McGowan, Dr C.

The Hon. F. PANGALLO (14:24): Supplementary: recently, Dr McGowan had referred himself to the public sector commissioner, Ms Erma Ranieri, over disclosures he was still listed as a director of a private company during the first two months of his public appointment and that a related company—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. F. PANGALLO: Okay, well, let me just ask this—

The PRESIDENT: Honourable members! Start again, the Hon. Mr Pangallo, because I didn't hear any of that, so I can't rule on it.

The Hon. F. PANGALLO: Thank you, Mr President. It actually does relate to the questions that have been asked by the Hon. Clare Scriven.

The PRESIDENT: You don't need to justify it at this point in time. I will ask you if we need it justified.

The Hon. F. PANGALLO: I will keep the question simple. Ms Erma Ranieri, who is the public sector commissioner, when she was to investigate the self-reporting of Dr McGowan she was so concerned about her own independence that she decided to refer the matter to an external investigator, and that report is due soon, according to the minister this morning. She is now on the government's task force looking into the problems of SA Health.

My question to the minister is: if Ms Ranieri felt her independence was compromised in the matter with Dr McGowan, surely then it is with her appointment to the task force? Will the minister ask her to step aside, or has she asked to step aside from the task force, and has Dr McGowan offered his resignation to the minister?

The PRESIDENT: The Hon. Mr Pangallo, that is effectively a new question and did not come out of the original answer. You are entitled to ask it—

The Hon. F. PANGALLO: I will withdraw the last one.

The PRESIDENT: Don't bother withdrawing. I am just ruling it out of order. You are entitled to ask that question within standing orders if it is asked as a normal question, but not as a supplementary. The Hon. Ms Scriven, I am allowing you one more supplementary.