Legislative Council: Thursday, November 14, 2013

Contents

FORESTRYSA

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY (Leader of the Opposition) (14:26): By way of supplementary question, I have asked for the difference between what the government receives from OneFortyOne Plantations—not the total amount—and what it actually costs to provide that service. I am not interested in the Fleurieu, export logs from Mount Lofty—

The PRESIDENT: You've asked your question.

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY: —or anything else—it is just the difference.

The PRESIDENT: You've asked your question.

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY: Those figures are not in the budget papers and I have asked—

The PRESIDENT: You're out of order.

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY: —you a simple question, which you committed on Tuesday to bring back here today.

The PRESIDENT: You should know better than to ask a supplementary question—

The Hon. D.W. Ridgway: I did ask a supplementary question.

The PRESIDENT: —and carry on with debate or offer—

The Hon. D.W. Ridgway: Sorry, I am excited—it's my birthday. I'm sorry.

The PRESIDENT: Well, you should get wiser as you get older.

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, Minister for Forests, Minister for Regional Development, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for State/Local Government Relations) (14:27): There is obviously too much sugar in the icing on his birthday cake, or too many food additives—it is obviously something. I have given a very simple answer, a very clear answer in terms of the difference in those figures and the ability to be able to deduct, quite simply using the figures that are on the record and any other details that might be given. It would be quite a simple exercise to deduct what is the OneFortyOne fee. It is a commercially confidential figure.

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY: I haven't asked for the fee—it's the difference.

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: But I am letting people know what the impact of divulging those details would mean. I referred the honourable member to the budget figures, which are clearly outlined and provide all the information the government is able to divulge that is not covered by commercially confidential information. I would be asking the honourable member to give a commitment in this place that, if there was some small miracle (and I very much doubt it), if the opposition were to enter government after the next election or the election after that, is he saying that he would divulge the details of commercially confidential information? Is that what the Hon. David Ridgway is saying—that he would be prepared to divulging that information?