Adelaide Football Club

The Hon. T.A. FRANKS (15:04): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before addressing a question to the Treasurer on the topic of a SafeWork SA investigation into the Crows camp.

Leave granted.

The Hon. T.A. FRANKS: The 2018 Adelaide Crows pre-season camp to the Gold Coast has drawn significant concern from a number of sources, including of course the South Australian Premier, Steven Marshall, who earlier this month stated to the media that he found some of the reported training exercises 'disturbing', and that it may warrant further investigation from a body such as SafeWork SA. It is a concern echoed by the AFL Players Association chief executive, who was quoted as saying:

I'm not sure what more can be done on the issue. If they had their time again there might have been some things that everyone would have done differently, including the players, but I think it will be an issue that keeps on keeping on because there seems to be some things that haven't been said about it.

Despite concluding that the camp had not been a breach of industry rules, the AFL's integrity unit did determine that the Crows did not do enough due diligence in identifying what was going to take place on that camp, and it recommended further investment in the club's integrity area. My questions are:

1. Does SafeWork SA have jurisdiction to investigate the 2018 Adelaide Crows pre-season camp? If so, is there such an investigation underway?

2. Has SafeWork SA reached out to the AFL Players Association regarding this matter, and is the Treasurer concerned that the disturbing training exercises should in fact breach AFL industry standards?

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS (Treasurer) (15:06): As members would be aware, SafeWork SA in terms of its regulatory role is completely independent of government and me as minister and therefore I am limited in terms, so I am advised, of what I can say. There have been media inquiries in relation to this particular issue, and the advice I have received from SafeWork SA is as follows:

No notifications or complaints against the Adelaide Football Club in relation to their pre-season camp in 2018 have been received by SafeWork SA. SafeWork SA is looking into the matter, and no further information can be shared at this stage. SafeWork SA does not have jurisdiction over Queensland businesses. However, where South Australian businesses operate interstate we [SafeWork SA] may have jurisdiction over activities relating to safe systems of work.