Kimberley Kitching (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Manager of Opposition Business in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme, Senator Reynolds. In defending her heartless failure to pick up the phone and personally apologise to the family of Liam Danher, after 78 days in the portfolio, the minister asserted, 'If my Chief of Staff does something on my behalf, then I consider that is the case.' Why won't the minister just pick up the phone and apologise to Liam's family?

Linda Reynolds (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Government Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the senator for that question. In all of these circumstances—and, tragically, there is more than one case—my first and foremost consideration is to respect the wishes of the family. As I have previously advised this chamber, my office has contacted Mr Danher's family—his father, in fact—and offered a call or a meeting with me. It was agreed it would be best that this meeting take place once more information is available, and when that has occurred. The NDIA chief legal counsel is reviewing Liam Danher's case and will provide a report on the detail and any learnings that the NDIA can take from this case. The outcomes of that will be communicated to the family, prior to any public comment on this case.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order, Senator Reynolds. Senator Kitching, on a point of order.

Kimberley Kitching (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Manager of Opposition Business in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, the question was very clear: why hasn't the minister picked up the phone and apologised to Liam's family?

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

With respect, I've allowed you to remind the minister of the question. The minister is entitled to answer the question in the terms that she sees fit. She is talking about this particularly unfortunate event, and, in that sense, she is directly relevant and answering the question as she deems appropriate. Senator Reynolds.

Linda Reynolds (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Government Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I did answer the question first up, and I'll just say it again: first and foremost, I believe it's important for me to respect the wishes of the individual families, including Liam Danher's family. That is exactly what I'm doing in relation to this case and also to other cases that have come to my attention.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Kitching, a supplementary question.

Kimberley Kitching (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Manager of Opposition Business in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

What other actions has the minister asserted were her own when in fact they were the actions of her chief of staff? And if she can't answer that all now she could take it on notice and come back to the chamber.

Linda Reynolds (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Government Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the senator for her questions. As she knows, she has already put those questions on notice to me. Of course I will answer those in the normal course of events.

As I said yesterday, and as I've repeated again today, first and foremost it is important for me to respect the wishes of individual family members, and that is what I always do. I have talked directly to some family members where they have wished to do so, and when and how they wished to do so. Again, my chief of staff acted on my behalf—

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Kitching on a point of order.

Kimberley Kitching (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Manager of Opposition Business in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I did give the minister an option that, if she couldn't remember everything that she had said that she did but in fact it was her chief of staff, she could come back and report to the chamber. But if she could give me some of that now it would be helpful.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

With respect, the minister has concluded, but I think she did refer to questions on notice being answered as well. Senator Kitching?

Kimberley Kitching (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Manager of Opposition Business in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

She must have a very bad memory, Mr President.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Kitching, a final supplementary question.

Kimberley Kitching (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Manager of Opposition Business in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Given that the actions of her staff are in fact her own, can the minister confirm that, rather than becoming aware of Ms Higgins' allegation of rape progressively over days, as she has claimed, in fact she became aware at the same time as her chief of staff became aware—that is, three days after the alleged rape on 26 March 2019?

Linda Reynolds (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Government Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I would argue that that is not in any way a supplementary question in relation to the Danher case. But, as I have said in many forums—in this chamber and also at estimates—I am currently assisting the AFP with their inquiries into these matters. They are subject to the statement that I provided to the AFP and it would be entirely inappropriate for me to comment further.