Independent Commissioner Against Corruption Oakden Inquiry

Mr DULUK (Davenport) (14:45): My question is to the minister assisting the Minister for Mental Health. Is the minister aware of any government members being interviewed by ICAC in relation to the Oakden inquiry?

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) (14:46): As members would know, to the extent that the ICAC is involved in matters it is not appropriate for there to be discussion about matters that occur there, so it is not appropriate for that sort of question either to be—

Ms Chapman: You're the one who is keeping it secret.

The Hon. J.R. RAU: —asked or responded to—

The SPEAKER: The deputy leader is on a full set of warnings.

The Hon. J.R. RAU: —so that is completely inappropriate. What I think can be said about the matters that pertain to that particular piece of work by the ICAC commissioner is that, as I understand it, he appeared yesterday, I believe, before a committee of the parliament. I believe that committee of the parliament had the opportunity to ask him questions about a number of matters, which included pretty much anything that they sought to ask him.

Any questions concerning that matter should be directed directly to him, particularly in circumstances where we have a joint house committee of the parliament which is explicitly set up to deal with relationships between this place and him. It is something that is there for the benefit of members of parliament, not just for the executive arm of government.

I would have thought that to come in and ask a question of the executive arm of government about a matter that was before the commissioner yesterday in a joint house committee is completely inappropriate. I don't know whether the member concerned is a member of that committee, but, if he is not, I can see a member of that committee who sits approximately a metre or so away from him, and I am sure he would be happy to invite him along to the next meeting, or possibly even ask a question on his behalf if that was necessary.

The SPEAKER: The member for Davenport, if he had gone on to name individuals, would have been committing a criminal offence under section 56A of the ICAC Act, but he is shriven by parliamentary privilege.