Privatisation

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Leader of the Opposition) (14:31): Supplementary—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: I hate to say it, but order for the Leader of the Opposition.

The Hon. K.J. MAHER: Thank you. Supplementary arising from the answer: does the Treasurer feel ashamed given that, on 19 September 2016, a poll published by The Advertiser showed 51 per cent of South Australians blamed the sale of ETSA as a key reason behind high power prices?

The PRESIDENT: That is a new question, Leader of the Opposition. That is not by way of clarification. I am not going to rule it out of order. I am going to give the Treasurer the option of whether he wishes to answer it.

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS (Treasurer) (14:31): I was desperately hoping you wouldn't rule it out of order.

An honourable member: Another full toss on leg stump.

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS: Another slow full toss on leg stump from the Leader of the Opposition.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS: We should—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS: Mr President—

The Hon. K.J. Maher interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Leader of the Opposition, this is not a conversation. If you want to have a conversation with the Treasurer, have one outside the chamber. You ask a question and a minister responds.

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS: The simple answer to the question is: no, I am not ashamed of any decision that this Liberal government, or indeed a former Liberal government, has taken. But if we want to talk about percentages, I remind the honourable member to look at the numbers of people on a two-party preferred vote that turfed him out of office and the Labor Party out of office. That's the only number that really counts.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS: That is the only number that really counts in relation to—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS: The people of South Australia heard all of these bleats, squeals and complaints. They looked, they listened, they learnt, and they said, 'We've heard this rubbish before. Get rid of them, and bring in a reformist Liberal government to grow the economy and grow jobs in South Australia.'