House of Assembly Fifty-Fifth Parliament Parliament, First Session (55-1) 55 1 Parliament of South Australia House of Assembly published Question Time Ministerial Appointment Ministerial Appointment Mr PEDERICK House of Assembly Hammond Ministerial Appointment Mr PEDERICK (Hammond) (15:03): My question is to the Minister for Regional Roads, Local Government and Veterans Affairs. Noting that on the last occasion he joined the Labor ministry in 2014 as a minister when he negotiated an agreement with the then Premier, which specified his independence to vote however he chose on certain issues, does he have the same understanding with the current Premier and, if so, will he identify those issues on which he will maintain his independence? The Speaker House of Assembly The SPEAKER: The Premier has the call. Mr Tarzia interjecting: The Speaker House of Assembly The SPEAKER: Order! The acting leader is on one warning, and he is very close to two. The Premier has the call. The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS House of Assembly Croydon Premier The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS (Croydon—Premier) (15:03): I thank the member for Hammond for the question. I can assure the member for Hammond that the minister you asked a question of earlier adequately and accurately described exactly the events as they unfolded post the 19 March election. I can assure you, Mr Speaker, that I and I alone made a determination that it would be a great virtue for our government to have the assistance of the member for Stuart sitting around the cabinet table providing his vast depth of experience and knowledge on regional communities, advocating on behalf of the people of the state. When I called the recently re-elected or newly elected member for Stuart—having previously been the member for Frome—when I called him post the election and asked him to join our cabinet, I think it is fair to say he was somewhat surprised and taken aback, particularly considering that we were elected with a substantial majority. I asked the member for Stuart to contemplate the invitation and the request. He subsequently called me back and said that he could only take up such an offer if he was able to maintain his absolute independence when it comes to his membership within this place. I, of course, obliged and conveyed to him— Mr Pederick interjecting: The Speaker House of Assembly The SPEAKER: Order, member for Hammond! The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS House of Assembly The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS: —that I expected nothing less. The member for Hammond, along with all present in this chamber, should be absolutely under no illusions that the member for Stuart acts as a member of this government. We very much value his acceptance of our invitation to be around the cabinet table but he, of course, resolutely maintains his independence, and that is something that we wholeheartedly support. The Hon. A. Koutsantonis House of Assembly The Hon. A. Koutsantonis: If only you could say the same thing. The Speaker House of Assembly The SPEAKER: Order, member for West Torrens! The member for West Torrens is called to order. The member for Hammond on a supplementary.