Question Time

Regional Industries

Mr GEE (Napier) (14:21): My question is to the Treasurer. How are the state and federal governments supporting regional industries?

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS (West Torrens—Treasurer, Minister for Finance, Minister for State Development, Minister for Mineral Resources and Energy) (14:21): It's hard to see the former member for Ross Smith restrained in the chamber, unable to interject. This state government is proud—

Members interjecting:

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Okay, Treasurer.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Thank you ma'am. We are proud of the work we are doing in backing our regional industries. Through the advocacy of the member for Giles, we are standing up for the steel industry and the people of Whyalla. We recently put forward a $50 million funding proposal to support the long-term future of the Whyalla steelworks. We have sought a further $100 million from the federal government, and Bill Shorten, from the federal Labor Party. Through the advocacy—

Mr Duluk interjecting:

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: The member for Davenport!

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: —of the member for Frome—

Mr Knoll interjecting:

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: The member for Schubert!

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: —we stood up for the people of Port Pirie when the Nyrstar smelter—

Mr Knoll interjecting:

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Treasurer.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: When the Nyrstar smelter was facing closure in Port Pirie, facing devastation, it was this government that underwrote its redevelopment of the smelter, guaranteeing the town's long-term future. The government is also helping the people of Port Augusta and Leigh Creek manage the transition away from coalmining, and power generation, through supporting new industries, like tourism and renewable energy. Earlier this week, Port Augusta mayor, Sam Johnson, who identifies himself as a member of the Liberal Party, expressed some serious concerns about how his party is neglecting the regions.

Mr VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN: Point of order.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: I have a point of order, Treasurer.

Mr VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN: Does this answer the question of how the state government is supporting regional South Australia?

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: I can't hear him because of the noise on my left.

Members interjecting:

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: No, I can't hear him.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: While speaking to them on the number one ratings program in South Australia, the Bevan and Abraham show, Mayor Johnson said the following—

Members interjecting:

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: I can't hear!

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: —and I quote:

My mayoral colleague from Port Pirie and former mayor of Port Pirie will back my comments…that [Port] Pirie was on a knife edge and it was the state Labor government that actually came in and underwrote the deal and saved them.

That's right: it was the state Labor government, with the member for Frome, that underwrote the long-term future of that city, but the Mayor of Port Augusta had more to say, and I quote:

I went through the Alinta closure last year and we're still going through that transition at the moment. And the question that was put to be by my council staff just recently and they said can you name what the current federal government has done for Port Augusta—

Members interjecting:

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Treasurer.

Mr van Holst Pellekaan: Madam Deputy Speaker, now that you have heard what the Treasurer is saying, standing order 98: he is not answering the question about what is the state government doing for regional South Australia.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: He is coming back to it. Treasurer.

Members interjecting:

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Well, he will. He will.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: What has the current federal government done for Port Augusta since the Alinta closure? They don't like it. They don't like it because they are absent landlords.

Members interjecting:

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: It was impossible to hear what he said, whether you believe it or not, and unless I can hear nothing on my left I can't concentrate on what is happening on my right.

An honourable member interjecting:

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: I beg your pardon?

Mr Marshall: We all heard.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Well, I can't hear with you screaming.

Members interjecting:

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! Order!

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: The question was: how are the state and federal governments supporting regional industries?

The Hon. M.L.J. Hamilton-Smith: They're starting to get their points of order right.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Yes, exactly. The mayor poses this question to himself and the staff: what have they done? 'And I looked like a rabbit in the headlights and it was pretty embarrassing at that point of time,' end quote—a member of the Liberal Party and the Mayor of Port Augusta. Mayor Johnson may appear young, but his words speak beyond his years.

Mr GARDNER: The Treasurer is contravening standing order 98.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: The real problem is that I haven't been able to hear any of the answer in any sort of cohesion, so if you could just keep the noise down I can rule for you. I can't hear.

Ms CHAPMAN: Point of order, Madam Speaker, and I make this point of order in respect of the relevance argument. The minister has outlined and continues to quote in respect of the alleged statements of a person as to the actions of the federal government. The question very specifically was: what is this government doing for regional South Australia? It was not what the federal government is doing.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: The question was about how are the state and federal governments supporting regional industries and I am listening, or doing my very best to listen, to the answer.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: The Mayor of Port Augusta is doing his job representing his local community. He has called out the lack of support by members opposite and he has called out the lack of support—

Members interjecting:

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! Order! Sit down. I will ask the Treasurer to finish off. He has finished off now. Leader.