Marine Parks

The Hon. S.G. WADE (14:29): I ask the Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation questions on the government's marine parks program.

1. Is the minister aware that over the weekend a private market research company was engaged in push polling telephone calls in support of the government's marine parks program?

2. Can the minister advise the council how this campaign was funded?

3. Can the minister assure the council that no taxpayer funds were used?

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation, Minister for Water and the River Murray, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation) (14:29): I thank the honourable member for his most important question. In some ways the Hon. Mr Wade is a great loss to the legal practitioners in this state. He is excellent at verballing witnesses. He is excellent at verballing me and trying to—

The Hon. J.M.A. Lensink: He’s so intimidating, isn’t he?

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER: I am very intimidated by him. I am much more intimidated, of course—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! Order! Let's listen to the minister.

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER: See, Mr President, he is trying one of these tricksy lawyer tricks. He is using his tricksy lawyer tricks again, sir, with his interjection, hoping they will not be incorporated into Hansard. This is what the Hon. Mr Wade does continuously in this place, but I will not be drawn into his tricky sneaky web, Mr President and, in fact, I should say, of course, I am much more intimidated by the Hon. Michelle Lensink in this place who is routinely very rough on me.

The Hon. J.M.A. Lensink: Now you're telling tales out of school.

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER: I am trying to help you, Michelle. I am afraid I cannot answer his question, Mr President.