Member for Frome, Government Agreement

Mr GRIFFITHS (Goyder) (15:13): My question is to the Minister for Regional Development. Given the media coverage on Friday 16 May by the Premier refusing to rule out changes to the regional funding agreement negotiated with the minister to form government, can the minister confirm details of any amendments to the regional funding package and his position on those amendments?

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS (West Torrens—Treasurer, Minister for Finance, Minister for State Development, Minister for Mineral Resources and Energy, Minister for Small Business, Minister for Automotive Transformation) (15:13): First and foremost, any amendments to any grant lines, any budget lines, will be announced in the upcoming budget, and the member for Goyder knows that. I also think, to be fair—and I say this reluctantly because it is the member for Goyder, because of his exceptional honesty, and it has been displayed in the Financial Review for the entire nation to see, so I accept your level of honesty—I don't think you are accurately representing the Premier's view, maybe the intent, the inflection.

What was said has probably not been taken properly. I will go back and check the Premier's remarks, but I suspect that you are speaking at cross-purposes. You are asking the member for Frome one question on the basis of a statement the Premier has made about something else, but I can tell you this: all will be revealed very, very soon in the budget, and I think you will be very, very pleased about what happens for regional communities in this upcoming budget because they have a very strong and fine advocate in the member for Frome, fighting for their interests within the South Australian government, and he does it, sir, exceptionally well.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Chaffey had better watch out or he'll be out for the rest of question time. The member for Schubert has been repeatedly interjecting before his maiden speech, and so I call him to order.