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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, First Session (54-1)
2019-11-27 Daily Xml
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Matter of Privilege

Matter of Privilege

The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN (Bragg—Deputy Premier, Attorney-General) (16:09): I rise on a matter of privilege. Today, the member for Kaurna, during the grievance debate made the following remarks and I quote:

Now today, what we have learnt is another revelation of Dr McGowan lying to the parliamentary committee, this time about Liberal Party fundraisers. Last year, he was asked at his first appearance if he had attended any Liberal Party fundraisers and he said that he had certainly not attended those fundraisers. 'Certainly not' is what he said.

Mr Deputy Speaker, I have to hand page 108 of the Legislative Council record of the Budget and Finance Committee of 23 July 2018, and I will of course provide a copy of the same. On that day, amongst other things, as you will see on the page, the Chairperson asked:

The CHAIRPERSON: Have you yourself attended Liberal Party fundraisers in the lead-up to the election?

Dr McGOWAN: Not that I recall.

I suggest that it is clear from this question—and you have the view of the whole of the transcript relating to that matter, Mr Deputy Speaker—that the election referred to is the March 2018 state election. That, of course, is also supported by the fact that you will see from the questions raised in that committee that they relate to the appointment of Dr McGowan obviously post the March 2018 election, when there had been a change of government.

The member for Kaurna has made the allegation under privilege that Dr McGowan has lied to the parliament, referring to a fundraiser Dr McGowan allegedly attended prior to the March 2014 state election, making the allegation that this is inconsistent with the evidence that Dr McGowan provided to the Budget and Finance Committee. I suggest that the member for Kaurna has then misrepresented both the question and response at the Budget and Finance Committee.

Accordingly, I suggest that the member for Kaurna has deliberately misled the parliament not only to have the reputational damage to Dr McGowan but, most importantly, for the purposes of any consideration of a prima facie case to support the establishment of a privileges committee, that has been information that tends to impede or obstruct the house in the discharge of its duties.

Clearly these are serious allegations. They are inconsistent with the material that was presented. Bits of information have been conjoined for the purposes of, I suggest, deliberately misleading the house with the direct consequence of impeding or obstructing the house. Accordingly, I seek that a prima facie case is established and a privileges committee be considered to be appointed for the purpose of consideration of this most serious matter.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Attorney, I will be referring this to the Speaker, obviously. If you are happy to table or bring forward whatever documents you have that are relevant to this I will ensure that the Speaker gets them for consideration. Thank you.

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