Matter of Privilege

Matter of Privilege

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS (West Torrens) (14:38): I rise on a matter of privilege. The member for Enfield has detailed two occasions when the estimates committee was given information contrary to what the Deputy Premier has stated in the house. Sir, I ask you to examine the questions and the explanations inserted into Hansard by the member for Enfield and the answers given to questions by the Deputy Premier to the estimates committee to determine whether a prima facie case exists to establish a privileges committee to investigate whether the Attorney-General deliberately and intentionally misled the Parliament of South Australia to cover up her corruption.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: There is a point of order.

The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN: I do not wish to refer to the matter, but I do object to a disgraceful assertion and allegation by the member.

The Hon. A. Koutsantonis: You've been caught out red-handed.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Member for West Torrens!

The Hon. V.A. CHAPMAN: He is entitled, of course, to put a submission to you in relation to a motion of privilege. He is not, I suggest, entitled to speak of such a disgusting allegation and I ask him to withdraw and apologise. I request that you direct him to do so.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: I was in discussions with the Clerk, Attorney. Did you request that the member for West Torrens withdraw that comment?

Members interjecting:

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Well, yes. Member for West Torrens, you have been asked to—

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Sir, I haven't—

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Attorney, the member for West Torrens had risen on a matter of privilege, and whatever he said within that matter is contained within the matter of privilege. I am going to ask the member for West Torrens to provide any further information and I will duly pass it on to the Speaker—I am in an acting capacity today—and we will deal with it.