Nuclear Waste

Mr MARSHALL (Dunstan—Leader of the Opposition) (14:40): My question is to the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries. Would the minister like a second chance to voice his support for the Premier's plan to create a nuclear waste dump in South Australia?

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL (Cheltenham—Premier) (14:40): I think what most South Australians want is a mature debate on an issue of vital importance to South Australia. Even those with strongly held views against this believe that this is an issue of such gravity that it should be treated with respect and not with political stunts like the ones we have just seen outlined during question time.

I know they are searching around for points of difference between myself and my colleagues. I have been very open about the fact that there is a diversity of views on this side of the chamber, but we discuss and debate these issues using our own processes. The difference is that ours are all in public. We actually had a state convention and, if you had wanted to, you could have looked at it—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: I call the member for Adelaide to order.

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: I think we would have even sold them a ticket, Progressive Business would have sold them a ticket to come along and have a look.

The Hon. A. Koutsantonis: Marshall would be right at home amongst the unions.

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: That's right.

The SPEAKER: The Treasurer is warned for using the Leader of the Opposition's surname, which is disorderly.

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: We have discussed this issue, and we believe that the discussions should continue. I think it is alarming that the so-called party of free speech is depriving the people of South Australia of this discussion, won't allow the people of South Australia to make up their own mind about it. Apparently, the Leader of the Opposition knows better. He wants to tell South Australians what they—

Mr VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN: Point of order, sir: the question was all about the agriculture minister's support. The question was nothing about the Liberal Party's support; it was about the agriculture minister's support, so I believe the Premier is debating the substance of the question.

The SPEAKER: I don't uphold the point of order, and I uphold 90 per cent of opposition points of order. I don't uphold the point of order because the question was rhetorical and it's obtaining a proportionate, reciprocal answer. It is about the royal commission and the nuclear dump. Has the Premier finished? Leader.