Cabinet Documents

Mr KNOLL (Schubert) (14:04): Supplementary: can the Premier confirm whether he has read page 1 of the Executive Summary of the Auditor-General's Report that was released last week, where the Auditor-General states very clearly that there has been a change of government policy that is going to make his work a lot more difficult into the future?

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL (Cheltenham—Premier) (14:04): I don't think that's a fair understanding of what the Auditor-General said. I think what the Auditor-General acknowledges is that it was a short cut, frankly, for him to look at cabinet documents because they represent quite a neat summary, but what they also do is intrude upon cabinet confidentiality.

So, sure, do investigators want to get hold of everything they can get their hands on? Absolutely. Are there other interests that need to be protected, à la cabinet confidentiality? Yes. Do they have precedence in our system of government? Yes. Let's just be honest with each other for a moment: if those opposite were in government, they would be claiming precisely the same confidentiality for cabinet deliberations.

The Hon. P. Caica: Unless someone was giving them to us.

The SPEAKER: The member for Colton is warned. Supplementary, deputy leader.