OPPOSITION STAFF APPOINTMENTS

The Hon. K.O. FOLEY (Port Adelaide—Minister for Defence Industries, Minister for Police, Minister for Emergency Services, Minister for Motor Sport, Minister Assisting the Premier with the Olympic Dam Expansion Project) (15:21): International Women's Day, and the performance of the Leader of the Opposition today is grubby, grubby, grubby.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. K.O. FOLEY: Madam Speaker, let's talk about a few appointments opposite. I have been treasurer and I have some corporate history and knowledge of what has occurred opposite. If you want to talk about probity and appointments, positions advertised, the leader of the upper house, David Ridgway, came to me—I remember it—he said, 'Kevin, can I have a chat to you?' He said to me, 'Kevin, I can't attract a good enough staff member for me as leader of the upper house on the salary that I'm allocated as the leader of the upper house. Mate'—mate—'can you do me a favour? Can you offer more money? Can I get about another $10,000 additional to the salary so I can get a better person?'

I know what it is like to be in opposition. It was reasonable, and I thought, 'Well, I don't know whether Isobel's onto this or not, but that is something for the Libs to worry about,' so I agreed to it, and we reclassified that position. From memory, I also did a similar thing for Mr Lucas when he was shadow finance minister—from memory—some years ago. Then, who do we find that they appoint? One Hendrik Gout.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. K.O. FOLEY: And members opposite are laughing. Now, let's have a look at probity.

Mr Venning: You are going to attack a staffer.

The Hon. K.O. FOLEY: You led with it—

Mr Venning: A new low.

The Hon. K.O. FOLEY: You led with it, you so and so. Hendrik Gout was writing for The IndependentWeekly and he wrote week in, week out attacks on the government. What promise was Hendrik Gout on from the Leader of the Opposition in another place? What promise was he on about a paid salaried position and, indeed, an increased paid position?

If you want to come into this place and attack a hardworking economics adviser to the Premier, you will get it back in spades, because I reckon that was dodgy and shoddy. Had the member of the upper house said to me, 'I want to employ Hendrik Gout,' I would have said, 'You would have got him for half the price.' That is what he would be worth. He is one of the most useless journalists I have ever come across. I want to know: was he on a promise from Mr Ridgway? If you want to—

Mr Pederick: When you want it done, you let us know.

The Hon. K.O. FOLEY: Oh! I'll talk about the shadow whip, who came to me wanting a car—a white, chauffeur-driven car—that is what the shadow whip wanted, and you reckon the deputy leader and the member for Davenport didn't go crackers when I told them about that one. He was negotiating, behind your back, with me to get a white, chauffeur-driven car. That is what that member was doing. I want you all to know that. I spoke to your deputy leader and shadow treasurer and they were gobsmacked and put an end to it. So, if you want to talk about grubby dealings, I have plenty to say.

There is a lot more of that that goes on because, if you really want to get down and get dirty and attack staff, I will be more than happy to talk about the sorts of requests I had from members opposite for perks and lurks, and quite inappropriate requests, over the past nine years of my time as treasurer.

Mr Venning: How personal do you want to get?

The Hon. K.O. FOLEY: Exactly.

Mr Venning: Well, I've got plenty on you.

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. K.O. FOLEY: I look forward to it. It will all be lies.

Mr Venning: You know I know.

The Hon. K.O. FOLEY: It will all be lies.

Mr Venning: We were together years ago, remember?

The SPEAKER: Order, the member for Schubert! You will have an opportunity to speak after.

The Hon. K.O. FOLEY: What, when I offered you the opportunity to be a minister in a Labor government?

The SPEAKER: Order, the Treasurer!

Mr Venning: You were working for Lynn Arnold and I was advising, at a social function. That'll do.

The Hon. K.O. FOLEY: Give it a break, Ivan.

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. K.O. FOLEY: Do you want to talk about the deal I did for your wife with her car?

The SPEAKER: Order! Treasurer, get back to your speech.

The Hon. K.O. FOLEY: If you want to throw it, I will give it all back in spades.

Time expired.