Page: 13917
The Hon. MICHAEL GALLACHER: I direct my question without notice to the Special Minister of State. Did employees of WorkCover’s Licensing and Compliance Division return to work on Monday 4 January to find that one of their colleagues had been suspended pending an ICAC investigation into allegations that the employee had been issuing false national certificates of competency? Has this employee been suspended without pay until further notice? Would this employee have been unable to issue false certificates had WorkCover managed to properly implement the $4 million E-Authorise system, which would have prevented breaches of this nature by having proper checks and balances?
The Hon. JOHN DELLA BOSCA: The honourable member referred to a number of specific matters that are the subject of internal investigations by WorkCover senior executives and external inquiries by the ICAC. His suggestion that certain administrative arrangements would have prevented the difficulties that have become apparent is a matter of opinion. I will look into the matter and provide him with a detailed response.