PUBLIC SERVICE EMPLOYEES

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS (15:04): I seek leave to make an explanation prior to directing a question to the minister representing the Premier on the verbal abuse, bullying and intimidation of public sector workers.

Leave granted.

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS: On 28 March this year, under a heading 'Foley "Hurts" Labor Brand', The Advertiser journalist Greg Kelton wrote:

The Advertiser has also been told Mr Foley was involved in an incident with a protocol officer from the Premier's Department at the Government's Clipsal suite.

Labor sources said Mr Foley had been upset because several business people had been refused readmission to the suite, and he complained to the female protocol officer who left the suite in tears and went on stress leave for the remainder of the weekend. Mr Foley did not comment on the matter, except to say: "We all work under a lot of pressure at Clipsal."

In an interview on ABC radio, in discussing Mr Foley's behaviour Mr Kelton said:

...but also there was another incident involving a female protocol officer which a lot of MPs are a bit upset about. They just say that...it just continues the perception that Mr Foley is a lightning rod for trouble.

Information provided to the Liberal Party disputes significant parts of the Labor sources' version of the incident. I am informed that a young female employee from the Premier's protocol unit was confronted by Mr Foley at Clipsal, who was trying to bring a group of his friends into the state hospitality suite. When the young female employee pointed out to Mr Foley that his guests did not have credentials or tickets to enter the state suite, and therefore could not enter, Mr Foley became angry, aggressive and verbally abusive.

The young female employee was distressed and burst into tears after this confrontation with Mr Foley and went on stress leave, but not just for the weekend, as claimed by Labor sources quoted in the media report. My questions are:

1. Is it correct that, after an altercation with Mr Foley at Clipsal, a young female employee from the Premier's protocol unit burst into tears and had to be sent home from the event?

2. Has this employee taken stress leave or any other form of leave as a result of this incident and, if so, for what period?

3. Has an inquiry been conducted into the circumstances surrounding this incident, and has Mr Foley been directed to apologise to the young female employee?

4. Has a WorkCover claim or any other claim been lodged in relation to this incident?

5. Has any minister in this government got the courage to tap Mr Foley on the shoulder and warn him that a young female employee in the public sector should not be treated in this way by a senior minister in the government and, if he is not prepared to behave appropriately, ask him to leave the parliament?

The PRESIDENT: I don't know how the honourable minister is going to answer that. He probably doesn't know anything about it. The honourable minister.

The Hon. B.V. FINNIGAN (Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for State/Local Government Relations, Minister for Gambling) (15:08): Those questions—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! The questions have been asked, and the honourable minister got to his feet to try to give you some sort of answer—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: —no, and you don't want to listen to the answer. So, you want to try again, honourable minister?

The Hon. B.V. FINNIGAN: Thank you, Mr President. I am not sure those questions dignify a response, but I will refer them to the honourable Premier in another place.