Lands Titles Office

Ms CHAPMAN (Bragg—Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (14:57): My question is to the Minister for Planning. Given that the Registrar-General of the Land Services group is aware of the government's investigation into the proposed sale of the group, why haven't the staff of the Lands Titles Office been informed of the proposed sale and, further, given an assurance about their job security and future employment?

The Hon. J.R. RAU (Enfield—Deputy Premier, Attorney-General, Minister for Justice Reform, Minister for Planning, Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for Child Protection Reform, Minister for the Public Sector, Minister for Consumer and Business Services, Minister for the City of Adelaide) (14:58): A couple of things: first of all, I congratulate the deputy leader on coming up to speed with the proposal. The second thing—

Ms Chapman interjecting:

The Hon. J.R. RAU: It was there. The second thing I would like to say is that, at this stage, it is simply a matter that is a proposal and it has not advanced any further than that. If and when that proposal becomes a matter of government decision, then I am sure that all of the parliament—

Mr Marshall interjecting:

The Hon. J.R. RAU: I haven't got to that yet. I am working my way through. I am working my way—

Mr Marshall: Rapidly.

The Hon. J.R. RAU: I am working my way rapidly through to the answer point. As for the employment of individuals, I would have to check, but it's my understanding that this, being part of the public sector, would actually be a group of people who are public sector employees and, therefore, their entitlements to security of employment would be no different to any other public sector employee.

We are in a position where we have been progressively negotiating with various public sector employee groups, arrangements which provide for them a publicly noted and scheduled set of criteria and entitlements in the event of them being made redundant. But to assume that any decision about this group would necessarily result in any employee's current work not needing to be continued is an assumption I just don't accept.

Mr Marshall interjecting:

The Hon. J.R. RAU: No, that was your people who did that, and I am still to this day disappointed that some time ago the opportunity to buy the SA Lotteries wasn't offered to me because, if I had been given the opportunity of buying it for 50¢ and getting several million dollars back—

The Hon. A. Koutsantonis: The TAB.

The Hon. J.R. RAU: The TAB.

Mr Marshall: He got it wrong! You sold the SA Lotteries.

The Hon. J.R. RAU: No, I'm talking about—

Mr Marshall: You got it a little bit mixed up—a completely different agency.

The Hon. J.R. RAU: Anyway, back to it.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. J.R. RAU: As I said—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. J.R. RAU: At least they're awake, Mr Speaker. They picked up on it. But the situation is that these are public sector employees and, as things presently stand, there is no suggestion at all that anything is going to be happening any time soon. So, when a decision is made, if a decision is made, I am sure that communications will be made with any affected individual.