Public Transport Privatisation

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS (West Torrens) (14:18): My question is to the Minister for Transport and Infrastructure. Can the minister confirm that on 21 August his hand-picked ART program director, Mr Fergus Gammie, admitted that there were multiple investigations into the probity of the privatisation program? With your leave, sir, and that of the house I will explain.

Leave granted.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: In an email dated 21 August 2020, leaked to the opposition, Mr Gammie states, and I quote:

One or more other investigations will be conducted in addition to that of the probity adviser.

The SPEAKER: The Minister for Infrastructure and Transport.

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD (Gibson—Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing) (14:18): If this is the magical email that he has been hiding for so long, please bring it forward.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: That has not been brought to my attention. If you've got a magical email that you have been hanging onto for two weeks—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: This was so important that he hasn't got it out.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: Well, give us the email. Seriously, you have been out there feeding it in, feeding it here, feeding in these allegations. The member for West Torrens keeps doing that; that's all he does and—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The minister will resume his seat.

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: —he won't produce the email.

The SPEAKER: The member for Lee on a point of order.

The Hon. S.C. MULLIGHAN: Point of order, Mr Speaker: how many times must you direct the minister to refer his remarks through the Chair and not at the Chair?

The SPEAKER: I uphold the point of order. The minister will direct his remarks through the Chair. The minister has the call.

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: Thank you, sir, and I do apologise, but the member for West Torrens—look, he is all about show, he is all about stage, he is all about politics, he is all about theatre. If he had a serious document that needed serious attention for a serious matter, would he sit on it for two weeks? I don't think so. If he was serious about what he is doing—no, he wouldn't. He would bring it to the attention of the authorities and he would have something done about it. Two weeks later. He sat on it for two weeks. Two weeks.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: Two weeks. Unbelievable. Then he will feed it out to the media. But, no, will he show the department?

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The member for West Torrens will cease interjecting.

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: Will he show the minister? Will he show the people involved? No. He sits on it, he sits on it, and he leaks it out.

Mr Malinauskas: It's your document.

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: It's not my document. It was not sent to me. It was not sent to me. The Leader of the Opposition, seriously.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: Privatisation Pete just cannot work this out. I say again, and I will be really clear, we went through a competitive tender process. There was an independent probity adviser put in place. It was signed off and went to the Auditor-General before the contract was signed—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: —and then it goes to the Auditor-General. The Auditor-General will hand down his report, as is standard operational procedure, for everyone to see. If the member for West Torrens has some scandalous information, I ask him to table it here in parliament, to give it to me. He has talked about it for two or three weeks. He has made a big grandstand, a big show. He has given it to the media. He has done all that sort of stuff. Mate, hand it over. The member for West Torrens just needs to hand it over. It's really easy. Thank you, about time.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order, members on my right!

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The Minister for Infrastructure and Transport I think has concluded his answer.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order, members on my left and on my right! Before I call the member for West Torrens, I call to order the member for Badcoe and I call to order the member for Playford. I call to order the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport and I call to order the Deputy Premier. I remind members on my right and on my left that we are now late in the week. I don't wish to exclude members from the chamber in the course of these proceedings. They may be lively. They ought to be respectful. Questions should be heard in silence. Answers should be heard in silence. The member for West Torrens.