Northern Economic Plan

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS (14:44): Supplementary question arising out of the minister's answer: can the minister—

The Hon. K.J. Maher: The answered supplementary or the original answer?

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS: The original answer. You can't ask a supplementary on a supplementary response. That's contrary to standing order 108.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! The Hon. Mr Lucas—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Will the Leader of the Government please control himself? The Hon. Mr Lucas has the floor.

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS: I'm not sure why the minister would ask that question, Mr President; it is clearly contrary to standing orders. My supplementary question is: is the minister indicating that, for example, the economic forecasting section of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet was not consulted on the 15,000 job growth target that he agreed to as part of the Northern Economic Plan?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Employment, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation, Minister for Manufacturing and Innovation, Minister for Automotive Transformation, Minister for Science and Information Economy) (14:45): I thank the honourable member for his supplementary question arising from the original answer given and for his chastising of his colleagues, who do not seem to understand the standing orders as well as he does. I thank him for that as well.

In relation to that target, it is an aim of the partners in that group. There was consultation from many areas—not just of state government but local government—that had input into the plan. There was a steering group that consisted of a wide range of government departments that had input into the plan, into various sectors of the plan. This is an aim of those partners to the plan.

The PRESIDENT: The Hon. Mr Gazzola.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! The question is over and the Hon. Mr Gazzola has the floor. The Hon. Mr Gazzola.

The Hon. K.J. Maher interjecting:

The Hon. J.S.L. Dawkins: Chuck him out! The Leader of the Government is defying you, Mr President.

The PRESIDENT: He is a little bit unruly today. He couldn't have had his Vegemite this morning. The Hon. Mr Gazzola.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! The Hon. Mr Gazzola.