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House of Assembly - Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2)
2012-03-14 Daily Xml
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HEALTH AND COMMUNITY SERVICES COMPLAINTS COMMISSIONER

Mr HAMILTON-SMITH (Waite) (15:07): My question is to the Minister for Health and Ageing. Why is he axing the Health and Community Services Complaints Commissioner, Ms Leena Sudano, and at what point did he lose confidence in Ms Sudano? With your leave—

The Hon. P.F. CONLON: I have a point of order. 'Axing', 'losing confidence'; it is all comment. It is absolutely disorderly.

The SPEAKER: Yes; the member for Waite has been here long enough to know how to ask a question. I ask him to look at the language of his question and be very careful in what he is saying.

Mr HAMILTON-SMITH: I will explain the question, Madam Speaker. The office ensures openness and accountability by dealing with complaints from the public about health and community services, including disability and child protection complaints, public, private and non-government. Ms Sudano, on 1 March, in public evidence told parliament's Economic and Finance Committee that 'the organisation is...to face cuts of between 21 and 29 per cent of its budget'. Ms Sudano raised concerns that some of the minister's decisions were based on what she called 'an unsupportable premise'. She said of the Minister for Health, 'It was clear to me that I was unlikely to enjoy the support of the minister.' Ms Sudano added that she was very concerned about what she described as 'continuing instability—'

The SPEAKER: Member for Waite, this is going on quite considerably. This is not an opportunity to debate—

Mr HAMILTON-SMITH: I am quoting directly from the evidence—

The SPEAKER: —it is more of a grievance. I ask you to get to the point of the question.

Mr HAMILTON-SMITH: I am getting to the point. Because of a lack of support and resources the agency did not—

The Hon. P.F. CONLON: Point of order. I have been very tolerant, but he has not actually even sought leave of the house to explain the question, nor has it been granted.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. P.F. CONLON: I make a further point of order, Madam Speaker. The explanation bears no resemblance to the question; it is more like a speech.

The SPEAKER: Order! Member for Waite, would you just ask your question please?

Mr HAMILTON-SMITH: I have asked the question, Madam Speaker. Should I repeat it?

The SPEAKER: Yes; can you repeat it? I didn't properly hear what you said anyway.

Mr HAMILTON-SMITH: Why is the minister axing—

The Hon. P.F. CONLON: Point of order.

Mr HAMILTON-SMITH: Would you like me to say why is the minister closing—

The SPEAKER: It is a point of order; you are talking about the word 'axing' again. I ask you to remove that word.

Mr HAMILTON-SMITH: Why is the minister closing the Health and Community Services Complaints Commissioner, Ms Leena Sudano, and at what point did he lose confidence in Ms Sudano? If I can complete my explanation—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. P.F. CONLON: Point of order, Madam Speaker.

The SPEAKER: Another point of order. Minister.

The Hon. P.F. CONLON: For the benefit of the member for Waite, to state that the minister has lost confidence in Leena Sudano is—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. P.F. CONLON: When you're done.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. P.F. CONLON: To state that the minister has lost confidence is pure comment and is disorderly. He has made no attempt to make his question orderly.

Mr HAMILTON-SMITH: Madam Speaker, I will rephrase the question.

The SPEAKER: Member for Waite, I would ask you to sit down and look at your question and you can ask it later.

Mr HAMILTON-SMITH: I am ready to go, Madam Speaker. Has the minister lost confidence—

The SPEAKER: No, you will sit down for now. Member for Morialta.

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