EQUAL OPPORTUNITY COMMISSIONER

Mr SIBBONS (Mitchell) (14:42): My question is to the Attorney-General. Can the Attorney-General inform the house about the position of the Equal Opportunity Commissioner?

The Hon. J.R. RAU (Enfield—Deputy Premier, Attorney-General, Minister for Planning, Minister for Business Services and Consumers) (14:42): Ms Anne Gale has been appointed for a five-year term as our next commissioner for equal opportunity. She takes up her new role on 17 September this year. She is currently the Deputy Commissioner for Consumer Affairs and prior to that she was the deputy chief executive of the then department for families and communities. She also served as executive director of the Office for the Ageing.

Ms Gale brings a wealth of experience in working with the disadvantaged, including in aged care and homelessness. She has a proven record in policy analysis and project delivery, and strong strategic and analytical abilities. Ms Gale has almost two decades of public service including in the Department of the Premier and Cabinet, human services and the South Australian Housing Trust. This appointment, through Ms Gale's leadership and drive, will advance equal opportunity and combat discrimination in this state. I personally offer her my congratulations on her appointment.

The SPEAKER: Thank you, Deputy Premier. Can I point out she is a Whyalla girl born and bred? Her parents still live there.

The Hon. J.R. RAU: It only gets better.