Ombudsman Investigation, Member for Bragg

The Hon. H.M. GIROLAMO (15:02): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before directing a question to the Attorney-General regarding the Ombudsman's report.

Leave granted.

The Hon. H.M. GIROLAMO: The Ombudsman, in his introduction to his report regarding the referral to last year's kangaroo court select committee, states:

I found the referral to be imprecise and requiring a greater level of interpretation by me than is ideal. I have accepted that the referral requires me to inquire into matters on which the select committee findings were made, namely, when Ms Chapman was in the position of an actual and perceived conflict of interest.

On radio this morning, the Attorney stated that an eminent QC made recommendations on behalf of the select committee, and further that the sanctions the parliament handed down were not on the basis of conflict of interest, that they were on the basis of misleading parliament. Attorney, who is correct—yourself on radio this morning or the Ombudsman?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Attorney-General, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector) (15:04): I will check, to make sure I am accurately representing this, but as I recall the original sanction the House of Assembly proposed to impose was nine days, and that was on the basis of three days for each of the instances of misleading parliament. That was reduced to six days, I think on the basis of two days for each of three instances of misleading parliament. I will go back and check and, if I need to add anything more to that, I am happy to do so.