HANDSHIN, MS M.

Ms CHAPMAN (Bragg) (14:45): My question is for the Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation. Can the minister confirm to the house the statement that he made to me after question time yesterday that Mia Handshin's appointment to the board of the Environment Protection Authority was pursuant to paragraph (f) of section 14B(5) of the Environment Protection Act? If so, can he detail to the house the qualifications and experience Ms Handshin has that are relevant not just to the management generally but specifically, as required by the act, her qualifications and experience in public sector management?

The Hon. P. CAICA (Colton—Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation, Minister for Water and the River Murray, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation) (14:45): Certainly, the conversation that I had yesterday with the member for Bragg is slightly different than how she recalls it. I actually said in that conversation 'you know what section of the act she's appointed'.

Ms Chapman: You said (f).

The Hon. P. CAICA: No, I did not. I said 'you know which section it is', but anyway what I will say is this: there are—

The Hon. I.F. Evans interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. P. CAICA: There are a multitude of skills that Mia Handshin brings to this particular job.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. P. CAICA: It does. I think we are very lucky that we have a person that has a multitude of skills that she is taking into this new role. In fact, I do notice the interjection from the Leader of the Opposition yesterday about legal qualifications. She would know that Mia Handshin herself has those legal qualifications.

Mrs Redmond interjecting:

The Hon. P. CAICA: Madam Speaker, I am only repeating the interjection because she was—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! I have no idea what's going on here, order!

The Hon. P. CAICA: I don't think they do, either, Madam Speaker.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! Minister.

The Hon. P. CAICA: I can indeed report that it's a different section of the act than Jennifer Cashmore was appointed under by the government of the day.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

Ms Chapman interjecting:

The Hon. P. CAICA: I beg your pardon?

Ms Chapman: It's a new section since Jennifer left the parliament.

The SPEAKER: One question at a time.

The Hon. P. CAICA: She was the green voice of the Liberal Party, as I recall.

Mrs Redmond: Which section was she appointed under?

The Hon. P. CAICA: She was appointed in accordance with section 14(5)(f) of the Environment Protection Act.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. P. CAICA: You knew that because I'm sure that you read the press release that was issued on that particular day welcoming this appointment. If you—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. P. CAICA: Thank you, Madam Speaker.

The SPEAKER: I'm not sure whether you're enjoying the interjections or not, minister.

The Hon. P.F. Conlon interjecting:

The Hon. P. CAICA: No, but anyway, the EPA Board currently includes appointees with qualifications and experience in industry, in commerce, in economic development, in finance and management, as well as environmental law and the management of environmental agents.

Ms CHAPMAN: Point of order, Madam Speaker. I don't need to know the qualifications of the whole world: I just want to know the public management experience—

The SPEAKER: Order! Thank you.

Ms CHAPMAN: —of Ms Handshin.

The SPEAKER: There is no point of order.

Ms CHAPMAN: That's all—just her.

The SPEAKER: You don't need to repeat your question. Minister.

The Hon. P. CAICA: As previously stated, this very, very good selection of Mia Handshin to this role was made under the subsection of the act in relation to her experience and relevance to management generally, but public sector—

Mrs Redmond interjecting:

The Hon. P. CAICA: And management generally.

Ms Chapman: What about the public sector?

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. P. CAICA: Madam Speaker, there's a contest between the leader and one of the other aspirants. I do feel sorry for the member. John, you're supposed to be running government business.

Mr Marshall: Can we get back to the substance of the question?

The SPEAKER: Order! Thank you. Minister, I refer you back to the question.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. P. CAICA: Just to finish off, Madam Speaker—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The minister is answering the question, order! Minister, there's another point of order, sit down. Order!

The Hon. C.C. FOX: Point of order: 131—the constant interruptions, the constant interjections. I cannot hear a word that the minister is saying.

The SPEAKER: Thank you, minister. Yes, there will be some quiet. Minister, would you wind up your answer. You do not have very long.

The Hon. P. CAICA: I will attempt it. Thank you very much, Madam Speaker. Mia Handshin has qualifications and experience as a project manager and facilitator for the Leaders Institute of South Australia, in a senior policy role with the federal—

Mr PENGILLY: Point of order: the minister's time has expired.

The SPEAKER: No, it hasn't. He still has 43 seconds left.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! Minister, have you finished your answer? You do actually, on my clock, have 43 seconds.

The Hon. P. CAICA: Madam Speaker, how can I cope with all these interjections? I will finish off and I will say this again: as a project manager and facilitator for the Leaders Institute of South Australia, in a senior policy role with a federal minister, as a lawyer in media—not that I hold that in very high regard—but in interactions between business and government and, having been on boards in Adelaide, she has strong experience in community engagement and leadership development. She will be an outstanding contributor to the EPA, and I think that, certainly on this side—and the majority of South Australians—we applaud that appointment, unlike the opposition.