Parliament House Staffers

Dr CLOSE (Port Adelaide—Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (14:30): My question is to the Premier. Has the Premier asked the Hon. Tammy Franks or made any other inquiry to seek to identify the Liberal staffer who is alleged to have undertaken the activity already described?

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL (Dunstan—Premier) (14:30): I thank the Deputy Leader of the Opposition for her question. Of course, the allegation which was made in the parliament yesterday in the other place describes a disgusting and disgraceful act and we abhor that, but the simple fact is there has been no formal complaint. I have no information with regard—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: —to this matter whatsoever. There are courses if somebody is prepared to come forward, but I am not going to be conducting—

The Hon. Z.L. Bettison interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for Ramsay!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: —a personal investigation into this matter. It would be completely and utterly inappropriate to do.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Ramsay is called to order.

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: The sort of investigation that should be underway by leaders of parliamentary teams is the investigation that the Leader of the Opposition should be making at the moment into activities that have gone on for a long period of time within the electorate offices of his members. We have seen a large number of media reports with regard to these matters and the simple fact of the matter is we have had nothing from the Leader of the Opposition whatsoever.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: This is a real test of leadership.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Hurtle Vale!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: He is quite happy to have the member for West Torrens come in and protect—

The SPEAKER: The Premier will resume his seat.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Point of order.

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: Here he goes again! Here he is—right on cue!

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

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Standing order 98: the Premier is now debating the answer, rather than answering the substance of the question.

The SPEAKER: I uphold the point of order. The Premier is drawn to the substance of the question of the deputy leader. The Premier has the call. The Premier has completed his answer.