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Legislative Council - Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2)
2013-05-02 Daily Xml
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Question Time

SOUTH AUSTRALIAN FOREST INDUSTRY ADVISORY BOARD

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY (Leader of the Opposition) (14:18): My questions are to the Minister for Forests. Is the Trevor Smith appointed by the minister to chair the South Australian Forest Industry Advisory Board the same Trevor Smith who was a former CFMEU trade union secretary, national president and organiser?

To chair the board, is the trade union mate being paid $50,000 a year as a so-called attraction and retention allowance? How many other boards that report to the minister pay their chairs or members an attraction and retention allowance? How much are these allowances individually and how much are they collectively? Are the allowances paid directly to board members or can they be paid to the members' companies, should they happen to own one?

Is the Trevor Smith recently appointed the chair of the South Australian Forest Industry Advisory Board the same Trevor Smith who is currently managing director of a company called Advisory Consulting Employment Services? Does this company operate from 10 Wentworth Place, Brompton? How big a coincidence is it that the federal election analysis commissioned by the Forestry and Furnishing Products Division of the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union is called the Brompton report, and has the minister read it?

Do Mr Smith's onerous duties on the board occupy his busy mind two working days a week, meaning that he is getting the equivalent of $125,000 a year? Is this not a bad earner for someone whose last job before becoming a trade union organiser was a storeman and tallyman? On top of this, does Mr Smith get paid $258 for a four-hour session, or part thereof, when the board sits—

The PRESIDENT: Mr Ridgway, are you getting towards the end of your question?

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY: I have almost finished, Mr President.

The PRESIDENT: There's about 15 questions there.

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY: —meaning that, if the board were to sit for four hours and 15 minutes, he would be paid $121 an hour, the equivalent of $4,856 for a 40-hour week? How do these arrangements and inducements compare with Mr Smith's tenure as chair of the forestry industry round table? Almost finally, does a trade union mate also get travel allowances and accommodation paid? Absolutely finally, is the minister ashamed of herself for this appointment?

The PRESIDENT: Minister, before I call on you—the Hon. Mr Ridgway, there was a fair bit of flexibility in there.

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY: I thank you for your latitude, sir.

The PRESIDENT: I won't take that as a precedent for other members to start asking 15 questions in one.

The Hon. T.J. Stephens interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: That's all right; I can cut down your questions, the Hon. Mr Stephens. The Hon. Mr Ridgway has asked all the opposition's questions. The Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries.

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, Minister for Forests, Minister for Regional Development, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for State/Local Government Relations) (14:20): I thank the honourable member for his questions. Indeed, it should be the Hon. David Ridgway who should be ashamed of himself. It is typical of the opposition who come into this place time and time again with all sorts of snide innuendo and seek to make all sorts of spurious associations.

The basic assertion behind some of these questions is that he does not believe that Mr Trevor Smith is capable of earning income outside of the union movement, that he does not have talents and skills that are worthy of significant remuneration. The underlying assertion that somehow an old union official could not possibly be worthy of any remuneration is just astounding. It is an astounding and obscene assumption to make, that these people do not have highly competitive and marketable skills in the general marketplace that are of high value and that people are prepared to employ them for those skills. Mr Trevor Smith is one of those people. He is a highly credentialled—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Minister, they are not interested in hearing the answers.

The Hon. D.W. Ridgway: I can't hear because there's too much noise in the chamber.

The PRESIDENT: That's because you're all talking amongst yourselves. The Hon. Ms Lensink, do you have a question?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: Thank you, Mr President: I haven't finished my answer.

The PRESIDENT: The honourable minister.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: I'm quite happy to go home early tonight. I can walk out right now.

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: I need to put on the record—there was a series of quite ugly questions that were asked that I am delighted to provide answers to. Mr Trevor Smith comes highly credentialled for this most important position. He has a longstanding background and experience in the forestry industry and is held in high regard throughout the industry.

The work he did on the round table is highly valued, again, right across the industry. He delivered extremely positive outcomes during a very difficult time and he clearly showed the skill and expertise to be able to work with a wide range of stakeholders and to deliver very specific outcomes that resulted in a significant number of conditions being added to the contract to provide certain protections for the industry. He was very skilled at brokering that and, as I said, he is highly regarded by a wide range of different stakeholders.

As I said, the South Australian Forest Industry Advisory Board will be focusing on improving economic conditions for the forest industry in South Australia and enhancing social aspects for the community as a result. Their primary tool will be to develop a blueprint.

The Hon. J.M.A. Lensink interjecting:

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: Obviously the Hon. Michelle Lensink does not care about the forestry industry in the South-East.

The Hon. J.M.A. Lensink interjecting:

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: If you stop talking and actually listen; you have not stopped rabbiting. Mr President, the honourable members do not listen; they just rabbit away over there, read their newspapers, doze off and chat amongst themselves. They do not listen to the very important answers to these questions. The future of the forestry industry in the South-East is critical to the future prosperity of this state. It is an incredibly important thing. The industry—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: The industry is facing very significant problems; the forestry industry all around Australia is facing these challenges. The opposition is completely out of touch with what is happening. These are challenges that are occurring right throughout Australia, and are related to the rate of the Australian dollar at the moment as well as cheaper products coming out of other countries and flooding international markets that have, in the past, bought from us. As I said, these issues are affecting the forestry industry right around Australia, including South Australia.

This advisory board has been established to do some very critical work in this space. It will be required to develop a blueprint for the industry's future not just for the South-East but for the whole state, but with a particular focus on the South-East. Obviously, that is where our largest forestry interests are. The board will work with organisations and initiatives that aim to further industry development, including relevant initiatives from the Limestone Coast Economic Diversification Forum, the cellulose fibre value chain study, and also the South East Forestry Partnerships Program. These are all initiatives that have also invested in the future of forestry here in South Australia.

I consider that Mr Trevor Smith's appointment as chair will bring a high level of personal leadership skills and experience that are vital to the success of this board. It is critical that his services be retained, and the proposed attraction and retention allowances are required to do this. Retention allowances have also been applied to other members; the remaining board members will be eligible for retention allowances as well.

Board members' term of office is 12 months. They have a significant job to do in a very short period of time; there is a great deal of work they are required to do. The frequency of meetings has been set, I think (and I am happy to correct the record if this is not right) at quarterly, or no more—

The Hon. D.W. Ridgway interjecting:

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: He doesn't read. It is $50,000 per annum, Mr President.

The Hon. D.W. Ridgway interjecting:

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: He is not even engaging his brain. They are appointed for one year for $50,000 and the number of sittings has been limited. If they need any further, they are required to speak to me.

In terms of Mr Smith's past associations, he was formerly a union official, something of which he is very proud. I think it is a high credential; working with the union movement is an extremely good general grounding to provide a person with a wide range of skills and competencies. I think that certainly assists him with the knowledge, skill and expertise that he brings to the table. As I said, that is highly regarded and valued.

To the best of my knowledge he is not currently employed with the CFMEU. What other positions he holds is a matter for him. As I said, I am extremely grateful that he was prepared to accept this most important position, as I am very pleased at the breadth and depth of skills that we have right across the board. I was very pleased with the mix and calibre of the membership of the board, and they have a very difficult and challenging job to do, and they will be remunerated accordingly. They have quite a challenge in front of them.

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