State Major Bank Levy

Mr MARSHALL (Dunstan—Leader of the Opposition) (14:28): My question is to the Treasurer. With BankSA's State Monitor reporting the lowest ever level of consumer spending confidence in the 20-year history of the survey, will the Treasurer concede that after 16 years of Labor our economic outlook has never, ever looked more desperate?

The SPEAKER: Well, the Treasurer has a very broad scope with a question like that.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS (West Torrens—Treasurer, Minister for Finance, Minister for State Development, Minister for Mineral Resources and Energy) (14:28): On 26 July this year, Deloitte released a report saying that the value of infrastructure projects in South Australia rose by 6.4 per cent in the June quarter—the largest increase of all the states and territories. The Deloitte Access Economic investment monitor shows the value of projects in South Australia rose by $2.8 billion, to $45.7 billion. The result represents a 7.2 per cent increase for South Australia compared to the year earlier. The Commonwealth Bank survey released on 24 July—

Mr Gardner: Do you know how improvement works?

The SPEAKER: The member for Morialta is very close to departing.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: The Commonwealth Bank State of the States report says this: South Australia topped the nation of business investment, according to CommSec's State of the States report—topped the nation. The ANZ Property Council Survey of industry professionals found confidence levels in South Australia to be at a record high. Then you have the NAB survey, but the opposition ask no questions about the Commonwealth Bank survey, about the NAB survey, about Deloitte or ANZ. Why is that? Instead, they ask their narratives on the basis of what suits them: talk down our economy, talk down the state, rather than being a champion for South Australia.

It was no accident that at a press conference the Premier held every other major political player in the state was there but the opposition—everyone but the opposition. Why? Because they can't lead.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: All they have is shouting, a rabble and disorder.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Look at them, Mr Speaker. They can't even have a coordinated approach. They just all yell at once. It just shows you what a rabble they really are.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Heysen is called to order, and I welcome her back to the warning list. I am horrified—horrified—to have to call to order the member for Bright; the disorder was as bad as that. I warn the deputy leader, the member for Mitchell, the member for Newland and the member for Chaffey. I warn for the second and final time the members for Mitchell, Newland, and the leader and the deputy leader. The member for Morialta ignored my pleas to him to cease, so I ask him under the sessional order to leave the chamber for the next hour.

The honourable member for Morialta having withdrawn from the chamber: