Page: 4246
The Hon. JOHN RYAN: My question without notice is to the Minister for Community Services. In asking the question I refer to a single sentence from the transcript of a Four Corners program that reports that Pam Greer, of the New South Wales Child Death Review Team, said that she had been directly pressured by Mrs Lo Po's office to tone down references in a report by the Department of Community Services [DOCS] on child deaths two years ago. What investigations has the Minister undertaken into those allegations of corrupt interference by the former DOCS Minister, Faye Lo Po', and/or the former Minister's office in reporting the truth about children's deaths in New South Wales where DOCS has had some involvement?
The Hon. CARMEL TEBBUTT: As the honourable member well knows, the former Minister rejected that allegation. As the honourable member also knows, the actual reference that the member of the Child Death Review Team referred to, the reference known to DOCS, was reinstated in the subsequent year's report by the team. I have made it quite clear in a number of statements that the Department of Community Services will operate in an open, accountable and transparent manner.
The Hon. JOHN RYAN: I ask a supplementary question. Whether the Minister has denied the allegations or not, they refer to corrupt conduct. Why has the Minister not referred the matter to the ICAC?
The Hon. CARMEL TEBBUTT: That course of action is open to the honourable member if he chooses to follow it.