Land Tax

The Hon. S.C. MULLIGHAN (Lee) (14:21): My question is again to the Premier. Does the Premier believe that the land tax issue is going well for his government?

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL (Dunstan—Premier) (14:21): It's quite clear that the opposition has again run out of questions.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: The dream factory.

Mr Brown interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Could the Premier be seated for one moment. The member for Playford can depart for the rest of question time for that outburst. When he does, the Premier will have the call. I am trying to listen to his answer.

The Hon. A. Koutsantonis: Is it going well?

The SPEAKER: Yes, we have the question.

The honourable member for Playford having withdrawn from the chamber:

The SPEAKER: Premier.

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: Thank you very much, sir. What we know on this side of the house is that it's necessary for South Australia to reform land tax.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: We have put forward a suggestion as part of our budget.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order, members on my left! We have the question.

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: We have consulted widely. We have undertaken modelling. We have had that modelling externally reviewed.

Mr Hughes interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for Giles!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: We have provided the report from the external reviewers to the public broadly. But we do know and we do appreciate that reform is difficult. It doesn't mean because something is difficult you shirk your responsibility for that reform.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: Every government should come into this place with an objective of leaving this place having achieved something for this state, so we will not be—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Leader! The member for Lee is warned.

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: We will not be apologising for taking on tough issues.

Mr Malinauskas: Why didn't you take it to the election?

The SPEAKER: Leader!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: We will not apologise for applying ourselves to lower tax rates in this state to make this a more attractive investment destination.

Mr Malinauskas interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! I remind the Leader of the Opposition that he is the Leader of the Opposition. The Premier has finished his answer.

Mr Patterson interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Morphett is called to order. The member for Lee and then those on my right. I would like to hear the member for Lee's question, please.