Cross Border Commissioner

The Hon. B.R. HOOD (15:10): Supplementary: if the Cross Border Commissioner is not based in Mount Gambier, what would the break-lease costs be for the current office in Sturt Street?

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (15:10): First of all, that is a question that is simply speculation in terms of—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: Of course it's speculation if they are not—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: Exactly, if Ben's speculation—

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: However, what I would say is that it wouldn't necessarily be the case that we would need to break any leases whatsoever. The Cross Border Commissioner obviously needs to spend a lot of time in various cross-border communities. The opportunities to have meetings, to have round tables, to do various other engagement activities are, of course, assisted by having a physical office such as that in Mount Gambier. Regardless of where the new Cross Border Commissioner resides, I would expect that that Mount Gambier office would be utilised.

Secondly, there are always opportunities, when there is government leased accommodation, to have it used for a number of different purposes, potentially concurrently, so all of those things are possible. However, I also think it highly likely that the new Cross Border Commissioner will be located in Mount Gambier.