House of Assembly Fifty-Fourth Parliament, First Session (54-1) 54 1 Parliament of South Australia House of Assembly published Question Time Land Tax Land Tax The Hon. S.C. MULLIGHAN House of Assembly Lee Land Tax The Hon. S.C. MULLIGHAN (Lee) (14:50): My question is to the Premier. Why is the Premier prepared to make further concessions in his land tax policy for upper house crossbenchers but not for his own backbench? The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL House of Assembly Dunstan Premier Land Tax The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL (Dunstan—Premier) (14:51): As members opposite know, they were not up to the task of participating in the important reform which is currently before the parliament. They shirked their responsibilities to the people of South Australia. They were wreckers in government and they are wreckers in opposition, but we remain absolutely focused on doing what is in the best interests of all South Australians. In all the time since the state budget came down, it was, first of all, difficult to understand what their position was and then, secondly, they didn't provide any explanation as to why they wanted to entrench an unfair system— Members interjecting: The Speaker House of Assembly The SPEAKER: Order! The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL House of Assembly The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: —here in South Australia. By contrast, we have demonstrated since the state budget came down that we are prepared to sit down and listen to people. We would like to see this reform. It's very important reform— Mr Malinauskas interjecting: The Speaker House of Assembly The SPEAKER: Leader! The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL House of Assembly The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: —that is needed, desperately needed in South Australia, so that we can continue with the economic recovery in South Australia. We are listening respectfully to the industry. We are listening respectfully to the people in the Legislative Council. We are happy to sit down with the opposition, if they have a change of heart and want to put the people of South Australia first, but up to this point— The Hon. S.C. Mullighan interjecting: The Speaker House of Assembly The SPEAKER: The member for Lee can leave for the remainder of question time under 137A. The honourable member for Lee having withdrawn from the chamber: The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL House of Assembly The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: —in time they have shown themselves to be completely and utterly incapable— The Hon. A. Koutsantonis interjecting: The Speaker House of Assembly The SPEAKER: If the member for West Torrens would like to object to a ruling, he knows how to do it. I am not accusing him of doing it, but if he wants to he knows how to do it. The Premier has the call. The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL House of Assembly The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: We are continuing discussions. We think it's an important reform and we are going to pursue it.