SUSTAINABLE BUDGET COMMISSION

Mr HAMILTON-SMITH (Waite—Leader of the Opposition) (14:41): I have a supplementary question. If, as we have just heard the commission has been appointed and will start its work in the near future, why can't the Sustainable Budget Commission make recommendations on tax increases or budget cuts before March 2010 and why can't the Treasurer take action sooner to rectify his government's finances?

The Hon. K.O. FOLEY (Port Adelaide—Deputy Premier, Treasurer, Minister for Industry and Trade, Minister for Federal/State Relations) (14:41): I mean, this is an embarrassing set of questions.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. K.O. FOLEY: We have maintained our AAA credit rating: mission accomplished. We set out to save that credit rating, and we have done it. The rating agencies are pleased with our work. I have been upfront and said that the commission's work will start post 2010 in time for the 2010-11 budget. To do an exercise in savings before an election, when we may not be in government, when we do not know what the economic environment will be next year, and we are at least if not in a recession we will be in a very serious period of economic downturn over the next 12 months—it is not the right time to be downsizing.

That question that he just asked really should have been the substance of his speech to the parliament today in criticising and putting forward an alternative vision. All it was today was bluster and invective and accusations of corruption.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

Ms CHAPMAN: We have heard several times already in question time about how it is not sticking to the point of what the question is about.

The SPEAKER: The Deputy Premier must avoid debate and stick to the substance of the question. The Deputy Premier.

The Hon. K.O. FOLEY: I just say again that this government, through its eight budgets, has demonstrated a fiscal discipline that no government has been able to provide this state with for the last 20 or 30 budgets. I had a bit of a laugh when I heard Stephen Baker on the radio the other morning—Stephen Baker, who survived for years and then hopped on a plane and went to the Philippines. That was the robust nature of Stephen Baker.

The Hon. P.F. Conlon: They sacked him.

The Hon. K.O. FOLEY: Well, they did. They sacked him. They thought so much of him, they sacked him as deputy leader.

The Hon. P.F. Conlon: With Ingo.

The Hon. K.O. FOLEY: Yes, then Ingo went by the bye.

An honourable member interjecting:

The Hon. K.O. FOLEY: Exactly; you could always rely on Ingo to help us out, as he did last Friday. The leader has not had much fun with his addresses in reply. He gave a speech to a business audience last Friday and was upstaged by—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The Deputy Premier must stick to the substance of the question. I think the Deputy Premier has finished. The member for Mawson.