Question Time

State Budget

Mr MARSHALL (Dunstan—Leader of the Opposition) (14:05): My question is to the Premier. Will the Premier rule out introducing any new revenue raising measures to replace the aborted state bank tax?

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL (Cheltenham—Premier, Minister for the Arts) (14:05): A cheeky question, given somebody who has just voted down a key plank of the state budget after saying on election night, 'Oh, look, this is the Premier's budget. It will pass the parliament.'

Mr Marshall: That wasn't on election night. Get a briefing. That wasn't on election night.

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: It was budget night, sorry. The tradition in the South Australian parliament is that the government of the day passes its Supply Bill and ultimately its budget, and then one meeting later with a bank executive and he has flipped, so we get questions about reframing our budget the day after—

Mr Marshall interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The leader is called to order.

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: —the very day this unprecedented decision has been taken by an opposition to block a budget—an extraordinary proposition. We will speedily recast the budget, having regard to this decision that has been taken by the Leader of the Opposition to back the banks over ordinary South Australians, and we will bring back a response. But we will be guided by one factor and one factor alone, and that is investing in creating jobs. Jobs are the number one priority. South Australian jobs for South Australians were at the heart of the budget and that touchstone will remain at the heart of our recast budget.