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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, First Session (54-1)
2018-11-27 Daily Xml
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Handley, Mr N.

The Hon. S.C. MULLIGHAN (Lee) (15:02): My question is to the Minister for Industry and Skills. What criteria did the minister use in appointing Mr Nicholas Handley to the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB)?

The Hon. D.G. PISONI (Unley—Minister for Industry and Skills) (15:03): I am pleased that the member has asked me that question because it is a new way of appointing somebody to the CITB—someone who actually has experience and skills in the training industry. It's a new thing. It didn't happen. Of course, we remember the independent chair who was appointed by the previous government—the former member for Reynell—the independent chair with no experience in vocational education and training and an ASU member, I think, prior to being a member of parliament, but never a minister in training or skills.

Mr Duluk interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Waite can leave for half an hour under 137A.

The Hon. D.G. PISONI: The facts are—

The SPEAKER: One moment, minister. I have allowed you 30 seconds to warm up. I am listening quietly to the answer.

The honourable member for Waite having withdrawn from the chamber:

The SPEAKER: Members on my left have surprisingly been very well behaved for the answer thus far.

The Hon. D.G. PISONI: The facts are that Mr Handley is well qualified to meet the criteria for—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. D.G. PISONI: —the ministerial appointment into that position, unlike many of the—

Ms Stinson interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The minister has the call, member for Badcoe.

The Hon. D.G. PISONI: —many other members of the board—

The Hon. A. Koutsantonis interjecting:

The SPEAKER: I have asked the minister to come to the substance of the question. He is being interjected, member for West Torrens. The minister has the call.

The Hon. D.G. PISONI: —that the minister was forced to appoint on many occasions, particularly those from the trade union movement whose only experience in vocational education training is being on the board of the CITB. That's the only experience they have in that training space. Mr Handley has worked—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Criteria, yes.

The Hon. D.G. PISONI: —consistently with training organisations as an adviser in the area and has very strong credentials when it comes to the fiduciary duties—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. D.G. PISONI: —of members of boards. One of the things that I identified as the minister is that the board needed some governance assistance.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. D.G. PISONI: Combined with the experience—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The minister has the call.

The Hon. D.G. PISONI: —that Mr Handley has in working with vocational education organisations as an accountant, understanding the costs involved in running these organisations, understanding the challenges that they have in delivering skills here in South Australia—

The Hon. L.W.K. Bignell interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Mawson can leave for half an hour as well.

The honourable member for Mawson having withdrawn from the chamber:

The Hon. D.G. PISONI: —and, of course, having a very strong understanding of the responsibilities of being a member of a government-appointed board that's answerable to legislation, so that the board itself understands what its responsibilities are due to the legislation set out in the board, Mr Handley is well qualified for that role. It's just a pity that we haven't seen previous ministerial appointees under the previous government given the same due diligence as was given to Mr Handley. I am very pleased that Mr Handley accepted the position of ministerial appointee.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. D.G. PISONI: The reason they are so upset—

The SPEAKER: Order! The minister's time has expired.

The Hon. D.G. PISONI: —is because he's holding them to account.

The SPEAKER: Thank you, minister.

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