Ministerial Code of Conduct

The Hon. D.J. SPEIRS (Black—Leader of the Opposition) (14:12): My question is to the Premier. What action has the Premier taken to ensure that all his ministers understand and comply with their obligations under the Ministerial Code of Conduct?

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order, member for West Torrens! The Treasurer is called to order. The Premier has the call.

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS (Croydon—Premier) (14:12): Of course, it won't surprise the Leader of the Opposition that it's my firm expectation that those people who are lucky enough to be on the treasury bench fully account for the Ministerial Code of Conduct and comply in each and every respect wherever we can. As has already been alluded to in recent remarks just made, the irony of the Leader of the Opposition referring to the Ministerial Code of Conduct is not lost on us.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. J.A.W. GARDNER: Point of order.

The SPEAKER: Premier, there is a point of order. I will hear the point of order. The member for Morialta on a point of order.

The Hon. J.A.W. GARDNER: Point of order: standing order 98 applies. The question was very straightforward, without provocation. There is absolutely no scope for the Leader of the Government now to reflect on opposition members.

The SPEAKER: Very well. I will listen carefully. The Premier has the call.

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS: The irony of the Leader of the Opposition raising the Ministerial Code of Conduct is not lost on us because of course it was none other than a royal commission that established, I believe it was almost certainly, that saw the—

The Hon. J.A.W. GARDNER: Point of order.

The SPEAKER: Order! There is a point of order.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! As members are aware, the proceedings on a point of order are turned to the member under 134. The member has the call.

The Hon. J.A.W. GARDNER: Standing order 98: the Premier is debating, and that is contrary to standing orders.

The Hon. A. Koutsantonis: Did you encourage him to ask it?

The SPEAKER: Order, member for West Torrens! The Treasurer is called to order. I will listen carefully. The Premier might chart a closer line to the question.

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS: The Ministerial Code of Conduct is important. We wouldn't want a situation on our side of the house where a royal commission found that any of us had almost certainly breached the Ministerial Code of Conduct by selling the state's interests out. Naturally, in order to avoid such a situation which many in this place are familiar with, particularly the Leader of the Opposition himself, we do whatever we can to avail ourselves of the information contained within the Ministerial Code of Conduct.