South Australian Employment Tribunal

The Hon. H.M. GIROLAMO (Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (15:18): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking a question of the Attorney-General regarding the South Australian Employment Tribunal.

Leave granted.

The Hon. H.M. GIROLAMO: On 1 April 2022, InDaily reported that during the 2022 state election campaign Leah Watkins, as general secretary of the AEA, authorised a sustained and targeted media campaign against the former Marshall government, spending around $400,000. Ms Watkins has now been appointed as a commissioner of the SAET. My questions to the Attorney are:

1. Is the Attorney concerned that this appointment of Ms Watkins may be perceived by some as a general political payback and reward?

2. Did the Attorney discuss the appointment of Ms Watkins with any of his colleagues, including but not limited to the Premier?

3. Has the Attorney received any complaints about the appointment of Ms Watkins?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Attorney-General, Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector, Special Minister of State) (15:19): I can answer the question of whether there was any discussion with any of my colleagues about the appointment of Ms Watkins. I do understand that the honourable member hasn't served in any executive positions before and it is only the Hon. Michelle Lensink who has done that, but for the honourable member's benefit, the appointment is gazetted.

For an appointment to be gazetted, it needs to be recommended to Executive Council. To be recommended to Executive Council, it needs a cabinet decision. So was any discussion held with anyone for an appointment that necessarily needs to go through a cabinet process? The answer is obviously and necessarily yes, because it goes through a cabinet process and it goes through Executive Council and it is gazetted.

In relation to the repeat of the Hon. Michelle Lensink's question that the honourable member has asked, I understand they have gone off script and haven't concentrated on one minister today, and maybe that's where it has fallen through the cracks and they are repeating themselves over and over and over again, but I am happy to repeat—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. K.J. MAHER: Sir, they don't wish to listen to the answer, so I will refer the honourable member to the Hansard in relation to the answer to the Hon. Michelle Lensink's question, given that the question was almost identical.