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House of Assembly - Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2)
2012-11-15 Daily Xml
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HANDSHIN, MS M.

Ms CHAPMAN (Bragg) (14:55): Thank you, Madam Speaker—my lucky day. My question is to the Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation. Does the minister accept that section 14B of the Environment Protection Act creates legal obligations regarding persons who can be appointed to the board of the EPA and that in particular an appointee under subsection (5)(f) must have both qualifications and experience in both management generally and public sector management? Has the minister received any advice to the effect that the appointment of Ms Mia Handshin does not satisfy those requirements?

The Hon. I.F. Evans: The advice he received from Peter Malinauskas was, 'Appoint her or else.'

The Hon. P. CAICA (Colton—Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation, Minister for Water and the River Murray, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation) (14:56): No, I don't think that's correct. I thank the honourable member for her question. Quite simply, as I have said to this house and outside this house, Mia Handshin was appointed in accordance with the act. She is—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. P. CAICA: Well, she is an outstanding appointment. The only part of her CV, as was succinctly said yesterday, that you don't like is the fact that she is a former Labor Party candidate. What she—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. P. CAICA: What she—

Mrs Redmond interjecting:

The Hon. P. CAICA: Well, she's more qualified than you to do the job you're doing, but the other thing is this: she has an inordinate amount of qualifications—a vast amount of qualifications. She is highly qualified to do this job. She will be a great asset—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. P. CAICA: —to the reform process that this government has undertaken with respect to the EPA. I am very proud of the fact that she has been appointed to this job, and I wish—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. P. CAICA: Sorry, I think I heard the voice from the man who doesn't like women; that's another reason some of them over there mightn't like her appointment.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

Mr GARDNER: Point of order, Madam Speaker: 127, clear personal reflection.

The SPEAKER: Minister—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! Minister, get back to the question.

The Hon. P. CAICA: Yes. So, Madam Speaker, I am very confident—in fact, I know—that everything that has been done—

Mr MARSHALL: Point of order: 98, relevance. The question specifically asked whether the minister has received any advice on this matter—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! Thank you.

Mr MARSHALL: —and I am happy to read it again—received any advice to the effect that the appointment of Mia Handshin does not satisfy those requirements. That is the substance of the question.

The SPEAKER: Alright, thank you. The answer to the question is relevant to the question. I cannot direct the minister to answer the question in the way you wish it to be answered in every question. As long as the answer is relevant to the question, the minister can answer as they choose. Minister, would you like to wind up your answer?

The Hon. P. CAICA: I will do my best, Madam Speaker. I was wondering what the member for Norwood's job was in this place; now I have just found out: to not follow the discipline of the Leader of Government Business. But, Madam Speaker, she was appointed in accordance with the act under the criteria that's available. She's highly qualified—

Mrs Redmond: No, she isn't!

The Hon. P. CAICA: She is highly qualified to do this job, and I am very pleased—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. P. CAICA: The advice that I have received seems to be advice from people opposite that we haven't done it in accordance with the act—and we have.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! If you want to have an argument, please go outside the chamber or you will be sent out.

Mr Marshall interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! Member for Norwood, order!

The Hon. P. CAICA: What an idiot, Madam Speaker!

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! I did not head that. Order!

The Hon. P. CAICA: Madam Speaker, I apologise and withdraw the fact that I called—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. P. CAICA: —the member for Norwood an idiot. I withdraw and apologise for referring to the member for Norwood as an idiot.

The SPEAKER: Thank you. Member for Torrens.

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