Parliament House Staffers

Dr CLOSE (Port Adelaide—Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (15:02): My question is to the Premier. What action has the Premier taken to identify the Liberal staffer who allegedly urinated in the corner of an MP's office and exposed himself to others?

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN (Bragg—Deputy Premier, Attorney-General, Minister for Planning and Local Government) (15:03): To date, there has been an allegation in a report—which I have just referred to, in fact—by the acting equal opportunity commissioner in relation to a staffer as to certain conduct. The Hon. Tammy Franks, as I indicated to the parliament just recently, has repeated some of that in the other place and hasn't identified it.

As has been made very clear, the staff members here—and a number of them did go to the equal opportunity commissioner in her inquiry—provided confidential information. Obviously, it is entirely a matter for them whether they take any other action as to any circumstances that they find themselves in, and they are matters which we on this side of the house respect and, indeed, the equal opportunity commissioner respects.

The acting equal opportunity commissioner has made it very clear, publicly, the circumstances in which she invited people to confidentially come to her and provide that information to populate the information and evidence that might be needed for her.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN: So she understands that. She understands the personal nature, the difficulty for some to be able to come forward, and ensuring—

Dr Close interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order, deputy leader!

The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN: —that we don't destroy or cause further harm to anyone who may have been injured in that circumstance.

Dr Close interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Deputy leader!

The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN: That is something that we respect and we will continue to protect.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The Premier is called to order!

The Hon. A. Koutsantonis: What happened in the Newland Office?

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. A. Koutsantonis: Why did you move a staffer out?

The SPEAKER: The member for West Torrens is warned.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The deputy leader seeks the call. When there is silence, the deputy leader will have the call.