BURNSIDE CITY COUNCIL

The Hon. R.D. LAWSON (15:00): As a supplementary question arising from the answer, is it the fact then, minister, that you approved the extension of the inquiry before you had any estimate of the likely cost of that extension?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for State/Local Government Relations, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Consumer Affairs, Minister for Government Enterprises, Minister Assisting the Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Energy) (15:00): Yes; in terms of costing, the honourable member is absolutely right. The full scoping of this exercise is only being done now, as I have indicated. Initially, we did not have a full understanding of the uptake, particularly of the public part of that inquiry; and I do not think that one person in this chamber would believe that, given the circumstances of this case, it was not a proper and sound thing to do, that is, to open up the investigation to the public so that ordinary members of the public could have the opportunity to deliver evidence to the investigator.

Unfortunately, that costs money. It does extend the length of the inquiry and it costs money. It is most important that this investigation be done thoroughly, and we will pay what it costs. The investigator has outlined a much better indication of the scope. That now needs to be costed in detail, and my agency is doing that at present.