Legislative Council - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, Second Session (54-2)
2021-06-09 Daily Xml

Contents

Adelaide Convention Centre Gala Dinner

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Leader of the Opposition) (14:21): Supplementary in relation to the answer given: in any of the material, including any invitations that were sent out by email or posted, was there any reference to it being a Liberal Party fundraising event?

The Hon. J.S. LEE (14:21): People who actually come to a dinner know that I am a Liberal member of the Liberal Party; therefore, they know that they are coming to a Liberal Party function. When they go on and pay for the tickets, the receipts come from the Liberal Party of South Australia. If that is not enough to say that it is a Liberal Party function—it's a private function, sir, and the opposition needs to know better. I never questioned the Hon. Emily Bourke, who is not in the chamber today, but I saw a Facebook posting—

The Hon. K.J. MAHER: Point of order, sir.

The Hon. J.S. LEE: Just hold on a minute. I can answer however I wish—

The PRESIDENT: I don't need the point of order. The assistant minister will resume her seat. It is against the standing orders to reflect on whether someone is absent in this chamber or not, but I understand the context. I will let the assistant minister continue.

The Hon. J.S. LEE: Thank you, sir. What happened is that I saw that Facebook posting. There was an honourable member in this place who actually hosted a particular fundraiser for the Labor candidate Lucy Hood. In those photos were members from the Labor Party, including the opposition leader, who was there. I never then asked the questions: was it a fundraiser? Was it a fundraiser organised by the Labor Party? To put that in context, each political party can organise their functions, and it is in the knowledge of the fact that we have carried the organisation in accordance with the rules and there is nothing wrong with it.