Personal Explanation

Forensic Psychiatrists

The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN (Bragg—Deputy Premier, Attorney-General) (15:06): I seek leave to make a personal explanation.

Leave granted.

The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN: Today in question time, I made two statements: one in relation to the March 2017 notice to the former government as to the information on the lack of psychiatrists available for forensic assessment. I further made a statement that at that time Mr Malinauskas, who had also been written to by the Law Society, was the minister for health as at March 2017. It was clear that the implication was not correct. The minister for health at that time was minister Snelling. I am still advised and maintain that the Law Society forwarded a letter, a 'submission' they called it—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN: —to the minister—

Mr Malinauskas interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! Could the Deputy Premier please be seated for one moment. The Leader of the Opposition can leave for half an hour. A personal explanation is not open to be debated.

The honourable member for Croydon having withdrawn from the chamber:

The Hon. A. Koutsantonis interjecting:

The SPEAKER: You can. Would you like to? The Deputy Premier has the call. This is a personal explanation. It is not open to debate.

The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN: —and maintain the position that the submission, as it was described, from the Law Society in respect of this matter, was to Mr Malinauskas. My understanding from that was as the minister for health. I accept that he was the minister for health several months later in September 2017—

The SPEAKER: Yes, this is only to correct the record, not for argument.

The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN: But I wish to correct the record.

The Hon. D.G. Pisoni: Either way, he's guilty.

The SPEAKER: Minister for Industry, you can also leave for half an hour.

The honourable member for Unley having withdrawn from the chamber: