Adelaide Convention Centre Gala Dinner

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS (West Torrens) (14:45): My question is to the Premier. How many of the groups that attended this Liberal Party fundraiser event also rely on the Hon. Jing Lee MLC for funding support in her role as the Assistant Minister to the Premier for multicultural affairs?

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The Premier.

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL (Dunstan—Premier) (14:45): Again, this is the sort of grubby innuendo that we have become used to from the member for West Torrens. May you never leave that role. May you never leave this parliament.

The SPEAKER: The Premier will resume his seat.

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: We love having you here.

The SPEAKER: The Premier will resume his seat. The member for West Torrens rises on a point of order.

The Hon. C.L. Wingard interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The Minister for Infrastructure and Transport is called to order.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Sir, I take offence at what the Premier said and I ask that he apologise and withdraw.

The SPEAKER: The member for West Torrens has indicated that he has taken offence at the remarks of the Premier. In the circumstances, I ask the Premier to withdraw.

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: I am happy to withdraw that remark. I am not happy to withdraw the remark that I want him to stay as long as he wants to because we love having him in the Labor Party on the opposition benches. It is a reminder of what would happen if they ever got back onto the treasury bench ever again in the future.

The innuendo in that question was absolutely clear for everybody to hear and we take offence at that. The reality is that we have worked very hard to unwind the situation that we inherited from those opposite to very clearly define now how we allocate money within that portfolio around four key areas, making sure that we have independent input into the decisions made. Last year, there was some discretion within my agency because we had allocated money for existing commitments around festivals and events, and many of them had to be cancelled last year, and so we did need to be nimble with regard to those events.

In some cases, they were used to offset some of the costs already incurred, and in other instances we were able to, by negotiation, keep that money within that organisation for other worthy projects that might support their community during what I think was a very tough year. The reason why we got through last year was because we had an excellent working relationship with our various communities, including culturally and linguistically diverse communities in South Australia, and we were very, very pleased—

An honourable member interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Hurtle Vale is called to order.

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: —to support them. We think that this is a hallmark of South Australia. When we look around the rest of the world, there is a lot of division when it comes to harmony around multicultural communities and multicultural activities. That is not the case here in South Australia, but I make this warning to this parliament: we must never, ever—

Mr Szakacs interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for Cheltenham!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: —take that for granted. We must work diligently to make sure that we are always leaning in to the opportunity for greater inclusivity—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for Cheltenham!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: —in this state and that is what we have done since coming to government. I take responsibility for this portfolio. I must say I am ably supported—

Mr Szakacs interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Cheltenham is warned.

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: —by my assistant minister, Jing Lee, who supports me not only with regard to multicultural affairs but in fact in a great amount of the work that I do. I am very grateful for the work that she does. I think the multicultural community and the broader community in South Australia is very grateful for the work that she does. Long may it continue.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! Before I call the member for Chaffey, I warn the member for Schubert, and I warn for a second time the member for Cheltenham.