Russell, Dr D.

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS (14:29): I am just waiting for the Hon. Ms Gago to finish. Mr President, my question is directed to the Leader of the Government. Does the chief executive officer of the Department of State Development, Dr Don Russell, who is paid $470,000 per year, essentially operate as a fly-in, fly-out chief executive officer, in that virtually all weekends he flies out of Adelaide and back to his home in Sydney? And, if that's the case, and once again, given the state's appalling unemployment figures again recorded today, can the minister explain why he believes that is an acceptable position?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Employment, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation, Minister for Manufacturing and Innovation, Minister for Automotive Transformation, Minister for Science and Information Economy) (14:30): In relation to the public servants' arrangements and travel, I am happy to see if there is an answer I can bring back. I don't know if he flies in and out every weekend. What I can say, however, is I think that the chief executive of the Department of State Development does an extraordinarily good job. He has a huge amount of experience at a commonwealth level, he is a former ambassador in Washington DC for Australia in US. The experience he brings to this state provides a great benefit to South Australia and the people of South Australia.