State Major Bank Levy

The Hon. D.W. RIDGWAY (Leader of the Opposition) (14:36): On a supplementary: why didn't the government, as reported in the media, not ask the advice of their senior economic adviser, Rob Chapman, former deputy chairman of the Economic Development Board and good friend of your so-called friend, Martin Hamilton Smith?

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) (14:36): Again, Mr President, his own mates in Canberra say the big banks are undertaxed to the tune of $4 billion a year. What we saw when the federal government announced the identical measure in their budget was not a whimper—not a whimper from this mob, Mr President, not a single thing. But it happens in this state, and they roll over. They get tickled by the top end of town and play dead.

We will support South Australia, we will support small businesses, we will support workers here and we are very, very happy if they want to support big banks. I think it would be described as a courageous move.