Capital Works

The Hon. I.F. EVANS (Davenport) (14:26): Treasurer, I have a cabinet subcommittee minute signed by you as Minister for Transport and Infrastructure and Mr Ian Hunter from another place as Minister for Water and the River Murray which states in relation to the process used for the $34.75 million that it would include '…invitations to tender, as appropriate, to pre-qualified companies with the greatest need'. How did the government establish which companies had the 'greatest need'?

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS (West Torrens—Treasurer, Minister for Finance, Minister for State Development, Minister for Mineral Resources and Energy, Minister for Small Business) (14:27): Our agencies are in regular contact with construction firms across the state. Despite what the member opposite is trying to imply, our agencies—

Mr Marshall interjecting:

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Just calm down princess, I'll get there. Mr Speaker, agencies are in regular contact with companies and they know where the stress points are.

Mr Marshall: How do they know?

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Remember, Mr Speaker, cabinet is entitled to make deliberations and act on those deliberations. There is no question of any impropriety here, and I hope the member opposite is not making that suggestion. I have said to the house I will come back to the house with a more detailed answer on the criteria. But I do say this—

Mr Marshall interjecting:

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

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: I am not the one who holds the tender process—that is done by the agencies. I will get a fulsome answer for the members, but I will say this: the government makes no apology for using taxpayers' funds as a stimulus package to keep South Australians working, because it is the right thing to do.

The Hon. I.F. EVANS: Supplementary sir.

The SPEAKER: Is this a further supplementary or another question?

The Hon. I.F. EVANS: Further supplementary.

The SPEAKER: Further supplementary.