Pike committee's findings about Western Women proved wrong

Education Minister Kay Hallahan said she had been vindicated by evidence given by a senior public servant today to the Pike committee investigating the Western Women affair.

Mrs Hallahan said unsubstantiated allegations that she had received and failed to act on complaints about Western Women while Minister assisting the Minister for Women's Interests were not supported by Margaret Wort, a former Director of the Office of Women's Interests.

"I have always said that I never received any complaints about financial impropriety on the part of Western Women while I was Minister responsible for WIRE," she said.

"Indeed, if there had been such complaints I would have immediately severed the link between Western Women and WIRE.

"I understand that Margaret Wort told the Pike committee today that she had never brought any complaints to my attention. While she was uneasy about Greenburg's style, she had no complaints about financial impropriety on the part of Western Women to which she could draw my attention and upon which I could take action."

Mrs Hallahan said the Pike committee was a disgrace.

"It seems that Mr Pike will readily circulate unsubstantiated allegations, but is not so diligent about reporting that those allegations have been disproved," she said.

The Minister said the Pike committee had once again demonstrated that it was not interested in establishing facts.

"Far from assisting people who lost their money with the collapse of Western Women, the Pike committee is on a taxpayer-funded mission for the Liberal Party," she said.