Question Time

The Hon. D.G. PISONI (Unley—Minister for Innovation and Skills) (15:25): I am speaking in this spot with the courtesy of the member for Mount Gambier, and I thank him very much for his flexibility in allowing me to do this. Earlier, during question time, the member for Mawson asked for leave and I refused that leave, which was my misunderstanding of the arrangements that were—

The Hon. A. Koutsantonis: Rubbish!

The SPEAKER: Order, member for West Torrens!

The Hon. D.G. PISONI: —negotiated with the opposition. I did attempt, with the leave of the house, to make a personal explanation after question time and was not able to do that.

The Hon. A. Koutsantonis: So why did you withdraw leave?

The SPEAKER: Member for West Torrens, please.

The Hon. D.G. PISONI: I thought I would use this opportunity, this five minutes that has been allocated for the grievance debate, to apologise to you, sir, for embarrassing you—

The Hon. A. Koutsantonis: I got thrown out.

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. D.G. PISONI: —to apologise to the member for West Torrens, to apologise to the member for Mawson and to apologise to the Minister for Transport for misunderstanding the new—

The Hon. A. Piccolo: You should apologise to your whole party.

The SPEAKER: Member for Light!

The Hon. D.G. PISONI: —arrangements that have been negotiated with the opposition since the proroguing of the house. I wanted to make that clear because I am certainly not a person of malice and I am certainly very much a team player. Had I obviously not misunderstood the terms of the agreement then I would not have withheld or withdrawn leave for the member for Mawson.

Again, I know that it has been a very difficult time for the member for Mawson and I share the grief that he is experiencing as the member responsible for Kangaroo Island. I feel that I have embarrassed him and I apologise for doing so.