AFTER more than two hours debating whether Shane Rattenbury should be stood down in his role as speaker, the Assembly’s first QT since winter break started on a dull note.

Neil Savery, Myway, affordable housing – yawn. But then came a series of questions from the Libs about the Bimberi report. Considering it was the first time the assembly had met since the report on Bimberi Youth Centre was released on July 29, there’s a lot to be questioned.

The report, by the Human Rights Commission, found the Bimberi Youth Justice Centre was not Human Rights compliant and made more than 200 recommendations for improvement.

Every party put questions to the Minister for Community Services Joy Burch about Bimberi.

But the topic really began to heat up when Doszpot’s asked Burch a supplementary question on how many staff, that worked at Bimber in November 2010 were are still working there and what positions are they were working on today.

She was happy to take the question on notice, and proceeded to talk about how many recommendations Bimberi have actioned, how they operate “on a high standard of care”.

But then a massive twist, she began pointing a finger at Liberal MLA Vicki Dunne.

“What I’d really be interested in reading is Ms Dunne’s report on her recent study trip where she chooses to have no time…

“She comes into this place and says that she is so concerned and wants to get to the bottom of the issues but I don’t believe, and I’m happy to be corrected, that while she was overseas on her studies, instead of meeting with groups that refer to women that have pro-choice, to be pinned to Nazi regimes.”
In response, Opposition Leader Zed Seselja called an order:

“The desperation of this Minister sees no boundaries. It’s completely irrelevant.”

Liberal MLA Vicki Dunne then asked a supplementary question:

“Have you read the report? And have you learnt from the report that it is appropriate to turn your back on staff and say ‘la la la la la’ when they have concerns with communication?”

Burch proceeded to answer:
“Absolutely, I have read the report, and I will continue to visit Bimberi as opposed to those opposite who in shame desperation the week before this was supposed to be tabled in July of this year, that Mrs Dunne and the deputy, sorry the leader of the opposition actually went to Bimberi.”

“In desperation the first time they had been there, Mrs Dunne has not ever sought a briefing on Bimberi, rather…”

Her response was cut short by Dunne who called an order and reminded  Burch the question was in fact in regards to the communication between Bimberi staff and senior management.

Burch then replied, she was not intentionally misleading the question and that yes she had “absolutely” read the report but would be very interested in reading Dunne’s report on her recent studies trip…

Wow, it’s nice to know our pollies have spent their winter break doing research into their portfolios.