WORKCOVER CORPORATION

Mr HAMILTON-SMITH (Waite—Leader of the Opposition) (14:13): My question is again to the Premier. Did the Premier's three years of indecision and failure of leadership on WorkCover put the state's AAA credit rating and financial position at risk and was the state exposed to that risk in a deliberate attempt to avoid negative personal publicity?

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! Just before I call the Deputy Premier, the question is completely out of order. I think the Leader of the Opposition knows that it contains opinion and debate, both of which are prohibited by standing orders. I can let the Deputy Premier respond, or I can perhaps give the Leader of the Opposition an opportunity to rephrase his question.

Mr HAMILTON-SMITH: Mr Speaker, I am sure that the Premier or the Deputy Premier is able to respond accordingly.

The SPEAKER: I just don't want any complaints about the Deputy Premier engaging in debate. The Deputy Premier.

The Hon. K.O. FOLEY (Port Adelaide—Deputy Premier, Treasurer, Minister for Industry and Trade, Minister for Federal/State Relations) (14:14): I think I will answer the question now, sir, and this could take 52 minutes! I have risen to talk about the AAA credit rating, because this side of the house delivered a AAA credit rating to this state. This side of the house—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. K.O. FOLEY: Sorry? What did he say?

The Hon. P.F. Conlon: They did it, we were just in office.

The Hon. K.O. FOLEY: You have got to love these guys: they did it, we just happened to be in office. That is a weird logic.

The Hon. P.F. Conlon: They built the bridges, we just happened to be in office.

The Hon. K.O. FOLEY: Yes. What would put our AAA credit rating at risk would be if I listened to the nonsense that consistently comes from the other side. What do we always hear? He wants to underground all the powerlines in South Australia—billions of dollars. They want to spend billions of dollars on roads. They want to spend billions of dollars on the health system. They are all about spend, spend, spend. No imagination or no suggestion as to where the money may come from.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. K.O. FOLEY: On spin, okay.

Ms Chapman interjecting:

The Hon. K.O. FOLEY: Well, I will tell you, I proudly support the AAA credit rating and the work this government did to get it—no thanks to the big spending, big government opposition that we have.

An honourable member: They want to spend more and cut taxes.

The Hon. K.O. FOLEY: Yes, they want to spend more and cut taxes. The Liberals have no financial credibility. They could not balance a budget in eight years.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. K.O. FOLEY: It is not rubbish.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. K.O. FOLEY: No, you did not. You used to do cash, you goose. You are a goose.

An honourable member interjecting:

The Hon. K.O. FOLEY: The member for Millicent is not very clever when it comes to finances. I am pleased that the Leader of the Opposition now says that unless we get the unfunded liability under control our AAA credit rating could be at risk. That, therefore, can only mean that the Liberal opposition will do what business has asked it to do, and that is to support the government and to—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. K.O. FOLEY: Sorry? That clearly demonstrates that the opposition will be supportive of the government. I would say to the Leader of the Opposition that, to ensure that we fix WorkCover in a very timely fashion, he actually should do what the business community has asked him to do, do what the government has suggested should be done and pass the legislation—and do it quickly.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. K.O. FOLEY: If the Liberal opposition's argument or line now is that we have taken too long to bring the legislation into the house, that may or may not be a valid criticism but, if that is their view, they should expedite the passage of this bill through the house.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. K.O. FOLEY: The Liberal opposition wants to have every position possible in a political debate, but the reality is that at some point you have actually got to state your position. If the argument is that we should have done this sooner, that may or may not be a valid criticism, but at least now back up what you are saying by supporting the legislation and expediting its way through both houses of parliament.