House of Assembly - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, First Session (54-1)
2019-04-02 Daily Xml

Contents

Private Legal Matters

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS (West Torrens) (14:51): My question is to the Attorney-General. Why did the Attorney-General issue a concerns notice regarding a private legal matter on a government letterhead and have it delivered by a public officer to the member for Lee?

The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN (Bragg—Deputy Premier, Attorney-General) (14:51): These issues were raised the last time we were here in the parliament, and I think I made it very clear that I did issue—

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

The SPEAKER: The member for Mawson is called to order.

The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN: —a concerns notice. It was clearly on the Attorney-General letterhead. I maintain the position that the member for Lee had made a publication which was not only reckless and inaccurate but was wrong and defamatory, and I maintain that. Unfortunately, he hasn't seen fit to remove it from the public arena, and that is his risk. I think I have 12 months to deal with it further, but nevertheless that is the position, which is very clear. It may have escaped the attention of the member for West Torrens—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN: —but about 12 months ago—

The Hon. S.C. Mullighan interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for Lee!

The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN: —I was appointed the Attorney-General. It is a position which I am proud to have accepted and which I have a high respect for. So that is the position.