Business Transformation Voucher Program

The Hon. A.L. McLACHLAN (14:47): With this Father Christmas activity of giving away money, how does the minister know that the moneys are acquitted in accordance with the application?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Manufacturing and Innovation, Minister for Automotive Transformation, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation) (14:48): I thank the honourable member for his very perceptive supplementary and his demonstrated leadership qualities that he is showing us all again on display here.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. K.J. MAHER: We see the tryout for the leader of the opposition. We hear the rumours about the leadership rumblings in the lower house.

The PRESIDENT: The honourable minister, can we—

The Hon. K.J. MAHER: I wouldn't be too worried about that. I would be worried about up in this chamber.

The PRESIDENT: The honourable minister—

The Hon. K.J. MAHER: We have some very good backbenchers who are trying—

The PRESIDENT: Honourable minister, take your seat. It is totally unacceptable to see this rabble in front of me. The Hon. Mr Maher, you are a minister and you should uphold a certain amount of decorum. The opposition should—

The Hon. T.J. Stephens interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: The Hon. Mr Stephens, we don't need any contribution from you. Have you finished your answer?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER: I am not sure actually. It was in relation to—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. K.J. MAHER: With the rude interjections and the tryouts from the backbench, I had almost forgotten the question.

An honourable member: It was about the leadership.

The Hon. K.J. MAHER: Yes, it was about the leadership. Certainly, the department have funding agreements with—

The PRESIDENT: Address the Chair.

The Hon. K.J. MAHER: —milestones in them to make sure the money is being—

The PRESIDENT: The honourable minister will address the Chair.

The Hon. K.J. MAHER: —used for the purposes to which it was expended.

The PRESIDENT: The Hon. Ms Vincent—I hope you treat the Hon. Ms Vincent a little bit better than you have treated the Hon. Mr Maher.