Land Tax

Mr MALINAUSKAS (Croydon—Leader of the Opposition) (14:25): My question is to the Premier. If the Premier's previous position on his version of land tax had the unanimous support of the party room, why the change?

The Hon. J.A.W. GARDNER: Point of order, sir: that question contained argument. It still relates directly to a bill and amendments that are proposed to be tabled in the house. There is no formation of that question that complies with the standing orders.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! Given what has transpired today, I see fit to give a member of the government an opportunity to respond. I appreciate that this is a contentious issue, but I am willing to allow the government to answer. Would someone like to answer the question?

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL (Dunstan—Premier) (14:26): Thank you very much, sir; I am happy to answer the question. The reality is that we are not going to reflect on individual deliberations within our joint party room, just as we wouldn't—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The Leader of the Opposition is warned, as is the member for Badcoe. You have asked your question. I have been most lenient to the opposition. I could very easily rule these types of questions out of order by a very strict application of standing orders. You have asked your question; allow an answer. If not, members will be leaving.

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: We considered some amendments that were put forward by the Treasurer, and that's the position that we now take to the parliament. Now it's over to the parliament to make up their mind about where they stand on this important reform for South Australia: do they stand on the side of the very large majority of people who will be the beneficiaries of this, or will they decide to continue to play politics? The Labor Party have been very clear on this. They finally got down off that very uncomfortable fence that they have been on for a very long period of time, and they have decided—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: —to play politics. They have decided to play politics. They have decided to make sure that they would not be putting the interests of South Australians first. That's fine. That's what people—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: —have come to expect from the Australian Labor Party. That's why, in March last year, the people of South Australia booted you out of office. But what they expect from us is a government that is going to put forward a reform agenda. This is a reform agenda that is going to create jobs in South Australia—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: It's going to lower taxation in South Australia—

The Hon. Z.L. Bettison interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Ramsay is warned.

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: —it's going to take people who have currently been liable to pay land tax completely out of the responsibility going forward. There are very significant reforms, which we are putting to the people of South Australia. We are very proud of the fact that we have the backbone to actually stand up for reform in South Australia, unlike the Leader of the of the Opposition, the jellyfish Leader of the Opposition, who has no backbone—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: —and no position on reform whatsoever. He's finally got a position in place—and he's so proud of it.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: He's so proud that he's finally made a decision.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: He's finally arrived at a position. It's the wrong position, but at least he's got a position now.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order, members on my left! The member for Playford can leave for the remainder of question time for consistent interjections and, when he does, the leader will have another question. I remind members that there is a bill on land tax before the house. Leader.

The honourable member for Playford having withdrawn from the chamber: