Construction Industry Training Board

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (15:48): I would like to pose some questions today: how important is transparency and accountability? How important is it for a minister of the Crown to abide by the legislation of this state? There is currently a bill before this chamber to amend the Construction Industry Training Board legislation. I will not, of course, comment on that today, but when minister Pisoni announced his proposed changes to that act, he stated, and I quote:

Appointments need to be based on merit and experience to ensure greater alignment with industry requirements.

The Hon. J.E. Hanson: Sounds reasonable.

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: It sounds reasonable, as the Hon. Mr Hanson says. It is a fine sentiment, and if the minister was sincere in the sentiment, we could agree that his behaviour would align with it. The minister appointed Mr Nicholas Handley to the Construction Industry Training Board, to a vacancy which required that the person appointed has:

…appropriate experience in vocational education or training and who are or have been employed or engaged in the provision of such education or training.

Mr Handley is an accountant. Mr Handley's LinkedIn profile shows no experience in vocational education or training. It shows no experience in the provision of such education or training. His professional profile on his Handley Accounting page shows no such experience.

I requested a copy of Mr Handley's CV through the FOI provisions. This was denied not once but twice by minister Pisoni's office, claiming that Mr Handley's CV was cabinet in confidence—arguing his CV formed part of a cabinet submission and was therefore cabinet in confidence. However, another FOI application made to minister Pisoni's office showed an email from Mr Handley to minister Pisoni, which included his CV, dated 12 June, and clearly that email with his CV attached is not part of a cabinet submission.

Why would minister Pisoni refuse to release a CV? Personal information, such as contact information, can be redacted. What is there to hide? Coincidentally, Mr Handley is the chair of the FutureSA Unley forum.

The Hon. J.E. Hanson: What's that?

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: What is that? That is minister Pisoni's personal party fundraising arm. It is responsible for fundraising for minister Pisoni's election campaign in his seat of Unley. I understand that Mr Handley was responsible for signing up $5,000 memberships for the FutureSA forums. Mr Handley chaired a forum, at which minister Pisoni was a guest speaker, just a few weeks after his appointment to the board. Minister Pisoni and Mr Handley were photographed together at Liberal Party events in the lead-up to the 2018 state election.

So what are Mr Handley's qualifications for appointment to this industry training board? No training qualifications to sit on this training board; no vocational education experience, as required under the act; no employment or engagement in delivering training, as required under the legislation, but he has experience in fundraising for the Liberal Party. He has experience in fundraising for minister Pisoni's local Liberal arm, yet the minister wants to appoint people on merit. How can we possibly believe that?

The Hon. I.K. Hunter: Five thousand a pop.

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: Five thousand a pop, as the Hon. Mr Hunter says. I have asked the Ombudsman to review minister Pisoni's office's decision to refuse release of the CV. I am pleased the Ombudsman has agreed to investigate the matter. I believe that this parliament should be able to see the outcome of that Ombudsman's investigation and allow the parliament the opportunity to scrutinise the appointment of Mr Nicholas Handley.

Minister Pisoni wants this legislation rushed through. He does not want this chamber to be able to scrutinise his appointment before the parliament considers granting him absolutely unfettered power to appoint whoever he likes to every position on the Construction Industry Training Board.

The Hon. I.K. Hunter: How you can trust him now?

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: 'How can you trust him?' as the Hon. Mr Hanson says.

The Hon. J.E. Hanson: Hunter, I believe.

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: Mr Hunter. Thank you.

The Hon. J.E. Hanson: We can both say it.

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: They both said it, I am sure. They are both as one on this, because there are very dark clouds over minister Pisoni's behaviour so far. I urge members to consider delaying debate of the proposed changes to the CITB act until the Ombudsman's office has investigated this issue. That will allow the parliament the opportunity to scrutinise previous appointments before we grant the minister the power to personally appoint every member of the board.

The minister recently reappointed four members of the CITB for six months, so there is no rush. We do not need to have that legislation rushed through. Is transparency important? Is abiding by the law important? I say it is. If members agree, we should see the outcome of the investigation before the bill proceeds, otherwise we risk being associated with the stink that surrounds the minister's actions.