Strathmont Pool

The Hon. E.S. BOURKE (14:32): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Human Services a question regarding the Strathmont swimming pool.

Leave granted.

The Hon. E.S. BOURKE: Yesterday, the opposition raised concerns on behalf of the 1,500 swimmers, including a significant number of children with a disability, who use the Strathmont swimming pool. When asked about alternative swimming pools, the minister said, 'They are written on my brief in a "For ministers only" section, so I am not revealing them.' My questions of the minister are:

1. Why is it possible for the member for Schubert in the other place to reveal top secret ministerial advice that the ARC at Campbelltown, as well as the Angle Vale repat, are considered alternative sites?

2. Will the member for Schubert face disciplinary action from the minister for the gross breach of extreme secrecy surrounding the public alternative swimming locations?

3. Will the minister now reveal the alternative swimming locations?

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK (Minister for Human Services) (14:34): I thank the honourable member for her question. As I have been in this role, it has become quite apparent to me as a minister that organisations that may have dealings with the Labor Party have found themselves in positions where they have been misrepresented on the public record, particularly in relation to, if I can quote examples, the Disability Inclusion Bill debate. There were a number of organisations that were reported as supporting the Labor Party's position, which was factually incorrect.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. K.J. MAHER: Point of order, sir—

The PRESIDENT: Is this relevance? Minister, please attempt to answer the question. I will allow you some latitude for the moment.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK: Mr President, I can assure you that I am explaining the reasons why I keep as much information about—

The PRESIDENT: And that is why you are getting some latitude.

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK: —organisations as close to being confidential as possible, because I believe I have a duty of care to them not to reveal their information. In the context of the questions yesterday, I had my department report back to me that there was at least one of the organisations, which is a user group of the Strathmont Centre, who specifically did not want to be named in parliament. So I am grateful that my own concern for their wellbeing prevailed, as it will continue to be my practice.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK: There is nothing particularly confidential about the naming of a particular pool, but in association with linking user groups to specific sites, which is what the questions were yesterday, I will continue—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! I can't hear the minister.

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK: —to take this stance, because I believe I have a duty of care to organisations not to name them. As the Labor Party have already proven, in the context of the important work of the Department of Human Services in trying to find alternative sites for these organisations, the Labor Party has clearly undermined the best interests of the people who use the pool by trying to give them some false hope that there is an opportunity to keep the pool open, rather than for the user groups—

The PRESIDENT: Through me; please don't respond to the interjections.

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK: I will not be distracted by the innumerate members opposite. I will continue to take this stance, and I know that it is appreciated by a whole range of community organisations.