Legislative Council - Fifty-Second Parliament, First Session (52-1)
2010-09-14 Daily Xml

Contents

BURNSIDE COUNCIL

The Hon. S.G. WADE (14:54): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for State/Local Government Relations a question about Burnside council.

Leave granted.

The Hon. S.G. WADE: On 22 July 2009, 14 months ago, the Minister for State/Local Government Relations issued a press release announcing the Burnside council inquiry. In that release she stated:

While no evidence of corruption was uncovered among preliminary information gathered by my department, should any become apparent it will be immediately referred to the SAPOL Anti-Corruption Branch for it to investigate.

This statement reflects the fact that the independent investigator has no power to prosecute. I ask the minister:

1. Can she assure the council that the investigation proceeded in accord with her undertaking?

2. Will she advise the council whether any and, if so, how many matters have been referred to the police during the investigation?

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) (14:55): It may have escaped the attention of the honourable member, but I have actually not yet received a report. I have put that on the record here on numerous occasions. I have not received a copy of the report; I have not been briefed on the contents of the report; I do not know what is in the report. In terms of the matters the honourable member has referred to, they stand on record as stated and, until I have the final report before me with the relevant information—and I do not know what the report may or may not contain—I am unable to make any relevant referrals.