Question Time

COUNTRY HOSPITAL DONATIONS

The SPEAKER: The Minister for Agriculture was in the course of answering the question.

The Hon. R.J. McEWEN (Mount Gambier—Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, Minister for Forests, Minister for Regional Development) (14:46): What I was attempting to do in a measured way was to point to the fact that a set of circumstances has prevailed which has demonstrated that a longstanding act of this parliament is deficient whereby people have given money for a particular purpose. The purpose failed and, by law, we need to apply the money to another purpose or give the money back. It has nothing to do with me personally: it is simply the fact that we have identified a deficiency in the law. We must now amend the law. I know that no member in this place would be calling on any of us to break the law, whether it is a hospital board, or whatever.

It is a silly nonsense to suggest that I should do something about it personally. What we must all do now is wait until, in the spring session, the Attorney-General brings in an amendment to the act.

Mrs Redmond interjecting:

The Hon. R.J. McEWEN: The member for Heysen knows better than most others that the law is the law, irrespective of—

Mr Pengilly interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Finniss will come to order!

The Hon. R.J. McEWEN: The Attorney says that although we wish to pay it back, legally we cannot pay it back until we in this place amend the act. That will be—

An honourable member interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. R.J. McEWEN: Those opposite now appeal to me to get on with it because they never wanted an answer to the question in the first place.

Mr Williams interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order, member for MacKillop!

The Hon. R.J. McEWEN: In the spring session the Attorney will bring in for the house to consider an amendment to the bill together with a second reading explanation. I trust that, at that time, we will find that in a timely manner we will address the anomaly and we will amend the act. As soon as that is done, by law, we will then address the set of circumstances that prevail around this particular fund.