House of Assembly - Fifty-First Parliament, Second Session (51-2)
2008-03-06 Daily Xml

Contents

GOODS AND SERVICES FIGURES

Mr GRIFFITHS (Goyder) (14:53): Does the Treasurer know the difference between retail sales figures and figures for the sale of goods and services? Yesterday, the Treasurer claimed that I was wrong when explaining to the house that—

An honourable member: You were wrong.

Mr GRIFFITHS: —no, I wasn't—the state's growth in the sales of goods and services was the lowest in the nation. These figures had come from ABS data issued on 3 March. In claiming my statement was wrong, the Treasurer used figures for retail trade to contradict information that I provided on sales of goods and services. According to the ABS, sales of goods and services includes receipts derived from the sale of goods and the provision of services offered for sale in the ordinary course of business operations, while retail trade figures are restricted to businesses with at least one retail outlet. If the Treasurer needs more help on this, I am quite happy to provide him with a briefing.

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. K.O. FOLEY (Port Adelaide—Deputy Premier, Treasurer, Minister for Industry and Trade, Minister for Federal/State Relations) (14:54): What a small-minded opposition! As my—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. K.O. FOLEY: I stand by what I said yesterday. As my erstwhile colleague here says, I would take what the opposition say with a grain of salt. I will have a look at it and see if there is any strength in what is said.

Just referring to the earlier questions that were raised about what costs what, I wonder if the Leader of the Opposition will ask the Premier or me how much it cost the government to fly John and Julie Olsen back from New York for the 10th anniversary of the car race.

The SPEAKER: Order! That is not to the substance of the question.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!