday morning, I was informed that the program was likely to conclude on Thursday instead of Friday. That was the organiser's arrangement, not mine. I was scheduled to speak on the Friday. As it turned out - and this may be confirmed with any of the participants - on the Thursday morning, I was able to contribute in a meaningful way to a debate relating to a national uniform criminal code. As the Attorney-General, I was able to explain some of the matters, which many of them were unaware of, that were happening in relation to the development of a national code. Thus, my attendance did have an effect. I completed my education visits also. In the end, it was a very effective visit on behalf of the taxpayer.
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ANSWER
Mr Speaker, the member is relying on an incorrect report that was brought back to Darwin by an ABC employee who is the spouse of one of the Labor Party hierarchy and a former candidate for the Legislative Assembly. One should be at least a little suspicious that there may be rather more to the story than was told.
What was it all about? In keeping with past practice, the organisers had invited me, as the then Attorney-General, not merely for social purposes but to participate in the conference. In fact, I prepared a thought-provoking speech on relationships between parliaments and the judiciary. I had been invited to attend the whole conference, but to participate in only one or two sessions. The Chief Minister was organising a Cabinet reshuffle and it was suggested that my presence might be required in Darwin.
Page 775
Members interjecting.
Mr FINCH: In the event, I was very pleased that my presence was required. In fact, I missed the first part of the conference ...
Mr Stirling: The first 2 days and 3 nights.
Mr FINCH: Listen to the answer.
The printed program indicated that the conference was to conclude on the Friday night, not the Thursday. My scheduled slot in the program was on the Friday. After the Cabinet reshuffle, I took the first available aircraft to the conference. My presence was still required by the organisers. They have written to me because they are quite embarrassed by the nonsense raised by the almost anonymous - except that we were able to track her down - ABC employee. It was shameful. In fact, I believe some of the comments made may make her husband's claim with the Taxation Office a little awkward for him to explain. This reflects a very small mind.
Let me come to my actual arrangements. I flew to Bali in the middle of the night. I love flying in the middle of the night for short conferences. In fact, I had arranged also to visit Indonesian education people on both Bali and Lombok, and Territory teachers who are on exchange as part of our ongoing development relationship with education in the area. When I arrived in the early hours of Thursday morning, I was informed that the program was likely to conclude on Thursday instead of Friday. That was the organiser's arrangement, not mine. I was scheduled to speak on the Friday. As it turned out - and this may be confirmed with any of the participants - on the Thursday morning, I was able to contribute in a meaningful way to a debate relating to a national uniform criminal code. As the Attorney-General, I was able to explain some of the matters, which many of them were unaware of, that were happening in relation to the development of a national code. Thus, my attendance did have an effect. I completed my education visits also. In the end, it was a very effective visit on behalf of the taxpayer.
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Last updated: 09 Aug 2016