Coober Pedy District Council

Mr PISONI (Unley) (15:01): Was the minister not the Minister for Local Government on 29 March 2016 or sometime after March 2014?

The Hon. G.G. BROCK (Frome—Minister for Regional Development, Minister for Local Government) (15:01): Sorry, Mr Speaker, I didn't hear those words. Can the minister please repeat the question?

Mr PISONI: Did the minister notify the Treasurer of any concerns he had about the governance of the Coober Pedy council before the Treasurer issued a letter, dated 29 March 2016, consenting to the council entering into a 20-year energy contract and, if not, why not?

The Hon. G.G. BROCK: I have made some comments in this house previously, and I gave the member a briefing on the Coober Pedy situation. I have had regular contact with the council, through direct correspondence through the Office of Local Government, requesting assurance from the council about an issue with the auditing process. In July 2016, I had a briefing with Mr Neil Brown, the CEO. In August—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. G.G. BROCK: The correspondence I had with the Coober Pedy council—I am just trying to understand. I gave the member for Unley a briefing on this direct issue and I am just trying to understand—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Schubert has been warned twice. The member for Goyder is now interjecting. The member for Goyder will not interject. Minister.

The Hon. G.G. BROCK: Thank you, Mr Speaker. I have had a briefing with the member for Unley—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Newland is called to order.

The Hon. G.G. BROCK: —and I had some concerns with the non response from the Coober Pedy council about financial returns and I have mentioned that to the member for Unley. At a particular period of time after that, I advised the Treasurer of the anomalies with the reporting through the Auditor-General through the audited returns, and that's when I had the correspondence with the Treasurer.