House of Assembly Fifty-Third Parliament, Second Session (53-2) 53 2 Parliament of South Australia House of Assembly published Question Time South Australian of the Year Awards South Australian of the Year Awards Ms CHAPMAN House of Assembly Bragg Deputy Leader of the Opposition 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 House of Assembly The SPEAKER: All I can say is that the question gives the Premier plenty of scope. The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL House of Assembly Cheltenham Premier Minister for the Arts The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL (Cheltenham—Premier, Minister for the Arts) (14:54): Yes, a classy question. I had the opportunity— Mr Marshall House of Assembly Mr Marshall: A classy guy—a guy who won't distance himself from the disgraceful campaign in Elder at the last election. The Speaker House of Assembly The SPEAKER: The leader is on a full set of warnings. The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL House of Assembly 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 House of Assembly Mr Marshall: Why didn't you present the award? The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL House of Assembly 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 House of Assembly The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: I was never actually engaged to be at that function. Mr Marshall House of Assembly Mr Marshall: Really? The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL House of Assembly The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: Never. Mr Marshall House of Assembly Mr Marshall: Is that right? The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL House of Assembly 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 House of Assembly The Hon. A. Koutsantonis: The tactical genius of Steven Marshall strikes again. The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL House of Assembly The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: Of course, I can't attend all the functions— The Speaker House of Assembly The SPEAKER: The Treasurer is called to order. The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL House of Assembly The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: In fact, I think I arranged for the Deputy Premier to represent me. Ms Chapman House of Assembly Ms Chapman: He didn't go. The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL House of Assembly 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 House of Assembly Mr Marshall: Who? The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL House of Assembly The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: The Hon. Russell Wortley. Mr Marshall House of Assembly Mr Marshall: What does he do? The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL House of Assembly 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 House of Assembly Ms Chapman: You want to abolish it. The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL House of Assembly The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: No, we don't. It's not in our policy. Is it in yours? Ms Chapman House of Assembly Ms Chapman: Oh, come on. The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL House of Assembly 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 House of Assembly The Hon. L.W.K. Bignell: The Australia Day Council. The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL House of Assembly 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 House of Assembly 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 House of Assembly 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.