SOUTH AUSTRALIAN RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS (14:59): I have a further supplementary question arising out of the minister's answer on chickpeas.

An honourable member interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: How much chicken is in the pea?

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! The Hon. Mr Lucas. The Hon. Mr Lucas wants to change his diet, I am sure.

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS: Thank you very much, Mr President. Given that the minister supports the government policy to cut more than 4,000 public servants from the state public sector payroll, can the minister indicate to the house how many public servants have been cut from her portfolio over the last three years, and how many more public servants have to be cut from her portfolio over the forward estimates under the current budget parameters?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, Minister for Forests, Minister for Regional Development, Minister for Tourism, Minister for the Status of Women) (15:00): Not as many as the Liberal opposition intends to cut—nowhere as many.