House of Assembly - Fifty-Third Parliament, First Session (53-1)
2014-10-28 Daily Xml

Contents

Kerin, Dr Paul

Ms CHAPMAN (Bragg—Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (14:57): My question is to the Treasurer. Could the Treasurer, then, explain to the house when he first became aware that an application under freedom of information had been served on the board of ESCOSA for the purposes of the disclosure of the letter and, under the rules which require the minister responsible to be given notice of a determination for disclosure or rejection, when he first became aware of that?

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): There's a letter from Mr Walsh to me on 26 June telling me that Mr Kerin's letter of resignation was the subject of a freedom of information application, and it was subject to an internal review. I said, 'Okay, it's a process for ESCOSA; nothing to do with me or the government.' I pointed out this morning on radio, and I've pointed out at a press conference, and I'll point it out to the parliament, that the process here is that ESCOSA is independent of government.

Mr Marshall: Not according to the letter in the paper today.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Well, Mr Speaker, we don't appoint the chief executive of ESCOSA; the board do. We play no role in his appointment.

Mr Pisoni interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Unley is warned for the second and final time.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: If the member for Unley wants to ask me a question, get up and ask me a question and I'll answer it.