GM HOLDEN

Mr WILLIAMS (MacKillop—Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (15:03): My question is to the Minister for Manufacturing, Innovation and Trade. Why did the minister intimate to the house that the Holden support payments would not go before the Industries Development Committee, when he told the media on 18 January that these payments would go before the IDC? In parliament last week, whilst debating the support package to Holden's, I claimed that I believed that the support payments would go before the Industries Development Committee. The minister interjected saying that I, and I quote, 'made it up'. However, on 18 January, the minister said on radio, and I again quote:

I announced today in my press conference...that I thought it was a very good idea to send this proposal through the IDC after it was announced and have a consultative approach with the Liberal Party.

Which one is it, minister?

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS (West Torrens—Minister for Manufacturing, Innovation and Trade, Minister for Mineral Resources and Energy, Minister for Small Business) (15:04): The government went one step further: we brought it before the entire parliament. We gave every member of the parliament the opportunity to have their say—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: If I float, I am a witch; if I drown, I am innocent.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: If I went to the IDC, it would have been that we somehow did not let every MP have a say on the Holden deal, but because we brought it to the parliament I have not gone far enough by taking it to the IDC. What I said to—

Mr Williams interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! Deputy leader, you have asked your question.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: What I intimated to the media was that there would be scrutiny over the Holden assistance package.

Mr Marshall: You said IDC.

The SPEAKER: Order! Member for Norwood, you will leave the chamber for 10 minutes.

The honourable member for Norwood having withdrawn from the chamber:

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: It's just not the same anymore with him gone.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Minister, I am not sure what you said then, but I would ask you to get back to the substance of the question.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Yes, ma'am.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: The point is that the government wanted scrutiny of this package. The government, rather than taking it to the IDC, brought it to the Parliament of South Australia, where all 47 members could have a say.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: That is much more scrutiny than the IDC.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! Supplementary, member for Davenport.