State Finances

The Hon. I.F. EVANS (Davenport) (14:56): Supplementary, sir. Does the Treasurer agree with the former treasurer, the member for Playford, when he indicated that when a government runs deficits in net cash flows from operating activity, it amounts to borrowing to pay wages?

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS (West Torrens—Treasurer, Minister for Finance, Minister for State Development, Minister for Mineral Resources and Energy, Minister for Small Business) (14:56): What the member for Davenport has attempted to do is judge us at the beginning of our term rather than the end of our term, and that is what oppositions do.

The Hon. I.F. Evans interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Davenport is called to order. Treasurer.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: I have always been told to beware an old man in a hurry. The truth is the government will be judged on its fiscal outlooks over four years, not over five minutes. The reality is the member for Davenport is attempting to make reference to the government's performance before we have even delivered our first budget of this new parliamentary term. It is unfair, and the government will be answering all these questions in the budget.

Mr Knoll interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Schubert is called to order. The member for Davenport has a supplementary.