House of Assembly - Fifty-Third Parliament, Second Session (53-2)
2017-11-29 Daily Xml

Contents

Riverbank Precinct

Mr MARSHALL (Dunstan—Leader of the Opposition) (14:15): Does the minister agree with the Auditor-General that, instead of deciding in late 2013 to continue negotiations with the Walker Corporation, the government should have gone out to test the market?

The Hon. S.C. MULLIGHAN (Lee—Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, Minister for Housing and Urban Development) (14:15): Again, I thank the leader for his question. Certainly, throughout the report, in different stages, it is made clear by the Auditor-General that he has been provided documentation which supports the fact that the government did procure external expert advice, showing that this arrangement that was entered into between the government and Walker Corporation was of value for the government and, in fact—

Mr Marshall: For the government? What about for the people of South Australia?

The Hon. S.C. MULLIGHAN: Indeed, the government, on behalf of the people of South Australia.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The members for Morialta and Unley are called to order; the member for Morialta in a previous answer, and the leader is warned. Minister.

The Hon. S.C. MULLIGHAN: As I was saying, the Auditor-General makes it clear in his report that documentation has been provided to him in the course of his investigations, which demonstrates that this was good value for government. In fact, I think the wording—and I will check this—is that the terms of the agreement was to the considerable advantage of the government, rather than, of course, the other party to the agreement, being the Walker Corporation.