Citadel Secure

Mr TEAGUE (Heysen) (14:40): My question is to the Premier. Has the Premier sought advice from Ms Cressida O'Hanlon as to any involvement which she currently has in Citadel, also known as Citadel Secure, and/or any such involvement on 7 February 2023? With your leave, sir, and that of the house, I will explain.

Leave granted.

Mr TEAGUE: On the website of the South Australian parliament, captured on 21 February 2024, an extract of the parliamentary career information section describes Ms Cressida O'Hanlon as an assistant in the office of the Hon. Reggie Martin MLC, effective from 18 October 2022.

The SPEAKER: Before I turn to the Premier, I observe that Speakers have long held that members, including ministers, are not responsible to the house for matters relating to political parties, and without more, nor would they be responsible for the activities of political candidates.

I observe that in September 2021 yourself, member for Heysen, in your then role as Speaker, rejected arguments that certain allegations relating to the administration of the office of the Hon. Corey Wingard, as he then was, were not public affairs. As well, Speaker Tarzia made a similar ruling concerning certain questions arising from the administration of members' travel entitlements.

Public interest is not the same, as the house well knows, as public affairs. However, there is no point of order before me. The Leader of Government Business on a point of order under 134?

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! Member for Unley, you are warned. Standing order 134 requires me to turn immediately to the point of order, which I will do.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: The Premier is not responsible for the question that has been asked by the member.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! Member for Unley, you will depart under 137A. Your colleague, the member for Heysen, is seeking to address the Chair under 134, and he will be heard. Member for Unley, for the remainder of question time.

The honourable member for Unley having withdrawn from the chamber:

Mr TEAGUE: On the point of order, sir, the question is asking simply of the Premier whether or not he has sought advice from an individual as to involvement in a company and, in my submission, Speaker, it is to be distinguished from matters relating only to that person's engagement and the nature of their duties.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! I certainly understand the submission is made. I have the submission. The difficulty, member for Heysen, is that the precedent is hard ground, and that precedent is set in part by you.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: The Premier does not have responsibility to answer the question the way he has put it, sir.

The SPEAKER: The question is out of order. However, I will give the member for Heysen the opportunity to recast the question.

Mr TEAGUE: Well, I will move on. There is a number of questions.