Personal Explanation

Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK (Minister for Human Services) (16:50): I seek leave to make a personal explanation.

Leave granted.

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK: Earlier today in question time, I was quizzed about the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute (AHURI), which has an annual research agenda with eight Australian universities, including the University of Adelaide and the University of New South Wales. I advised in question time that contributions are made by a number of state and territory governments.

I would like to confirm that, for several years, the South Australian government has been making an annual contribution to AHURI's research agenda, and that in the 2017-18 year that contribution, which would have been signed off and agreed to by my predecessors in government, was in the order of $125,000. I look forward to providing—

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER: Point of order, Mr President.

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK: —more information on this organisation as it comes to hand.

The PRESIDENT: Let me hear the point of order. The Hon. Mr Hunter.

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER: A member makes a personal explanation to this chamber when they believe they have been misquoted or wrongly accused of something. The Hon. Ms Lensink is, in fact, not doing that.

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK: I have been misrepresented in the other house by that grub, the member for West Torrens.

The PRESIDENT: The Hon. Mr Hunter, I am prepared to let the member preface her remarks—

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK: Once again, as he did when I first came here.

The PRESIDENT: —with some context. I will hear her out.

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER: Indeed, Mr President, but she needs to make very clear the context in which she is standing up to give a matter of a personal explanation.

The PRESIDENT: Yes, I am letting the member do that. The Hon. Ms Lensink.

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK: I am sorry, Mr President, what would you like me to do?

The PRESIDENT: I want you to proceed. Continue.

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK: That was the conclusion of my remarks, but I will have more to say when I have more information.

The PRESIDENT: Thank you.

The Hon. K.J. Maher: So that's what you are allowed to do for personal explanations now?

The PRESIDENT: I do not need commentary from you, Leader of the Opposition. If you want to make a comment, please stand.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: I cannot anticipate what the honourable member is going to say. I do not have forethought. I listened, and the member has finished.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Do not debate me, seated, from the floor.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

At 16:53 the council adjourned until Tuesday 29 May 2018 at 14:15.