Question Time

REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT AUSTRALIA

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY (Leader of the Opposition) (14:25): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Regional Development a question about regional development boards and, in particular, Eyre Peninsula.

Leave granted.

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY: As members would recall, yesterday I asked the minister a supplementary question following a question from the Hon. Carmel Zollo about regional development boards. In particular, I asked:

Can the minister explain why the Eyre Regional Development committee does not have any representation from agriculture, aquaculture or mining, given that they are the three biggest industries on Eyre Peninsula?

The minister then went on to say:

It is an open democratic process, where expressions of interest are called for. The three levels of government encourage people to be aware of the nominations being opened and encourage people with relevant expertise to nominate. It is an open process. I cannot go out there and force people to take up these positions. I am aware that there are gaps in some of the regions, and we will seek to encourage those people with the appropriate skill sets and interests to fill those positions in the future.

The bottom line is that no level of government—neither federal, state nor local government—has the power to mandate individuals to participate in this particular forum.

Mr President, I am further advised today that, indeed, some industry leaders from mining, aquaculture and agriculture did apply for the Eyre Regional Development Board. I am also further advised, Mr President, that the minister made representations to the federal Minister for Regional Australia (Hon. Simon Crean) to recall the process; however, minister Crean refused. My questions to the minister are:

1. Why did she approach federal minister Crean to recall the process?

2. Why are these important industries again not represented on the Regional Development Board?

3. I expect an answer today: did she or her office intervene after the closure of the expressions of interest?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, Minister for Forests, Minister for Regional Development, Minister for Tourism, Minister for the Status of Women) (14:27): I thank the honourable member for his questions. I have to say I do not have any information about the recalling of the process that the honourable member has referred to. I have no information about that with me, and—

The Hon. D.W. Ridgway: With you?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: I am unaware of any recalled process. If it occurred, I don't remember it, so I would have to take that question on notice, and I am happy to bring back a response. As I said, I have no knowledge of a recalled process, so I would have to investigate that. As I said in this place yesterday, I am absolutely sick and tired of members coming into this place—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: —sick and tired of members coming into this place with snide innuendo, trying to defame and damage individuals and defame, damage and discredit hard-working agencies. Again, I challenge the honourable member: if he has any information whatsoever to suggest that any part of the process was not proper, I demand—I believe he is responsible, as a member of parliament, to make that evidence available to me.

Just for the record: his office has not, to the best of my knowledge, been in contact—certainly, not with me personally. The Hon. David Ridgway has not been in contact with me since yesterday. I do not believe that anyone from his office has contacted, certainly me personally, or anyone from my office, so we are not in receipt of any information or any level of detail, albeit tenuous, that might suggest that there was any impropriety whatsoever in relation to this process.

It is a disgrace that honourable members come in here and abuse the privilege of this house and hide under the cloak of protection in this house. We expect more of our members of parliament. With such a precious privilege comes a responsibility, and that responsibility is to use that privilege in a highly responsible way, and the Hon. David Ridgway has failed to do that in this place.

Again, I challenge him. If there is any skerrick of evidence, information or detail whatsoever to suggest any level of impropriety, then I challenge him to make that information available to me. As I have said, I will take swift and immediate action in relation to any wrongdoing or any impropriety that may have occurred, but I don't believe there was any. As I said, I challenge the honourable member to put forward any information that he has.