Brompton Gasworks

Mr TEAGUE (Heysen) (15:03): My question is to the Premier. Has the Premier declared a conflict of interest following the government's decision to review the nomination of MOV Corporation as the preferred proponent for redevelopment of the Brompton Gasworks site? With your leave, Mr Speaker, and that of the house, I will explain.

Leave granted.

Mr TEAGUE: The now Premier condemned the former Attorney-General falsely, as the Ombudsman's report has exposed.

The SPEAKER: Order! Member for Heysen, please be seated. I will hear the Leader of Government Business.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Standing order 97: questions not involving argument, sir. That involves argument.

The SPEAKER: Perhaps I will hear the question again and also the facts that may follow, and that will also give the opportunity to the member for Heysen to rephrase if he wishes.

Mr TEAGUE: I will concede that if what we have heard is a vote of no confidence in the Ombudsman, then let that be said very clearly, otherwise I maintain that it is a matter of fact that the Ombudsman's findings have exposed that the Premier's condemnation of the former Attorney-General was false.

The SPEAKER: I understand—

Mr TEAGUE: If it is not to be maintained—

The SPEAKER: Order! I understand there may be now duelling points of order. The Leader of Government Business on a point of order.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: I’m not sure what that was, sir. It wasn’t a question. It seemed like an impromptu speech to the parliament. If the member has a question, ask it. I simply say that by saying ‘falsely’ in his question he was breaching standing order 97 and I ask you to rule. If you rule it's not argument, then we move on. I’m not sure what that was, other than frustration.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The member for West Torrens is called to order. The member for Colton is warned. The member for West Torrens is warned.

Mr TEAGUE: By leave, I will repeat the explanation. The Premier condemned the former Attorney-General falsely, as the Ombudsman's report has exposed, for not declaring a conflict of interest over a property because it was in close proximity to a timber plantation. I understand the Premier's residential property is less than 600 metres away from the Brompton Gasworks site.

The SPEAKER: May I say, member for Heysen, it is a difficult matter to rule on. I am myself still absorbing the report that has come to hand and also matters that were raised in the relevant committee. So it may be that I give general guidance to the house that, in relation to these matters, it would be best for us to avoid argument. In any event, in order for us to proceed with question time, we have the question. I note the point of order that has been raised by the Leader of Government Business. I actually think there is quite some force in that. In any event, I will turn to the government side for a response.

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS (Croydon—Premier) (15:05): I thank the member for Heysen for his question. The answer to the member for Heysen is, of course, that on this side of the house we seek to uphold the highest standards when it comes to disclosure—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS: —and transparency. We seek to uphold the highest standards—

Mr Cowdrey interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The member for Colton is on one warning.

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS: —to ensure that all appropriate probity measures are applied in the good judgements made particularly by those who occupy the privilege of sitting on the front bench and making decisions in relation to the Crown. Of course I won't be taking my guidance when it comes to the declaration of conflict of interest from those opposite.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS: I won't be taking guidance from the member for Bragg—

Mr Tarzia interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Hartley is called to order.

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS: —or the former Deputy Premier in respect to how one should conduct themselves when making big decisions. I am very happy—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order, member for Dunstan, member for Hammond! The member for Hammond is on one warning.

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS: I am very happy to disclose to the member for Heysen that all judgements that we make are done in the best traditions of transparency and making appropriate declarations, which of course means that when decisions have been brought before the cabinet, if someone looks at the possibility of standing accused of a perception of a conflict of interest, that informs us making the appropriate judgements, including myself.

The SPEAKER: The member for Badcoe.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The member for Badcoe has the call.

Mr TEAGUE: Point of order, Mr Speaker.

Ms STINSON: I'm sorry, Mr Speaker, do I have the call?

The SPEAKER: Member for Badcoe, please be seated. There is a point of order and I must give precedence to that.

The Hon. A. Koutsantonis interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order, member for West Torrens! Member for West Torrens, you will know that there is one warning.

Mr TEAGUE: It is a point of order pursuant to standing order 98. I fear that in the time it took for me to get to my feet the Premier might have concluded his answer. He has failed so far to answer what was a simple question about a particular set of circumstances.

The SPEAKER: Member for Heysen, the time to raise that point of order has passed.