Matter of Privilege

Matter of Privilege

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS (West Torrens) (17:02): Sir, I raise a matter of privilege. Earlier today, the Attorney-General spoke in this house in relation to a matter of privilege into the member for Kaurna. Remarkably, the raising of this matter of privilege raises a matter of privilege in regard to what the member for Kaurna suggested is the Attorney-General's deliberate misleading of this house.

The Attorney quoted question 1041 of the Legislative Council's Budget and Finance Committee, page 108, on Monday 23 July 2018, asked to Dr McGowan about his attendance at Liberal Party fundraisers. What she did not do was inform the parliament of questions 1042, 1043 and 1044, which followed, which were the basis of the member for Kaurna's concerns raised in grievances today:

1042 The CHAIRPERSON: Has your company donated to or attended fundraisers—your former company, Silver Chain?

Dr McGOWAN: It's not my company. It's a not-for-profit—

1043 The CHAIRPERSON: The company Silver Chain that you worked for?

Dr McGOWAN: I don't believe so.

1044 The CHAIRPERSON: But you are not sure?

Dr McGOWAN: I would be 99 per cent sure. I can't be across what everybody does through the network, but certainly not myself. Certainly, as far as I am aware, no board members and so no senior management attended any Liberal Party fundraisers.

This makes it clear that the accusation the member for Kaurna made was accurate. This is where Dr McGowan said 'certainly not myself', and these questions and answers made no reference to the fundraisers having to be before the election. However, even if you believe the premise of the Attorney-General that the questions all refer to 2014 to 2018, the facts not referred to by the Attorney-General do not reveal that Dr McGowan also attended a fundraiser in June 2017, well within the period before the election.

The Attorney-General in misrepresenting the questions and answers in Budget and Finance and misrepresenting the evidence provided regarding the fundraisers attended by Dr McGowan, I believe has taken action to deliberately mislead the house on these matters. This is a very serious matter for the Attorney-General. I ask that this be referred to the Speaker for consideration of a prima facie case to support the establishment of a privileges committee that has information that tends to impede or obstruct the house in the discharge of its duties. I will provide further information to the Speaker.

The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN: Mr Deputy Speaker, I note the same and confirm that, whilst the matter may be referred to the Speaker for consideration, which will be the usual process, all the matters that have been raised are in the transcripts of the documents which I have already handed to the Speaker.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Thank you, Attorney. Back to the member for West Torrens, I will refer as per normal to the Speaker, and if I you can bring forward any relevant documents.