Bowering Hill Dam

Ms CHAPMAN (Bragg—Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (14:42): As the minister has identified that he is aware of the project in particular, could he confirm whether he has had that cup of tea yet with the Attorney-General, in response to yesterday's question?

The SPEAKER: Is the kettle boiling?

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) (14:43): Mr Speaker, I have very good news. As you would know, on Hansard yesterday, on the record, I invited the minister to share with me a cup of tea and we made several attempts to have our diaries together. As luck would have it, today at about 13:30 on the 24-hour clock, we went to the Blue Room. What happened there was that—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Chaffey will withdraw from the house for the next hour under the sessional order.

The honourable member for Chaffey having withdrawn from the chamber:

The Hon. J.R. RAU: As the member for Kaurna says, what happens in the Blue Room stays in the Blue Room, but I can tell the parliament this: there were two mugs of tea shared in the Blue Room today. There was milk in both, if I remember correctly. I would like to say thank you to the minister for shouting me a cup of tea. It was actually terrific to catch up.

Ms Chapman: So, what was the answer?

The Hon. J.R. RAU: What was the question again? Yes, we had a cup of tea.

Ms Chapman interjecting:

The Hon. J.R. RAU: Good point. We did have a discussion. I have been able to ascertain some interesting facts, and they are that a gentleman, whom I understand to be a Mr Jock Harvey, has been a proponent, along with a fellow (you don't read that much about him these days) called Jamie Briggs and somebody called Anne Ruston. They were involved in promoting a project for the southern regions, in particular around Bowering Hill. In fact, in the context—

Ms Chapman interjecting:

The Hon. J.R. RAU: I am just reporting to the parliament, as I have been asked. In the context of the last federal election, there was some undertaking obtained—I use the word 'obtained' because it is a neutral word—by Mr Briggs that there would be money in the sum of about $2½ million put forward by the federal government to assist Mr Harvey, who was the unsuccessful Liberal candidate for Mawson.

Mr Marshall: How did you get your SC? How did you get it?

The Hon. J.R. RAU: By speaking slowly. Mr Harvey, who was the unsuccessful Liberal candidate for Mawson, apparently has an—

Ms Chapman interjecting:

The Hon. J.R. RAU: This is my advice.

The SPEAKER: It would be very good if the deputy leader did not shout down ministers while they are trying to give an answer.

The Hon. J.R. RAU: He was the unsuccessful Liberal candidate for preselection for the seat of Mawson, and—

The SPEAKER: Alas, the Deputy Premier's time has expired.

The Hon. J.R. RAU: What a shame.