Question Time

Land Tax

Mr MALINAUSKAS (Croydon—Leader of the Opposition) (14:12): My question is to the Premier. How can you expect South Australians to trust your latest land tax policy after you got it so horribly wrong the first time?

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL (Dunstan—Premier) (14:12): I'm happy to answer that, and can I just say welcome back.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The Premier has the call.

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: It has been a refreshing winter break. It's good to be back, but the questions are still as inane as they were before the break. There is nothing learned by those opposite.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: We made a decision in our state budget not to implement our changes to land tax—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: —on 1 July this year but to go out for extensive consultation. We finished the first phase of that consultation. Today, we begin the second phase of that consultation, and that consultation will continue through to 2 October.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: We want to make sure that we can bring the legislation back before this house—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The Premier has the call.

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: —by the middle of October so we can have it implemented so the land tax cuts that we are talking about are implemented in time for the new financial year.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: Yes, let's just revisit that: the land tax cuts.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order, members on my left and right!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: The choice between the two sides has never been starker. We on this side of the house are delivering the largest land tax cuts, the biggest reform in this area, in the history of this state.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: What those on that side of the house stand for were the highest land tax rates in the country. They love taxing people. They love getting their hands onto other people's money.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order, members on my left!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: Well, we are very different on this side of the house. My passionate, hardworking team have listened to the people of South Australia. We are united in lowering costs on businesses—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: —on individuals in South Australia, and that is precisely what we will be delivering.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The Leader of the Opposition will be seated just for one moment. I call the following members to order: the members for Playford, Kaurna, Ramsay, West Torrens, Reynell, Cheltenham, Badcoe, the deputy leader, the leader, the member for Mawson for gesticulating frequently, and the members for Morphett and Waite. The leader has the call.