Minister's Remarks

Mr GRIFFITHS (Goyder) (14:55): My question is to the Minister for Planning. In light of the minister's description last night in this chamber, indeed, that community groups are, and I quote, 'morons', does the minister stand by that comment, or will he retract and apologise in the house for his remarks?

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING: Sir, just on a point of order, is this not a question on a matter which is currently before the house?

The SPEAKER: No, I don't uphold that point of order—that's a stretch. The Deputy Premier.

The Hon. J.R. RAU (Enfield—Deputy Premier, Attorney-General, Minister for Justice Reform, Minister for Planning, Minister for Housing and Urban Development, Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for Child Protection Reform) (14:55): I thank the honourable member for his question. He was in the chamber last night and was actually the person with whom I was having a conversation at that time. He didn't seem to take any offence at that use, but I do say, on reflection, I think that was an unwise word to use, and I have indicated already that I don't think that was the appropriate word to use. But I do say this to the member for Goyder—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. J.R. RAU: Can I finish? I do say this to the member for Goyder, as he would remember the conversation and the context of the conversation: it is extremely unhelpful for people to deliberately make misleading statements in the media about the effect of legislation before this parliament. Where manifestly—

Mr PISONI: Point of order, sir: I believe that the minister is, in fact, now discussing a matter that is before the house.

The SPEAKER: If the Deputy Premier were canvassing the merits of last night's debate on the bill which is before the house, that would be out of order, so I will listen carefully to what the Deputy Premier says.

The Hon. J.R. RAU: As I was trying to explain, in the context of that conversation, I was trying to explain that it is extremely unhelpful for people to go into the public domain and make manifestly false statements about the contents of government legislation in an attempt to frighten and upset people. That is not very good, and it should be discouraged.

I am happy to refer to that behaviour in a longer form than the form I used last night, which is 'very unhelpful in saying false and misleading things in the public domain about what is in or not in a bill in order to frighten and scare and generally muckrake about a proposition rather than actually inform an accurate conversation'.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. J.R. RAU: I realise that's a longer form of words, but that was the context. I have already indicated I don't think that that is a helpful turn of phrase, and I don't intend to use it again. I will use the longer form.

The SPEAKER: I call to order the members for Adelaide, Kavel and the Treasurer. I warn the members for Schubert, Flinders, Morialta, Kavel and Adelaide, and I warn for the second and final time the members for Schubert and Adelaide. I call the member for Reynell.