Matter of Privilege

Matter of Privilege

The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN (Bragg—Deputy Premier, Attorney-General) (11:01): I rise on a matter of privilege. On Tuesday 4 June 2019, the Leader of the Opposition asked the Premier a question: 'Are you abolishing Veterans SA as a standalone agency?' He went on to ask: 'Will it,' being Veterans SA, 'retain a status as a standalone agency within Defence SA?' The leader, since asking those questions, went on to write a letter to the veterans community arguing that Veterans SA may be abolished as a standalone agency.

Veterans SA has never been a standalone agency but, rather, a program of government. This has been the case since it was first created and is reflected in both the ministerial responsibilities in the budget papers and the Auditor-General's public sector agency's audited reports. As a former member of cabinet, the Leader of the Opposition would be well aware that this is and always has been the case. Further to this, the leader is a recipient of the budget papers and the Auditor-General's Report, which clearly identify the nature of Veterans SA.

By purporting in questions to the Premier on Tuesday 4 June 2019 that Veterans SA was a standalone agency, the leader knowingly misled the parliament. Therefore, Mr Speaker, I ask that you review the questions made by the leader and the documents I have referred to (I will provide you with a copy) to rule on this as a matter of privilege.

The SPEAKER: Thank you, Attorney-General, for bringing that matter to my attention. I ask you to furnish all relevant documents and I will come back to the house.