House of Assembly - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2023-05-03 Daily Xml

Contents

Local Government Elections

Mr TELFER (Flinders) (14:51): My question is to the Minister for Local Government. Has the minister received a briefing from the Electoral Commissioner on the investigations into allegations of electoral fraud in the City of Adelaide local government elections?

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Point of order, sir.

The SPEAKER: There is a point of order from the member for West Torrens.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Point of order 97 says that the member may not offer any facts except by leave of the house. He has assumed there is an investigation, and there are other facts within his question.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! I have the point of order under 134. It is a matter of fine judgement as to whether the question contemplates or introduces facts. In any event, I am going to give the member the opportunity to rephrase the question.

Mr TELFER: Thank you, sir. My question is to the Minister for Local Government. Has the minister received a briefing from the Electoral Commissioner in relation to the City of Adelaide local government elections?

The Hon. G.G. BROCK (Stuart—Minister for Local Government, Minister for Regional Roads, Minister for Veterans Affairs) (14:52): I thank the member for Flinders. To answer the question, I have not had a personal explanation on the Adelaide City Council elections. I said a minute ago that the Electoral Commissioner is independent. As for the member's question about concerns, I do not know of any confirmed irregularities with that, other than what I am reading in the paper. Certainly, if I do hear of anything I will be only too happy to include the shadow minister in any findings I may have. At this stage I have not had a meeting with the Electoral Commissioner, but that is coming up in the next week or so.