Goods and Services Tax

Mr MULLIGHAN (Lee) (14:38): A supplementary: has the Premier been advised that the new regime delivers more GST revenue than the current GST distribution regime?

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL (Dunstan—Premier) (14:39): I am sorry if I didn't answer that clearly in the last answer. I thought it was pretty clear.

Mr Mullighan: That's okay; you were too busy talking about a policy from many years ago—

The SPEAKER: The member for Lee is warned for a second time.

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: Obviously Kevin Naughton is writing questions for the member for Lee and he has written out the supps, because he read out the supp and the supp said, 'Is there an increase?' I provided that in my previous answer. I think most of us who were listening and those people at home on the broadcast—

The Hon. R. Sanderson interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Adelaide is called to order.

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: —the tens of thousands who are tuned in to hear our every word today would all know that what has been put forward by—

The Hon. T.J. Whetstone interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The Minister for Primary Industries is called to order.

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: —the federal Treasury's modelling shows a $257 million increase over and above what had been previously provided. It's a model. It's something that we are considering but, as I said, we haven't locked into it. That will be the subject of a negotiation which takes place, but that's what's on the table. That's what happens when you have a grown-up discussion with colleagues in Canberra. Let me tell you what would have happened if those opposite were re-elected on 17 March.

The Hon. S.K. Knoll interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The Minister for Transport is warned.

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: The entire negotiation would have taken place via the media. We do not believe that this is optimal. This was a complex negotiation, and so it is one that required respect. It required respectful negotiations on both sides. As I said, we were received in Canberra. We were able to state our case. Our Treasurer, the Hon. Rob Lucas, made it very clear when he met with all state treasurers and the federal Treasurer only two months ago—and I reported this to the parliament. I have kept the parliament informed—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: —because it is a very important negotiation, probably the most important in the state's history. We made it very clear that we would not do anything that disadvantaged the people of South Australia. That's our position. What the federal government has offered is not only a protection for what is in the forward estimates but an increase of $257 million.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: I think that was the member's question. I have answered it twice. I am happy to answer it a third time. It's your question time.