Member for Waite

Dr CLOSE (Port Adelaide—Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (14:46): My question is to the Premier. Can the Premier explain why, if the member for Waite was serving a period of self-suspension from the Liberal Party, he was addressing a local Liberal Party meeting last night?

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL (Dunstan—Premier) (14:46): That would be something that you would be most welcome to take up with the member for Waite. It's not something which is—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! Could the Premier please be seated for one moment. The member for Elizabeth is out for the remainder of question time under 137A, that brilliant standing order brought in by former Speaker Atkinson I believe.

The honourable member for Elizabeth having withdrawn from the chamber:

The SPEAKER: The Premier has the call, then I'm moving to the member for Flinders and to the deputy leader after that.

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: I'm not sure why the opposition can't grab these two concepts: one is that we are an open and free society and people can attend as they wish and, secondly, you don't have to be a member of the SEC to attend a branch meeting. Put those two things together and I think you will get the answer to your dubious question.