STATE ADMINISTRATION CENTRE

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS (14:55): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the minister representing the Premier a question on the subject of government waste.

Leave granted.

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS: Members will be aware that for the past few days both the Premier and the Deputy Premier have been advising South Australians of a very tough budget to be brought down this week which will involve widespread cuts to government services and programs. Members will also be aware that the current Premier and Deputy Premier have access, as previous premiers and deputy premiers have had, to ministerial cars and to undercover car parking, both here in the Parliament House car park and also in the government car park near Gawler Place in the city. What might not be known is that for many decades premiers and treasurers, who are located in the State Administration Centre, also have had access to a private car park in a lane at the back of the State Administration Centre. For many decades premiers and treasurers have had access to—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS: Perhaps the Hon. Mr Wortley can tell us about the Colac Hotel.

The Hon. R.P. Wortley: Never been there.

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS: Haven't you?

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS: I will not be diverted by those inane interjections. Access to a private car park is not a new thing, and premiers and treasurers who have been housed in the State Administration Centre have had access to that car park. For many decades—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. J.S.L. Dawkins: We have spent a fair bit of time paying off your debt. You bankrupted the state!

The Hon. G.E. Gago interjecting:

The Hon. J.S.L. Dawkins: You were in Victoria then, Gail. Sorry, I forgot about that.

The PRESIDENT: Order! The Hon. Mr Lucas does not require any assistance from the Hon. Mr Dawkins, and the minister will stop interjecting.

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS: Thank you, Mr President. As I have said, for many years premiers and treasurers have used that car park. It is an uncovered car park and has been for many decades. Last week I was contacted by two public servants who were very angry at what they described as a gross waste of taxpayers' money and at an example of what they described as the wrong priorities of the Premier and the Treasurer at a time of budget difficulties. The Rann government has decided to build at the back of the State Administration Centre a new carport to cover and protect the Premier's and Deputy Premier's cars and to ensure that, when they get out of their cars, they do not get wet. My questions to the Premier and the Deputy Premier are as follows:

1. What was the total cost of building the new carport at the back of the State Administration Centre to provide extra cover for the Premier's and the Deputy Premier's cars and to ensure that they do not get wet when they hop out of their car at the back of that building?

2. Do the Premier and the Deputy Premier agree that this is an example of the warped priorities they have, that they would rather look after their own personal needs and spend taxpayers' money on a carport for their cars at the back of the State Administration Centre than provide funding for families with children with disabilities, for hospitals, for schools and for road maintenance in South Australia?

The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY (Minister for Mineral Resources Development, Minister for Urban Development and Planning, Minister for Small Business) (15:00): I am sure that if the Hon. Rob Lucas had his way he would sooner have the leader of his party walking everywhere without a car. That is the sort of thing he would do. These sorts of issues are often raised by the opposition. I do not know whether or not that information is true, and I have no idea who would make a decision in relation to such a matter. However, I will refer the question on and bring back a reply.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! I do not think an umbrella would cover a car.