Legislative Council Fifty-Fourth Parliament, First Session (54-1) 54 1 Parliament of South Australia Legislative Council published Question Time Ministerial Staff Ministerial Staff The Hon. K.J. MAHER Legislative Council Leader of the Opposition Ministerial Staff The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Leader of the Opposition) (15:16): Supplementary question arising from the answer: will the Treasurer have a discussion with his Under Treasurer as to why the Under Treasurer claimed recently that there would be two staff less per office not four staff less per office, as the Treasurer has said here today? The Hon. R.I. LUCAS Legislative Council Ministerial Staff The Hon. R.I. LUCAS (Treasurer) (15:16): Perhaps the leader might indicate to me where he made that particular statement and I will be able to respond. The Hon. K.J. MAHER Legislative Council The Hon. K.J. MAHER: The Budget and Finance Committee. Members interjecting: The President Legislative Council The PRESIDENT: Treasurer, I think you should answer. The Hon. R.I. LUCAS Legislative Council The Hon. R.I. LUCAS: As I indicated in one of my early contributions in the establishment of the Standing Orders Committee—and I think I have highlighted in the discussions with the leader and with crossbenchers—I think this is one of the standing orders that I personally would hope there might be some unanimous agreement for some change. Perhaps the reason for that particular standing order made some sense many, many decades ago, but it no longer makes sense given that we have public hearings. In relation to the reference the leader has made to, evidently, a statement made in some as yet unnamed venue or meeting, I will certainly take that on notice and have a look at it. But, I can indicate that there is a clear policy decision, which has been implemented already. I have signed the documents to ministers—indeed, many weeks ago that went to ministers—and that implements in full the reduction of 50 total staff in ministerial offices in South Australia. The Under Treasurer chief executive officer is a very fine officer who worked for me in a more junior level many years ago when my hair wasn't quite as grey. He has now risen to the lofty heights of chief executive officer and he is an outstanding public servant. There will be no criticism come from my lips, at least publicly, in relation to his job and his performance.