North-South Corridor Tunnel

The Hon. V.A. TARZIA (Hartley) (15:02): My question again is to the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport. Has Acciona been involved in any tender process with his department and, if so, from when?

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS (West Torrens—Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Minister for Energy and Mining) (15:02): Acciona delivered the remainder of the Gawler electrification and they are obviously involved in Majors Road, but I can safely say this: no-one from Acciona has been to my house. Can members opposite, all of you, say that? Can everyone say that no-one from Acciona was invited to their house for a party?

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

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

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Because I've got some great stories I could tell you about some Acciona executives—

The SPEAKER: Member for West Torrens, there is a—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! Member for West Torrens, there is a point of order—

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: —at a certain backbencher's house while they held a higher office.

The SPEAKER: —to my left which I will take. The Leader of Government Business will be seated.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for Chaffey, order!

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The member for Morialta under 134.

The Hon. J.A.W. GARDNER: Two standing orders, sir: standing order 98—absolutely no provocation for that debate—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. J.A.W. GARDNER: —and, secondly, his obstruction. By not listening to a single word you were saying just then amounts to obstruction.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! I am listening carefully. I have standing order 98. The minister has the call.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: If my young friend has an accusation, I ask him to make it. Make it. Parliamentary privilege affords the loyal opposition—

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

The SPEAKER: Member for West Torrens, there is a point of order 134.

The Hon. J.A.W. GARDNER: The minister, despite what he is inferring or implying, is debating. The question was direct and straightforward and non-provocative.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! Well, there is some force in the—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! We are getting into the dusk of question time. There is some liveliness.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! I have the question. There is some force in the member for Morialta's submissions to me. I will listen carefully. We have standing order 98. Minister, you have the call.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Acciona have won contracts with this government. They have delivered contracts under the previous government. Acciona have been a longstanding participant in Australian tenders. They have partnered with an Australian company. They have operations based here in Australia—in Melbourne, South Australia and, I understand, elsewhere as well. They have won numerous contracts. But no Acciona official has been to a party at my house, not once.