Land Tax

The Hon. S.C. MULLIGHAN (Lee) (14:17): My question is to the Premier. Why didn't the Premier have the courage to tell South Australians before the election that he would be increasing land tax through aggregation measures?

The Hon. J.A.W. GARDNER: Point of order, sir.

The SPEAKER: Why didn't the Premier do something before the election.

The Hon. J.A.W. GARDNER: That is a very argumentative question.

The SPEAKER: The member for Morialta says—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Be quiet for a second; it's hard enough. That arguably contains argument by saying that the Premier did or did not do something. I hear the member for Morialta's point. I'm going to allow it on this occasion, but it is a fair point of order. Premier.

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL (Dunstan—Premier) (14:18): We were very clear before we went to the election that we wanted to lower taxes in South Australia. We said that we would restore—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Members on my left, you have asked your question; allow the answer. You may not like the answer but allow an answer.

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: We were very clear that we would restore the remission on the emergency services levy that was taken from them by the previous government. That was something that the previous government did not talk about before the 2014 election. They didn't say that what they were going to do at the next budget, the very next opportunity, was rip off $90 million from the taxpayers each and every year. They didn't do that.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Lee and the deputy leader are warned.

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: I will tell you what we said, though. We said we would restore that remission for the people of South Australia, putting another $360 million back into the economy over our first four years in government.

Mr Brown interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Playford can leave for 20 minutes under 137A.

The honourable member for Playford having withdrawn from the chamber:

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: We said we were going to do that. We said we were going to lower payroll tax in South Australia, and we delivered that. We said we would lower land tax in South Australia, and that is precisely what we have delivered.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: We have a draft bill out. It's out for consultation at the moment.

Mr Malinauskas interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Leader!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: I encourage those opposite to form an opinion because at the moment they are like a feather, floating around, looking to land somewhere.

The Hon. Z.L. Bettison interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for Ramsay!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: You have no idea. Leadership 101, you fail.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Point of order, sir.

The SPEAKER: Premier, be seated. The point of order is for debate. I uphold the point of order.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Also, sir, disorderly conduct.

The SPEAKER: I have upheld the point of order. I agree. I would like to dial down the temperature, please. Has the Premier finished?

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: No, I've got plenty to go.

The SPEAKER: Well, let's stick to the substance of the question, please.

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: To the substance of the question, we know exactly and precisely what we stand for on this side of the chamber. We stand for lower taxes and that is precisely—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: —what we have delivered.

Mr Szakacs interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for Cheltenham!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: I know those opposite hate it. They love taxes; they are addicted to taxes. If they could marry taxes, they would.

The SPEAKER: The Premier has finished?

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Point of order, sir.

The SPEAKER: The Premier has finished. Yes.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Not 30 seconds after your most recent ruling the Premier debated immediately again.

The SPEAKER: Yes. I have upheld the point of order for debate. I have upheld it and I call the member for Lee.