ADELAIDE OVAL

The Hon. I.F. EVANS (Davenport) (15:02): My question, again, is to the Treasurer. Is the reason the Treasurer went public about his misleading of the parliament that he became aware that on 25 May Leigh Whicker had indicated to Kevin Cantley and Bruce Carter that they were told on 22 February that he had briefed the Treasurer on 19 February about the cost blowouts and, if asked, he would be saying that?

The Hon. K.O. FOLEY (Port Adelaide—Deputy Premier, Treasurer, Minister for Federal/State Relations, Minister for Defence Industries) (15:02): I have repeatedly said publicly in this place that my office was notified on the evening of the Thursday night. Now, I think that was the 26^th, was it not? I think the 26^th. I do not have a calendar in front of me. I was not aware that Mr Whicker had made such a telephone call to anyone. My chief of staff had received a telephone call which triggered us to find that piece of paper which reminded me of that meeting. As Mr Whicker said in evidence yesterday, consistent with what I said to this house, it was but a brief comment at the end of—

The Hon. I.F. Evans: Six pages.

The Hon. K.O. FOLEY: Six pages?

The Hon. I.F. Evans interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! You will allow the Treasurer to answer.

The Hon. K.O. FOLEY: The shadow treasurer cannot mislead. Leigh Whicker did not say that he provided me with six pages of documents.

The Hon. I.F. Evans interjecting:

The Hon. K.O. FOLEY: You just did. You just said 'six pages'. Mr Whicker in his evidence was consistent with my statement to the house that I attended a meeting with Mr Whicker predominantly to talk about the Port Adelaide Magpies Football Club and the Port Power Football Club, and to talk about the dire financial predicament of the Magpies; and, clearly, one which one was to become aware of with Port Adelaide Power.

That was the purpose of the meeting, because I was taking a direct interest in the future of the Magpies, as one would expect as a lifelong member and the member for Port Adelaide, and I think I had already made, at that point, some public comments that I wanted the SANFL to save the Port Magpies and Leigh felt it was important that he have a chat to me about it. As Mr Whicker said yesterday, towards the end of that meeting he made a very brief comment to me about a figure which I did not believe to be a satisfactory number for which we would alter our position at all—it was early—and Mr Whicker confirmed that yesterday, Madam Speaker.