Debelle Inquiry

Ms CHAPMAN (Bragg—Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (14:53): My question again is to the Attorney-General. Has the legal event identified by Justice Debelle in the education inquiry report as preventing the publication of the unedited version of the report now occurred?

The Hon. J.R. RAU (Enfield—Deputy Premier, Attorney-General, Minister for Justice Reform, Minister for Planning, Minister for Housing and Urban Development, Minister for Industrial Relations) (14:53): I thank the honourable member for her question, and I would like to advise the parliament as best I can in relation to the matter. As things presently stand, I have sought advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions, so what I am about to say might seem a little unhelpful but, nevertheless, for those who can read between the lines, it says all it needs to say. I think I should start off by quoting the famous former secretary of state of the United States, Mr Donald Rumsfeld, that there are the things called the 'known knowns, the known unknowns—

The Hon. T.R. Kenyon: Defence.

The Hon. J.R. RAU: —defence, I beg your pardon. There are the 'known knowns, the known unknowns and the unknown unknowns.' The particular answer to this question incorporates all three of those and, because of that—if I can still explain it this way—there are known knowns. They are not so bad; that is all good. Then there are seriously some known unknowns which are yet to become known.

An honourable member interjecting:

The Hon. J.R. RAU: I am not joking. I am being quite serious about this.

An honourable member: You do have privilege, John.

The Hon. J.R. RAU: Yes, I know, but I am trying to stick with the spirit of the recommendations of Mr Debelle's report. Mr Debelle was concerned that before a particular event had been resolved, there should not be the release of an unedited version of the report.

An honourable member: Correct.

The Hon. J.R. RAU: Okay. Perhaps another way of explaining it is that, in the space of known unknowns and unknown unknowns, there is still the capability of a matter yet to be resolved.

Ms Chapman: So the answer is no.

The Hon. J.R. RAU: So, the answer is: for the time being, in view of those unknowns, it is not my intention to release the report but, having said that, as soon as I am clear from the Director of Public Prosecutions that those unknowns have become clear, one way or the other, the spirit of the recommendations of Mr Debelle will be embraced and that will in due course result in the release of the material unedited.