RIverland and Murraylands Roads

Mr PEDERICK (Hammond) (14:58): My question is to the Minister for Regional Roads. Will the much-needed Riverland and Murraylands road repairs have an impact on the existing backlog of regional road maintenance across the state, and if so—

The SPEAKER: Order!

Mr PEDERICK: —how extensive will they be?

The SPEAKER: Member for Hammond, please be seated. There is a point of order from the member for West Torrens, which I am required to hear under 134.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Point of order, sir. Standing order 97:

In putting any such question, a Member may not offer argument or opinion, nor may a Member offer any facts except by leave of the House...

I put to you, sir, that that question was full of opinion and purported facts.

The SPEAKER: There is some force in the matter that has been raised with me under 134. I am going to give the member for Hammond the opportunity to recast the question.

Mr PEDERICK: My question is to the Minister for Regional Roads. What impact will the much-needed maintenance on Riverland and Murraylands roads—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The member for Hammond—

Mr PEDERICK: —on the existing—

Members interjecting:

Mr PEDERICK: You can't even answer the question yourself.

The SPEAKER: The member for Hammond will be seated. I will hear the member for West Torrens.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Again, standing order 97: the member is now, deliberately I think, flouting the standing orders to try to make some sort of pathetic political point.

Mr Pederick: You're pathetic. You can't even answer it yourself.

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. J.A.W. Gardner interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! I think the member for Hammond might have just addressed that matter, member for Morialta. In any event, if it's 134 I will hear you, member for Morialta, but I think the member for Hammond is capable enough of accounting for himself and has just interjected, which probably addresses the issue. I am going to give him a final opportunity to recast the question. He has been here for some time. He knows how to ask a question. If he fails on this occasion, I foreshadow that I am likely to uphold a point of order if it were to come to the government and to turn to the government side. This is your final opportunity, member for Hammond. Ask your question.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! Member for Hammond, here we go.

Mr PEDERICK: Oh dear! My question is to the Minister for Regional Roads.

Members interjecting:

Mr PEDERICK: Here we go.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

Mr PEDERICK: What is the effect on the regional road maintenance levels across the state with the Riverland and Murraylands road repairs that are needed in regard to the floods?

Members interjecting:

Mr PEDERICK: It's easy! Just answer it yourself.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: I can't put in what God left out, sir, but standing order 97.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! I uphold the point of order. I turn to the government side. I observe that it would have been possible to correct the question by leave and to introduce facts thereafter. It's a very simple solution. I turn to the government side. Is there a member on the government side seeking the call in relation to a question? There is. The member for Elder has the call.