Public Sector Recruitment

Ms CHAPMAN (Bragg—Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (15:14): My question is to the Attorney-General. In relation to the DPC's recruitment of Veronica Theriault, has the Deputy Premier received the information he undertook to seek yesterday on the following matters: any security breach, including her access to cabinet documents; any action taken against the two other panel members; and, thirdly, whether the contractor who was terminated was involved in the negotiation of the government's $400 million contract with DXC for computer services and, if so, will he tell the house what he has been told?

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) (15:15): I thank the honourable member for her question. Ever since she asked me that question yesterday, I have thought that it's important that I try to obtain a good answer. So today, during the cabinet meeting, I saw Dr Russell there, and I said to him, 'Can I speak to you please after the cabinet meeting?' He said yes. So he came up to my room, and I said, 'Dr Russell, something very, very important happened yesterday.' He said, 'What was that?' I said, 'The deputy leader asked me a series of questions.'

Members interjecting:

The Hon. J.R. RAU: I did, I had this conversation with him, this day—this very day. He said, 'Can you remember all the questions? I said, 'No, I can't, but there were a number of them, and I think they were very good questions and, if you wouldn't mind, would you please consult Hansard and make sure that you or somebody who reports to you does your very best to provide an answer to the honourable deputy leader for those questions?' He said yes, and I saw him actually note, 'Check Hansard.'

Ms Chapman: And you haven't heard from him since?

The Hon. J.R. RAU: Well, he has only had a couple hours to do it.

Ms Chapman: Come on. Are you suggesting he didn't know about this yesterday?

The Hon. J.R. RAU: Well, I'm not sure whether he was watching the television yesterday. I think he had other things to do. But I tell you what, once he had heard from me this morning, he was under no illusions whatsoever about the priority of this matter, and he undertook that he would get on with it.