Ministers' Interests

The Hon. S.C. MULLIGHAN (Lee) (14:34): My question is to the Premier. Is the Premier satisfied that his Minister for Environment and Water is paying the appropriate amount of land tax?

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL (Dunstan—Premier) (14:34): I don't have any reason to believe that he wouldn't be. He would be abiding by the law as it is stated at the moment.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: We, of course, have some propositions, which we are putting forward at the moment, which will adjust the land tax regime in South Australia. We emphasise that the budget measures that we announced in last year's budget and this year's budget taken together will effect a reduction in land tax payable here—

Mr Malinauskas interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Leader!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: —in South Australia—

Dr Close interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Deputy leader!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: —not the misinformation put around by some of our opponents at the moment. We are for lower taxes in South Australia. We have been able to demonstrate that since coming into government, with lower stamp duty, with lower payroll tax, with the halving of the emergency services levy—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order, members on my left!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: —and, of course—

The Hon. A. Koutsantonis interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for West Torrens is warned.

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: —a reduction in the land tax. Those opposite presided over extraordinarily high rates of land tax in South Australia, the highest marginal rate and I think the lowest threshold in the entire country. For some reason, they have become unable to express themselves with the current public debate with regard to land tax. Hopefully, they will find their voice—

Mr Malinauskas interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Leader!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: —some time very soon.

Mr Malinauskas: Lower costs? I don't think so.

The SPEAKER: The leader is warned. The member for Lee.