SHARED SERVICES

Mr GRIFFITHS (Goyder) (14:54): My question is to the Treasurer. Is the Treasurer now the minister responsible to the parliament for all matters linked to shared services? The Public Service Association has revealed details of a briefing with Under Treasurer Jim Wright that a new organisation called Shared Services SA will be established to carry out the whole-of-government administrative functions within the Department of Treasury and Finance, which reports to the Treasurer.

The Hon. K.O. FOLEY (Port Adelaide—Deputy Premier, Treasurer, Minister for Industry and Trade, Minister for Federal/State Relations) (14:55): What a boring question!

Members interjecting:

The Hon. K.O. FOLEY: Well, it was announced in the budget. Last week we were getting criticised for not delivering the shared services savings, and today members opposite are suggesting that we are being too harsh; that we are cutting too deep; that we are being too efficient. The Liberal Party walks both sides of the fence. If I put my hands over my eyes, I would see a bunch of old socialists sitting over there, not a modern reformers party, like us.

An honourable member interjecting:

The Hon. K.O. FOLEY: We have only young ones over here! A big streak of red goes through the benches on the other side! The Minister for Finance is responsible for shared services. The Under Treasurer reports to the Minister for Finance on matters relating to shared services. As Treasurer, obviously I have overall responsibility for budget integrity, but the matter is an aligned responsibility of the Minister for Finance. It was actually outlined in the budget and has been known since the budget was brought down. You must read the budget papers, and you must listen to what is said at budget time. It is not a difficult concept. I accept that the opposition wants to walk both sides of the fence, but in this case it cannot say one thing one week and the opposite the next.