LAW AND ORDER ISSUES POSTCARD

Ms CHAPMAN (Bragg) (15:06): My question is to the Premier. When the ALP state secretary appears before the caucus to explain his authorisation of the distribution of a postcard to South Australians last week, will he be required to address: one, why he ignored Australia Post guidelines to use the ALP's address for receipt of mail for Isobel Redmond; and, two, whether he plans to issue more mail pieces as part of Labor's dirty tricks campaign?

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The question is out of order on a number of grounds. For one, it is hypothetical, hypothesising that there may be a court appearance.

Ms Chapman: Caucus.

The SPEAKER: Caucus. I beg your pardon. I am sorry. I thought you said when he appears before court. Could the member for Bragg bring up the question so that I could have a look at it, please?

The question certainly contains debate. I think it is beyond what any minister might be responsible for; however, given that the member for Bragg has put it in the public sphere, I will allow the Deputy Premier the opportunity to respond.

The Hon. K.O. FOLEY (Port Adelaide—Deputy Premier, Treasurer, Minister for Industry and Trade, Minister for Federal/State Relations) (15:08): The reason I am answering this question is because I was acting chair of Tuesday's caucus meeting and it was my idea. I thought it was a sensible thing to do. Fancy us being accused of dirty tricks after the email forgery and after—

The Hon. P.F. Conlon: Catch Tim.

The Hon. K.O. FOLEY: Yes.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. K.O. FOLEY: The member for Bragg when she was president of the Liberal Party was part of the most—

Mr WILLIAMS: I rise on a point of order, Mr Speaker. The Deputy Premier is clearly debating the question.

The SPEAKER: Given that the question clearly and specifically accuses the Labor Party of engaging in a dirty tricks campaign, I think it is not at all unreasonable for the Deputy Premier to be given fair scope in responding to the question.

The Hon. K.O. FOLEY: Under Catch Tim the then president of the Liberal Party concocted a convoluted scheme designed to hide from public—

Ms CHAPMAN: Point of order, Mr Speaker: I am happy to give a personal explanation on this, but this has been to the Electoral Commissioner and we were completely exonerated as a party, so don't try—

The SPEAKER: As the member for Bragg says, she can give a personal explanation. The Deputy Premier.

The Hon. K.O. FOLEY: All I will conclude by saying is that there were many aspects of the then president's (the member for Bragg) tenure as president of the Liberal Party when it related to fundraising, and we will be more than happy to share those with the parliament in the months ahead.