House of Assembly Fifty-First Parliament, Third Session (51-3) 51 3 Parliament of South Australia House of Assembly published Ministerial Statement Ministerial Statement Matter of Privilege MATTER OF PRIVILEGE The Hon. K.O. FOLEY House of Assembly Port Adelaide Deputy Premier Minister for Industry and Trade Minister for Federal/State Relations The Hon. K.O. FOLEY (Port Adelaide—Deputy Premier, Treasurer, Minister for Industry and Trade, Minister for Federal/State Relations) (11:59): I seek leave to make a ministerial statement. Leave granted. The Hon. K.O. FOLEY House of Assembly The Hon. K.O. FOLEY: The member for Bragg raised a matter of privilege in the house regarding comments I made during the examination of the Auditor-General's Report. During the examination, the member asked a question which referred to the legal proceedings between SA Water and United Water. I declined to give an answer, citing that the matter was now before the courts. The member for Bragg interjected (as she often does) and stated that I had made statements previously in the house. I responded, 'Prior to it going to court.' The member for Bragg accused me of misleading the house, to which I responded: I am happy to defer to the legal brilliance of the member opposite and clarify that and, if I have given an inappropriate statement, it will be corrected. Following the dinner break, the member raised her matter of privilege during which she cited a ministerial statement I had made to the house on 8 September which outlined that SA Water had filed proceedings with the Supreme Court of South Australia on 31 August. Also, she cited radio interviews I had given on the matter on 1 and 2 September. In the course of my response to the member for Bragg during the examination of the Auditor-General's Report, I also stated: My recollection of events was in fact that I gave a statement saying that we would be serving a notice on United Water but had not done so at the stage that I gave the statement. Subsequent events were the serving of notice and legal proceedings commencing. That is my recollection of the series of events and I will get that checked if I have given incorrect information. My office is checking with crown law what information I can provide to the house in response to the member's question, and I will come back to the house with an appropriate answer in due course. However, I accept that my ministerial statement on 8 September included reference to proceedings being filed by SA Water on 31 August. As at 8 September there had been no hearings on this matter. First notice signed by United Water was on 9 September. Since that time there have been several hearings and the matter is now clearly before the courts. Further, I am sure that all members would agree that this dispute is indeed a serious matter and a matter worthy of a ministerial statement to the parliament. If there was any confusion in my comments last night, sir, as I stated, I would seek to correct that information. I did make mention that it was my recollection of events, and I made it quite clear to the house that, if anything was incorrect, I would correct the statement. I hope that clears up the matter.