Health workforce
Georgie CROZIER (Southern Metropolitan) (12:22): (607) My question is again to the Attorney-General. Attorney, every month you receive an updated whole-of-government legal risk register. In March Peninsula Health abandoned its appeal of a court judgement in a class action brought by 1600 junior doctors regarding wage theft by the Allan Labor government. I ask: is the threat of further litigation included on the register?
Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Attorney-General, Minister for Emergency Services) (12:22): I have some difficulty in answering Ms Crozier’s question because, first of all, she has put an assertion which she has no basis to put. Yes, there is a legal risk register, but it goes to a cabinet committee. What you are asking me to talk about are matters for cabinet. In general it is not my practice to go through the deliberations of a cabinet committee.
Often this comes up in this place, where I get asked about legal matters in my capacity as Attorney-General – as first law officer – and they link things in relation to that. That does not mean that I take responsibility for the legal response for other portfolio matters. If there is a legal matter that I am aware of that exists in another portfolio, that does not inherently make it part of my responsibility. In that sense the question that Ms Crozier has put places me in somewhat of a difficult situation to give her much information apart from I am aware of the matter she referred to and there is the existence of a legal risk register.
Georgie CROZIER (Southern Metropolitan) (12:24): Another cop-out by the Attorney. Attorney, the register requires each department to identify their top 10 legal risks. Where does the risk posed by further litigation by junior doctors, whose wages were stolen by the Allan Labor government, sit on the register?
Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Attorney-General, Minister for Emergency Services) (12:24): The way you have characterised the way the register works is not a correct articulation of it. Yes, it is important for whole of government to be aware of significant litigation across the public sector, because in that sense you promote consistency –
Georgie Crozier: You’re not answering the question.
Jaclyn SYMES: I am trying to be helpful. My answer to your first question effectively answered your substantive question, and the way you have characterised it in terms of ‘What number is this on the register?’ is an inappropriate question that actually cannot be answered.