Regional Landscape Levy

Mr ELLIS (Narungga) (15:12): By way of supplementary, how long will that rate transition scheme be, minister, and when can the ratepayers of the Yorke Peninsula Council expect parity with the Barossa Council ratepayers?

The Hon. D.J. SPEIRS (Black—Minister for Environment and Water) (15:12): I believe that scheme is around three years. I will have to get back to you to get the specific date when it will come into effect in full, but I believe it is in about three years' time, although my message to the people of Narungga would be that if the people of South Australia, including the people of Narungga, were unlucky enough to get a Labor government back in power here that levy will be jacked right back up. There will be further gouging of regional South Australia to prop up Adelaide's board.

Mr Picton: Stop preaching.

The Hon. D.J. SPEIRS: One of the great—I take offence, Mr Speaker, at the comments by the member for Kaurna, which I believe to be religious discrimination in their nature.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! Does the minister raise a point of order?

The Hon. D.J. SPEIRS: Yes, I believe that the member for Kaurna in his comments across the chamber to me a moment ago—I take offence because I believe they were discriminating against my personal faith.

The SPEAKER: I didn't hear the remarks. If the member for Kaurna is aware of those remarks—

Mr Picton: I've no idea.

The SPEAKER: —I invite the member for Kaurna to withdraw.

Mr Picton: No.

The SPEAKER: Would the minister indicate the nature of the remarks that he has taken offence to?

The Hon. D.J. SPEIRS: The member for Kaurna has made comments across the chamber to me which I take deep offence at. They are discriminatory in nature. He has done this to the member for Finniss in the past about a disability that the member for Finniss has.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: There's no occasion—order!

The Hon. D.J. SPEIRS: He's got a reputation for discriminatory comments, Mr Speaker.

The SPEAKER: Order! The minister will resume his seat.

The Hon. D.J. SPEIRS: He's got form.

The SPEAKER: The minister will resume his seat. I won't require the minister to recite the words that he's taken offence at for obvious reasons. The member for Kaurna is expressing bewilderment as to any words that he might have uttered that could possibly have fallen into that category. In those circumstances, I will consult available evidence, but does the member for Kaurna wish to take an opportunity to withdraw and apologise?

Mr PICTON: I have to say, that was an incredible hissy fit from the minister.

The SPEAKER: It's a matter that's quite precise, member for Kaurna. I will give the member for Kaurna an opportunity.

Mr PICTON: I withdraw any comments that I made, which were ordinary words with ordinary meanings, and reject the premise that the minister had in his assertions.