House of Assembly Fifty-Second Parliament, First Session (52-1) 52 1 Parliament of South Australia House of Assembly published Question Time Treasurer's Remarks TREASURER'S REMARKS The Hon. I.F. EVANS House of Assembly Davenport TREASURER'S REMARKS The Hon. I.F. EVANS (Davenport) (14:27): My question is to the Treasurer. Given the Treasurer received briefings during the caretaker period on GST revenues and the Chilean earthquake aid funding, both financial matters, and these briefings were also provided to the opposition, why has it not— The Hon. P.F. CONLON House of Assembly The Hon. P.F. CONLON: Point of order: the opposition persist today with something they were doing yesterday. Standing order 97 requires any explanation to be made with the leave of the house. Starting a question with 'given' and then going on to an explanation before you ask the question does not absolve you from the standing orders. The Speaker House of Assembly The SPEAKER: Yes, I certainly uphold that point of order. The first two questions were worded differently from yesterday but, member for Davenport, can you please keep that in mind and get to your question. The Hon. I.F. EVANS House of Assembly The Hon. I.F. EVANS: I will change the question, Madam Speaker. Can the Treasurer explain to the house why the Treasurer receiving briefings during the caretaker period on GST revenues and the Chilean earthquake aid funding is appropriate, while the Treasurer receiving a briefing on the Adelaide Oval costing blowout during the caretaker period is not appropriate? The Hon. K.O. FOLEY House of Assembly Port Adelaide Deputy Premier Minister for Federal/State Relations Minister for Defence Industries The Hon. K.O. FOLEY (Port Adelaide—Deputy Premier, Treasurer, Minister for Federal/State Relations, Minister for Defence Industries) (14:28): That is a very simple answer, because they are two different issues. Members interjecting: The Speaker House of Assembly The SPEAKER: Order! Members will listen to the Treasurer in silence. The Hon. K.O. FOLEY House of Assembly The Hon. K.O. FOLEY: The development or redevelopment of Adelaide Oval is a policy of this government which the Liberal Party had said they would disband should they win office. The Hon. P.F. Conlon House of Assembly The Hon. P.F. Conlon: I don't think they were opposed to GST payments. Mr Williams interjecting: The Speaker House of Assembly The SPEAKER: Order, the member for MacKillop! The Hon. K.O. FOLEY House of Assembly The Hon. K.O. FOLEY: It is appropriate, in my judgement, that matters such as that in terms of briefings to government should cease during the period of an election campaign. The Hon. I.F. Evans House of Assembly The Hon. I.F. Evans: You were having a briefing. The Hon. K.O. FOLEY House of Assembly The Hon. K.O. FOLEY: I'm sorry? Brief who? The Hon. I.F. Evans interjecting: The Hon. K.O. FOLEY House of Assembly The Hon. K.O. FOLEY: In matters relating to the finances as they impact on this government, I took the view that it would be inappropriate for those matters—and that was also the view of other advisers— Mr Williams House of Assembly Mr Williams: Will you table that advice? The Speaker House of Assembly The SPEAKER: Order! There is one question at a time. If the member for MacKillop has a question, he can wait in line. The Hon. K.O. FOLEY House of Assembly The Hon. K.O. FOLEY: In the matter of the GST, in terms of advice to me as Treasurer at the time, my recollection is— Members interjecting: The Speaker House of Assembly The SPEAKER: Order! The Hon. K.O. FOLEY House of Assembly The Hon. K.O. FOLEY: That was a matter for the Under Treasurer to decide— An honourable member House of Assembly An honourable member: Let him take the fall. The Hon. K.O. FOLEY House of Assembly The Hon. K.O. FOLEY: The fall? The Speaker House of Assembly The SPEAKER: The Treasurer will get on with his answer to the question. The Hon. K.O. FOLEY House of Assembly The Hon. K.O. FOLEY: It was a decision of the Under Treasurer to advise me of the impacts on the state. The Under Treasurer's advice to me—and ultimately it was my decision; I could have not done so—was that I should share that with the shadow minister, given the very nature of the advice as it affected government finances. Mrs Redmond interjecting: The Hon. K.O. FOLEY House of Assembly The Hon. K.O. FOLEY: No, because, by your own public policy position, should you have won government you were going to scrap the project. The Adelaide Oval redevelopment would have no impact on your finances, because you were not going ahead with it. I can't see the point. Members interjecting: The Speaker House of Assembly The SPEAKER: Order!