Question Time

Local Government Elections

The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI (Leader of the Opposition) (14:23): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Attorney-General a question in relation to the state Electoral Commission.

Leave granted.

The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI: The Attorney-General was on breakfast radio this morning announcing that the government will look at a review of the whole process that was undertaken by the Electoral Commission in regard to the recent local government elections. My question to the Attorney-General is: why is it that you were happy to speak on breakfast radio this morning about the council elections but would not take responsibility for it in this chamber yesterday?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Attorney-General, Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector) (14:24): I thank the honourable member for her question. As I said yesterday, the conduct of local government elections is the responsibility of the Minister for Local Government. However, one of the defining differences between how the Liberal Party conducted themselves in government and how we do is we support each other. We act as a team. We do things and we help each other out. That is one of the defining differences between that rabble over there and us.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. K.J. MAHER: Let me give you a quote that tells us all we need to know about the differences between how we conduct ourselves as a team in government and how the Liberal Party, as a shambolic outfit, conducted themselves in government. In a recent interview with The Advertiser,the now Leader of the Opposition and then environment minister described being part of the Liberal government cabinet like this, 'I was like a kid strapped in the back seat of a car and dad's passed out.' That's how he described being part of that government.

We are more than happy to help each other out. We are more than happy to look at problems together and to have solutions for South Australia. That's how we do it.