SA Deputy Premier to stand aside
Vickie Chapman will stand aside after state parliament passed a vote of no confidence in her. Photo: AAP
South Australia’s Deputy Premier and Attorney-General will stand aside from her roles after state parliament passed a vote of no confidence in the cabinet minister.
Vickie Chapman has been engulfed by conflict of interest claims after a parliamentary inquiry last week found she had repeatedly misled parliament over a rejected Kangaroo Island development application.
Ms Chapman told The Advertiser she would stand aside to allow SA Ombudsman Wayne Lines to conduct an “independent” investigation into her rejection in August of the application to build a timber port on the island.
“I maintain that I have made the right decision in respect of the KI seaport proposal and that I had no conflict of interest, actual or perceived,” Ms Chapman told The Advertiser on Monday.
On Thursday, MPs voted in favour of a no-confidence motion against Ms Chapman by 23 votes to 22 against.
It was the first time in SA political history a no-confidence motion against a sitting minister had passed in the state’s lower house.
The vote came after a parliamentary committee earlier that day tabled its report on the $40 million Kangaroo Island development application.
Ms Chapman’s family owns a rental property on the island near the rejected development and she was accused of having a conflict of interest when she made that decision.
She had told the committee she had no personal interest in any business or industry on the island.
But the committee found otherwise and recommended she be suspended from parliament for nine days and make a public apology for misleading statements about the application.
Premier Steven Marshall continues to stand by Ms Chapman, telling The Advertiser she had advised him on Sunday of her decision.
“I look forward to the conclusion of the inquiry and welcoming her back into cabinet soon,” Mr Marshall said.