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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, Second Session (54-2)
2021-09-09 Daily Xml
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Review of Harassment in the South Australian Parliament Workplace

Dr CLOSE (Port Adelaide—Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (14:48): My question is to the Premier. Has the Premier fulfilled all his reporting obligations in reference to his knowledge of events in December 2019. With your leave and that of the house, I will explain.

Leave granted.

Dr CLOSE: At a recent Equal Opportunity Commission report meeting at which Ms Emily Strickland appeared, I asked the question whether a victim-centric approach required the power to stay with the complainant in terms of whether or not a matter was subsequently taken to the police or formalised and whether in the event of a criminal offence it would still remain the same, that the person hearing the complaint would not need to do anything. Emily Strickland, the author of the report, answered:

If it is so serious, the person hearing the complaint may well have reporting obligations under the ICAC Act to report to the ICAC. I think that they may well need to also report matters to police.

The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN (Bragg—Deputy Premier, Attorney-General, Minister for Planning and Local Government) (14:49): I think the question of the deputy leader to Ms Strickland was actually a very important question, but in relation to the—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN: It was a very important question in the circumstances to which it applies. I am just going to explain that at the time of the incident, which is now well known—

Mr Picton interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Kaurna is warned for a second time.

The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN: Ms Bonaros contacted me shortly after.

Dr Close: This is not just about Ms Bonaros.

The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN: Well, do you want to hear the answer? Mr Speaker?

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! It is not for the Deputy Premier to respond to interjection.

The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN: Indeed, sir, I am sorry.

The SPEAKER: The Deputy Premier is entitled to be heard in silence. Interjections on my left will cease.

The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN: At the time, Ms Bonaros contacted me. I subsequently had a conversation with the Premier. Ms Bonaros had no application with the police and indicated she intended to take no further action, but was pleased if I would speak to the Premier. That occurred and the rest is well known. At a subsequent date, in fact, some several months or weeks later, there was a different direction that took place in relation to this, and the matter went to the police. So I am certainly satisfied that at all material times in December 2019—

Mr Picton interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for Kaurna!

The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN: —both the Premier and I undertook, in compliance with our obligations, reporting on those matters. It doesn't leave aside an important question that the member has asked the equal opportunity commissioner, but it doesn't apply to this case.

Dr Close interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order, the deputy leader! The member for West Torrens has the call.

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