HANDSHIN, MS M.

Mr MARSHALL (Norwood—Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (14:55): Seeing as the government has invited me, I would like to ask a question. I am always happy to oblige this government. My question is to the Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation. Will the minister outline to the house full details of the selection which led to the appointment of Ms Mia Handshin as the presiding member of the EPA? Was the position advertised, how many people were considered or interviewed for this position and did the department recommend Mia Handshin for this role to cabinet or did they make any other recommendations?

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. P. CAICA (Colton—Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation, Minister for Water and the River Murray, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation) (14:56): On this side, we actually do that. We talk to each other, we help each other, we are unified, we support each other.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! That is enough. You have had your fun.

The Hon. P. CAICA: Madam Speaker, they are very sensitive. Have a look around: you have seven former deputy leaders, more than they have women.

Mr MARSHALL: Point of order, Madam Speaker: the question was about the presiding member of the EPA, and I hope the minister will be able to answer and give full details.

The SPEAKER: Thank you. I am sure your point of order was about debate. Minister, I refer you back to the question.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

Mr Marshall interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for Norwood, order!

The Hon. P. CAICA: The member for Norwood has a long way to go and I know he is pretty keen to get there. You know—

Mr PISONI: Point of order, Madam Speaker: he is deliberately defying your order. You asked him to answer the question and he is having a go.

The SPEAKER: For heaven's sake, sit down. There is no point of order.

Mr Pisoni interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! You will sit down or leave the chamber. There is no point of order. He has only started his comments. I refer the minister back to the question.

The Hon. P. CAICA: Thank you, Madam Speaker. When I say that he has got a long way to go—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

Mrs REDMOND: Point of order, Madam Speaker: how can a comment about any one on this side of the house possibly be relevant to the question that was asked of the minister about a failed Labor candidate being appointed to a senior role in this state?

The SPEAKER: Minister, I ask you to go back to the question now. You have made your point.

The Hon. P. CAICA: Thank you very much, Madam Speaker. What I was insinuating about the member for Norwood was that the process is—

Mrs REDMOND: Point of order, Madam Speaker.

The SPEAKER: Listen to what he is saying now.

The Hon. P. CAICA: Cabinet made a decision—it is not unprecedented—very similar, as I understand it, to the process by which they appointed Jennifer Cashmore to the position of EPA chair, no different than other processes we have put in place. What I was alluding to was that he has got a long way to go because he does not understand the cabinet processes. What I will say is that Mia Handshin will be an outstanding chair of the EPA, I am sure even better than Jennifer Cashmore—

Mr MARSHALL: Point of order, Madam Speaker.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! What is your point of order?

Mr MARSHALL: My point of order is relevance and the substance of the question. I specifically asked not about the merits of the candidate but about whether or not they were interviewed, whether other people were considered and whether or not there were other recommendations to cabinet—not the merits of the candidate.

The SPEAKER: Thank you. There is no point of order. Minister.

The Hon. P. CAICA: The process was in accordance with the act and the processes of cabinet and, indeed, no different than what had occurred before, not just on this appointment but previous appointments for the EPA. They had no problem when I appointed Rob Kerin to head up the transition of the regional development boards to Regional Development Australia. That was alright. She will be an outstanding chair.

The Hon. P.F. CONLON: Point of order, Madam Speaker.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order, or I will call this question time to a close!

The Hon. P.F. CONLON: The member for Norwood persistently and repeatedly interjects and it is contrary to standing orders. It sits ill in his mouth to ask for standing orders to be observed.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! Have you finished your answer? The member for Florey.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! Members on my right, also!

The Hon. M.J. Atkinson interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for Croydon, order!

Mrs Redmond interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Leader of the Opposition, order!