Legislative Council - Fifty-Second Parliament, First Session (52-1)
2010-07-01 Daily Xml

Contents

BURNSIDE COUNCIL

The Hon. S.G. WADE (14:30): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for State/Local Government Relations a question relating to the investigation into Burnside council.

Leave granted.

The Hon. S.G. WADE: On 27 August 2009, the minister announced that the government would be making the investigation into Burnside council exempt from requests made under the Freedom of Information (Exempt Agency) Variation Regulations 2009. At the time the minister claimed this was an interim step to facilitate the investigation. My questions are:

1. When does the interim period referred to in her statement of 27 August conclude?

2. Given the need for openness and accountability, will the government commit to repealing regulation 7, contained within the Freedom of Information (Exempt Agency) Variation Regulations 2009, when the investigation is concluded?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for State/Local Government Relations, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Consumer Affairs, Minister for Government Enterprises, Minister for the City of Adelaide) (14:31): I thank the honourable member for his question. My understanding was that the provisions were put in place only as an interim arrangement. In terms of the exact conclusion date, I will have to take that on notice and bring back a response, because I do not have that detail. That obviously deals with the second part of the honourable member's question as well.