Homelessness Services

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (14:31): Further supplementary: has the Chief Executive of the SA Housing Authority, Mr Michael Buchan, or any SA Housing or DHS employee made any representations to the minister or her staff regarding the cancellation or halt of the tender?

The PRESIDENT: It is a long bow to draw that in as a supplementary question, I would have thought.

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: I did refer to the tender in the original question and in the brief explanation.

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK (Minister for Human Services) (14:32): It is a bit of a strange question. I think in effect the honourable member is asking me whether the Chief Executive of the South Australian Housing Authority has lobbied me to extend the tender. I don't wish to be patronising—and I mean this quite genuinely—but the honourable member might not be aware of the way that government works in a practical sense between ministers and agencies—

The Hon. K.J. Maher: Like codes of conduct and so forth and compliance with ministerial standards—

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK: I have answered that question—

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. K.J. Maher interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK: I have.

The Hon. K.J. Maher interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Leader of the Opposition!

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK: I have read it.

The Hon. K.J. Maher interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Leader of the Opposition! Enough. Minister.

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK: Yes, so, it is a peculiar supplementary in the sense that that is not really the way that government works—

The Hon. K.J. Maher interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Oh, my goodness. Minister.

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK: —in terms of agency heads lobbying their ministers. They advise; we have discussions; it is—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK: —a collaborative relationship of mutual respect, and we discuss a range of topics in a whole range of areas on a regular basis.