SA LOTTERIES

Mr MARSHALL (Norwood) (14:38): My question is to the Minister for Small Business. Does the minister support the directive from the Lotteries Commission to prevent newsagents commenting on the impact on their businesses of his government's proposed Lotteries Commission sale and, if so, why? The Lotteries Commission has written to newsagents warning them not to speak out against the sale, and I quote from their letter, 'Agents are not authorised to comment to the media with respect to SA Lotteries or its products.'

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING (Playford—Treasurer, Minister for Workers Rehabilitation, Minister for Defence Industries, Minister for Veterans' Affairs) (14:39): I was surprised to hear about this correspondence and I can say on behalf of the government that we would encourage any newsagent to say whatever they want publicly. We would not seek to stifle their right to speak out in any way.

The SPEAKER: Member for Norwood, do you have a point of order?

Mr MARSHALL: I do have a point of order, Madam Speaker. My question was clearly to the small business minister, because I didn't want to know what the government's position was. That was very clear in the correspondence. I want to know what the small business—

The SPEAKER: Thank you member for Norwood. Any minister can answer any question. You cannot direct that a minister answer a question.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! That's enough!

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! Member for Kavel, behave. Stop waving fingers across the floor. I think I did see a finger from my side as well from the right.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! There are 27 minutes left for question time. The member for Mitchell.