PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURES

Mrs REDMOND (Heysen—Leader of the Opposition) (14:55): Could I ask a question of the Premier, please. In light of the federal government's recent changes to their procedures in the house, can the Premier indicate whether he will adopt similar standards for himself and his ministers and actually answer the questions that are asked.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. P.F. CONLON (Elder—Minister for Transport, Minister for Infrastructure, Minister for Energy) (14:56): Yell at Adrian again. I like that. I don't think the Leader of the Opposition should pick on poor little Adrian.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The Minister for Industry and Trade will be quiet.

The Hon. P.F. CONLON: As the leader of the house, I take my position in this honourable institution extremely seriously, but can I say it sits ill in the mouth of those who would be sticklers for the procedures of this house to be, I think, the rowdiest opposition I have ever heard. The chorus—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. P.F. CONLON: And there they go again. As I try to make a reasoned point, there they go again. The chorus of interjections—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. P.F. CONLON: I will offer this to the opposition—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. P.F. CONLON: I am trying to make a reasonable offer, for I am a reasonable man. I will offer this—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. P.F. CONLON: And they are the sticklers for the standing orders—I can't get a word out! I am a quiet fellow and they take advantage of my very good nature. I will make—

An honourable member interjecting:

The Hon. P.F. CONLON: For goodness sake, I will make an offer to you if you can cease for a moment. I am quite happy to take to our caucus a consideration of those changes in standing orders. I may even recommend them to them, on this basis: that you promise, all of you, to observe the standing orders as they stand yourselves, because you take advantage of the good nature of myself and the Speaker by your constant interjections. Can I say, it would not be so bad if there was a moment of wit just once in one of them; something to leaven the mess. But I would be quite happy to take the suggestion that we limit answers to four minutes. That would be—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. P.F. CONLON: One of the standing orders that we do have at present is that you do not interrupt the speaker unless according to the standing orders. So, I am quite happy to consider the mote in our own eye if you will consider the beam in your own.