Members, Accommodation Allowances

Mr MALINAUSKAS (Croydon—Leader of the Opposition) (14:25): My question is to the Premier. When did the Premier's Leader of Government Business inform him that he had wrongfully claimed the country members' allowance?

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL (Dunstan—Premier) (14:25): I have had many discussions with many members of my team over an extended period of time. In fact, over the last two or three weeks we have spoken to many members. I would not suggest for one second that the minister had wrongly claimed the entitlement. I think that there has been serious ambiguity with regard to the determination put forward and I think that—

Mr Szakacs interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order, member for Cheltenham!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: —in an abundance of caution, the minister has repaid an amount which was claimed through to the most recent determination which was made in November 2018. The government plans to be making a submission to the Remuneration Tribunal, trying to get some clarity with regard to the ambiguity which has existed on this issue.

What we have known for a long period of time is that country members who are required to be in Adelaide, whether it be for parliamentary work or work for their constituents, are able to claim an allowance for accommodation while they are away from their constituency, while they are away from their family, from their principal place of residence. This has been in place for an extended period of time and, from time to time, the independent Remuneration Tribunal makes determinations with regard to this.

But there is still a level of ambiguity which relates to what can be claimed, whether or not it is for somebody who has leased a property or rents a property, maybe owns it, or is in the process of owning it, staying at a hotel, staying at a caravan park, staying with family members, staying with friends. All of these things need to be, I think, clarified by the Remuneration Tribunal, and that is exactly and precisely—

Ms Stinson interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for Badcoe!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: —why we plan to be making a submission to the Remuneration Tribunal asking them to provide greater clarity because we have to assure the taxpayers of South Australia that whenever we spend a cent of their money—

Mr Malinauskas interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Leader!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: —we are doing it in accordance with the determination of the Remuneration Tribunal.

The SPEAKER: The member for Badcoe is on two warnings. If this level of interjections continues, she will be leaving today. Leader.