STATE FINANCES

Mr MARSHALL (Norwood) (15:12): My question is to the Minister for Manufacturing, Innovation and Trade. Will the minister now confirm to the house that he was wrong when he publicly stated on 18 January that 'the former Olsen-Brown governments were dishing out grants willy-nilly without any sort of clawback provisions'. I have made an investigation of several grants provided under the Olsen and Brown governments, and I have spoken to former officers of the Department for Industry and Trade who confirm unequivocally that clawback provisions were included in the vast majority of all industry contracts under previous Liberal governments.

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING (Playford—Treasurer, Minister for Workers Rehabilitation, Minister for Defence Industries, Minister for Veterans' Affairs) (15:13): I am happy to take this question for the minister because it is my duty as the Treasurer to write off bad loans that were made during this period. I spend a lot of my time having to approve write-offs of bad loans, so I can—

Mr MARSHALL: Point of order.

The SPEAKER: Just a moment, Treasurer.

Mr MARSHALL: My question was very specifically, 'Will the minister now confirm to the house,' and will he stand by his comments on 18 January?

The SPEAKER: Thank you, member for Norwood. Any minister can answer a question. You cannot specify that a particular minister has to. Treasurer, have you finished your answer?

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING: I have.