Ministerial Staff

Ms CHAPMAN (Bragg—Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (14:48): Supplementary to the Premier.

Mr Whetstone interjecting:

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

Ms CHAPMAN: Could the Premier explain to the house how his management of this issue, and there not being any confirmed dismissal of this person, is in any way consistent with his presentation this morning in support of the member for Stuart's motion condemning violence against women?

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL (Cheltenham—Premier) (14:48): Well, you see, this is what happens when you're not fully apprised of the facts and you seek to draw—

Ms Chapman interjecting:

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: No, I simply—

Mr Marshall interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Premier, would you be seated. The deputy leader is warned for the second and final time, and the leader is warned for the second and final time. Premier.

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: In the bid by those opposite to make a political point, what they are going to do, what they seek to do (and it has been consistent throughout the week, and I must say that there are some people on our side that have contributed to this as well, to the reduction of the view of all of us, the diminishment of all of us) is to drag matters into this place which don't belong here—allegations against people without a shred of substratum of fact in relation to the Electoral Commissioner, allegations in relation to—

The SPEAKER: Premier, point of order. Member for Morialta.

Mr GARDNER: I take offence at what the Premier has said and ask him to withdraw.

The SPEAKER: Be seated, Premier. That is a bogus point of order. You may disagree with the Premier, but that you disagree with the Premier is not a point of order and it is not in order to interrupt his answer to give an impromptu speech.

Mr GARDNER: Point of order, sir.

The SPEAKER: What are the offending words?

Mr GARDNER: Standing order 127 describes that if offending words are used then they are to be brought to the attention of the Speaker immediately.

The SPEAKER: And what are the offending words?

Mr GARDNER: The offending words are when the Premier identified that members opposite seek to bring matters into this house of the dubious nature that he described.

The SPEAKER: If people cannot say that in this house there is not much we could say, so I think it is a glass jaw to take a point of order about that. The Premier.

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: It is an important point to make during the course of this week when we have seen a series of allegations made without a substratum of fact, which essentially cast doubt on the integrity of officers in relation to a land deal, people in relation to their office holding in the other place, and now we are seeking to drag a staff member—

Mr Pisoni: That's what they said about the state bank question.

The SPEAKER: The member for Unley is warned for the second and final time.

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: —into a matter of public controversy in this place when I have told the house that I take this matter incredibly seriously, that the standards that I have applied—

Ms Chapman: You gave the person a warning—a warning!

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: Exactly, a warning—a final warning. Somebody that is on pain of dismissal—

Ms Chapman interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Premier, would you be seated. If I see—

Ms Chapman: I am going, don't worry. It's a disgrace! You represent all South Australians.

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: The Deputy Leader of the Opposition uses as the basis for her outrage the use of a particular fact in relation to this matter which I am advised is simply not truthful.

Ms Redmond: But you won't tell us.

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: The allegation of physical contact is simply a matter which is not truthful, yet she seeks to traduce the reputation of an employee in this place to try to—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: The Deputy Leader of the Opposition, the member for Bragg, seeks to advance her proposition—her outrage associated with a particular piece of conduct which is based on a fact which is simply not proven, I am advised, having regard to the investigations that were carried out. If I had the alternative view, I would have arrived at a completely different conclusion in relation to this matter, but it is simply wrong to come into this place, throw allegations of a very serious nature, not advance—there is nobody here that was involved directly in relation to these matters, but to seek to actually treat as a question of fact something which has the effect of traducing the reputation of the people that are actually involved is outrageous; it has happened too often this week and all of us should reflect on what it does to the standing of all of us in this house.

Mr Pisoni interjecting:

Mr GARDNER: Supplementary, sir.

The SPEAKER: Before the supplementary, the member for Unley has been called to order and warned twice. He continues to offend; I ask him not to. The house should also note that the member for Bragg took herself out of the house of her own volition and was not ejected under the sessional order. Supplementary question, member for Morialta.