PUGLIA, MINISTERIAL TRAVEL

Mr HAMILTON-SMITH (Waite) (14:40): My question is to the Minister for Multicultural Affairs. Will she tell the house the names of all South Australian government officials, or representatives, who travelled with her to Fiera del Levante in 2010? What was the cost of sending these representatives and in what class of travel did they move?

The Hon. G. PORTOLESI (Hartley—Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation, Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Minister for Youth, Minister for Volunteers) (14:40): I thank the member for Waite, and I am very happy to answer as many aspects of the question as I can. I can very clearly account for my costs associated—

Ms Chapman interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order, member for Bragg!

The Hon. G. PORTOLESI: Were you asking the question or was the member for Waite asking the question? I can very clearly answer this question. I believe that the member for Waite, in a media statement made over the last few days, reported that, apparently, the cost of my fare was something in the order of $14,000. I can report to the house today that on a quick, but pretty serious, back-of-the-envelope calculation (because, of course, receipts are still coming in) the cost for myself and my adviser is less than $14,000. You claimed that the cost was about $14,000 just for the fare. I can confirm for you that for two of us it cost, we think, less than $14,000. So—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. G. PORTOLESI: I can tell you that it was A$12,529.52, plus €693. You would appreciate that receipts are still coming in. I can also advise the house—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. G. PORTOLESI: No, it wasn't on Jetstar.

Mr Pisoni interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order, member for Unley! You are on your second warning.

The Hon. G. PORTOLESI: I can advise the house that I, obviously, attended. My participation at the now famous Fiera del Levante was at the conclusion of a broader trip. I was accompanied by my adviser, Ms Michela Schirru, who happened to be in Europe at the time. She was on leave. We arranged for her to come off leave, and what that meant was that the South Australian government did not have to pay for a fare for her from South Australia to Italy and back.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. G. PORTOLESI: You said that it cost, just for my fare, $14,000. What I am telling you is that it cost less than that for two.

Mr Hamilton-Smith interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order, member for Waite! You have asked your question.

The Hon. G. PORTOLESI: I was accompanied by Professor Nicola Sasanelli—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. G. PORTOLESI: —for the entirety of the trip. When I was over there Ms Pauline Peel joined us. Monsignor David Cappo also joined us, and that was it.