Correctional Services Department

Mr MARSHALL (Dunstan—Leader of the Opposition) (14:12): Supplementary: was the minister aware of these covert recordings and did he approve these covert recordings?

The Hon. A. PICCOLO (Light—Minister for Disabilities, Minister for Police, Minister for Correctional Services, Minister for Emergency Services, Minister for Road Safety) (14:12): I know the Leader of the Opposition has a series of questions, but it actually helps to listen to the previous answer because I have just answered it.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The leader is called to order and so also is the deputy leader.

The Hon. A. PICCOLO: What I actually said was that the allegation that the department actually takes secret recordings is refuted. Full stop.

Ms Chapman: Then you said they did it, but by accident.

The Hon. A. PICCOLO: No. No, what I said was—and I will make it very clear—by consent of the parties, these consultative meetings are recorded.

Mr Wingard: So the prison is in lockdown for no reason?

The SPEAKER: The member for Mitchell is called to order.

The Hon. A. PICCOLO: It's simple: a meeting starts, and people at the meeting at that time—

Mr Wingard interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Mitchell is warned.

The Hon. A. PICCOLO: —consented, and because this meeting is actually not around a table like a traditional meeting, it is actually held—

Mr Marshall interjecting:

The Hon. A. PICCOLO: Can you let me finish the answer, please? I know it's not the answer you want, but it's the answer you are going to receive.

Mr Marshall: It's not the answer the PSA wants.

The Hon. A. PICCOLO: Well, you don't know that, do you, because as far as I know you are not party to the negotiations.

The SPEAKER: The minister will address his remarks through the Chair.

Mr Marshall interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The leader will address his remarks through the Chair.

The Hon. J.J. Snelling interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The Treasurer is called to order.

The Hon. A. PICCOLO: As I said, I am advised that at the beginning of this meeting, which is an ordinary consultative meeting which takes place on a regular basis, the parties consented to it. As I said, the meeting took place, because of the nature of the system, on multiple sites. People come into the meeting as required by phone or some other technology. The understanding is that a person who came into this meeting at a later point in the meeting was unaware that he was being recorded. That part the department has acknowledged, and the department has apologised for that part, but to suggest that the meeting was secretly taped from the start is incorrect and refuted.

Mr van Holst Pellekaan interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Stuart is called to order.