Courts Administration Authority

The Hon. I.F. EVANS (Davenport) (15:17): Given the minister's answer about reductions or changes to the Courts Administration Authority budget leading to the closure of the Mount Barker court, can the minister advise the house whether he knew of the announcement that Mount Barker court was going to be closed prior to attending the Mount Barker community cabinet this week?

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) (15:18): I was aware that the Courts Administration Authority was considering announcing—

An honourable member interjecting:

The Hon. J.R. RAU: Hang on; I'm answering the question—considering announcing a period of consultation for the closure, or partial closure, because I think in the case of Mount Barker it's not a complete closure; I think it's a partial closure, if I remember rightly. That is by the bye. I was aware that they were intending to make a statement about that. It was their statement to make, not mine, and it was for them to decide when they were going to make that statement.

Did I know when I was in Mount Barker that I had an expectation they would be making a statement? Yes, I did. I didn't know exactly when, but I knew something was coming. I had a feeling something was coming.