Personal Explanation

State Final Demand

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Leader of the Opposition) (14:18): I seek leave to make a personal explanation.

Leave granted.

The Hon. K.J. MAHER: During yesterday's question time the Treasurer stated that I was the first person in the chamber to refer to state final demand being down by 0.1 per cent in the most recent quarter. The Treasurer at 3.14pm stated:

The Hansard record will show that the first reference to 0.1 was made by Leader of the Opposition.

Upon checking Hansard, it very clearly shows the first reference to 0.1 per cent was made by the Minister for Trade and Investment in answer to a question at 2.21pm. The first question of the day preceded that answer and did not mention any figure at all. All other references by the opposition to the 0.1 per cent figure were quoting the answer given by the Minister for Trade and Investment. The correct figure is 0.2 per cent, double that being claimed.

The Treasurer claimed that I was the one who first made the mistake and not the Minister for Trade and Investment. In doing so, the Treasurer is inferring that I am ignorant of important economic data affecting this state, and that even though I am shadow attorney-general I am not across economic issues. I would ask that the Treasurer apologises for claiming that I was the one who first made that mistake.

The PRESIDENT: We are not debating the issue, thank you. I now call on questions without notice. The honourable Leader of the Opposition.