Water Pricing

Mr MARSHALL (Dunstan—Leader of the Opposition) (14:37): Will the Treasurer investigate whether any of his officers have breached the Public Service Code of Conduct for their behaviour towards ESCOSA officials?

The SPEAKER: Well, that certainly brings it on. Treasurer.

Mr Marshall interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Because, first of all, you ask questions like that and then take a series of points of order when the Treasurer answers them in the spirit in which they were asked. Treasurer.

Mr MARSHALL: Can you provide some clarification on your advice to the Treasurer regarding that question? What did you find offensive about that question?

The SPEAKER: There is nothing offensive about the question, but bullying is germane to the question and therefore the answer.

Mr MARSHALL: I'm sorry, but I'll read the question again, because I'm not sure you heard the question, sir.

The SPEAKER: Yes, I did. The leader will be seated immediately or he will be leaving the chamber. Treasurer.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS (West Torrens—Treasurer, Minister for Finance, Minister for State Development, Minister for Mineral Resources and Energy, Minister for Small Business) (14:38): I do not accept—

The Hon. T.R. Kenyon: You wore your cranky pants today.

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

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: —that Treasury officials in any way intimidate anyone. I am not saying that they are loved—

The Hon. J.J. Snelling: They have a slightly poor dress sense, too.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: —and they dress in a unique dark manner, but it is their job to keep the finances intact. I know that there are a number of ministers who are often subjected to questioning about, I don't know, proposed spending initiatives that they perhaps are not always comfortable with, but that is their job. The idea that a man of the calibre of Brett Rowse would be called a bully because he disagrees with the assessment of what is quite frankly unique and different behaviour, the likes of which no independent regulator in the country has ever performed before, is unfair. So, there will be no inquiry because they have done nothing wrong.

Unless there is evidence from anyone else in ESCOSA, other than Mr Kerin, that there is bullying in place, there will be no inquiry. Mr Kerin, as I have said before, is acting in a political and partisan manner, so I reject his accusations completely and stand by my Treasury officials. But if evidence does come to light that any of my Treasury officials are behaving in any manner that is intimidating or bullying and not in the very best traditions of the Public Service, they would be the first to report it. They would be the first to stand up for those people who are being bullied. These people are of the highest integrity, and I think the Leader of the Opposition, in asking these questions, lowers the office of the Leader of the Opposition.