Members, Accommodation Allowances

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS (West Torrens) (14:37): Thank you, sir. My question is to the Minister for Transport and Infrastructure. Why didn't the minister answer all the questions of the journalists that were posed to him this morning? With your leave, sir, and that of the house, I will explain.

Leave granted.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: This morning on 891 radio, the minister was asked by David Bevan if he paid board at his parents' house and he refused to answer.

The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN: Point of order, Mr Speaker.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The Deputy Premier has the call.

The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN: I don't know how many times the member for West Torrens understands, but standing order 96 is pretty clear. You have identified what the position is—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN: No, he hasn't; he has allowed leave. We have allowed leave.

The SPEAKER: Thank you for the point of order, Deputy Premier. The questions could have been about a whole variety of things. On balance, I'm going to allow that question in. If someone would like to answer that question, I am going to allow that question.

The Hon. S.K. KNOLL (Schubert—Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Local Government, Minister for Planning) (14:38): Thank you, Mr Speaker. I thank the member for West Torrens for his question and note the answer that I gave in the house yesterday in relation to my own circumstances. I reiterate that I do incur expenses and I believe that I have acted within the guidelines.

Again, what I have sought to do here is to put this matter beyond doubt by repaying the money. I think that's a step that I need to take to make sure that we put this matter and this issue beyond doubt. I know there are those who would like to try to characterise some wrongdoing; that's simply not the case. What I am doing here is acting in a way that puts this matter beyond doubt by repaying this proactively until there is ambiguity that is resolved by the Remuneration Tribunal.