Attorney General muzzled by Costa - 19 June 2008

Master of Vaudeville and leader of the Government in the NSW Upper House - Michael Costa, muzzled the Attorney General in question time today.

Greens MP Ian Cohen was directing a question to John Hatzistergos about discussions that took place with other ministers and the treasurer on the issue of adequately funding programs to tackle sexual assault of indigenous children.

“My question was quite specific and was addressed to the Attorney General, not Michael Costa,” said Mr Cohen.

“I was interested in his version of the conversation that took place where Michael Costa refused to meet the demands of Bob Debus and Reba Meagher to increase funding as was recommended in the ‘Breaking the Silence’ report.

“After the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Paul Lynch’s tight-lipped performance on 2GB this morning, it is clear there is a code of silence in force on funding failures under the watch of the Treasurer.

“I might be old fashioned, but I think that the Minister who’s version of events is questioned, should be the same Minister that speaks to the question.

“The question that I asked was:

‘Can the Minister indicate what reasons the Treasurer gave to him, the Hon. Bob Debus and The Hon. Reba Meager for the refusal of $20 million in additional funds to tackle child sexual assault of indigenous children?‘

“The previous Attorney General Bob Debus commissioned the taskforce that wrote the report. It found levels of abuse up to four times the national average. Taskforce chair Marcia Ella Duncan said it painted a stark picture of intergenerational abuse and social disadvantage,” said Mr Cohen.

Further Information: Ian Cohen: 0409 989 466 or Nic Clyde on 0417 742 754