Question Time

Minister's Remarks

Mr MARSHALL (Dunstan—Leader of the Opposition) (14:14): My question is to the Premier. Given the Independent Commissioner Against Corruption's report tabled today, which revealed evidence of the Treasurer using foul language and a bullying and intimidating manner, can the Premier inform the house if he believes that this is acceptable behaviour from a minister of the Crown?

The Hon. T.R. Kenyon interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Newland is warned.

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL (Cheltenham—Premier) (14:15): Thank you, Mr Speaker, and thank you for this important question. I begin by, I think, clarifying two things here.

Dr McFetridge: By resigning, mate—resigning.

The SPEAKER: The member for Morphett will withdraw from the house for the remainder of question time under the sessional order.

Dr McFetridge: You're a disgrace, mate, a bloody disgrace.

The honourable member for Morphett having withdrawn from the chamber:

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: Well, what an absurdity—somebody swears as they are on the way out to complain about swearing. Can I just say that the first thing to say about this is that this is a matter of some gravity. I think it is an important matter. One of the things that I have sought to do since assuming this role is to try and lift standards of civility in discourse. I think in this chamber it has improved; I think it has improved. I think the things that have been revealed today in this report are below the standards that we have all set for ourselves, and I think the minister has acknowledged that.

It is important for the reasons he mentioned that we do uphold these standards. The fact that his language wasn't intended in any way to create a negative environment for those around him has to be seen in the context, as he rightly says, of the power imbalance that exists between ministers and public servants, and it isn't appropriate that this language be used. We also need, I think, to acknowledge that from time to time people do swear. I don't think it's desirable; I think it's highly undesirable.

I remember once on an occasion, in a conference with the member for Heysen, slipping a swear word into the conversation—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: —and she immediately corrected me and said that it was unacceptable and that it was something that she wasn't prepared to put up with inside her caucus, and I reflected on that. I think it was a standard—it was a high standard, but one that I think is an appropriate one.

I think there are certain risks when ministers, even if they think they are doing it to create some familiarity or to reduce tension in the room, if they use swearing it can create the sort of environment we don't want to have in our interactions with the Public Service, and the minister acknowledges that. He acknowledges that and that is why he has made a public apology.

It is not true to say, as the member implied in his question, that there are findings of bullying and intimidation of public servants. That was specifically not found here. It would have been a very different matter if it had been found, but it was not found here, so the record needs to be corrected to that extent. But these are the standards I insist upon. To the extent this has become part of the practice at least of some ministerial officers, all of us need to reflect on our standards of conduct, and this is a standard that I intend to enforce.

The SPEAKER: I call to order the members for MacKillop, Adelaide, Chaffey, Mount Gambier and Unley. I warn the member for Stuart, and I warn the member for Morialta for the second and final time.

Mr WILLIAMS: Excuse me, sir, why have I—

The SPEAKER: You were interjecting.

Mr WILLIAMS: Sir, I have not—

The SPEAKER: In fact, you're top of the list.

Mr WILLIAMS: I have not said a word.

The SPEAKER: Oh, yes, you have. The leader.