House of Assembly Fifty-Third Parliament, First Session (53-1) 53 1 Parliament of South Australia House of Assembly published Question Time Freedom of Information Freedom of Information Ms CHAPMAN House of Assembly Bragg Deputy Leader of the Opposition Freedom of Information Ms CHAPMAN (Bragg—Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (14:42): My question is to the Premier. Given the Premier supports an independent freedom of information process, what action will the Premier take to ensure FOI officers are not interfered with by ministers and/or their staff? The Hon. J.R. RAU House of Assembly Enfield Deputy Premier Attorney-General Minister for Justice Reform Minister for Planning Minister for Housing and Urban Development Minister for Industrial Relations Freedom of Information The Hon. J.R. RAU (Enfield—Deputy Premier, Attorney-General, Minister for Justice Reform, Minister for Planning, Minister for Housing and Urban Development, Minister for Industrial Relations) (14:42): I think we canvassed this yesterday. It is certainly the case under the existing legislation that FOI officers are independent officers and they are entitled to go about their business in an independent fashion. Any FOI officer who is confronted with improper pressure or behaviour by other people, whoever they might be, is entitled to make a complaint under the provisions relating to the Public Service— Mr Bell House of Assembly Mr Bell: Is that what Rod Hook did? The Speaker House of Assembly The SPEAKER: The member for Mount Gambier is called to order. Mr Pisoni House of Assembly Mr Pisoni: What did Rod Hook complain about? The Speaker House of Assembly The SPEAKER: The member for Unley is warned for the second and final time. The Hon. J.R. RAU House of Assembly The Hon. J.R. RAU: Mr Speaker, those opposite are playing an interesting game, where you say people's names at random and eventually they are funny. I just don't get it. Anyway, the point is that a person who is aggrieved, who is an FOI officer, or any other public servant for that matter, is entitled to make a complaint under the relevant provisions of the legislation governing the Public Service—number one. Number two, if they believe what has occurred to them constitutes either maladministration or something more serious, there are provisions under a certain piece of legislation which enables them to go to a place in Currie Street and say whatever they want down there. Those are the appropriate avenues for these people to pursue.