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House of Assembly - Fifty-Second Parliament, First Session (52-1)
2011-10-20 Daily Xml
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GALAPAGOS ISLANDS

The Hon. J.M. RANKINE (Wright—Minister for Families and Communities, Minister for Housing, Minister for Ageing, Minister for Disability) (15:34): The last sitting Thursday I was not present in the house and, in a grievance debate, the member for Bragg asked where I was. According to her I should have been here to answer her questions. Well, I have been here all week and not a dickie bird.

Let me assure the house I was not out swimming with turtles, I was not fishing, I was not surrounded by security for fear of being robbed nor was I dodging unexploded in unmarked minefields. Apparently these are both the delights and risks visitors face when exploring the Galapagos Islands—a location for which the member for Bragg was prepared to endure six flights in August last year to visit. I thought it was only Captain Kirk on the Enterprise that went places no-one had ever been before but apparently, so the member for Bragg reports, no other Australian state or federal parliamentarian has ever been there and reported on it. Well, I am not surprised.

Apparently the member for Bragg undertook this fact-finding mission to the Galapagos Islands to study pest control—obviously a matter of great importance in her electorate. It certainly has nothing to do with her shadow portfolios. I noted with some interest the member's concern about unsterilised and non-pure bred dogs roaming the streets.

The member for Bragg reports 'travel was via a sailing catamaran' and she was ably assisted by an exceptional guide—

Mr PENGILLY: Point of order, Madam Speaker. It would appear to me as though the minister is reflecting on another member in a stupid fashion.

The SPEAKER: No. I think there is no point of order there. It is a grievance.

The Hon. J.M. RANKINE: She had an exceptional guide, Alex Villa. Alex was, according to the member for Bragg, 'a qualified conservationist and proficient in oceanography and astrology'. That is, he was proficient in predicting the future by the position and movement of heavenly bodies.

I wonder if the member for Bragg's guide-cum-astrologer was able to predict what will happen with the leadership of the Liberal Party. If Saturn is in harmony with the other planets, might we see the member for Bragg fulfil her long held desire to take the leadership? Or will her zealous pest control reform agenda put the cane toad loyalists offside? If Mercury turns retrograde, will the member for Waite return to the throne? If Venus is prevalent, will the member for Heysen hang on and defy her challengers? Or is she another flightless bird like those famously sketched by that other intrepid traveller Sir Charles Darwin when he went on his own fact-finding mission to the Galapagos in 1831?

But the question that must be answered today is: did the member for Bragg's astrological friend tell her to submit her report on the Galapagosian pest controls six months late? Or was it a more temporal reason? The member for Bragg may not have wanted a document, signed by her on the public record, highlighting fishing restrictions in sensitive ecological areas at the same time as she was hosting town hall meetings to protest marine reserves. Did the six flights and the use of most of her travel allowance—

An honourable member interjecting:

The Hon. J.M. RANKINE: No, he did it—just slip her memory while bellowing in the megaphone? I believe we can find an explanation in part for this recalcitrant behaviour in the member's zodiac sign:

They are very flighty and will disappear for a long time as they meet new friends and explore new places. But when they come back, they will have new thoughts, opinions and interesting things to share and ideas to teach.

Most illuminating, I think, is the fact that they tend to 'disperse their energy on different tasks and not just focus on one thing thus leaving a trail of unfinished projects in their wake.' Something, too, that should be carefully noted by the Leader of the Opposition:

They will not be pinned down by anyone or any rules. Change and freedom are extremely important, they will never let anyone dictate them.

I note that on 7 July this year, the day the report was lodged (six months late), the member for Bragg's horoscope read:

There are things you'd rather not talk about, but sometimes you have to anyway. Don't be afraid to broach topics that would usually make you nervous or comfortable.

Like a fact-finding mission to the Galapagos Islands on the taxpayers' bill perhaps?

I spoke to my colleague the minister for the environment who told me there are some excellent examples of South Australian pest control taking place on Kangaroo Island right now and the ferry left at 3 o'clock. But she might want to check with her astrologer first.

For the information of the house, last sitting Thursday I was in Melbourne to attend the opening of a new aged homeless disability housing project and, secondly, to meet with board members and the CEO of Winteringham to lobby the federal government in relation to a specialist service here in South Australia.

Time expired.

The Hon. J.M. RANKINE: Madam Acting Speaker, I request an extension of time.

The ACTING SPEAKER (Hon. S.W. Key): No. Your time has expired, minister.

The Hon. J.M. RANKINE: Thank you. Winteringham is an extraordinary organisation whose CE—

The ACTING SPEAKER (Hon. S.W. Key): Minister—

The Hon. J.M. RANKINE: —was flying to Mexico to receive—

The ACTING SPEAKER (Hon. S.W. Key): Minister, I am sorry, I said your time has expired, so thank you. Now we have the member for Stuart.

The Hon. J.M. RANKINE: I seek leave to make a personal explanation.

The ACTING SPEAKER (Hon. S.W. Key): Leave is sought. We have the member for Stuart on his feet. Can I ask you to do that after his contribution please? The member for Stuart.

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