Opposition attacks over Western Women group unjustified

The Minister for Women's Interests Judyth Watson has criticised the State Opposition for unjustified attacks on the Public Service Commission over the Western Women Group collapse.

And she has called on Opposition spokesperson on Women's Interests, Cheryl Edwardes, to publicly apologise to the Commission and public servants.

Dr Watson's criticism follows the findings of the State Ombudsman's in his inquiry into possible political interference in the compilation of a report by the Public Service Commission on perceived Government links with Western Women through the office of the Women's Information and Referral Exchange.

The Ombudsman' findings are contained in his report tabled in State Parliament.

"The Ombudsman found there was no political doctoring of the Public Service Commission's report or a cover-up," Dr Watson said.

"This was told to the Opposition by the Premier, the former Minister Assisting the Minister for Women's Interests, and myself.

"The Ombudsman found no evidence that either the Commissioner or the Commissioner's staff were improperly influenced in their relations with Ministers and that the Public Service Commission adequately addressed its terms of reference in its review."

Dr Watson said the Ombudsman's findings vindicated her strong stand in that the Commission drew on a wide range of evidence to compile its report. This was borne out in the Ombudsman's findings.

As part of its review, the Commission gathered information from staff at WIRE, the Office of Women's Interests and six Western Women investors. It also received public submissions and other extensive documentation. He saw no evidence which indicated that information given to the Public Service Commission review by WIRE staff was any different than the Commission's report showed.

Dr Watson said the Opposition's attacks on the issue of the Public Service Commission report were now seen to be hollow and an unjustified criticism of the Commissioner and his staff.

Dr Watson said that in particular, the unjustified attacks by Mrs Edwardes were a direct slur on the Commission's integrity and on public servants generally.

"Being in public life I expect unjust criticism, but Mrs Edwardes' attacks on the integrity of the Public Service Commission should not be tolerated. She should have the decency to now apologise to the Commissioner and his staff."