Government Radio Network

Mr WILLIAMS (MacKillop) (14:57): A further supplementary, Mr Speaker.

The SPEAKER: More of the same?

Mr WILLIAMS: More of the same. Given the Treasurer's response to that, what other forms of communication was the emergency services minister referring to then?

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS (West Torrens—Treasurer, Minister for Finance, Minister for State Development, Minister for Mineral Resources and Energy, Minister for Small Business) (14:57): It is not my job to respond for the emergency services minister. The member for MacKillop, sir—

An honourable member interjecting:

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Then why are you asking, because you are asking a question and I will answer it. The minister and the CFS manage risk and they manage it well, but the idea that the commonwealth government can keep on making cuts to these core delivery of services, expecting the states to step in with a decreasing revenue base and members opposite then criticising us for not stepping into the breach that their colleagues and friends in Canberra have made—

Ms CHAPMAN: Point of order.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: —it's ridiculous.

The SPEAKER: The deputy leader surely isn't going to make the point that it is debate?

Ms CHAPMAN: I would say relevance in the first instance—that would be the number one argument—on the basis that the question was quite simply about what other technology and instruments are being used, not what the commonwealth is doing.

The SPEAKER: Yes, I would uphold the point of order.

An honourable member interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Oh, splendid, even better. The member for Morphett.