Business SA joins calls for Water Minister Ian Hunter to be sacked over angry, foul-mouthed tirade

BUSINESS SA has joined calls for besieged Water Minister Ian Hunter to be sacked, saying it has complained to Premier Jay Weatherill’s office about his past behaviour.

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BUSINESS SA has joined calls for besieged Water Minister Ian Hunter to be sacked, saying it has complained to Premier Jay Weatherill’s office about his past behaviour.

As Mr Weatherill continues to stick by Mr Hunter amid claims of a foul-mouthed tirade directed at Acting Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce and others in an Adelaide restaurant last week, it has emerged that a federal assistant minister has lodged a written complaint about the incident.

The Premier told The Advertiser since receiving the complaint he had “counselled” Mr Hunter and warned him to watch his language in future.

However, Mr Hunter would not be removed from the ministry.

Mr Hunter late on Sunday said he was “sorry” for using “very strong language” during the meeting on Thursday night but refused to stand down from the ministry.

But he later told a community forum that if the Federal Government reneged on promises for the River Murray he would “probably say the same thing again — sorry Premier”.

Water Minister Ian Hunter is snared by the media as he enters the Whyalla Football Club for a country Cabinet meeting on Sunday night. Picture: Matt Loxton

Business SA chief executive Nigel McBride has also claimed last week’s spray, in which Mr Hunter was accused of repeatedly telling state and federal ministers to “f*** off”, came after an industry meeting about a year ago from where the “emotional loose cannon” also stormed out.

Mr McBride said the meeting attended by himself, his staff and Mr Hunter was called to discuss complaints that the State Government was competing unfairly against private businesses.

The meeting lasted seven minutes before Mr Hunter “stormed out”.

“He then got up when I kept asking him questions about why this was happening and stormed out saying ‘I won’t be cross-examined!’, leaving our member and my policy team stunned,” Mr McBride has told The Advertiser.

“I called (Mr Weatherill’s chief of staff) Dan Romeo and strongly raised my concerns about this kind of behaviour but got no response or follow up.

“SA deserves ‘responsible ministers’ who are actually responsible. This means you need have to somebody as minster who is highly credible, not an emotional loose cannon.”

Mr McBride said he feared Mr Hunter’s conduct would hurt the state’s ability to conduct serious negotiations and ensure it got the full benefit from national water agreements and other deals.

“It’s time for him to be replaced with someone that can work credibly at national levels,” Mr McBride said.

“I’ve had robust discussions with other ministers in this State Government, they’ve had a level of professionalism that one should expect.

“That isn’t my experience with Mr Hunter, and his behaviour demeans his fellow ministers and the office that he holds.”

Asked about the alleged restaurant outburst, Mr Weatherill on Saturday said Mr Hunter was simply “standing up for SA” and there would be no further action without a complaint.

In a letter sent to Mr Weatherill on Sunday, SA Liberal Senator and Agriculture and Water Resources Assistant Minister Anne Ruston said she was concerned at the “flippant attitude”.

“I further express serious concern with your seemingly flippant attitude regarding the recent behaviour of (Mr Hunter) ... which I witnessed on the evening,” Senator Ruston writes.

“Your lack of action ... does not befit your office and is a failure to uphold ministerial standards.”

Mr Weatherill said after receiving Senator Ruston’s letter he asked Mr Hunter to apologise.

“He’s agreed to do so,” Mr Weatherill said. “What’s appropriate is his sentiment, but not his language.”

Mr Hunter conceded his behaviour was “inappropriate” but said he “felt very strongly at the time”.

“I’m only human and occasionally our standards slip,” he said.

Independent Senator Nick Xenophon said he had cordial relations with Mr Hunter and that the River Murray agreement must be delivered to ensure the health of the critical system for SA.