Kangaroo Island Wharf Facility

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS (West Torrens) (15:19): My question is to the Premier. Is the Premier telling the house he knew the Deputy Premier had a house across the road from forest contracted to KIPT?

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL (Dunstan—Premier) (15:19): I don't know that there was a forest product which was linked to KIPT, but I was very certain of one thing and that was the Deputy Premier has a longstanding—

Mr Malinauskas: That was not the matter.

The SPEAKER: Order!

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: —history on Kangaroo Island. I visited Kangaroo Island with the Deputy Premier, of course, most recently when there were issues associated with the devastating bushfires which took place on the island, and in fact on several subsequent visits to the island. It's a very important and a very productive part of our state. It's a part of our state which we are very significantly investing in—

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Point of order, sir.

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: —as a government.

The SPEAKER: The member for West Torrens on a point of order. Premier, please be seated.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Standing order 98: rules applying to answers. The Premier is debating the answer. I asked him if he knew if the forest adjacent the Deputy Premier's home was contracted to KIPT to be felled.

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

The SPEAKER: There is a point of order to the point of order. The Leader of Government Business.

The Hon. D.C. VAN HOLST PELLEKAAN: What the member actually asked was, 'Is the Premier telling the house that,' which is significantly different to what he has just said.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! That may be. Standing order 98 provides:

(a) In answering a question, a Minister or other Member replies to the substance of the question and may not debate the matter to which the question refers.

I always allow the Premier considerable latitude because he is the Premier. I bring the Premier back to the substance of the question. I will listen carefully.

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: Thank you very much, sir. As I was saying, I was very aware of the Deputy Premier's involvement—longstanding involvement—with Kangaroo Island. In fact, she makes her disclosure each year, like we all make our disclosure on properties that are owned. As for what was contracted on or around her property, I don't think it's the subject of her disclosure. But what I can say to this—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: Let's just extrapolate here. All the aahs and oohs from those opposite—do they disclose who's living next door to them? To be quite honest, I don't know who is living next door to me.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: I don't go peering over the fence or whatever maybe others get up to. But what I can say is that I have—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL: —100 per cent confidence that the right decision was made. It's the same decision that I would make. I know that there are some who were not happy with that decision. I know that there were others who were very happy with this decision.

It was probably a lineball between those who were supporting and against but, ultimately, the planning minister needs to make that call. She has the responsibility under the statute. I have every single confidence that she has made the right decision and I support that action 100 per cent.