19 August, 2026
The Hon. R.A. SIMMS (18:22): I rise to indicate that the Greens are also not in favour of this select committee. We did consider the proposal, but we formed the view, as the Hon. Mr Gumbys has outlined, that there is no evidence to substantiate the creation of such an inquiry here in South Australia. Indeed, any members of the community who have such evidence really should be referring that on to relevant law enforcement authorities rather than through the parliamentary committee process. This does feel like it is trying to import Victorian politics into a South Australian context. I can understand why One Nation would do that, because the cupboard is bare when it comes to policy announcements, but I really do not think that we need to be mining Victorian politics for these ideas.
I know that honourable members in One Nation will say that this is about accountability and transparency. With all due respect, being lectured on accountability and transparency by One Nation is a bit like being lectured by Scott Morrison on empathy. I mean, really they do not have any idea. Might I say that in their first test in this place they sided with the Labor government to prevent releasing a business case into the North Adelaide Golf Course, so they really are not a political party that is able to lecture others on transparency or accountability.
Might I say we do already have a parliamentary committee that investigates government spending priorities. I know the Hon. Mr Bernardi is new here, but I would encourage him to consider the Budget and Finance Committee. There is an opportunity to go along to that committee. The Hon. Sarah Game, the Hon. Heidi Girolamo, the Hon. Ben Hood and I are members of that committee. There is an opportunity to scrutinise government projects and to ask questions of relevant government departments. It is open to every member of this place. We do not have to create select committees to look at interrogating government spending. We all have the opportunity to do it through our existing standing orders. It is for those reasons that we will not be supporting this particular committee.