Gibson Electorate Office

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Leader of the Opposition) (14:31): Does the Treasurer have one bit of evidence whatsoever for his assertions that the former Treasurer knew about the allegations against Mr Wingard, particularly when the Treasurer said on ABC radio this morning, 'Trust me, Tom Koutsantonis would have been advised of it'? Minister, what single bit of evidence have you got that that was the case and will you repeat that in parliament today?

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS (Treasurer) (14:31): I don't know what the former Treasurer knew or didn't know at the time—

The Hon. K.J. MAHER: You just said he would have known about it—

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS: It's my belief—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS: It's my belief—

The PRESIDENT: Resume your seat, Treasurer. This is becoming too frequent that the opposition, and sometimes others, ask questions and then before the minister gets a chance to even start they are drowned out. I ask that that cease. The Treasurer has the call.

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS: It is certainly my belief that most things that go on within a minister's department, either they know about it or they are negligent if they don't know about it in relation to these issues. I do note—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS: —that there was a—

The Hon. E.S. Bourke: A minister should know about what's going on their department—that's an interesting point!

The PRESIDENT: The Hon. Ms Bourke is out of order!

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS: I do note that there was an interesting fly-by hit job done on a Liberal member of parliament prior to the last election in relation to a claim made by a staff member against that particular Liberal member of parliament. It is certainly my belief that that was aided and assisted by persons within the former Treasurer's office by way of briefing. There were statements also made publicly by the now Leader of the Opposition in relation to that particular fly-by hit job that was done on a Liberal member of parliament prior to 2018 relating to similar sorts of complaints of bullying and harassment by a staff member against a member of parliament. It is certainly my belief—I have no evidence because I don't—

The Hon. K.J. Maher: No evidence? No evidence at all?

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS: I don't know. I wasn't there.

The Hon. K.J. Maher: None at all?

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS: I wasn't there.

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. K.J. Maher interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS: But I know the member for West Torrens and if there is skulduggery and he has any chance of being engaged, then he is certainly not averse to engaging in a touch of chicanery—

The Hon. K.J. Maher interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS: —and skulduggery in terms of the operations both of his ministerial office and now as a shadow minister.