Parliamentary Procedure

STANDING ORDERS SUSPENSION

Mr HAMILTON-SMITH (Waite—Leader of the Opposition) (15:16): I move:

That standing orders be so far suspended so as to allow me to move a motion without notice to bring on a debate on the River Murray and the failure of both federal Labor and state Labor governments to protect South Australia's interests through its intergovernmental agreement on the Murray-Darling Basin signed on 3 July 2008.

The SPEAKER: There being an absolute majority of members present, I accept the motion. Does the leader wish to speak to the suspension motion?

Mr HAMILTON-SMITH: Yes, sir. Two weeks ago, I challenged the Premier to debate me in any place at any time, but in particular on Adelaidenow, about the crisis besetting the River Murray and our water security. The Premier refused to debate me in the media. He refused to debate me publicly. He refused to stand up for his government's record on its intergovernmental agreement. At the time, he said, 'I will debate this issue in parliament.' He said, 'If Mr Hamilton-Smith as Leader of the Opposition wants to bring this to the house, I will accommodate the debate. We will hold the debate. Parliament was the place; parliament was the time.' I am doing what the Premier asked.

Not only that, I am glancing at the daily program, and I note that the government has no business whatsoever scheduled for this afternoon. The last item appearing on the Notice Paper is a grievance debate. They have run out of things to do. They have run out of bills; they have run out of things to discuss. I put to the house that this is the time and this is the place. I remind the house that, in seeking its support for this debate, this is the No. 1 issue on the agenda for South Australians at the moment.

I think it is pretty evident from the last few days that they are worried about their water security, desalination plants, stormwater plants, wastewater recycling, but, most importantly of all, they are worried about the River Murray from which, at the moment, over 90 per cent of the city's water is being drawn. This is the time and this is the place to debate this issue.

If the government does not support this motion, it is running away from its commitment to the people of South Australia, and the Premier will be running away from his public undertaking to have a debate. If the government is concerned about a lack of notice, I make this point. I spoke to the Premier before the commencement of question time today (over an hour ago) and signalled to him that I would be seeking to suspend.

I made public statements two to three hours ago, indicating to the government that we would be seeking to make this debate today. It was notified in the morning press. This should come as no surprise to the Premier or the government. This is the time, this is the place and this is the issue. The house has time available to it. The Premier has agreed to hold the debate. I say to the house: let us do it now and let us get this matter addressed.

The Hon. K.O. FOLEY (Port Adelaide—Deputy Premier, Treasurer, Minister for Industry and Trade, Minister for Federal/State Relations) (15:21): The Leader of the Opposition approached the Premier at the beginning of question time to say that he would be seeking a suspension of standing orders. Let us see it for what it is: it is a stunt.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. K.O. FOLEY: Of course, the leader did so well in New South Wales the other week that Barry O'Farrell told him to nick off. He is around the place saying that we should bang heads together, tell the commonwealth, tell New South Wales. What do we find? Barry O'Farrell sent him out of his office with his tail between his legs. Get real for once! We will not change the order of business, sir.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The Deputy Premier has the call.

The Hon. K.O. FOLEY: The government will not change the order of business.

Ms Chapman: I thought you all wanted to go home.

The SPEAKER: Order! The Deputy Leader of the Opposition will come to order.

The Hon. K.O. FOLEY: I have no intention of making a further contribution if I am going to be shouted at. Do you want to hear my response and then decide how you will react to it?

Mr Williams interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The member for MacKillop will come to order.

The Hon. K.O. FOLEY: The government is the controller of business in this place. The Leader of the House or, in my case, the Acting Leader of the House will decide when we will do business. We are more than happy to allow the opposition to have its 30 minutes of debate at the conclusion of today's business.

Ms Chapman: Well, do it now.

The Hon. K.O. FOLEY: We will do grievances—because that is the order of business—then, if there is no other legislative material, we will allow the opposition to have its half hour. That is a fair response from the government.

Mr HAMILTON-SMITH (Leader of the Opposition) (Waite) (15:23): I will exercise my right of reply.

The SPEAKER: Order!

Mr HAMILTON-SMITH: Well, sir, read standing order 401.

The SPEAKER: Order! The Leader of the Opposition.

Mr HAMILTON-SMITH: Thank you, Mr Speaker; you should read the standing orders. Mr Speaker, there is no business after grieves today. There is no business. In fact, we are set to go. This is nothing but a sham from the government. This matter must be discussed now. It must be debated now. There is no need to proceed with grieves. The Deputy Premier knows it. He should agree to the suspension, otherwise be exposed as running away from the debate.

No government business is scheduled. We want to debate the Murray. If the government is serious about it, let us get on with it, but let us not prevaricate or delay further. No-one on this side of the house wants to grieve, sir. I would be surprised if there is anyone opposite whose grieve is more important than the crisis facing the River Murray. If the government thinks that there is, let it be judged accordingly.

There is no issue that could be grieved that is more important that the issue I am putting to the house today. The government should accept the debate. We should get on with it and go ahead with the debate—otherwise, the government will be judged accordingly.

The house divided on the motion:

AYES (13)

NOES (22)

PAIRS (6)

Majority of 9 for the noes.

Motion thus negatived.