SA Ambulance Service

Mr MALINAUSKAS (Croydon—Leader of the Opposition) (14:31): My question is to the Premier. Does the Premier accept that his government's interactions with paramedics have been pig-headed and ridiculous? With your leave, sir, and that of the house, I will explain.

The Hon. D.C. VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN: Point of order.

The SPEAKER: The leader will resume his seat. The Minister for Energy and Mining on a point of order.

The Hon. D.C. VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN: As you ruled yesterday, Mr Speaker, it is completely out of order for a member of the opposition to ask a question that contains argument and then, after offering the argument, seek leave to explain himself. You have made it very clear. It has happened three times in a row.

The SPEAKER: I have the point of order. For the moment, I don't uphold the point of order. The leader has promptly sought leave to explain. I remind all members of the necessity to seek leave in order to introduce facts, and certainly there is no occasion to engage in a lengthy preamble that is replete with argument and the insertion of facts. The leader had not concluded the question. He was in the process of seeking leave. I will give him that opportunity.

Mr MALINAUSKAS: Thank you, Mr Speaker. I will start from the top. Does the Premier accept that his government's interactions with paramedics have been pig-headed and ridiculous? With your leave, and that of the house, I will explain.

Leave granted.

Mr MALINAUSKAS: The secretary of the Ambulance Employees Association, Phil Palmer, said in a communication to his members, and I quote:

We had to endure a series of ridiculous proposals from a pigheaded government who just could not get how wrong they were.

The SPEAKER: Premier? The member for King.