HomeStart Finance

The Hon. I.F. EVANS (Davenport) (14:11): Further supplementary; my question is again to the Treasurer. Without revealing the contents of the cabinet submissions of the meeting of 18 June, I simply want to know, Treasurer, did you read the cabinet submissions that went to the cabinet meeting on 18 June 2013?

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS (West Torrens—Treasurer, Minister for Finance, Minister for State Development, Minister for Mineral Resources and Energy, Minister for Small Business) (14:12): Same question, sir, with different words thrown in. The part of the Hansard that the member for Davenport is not quoting to the house is that 'I will go back and check'. The question yesterday was: does the Treasurer know what Project A is? (or thereabouts). So, the member for Davenport presumes to know what Project A is, and asks it in the hope that I may somehow mislead the parliament into saying something and he can set a trap.

Mr Marshall: We don't think like that over here.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: What? You don't think strategically? Yes, I've noticed.

Mr Marshall interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The leader is called to order, and not just for disruption.

An honourable member: Thanks for the idea.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Yes; it is true; I do sit in fear thinking that you may campaign badly against us again at the next election. Then he presumes that a FOI request, which was denied to him, that listed a series of headings, was considered on a certain cabinet date. Then he presumes to assume that the cabinet made a series of decisions, and then he presumes to say that if I say one thing or another about those cabinet deliberations that I—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: It is a longstanding tradition of this parliament that the executive does not discuss publicly cabinet deliberations, and I do not intend to break that convention. I do not intend to break that convention, but I do say this—

Mr Tarzia interjecting:

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

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: —agencies regularly do work for the government. That does not mean it becomes government policy. I also say judge us on what we have done. HomeStart Finance sits safely in public hands.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Adelaide, from private members' time, is on two warnings. The member for Davenport.