Witton Bluff Base Trail Project

The Hon. L.A. HENDERSON (14:54): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking a question of the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs regarding the Witton Bluff Base Trail.

Leave granted.

The Hon. L.A. HENDERSON: On Tuesday the minister advised this place that upon further advice on this matter he had decided that there was a possibility for a perception of bias or a conflict of interest and that the minister for environment and heritage has accepted the decision-making in relation to this application.

Can the minister advise whether he had briefings from the department, whether formal or informal, prior to the minister for environment and heritage accepting the decision-making in relation to this application; whether his staff had formal or informal briefings during this time; whether he or his staff have expressed views on this application to the department or to the minister for environment and heritage; when he notified the Premier of a possibility for a perception of bias or conflict of interest; and from what date the minister for environment and heritage took carriage of this application?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Attorney-General, Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector) (14:55): I thank the member for her questions. I think this, when it was asked, yesterday—

The Hon. L.A. Henderson: Tuesday.

The Hon. K.J. MAHER: Tuesday—I didn't have the date and I said I would come back but I can inform the honourable member that the decision to appoint a substitute decision-maker and informing the Premier, I believe, was 19 January. If that's incorrect, I will come back with the answer, but I think that's the date that I was advised that that was made. There had been no decisions made prior to doing that and no indication about the decision to be made to anyone, and certainly with the substitute decision-maker. I am not expressing any opinion to that person.