Ms O’CONNOR – Minister, do you concede that the allocation of two and a-half million dollars less than what the NPM needed means that your government has funded it to the extent that it cannot perform its statutory obligations; and that is to prevent the inhumane or degrading treatment where their liberty may have been taken away from them.
Mr BARNETT – Thank you for the question, and I do absolutely not only concede but confirm the important role of the ombudsman in terms of the NPM and I note my understanding and the advice I have received of the visit, I think it was in the last 12 months, was a productive and useful visit is my understanding. I also agree that we need to do what we can to address the concerns you’ve raised. We need to do that as a government. We have responded to the commission of inquiry and will implement all 191 recommendations at a considerable investment for the taxpayer. I’m looking forward to undertaking the 54 legislative initiatives that flow from that and leading those measures.
Having said that, I absolutely concur that there are demands in the system and those resources are currently not meeting the demand. But we’d like to think that through further work and consideration those demands over time can be met.
Ms O’CONNOR – Thank you. Well that was a non-answer. Your government allocated $300,000 for the Tasmanian National Preventive Mechanism knowing – you must’ve known because there was a budget request and submission – that that would inhibit this really important role that parliament enacted from fulfilling its statutory obligations. The human cost of that, minister, is that there is no line of sight now through the NPM to people who are in places places like mental health facilities, disability care facilities; a whole range of places outside prisons where people’s liberty is deprived. Why did your government not fund the NPM to enable it to perform its statutory obligations?
Mr BARNETT – Thank you very much, Chair, through you for the question. Firstly, I don’t concur with your opening remarks.
Ms O’CONNOR – Which one?
Mr BARNETT – Well your opening remarks where you were putting words in my mouth. I have answered the question. I will answer your question that you’ve delivered now. I won’t be verballed by the Honourable Member. You can take my question as you want, but don’t put words in my mouth, through you, Chair.
Ms O’CONNOR – I just said you didn’t answer the question.
Mr BARNETT – That’s a view that you can hold, and I won’t be verballed. As an Attorney‑General, I have already said that we’ve committed more than, I think it’s $1.6 million over two years for that scoping work. The ombudsman’s made reference to that. In terms of next steps and the implementation stage we acknowledge that work is important. I’ll take further advice –
Ms O’CONNOR – So important that you didn’t fund it properly.
Mr BARNETT – Sorry, I’m trying to answer the question through you, Chair.
CHAIR – Continue.
Mr BARNETT – I will continue to take advice from the department and liaise with the department as I do likewise with the ombudsman from time to time.
Ms O’CONNOR – But with respect, last question on this line of questioning. With respect, minister, it’s not up to the department to decide what level of funding is appropriate for such an important statutory entity. That’s on you as minister. As minister you know the budget goes to cabinet and before then you need to have lined up your portfolio areas and the funding that they require. You oversaw a decision to just grossly underfund this body that will place people at risk. What are you going to do to fix it?
Mr BARNETT – Thank you very much, Chair. Through you. Thank you for the question. As I have indicated we’ve got increased funding in the justice portfolio in a whole range of areas for victim survivors –
Ms O’CONNOR – But not to the NPM.
Mr BARNETT – For women that need help in times of family violence, for the Director of Public Prosecution –
Ms O’CONNOR – Well you’re deflecting now.
Mr BARNETT – And a whole range of other areas, and I take it seriously and will continue to do so.
