House of Assembly - Fifty-Third Parliament, First Session (53-1)
2014-05-21 Daily Xml

Contents

Legislative Council President

Mr MARSHALL (Dunstan—Leader of the Opposition) (14:25): My question is to the Minister for Regional Development. In line with his commitment to reassess his support for the minority Labor government if serious maladministration or corruption is uncovered, does he support referring the allegations against the President of the other place to the Royal Commission into Trade Union Governance and Corruption?

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Mount Gambier is warned a first time for forced laughter. The Deputy Premier.

The Hon. J.R. RAU (Enfield—Deputy Premier, Attorney-General, Minister for Justice Reform, Minister for Planning, Minister for Housing and Urban Development, Minister for Industrial Relations) (14:25): Thank you, Mr Speaker. I didn't realise I had risen in such a humorous fashion, but I will—

The SPEAKER: You did this morning.

The Hon. J.R. RAU: Thank you; thank you very much. I will attempt to carry on in a similar vein, if I may. First of all, the federal royal commission is something that has been established by the federal government and will proceed according to its own lights. It is not for us to direct the commission, nor, might I add, to impede the commission.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. J.R. RAU: Can I just finish, please? The really good bits are coming—the good bits are coming. Mr Speaker, it is not for us—those of us assembled here today—to be telling the federal royal commission what to do. We are not in a position to direct them, and the government has resolved that in the event that we are able to assist them in any way, we will; we will cooperate with them. We will be entirely cooperative with them, as indeed all other state governments have indicated they will be.

We intend to be no different, Mr Speaker—absolutely no different—and I can tell you that the government has so resolved. So, there won't be any impediment from our point of view, but we do not direct the royal commission. The royal commission conducts itself according to its terms of reference and I expect it will continue to do so.