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House of Assembly - Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2)
2013-03-05 Daily Xml
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MEMBER FOR ELDER

Mr MARSHALL (Norwood—Leader of the Opposition) (14:28): My question is again to the Premier. Following revelations that the member for Elder is working three days a week for a law firm, how will the Premier ensure that members of his cabinet do not discuss with the member for Elder matters relating to their portfolios that may present a conflict of interest for the government?

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL (Cheltenham—Premier, Treasurer, Minister for State Development, Minister for the Public Sector, Minister for the Arts) (14:28): I thank the honourable member for his question. One of the difficulties that I think exists in the public debate is the way in which those opposite, including the Leader of the Opposition, spread misinformation about these matters.

The Leader of the Opposition has taken the Ministerial Code of Conduct—a document which is on the public record—and read clause 7 and misinterpreted it. It is absolutely clear, on its face, that they are cumulative obligations, to actually involve—that you are precluded from dealing with somebody with whom you have direct dealings. You have simply misread the document, and that, I think, is—

Ms Chapman interjecting:

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: And he can turn next to him and get some expert legal advice any time he likes. I am sure—she is always prepared to proffer advice, and I am sure she will proffer advice to the Leader of the Opposition and tell him where he has got it wrong.

Mr PISONI: Point of order, sir.

The SPEAKER: Point of order, member for Unley.

Mr PISONI: You have made it very clear that speakers must address members of this house by the electorate which they represent or the position which they hold, and I believe that the—

The SPEAKER: That doesn't preclude the use of the personal pronoun and, accordingly, I call you to order. Premier.

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: Nice try; wrong again. Look, of course the way in which the code works is to preclude ministers providing information in relation to their duties, and there is a confidentiality clause that the minister has chosen to give an undertaking that he will comply with. I expect him to comply with that. The particular terms of those arrangements have been brought to the attention of the law firm in question, and I expect them to comply and assist him in complying with that code.

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