South Australian Multicultural and Ethnic Affairs Commission

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Leader of the Opposition) (15:12): Supplementary arising from the original answer: does the assistant minister know whether any of the organisations to which the Hon. Russell Wortley referred were consulted in relation to this appointment?

The Hon. J.S. LEE (15:12): I certainly know more of those organisations than you would, honourable member.

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY: Point of order, Mr President: the Hon. Ms Lee made indication to me that I had disparagingly made negative comments about Mr Nannapaneni. Now, at no time during any of my—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY: It's a point of order.

The PRESIDENT: Order! I do not need advice from the government benches.

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY: At no time have I reflected negatively on the actual candidate, so the honourable member is out of order to make reference that I have actually—talking about defamation and all sorts. Nothing I have said has been a reflection on Mr Nannapaneni.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! Government benches will be silent.

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY: It's a reflection on the lack of consultation of this government.

The PRESIDENT: I've got your point, I've got your point.

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY: I want you to rule on it.

The PRESIDENT: Assistant minister.

The Hon. J.S. Lee: There was no question there.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. J.S. Lee: What have I done?

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: The Hon. Russell Wortley has raised a point that he feels that you have cast aspersions on his view. I am calling on you to respond. You have an option of withdrawing it or making further comment.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: How I interpret what the member is doing, whether it is a point of order or a matter of personal explanation, is a matter for the President. The honourable member has raised an issue where he feels that he has been defamed; I'm asking the honourable member to respond.

The Hon. J.S. LEE: Mr President, I do not feel that my comments have defamed or made any accusations against the honourable member at all.

The PRESIDENT: The Hon. Mr Wortley, you can raise it at another time, if you so choose, having reviewed the Hansard.