Ministerial Staff

Mr GARDNER (Morialta) (14:43): My question is to the Minister for Communities and Social Inclusion. Has the minister apprised herself of the truth or otherwise of allegations about the behaviour of her media adviser, Jason Gillick, in particular that he allegedly said to a young female journalist, 'You shouldn't be here, you f-expletive Tory b-expletive,' then allegedly shoving the journalist, on the evening of the election?

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL (Cheltenham—Premier) (14:44): This is a very serious matter, and I take it very seriously. I have responsibility for the contractual arrangements with staff members. They are supervised on a day-to-day basis by my chief of staff. On this particular matter, without going into the details of the allegation, I hasten to add that the recitation of the facts of the matter are not matters about which I am advised are accurate. Suffice to say, there was conduct which I regard and certainly my chief of staff, in exercising the responsibilities he has in relation to this matter, to be utterly unacceptable. It has been the subject of a first and final warning in relation to that staff member.

I can make the clearest possible statement of principle about these matters: that people who are going about their work in the employment of this government should behave respectfully and decently and should not behave in an aggressive or threatening manner to anyone, let alone to members of the press who may be working in close proximity to them. That is a matter of grave significance to me.

I also want to make clear that, in relation to this particular matter, there was an acknowledgement of misconduct, and an immediate and full apology, which I understand was accepted. There are also circumstances which are to some degree—to some degree—capable of mitigating the nature of the matter.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: But, in any event, they do not excuse the conduct. I am satisfied that the matter has been properly attended to.

Mr GARDNER: Supplementary, sir.

The SPEAKER: Before the supplementary, I neglected to call the Minister for Health to order earlier. The deputy leader is warned a first time, the member for Hartley is warned a first time, the member for Finniss is called to order. And, in a further tranche, relying on the last answer, the member for Hartley is warned a second and final time, and the members for Heysen and Unley warned a first time. Member for Morialta, supplementary.