Question Time

TEACHER EXCHANGE, PUGLIA REGION

Mr HAMILTON-SMITH (Waite) (15:06): My question is to the Premier. How many teachers have participated in an exchange program between Puglia and South Australia, in which years and at what cost to the South Australian taxpayers? On 29 June 2007 the Treasurer said in budget estimates—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The members on my right will be quiet.

Mr HAMILTON-SMITH: —and I quote:

A teacher exchange program between Puglia and South Australia is proposed. This program will facilitate secondary teachers from each region to receive specialist language and culture training. A bilateral operations committee will be established to manage and monitor the progress of the specific initiatives.

Has it happened?

The Hon. P.F. Conlon: Did that document come from the member for Unley?

Mr PENGILLY: Point of order, Madam Speaker: the Minister for Transport is clearly interrupting the Premier in trying to give his answer.

The Hon. M.D. RANN (Ramsay—Premier, Minister for Economic Development, Minister for Social Inclusion, Minister for the Arts, Minister for Sustainability and Climate Change) (15:06): If I were the member for Waite I would be very careful about any documents I received from the member for Unley.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! I cannot hear the Premier.

The Hon. M.D. RANN: It lost him his job last time. I have the retraction and apology that I received from the member for Waite here and I am happy to read it to the house if necessary. The thing that is important is, if they had listened to the answer that they demanded last time about the language immersion courses, they would have that answer.

The Hon. K.O. Foley interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! Treasurer, you are warned.