South Australian of the Year Awards

Ms CHAPMAN (Bragg—Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (14:54): Thank you, Mr Speaker. My question is to the Premier. Was the Premier so ashamed of his government's Oakden scandal that he withdrew from presenting Barb Spriggs with her Senior South Australian of the Year award?

The SPEAKER: All I can say is that the question gives the Premier plenty of scope.

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL (Cheltenham—Premier, Minister for the Arts) (14:54): Yes, a classy question. I had the opportunity—

Mr Marshall: A classy guy—a guy who won't distance himself from the disgraceful campaign in Elder at the last election.

The SPEAKER: The leader is on a full set of warnings.

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: He thinks he has a glass jaw. I had the opportunity to speak to Barb Spriggs on the telephone just a few hours ago. She is a lovely woman and a courageous woman, and she deserves the support, congratulations and accolades of this parliament and the people of South Australia. Of course, she is Senior South Australian of the Year and we send her our best wishes as she goes off to Canberra—

Mr Marshall: Why didn't you present the award?

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: —to hopefully become the Senior Australian of the Year, and there are many other wonderful winners who I have publicly acknowledged. The truth is that I don't get to every event. Indeed, I had a very strong representation made to me by the Hon. Russell Wortley, the President in the other place.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: I was never actually engaged to be at that function.

Mr Marshall: Really?

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: Never.

Mr Marshall: Is that right?

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: That's right. Further, we don't get to find out who the winners are, so it would be rather curious if I was to pull out on a basis that I was unaware of. I did go in 2014 and I don't attend every year.

The Hon. A. Koutsantonis: The tactical genius of Steven Marshall strikes again.

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: Of course, I can't attend all the functions—

The SPEAKER: The Treasurer is called to order.

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: In fact, I think I arranged for the Deputy Premier to represent me.

Ms Chapman: He didn't go.

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: No. Indeed, it was the strong representations by the Hon. Russell Wortley, who has taken a particular interest—

Mr Marshall: Who?

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: The Hon. Russell Wortley.

Mr Marshall: What does he do?

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: He is the President of the Legislative Council, if those opposite would pay proper respect to the other place, and he has—

Ms Chapman: You want to abolish it.

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: No, we don't. It's not in our policy. Is it in yours?

Ms Chapman: Oh, come on.

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: No, it's not in our policy; it hasn't been there for years. He made a particular representation, as I am advised, to the Deputy Premier's office to say, 'Could I please represent the government because I have a special interest in doing it?' In fact, because he is on the council of the—

The Hon. L.W.K. Bignell: The Australia Day Council.

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: The Australia Day Council, which is the body that makes the relevant appointments. So that's the history of the matter. Perhaps, given the explanation, the deputy leader could in a moment jump up and give a personal explanation and apologise for that shocking slur.

The SPEAKER: I can confirm the Premier is correct: it is not the Labor Party policy to abolish the other place, ever since Ralph Clarke addressed the convention and said, 'Where would assistant secretaries of unions ever go unless the upper house were retained?'

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The Premier seeks leave to make a personal explanation. Leave has been denied, so perhaps the Premier can work it into the next answer.