Personal Explanation

Indigenous Communities Funding

Dr McFETRIDGE (Morphett) (14:23): Personal explanation, Mr Speaker?

The SPEAKER: This is now turning into a debate, but leave has been sought for the member for Morphett to make a personal explanation in response to the ministerial statement. Is leave granted?

Leave granted.

Dr McFETRIDGE: Thank you, Mr Speaker. Just in his ministerial then, the Premier said that I had come into this place and made allegations without basis. I will read from a letter from the now Premier, dated 27.6.2007 to then federal minister Mal Brough. I quote:

As part of the process of working towards 1 July 2007 as a date of transfer…

This was about the transfer. You were working towards the transfer. You had agreed to it; you were working on the details. The question I asked you last sitting day was: had you ever agreed to the transfer? Yes, you have.

The SPEAKER: Member for Morphett, you will not refer to the Premier in the second person, nor will you refer to any member of the chamber in the second person.

Dr McFETRIDGE: Thank you, Mr Speaker. In my question to the Premier back on 25 September, I asked:

Did the Premier agree to South Australia accepting responsibility for municipal service delivery when he was the minister for Aboriginal affairs?

In his letter to the then minister for families and communities (Hon. Mal Brough), he says, in the third paragraph:

As part of the process of working towards 1 July 2007 as a date of transfer…

What is more clear than that? He had agreed to the transfer.