Legislative Council - Fifty-Second Parliament, First Session (52-1)
2011-02-09 Daily Xml

Contents

GAMING MACHINES

The Hon. T.J. STEPHENS (14:59): I have a supplementary question. The minister touched on the federal states' rights issue. The federal government has sought an opinion that obviously suits them. Is the minister going to seek advice from our crown law as to the legitimacy of the advice that the federal people are waving around at us?

The Hon. B.V. FINNIGAN (Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for State/Local Government Relations, Minister for Gambling) (15:00): Certainly I will consider all the information I need to in formulating or considering what position to put to cabinet in relation to South Australia's position. I did have a brief look when the Australian Government Solicitor's opinion was released when I was working out of the Attorney-General's office as parliamentary secretary. It was a matter of some interest to me. It obviously attracted a lot of media coverage, so I did have a quick look at the opinion, but I am not any sort of legal expert, so I imagine I would be seeking some sort of official advice from the Crown or the Solicitor-General as part of the information I will be considering.