Gillman Land Sale

Mr MARSHALL (Dunstan—Leader of the Opposition) (14:07): Supplementary, sir.

The SPEAKER: If, indeed, it be a supplementary.

Mr MARSHALL: Yes. The Premier has told us that the Renewal SA board provided advice that it was a premium price. Can the Premier outline to the house what method Renewal SA used to convey that message regarding the premium price paid?

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL (Cheltenham—Premier) (14:08): In writing—the traditional method of communication. In writing, verbally—

The Hon. J.J. Snelling: Not smoke signals?

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: —all the traditional methods of communication. No, they didn't use smoke signals.

The SPEAKER: They used words—

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: They used words.

The SPEAKER: —verbally.

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: That's right, verbally. We've made that all very clear.

An honourable member interjecting:

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: Well, you'll find this all out. When you cooperate with your mates upstairs to have this inquiry, you will get that mullet in the mouth when you ask that question, because it will become obvious to you. Quite a fascinating piece of communication I did see during this exercise was actually another party that gave an unsolicited bid to us who wanted to use that land, who communicated with the government and said, 'Frankly, this proposition is much superior to the proposition we put to you, and it's not surprising that you actually accepted it.'

Look, I don't understand why those opposite, when they are actually around talking about the nature of the challenges that face South Australia in terms of generating jobs, and who are meant to be the party of private enterprise, don't get in behind a government that's prepared to actually go out there and give a South Australian company—a consortium of fine, young South Australian entrepreneurs who actually have been successful, who want to have a bit of a go and actually do something that's going to develop a piece of land that's lain there dormant for decades—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: Well, you could do nothing with it. We are actually getting on and finding a way of doing something with this piece of land, and here you are wanting to cooperate with an inquiry upstairs that will only jeopardise and cast doubt on this project. When these gentlemen go interstate or overseas and actually advance this proposition, they are going to have to put up with the carping and nonsense and talking down of this proposition by those opposite, so at least do this for us: when you carry out your little exercise with your mates upstairs, at least do it in a way that actually protects the capacity of this deal ultimately to be resolved in the interests of South Australia.

Mr MARSHALL: Supplementary, sir.

The SPEAKER: Leader, be seated. That would be three supplementaries. I will give it to you. The Premier should not refer to the opposition in the second person. He is, after all, meant to be addressing his remarks through the Speaker. The member for Chaffey needs to be reminded that, in the previous parliament, he had the good fortune to be a long way from the chair and shielded by a bench of agitators who could be blamed for his interjections. That is no longer the case.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: It could be, as the leader suggests, Jedi mind control by the member for Kavel. The leader.