House of Assembly Fifty-Fourth Parliament, First Session (54-1) 54 1 Parliament of South Australia House of Assembly published Question Time Question Time Ministerial Responsibilities Ministerial Responsibilities Mr MALINAUSKAS House of Assembly Croydon Leader of the Opposition Ministerial Responsibilities Mr MALINAUSKAS (Croydon—Leader of the Opposition) (14:12): My question is to the Attorney-General. Can the Attorney-General provide any precedent or example of a cabinet minister not standing aside from their portfolio responsibilities while the subject of a SAPOL inquiry? The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN House of Assembly Bragg Deputy Premier Attorney-General Ministerial Responsibilities The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN (Bragg—Deputy Premier, Attorney-General) (14:12): Whilst I am not in a position, nor is it appropriate, to provide legal advice to the Leader of the Opposition, I will say— Members interjecting: The Speaker House of Assembly The SPEAKER: Order! The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN House of Assembly The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN: —that I don't accept that there is a current investigation being undertaken. No-one has actually asserted that, even in today's media— Members interjecting: The Speaker House of Assembly The SPEAKER: Order, members on my left and right! The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN House of Assembly The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN: —which of course has identified, on an anonymous basis, the suggestion that there is a preliminary assessment being undertaken. I think what is important here—and I have made this very clear today, and I am happy to repeat it to the parliament—is that I think it's appropriate, for what it's worth, for the police to give a preliminary assessment on any matters that are brought to their attention where there is an allegation that an investigation may need to be considered, even if it's material presented by the Australian Labor Party to the police department. I think that is an important— The Hon. A. Koutsantonis interjecting: The Speaker House of Assembly The SPEAKER: Order! The member for West Torrens is called to order. The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN House of Assembly The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN: —independent role that they have. But at this stage no-one has asserted, even anonymously, that there is an investigation underway. The Speaker House of Assembly The SPEAKER: Before I call the Leader of the Opposition again, I call the following members to order: the Minister for Industry, the members for Playford, West Torrens, Lee and Badcoe and the Minister for Primary Industries. The Hon. S.C. Mullighan interjecting: The Speaker House of Assembly The SPEAKER: Is the member for Lee still going? The Hon. R. Sanderson interjecting: The Speaker House of Assembly The SPEAKER: The Minister for Child Protection is also called to order. The Leader of the Opposition has the call