Child Protection

Dr CLOSE (Port Adelaide—Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (14:30): My question is to the Minister for Child Protection. Given the minister's opposition to cuts to the Service SA centres, are there any cuts in the minister's child protection portfolio to which the minister objects?

The Hon. J.A.W. GARDNER: Point of order, sir: the question was not framed in accordance with standing order 97. It contained argument.

The SPEAKER: Given that something you say is argument—

Dr CLOSE: I'll rephrase it, Mr Speaker.

The SPEAKER: I will allow the member for Port Adelaide one opportunity to rephrase the question.

Dr CLOSE: Thank you, Mr Speaker. My question is to the Minister for Child Protection. Are there any cuts to the minister's child protection portfolio to which the minister objects?

The Hon. R. SANDERSON (Adelaide—Minister for Child Protection) (14:31): I thank the member for Port Adelaide for her question. Of course, nobody likes cuts in their department. As you would know, because you have been a minister previously, Labor actually set efficiency dividends every year, every budget. However, I don't think they would have ever achieved them. Our government plans to be a responsible government and we are setting efficiency dividends and we will make them. We all have to make cuts—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. R. SANDERSON: —because of the state—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! Members on my left and right will cease interjecting. I'm trying to hear the answer. Minister.

The Hon. R. SANDERSON: If the economy hadn't been left in massive debt and deficit for 16 years under Labor, we wouldn't be facing these efficiency dividends. Whilst nobody likes efficiency dividends, we have all had to face some of them, and they have been made appropriately.