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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, Second Session (54-2)
2021-05-26 Daily Xml
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Grievance Debate

Zou, Ms S.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS (West Torrens) (15:35): Well, there were some very interesting revelations in question time today, especially from the Minister for Trade and Investment. Let's be clear about this: we asked him a series of questions today and, when we got close to the point where we wanted some answers from him, the government would not let him answer.

He is relatively junior—fair enough, I accept that—but I have to say that when you ask a minister, 'Were you informed at the meeting you were at whether the people who had organised the meeting had registered the people you were meeting as clients?' and he would not answer, would not tell us whether he was told, and you have to ask why.

Let's face it: Sally Zou is a colourful identity in the Liberal Party. There are rumours that she wrote out a cheque—or she did write out a cheque—to the value of the Premier's birthday numerically. There are rumours that she turned up to his house with a brand-new Land Rover as a gift. These have all been denied, but here is the minister in Robe meeting with Sally Zou and discussing the lobster industry, the beef industry. Of course, Ms Sally Zou has two companies that are involved in this. We also understand that that event was hosted by Sally Zou, paid for by Sally Zou—

The Hon. C.L. Wingard interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Minister!

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: —and the minister was invited by Pyne and Partners, a consultant, to be there, but he will not answer questions about whether or not he knew that the organisers who were hosting him at that event were registered as clients of the lobbyist who invited him. What does that tell you about probity?

The Hon. V.A. Chapman interjecting:

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: 'It's a stupid question,' the Attorney-General says. We have Christopher Pyne in the South-East meeting with a minister, inviting him to a function paid for by Sally Zou, to talk about lobster and beef exports. What is Sally Zou's company involved in? Surf and turf, a bit of surf and turf.

These are easy questions to answer by the minister: either he knew or he did not. If he did not know, then explain why he did not know; if he did know, explain and declare it to the house. He chose none of those options: he chose silence. Instead, he chose for the Attorney-General to stand up in his place and simply say, 'I refer you to my previous answer,' which is the way you cover up for junior ministers who might have gone on a bit of a wander on their own on the weekend, a bit of a wander down the path of perhaps trying to raise some money for the Liberal Party.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Perhaps to help out, donate for a mate, trying to help out someone—

The Hon. C.L. Wingard interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The minister is called to order.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: —who perhaps has a lot of influence in the Liberal Party through their donations. This is not the end of the topic, but the beginning of the topic.

I want to finish on Port Bonython. I have to say that I was pretty surprised with the response from the minister regarding Port Bonython because we had the Department for Energy and Mining in the Budget and Finance Committee and they were asked directly about whether or not they had a requirement for Port Bonython as a hydrogen hub.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: When we directly asked Dr Heithersay this question, he responded quite directly that there was no requirement for the successful tenderer of the expression of interest for Port Bonython to build anything with hydrogen. The plan is hope—hope that someone will build something with hydrogen.

What is even more concerning is the involvement of the minister today, saying that one company is in the box seat. He even went on to say that it was ahead in its expression of interest. Well, how would the minister know that? Why are ministers commenting on open processes while they are underway? The appropriate answer would have been: the government has put out an EOI, these are our criteria for the EOI and we invite companies to tender and put their best foot forward, not say, 'Oh, the company in the box seat is H2U.'

I asked the minister today: 'Had H2U put in any unsolicited bids for land?' His response was that he did not know. We will wait and see what the answer is to that because if they have, and given his comments today, well, that is a scandal.

Time expired.

The SPEAKER: Before I call the member for Flinders, I warn the Minister for Trade and Investment, I warn the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport for a second time and I warn the member for Reynell.

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