Personal Explanation

LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION, QUALIFICATIONS

Mrs REDMOND (Heysen—Leader of the Opposition) (15:39): I seek leave to make a personal explanation.

Leave granted.

Mrs REDMOND: I just want to put quickly on the record a response to some matters that were raised by the government this afternoon in relation to my qualification as a lawyer. A number of disparaging remarks were made across the chamber about whether or not I am legitimately practising as a lawyer. I do not practise and have not held a practising certificate since 2002 when I came into this place, and that is a deliberate choice on my part, but in terms of my qualifications, I want to put on the record that, when I graduated from high school, my family was not rich enough for me to go to university—and it was before Gough Whitlam abolished university fees.

The alternative route for me to become a lawyer was to study with a group called the Barristers Admissions Board in Sydney, a course taken by many eminent lawyers—

The Hon. M.J. Atkinson: Attorney-General Rowe in the Playford government—

The SPEAKER: The member for Croydon!

Mrs REDMOND: —such as McHugh, who was on the High Court. I qualified under that path, being admitted to practise in 1977 in New South Wales and then subsequently in about 1984 in this state. I just want to make it clear on the record that there can be no suggestion that I do not hold a valid qualification, that I practised in this state and other places as a properly qualified and admitted lawyer, and that it is improper for the government and ministers thereof to accuse me in any way of not being qualified to practise the law should I choose to do so.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The member for Croydon.