Oakden Mental Health Facility

Ms CHAPMAN (Bragg—Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (14:33): Can the Attorney-General then advise whether the government has received any summons relating to any documents from cabinet?

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) (14:33): As I understand it, Mr Lander—just to correct those opposite—is conducting an investigation in a substituted capacity as the Ombudsman and is using the provisions of the Ombudsman Act in that regard and therefore is not operating as the Independent Commissioner Against Corruption in this particular matter. So, Mr Lander, acting as the Ombudsman, to the best of my knowledge, made some announcements today about some terms of reference.

I have not been advised so far that there has been any specific request by him for any particular documents. The Premier has made it clear and the government's position clearly is that if, in the course of that investigation, he wishes to have access to documents or speak to individuals, then the government will cooperate.

One matter that the Premier has explained very clearly, I think, is that cabinet documents are essentially documents that inform a person about the conduct of discussions in the cabinet room, which are obviously not for distribution. Aside from those discussions, the government is ready, willing and able to be of assistance to Mr Lander in his inquiry. From the brief opportunity I have had to read the terms of reference, the inquiry appears to be potentially an extremely broad-ranging inquiry, and we have every intention of being cooperative.