TREASURER'S REMARKS

Mr WILLIAMS (MacKillop—Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (15:57): My question is to the Treasurer. Given that the Treasurer in his ministerial statement this morning admitted that he realised on Friday 28 May that he had made inaccurate statements to the house and the public, why did he not make his public statement correcting the matter until Wednesday 2 June, the same day and time as the opposition briefing from the Stadium Management Authority; and did Leigh Whicker contact the government or any departmental officer about the opposition's briefing on Wednesday 2 June in relation to the Adelaide Oval upgrade indicating that, if asked the question when he first notified the government of the cost blowout, he would not tell a lie?

The SPEAKER: I think there were two questions in that, Deputy Leader.

The Hon. K.O. FOLEY (Port Adelaide—Deputy Premier, Treasurer, Minister for Federal/State Relations, Minister for Defence Industries) (15:58): That is a very serious allegation. What I can say to the house is that I have no doubt that my office or officers of government and, through them, my office were advised, and I think it might have even been a matter of public knowledge that the opposition were meeting with the SMA.

Mrs Redmond: That Leigh Whicker said he wouldn't tell a lie?

The Hon. K.O. FOLEY: Leigh Whicker said he wouldn't tell a lie?

Mrs Redmond: Wouldn't lie if asked about the cost blowout, and you were notified.

The Hon. K.O. FOLEY: I never spoke to Mr Whicker about this matter.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. K.O. FOLEY: I can certainly say that, to the best of my knowledge and understanding—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. K.O. FOLEY: To suggest that there would be some conspiracy between myself and/or my office and Mr Whicker over this issue is a poor reflection on members opposite. As I said, this had nothing to do with Mr Whicker or the SMA: it was a matter of my honesty and my integrity. When I was made aware of the issue, I resolved on that Friday morning with my staff, and I think even with members of the Premier's staff—I can't be exactly sure on that, who we spoke to and when—to notify the parliament at the first opportunity, and—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The Deputy Premier is answering your question.

The Hon. K.O. FOLEY: The protocol is that the parliament be shown the respect of being notified at the earliest opportunity and, to be frank, Madam Speaker, I was deciding as to when I should do it. As I have said publicly, as events transpired, particularly with radio interviews and such by Mr McLachlan, that the issue of who, when and how, under that discussion publicly, it was in the public interest that I notify ahead of time—some three weeks or so, I think, prior to the parliament—of my error and the honesty in that error, and it had nothing to do in terms of what the member just advised.