House of Assembly Fifty-Fifth Parliament Parliament, First Session (55-1) 55 1 Parliament of South Australia House of Assembly published Question Time North-South Corridor North-South Corridor Mr TARZIA House of Assembly Hartley North-South Corridor Mr TARZIA (Hartley) (14:36): My question again is to the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport. When Ms Fueyo Suarez was terminated, why was she not afforded an opportunity to farewell her work colleagues? The Hon. S.E. Close interjecting: The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS House of Assembly West Torrens Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Minister for Energy and Mining The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS (West Torrens—Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Minister for Energy and Mining) (14:36): The Deputy Premier makes a very good point. The executive director in question does not report to me. That executive director reports to the chief executive. Members interjecting: The Speaker House of Assembly The SPEAKER: Order! The minister has the call. Members interjecting: The Speaker House of Assembly The SPEAKER: Order, member for Chaffey! The Hon. B.I. Boyer interjecting: The Speaker House of Assembly The SPEAKER: Member for Wright! The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS House of Assembly The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: I am not quite sure what the point of the question is. I will find out about what the practice is when people separate from the department. I have no concerns with public servants interacting with each other and talking to each other. I have no issues with it, but this is not a direct report to me. In fact, the only direct report in the department is the CE and he is currently employed by the Premier. Members interjecting: The Speaker House of Assembly The SPEAKER: Member for Hartley! Mr Tarzia interjecting: The Speaker House of Assembly The SPEAKER: The member for Hartley is on one warning. Members interjecting: The Speaker House of Assembly The SPEAKER: The member for Morialta! The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS House of Assembly The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: No, as former ministers would know, we don't hire and fire executive directors. For example— Members interjecting: The Speaker House of Assembly The SPEAKER: Order! The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS House of Assembly The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: —when a former Liberal staffer was employed as an executive director in the department, without a public call for the position, by members opposite—a former Liberal staffer— Members interjecting: The Speaker House of Assembly The SPEAKER: The member for Florey is warned. The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS House of Assembly The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: I note the shadow minister interjects that he is very good. Well, perhaps he is, but you might have noticed that I don't have the power to hire and fire executive directors, and nor should I. So perhaps members opposite should think before they speak. Members interjecting: The Speaker House of Assembly The SPEAKER: Order!