VAILO Company Founder

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA (Hartley—Leader of the Opposition) (14:13): My question is to the Premier. How long has the Premier been aware of any issues concerning VAILO's company founder? With your leave, sir, and that of the house, I will explain.

Leave granted.

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA: In budget estimates in June this year when asked if the Premier was concerned about the founder of VAILO's behaviour, in particular around his failure to pay his tax requirements, the Premier said:

We are not concerned about it. I do not mind saying that having had the opportunity to speak to Aaron Hickmann on a number of occasions, his commitment to the event is something that we are very grateful for as a government.

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS (Croydon—Premier) (14:13): Our firm expectation is that every Australian taxpayer, as I think everybody agrees, should meet their tax obligations and that is a matter between Mr Hickmann and the Australian Tax Office. But with regard to the obligations that VAILO has had to the SA Motor Sport Board—

The Hon. D.G. Pisoni interjecting:

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS: Mr Speaker, the member for—

The SPEAKER: The member for Unley, we heard you the first, second and third time. Interjections are unparliamentary and the Premier is doing his best to ignore you, but you will leave if we hear another peep out of you.

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS: I thank the Speaker for his protection but on this side of the house I want the record to show that we very much value the interjections we get from the member for Unley. They normally help our cause rather than the opposite.

During that estimates period, if my recollection serves me correctly, there was a line of inquiry about Mr Hickmann or VAILO meeting their obligations under the sponsorship agreement. The advice that I have consistently received throughout the VAILO agreement is that we have made clear that there are obligations upon VAILO. The advice that I have received repeatedly is that VAILO has met their sponsorship obligations. That will be a situation we will continue to monitor, as you would expect us to do with any sponsorship arrangement.