House of Assembly Fifty-Fourth Parliament, First Session (54-1) 54 1 Parliament of South Australia House of Assembly published Question Time State Debt State Debt The Hon. S.C. MULLIGHAN House of Assembly Lee State Debt The Hon. S.C. MULLIGHAN (Lee) (14:42): My question is to the Premier. Given budget papers show the government is increasing debt by more than $3 billion over the forward estimates, can the Premier rule out any further increases to government debt? The Hon. J.A.W. GARDNER House of Assembly The Hon. J.A.W. GARDNER: Point of order, sir: that question doesn't comply with standing order 97 in relation to introducing facts without leave of the house. The Speaker House of Assembly The SPEAKER: I have the point of order. Is there a point of order on the point of order? The Hon. S.C. MULLIGHAN House of Assembly The Hon. S.C. MULLIGHAN: Yes, indeed, Mr Speaker. The Speaker House of Assembly The SPEAKER: It's not for me to really weigh in to the veracity of the facts but, if the member for Lee is introducing facts, he might want to consider asking for leave of the house. The Hon. S.C. MULLIGHAN House of Assembly The Hon. S.C. MULLIGHAN: Mr Speaker, I submit to you that both Blackmore's Practice of the House of Assembly and Erskine May allow the provision of facts in the asking of a question in order to provide context for the question. The Hon. J.A.W. GARDNER House of Assembly The Hon. J.A.W. GARDNER: Point of order, sir: those are, of course, subject to the standing orders that we are operating under. The Speaker House of Assembly The SPEAKER: Yes, and standing order 97 says: In putting any such question, a Member may not offer argument or opinion, nor may a Member offer any facts except by leave of the House and only so far as is necessary to explain the question. So would the member for Lee like to seek leave of the house? The Hon. S.C. MULLIGHAN House of Assembly The Hon. S.C. MULLIGHAN: Yes, of course, Mr Speaker. The Speaker House of Assembly The SPEAKER: Is leave granted? An honourable member House of Assembly An honourable member: No. The Speaker House of Assembly The SPEAKER: Leave is not granted. The member for Elder. I will come back to the member for Lee. I was trying to help. Member for Elder.