BURNSIDE COUNCIL

The Hon. S.G. WADE (14:27): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for State/Local Government Relations a question relating to Burnside council.

Leave granted.

The Hon. S.G. WADE: Yesterday, in response to a question related to the investigation into the Burnside council, the minister stated that the work of Mr MacPherson was suspended on 4 February pending the outcome of legal proceedings. My questions are:

1. Can the minister advise the council what work or task was undertaken by Mr McPherson on behalf of the government from the date on which the government gave an undertaking to the court on the report of Mr MacPherson up until 4 February 2011?

2. Why was this work suspended on 4 February 2011?

3. Who ordered the suspension?

4. Is there any significance in the fact that 4 February was minister Gago's last working day in the state/local government portfolio?

5. What is the estimated cost of the investigation up to 4 February and the anticipated costs to project close?

The Hon. B.V. FINNIGAN (Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for State/Local Government Relations, Minister for Gambling) (14:28): The suggestion is that the minister was taking some action because it was her last working day. My honourable colleague was the minister, for state/local government relations until such time as I was sworn in as minister and to suggest that she was not minister until that time is an absurdity.

In relation to Burnside council, the honourable member has asked questions again and again relating to the Burnside council investigation. We all know where that matter is at. There is a Supreme Court action by a number of people in relation to the draft report. As I advised the house yesterday, my understanding is that there will be a hearing on 10 and 11 March before the Full Court of the Supreme Court.

It would therefore not be appropriate to speculate on what is going to happen in the future in relation to that report. What the government has done is said that, in light of the legal action that is proceeding, we will not continue with the investigation beyond this point until the court matter is resolved, and then we will obviously need to have a look at what action we will take in relation to this matter once the court action has been finalised.