Mounted Operations Unit

Mr BATTY (Bragg) (14:26): My question is to the Premier. Has the government established a group to assess options for the new police mounted operations barracks? If so, has the environment minister asked to be appointed to the group? With leave, sir, I will explain.

Leave granted.

Mr BATTY: On ABC radio last week, the environment minister stated that, although a group had been established to assess options, quote, 'I'm not part of the group that is working through which ones are being looked at.' That is despite the fact that the SA Heritage Council has recommended that the Parklands should be designated as a state heritage area and the environment minister has ministerial responsibility for heritage.

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS (Croydon—Premier) (14:27): I want to thank the member for Bragg for his question. Yes, I can confirm—in the way that the Deputy Premier already has on radio—that there is of course a group of officials who are rapidly assessing a range of different options. But there is another group as well, and it is called the cabinet, and it just so happens that the Deputy Premier is not just a member of the cabinet but the second most senior member of the cabinet and will be actively participating in all those discussions.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. D.G. Pisoni interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for Unley!

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Florey is warned.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! Member for Wright!