Emergency Services Levy

Ms WORTLEY (Torrens) (14:31): My question is to the Treasurer. Can the Treasurer inform the house of the funding allocations for the emergency services levy?

The Hon. I.F. EVANS: Point of order, Mr Speaker. That was set out in the budget. The funding allocations for the emergency services levy are (a) set out in the budget and (b) set out in the Economics and Finance Committee report that already comes before the parliament and has been debated by the parliament. The matter is before the house; it has been dealt with by the house.

The SPEAKER: I hope the Treasurer will add something new to what's available.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS (West Torrens—Treasurer, Minister for Finance, Minister for State Development, Minister for Mineral Resources and Energy, Minister for Small Business) (14:32): Yes, sir; there has been a new development, Mr Speaker. I think it is fair to say that the government's response to the commonwealth budget to remove remissions from the emergency services levy has been controversial, to say the least. What we have done in our budget reply is take $322 million that we used to offer people as remissions for their emergency services levy, and we have placed that money into health to try to combat the cuts made by the commonwealth to our health budget of $655 million.

The Leader of the Opposition, earlier in the week when asked if he would reinstate these remissions, said, and I quote, 'We aren't announcing our tax policy for 2018 today in September 2014,' because he can stand up to pressure.

An honourable member: We're in opposition.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Well, it's an interesting point that you say that, because on radio today, when he had a little bit of pressure on him, he said they would be reinstating the remissions. So, the Liberal Party, within 12 hours, have taken $120 million out of the budget and just spent $322 million.

Ms CHAPMAN: Point of order: this is clearly a debate about what, apparently, the Leader of the Opposition is making statements on and not in response to the question.

The SPEAKER: I uphold the point of order.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: If we are to reinstate the remissions, that leaves a hole in the budget of $322 million. Given the opposition has committed today to reinstating those remissions, what we see is an MO from the Leader of the Opposition and what kind of premier he would be. When under a little bit of pressure, he tells everyone to go out and vote Labor.

Ms CHAPMAN: Point of order: the question was for him to provide an update of the government's funding towards this piece of expenditure, not to have a debate about what the Leader of the Opposition has allegedly said.

The SPEAKER: The Treasurer will not make the opposition the topic of his reply. He will provide the house with information pertinent to the question.

Mr Gardner: He's got no real capacity, sir.

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

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Mr Speaker, five weeks out from the state budget, the Prime Minister took $5½ billion from the people of this state over the next 10 years and $898 million of it over the forward estimates. To lessen these cuts obviously what we have done to try to protect people in the areas of health and education is to remove the remissions. To be clear, every cent raised by the emergency services levy goes directly to emergency services—every single cent.

Mr Bell interjecting:

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: I will tell you how much more it was this year. I am glad of the member for Mount Gambier—he is becoming my favourite member of the opposition because he is the gift that keeps on giving. He is a little bit of a gift voucher; keeps on making mistakes. I have to say at least he won't die on principle. The government is spending extra this year on emergency services, as the members for Unley and Davenport would know because I know that you have read this from front to back, haven't you?

The SPEAKER: The Treasurer is warned for using the second person.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: I apologise, sir.

The Hon. I.F. EVANS: A point of order, sir. The Treasurer is now quoting from the document presented to the Economics and Finance Committee or for the Economics and Finance Committee, reinforcing the point I made earlier: all this information is before the house.

The SPEAKER: I uphold the point of order.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: See how impressed they are, sir, when they see leadership, and they are losing it. See how impressed they are when they see someone who can think more than one step ahead.

The SPEAKER: The Treasurer will resume his seat. Does someone have a question?

Mr GARDNER: Yes, point of order: standing order 137 describes that if somebody persistently and wilfully refuses to accept the authority of the Chair and, in fact, conform to the standing orders then there are certain actions that the Speaker is requested to take.

The SPEAKER: The Treasurer has incurred two warnings, and a further offence will see him leave the chamber under the sessional order.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Thank you, sir. Funding will be directed to the South Australian Country Fire Service which will receive $67.8 million.

An honourable member: Oh, come on!

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Well, this is the question; I'm returning to the substance of the question. The MFS will receive $123.9 million; SA Police will receive $20.7 million; the State Emergency Service will receive $14.9 million; SA Lifesaving will receive $2.9 million; SA Ambulance will receive $1.7 million; the Volunteer Marine Rescue organisation will receive $900,000; the State Rescue Helicopter will receive $600,000; and the Shark Patrol will receive $400,000. There are real risks that the revenues that underpin this can and may be cut. Given the nature of the remarks made on radio this morning, I have grave concerns at the ability—

Ms CHAPMAN: Point of order, Mr Speaker, again: the question is for the Treasurer to provide an update of his government's contribution to the—

The SPEAKER: Yes, the Treasurer; I uphold the point of order.

Ms CHAPMAN: This is just a complete repeat.

The SPEAKER: The Treasurer is straying. The member for Newland.