BURNSIDE COUNCIL

The Hon. J.A. DARLEY (14:49): My question is to the Minister for State/Local Government Relations concerning Mr Ken MacPherson's investigation into the Burnside council. Does the minister and/or her staff receive regular or irregular briefings with updates on the current status of the investigation, including costs? If so, how often do these briefings occur, who attends and when was the last one?

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 for the City of Adelaide) (14:50): In relation to briefings from the investigator, the investigator does not brief me on his investigation. He is at complete arm's length from the government. He is following the investigation as per the terms of reference handed to him and the contractual agreements that were entered into at the time in terms of his fee for service. I have already indicated that, in relation to those fees (which are already on public record), I will bring back those details and provide them to this place. In relation to the matters such as the extension to his contract, he raised the request for an extension with me in writing, outlining his reasons why, and I responded.

In relation to general matters such as how the investigation is progressing—and again, in the most general way, there is no detail or content in relation to the investigation itself—things such as the issue around entering the natural justice part of the process were passed on to me via the agency; that is, he had commenced preparations and was about to enter that phase. That is simply general information that the agency would pass on to me, but I have no direct briefings or conversations with Ken MacPherson about the inquiry whatsoever. He is completely independent to conduct it in the way he sees fit and, as I said, those matters are on the record already.