Motor Accident Commission

Ms CHAPMAN (Bragg—Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (14:34): A supplementary to the Treasurer: of the numerous meetings you had with prospective insurance companies who were interested in this space, were any documents presented to you as to how the proposal would advance and, if so, to your knowledge, has any of that correspondence been sent to the Coordinator-General as per the government's unsolicited bid policy?

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS (West Torrens—Treasurer, Minister for Finance, Minister for State Development, Minister for Mineral Resources and Energy, Minister for Small Business) (14:34): No, first and foremost in the advice that I have I was not given any unsolicited bid proposals by any providers, it was more that a lot of insurance companies wanted to meet the new Treasurer of South Australia. It was just normal incoming meetings you get when you get sworn in to a new ministry. Of course, any proposals that we may have received—

Mr Marshall interjecting:

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Again, the Leader of the Opposition here is saying before we announced this—the reason the insurance industry was looking or thinking about this was because they were talking to members opposite. They have been talking to members opposite. I would be careful if I was the Leader of the Opposition because a lot of these companies have spoken to me about meetings that they had with the opposition, so I would be very careful if I were them about what they claim.

In terms of any unsolicited proposals, from my memory, I have received none on this matter, and any meetings that I had with insurance companies that may have been potential bidders for this were in the presence of Treasury officials. There has been an independent process now after the budget announcement last year and, of course, there is a tender out. The opposition are trying to claim that I may have received an independent or unsolicited bid, but we are going through a tender process, so I have to say—

Mr Marshall interjecting:

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Again, the Leader of the Opposition, like a true left wing liberal, will not stand up for the private sector, will not stand up for free market competition, is more interested in the government-run monopolies than he is in the private sector—

Mr VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN: Point of order, sir: continued debate.

The SPEAKER: I uphold the point of order.