Women's Information Service

This speech is a personal explanation regarding the Women's Information Service.

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK: In relation to a supplementary question that I asked, which was whether the shadow minister had been invited to the event, reason being because I thought that was appropriate and, through interjections, I revealed that I had not been invited. My understanding was that I had not because I have not received a written invitation, in spite of the fact that the minister believes that I have. My office did check the records. In fact, my trainee went through a very sizeable box of recycled paper that had over three months' worth of correspondence, including—

The Hon. G.E. Gago interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK: —all the invitations and it certainly was not there. My trainee had received a phone call a couple of days before the event, after I had committed to being in Berri for the day, and I did also receive an email from the minister's—

The Hon. G.E. Gago: The 27th. On the 27th, she received the invitation and a follow-up phone call.

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK: I received an email from the minister's office which, I think, was a media release from the event, at which I remember being slightly ticked off because I thought I would have been interested in it. So, clearly, I did not receive an invitation.

The Hon. G.E. Gago: Well, you did—two invitations.

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK: Well, I don't consider that a phone call to my office a couple of days before an event—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK: —constitutes a proper invitation. I also think—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK: —given that the Women's Information Service has had multipartisan support from all parties—

The Hon. G.E. Gago interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK: —for 30 years—

The Hon. G.E. Gago interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK: —it is inappropriate that the shadow minister was not invited.

The PRESIDENT: The Hon. Ms Lensink should not debate the issue.

The Hon. J.S.L. Dawkins: Well, the minister did.

The PRESIDENT: Order! The Hon. Mr Dawkins should put a sock in it. We are on business of the day. Minister, let's get on with it.

The Hon. T.A. Franks interjecting:

The Hon. G.E. Gago: So, the Greens also endorse misinformation being put in parliament. The Greens also endorse—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. J.S.L. DAWKINS: Point of order: I don't know what the minister is on her feet talking about because there is no business—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. J.S.L. DAWKINS: You haven't called any business on.

The PRESIDENT: Business of the day. The honourable minister.