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Legislative Council - Fifty-Third Parliament, First Session (53-1)
2014-08-06 Daily Xml
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Residential Tenancies Tribunal

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS (14:45): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the minister representing the Minister for Business Services and Consumers questions on the subject of an appointment to the Residential Tenancies Tribunal.

Leave granted.

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS: More than three years ago I asked the former minister questions in relation to the appointment of former Labor candidate in the federal seat of Adelaide in 1998, Ms Karen Hannon, to the very lucrative position of presiding member of the Residential Tenancies Tribunal, which at that stage had a salary of $257,000 a year plus a car. At that stage, I asked a series of questions based on information that had been provided to me which indicated that Ms Hannon had applied and been interviewed to be just a member of the panel and the panel had determined that she was not suitable even to be a member of the tribunal; and that a member of the panel was actually a member of the former attorney-general's own staff in his office.

I also indicated and, indeed, asked a series of questions in relation to whether minister Gago had intervened in ensuring that not only did Ms Hannon become a member of the tribunal but also became the presiding member of the tribunal. I also asked a series of questions in relation to the work output of the preceding presiding member, Pat Patrick, and the work output of the new presiding member between the period October 2010 and May 2011. Other than personal abuse, which the minister resorts to when she is in difficulty, more than three years later I have still not received answers to the questions that I put to the minister. So, my questions are now directed to the new minister. Can the new minister indicate:

1. Is it correct that prior to 2010 Ms Hannon applied to be a member of the Residential Tenancies Tribunal, was interviewed by a properly constituted panel and was not successful in her application to be a member of the Residential Tenancies Tribunal?

2. Did former minister Gago personally intervene in any way in relation to the appointment of Ms Hannon to be a member of the tribunal and ultimately to be the presiding member of the Residential Tenancies Tribunal?

3. Will the minister now indicate, in answer to questions, as to the number of hearings the previous presiding member, Pat Patrick, participated in in each of the financial years 2007-08, 2008-09 and 2009-10?

4. How many hearings did Ms Hannon preside in in the period between October 2010 and May 2011, when I first asked this question?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Employment, Higher Education and Skills, Minister for Science and Information Economy, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Business Services and Consumers) (14:48): I will refer those questions to the appropriate minister in another place and bring back a response.

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