Matter of Privilege

Matter of Privilege

The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN (Bragg—Deputy Premier, Attorney-General) (16:55): I rise on a matter of privilege. Today, the member for Kaurna, during the grievance debate, made the following statement:

One of the first things that this Premier did when he came into office was to sack Vickie Kaminski, who was the head of SA Health, and put in his own hand-picked chief executive of SA Health, Dr Chris McGowan.

This related to the alleged conduct by the Premier, no less. On or about 25 May 2018, Ms Kaminski is reported in ABC News announcing that she would be leaving her position in respect of the head of SA Health and returning to Canada. The third matter that is important for consideration is that, in response to a question of the Hon. K.J. Maher in another place, the minister, the Hon. S.G. Wade, provided an answer on 25 July 2018. Accordingly, he placed the same in the public domain in response to questions relating to the appointment of Dr McGowan and the early end, as described, of Ms Kaminski's contract when, at paragraph 3 in the answer, he stated:

The terms of Ms Kaminski's early resignation are subject to a confidentiality deed between her and the government.

Mr Acting Speaker, I ask you to carefully consider this material, which I will provide copies of the same, and find that the statement of the member for Kaurna is not only incorrect but false. I further seek, giving consideration to this matter of privilege, that you rule on a motion to establish a privileges committee and that it should be given precedence over the business of the House of Assembly.

In the circumstances of the consideration, any act or omission which obstructs or impedes the house in the performance of its functions, or which obstructs or impedes any member or officer of such house in the discharge of his duty, or which has a tendency, directly or indirectly, to produce such a result, may be treated as a contempt and therefore be considered a matter of privilege, even though there is no precedent of the offence. I ask that you find accordingly and establish the privileges committee.

The ACTING SPEAKER (Mr Duluk): Attorney, I will refer that matter to the Speaker for his consideration.