Gillman Land Sale

Ms CHAPMAN (Bragg—Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (14:21): My question again is to the Premier, although the Deputy Premier may answer it, of course. Given the Deputy Premier's statement that this was something that has apparently emanated from my mind, could the deputy confirm: if the terms of the option with ACP are commercial in confidence, did you approve the Treasurer making a statement publicly that a term of the option is that a detailed project plan be provided within six months, before the election?

The Hon. J.R. RAU (Enfield—Deputy Premier, Attorney-General, Minister for Justice Reform, Minister for Planning, Minister for Housing and Urban Development, Minister for Industrial Relations) (14:22): My memory has been stimulated somewhat by that second question because this is quite significant. The honourable deputy leader must have one of those tickler machines that gives up dates and says, 'Reminder: six months have gone by,' because on 13 December, if I am not mistaken, the now Treasurer—

The Hon. A. Koutsantonis: 2018 will be the key date for you.

The SPEAKER: The Treasurer is warned for the first time.

Mr Pisoni interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Unley is warned for the first time.

The Hon. A. Koutsantonis interjecting:

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

The Hon. J.R. RAU: As I was saying, on or about 13 December 2013 the now Treasurer, but then minister for renewal, was, as I understand it, quoted in the newspaper as having said that in six months (I am paraphrasing the comment but it was something like) certain events will have occurred, or certain things must occur within six months. My reference earlier to the deputy leader having one of these very accurate machines which records things is she must have said, 'Ah, six months, that must mean 13 June,' because on 14 June a statement which was attributed to her popped out saying, 'Now six months are up, what's happened?' I would simply say to the honourable member that, when the Treasurer said 'six months', I think he was saying six months in the colloquial sense of six months.

Mr Pederick: What's that, the lunar year?

The Hon. J.R. RAU: I would like to say two things; first of all, I would like to congratulate the member for Hammond for having mentioned the lunar year—that's your best one yet. At least I know the difference between 7 o'clock in Adelaide and 7 o'clock in Rio de Janeiro, and I know they are not the same.

When the average person gets out there and says, 'In six months such and such is going to happen,' that doesn't necessarily mean that someone can press the button—I'm not sure the name of that timing device you have there, Mr Speaker—on that thing and that when it goes 'beep' in precisely six months you say, 'Rightio, where are we going?' All I can say is that things are progressing as anticipated.

The then minister, now Treasurer, was tantalisingly dangling this six months out there for the member for Bragg to think about. All I can say to the member for Bragg is that things are proceeding as were anticipated then. There is substantial accuracy in the statement the now Treasurer made back then, but it shouldn't be interpreted as meaning to the very second that he made that statement and you could wind forward six months and you would have the date.

The SPEAKER: Deputy leader.