SA: Olsen faces no confidence motion from within

AAP General News (Australia)
12-07-1998
SA: Olsen faces no confidence motion from within

ADELAIDE, Dec 7 AAP - South Australian Premier John Olsen could face a no-confidence motion
from a member of his own party tomorrow over his controversial Motorola dealings.

Liberal backbencher Peter Lewis said an independent inquiry needed to be held into whether
Mr Olsen misled parliament over his dealings with Motorola which began when he was Industry
Minister in 1994.

Mr Lewis said there would be no choice other than to move a motion of no-confidence in Mr
Olsen in parliament tomorrow if an independent inquiry was not instigated.

"What the Premier must do is have an inquiry right now into this question of whether or not
he has misled the parliament in a way which will enable the public to have complete confidence
in him," Mr Lewis told ABC radio.

"John assures us all that he hasnt misled parliament. The public, however, say that is in
a grey area, it is at odds with what they are being told from other quarters.

"If thats the case, then the only way to clear it up is to have what they can accept as a
completely independent inquiry."

Mr Olsen had previously asked Solicitor-General Brad Selway to conduct an investigation
into the affair but Mr Lewis said that would not be satisfactory, as Mr Selway had advised Mr
Olsen about Motorola.

National Party MP Karlene Maywald, who shares the balance of power with the states two
independents, has also stated an inquiry by Mr Selway would be inappropriate.

Ms Maywald is meeting with Mr Olsen today to discuss the terms of an inquiry that would
satisfy her.

The issue centres on a side deal made with Motorola by Mr Olsen when the company opened a
software centre in Adelaide in April 1994.

Mr Olsen wrote to the company and said it would be the designated equipment supplier for a
new radio communications network, subject to normal criteria.

Motorola won a $60 million contract for a component of the network in October this year.

Mr Olsen defended himself by saying a June 1994 contract wiped out the commitment made in
the letter.

But cabinet minutes from May 1995 leaked in the past fortnight showed ministers still
believed the side deal was legally binding.

AAP scl/trm/br

KEYWORD: MOTOROLA LEWIS

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