Government Boards and Committees

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY (Leader of the Opposition) (14:24): By way of further supplementary, what criteria has the minister set as being the ones that the boards for which you are responsible must fulfil in order to maintain their existence?

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation, Minister for Water and the River Murray, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation) (14:24): I have not dictated any terms to the boards or committees. I have asked them for their advice, I have not sought to constrain it. I have given some examples, however, about what sort of considerations they might take into account—for example, efficiency of service delivery, efficiency of advice to government or, alternatively, a need or otherwise for independence from a minister.