Ministerial Appointment

Mr PEDERICK (Hammond) (15:05): Considering the minister has ensured his independence on such matters and, if he has agreement with the government, will he advise us what the matters of independence will be and will he table the agreement he has with the government?

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Mawson is called to order. Member for Hammond, member for Mawson! Members, interjections between the chamber are unparliamentary.

The Hon. G.G. BROCK (Stuart—Minister for Local Government, Minister for Regional Roads, Minister for Veterans Affairs) (15:06): To the member for Hammond: my word is my bond the same as your word I would trust, whatever you commit to. Can I make it quite clear in this house here, as I have in the media, two things. To answer your question before, I had members who supported Labor and I had Liberal members handing my how-to-vote cards out and supporting me in the last election.

Can I reassure this house here that I have the opportunity to voice my concerns—and we are in the third day of the parliament. There has been no opportunity to actually have a vote on any discussion where there's going to be a division. I can reassure this house here I will be voting in the future on things that are best not only for my electorate but for all of regional South Australia in particular. Even though I might be the new elected member for Stuart, I still have a very great passion for all of regional South Australia. I question anybody who doubts my ability to do the best for regional South Australia, as you are trying to indicate over that side.

My passion is for the people. I could have quite easily not gone on. I could have retired, but my passion is still to try to do something for the people of Port Pirie, Port Augusta in particular, and regional South Australia. I will continue to do the best thing I can in this house here to represent the people of this state and to do the best I can and work with both sides of politics here to get the best results for South Australia in general.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The member for Unley is called to order, the member for Mawson is called to order.