Question Time

Government Consultants

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY (Leader of the Opposition) (14:19): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Leader of the Government a question about government policy on consultants' out-of-pocket expenses.

Leave granted.

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY: I have been delivered some leaked documents, and it has come to my attention—

The Hon. K.J. Maher interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: The Hon. Mr Maher, the honourable Leader of the Opposition has the floor: can you please let him ask his question?

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY: Thank you for your protection, sir. In particular they relate to Mr Göran Roos, who at the time I think was the chair of the Advanced Manufacturing Council. Looking at yesterday's Auditor-General's Report it indicated that he may have been paid nearly $75,000 a year for that role. Mr Roos was on the Invest in South Australia board, and his company, Intellectual Capital Services, has been made significant amounts of money for consultancy services to the South Australian government.

It is interesting to look at the copy of some of the invoices. I will not trouble the chamber with all of them, but one relates to $202.69 for dry cleaning. Another interesting one, for a dinner with Mr Roos and his wife and Ms Erma Ranieri, and I assume her husband or another E. Ranieri as well, was in excess of $300. Also it is interesting to note that a book was purchased, called Integrative Production Technology for High-Wage Countries, for a total of $522.60 for that book.

The Hon. R.L. Brokenshire: For a book?

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY: For a book—$522.60 for the book. The interesting one is for Vlado's, a charcoal grill in Richmond in Victoria, where Mr Roos had two dinners totalling $186 (so that is $93 per dinner) and one bottle of red wine at $98. But the interesting item for South Australian taxpayers would be the $50 tip he provided to that company and then claimed it back. My questions to the minister are:

1. What is the government policy on out-of-pocket expenses for consultants?

2. Is there a cap on the expenses?

3. Is spending $202.69 on dry cleaning, $520.60 on a book and $50 on a tip at a dinner something that the minister sees as being a wise and prudent use of taxpayers' funds?

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) (14:22): I thank the honourable member for his questions and will take them on notice and bring back a response.