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Legislative Council - Fifty-First Parliament, Second Session (51-2)
2008-05-07 Daily Xml
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FLEURIEU PENINSULA SWAMPS

The Hon. SANDRA KANCK (15:01): I seek leave to make an explanation before asking the Minister for Environment and Conservation a question about processes surrounding a report on the Fleurieu Peninsula swamps.

Leave granted.

The Hon. SANDRA KANCK: In 2006 a three-person steering group was set up to commission a report by a hydrologist and an ecologist about buffer zones for pine forests in relation to the Fleurieu Peninsula swamps. The members of the steering committee were Michael Deering of DWLBC, Roger Hartley of PIRSA and, very surprisingly, a private forester, Mr Peter Bulman, the executive officer of Mount Lofty Ranges Private Forestry.

Documents I have obtained under freedom of information have revealed that $25,000 of taxpayer funding was allocated to the process, with half to be from DWLBC funds and half from PIRSA funds. At a meeting held between the three steering committee members in June 2006 it was decided that 'an independent eco-hydrologist be selected from a list of suitable candidates to undertake this work, reporting in the first instance to Peter Bulman'—who was, I remind the minister, a private forester. Further research reveals that at least one of the two consultants was ultimately paid by cheque from Mount Lofty Ranges Private Forestry. I assume that this company would, in turn, have sought a refund of that amount from the department. My questions are:

1. Why was a private forester put in charge of the steering committee which commissioned this report?

2. Was the minister advised of this particular administrative arrangement? If so, did it meet with her approval?

3. At what point was approval given, and by whom, for the spending of $12,500 of departmental funds on this report?

4. Can the minister provide other examples within her portfolio where a private company has been responsible for disbursement of taxpayer funds?

5. Has Mount Lofty Private Forestry sought a refund for payments made for this report? If so, when did this occur and how is the payment documented in the departmental financial records?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Environment and Conservation, Minister for Mental Health and Substance Abuse, Minister Assisting the Minister for Health) (15:03): I thank the honourable member for her questions. I am aware that this committee was functioning at one time, but I do not have the level of detail about which the member has inquired. However, I am happy to take those questions on notice and bring back a response.

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