Citadel Secure

Mr TEAGUE (Heysen) (14:59): My question is to the Premier. Can the Premier advise whether or not he, his staff or department officials have ever had meetings with or have been approached for meetings with Mr James O'Hanlon, anyone at Citadel Secure, or any businesses associated with Citadel Secure?

The Hon. S.C. MULLIGHAN (Lee—Treasurer) (15:00): I understand the line of—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.C. MULLIGHAN: I understand the line of questioning from those opposite. We are in a by-election period. The Hon. Michelle Lensink used the cover of parliamentary privilege to level assertions—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! Treasurer, there is a—

Members interjecting:

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

The Hon. J.A.W. GARDNER: Standing order 98. The question related to the Premier or staff or officers meeting with people involved in a firm that has been described in various places as a lobbying firm.

The SPEAKER: I don't know about that. There is reference, apparently, to debate in another place.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! I will listen carefully, in respect of the member for Morialta. Treasurer.

The Hon. S.C. MULLIGHAN: As I was saying—

Mr Cowdrey interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for Colton!

The Hon. S.C. MULLIGHAN: —and to refer to the media article that the Deputy Leader of the Opposition and the member for Heysen referred to before, that media article is titled 'Aspirant accused of ethics breach' by members of the opposition, including Michelle Lensink. But rather than accuse directly, it is instead to the husband—someone who has served in the Australian Defence Force on six different deployments, including Rwanda and Afghanistan. But that just shows—

Mr Cowdrey interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.C. MULLIGHAN: —the depth of the gutter—

Mr Cowdrey interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Colton is warned.

The Hon. S.C. MULLIGHAN: —that they are prepared to stoop into.

Mr Cowdrey interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Colton is warned.

The Hon. S.C. MULLIGHAN: Let me make it abundantly clear—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.C. MULLIGHAN: —if we want to have a full audit—

Mr Cowdrey interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The member for Colton is on a final warning.

The Hon. S.C. MULLIGHAN: —of lobbying activities—

Mr Pederick interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for Hammond!

The Hon. S.C. MULLIGHAN: —attached to members of parliament—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.C. MULLIGHAN: —all over, we are up for that challenge.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! Members to my left and right!

Mr Cowdrey interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for Colton, you will depart under 137A for persistent interjections. There are seven minutes of question time remaining. It is the final sitting day of the week. We will observe the standing orders.

The honourable member for Colton having withdrawn from the chamber:

The Hon. S.C. MULLIGHAN: As I was saying, I understand the line of questioning: by-election period, call into disrepute one of the candidates and use the family member to do so.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! Treasurer, there is—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! Standing order 134 requires me to hear the point of order immediately, which I will do.

The Hon. J.A.W. GARDNER: Standing order 98 goes to debate. The answer is not relevant to the question.

An honourable member interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! I will bring the Treasurer to the question.

The Hon. S.C. MULLIGHAN: I can't immediately answer on behalf of anyone in the public sector about their engagements with Mr O'Hanlon. But I can tell you I have met with him—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.C. MULLIGHAN: —and I found him to be unimpeachable; a veteran of our defence forces who served and was deployed six times overseas, defending our nation's interests. I found him unimpeachable. That might be a bar too low for those opposite, too low for them, but I found him incredibly impressive—as I find anybody who dedicates their life to protecting our country. For those people opposite to get down that deep into a gutter is a disgrace.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. S.C. MULLIGHAN: But if that's the standard you want to set, challenge accepted.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

Mr Whetstone interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! Member for Chaffey, your colleague, the member for Morialta, is seeking to address me under 134 and he will be heard.

The Hon. J.A.W. GARDNER: Sir, the Treasurer is in breach of standing order 98.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! That may be, but it may also be that he has concluded his answer. The member for Waite.