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Legislative Council - Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2)
2012-02-29 Daily Xml
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TOURISM COMMISSION

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS (14:26): I have a supplementary question arising out of the original answer. Given the claim in relation to legal costs was made at approximately 8.30 this morning, is the minister indicating to this chamber that no member of her office sought clarification of that issue from the Tourism Commission this morning?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, Minister for Forests, Minister for Regional Development, Minister for Tourism, Minister for the Status of Women) (14:26): The information that we acted on this morning was in relation to some comments on radio from Michael Pengilly, stating that the SATC were paying for legal advice during a government investigation. We sought clarification of that. Members will recall that I have already placed on record in this place the fact that the Crown Solicitor's Office provided legal advice to me in relation to the South Australian Travel Centre for the granting of a licence.

As Crown was advising me as minister at the time it would be completely inappropriate for Crown to also provide advice to the SATC. I am advised that it was at the request of the SATC board that the Crown Solicitor then granted approval under the Treasurer's Instruction 10 for the SATC board to obtain independent legal advice throughout this process. That was in relation to the investigation of Crown into conflict matters and suchlike, which I have already reported on in this place. They were the matters that we sought to clarify this morning after statements made by Michael Pengilly MP on radio.

We were advised that the terms of that approval included the hourly rate that may be charged, and it was consistent with the relevant rate published by the Crown Solicitor's Office which it is on its website. I am advised that this was a decision that was made by the board and it was considered to be appropriate, given that Crown was investigating the government's request—in fact, it was the former minister—and it would be, as I said, most inappropriate for SATC to be receiving advice from Crown as well as being investigated by Crown. I understand that there have been fees paid to date in relation to that investigation, and some further invoices are still pending.

The Hon. R.I. Lucas: Is that $290,000?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: No, I cannot confirm that at all. In fact, the advice I have is that the associated legal fees paid to date are approximately $145,000.

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