Attorney-General

Mr MALINAUSKAS (Croydon—Leader of the Opposition) (15:02): My question is to the Premier. Given that the Premier will not stand down the Attorney-General during a police investigation or a DPP referral, at what point in a criminal investigation would the Premier stand down the Attorney-General?

The SPEAKER: A hypothetical question.

The Hon. J.A.W. GARDNER: He's not even attempting to conform to standing orders. That is ridiculous.

The SPEAKER: That question is slightly hypothetical. Would the leader like to have another go at a question in the remaining four minutes?

Mr MALINAUSKAS: Sure. My question is to the Premier.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

Mr MALINAUSKAS: Why will the Premier not inform the house of when he was informed about the Attorney's referral to the DPP?

The SPEAKER: I will allow that question.

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL (Dunstan—Premier) (15:03): I don't recall the exact time and date of when I was informed, but can I make it very clear that the Attorney-General—

Mr Szakacs interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Is the member for Cheltenham interjecting?

Mr Szakacs: Absolutely.

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: —has my absolute support. I have made this point and this is nothing new. Those opposite have been asking questions about this matter for an extraordinarily long period of time. It has been canvassed—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: —in the papers, it has been canvassed on the radio, it has been canvassed on the television. There is nothing new. We appreciate the update from the Attorney-General to the house today. This is a matter that does provide some complexity, of course. The interpretation of the ICAC Act, I think most people appreciate, is complicated. It's an act that we have the Crime and Public Integrity Committee refer to—

Mr Brown interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Playford is warned.

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: —on an ongoing basis to see if they are—

Mr Malinauskas interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The Premier has the call.

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: Those opposite are getting very agitated. It hasn't been a particularly good week for them. Yesterday, it was a little bit embarrassing when the shadow minister for health outed the worst period in terms of ramping was actually when the Leader of the Opposition was the health minister at the time. If that wasn't a shot in the foot, I've got no idea.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: The reality is that we have received an update today from the Attorney-General. We thank the Attorney-General for the update. The Attorney-General has legal advice that is quite clear and shows that there has not been a breach of the ICAC Act. This has been made very clear—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: —for an extended period of time, and we are relying on that information.