BURNSIDE COUNCIL

In reply to the Hon. S.G. WADE (1 July 2010).

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): On 27 August 2009 a joint media release was issued from Hon Jay Weatherill, the then Minister Assisting the Premier in Cabinet Business and Public Sector Management and myself agreed to exempting the investigation into the City of Burnside from the Freedom of Information legislation at the request of the Investigator.

This step was taken to ensure all persons with information relevant to the investigation felt confident about coming forward and providing information to the investigator without the fear of defamation or other reprisals and to maintain the integrity of the investigation.

The use of the word 'interim step' in this context should be read as 'intervening step' and as such, the Government will not be repealing this exemption.

I remain however committed to tabling the results of the investigation in Parliament, provided there are no legal impediments to doing so.