Matter of Privilege

Freedom of Information

The Hon. I.F. EVANS (Davenport) (14:40): No, I rise on a matter of privilege for you, Mr Speaker.

The SPEAKER: Yes.

The Hon. I.F. EVANS: Given the Deputy Premier's answer in relation to Commissioner Lander's comments regarding FOIs—and in that report, of course, there was the issue about Gmail accounts being used to make sure certain information was not released to the applicants—will you, Mr Speaker, conduct an investigation into that matter? If members of parliament's FOI responses were denied information through the use of a Gmail account or other non-government email accounts, that would be denying a member of parliament information they are rightly entitled to, which would be a contempt and a matter for privilege. It would be impossible for the opposition to establish that, because they are already denying us information.

The SPEAKER: And you say it would be a contempt of parliament?

The Hon. I.F. EVANS: Therefore, it is a matter for you, Mr Speaker, to investigate.

The SPEAKER: I shall look at the matter of privilege and hope you will be here to hear my report.

The Hon. I.F. Evans: You'll have to be quick.

The SPEAKER: The member for Adelaide.