CHILD PROTECTION INQUIRY

Mr MARSHALL (Norwood—Leader of the Opposition) (14:46): My supplementary is to the Premier. Why is the government taking action to discipline education department staff while taking no action with ministerial advisers?

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING: Surely a supplementary has to be asked to the minister who answered the question?

The SPEAKER: The member for Davenport can help me on that question, can he?

The Hon. I.F. EVANS: Former speakers have always ruled that the government can determine who answers a question. Our question was to the Premier. The Minister for Education took the answer. It is quite in order for the opposition to then ask the same minister, the Premier. If the government wants someone else to answer it, they can. Speakers have long ruled the government can decide who can answer the question. We have asked the supplementary to the same minister we asked the original question.

The SPEAKER: I've got the point. I think the member for Davenport is correct. Premier.

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL (Cheltenham—Premier, Treasurer, Minister for State Development, Minister for the Public Sector, Minister for the Arts) (14:47): There is a different employment relationship. The education department employees are the responsibility of the chief executive and my ministerial staff are my responsibility. Different processes apply and I have made my decision in respect of my two staff. The obligations under the Public Sector Act and the Education Act kick in and are presumably governing the processes of the chief executive.

Mr Pisoni interjecting:

The SPEAKER: I warn the member for Unley for the second time. The member for Mount Gambier.