Emergency Services Levy

Mr MARSHALL (Dunstan—Leader of the Opposition) (14:31): How is it that the Treasurer can blame increases in the ESL on federal government cuts when his own state budget has cuts four times larger than anything coming from the federal government?

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS (West Torrens—Treasurer, Minister for Finance, Minister for State Development, Minister for Mineral Resources and Energy, Minister for Small Business) (14:31): Depending on his audience, he says we spend beyond our means, but here today he says we are cutting too deeply. Which one is it?

Members interjecting:

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Okay, now we're increasing. You confuse the message, and this is why you can't think two steps ahead. That's why you are still in opposition: you can't think two steps ahead. Either we tax too much and we spend too much, or we cut too deeply. Which one is it? Or is it both? We spend too much and cut too deeply; is that what you're saying? Put that in the report card. I notice the report card doesn't go back to March. It starts in April: '1 April, made a new speech', year zero, 1 April.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Before we move to the member for Stuart, I warn the member for Newland for the first time, I warn the member for Chaffey for the second time, I call the member for Adelaide to order and I warn the member for Mount Gambier for the first time. Member for Stuart.

Mr VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN: Point of order: debate, sir.

The SPEAKER: Yes, I uphold the point of order. The member for Newland, rewarded for his misconduct.