Government Advertising

Mr MARSHALL (Dunstan—Leader of the Opposition) (15:01): My question is to the Premier. Why did the submission circulated by the Premier's department not disclose the fact that the Premier's image and voice were to be used in the advertising campaign, in breach of the government's own guidelines?

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL (Cheltenham—Premier, Minister for the Arts) (15:02): I am advised that it's consistent with the guidelines to use my image and indeed my voice, and it's entirely appropriate when we are promoting important public policy matters which require the establishment of the warrant of the state that the Premier of the state, their image and indeed their voice be used in promoting it.

Mr Gardner: It applies to other people, does it?

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: Well, it is appropriate. I know it isn't to your liking that I am the Premier of South Australia, but I am, and it is appropriate when I communicate on behalf of the government that people have confidence that this has the backing of the Premier of South Australia. This is part of warranting our economic security. It's part of creating confidence. It's a necessary part of rebutting some of the scandalous remarks that have been made about South Australia and its energy system.

This is the work of government. This is the work of government about creating confidence in the South Australian economy and that is why the ads deal with factual matters. They do not make political comment, nor do they criticise, even though there would be very substantial grounds for doing so, those opposite for the role they have played in the past with privatisation and presently with their insipid energy plan that they are not even prepared to talk about in a public debate about the matter.

The SPEAKER: Before the supplementary, I call to order the members for Schubert, Davenport and MacKillop. I warn the deputy leader and the member for Davenport, and I warn for the second and final time the member for Morialta and the deputy leader.