SOUTH AUSTRALIAN JOCKEY CLUB

Mrs REDMOND (Heysen) (14:46): I have yet another question for the Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing, especially in light of his previous answer. Was the minister aware of and did he approve payments to Mr Philip Bentley in connection with his review of racing that included $170 per hour for appointment making and note taking, and does the minister believe that $170 per hour is a fair and reasonable payment—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

Mrs REDMOND: —for note taking and appointment making?

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

Mrs REDMOND: In file notes dated 8 February 2007 attached to the invoices 'Payments to Mr Philip Bentley', a departmental officer expresses concerns about what he describes as 'an excessive rate of $170 per hour for secretarial services and $110 per hour for hire of an interview room'. In a later file note, the departmental officer expresses concerns about the 'difficult and unknown circumstances associated with this project'.

The Hon. M.J. WRIGHT (Lee—Minister for Police, Minister for Emergency Services, Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing) (14:47): As I said, all the honourable member wants to do is to try to rubbish Mr Bentley. Let me say that he has performed a very important piece of work here, and can I say that—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. M.J. WRIGHT: —as the minister then responsible and the minister now responsible for racing, I am delighted we appointed him.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. K.O. Foley interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The member for Torrens.