House of Assembly Fifty-Third Parliament, First Session (53-1) 53 1 Parliament of South Australia House of Assembly published Question Time Water Pricing Water Pricing Mr MARSHALL House of Assembly Dunstan Leader of the Opposition Water Pricing Mr MARSHALL (Dunstan—Leader of the Opposition) (14:35): My question is to the Treasurer. When did the Treasurer first become aware of allegations that his officials may have breached the Public Service Code of Conduct by bullying and intimidating ESCOSA officials? The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS House of Assembly West Torrens Minister for Finance Minister for State Development Minister for Mineral Resources and Energy Minister for Small Business Water Pricing The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS (West Torrens—Treasurer, Minister for Finance, Minister for State Development, Minister for Mineral Resources and Energy, Minister for Small Business) (14:35): I define bullying as coming into the parliament under parliamentary privilege and besmirching the good name of hardworking, dedicated public servants. You want an example of bullying? How about attacking dedicated Treasury officials who work for nothing more than the benefit of the people of this state and people who were attacked who know that they can't defend themselves? That is bullying. I would have thought at the very least, despite our differences with the opposition, he would have stood with us and defended those public servants who can't defend themselves. They can't come in here and defend themselves. Ms CHAPMAN House of Assembly Ms CHAPMAN: Mr Speaker, point of order: there is a very simple question— The Speaker House of Assembly The SPEAKER: No, I know what the question is: is it relevant, the minister's answer? Yes, it is. The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS House of Assembly The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: I have complete confidence in those Treasury officials. Anyone who knows the men who were named by Dr Kerin would realise they are men of the highest integrity, dedicated public servants who give up their time, effort and labour—time away from their families—for the benefit of the people of this state. Ms REDMOND House of Assembly Ms REDMOND: Point of order, Mr Speaker. The Speaker House of Assembly The SPEAKER: Point of order, member for Heysen. Ms REDMOND House of Assembly Ms REDMOND: The question was when did the minister become aware of the allegations of bullying made by Paul Kerin. The Speaker House of Assembly The SPEAKER: Yes, but bullying is germane to the answer. Mr Gardner House of Assembly Mr Gardner: It's all he knows how to do, sir. The Speaker House of Assembly The SPEAKER: The member for Morialta will rise in his place and withdraw and apologise forthwith. Mr GARDNER House of Assembly Mr GARDNER: I withdraw and apologise. The Speaker House of Assembly The SPEAKER: Thank you. Minister. The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS House of Assembly The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: I have seen Dr Kerin's resignation letter and I saw his remarks in the Budget and Finance Committee. I do not accept his characterisation of those public servants and I reject it completely. I stand alongside them 100 per cent. The Speaker House of Assembly The SPEAKER: Supplementary? Leader.