SOUTH AUSTRALIAN AQUATIC AND LEISURE CENTRE

The Hon. T.J. STEPHENS (15:02): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Industrial Relations, representing the Minister for Recreation and Sport, questions regarding the contract to administer the South Australian Aquatic and Leisure Centre.

Leave granted.

The Hon. T.J. STEPHENS: The supplementary Auditor-General's Report released on Monday included the audit of the Attorney-General's Department, which was omitted previously. This obviously covers the Office for Recreation and Sport, which now sits under the Department of Planning and Local Government. I am surprised that the incoming Premier did not decide that the office needed to be moved again.

The report found that the contract to administer the centre was not finalised until 29 June 2011, yet the announcement of YMCA as the preferred operator was made in March. The centre opened in April, and it hosted the Swimming SA championships on 27 May. My questions are:

1. Why did it take three months to finalise the contract with YMCA after the minister's announcement in March?

2. On what legal basis was the YMCA operating the South Australian Aquatic and Leisure Centre from when it opened until when the contract was finalised on 29 June 2011?

3. What guidelines or code of conduct was the YMCA given to operate the centre?

4. Does the minister admit that the government put users of the facility, YMCA and the future of the centre in jeopardy by allowing YMCA to operate the centre without any legal certainty?

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY (Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for State/Local Government Relations) (15:03): I thank the member for his very important question. I will take the question on notice and get an answer back to him as soon as possible.