Child Protection

Mr MALINAUSKAS (Croydon—Leader of the Opposition) (14:30): My question is to the Minister for Child Protection. Minister, did you ask your department chief executive why you weren't told of the McIntyre matter? With your leave and that of the house, Mr Speaker, I will explain.

Leave granted.

Mr MALINAUSKAS: We are not asking why you weren't told; we are asking if you have asked why you weren't told.

The Hon. D.C. VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN: Mr Speaker—

The Hon. A. Koutsantonis: Why won't you answer? What are you hiding? You're hiding something.

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. A. Koutsantonis: What are you hiding?

The SPEAKER: Order! The member for West Torrens will leave for 20 minutes under 137A.

The honourable member for West Torrens having withdrawn from the chamber:

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order, members on my right! It's difficult for me, at this distance, to identify the source of every interjection. I am doing my best. I remind members on both sides that the orderly conduct of question time relies upon the opportunity for the questioner to ask the question in silence and for the answer to be given in silence and without gratuitous interjection. The Minister for Energy and Mining.

The Hon. D.C. VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN: Thank you, sir. The fact that the Leader of the Opposition added an explanation to his second question doesn't change the fact that his second question was word for word the same as his first question, and that's in contravention of standing orders.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The question, if it has been asked and answered, ought not be repeated; that is disorderly. However, in the circumstances, I will allow the question and give the minister the opportunity to answer it. To the extent that the minister considers that the question has already been answered, the minister might say so.

The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN (Bragg—Deputy Premier, Attorney-General, Minister for Planning and Local Government) (14:32): I refer to my previous answer.