Legislative Council Fifty-First Parliament, Third Session (51-3) 51 3 Parliament of South Australia Legislative Council published Question Time Northern Suburbs Development NORTHERN SUBURBS DEVELOPMENT The Hon. M. PARNELL Legislative Council NORTHERN SUBURBS DEVELOPMENT The Hon. M. PARNELL (15:13): I have a supplementary question. Will the minister confirm whether the firm of development advisers, Connor Holmes, was engaged by the Department of Planning and Local Government to help prepare the Gawler East ministerial development plan amendment? Will the minister confirm whether that same firm is also engaged by Delfin Lend Lease, which intends to develop the land; and will the minister explain why that is not a conflict of interest? The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY Legislative Council Minister for Mineral Resources Development, Minister for Urban Development and Planning, Minister for Small Business NORTHERN SUBURBS DEVELOPMENT The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY (Minister for Mineral Resources Development, Minister for Urban Development and Planning, Minister for Small Business) (15:14): Mr President, given that the honourable member has given notice that this is an issue which he intends to raise, is it appropriate to address it at this stage? Members interjecting: The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY Legislative Council The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY: Because he has already given notice. The Hon. R.I. Lucas Legislative Council The Hon. R.I. Lucas: What are you hiding? The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY Legislative Council The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY: I am not hiding anything. The Hon. R.I. Lucas Legislative Council The Hon. R.I. Lucas: You don't know what he is going to raise. The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY Legislative Council The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY: He just raised it. The Hon. R.I. Lucas Legislative Council The Hon. R.I. Lucas: You can read minds, can you? The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY Legislative Council The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY: I have been in this place long enough to know what people like you are like, Mr Lucas. One can read you like a book because you only come from one dimension all the time. Just look at question time today—a bit of sleaze around and you come to life. See a sewer and he is the person who is the first one right in there, gulping mouthfuls of it. In relation to this matter, clearly the honourable member has made up his mind—just like he has with Olympic Dam and all the other issues he is moaning about. The answer to the question is that the honourable member should look at the statement I made at the time announcing who was involved. A consortium of consultants in this state was involved in the consultancy work in relation to the planning strategy. Connor Holmes was one of a number of companies who tendered for that particular matter. Given their interest in particular developments—and that is not surprising, given that there are only a handful of large consultancies in this state involved in such matters—I took steps to ensure that within that consultancy organisation there would be a separation between the people involved. The Hon. R.I. Lucas interjecting: The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY Legislative Council The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY: Listen to members opposite! They have made up their mind. It is just impossible when you get these sorts of questions. The Hon. Rob Lucas comes alive. He just loves it. He just loves throwing muck; he wallows in it. Of course, we have repeatedly seen this tactic in the council. The honourable member has been doing it for years. As soon as a question is asked about a serious matter, he immediately interjects because he does not want to hear the truth or get a straight answer. You can never answer these sorts of questions because you continually get the sorts of interjections we are getting from the member opposite. In relation to the question, special steps were taken to ensure that there would be— Members interjecting: The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY Legislative Council The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY: What's the point? The President Legislative Council The PRESIDENT: Order! I am very pleased that the government's Dorothy Dixers create more interest in the council than any other question.