Question Time

Ministerial Code of Conduct

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK (14:33): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before directing a question to the Leader of the Government regarding the Weatherill government's Ministerial Code of Conduct.

Leave granted.

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK: Over a year ago your colleague the Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation stormed out of a meeting with BusinessSA. Complaints were subsequently made about his behaviour. In August this year the Law Society made a complaint about the minister's inappropriate behaviour. Then on 17 November this year the minister went on a foul-mouthed tirade towards state and federal ministers, including profanities at his female Victorian Labor counterpart. Has the Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation breached the Ministerial Code of Conduct?

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) (14:34): I thank the honourable member for her question. As has been widely reported, the minister did use robust language, for which he has apologised. For the acting leader of the Liberal party, in this chamber, to come here and raise an issue—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. K.J. MAHER: —about what the federal government—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! Minister, sit down.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! The minister has been asked a question and he has every right to give an answer without interjection.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. S.G. Wade interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! Will the Hon. Mr Wade please refrain from interjecting while the minister is trying to answer the question. Minister.

The Hon. K.J. MAHER: Thank you, Mr President—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. K.J. MAHER: It really is extraordinary that the acting leader of the Liberal Party in this chamber, the shadow minister for water, would seek to highlight an issue for which they have a shameful, shameful record. Everyone will remember that the deputy leader in another place at the time wanted us to settle for second best way back then. He said we should 'not go for a great result, just accept a Mazda'. 'Ordinary enough will be good enough for South Australia' was their view, and continues to be their view when it looks like we are being dudded again—dudded again. What have they actually said about the issue? Not a thing. They've made a habit of not standing up for South Australia—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. K.J. MAHER: —not standing up at all.

The Hon. R.I. Lucas: You're excusing his behaviour?

The PRESIDENT: Are you finished, minister?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER: Sure.