Freedom of Information

Mr TEAGUE (Heysen) (14:33): My question is to the Minister for Human Services. Why did the minister's office not release all the documents, and pages within the documents, that the minister had agreed to release under FOI on 5 August? With your leave, sir, and that of the house, I will explain.

The SPEAKER: There is a point of order, member for Heysen, which I will hear under 134 from the member for West Torrens.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Standing order 97: such questions should not involve argument. The shadow minister has asserted facts within the question, which involve an argument, which is unparliamentary.

The SPEAKER: I am not certain about the facts necessarily giving rise to argument but, if I heard correctly, member for Heysen, the question was phrased: why hasn't the minister done X? I will give the member for Heysen an opportunity to rephrase.

Mr TEAGUE: Perhaps omitting the first word, Mr Speaker: did the minister's office not release all the documents, and pages within documents, that the minister had agreed to release under FOI on 5 August? With your leave, sir, and that of the house, I will explain.

Leave granted.

Mr TEAGUE: On 5 August, the minister approved nine documents to be released to the shadow minister under FOI. Later that day, however, the minister's office only provided eight documents, and some pages within documents that were approved for release were not released.

The Hon. N.F. COOK (Hurtle Vale—Minister for Human Services) (14:34): I understand we have actually released the documents in question as part of it. The shadow minister has lodged an appeal, and I will await the outcome of it.