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Legislative Council - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, Second Session (54-2)
2021-09-22 Daily Xml
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Question Time

Data Harvesting

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Leader of the Opposition) (14:19): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking a question of the minister for the public sector regarding corruption, maladministration and misconduct by the Premier.

Leave granted.

The Hon. K.J. MAHER: Today, in startling revelations, the Ombudsman revealed that he had referred concerns about corruption, maladministration or misconduct specifically in relation to the alleged misuse of data to the Office for Public Integrity. In relation to this, today the Ombudsman was asked, 'You have found corruption, maladministration or misconduct and referred it to the OPI?' The Ombudsman replied with the single word yes.

When asked who was responsible for this corruption, maladministration or misconduct, it was stated to the committee, 'This is all coming out of a political party and the Premier's office.' This quote was attributed to the Premier's own department. My question to the minister for the public sector is: as the person responsible in government for the public sector, exactly what code of ethics, code of conduct or behavioural standards apply to employees who work within the Premier's office?

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS (Treasurer) (14:21): I am advised that the Ombudsman (later today), after presenting before the parliamentary committee evidently, issued a clarifying statement or a statement, which in part says as follows I should say:

While it is true that the Ombudsman has referred a matter of potential corruption, maladministration or misconduct to the Office for Public Integrity, the Ombudsman did not intend to indicate that he had formally 'found' that corruption, maladministration or misconduct had occurred.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS: It continues:

As is clear from the totality of the Ombudsman's evidence at the hearing, no conclusions have been made in that regard, only that there are concerns needed to be referred to OPI for assessment.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

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