Question Time

Shop Trading Hours

The Hon. E.S. BOURKE (14:31): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Treasurer a question regarding shop trading hours.

Leave granted.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. E.S. BOURKE: Last week, we saw callous cuts to the homeless service sector—

The PRESIDENT: Leave the opinion out of it, just get on with the explanation.

The Hon. E.S. BOURKE: Sorry, Mr President, I thought that was fact. Now we have heard reports through the media that a referendum into shop trading hours could cost $2 million. My question to the Treasurer is: why is the Treasurer putting his political agenda before the South Australians who are experiencing homelessness?

The PRESIDENT: The Treasurer has the call—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: —and will be heard in silence.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS (Treasurer) (14:32): The premise of the member's question is entirely wrong. As my colleague the Hon. Ms Lensink has pointed out on any number of occasions, the total amount of funding for this particular sector has actually increased by a number of millions. I can't remember what it is—$69 million up to $74 million or whatever it happens to be. It is actually being increased, so the introduction to the member's question was 'given that there had been a callous cut to homelessness funding', there hasn't been and therefore there is nothing in the question at all.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order! The Hon. Mr Ridgway has the call.