Motor Accident Commission

Mr MARSHALL (Dunstan—Leader of the Opposition) (14:24): Supplementary: does the government's plan require any legislative changes?

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS (West Torrens—Treasurer, Minister for Finance, Minister for State Development, Minister for Mineral Resources and Energy, Minister for Small Business) (14:24): That will depend on the advice of the commercial advisers. I am very keen to have an independent regulator established, an independent regulator that is industry specific, to make sure we can protect motorists.

That may require legislation, or we may be able to do that with existing legislation. Once crown law have given us the appropriate advice, the commercial advisers will give us what we think would be the appropriate course of action. What is important is that we are sending the signal to the private sector that this state is open for business, that this state wants the private sector—

Mr Marshall interjecting:

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: What I find amazing is every time I meet with federal treasurer Hockey, given the interjections of the Leader of the Opposition, federal treasurer Hockey keeps on telling me, 'Why won't you privatise more assets? Why won't you privatise SA Water? Why won't you privatise more assets?' In fact, I have just received correspondence from the federal Treasurer congratulating me, the government, on its privatisation of the Motor Accident Commission and saying that he will accept it for the process of asset recycling. That puts him in stark contrast with his colleagues— but, then again, the South Australian division of the Liberal Party stands alone amongst other Liberal divisions across the country.