Government criticised over Gallop report
DANIELLE CRONIN
Canberra Times
The Gallop report into disability services would be confidentially circulated to key ACT government officials and bureaucrats after a temporary court injunction barring its public release was amended, Chief Minister Jon Stanhope said yesterday.
And the Government was prepared to petition the court to lift the injunction on its public disclosure if the Supreme Curt could not "relatively quickly" finalise hearings into four senior ACT bureaucrats' claims the final report could damage their reputations.
The bureaucrats won a temporary injunction on Christmas Eve which prevented the issuing of former Justice John Gallop's report into disability services.
Greens MLA Kerrie Tucker, Opposition Leader Gary Humphries and advocacy groups have criticised the Government's handling of the issue.
Ms Tucker said yesterday the Supreme Court order, issued on December 24, was "a serious intrusion on the immunities and privileges of the Legislative Assembly by the Court".
"The Court is seeking to stop a member of the Assembly [the Chief Minister] from tabling a document," she said.
"This appears to be a transgression of the separation of powers.
"I am asking the Chief Minister to contest this order. I will also raise the matter with the Speaker on his return, and if necessary seek advice on taking legal action myself in order to protect the sovereignty of the Assembly."
Opposition leader Gary Humphries accused the Government of "blatant hypocrisy".
"In Opposition, the Labor Party demanded the immediate release of the interim Gallop report, saying the then Government was afraid of the truth being out in the open," Mr Humphries said yesterday.
"Today, at the first opportunity in Government, the Labor Party is happy to hide behind legal process and keep the same report out of the public gaze.
"The former Liberal Government was harshly criticised for giving due consideration to the legal implications on affected individuals of releasing the report."
The delays have caused uproar among advocacy groups who plan to re-form a coalition, under the ACT Council of Social Service's banner, to push for its release.
Chair of the ACT Disability Aged and Carer Advocacy Service, Kym Duggan said people with disabilities, their carers and supporters had invested time, effort and faith in the process and further delays were "unconscionable".
"We are interested in recommendations on systematic change, not looking for a witch hunt," Mr Duggan said.
"We believe that there are significant problems with Disability Programs in the ACT and we are hopeful this report will identify them."
ACTCOSS director Daniel Stubbs said there was enormous public interest in the report.
"The inquiry process was traumatic for all concerned," Mr Stubbs said.
"Withholding the report devalues the significant contribution made by the community."
ACTCOSS will consider seeking leave to present community and disability sector issues to Supreme Court Justice Ken Crispin during a hearing scheduled for February 8.
Mr Stanhope yesterday confirmed the Government's commitment to tabling the Gallop report as soon as possible.
"The only question is the timing of the release of the report given the current legal proceedings," he said.
"I am concerned to ensure that the rights and interests of all persons in the ACT community are protected.
"My aim is to achieve a fair balance between these potentially competing interests - I do not want an approach which purports to serve the rights of one group at the expense of another."