Legislative Council - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2023-09-14 Daily Xml

Contents

SA Parole Board

The Hon. F. PANGALLO (15:06): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking a question of the Attorney-General about the Parole Board.

Leave granted.

The Hon. F. PANGALLO: I have viewed the list of members of the current Parole Board and noticed the appointment of a new deputy member, Mr Gregory Mornington May, the former Legal Profession Conduct Commissioner.

As I have revealed in this place, but have never received a satisfactory response from the previous Attorney-General, the Full Court found on 10 August 2017 in Viscariello v Legal Profession Conduct Commissioner (2017) SASCFC 98 that Mr May had breached section 17 of the Public Sector (Honesty and Accountability) Act on multiple occasions. One breach carries a significant financial penalty and a jail term. In doing so, Mr May was also in breach of the Public Sector's Code of Ethics and conduct. My questions to the Attorney-General are:

1. Can he come back to the chamber and tell us if Mr May was ever investigated for those breaches, and what determination, if any, was made?

2. Was the Attorney-General aware of these breaches revealed in the Full Court judgement, and is he concerned about them?

3. How did Mr May get a paid part-time appointment to a board which determines whether a person who has broken the law and has gone to jail is released on parole?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Attorney-General, Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector) (15:07): I am happy to take that on notice and confer with my colleague the Minister for Corrections, who is responsible for the parole system in South Australia, and bring back a reply for the honourable member.