Natasha Maclaren-Jones
Shadow Minister for Families and Communities
The NSW Liberals and Nationals are demanding answers from the Premier after further reports show the Minister for Families and Communities had direct involvement in the payment of nearly $40,000 of taxpayers’ money to an NGO so it would drop legal action against a former foster carer with ties to the Labor Party.
Shadow Minister for Families and Communities Natasha Maclaren‑Jones said reports that NGO staff were directed to remove references to the Minister from correspondence, and a non‑disclosure agreement was drawn up, raise serious questions about what the Minister was trying to hide and suggest a deliberate effort to conceal her role.
“This was not a routine decision. Minister Washington overruled her own department and presided over a process to hide her role. This stinks to high heaven,” Mrs Maclaren‑Jones said.
“It has all the hallmarks of a cover‑up.”
“The public deserves straight answers. Were records altered? Was the NGO pressured? And why was ministerial intervention required at all?” Mrs Maclaren‑Jones said.
Mrs Maclaren-Jones said the Premier must answer these questions and explain why he continues to shield Minister Washington from accountability.
“When experienced stakeholders are warning that a Minister has misused her authority, Chris Minns cannot simply look the other way, Mrs Maclaren-Jones said.
“Chris Minns must explain why the public is only learning about this now. The public deserves transparency, but instead they get secret payouts, children placed with dangerous offenders, and welfare reports closed without kids even being seen.”
“The Minister has blamed her department for every disaster on her watch, children living with a serial killer, ROSH reports closed because there’s ‘no capacity to allocate’, kids not even being seen before their welfare reports are shut down. Not this time.”
“This payout was her call, her signature, her responsibility, and she has serious questions to answer about her judgment, transparency and integrity.”
