Legislative Council - Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2)
2013-10-15 Daily Xml

Contents

ADELAIDE PARK LANDS AUTHORITY BOARD

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK (14:39): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before directing a question to the Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation on the subject of the Adelaide Park Lands Authority board.

Leave granted.

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK: The Adelaide Park Lands Authority's primary responsibilities include preparing and maintaining the Adelaide Park Lands Management Strategy as well as providing strategic advice to the Adelaide City Council and the state government on the management of all lands which are classified as parklands. Under section 6 of the act, the board consists of members, half of whom are elected by the Adelaide City Council and half are appointed by the state government and must be gazetted.

The three-year appointment of three board members—the late Hon. Frank Blevins, Ms Ann Sharp and the Lord Mayor of Adelaide, Stephen Yarwood—came to an end in February this year. However, I understand that individuals were nominated to these positions in February but have not been appointed or gazetted, as required under the act. This has left the authority without three board members for eight months, making a quorum difficult to achieve and transact business. My questions for the minister are:

1. Can he indicate when these appointments will be gazetted?

2. Why has it taken so long to fill these positions?

3. Is this a strategy by the government to deliberately avoid scrutiny?

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation, Minister for Water and the River Murray, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation) (14:41): I thank the honourable member for her most important questions and I can advise that the government is currently consulting with the Adelaide City Council on replacements.