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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, Second Session (54-2)
2020-09-24 Daily Xml
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Public Transport Privatisation

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS (West Torrens) (14:13): My question is to the Minister for Transport and Infrastructure. Can the minister confirm that on 18 August 2020, Ms Wendy McMillan, the President Australia and New Zealand of Bombardier Transportation, wrote to Mr Ken Patterson, the probity officer for the ARTP program—

The Hon. D.C. VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN: Point of order, sir.

The SPEAKER: The Minister for Energy and Mining on a point of order.

The Hon. D.C. VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN: I did wait a bit after 'can the minister confirm', but I think the member has gone way too deep into providing facts without seeking leave.

The SPEAKER: I uphold the point of order. The member for West Torrens may seek leave to introduce facts.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: I will. She wrote to Ken Patterson, probity officer—

The SPEAKER: Before you proceed, member for West Torrens.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: I seek leave, sir.

Leave granted.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: On 18 August, Ms Wendy McMillan, President Australia and New Zealand of Bombardier Transportation, sent an email to Fergus Gammie, Anthony Ward and Kyffin Thompson, BDO probity officer, asking for an inquiry and independent review into the probity of the process to privatise South Australia's trains.

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD (Gibson—Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Minister for Recreation, Sport and Racing) (14:14): Thank you very much. I thank the member for the question—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: I note that the email was sent to about, I don't know, four or five people. None of them were sent to me, so how would I know what emails other people—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: I don't know what world you are living in.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: Seriously, no—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order, members on my left!

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: Mr Speaker, I don't know what happened in the Gillman deal.

Mr Szakacs interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order, member for Cheltenham!

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: I don't know what happened there, and I'm not sure how deep his fingers got in that process. But I tell you what, when there is a procurement process I don't get my hands in that. There is a competitive tender process. The right protocols and policies are put in place, and I am very, very serious about this. You might get your hands in the Gillman process. You might do that. That might be your operation.

The SPEAKER: Order! The minister will direct his remarks through the Chair. I am sure the minister's intent was clear. I remind the minister of the importance of directing his remarks to the Chair. Does the member for West Torrens rise on a point of order?

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Yes, sir, I do. Personal reflections. I ask him to withdraw his accusations about having fingers in the pie.

The SPEAKER: The member for West Torrens will be particular about that—

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Yes, sir.

The SPEAKER: What is the particular reflection?

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: The minister accused me of having my fingers in the pie in the Gillman deal.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! I have not heard a reflection in those terms. I will not ask the minister to withdraw. The Minister for Education rises.

The Hon. J.A.W. GARDNER: Yes, thank you, sir. I heard the member for Lee call a member on this side a goose. It is unparliamentary to refer to any member as an animal.

The SPEAKER: Member for Lee—

The Hon. S.C. MULLIGHAN: Guilty as charged, sir. I withdraw and apologise.

The SPEAKER: The Minister for Infrastructure and Transport.

The Hon. C.L. WINGARD: Thank you, sir. To finish my answer, and again just to go through the detail for those opposite, I don't know how they operated when they were in government, but again there was a competitive tender process. Following the procurement act, an independent probity adviser was attached to this process. Under the act, of course, a written report is provided. The Auditor-General sees that before the contract is signed, and then the Auditor-General provides comment at the end of the day, but it is tabled in this place. The process is really clear.

I stress again: I'm not sure what the member for West Torrens did when he was looking after deals, certain deals—who knows what went on when he was there—but that is the process. That process was followed. He keeps referring to an email to people who are not me. If he's got an email, please forward it to me. But, at the end of the day, I go back to the process—a competitive tender process with people given the opportunity to put their best foot forward. They did do that. The contract was awarded. If someone was not happy that they didn't get the contract, then they are happy to receive feedback from the department.

The SPEAKER: Before I call the member for West Torrens, I call to order the Minister for Energy and Mining. I call to order the member for Mawson and the member for Cheltenham. I call to order the member for Elizabeth. I call to order the member for Kaurna, the member for Lee, the member for West Torrens and the leader. The member for West Torrens seeks the call.

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