Ombudsman Wayne Lines confirms he is investigating Attorney-General Vickie Chapman

The state ombudsman has confirmed he is investigating SA’s besieged Attorney-General as the Premier reveals what it would take for him to step in.

Premier Steven Marshall says he will take action against his deputy premier, Vickie Chapman, if an ombudsman investigation into her conduct finds her guilty of wrongdoing – but he does not believe it will come to that.

Ombudsman Wayne Line confirmed on Friday he was investigating Ms Chapman, who is also the Attorney-General and planning minister, in relation to her rejection of a proposal to build a seaport on Kangaroo Island.

Deputy premier Vickie Chapman in Question Time Thursday. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe

However, Mr Marshall on Friday said he was confident the ombudsman would not return any adverse findings against the under-siege Attorney-General, whom he said continues to enjoy his “100 per cent support”.

“Let’s see what comes from the investigation and what recommendations are made but if we need to take action, well, of course we will,” he said.

“But I just don’t think that that will be the case.”

A parliamentary committee on Thursday referred the matter to the ombudsman for further investigation after its own inquiry found Ms Chapman had an actual and perceived conflict of interest, breached the ministerial code of conduct and on three occasions misled parliament in relation to the port proposal.

The Attorney-General, who has repeatedly insisted she had no conflict, owns a rental property across the road from a forest that would have been felled under the mooted seaport plan.

Mr Lines, who has greater powers of inquiry than the committee, is now himself looking into whether Ms Chapman had a conflict of interest or breached the ministerial code of conduct.

He is also investigating the role and responsibility any other public officer, including the premier, played in relation to Ms Chapman’s decision.

Mr Lines said no timeline had been set for the completion of his inquiry but he would be presenting his findings to parliament once finalised.

South Australian Ombudsman Wayne Lines. Picture: Tait Schmaal

It comes as Speaker Dan Cregan on Friday morning presented Governor Frances Adamson with a no-confidence motion passed against Ms Chapman during a chaotic day in parliament on Thursday. The motion asks the Governor to sack the Attorney-General from cabinet.

Lower house ministers are expected to resign when a no-confidence motion is passed against them but Ms Chapman is defiantly refusing to stand down.

By convention, the governor has no authority to revoke the commission of an individual minister unless they receive advice to do so by the premier.

“The governor can seek my advice at any point in time and she’s not so my advice on this,” Mr Marshall said.

Ms Chapman declined requests from The Advertiser for comment.

While Ms Chapman’s position appears to be safe at present, she is still facing the prospect of being suspended from parliament.

The committee’s inquiry recommended she publicly apologise and be suspended from the lower house for nine days.

Parliament will consider those recommendations on November 30.

Originally published as Ombudsman Wayne Lines confirms he is investigating Attorney-General Vickie Chapman