House of Assembly - Fifty-Third Parliament, First Session (53-1)
2014-08-06 Daily Xml

Contents

Small Business Commissioner

Mr VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN (Stuart) (14:58): Does the minister mean then that the commissioner acted fully in his position from the commencement of the investigation back in April all the way through to his resignation?

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS (West Torrens—Treasurer, Minister for Finance, Minister for State Development, Minister for Mineral Resources and Energy, Minister for Small Business) (14:58): No. The Acting Small Business Commissioner was the Deputy Small Business Commissioner, Professor Frank Zumbo, who acted for him. I don't have the exact dates from when that commenced but I can advise that, following an investigation, and upon advice from the Crown Solicitor, there was correspondence to Mr Sinkunas setting out all the allegations about misconduct, and that afforded him the opportunity to respond. It was handed to him on 6 June.

There were some further addendums to allegations soon afterwards, and he tendered his resignation on 25 July. The exact time that Mr Zumbo began in his acting position I don't have with me here, but I will get that for you and give you the date that he was acting from.