Motor Accident Commission

Ms CHAPMAN (Bragg—Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (14:32): I have another question, if I may, to the Treasurer. Has the government received any unsolicited bids for the Motor Accident Commission and, if so, what was the process for the assessment of such bids?

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS (West Torrens—Treasurer, Minister for Finance, Minister for State Development, Minister for Mineral Resources and Energy, Minister for Small Business) (14:33): If we did, they would go to the Coordinator-General, but I suspect that we did not receive as many unsolicited bids as the opposition did during the caretaker period. Subsequently, after the election, when the government was returned and I was made Treasurer, there were a number of insurance companies that met with me—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: I think you are the fifth leader of the opposition in a number of years, too. You could be one of six.

Mr Marshall interjecting:

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: The tallest man in the room always wins. Anyway, I am pretty confident that the opposition have had many of these unsolicited bids put to them, but the truth is that if there were any unsolicited bids, they would have gone to the Coordinator-General. There is a competitive process in place. I am confident that that competitive process will give us and motorists very good outcomes. I am just surprised that there is anyone left in the Liberal Party who does not think that the private sector can do this better than a government monopoly.