DANGEROUS OFFENDERS

The Hon. SANDRA KANCK (14:41): In light of the minister's answer, would she please comment on the accuracy of the article by Nick Henderson in The Advertiser in July 2007, in which he states that the minister has been preparing a list of prisoners she believes should never be released?

The Hon. CARMEL ZOLLO (Minister for Emergency Services, Minister for Correctional Services, Minister for Road Safety, Minister Assisting the Minister for Multicultural Affairs) (14:42): I think that is probably the same article that we are talking about, which Sean Fewster commented on as well. I think there was only ever the one article.

The Hon. S.G. Wade: Fewster was in May.

The Hon. CARMEL ZOLLO: Okay. The legislation had not even passed the house in May last year.

The Hon. S.G. Wade interjecting:

The Hon. CARMEL ZOLLO: No; I did not speak to The Advertiser. I certainly have not spoken to The Advertiser.

The Hon. S.G. Wade: There's your answer; she is saying she never spoke to them.

The Hon. CARMEL ZOLLO: Thank you.

The PRESIDENT: The honourable minister will answer the question, not the shadow minister.

The Hon. CARMEL ZOLLO: I have not spoken to The Advertiser. As I said, the Department of Correctional Services has a very important role, which is to provide information on prisoners convicted of murder, and that is a separate process. As I said before, identifying dangerous offenders is subject to a separate process.