House of Assembly: Wednesday, September 22, 2021

Contents

Question Time

Data Harvesting

Mr MALINAUSKAS (Croydon—Leader of the Opposition) (15:00): My question is to the Premier. Has anyone within the Premier's department informed the Premier that there is now a referral to the Office for Public Integrity regarding inquiries into misuse of data?

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order, members on my left! The Deputy Premier has the call.

The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN (Bragg—Deputy Premier, Attorney-General, Minister for Planning and Local Government) (15:00): Yes, thank you, Mr Speaker. I just want to make this absolutely clear: I would encourage the Leader of the Opposition and other members to read the statement of Mr Lines, which he published today publicly, outlining confirmation and clarification of his evidence this morning. But he has made it clear today that he has referred this matter to the OPI for assessment, so—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN: —we accept—

Ms Cook interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order, member for Hurtle Vale!

The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN: —that these are the processes that are being undertaken. We completely accept that. Our government has completely cooperated throughout the inquiry by the Privacy Committee and the referral to the Ombudsman—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN: —to make all the heads of departments available so that they can clarify a number of things. I just remind the house that NationBuilder have also given their report. They made it very clear that they had not only not collected data—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The leader—

The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN: —but they didn't have the technical capacity to even do it. I know that doesn't fit in with the agenda and allegations from the opposition—

Dr Close interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The deputy leader!

The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN: —but I can't answer for their incompetence in that regard.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! Before I call the leader, I remind the leader that he has been warned now for a second time. Interjections, and particularly interjections on my left, will cease.