NEWPORT QUAYS

Mr HAMILTON-SMITH (Waite—Leader of the Opposition) (14:49): My question is for the Minister for Infrastructure. Did he and the Treasurer attend a function held on 31 January 2006 at the Newport Quays sales and information centre? The opposition has been advised that the developers of the Port Adelaide waterfront and Newport Quays management invited guests to a several hundred dollar per head cocktail party. Those who attended have advised the opposition that they were asked to write cheques to the Australian Labor Party to pay for the tickets.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The Minister for Infrastructure.

The Hon. P.F. CONLON (Elder—Minister for Transport, Minister for Infrastructure, Minister for Energy) (14:50): Have I been to a function hosted by Newport Quays? Yes, I have. I think it would be peculiar if I did not go. If somehow the implication is that they were acting this way in order to secure a $151,000 remediation contract, again, you are just beneath contempt, you are an utter grub. You have a Prime Minister who takes people into the government lodge—what's it called?

The Hon. K.O. Foley: Kirribilli.

The Hon. P.F. CONLON: Kirribilli—at five grand a head. If you want to complain about something, you might want to complain about that. I can tell you that if I am invited to a function by the developers of Newport Quays, I will probably go. When they ask me for a meeting, I will probably meet them. I point out that the chair, as I understand it, of this consortium is Roger Cook, a man appointed by your government many times, a man of the highest integrity. You slur not only me; you slur the company. The sad thing is that you do it with no reason and no evidence. You have failed utterly to make an argument to the people of South Australia, so you do what your side does: you resort to grubby slurs that are beneath contempt.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!