Metropolitan Fire Service Travel Allowance

The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI (Leader of the Opposition) (14:24): I seek leave to make a brief explanation prior to asking questions of the Minister for Emergency Services regarding the Metropolitan Fire Service travel allowance.

Leave granted.

The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI: In a letter dated 13 May from the Secretary of the United Firefighters Union, concerns have been raised that the minister's answers to questions put by the opposition on 29 April in this place, and I quote, 'appear to be capable of misleading parliament'. I seek leave to table that open letter, which outlines five examples of where the United Firefighters Union have alleged the minister has misled the chamber.

Leave granted.

The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI: The letter says, regarding comments that the minister has made, that they 'have no basis in reality' and are 'a complete falsehood'. In relation to the minister's comments that constant conversation had occurred with the union, the letter reads, 'I am not aware of the conversations of which you speak.' My question to the minister is: does the minister concede that she misled the parliament in her answers on 29 April this year?

The Hon. E.S. BOURKE (Minister for Emergency Services and Correctional Services, Minister for Autism, Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing) (14:25): As I have highlighted now in the previous two comments, I did make a statement yesterday in the chamber to update the parliament in regard to this matter. I stepped through the process and I refer to that explanation that was given yesterday, which provides greater detail of the process that was undertaken throughout, leading up to the hearing and post the hearing.