Cost-Recovery Review Process

The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI (Leader of the Opposition) (14:37): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking a question of the Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development regarding the government's independent review into cost recovery of the seafood and aquaculture industries.

Leave granted.

The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI: The report was finalised six months ago—that is the report of the independent review into cost recovery—but despite numerous requests by the opposition, the crossbench and industry stakeholders, the government and the minister is still refusing to release it. Under section 2.6, the South Australian Ministerial Code of Conduct states:

Ministers, their departments and agencies carry out work on behalf of the public. It is, therefore, important for information about portfolios to be made available to the public and to Parliament. A Minister has an obligation to be 'open and transparent'.

So my questions to the minister are:

1. Will the minister acknowledge that her refusal to release a copy of the review is in breach of her obligations under the Ministerial Code of Conduct?

2. What current reasons will she provide for her ongoing refusal to release the report?

3. Will she acknowledge that her refusal is not in the best financial interests of the fishing industry?

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (14:38): First of all, the Leader of the Opposition is in error in the first part of her question regarding being six months ago. That is not accurate, as I have said on multiple occasions in this place. Secondly, the rest of the question I answered in this place yesterday, and I would refer her to Hansard.

The PRESIDENT: The honourable Leader of the Opposition, your third question.