BURNSIDE COUNCIL

The Hon. A. BRESSINGTON (14:42): My questions are to the Minister for State/Local Government Relations about the Burnside council investigation.

1. Has the Anti-Corruption Branch been provided with a copy of the draft report of the MacPherson inquiry?

2. If not, how can the minister state with any confidence that all allegations have been referred to the Anti-Corruption Branch and were found not to warrant further investigation?

3. Given the seriousness of the alleged criminal conduct and corruption found by Mr MacPherson, will the minister refer the draft report to the Anti-Corruption Branch posthaste so that those who did engage in corruption and offended against their positions can be held accountable for their conduct?

4. Finally, given that the minister has supposedly not read the draft report and relied upon advice on the prospects of potential prosecutions, can he provide to the council who provided him with this advice, and will the minister provide the actual advice he received to this council?

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY (Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for State/Local Government Relations) (14:43): I did not see the flowthrough between Rob Lucas and you but obviously—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY: As long as it is made quite clear.

An honourable member: Just answer it.

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY: Let me answer it.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY: First of all, the advice I received was from the Crown Solicitor's Office and from my department; that is where I get my advice. Secondly, there were a number of factors that you asked me and I did not quite hear the full question.

The Hon. S.G. Wade interjecting:

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY: That is right. You can ask that again.

The Hon. A. BRESSINGTON: Which one?

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY: I have already answered about the advice.

The Hon. A. BRESSINGTON: Which one? Has the Anti-Corruption Branch been provided with a copy of the draft report of the MacPherson inquiry? If not, how can the minister state with any confidence that all allegations have been referred to the Anti-Corruption Branch and were found not to warrant further investigation? Do you want the next two as well?

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! The honourable minister answered one.

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY: We have the clowns in the public gallery. It is contagious.

The PRESIDENT: The honourable minister!

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY: For a start, the Crown Solicitor has given me my advice. I am not aware of it being handed to the—

The Hon. A. Bressington: Have you read the report?

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY: I have not read the report. Unlike the Hon. Mr Ridgway, I have not read the report.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY: I have just made the comment that I am not aware of it going to the Anti-Corruption Branch. My advice is from the Crown Solicitor and my department. It is as simple as that.

The Hon. A. Bressington: So, have they read the report?

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY: The Crown Solicitor, obviously they have.

The PRESIDENT: The Hon. Ms Bressington in future will address her remarks through the President. The Hon. Mr Holloway.

The Hon. A. Bressington: Well, maybe you should catch up with the rest of us.

The PRESIDENT: Maybe you should stop interjecting.