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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, First Session (54-1)
2019-04-30 Daily Xml
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Murray-Darling Basin Royal Commission

Dr CLOSE (Port Adelaide—Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (14:30): My question is to the Attorney-General. Given all the evidence provided to the Murray-Darling royal commission about questionable water purchases that will not contribute to environmental flows—

The Hon. J.A.W. GARDNER: Point of order, sir: this question is not in line with standing order 97.

The SPEAKER: So 97 as—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: I have the point of order. On previous occasions, minister, I have respectfully asked that I hear the entire question so that I can make a deliberation. I think I can see where this is going.

The Hon. S.S. Marshall interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Yes, Premier, I have the point of order and, despite not having the entire question, which I have asked to have been the case in the past, I will try to make a ruling. If a member is introducing a fact into the question, then there is a way and means to do that because then it leads to other issues such as me weighing into the veracity of facts without leave, so I will hear the entirety of the question. The deputy leader may want to improvise and come up with a question that is within standing orders, if it did contravene the standing orders. Thank you.

Dr CLOSE: In that case, Mr Speaker, to short-circuit, my question is to the Attorney-General. Why didn't the Attorney-General extend the timing of the royal commission, and inadequate answers previously—

The Hon. S.S. Marshall interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Premier! The Premier is called to order.

Mr Duluk interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Waite is warned.

Dr CLOSE: Why didn't the Attorney-General extend the timing of the royal commission not about the fish kills but for the extension of time that he asked for to allow for the High Court processes?

The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN (Bragg—Deputy Premier, Attorney-General) (14:31): Those matters are a matter of public record. One of them was that the charter that had been expressed in relation to the terms of reference had been completed. I think some $5½ million had been expended. I made a very clear public statement that we didn't consider the request for extension of time was appropriate in the circumstances. The role had completed—

An honourable member interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN: —and, indeed, the commissioner, in his report, outlined responses to all of the terms of reference that he had been asked, except a matter which he, early on in the inquiry—

An honourable member interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN: —completely discounted, that is, a term of reference to identify illegal activity of parties. He made it very clear in a public statement that, notwithstanding the terms of reference that had been given by the previous premier, that was not a matter that he considered he would investigate. He made that very clear. He made a public statement to that effect. He considered other agencies should be responsible for that, and he confirmed that in this final report. Ultimately, he did make—

Dr Close interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN: —a number of recommendations in respect of his assessment as to the legality, including of the water act. They are matters which the Crown Solicitor's Office are currently looking at.

The SPEAKER: The deputy leader is called to order. I will come back to her. Member for Hammond.

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