Ministerial Responsibilities

Mr MALINAUSKAS (Croydon—Leader of the Opposition) (14:17): My question is to the Premier. Does the Premier still believe in his public statements regarding ministerial responsibility? With your leave, sir, and that of the house, I will explain.

Leave granted.

Mr MALINAUSKAS: On 6 January 2017, the then opposition leader, now Premier, stated, 'This is the thing about the Westminster system and that is ministerial responsibility. You stuff up and you've got to pay the price.' On 1 May 2017, he stated, 'I would expect the minister to resign. If they didn't resign I would have the courage to sack them.' On 3 May 2017, he stated, 'If we are elected, ministers will take responsibility. That is the tradition under the Westminster system and it will be the Liberals that reinstitute that tradition.'

The SPEAKER: The Minister for Education.

The Hon. J.A.W. GARDNER: Speaker Atkinson insisted that when members were quoting from previous statements that had privilege attached to them, the whole context of the statement should be provided, including making sure that quotes are not edited to suit the needs of the person asking the question.

The SPEAKER: I will take on face value that it was accurate, and I have no reason to believe anything else. I will reflect on that as well but I will hear the answer. We have the question; leave was granted.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! Leave was not withdrawn. The question has been allowed. I would like to have someone answer. Would someone like to answer the question?

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL (Dunstan—Premier) (14:19): I am very pleased to answer this question. As the Manager of Government Business has pointed out, it is difficult to recall exactly which atrocity I was referring to under the previous regime; there were so many. I am trying to recall whether that was the Oakden scandal where the previous government failed our most vulnerable older citizens or one of the manifold other atrocities they committed against the people of South Australia over an extended period of time.

Ms Cook interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for Hurtle Vale!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: Members on my side have all assured me that their claims fall within the guidelines. Where there have been administrative errors, they have reported those to the Clerk, have corrected the record and have made reimbursements. I do not believe there has been any deliberate dishonesty—

The Hon. S.C. Mullighan interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for Lee!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: —with regard to this matter, whereas if we look at the date and the issue that was discussed in the question I think we would have a much greater set of circumstances to respond to.