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Legislative Council - Fifty-Second Parliament, First Session (52-1)
2011-03-09 Daily Xml
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Question Time

DEVELOPMENT ACT

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY (Leader of the Opposition) (14:19): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the minister representing the Minister for Urban Development, Planning and the City of Adelaide a question about the Development Act.

Leave granted.

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY: Section 21 of the Development Act requires the minister on or before 31 October each year to prepare a report on the administration of the Development Act during the preceding financial year, and within six days of that report being prepared the minister must have copies laid before both houses of parliament. This is a statutory requirement under the act and is actually the law in South Australia.

There are exactly six sitting days after 31 October 2010. The report for the 2009-10 period was tabled yesterday by the new minister. It came with a covering memorandum from the chief executive, stating that the report had in fact been presented to the previous minister in the final sitting week of 2010—some weeks late. It states the previous minister did not have time to consider and table a report and that the department would put in place procedures to prevent the recurrence of this event.

An honourable member interjecting:

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY: Well, maybe that procedure was to undermine the minister and get rid of him. The tabled report was therefore considered by the new minister after his swearing in on 8 February. Under the preface, this report was signed off on his name. My questions are:

1. What were the deficiencies in the department that led to the delay and the subsequent breach of the act?

2. When was the former minister made aware of this particular breach of the act?

3. What other statutory obligations has the department overlooked under the previous minister because of these shoddy procedures?

4. What statutory obligations did the former minister not comply with because of the inadequacies now identified within the department?

The Hon. B.V. FINNIGAN (Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for State/Local Government Relations, Minister for Gambling) (14:21): I thank the honourable Leader of the Opposition for his questions. I will refer them to my colleague in the other place for a response, but I would—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. B.V. FINNIGAN: I would point out to the honourable members opposite that the Deputy Premier's predecessor in that portfolio, the Hon. Mr Holloway, was universally respected for his diligence and his administration of the portfolio. The Hon. Mr Holloway was very well respected across all sectors that are involved in that area, and I know he is committed to the utmost standards of probity and adherence.

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