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House of Assembly - Fifty-First Parliament, Third Session (51-3)
2009-03-24 Daily Xml
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CHELTENHAM PARK

Mrs REDMOND (Heysen) (14:49): My question is to the Minister for Infrastructure. Did the minister raise concerns with Mr Nick Bolkus about a potential conflict of interest relating to his role as presiding member of the government's Stormwater Management Authority? In light of the minister's previous answer about why he thinks it was not a conflict of interest, I think there potentially may have been a conflict of interest. Mr Bolkus was the presiding member of the Stormwater Management Authority from its inception in July 2007 until late February 2008, as the minister said in his previous answer.

His disclosure of interest statement, dated 11 September 2007, required under the legislation to be furnished to the Minister for Infrastructure, lists an indirect interest in a Buckland Park development but makes no mention of any role as a lobbyist for the SAJC in respect of developments at Cheltenham.

The Hon. P.F. CONLON (Elder—Minister for Transport, Minister for Infrastructure, Minister for Energy) (14:50): With great respect to the member who does not understand it, no-one at the SAJC was lobbying for wetlands. No-one was lobbying for stormwater. We imposed on them an obligation of 30 per cent open space and, subsequently, we imposed an obligation of 40 per cent. That came not from the stormwater authority or the SAJC; it came from us.

So, what on earth does this feeble-minded person think the conflict was? What was the conflict? Please tell me: what was the conflict? It is not a conflict, it is just a smear. Nick Bolkus and the SAJC never had any ambition for stormwater. Zero! So, please assist me here. What in that feeble-minded strategic unit of the opposition is the conflict? For God's sake! With the greatest respect, Mr Speaker, this is an opposition whose one great contribution to policy debate this week was to go out and say, 'We've got three options for building a hospital on site. Someone please tell us what to do.' Can you tell us what your preferred option is? That is leadership?

You know you have a bad bureaucrat when they come to you and, instead of a recommendation, they have three options, and they ask you to pick one. Isn't that true? Who has been a minister? I know you worked as one for about a second and a half. What you want from someone is a recommendation, and what people want from the alternative government is a willingness to lead and someone who will tell them what they think they will do after the election.

Ms CHAPMAN: On a point of order, Mr Speaker, the minister should answer the question or sit down.

The SPEAKER: Order! There is no point of order.

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