Grievance Debate

Auditor-General's Department

Mr COWDREY (Colton) (15:13): Once again, we are left wondering why this Premier and this government are so intent on curtailing transparency. We have seen some troubling actions taken in the life of this government so far—refusing to answer questions on notice within 30 days in this chamber, as was the convention during the previous parliament; providing little information on how savings measures are going to be achieved; FOI applications being knocked back here, there and everywhere; and legislation being railroaded through this parliament on multiple occasions.

But by far the most troubling is the Premier and this government's seeming attitude of contempt towards the Auditor-General—unprecedented cuts delivered to the Auditor-General's Department and a steadfast refusal to provide him cabinet submission documents that are only being sought by the Auditor-General to undertake his statutory responsibilities to this very parliament.

The Premier and the Labor Party have continued to make statements defending these actions, statements that, without context, are true but that could only be interpreted by any rational and logical person as being just plain shifty. Statement No. 1, and I quote:

The government operates on exactly the same framework as its predecessor.

Technically true. Premier's circular 47 still exists and provides the Premier the ability to release requested cabinet documents to the Auditor-General. Under the last government, all requested cabinet submissions were approved for release. Under Labor, the Premier has released zero—rejected all requests. So, yes, while the same framework exists, the practical outcome is completely different, and this secrecy is down to one person: the Premier of this state.

If the Premier's intent is to just reject every request, why keep a framework whose purpose is to allow the release of cabinet submission documents? The circular is there so that the Auditor-General can do his job and avoid him having to provide qualified opinions like he was forced to do in relation to the Labor Party's sports and infrastructure election grants scheme.

Statement 2, and I quote:

The only people in South Australia who are entitled to cabinet documents are members of cabinet themselves.

Again, technically true. Leaving aside the long list of political staffers, departmental staff and others who have access outside of cabinet members themselves, it ignores the convention of providing requested documents to the Auditor-General that existed prior to 2016. It also ignores the fact that the Premier need only introduce a bill to the parliament should he wish to provide that entitlement to the Auditor-General. We know that the Premier has shown a propensity to double down on issues that fly in the face of public opinion—take the CFMEU donation earlier this year—or even in the face of his caucus, as it appears.

Now, the federal Auditor-General can access necessary cabinet submissions. The McGowan Labor government recently introduced a bill to the WA parliament to provide an express legislative right of access to their Auditor-General. The Perrottet Liberal government introduced a bill last week to the New South Wales parliament to provide that same right of access, even though both governments have been providing documents to the respective auditors-general.

The question for the government backbench, particularly the new members to this place in the member for Gibson, the member for Newland, the member for Elder: is this what you expected your government to be? Is this what your constituents expect, a government that hides from transparency? We all know now that you do not agree with everything the government is doing. We return to the question of why. Why will the government not release these documents? What is the Premier trying to hide?

Would the member for Elizabeth be back in cabinet by now, having served four faithful years in opposition, if the Premier released the cabinet submission document? Was the grant scheme authorised appropriately? Did any minister declare conflicts, and who signed the cabinet submission? Questions the Auditor-General, this parliament and the people of South Australia should have answers to. 'The Auditor-General serves a critical role in public integrity'—not my words—the words of Labor Premier McGowan.

The opposition will be introducing a bill to this parliament to provide an express statutory right of access to cabinet submissions. We are taking the action that this government should be and invite those opposite to support us. It should not matter, whether Liberal, Greens, SA-Best, Independent. This parliament should be taking steps forward, not backwards, to provide the public assurance that the decisions and actions of government are accountable. What is this Premier trying to hide?