House of Assembly Fifty-Second Parliament, First Session (52-1) 52 1 Parliament of South Australia House of Assembly published Question Time Question Time Uranium Enrichment URANIUM ENRICHMENT Mrs REDMOND House of Assembly Heysen Leader of the Opposition URANIUM ENRICHMENT Mrs REDMOND (Heysen—Leader of the Opposition) (14:20): My question is to the Minister for Mineral Resources Development. Did the minister consult the Premier or the Premier's office before announcing his support for uranium enrichment in South Australia? The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS House of Assembly West Torrens Minister for Mineral Resources Development Minister for Industry and Trade Minister for Small Business Minister for Correctional Services URANIUM ENRICHMENT The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS (West Torrens—Minister for Mineral Resources Development, Minister for Industry and Trade, Minister for Small Business, Minister for Correctional Services) (14:21): It is interesting that the Leader of the Opposition says that there are divisions in the government— Members interjecting: The Speaker House of Assembly The SPEAKER: Order! The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS House of Assembly The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: There is no question in my mind, and I think the mind of every person in this chamber, that uranium and its mining will be the cornerstone of this state's prosperity— Mr PENGILLY House of Assembly Mr PENGILLY: Point of order, Madam Speaker. The Speaker House of Assembly The SPEAKER: Order! What is your point of order at this stage of the answer? Mr PENGILLY House of Assembly Mr PENGILLY: No. 98. The Speaker House of Assembly The SPEAKER: No. The minister can answer the question as he chooses. He is only the first 30 seconds into the answer. I do not think we can come up with a point of order at this stage. Minister. The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS House of Assembly The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Everyone in this chamber, I hope, understands that uranium and its mining will probably be the underpinning and the cornerstone of our economic prosperity in the future. The opposition have their own divisions. Arkaroola is one that they will not talk about. The Leader of the Opposition— Members interjecting: The Speaker House of Assembly The SPEAKER: Order! The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS House of Assembly The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: The Leader of the Opposition opposes mining in Arkaroola, and her deputy— Mr WILLIAMS House of Assembly Mr WILLIAMS: Point of order, Madam Speaker. The Speaker House of Assembly The SPEAKER: Point of order, member for MacKillop. Mr WILLIAMS House of Assembly Mr WILLIAMS: The minister is not answering the question and he is also debating his answer. The Speaker House of Assembly The SPEAKER: If we did not debate anything in this place we would all go home a lot more quickly. No, minister continue your answer, I do not think that is relevant. The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS House of Assembly The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: All I expressed— Members interjecting: The Speaker House of Assembly The SPEAKER: Order! The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS House of Assembly The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: All I expressed was an opinion, much like the member for MacKillop's opinion— Members interjecting: The Speaker House of Assembly The SPEAKER: Order! The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS House of Assembly The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Much like the member for MacKillop's opinion on Arkaroola, which is very different from his— Mr PENGILLY House of Assembly Mr PENGILLY: Point of order. The Speaker House of Assembly The SPEAKER: Point of order, member for Finniss. Mr PENGILLY House of Assembly Mr PENGILLY: No. 98. It is as plain as the nose on your face. Members interjecting: The Speaker House of Assembly The SPEAKER: I am sorry, I did not hear what you said, but the minister will return to answering the question. The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS House of Assembly The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: All I said was— Members interjecting: The Speaker House of Assembly The SPEAKER: Order! The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS House of Assembly The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: —I expressed an opinion, much like the member for MacKillop expresses his opinion that is contrary to his leader. Members interjecting: The Speaker House of Assembly The SPEAKER: Order! Members may or may not be aware, but the weekend following question time in this house it is played on national television, and all over Australia people can see the poor behaviour that you people are carrying out. I would ask you to remember that. Members interjecting: The Speaker House of Assembly The SPEAKER: Order! I call the member for Mitchell. Mr Marshall interjecting: The Speaker House of Assembly The SPEAKER: Order! Member for Norwood, behave.