AIDS COUNCIL OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA

The Hon. A. BRESSINGTON (14:59): By way of supplementary question, is the minister saying that an NGO (non-government organisation) is being funded by state taxpayer dollars and that she has no idea of the qualifications necessary to work in that organisation? Why does that not apply to other non-government organisations in the drug and alcohol sector?

Members interjecting:

The Hon. A. BRESSINGTON: That is a pathetic excuse. You should know what qualified people are working with vulnerable groups of people. There is no excuse for this. There is no excuse.

The PRESIDENT: Order! The Hon. Ms Bressington will come to order or I will name her and she can leave the chamber.

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Environment and Conservation, Minister for Mental Health and Substance Abuse, Minister Assisting the Minister for Health) (15:00): I remind members of the chamber that the position which is being advertised is a commonwealth-funded position. I want to stress that it is a commonwealth-funded position. The suggestion of the Hon. Ann Bressington that the minister would know the person specification and job requirements for every single position that is placed within our agency or our NGOs is outrageous. We have service contracts with about 20 NGOs that employ hundreds of different people. It is absolutely outrageous to suggest that I would be expected to know the person specification and qualification requirements of every single position within my agency, and all the service agreements that we have with NGOs. If there is anything specific the honourable member wants to know, I am happy to take it on notice and bring back a response.