Oil and Gas Sector

Mr VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN (Stuart) (15:20): Can the minister advise the house whether he had ever met, or had any association with, the directors of Ambassador Exploration, Mr Kleo Hatziladas or Mr Tom Kotsimbos, prior to his public announcement of 11 April 2011 that the PEL 570 had been awarded to them?

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS (West Torrens—Treasurer, Minister for Finance, Minister for State Development, Minister for Mineral Resources and Energy, Minister for Small Business) (15:20): I think I had met them on an occasion at a trade fair in either Adelaide or Sydney, I can't remember where, and I think that was after the bid team had publicly announced the assessments, but I can't remember, so I will go back and check. But again I say to the opposition: these operations are not awarded by the government. They are done independently by a bid team. If the opposition have any evidence about anything untoward towards the bid team, say so.

The SPEAKER: Supplementary?

Mr VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN: No, sir, another question.

The SPEAKER: In that case, the member for Little Para.