Technical and Further Education Inquiry

The Hon. S.G. WADE (15:00): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Employment, Higher Education and Skills a question relating to the House of Representatives' inquiry into the role of technical and further education.

Leave granted.

The Hon. S.G. WADE: The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Education and Employment is currently undertaking an inquiry into the role of the technical and further education system and its operations. The inquiry was established in response to concerns that policy and funding changes are impacting on TAFE's future viability. TAFEs in other states have either appeared before the inquiry or have agreed to appear before it. I am advised that TAFE SA had agreed to appear before the committee on 12 June (that is last Thursday) but pulled out, citing that they had recently received a copy of the South Australian government submission to the inquiry. My questions to the minister are:

1. When did the South Australian government advise TAFE that the government would be making a submission to the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Education and Employment inquiry into the role of TAFE?

2. Given that the government submission was dated May 2014, why did TAFE not withdraw from appearing before the committee until June 2014?

3. Can the minister advise the council whether herself, her office, the Premier or his office gave any direction or guidance to TAFE SA that would have contributed to its decision to cancel its appearance?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Employment, Higher Education and Skills, Minister for Science and Information Economy, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Business Services and Consumers) (15:01): I thank the member for his question and for him allowing me the opportunity to set the record straight, because his colleague in another place, Mr Pisoni MP—

The Hon. S.G. Wade: The member for Unley.

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: —member for Unley, has been up to mischief and has basically disseminated completely incorrect information and has been incredibly misleading and mischievous. He has told blatant untruths. I am surprised, because when The Advertiser approached us relaying comments from Mr Pisoni we categorically stated that it was incorrect, that TAFE was not gagged in any way, shape or form by the state government in terms of its appearing before the House of Reps standing committee. Not only did we set the media straight but TAFE also, I am advised, told the media that they had not been gagged in any way, shape or form by the South Australian government either. So, what do they do? They go and report a story that says that they were gagged and then put a tiny weeny little comment from me right at the very end that says that of course that was untrue. Unbelievable. Then we have—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Can honourable members allow the honourable minister to complete her answer.

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: We made it quite clear that it was an absolute untruth. It was an untruth and it could not be substantiated in any way, shape or form; not in any way. It had no ground to it at all and yet not only was it still reported but we've got the Hon. Stephen Wade coming into this place perpetuating the same untruth.

The decision of TAFE to present to the standing committee was a matter for them. It was their decision; absolutely their decision. They informed me, at my last meeting with them, that they had not intended to present themselves and make a submission. There was a joint, cross-government, written submission made in which TAFE participated. Its opinion was that its views had been represented in the government submission that was put forward, and I believe that is publicly available; that is there for all to see. What it does in terms of submitting to these inquiries is absolutely a matter for TAFE, so the Hon. Stephen Wade would need to ask TAFE why it made that decision.

However, I can categorically say that I did not direct or advise or request—in any way, shape or form—any position about TAFE presenting at this inquiry, and I can absolutely assure the council that neither did any of my colleagues. So it is an absolute furphy.

We see the opposition come into this place time and time again with lies; they are just lies. They are untruths, they are completely unsubstantiated. They make it up out of thin air; no research. The Hon. Stephen Wade has not even bothered to ask TAFE, he has not even bothered to pick up the phone and ask TAFE why it did or did not decide that. TAFE would make the decision about whether it is an independent corporation; it would make a decision about whether it is in its interests to submit to this inquiry or not. That is TAFE's autonomous decision to make.

I did not influence TAFE, I did not direct it; it is TAFE's decision. Yet we see the opposition come into this place—as I said, time and time again—and just tell lies, untruths, that cannot be substantiated in any way, shape or form; not researched. The honourable member does not even have the temerity to pick up the phone and check with TAFE itself, to pick up the phone and ask to speak to the chair or the CEO to ask whether—

The Hon. J.S.L. Dawkins interjecting:

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: What a joke; you think Peter Vaughan is scared of me. Are you joking? They are idiots, Mr President, absolute idiots, that is all I can say. They tell lies, they make things up, and they come into this place—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Just hold on for a second. Minister, I would object if the opposition referred to you as an idiot; I do not think it is parliamentary language and I would like you to withdraw that.

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: Thank you for your direction, Mr President. I did get carried away out of sheer frustration at their untruths. I do withdraw the comment about 'idiots' but I do not withdraw my comment about it being a lie.

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY: Point of order. The minister cannot come in here all the time and accuse us of lying.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order, Hon. Mr Wade! Minister, I have just been advised that calling an honourable member a liar is also unacceptable.

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: I did not call him a liar; I said it was a lie.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Can we try to refrain from unparliamentary language? I will not accept calling people names across the chamber. The Hon. Mr Wade.

The Hon. S.G. WADE: Point of order, Mr President. My question to the minister was whether or not she had given a direction or guidance in relation to TAFE. It was a question—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. S.G. WADE: I ask the minister to clarify what is a lie.

The PRESIDENT: That was a question, and the honourable minister was quite categorical in her denial.