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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2023-02-21 Daily Xml
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Torrens to Darlington Project

Mr TARZIA (Hartley) (14:28): My question is to the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport. What agency resources were used at the weekend public forum regarding the Torrens to Darlington project? With leave of the house, sir, I will explain.

Leave granted.

Mr TARZIA: On 18 February, the ABC revealed that the member for Badcoe hosted a public forum on Saturday regarding the Torrens to Darlington project.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS (West Torrens—Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Minister for Energy and Mining) (14:28): I hope the member for Badcoe was ably assisted by my department, as she should be. All members of parliament, if they wish to hold community information sessions briefing the public on the government's agenda, I would be happy to send my departmental officials along. In fact, in my 25 years—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for Badcoe!

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: —in the parliament, I have never heard of an opposition complaining about a government engaging with its constituents.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for Florey!

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: I mean, it really is a first. Of course the member for Badcoe is holding public engagements, as is the member for Elder, as are most members in the parliament—

Ms Stinson: You should try it.

The SPEAKER: Member for Badcoe!

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: —and when they ask for departmental briefings, they get them. And I will also point out that members opposite call chief executives directly on occasion, and I have also noticed that members opposite call me directly with their concerns—as they should. That's the whole point. The whole point of this place is that members of parliament advocate on behalf of their constituents and, when there are massive infrastructure spends or compulsory acquisitions using very, very strong government powers, that those constituents could have the decision-makers and the regulators and the bureaucrats in a room answering their questions. What's wrong with that? It's called democracy. That's exactly the point. I don't condemn the member for Badcoe; I congratulate her.

Mr Tarzia: Not the media; don't let the media in.

The SPEAKER: Member for Hartley!

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: In questions of when constituents are coming along to talk about personal matters in relation to the acquisition of their homes, of course media are not present. Of course they're not—and nor should they be, because we're talking about some very private information. When you invite people along who are directly impacted by compulsory acquisitions and roadworks, they're entitled to talk to people without the scrutiny of having the media there. Why? People can ask questions, they can identify themselves and say that they're impacted and have these questions. I also point out that it's important that we do this, and it's important that we do this regularly.

I also point out that there were many occasions when the previous government held public consultations and locked out the media, including me. I had a very famous case at the North Adelaide Football Club, where the then member for Adelaide, of blessed memory, Ms Rachel Sanderson, was holding a so-called public meeting into the land tax affair. I turned up and was told, 'I'm sorry, you can't enter and neither can the media.'

Members interjecting:

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: The member for Hartley says, 'That's outrageous.' I also understand he held similar forums where the media weren't allowed in either.

Mr Whetstone: You're a dodgy looking character, that's why.

The SPEAKER: Member for Chaffey!

Mr Tarzia: No.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Not true?

Mr Tarzia: They just call me direct.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: They just call you direct? Okay.

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Of course we consult with communities, and of course I make my department available—as they should be. Members, whether they are members of the government or not, have good access to ministers and good access to decision-makers and the bureaucracy, as they should.

When it comes to these matters in the constituencies of members of parliament, I am happy to offer members full briefings, I am happy for them to have access to the bureaucracy, and I am happy for them to hold public meetings and have the bureaucracy come along and answer questions honestly. It's important that we get the honest answers out, because sometimes all that is left is the political—what's the word I'm looking for here—meringue.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: —that they beat up.

The SPEAKER: Order!

An honourable member: A melange.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Melange. I don't know the Spanish term, but I'll refer to my dictionary.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! I see the member for Hartley. Before I call the member for Hartley, the member for Badcoe is on two warnings. The member for Chaffey remains in breach of standing order 131 and would do well to inform himself of the contents of that standing order.

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