Mining Legislation

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS (West Torrens) (14:51): My question is to the Minister for Energy and Mining. Is the minister aware of the public comments of the member for MacKillop regarding the minister's conduct of his portfolio? With your leave, sir, and that of the house, I will explain.

Leave granted.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: The member for MacKillop stated publicly this morning:

…what happened yesterday…all that we’ve done is…I believe saved the Government from complete turmoil amongst our own key constituents and Liberals from our regions, and particularly the Yorke Peninsula…

The Hon. D.C. VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN (Stuart—Minister for Energy and Mining) (14:51): Essentially, that's exactly the same question as the last one, so I could give four minutes, if that's what the opposition wants, with exactly the same answer again.

The Hon. S.S. Marshall interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. D.C. VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN: It's the same question. Perhaps I could do the poor old member for West Torrens a bit of a favour because he hasn't asked many questions this year. His lack of questions on energy is actually quite extraordinary. But he does show up one thing by not asking questions on energy: he shows up the Leader of the Opposition, who keeps asking questions on Health. It just doesn't make any sense. I will tell you what—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. A. Koutsantonis interjecting:

The SPEAKER: If the member for West Torrens utters words like that again, he will be leaving today. You are on two warnings.

The Hon. D.C. VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN: I will tell you what, Mr Speaker: let him ask another question. There we go—he's run out.

The SPEAKER: The member for Lee and then the member for Elder.