Member for Frome, Government Agreement

Mr GRIFFITHS (Goyder) (16:15): My question is to the Minister for Regional Development. As a member of the cabinet, does the Independent status of the member extend to introducing private members' bills or amending government legislation?

The Hon. G.G. BROCK (Frome—Minister for Regional Development, Minister for Local Government) (16:16): Thank you, Mr Speaker, and I thank the member for Goyder for his question. Part of my agreement has already been tabled. It has been made public; it is on the website. You are very aware, as everybody else is, that if I am in cabinet itself and in discussions within the cabinet, I am going to be bound by cabinet solidarity, as I would have been if I had gone on the other side. If there are any issues there with any legislation, I can advise the Premier at the appropriate time and then be able to not take part in it, and then I can speak against it.

I will have to come back to you on the matter of introducing private members' issues. But can I also say to the members on the other side that we have been out there working with your members at different locations across the whole of the region, and what we want to be able to do moving forward is work with all the local members out there to get some job opportunities for regional South Australia. Part of the agreement with the state government is to provide a $39 million project for the next financial year, which is going to the budget. The projects that have been agreed to will be looked at in the budget over the next four years. The other—

Ms Chapman interjecting:

The Hon. G.G. BROCK: Excuse me—

Ms Chapman: The Bute to Kulpara Road would be a good start.

The SPEAKER: The member for Bragg is called to order.

The Hon. G.G. BROCK: The other issue is for the next three years we have $29 million per year specifically for job creation opportunities in the regions. My focus is directly to create jobs in the regions, and I have been with most members on the other side there in the regions. I have been out there for four weeks; every week I have been in the regions. I want to be able to work with the local members, the RDAs, the councils, the federal government and private industry to get the best opportunities for regional South Australia.

The SPEAKER: A supplementary from the leader.