Question Time

BURNSIDE COUNCIL

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY (Leader of the Opposition) (14:21): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for State/Local Government Relations a question relating to the Burnside Council.

Leave granted.

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY: Yesterday, the minister stated:

I would like to make clear that all allegations of corruption have been referred to the South Australia Police Anti-Corruption Branch, even prior to this investigation. I am advised that there has never been evidence presented to the Anti-Corruption Branch that warranted further investigation.

My questions to the minister are:

1. Is it not the case that Mr MacPherson's draft report included a range of draft findings, including that charges be laid against a number of persons, and that those draft findings have not been considered and rejected by the Anti-Corruption Branch?

2. Will the minister confirm that all evidence, records and documents collected during the investigation were referred to the police, or were allegations simply referred for independent follow-up by the police?

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY (Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for State/Local Government Relations) (14:22): First, I must say that I have not read the report; there is a suppression order. If the member has read the report he has done that illegally, so I would keep quiet if I were him. I have not read the report, and my advice—

The Hon. S.G. Wade interjecting:

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY: Would you stop spitting over the chamber if you do not mind? I am trying to talk. My advice is that all allegations, as petty as they are or were, were referred—

The Hon. S.G. Wade interjecting:

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY: Listen Charlie; I'll tell you something. Something I have that you will never have is that I have actually been on local government and I know how petty a lot of these accusations can be. I am speaking from experience.

The Hon. D.W. Ridgway interjecting:

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY: I do not know what is in the report; you obviously do: you have obviously read it against the suppression order. As Leader of the Opposition you should be ashamed of yourself, totally ashamed of yourself. With regard to all the evidence and documents, or whatever, I am seeking advice on a continual basis as to how to wind this up—

The Hon. D.W. Ridgway interjecting:

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY: If I was someone who had just admitted to reading a report that is the subject of a suppression order, I would sit back and look sheepish, as you should do.