Public Sector Behaviour Standards

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (14:30): My question is to the minister for the public sector regarding the public sector. As the minister for the public sector, exactly what has the minister done to address allegations of sexual harassment, urinating in offices and indecent exposure by taxpayer funded Liberal staffers and, after yesterday implying that he did not know exactly what kind of behaviour standards apply to people employed in the Premier's office or on contracts with the Premier, can the minister tell us whether they are subject to any kind of standards?

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS (Treasurer) (14:30): The honourable member's explanation is a very inaccurate characterisation of what I said to the house yesterday. I would urge her to check the record, and perhaps she might like to correct the record when she next gets the opportunity. In relation to the first part of the question, there are established processes within Treasury, Electorate Services, which existed and have now been significantly improved and upgraded as per the evidence provided by senior Treasury officers to the joint select committee considering issues that were raised in the equal opportunity commissioner's report.

The member will be aware that a number of the incidents to which she has referred were identified in that particular report, so they have already been identified. The commissioner was aware of them. This house and the other house of parliament have voted to have a committee of the parliament to consider those. I sit on that particular committee with other members of this chamber and the House of Assembly and they are working through various recommendations.

As part of that, various bodies have reported to the committee what actions they have taken as a result of the commissioner's report and those particular allegations, and senior Treasury officers have outlined the work that they have already initiated in terms of responding to that particular report. Any particular allegations that are made by any particular individual in relation to any aspect of the commissioner's report will be pursued by the appropriate officers within Treasury in accordance with the established protocols that were outlined to that particular committee.