Adelaide Convention Centre Gala Dinner

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Leader of the Opposition) (14:20): My question is to the Assistant Minister to the Premier regarding multicultural affairs. Assistant minister, given that you were quoted in The Advertiser today saying, and I quote, that the dinner was 'to celebrate us as a multicultural diverse state', can you understand that some people would be confused to now learn that in fact it was a Liberal Party fundraiser?

The Hon. J.S. LEE (14:20): We live in a multicultural state and we ought to be very proud of it. Everybody that wished to pay to come to a dinner, whether it is to mark the 10^th anniversary or 10 years in parliament for myself, or to celebrate all of us as a multicultural and diverse state, it is up to the individuals who want to come to the dinner. I do not see there is really an issue. Also, I do not feel that this particular question is actually in the public interest in any way that is affecting the way that I carry on as Assistant Minister to the Premier. The question has nothing to do with the portfolio of multicultural affairs.