South Australian Multicultural and Ethnic Affairs Commission

The Hon. T.T. NGO (14:37): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking a question of the Assistant Minister to the Premier about the South Australian Multicultural and Ethnic Affairs Commission, or SAMEAC.

Leave granted.

The Hon. T.T. NGO: Recently, it has been reported in the media that the government has sent emails to board members of SAMEAC advising them that their terms would not be extended past 30 June 2018. My questions to the assistant minister to the Premier are:

1. How many of the 14 board members had been advised via email by the government that they had effectively been sacked as of 30 June this year?

2. What were the stated reasons behind these sackings?

The Hon. J.S. LEE (14:38): I didn't hear the second part of your question; can you just repeat the second part?

The Hon. T.T. NGO: The second part was just the reasons behind these sackings.

The Hon. J.S. LEE: I thank the honourable member for his question. The term of service for the SAMEAC board actually expires on 30 June, so it is not really a sacking by the government at all.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. J.S. LEE: Not a sacking, not a sacking. The term of service expires on 30 June. I recall that the member said there were 14 board members; there are actually essentially only 12 members, and their terms have expired on 30 June. It has not been renewed because, with the new government coming into power and office, there are so many quality and high-calibre individuals within the multicultural sector the government would like to work with.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. J.S. LEE: The multicultural community does not consist of 12 individuals. The community consists of high-calibre community board members; members across the board who want to work with the new government. We must give them the opportunity, we must give everyone equal opportunity to be able to come on board to contribute to the South Australian multicultural community.