Cross Border Commissioner

The Hon. H.M. GIROLAMO (14:53): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development a question about the Cross Border Commissioner.

Leave granted.

The Hon. H.M. GIROLAMO: It is the opposition's understanding that, despite the Office of the Cross Border Commissioner being advertised on the door as open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 9am to 4pm, the office today has been closed and the phone is unattended and unanswered. Given the minister's comments in answering a previous question on the Cross Border Commissioner today that members of the public can access the Office of the Cross Border Commissioner, my questions to the minister are:

1. Can she confirm to the chamber as to whether the Cross Border Commissioner's office is currently staffed?

2. Can members of the community who have cross-border issues contact the Cross Border Commissioner's office in any form?

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (14:54): Given the honourable member started her question with, 'It's the opposition's understanding that' and given how little they do seem to understand, I wouldn't be surprised if the premise of the question is a little misleading. In terms of whether the office is open today, I will endeavour to find that out, but it's entirely possible that a staff member could be sick. It could be that a staff member could be sick. Perhaps those opposite—

The Hon. H.M. Girolamo interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: —think that staff illness shouldn't be considered an issue in having an office unstaffed.

The Hon. I.K. Hunter: It could be COVID.

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: Indeed, it could be COVID, as the Hon. Mr Hunter points out. It could be any number of reasons, if indeed the opposition does understand correctly. What I think we all need to understand in this chamber is what the real purpose of these constant questions about the Cross Border Commissioner office are. These questions originate from a motivation to undermine the role of the Cross Border Commissioner. We know those opposite didn't want it established. They didn't want it established. Why didn't they want it established?

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: I will tell you why. They didn't want it established—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: —because it wasn't their idea. It wasn't their idea. Whose idea was it? It was the idea of the Independent former Liberal MP, Troy Bell, the member for Mount Gambier. So because it's not their idea therefore it cannot have any merit in the view of the opposition. That is their position. Since day one they have opposed the idea of a Cross Border Commissioner. In recent weeks, they have asked—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: Pardon?

Members interjecting:

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: I am advised that my colleague the Hon. Emily Bourke just called them and they answered the call.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! Have you finished your answer?

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! Just sit down.

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN: I rest my case.