Defence: Medical Board of Inquiry

Mr Price asked the Minister Assisting the Minister for Defence, upon notice, on 17 November 2004:

1. Further to the answer to question No. 1676 (Hansard, 11 August 2003, page 18080), was a summons issued by those assisting the WA Medical Board of Inquiry addressed to the Commanding Officer of HMAS Stirling requesting the production of certain documents; if so, (a) why were the documents not produced, (b) was legal advice sought to resist the summons, and (c) can she explain how her predecessor could claim that all documents, files, records and information requested by the WA Medical Board of Inquiry were produced when the Department of Defence has resisted a summons.
2. Has she instituted an investigation into the failure to comply with the summons; if so, (a) who is conducting it, (b) when will it be completed, and (c) will its findings be made public.

Mrs Kelly - The answer to the honourable member's question is as follows:

1. Yes.
   1. and (c) Although some of the documents requested had been previously produced to the Board, owing to an administrative error, the remainder of the materials requested were not produced.
   2. No.
2. No.

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