Legislative Council - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, First Session (54-1)
2019-11-27 Daily Xml

Contents

Medical Cannabis

The Hon. T.A. FRANKS (15:02): Supplementary: the minister managed to name one company, which was LeafCann. I understand there are more and would appreciate further details on all of them. With regard to LeafCann, my question was specifically about what South Australian government support has been given to this industry, particularly with regard to LeafCann, which now employs the former case manager—the state government's own Office of Industrial Hemp and Medicinal Cannabis' case manager—as one of their employees, and boasts on their website that they have acquired state government property.

My questions are: how did that come about, what property have they acquired, and what measures have been taken to ensure that the department's trust for all the other players in the industry is not harmed by LeafCann now employing the former single point of contact for this industry?

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY (Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment) (15:03): I thank the honourable member for her question. Yes, Mr Martyn England is employed now by LeafCann. I know some statements have been made in relation to the protection of IP and the confidentiality of any of the matters that Mr England may have been working on while he was working for the South Australian government so, in fairness to the member, in giving an accurate answer, I will take that on notice and provide her with the details.