Public Sector Recruitment

Ms CHAPMAN (Bragg—Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (15:11): My question is to the Premier. Can the Premier confirm that the resignation of Sinead O'Brien as the ICT transformation executive in the Department of the Premier and Cabinet was directly linked to the outcome of a review on the selection process for the former chief information officer, Veronica Theriault?

The SPEAKER: That would be 'Sinead' in the Irish.

Ms Chapman: It would be, yes.

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) (15:11): In relation to this matter, what I can tell the parliament—and I know it is a matter that is of continuing interest to the deputy leader, and I hope some of the materials have already been published in relation to that, but I thought she may get onto this topic today so I do have some further information.

Just a little bit of a recap, Mr Speaker, because I know you're interested in the background to this matter. As you know, there was a situation where there was an advertisement for a position in May of this year. There was an appointment—

Ms CHAPMAN: Point of order, Mr Speaker: you have previously ruled on this issue, on one of the many other questions I have asked, that the historical snapshot continuing to be repeated was to be moved on and to get to the actual answer to the question, that is, whether in fact the resignation—

The SPEAKER: Yes, we do, I think, have the history, and we have 3½ minutes to go.

The Hon. J.R. RAU: Very good, Mr Speaker. I know the one thing that you are always very attentive to is the history of a matter so the context of any future interruptions can be properly understood. Anyway, as I was saying, the situation was—and this is very important—

Mr Gardner: He's ignoring you, sir. He doesn't respect your authority.

The Hon. J.R. RAU: I can hear a noise, Mr Speaker. It's sort of a—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The Deputy Premier has awakened the member for Chaffey. Answer the question, please.

The Hon. J.R. RAU: Not the member for Kavel, sir, but the member for Chaffey?

The SPEAKER: No, the member for Chaffey.

The Hon. J.R. RAU: I see. As I was saying, what I can tell the parliament is this: there was an investigation by Dr Russell. Dr Russell terminated the employment of the individual who was appointed, effective from 19 September. Further to that, a contractor engaged by the former chief information officer also had a contract of employment terminated, effective on 18 September. In addition to that, those matters are now before the court and I don't wish to canvass any further detail about those.

The SPEAKER: With 10 minutes to go, could we approach the contemporary era?

The Hon. J.R. RAU: We are zeroing in on the target now, Mr Speaker. Dr Russell had a review, and I have explained to people already what the outcome of that review was, so I am not going to repeat it again because I know people have heard it previously. Since that time—and this is important—the Independent Commissioner Against Corruption, the Hon. Bruce Lander QC, has indicated publicly that he is in the process of undertaking a maladministration investigation into the recruitment process. Indeed, as members would be aware, that means that he is utilising the powers that otherwise would be available to the Ombudsman to do so.

My advice is, in that context and in that light, that no disciplinary proceedings have been instigated against the selection panel members at this time. However, I do understand that Ms O'Brien was a member of the panel, and the service of an ICT contractor, who assisted in the panel's deliberations, was concluded, effective from 22 September this year. Otherwise, the question of the recruitment process remains the subject of an ongoing investigation by Mr Lander, and I therefore let him deal with that matter and provide such a report as he sees fit.